Tim Ellsworth

As many people contemplate resolutions they’ll make for 2006, I thought it would be fitting to point you to the resolutions of Jonathan Edwards. Among the 70 resolutions by which he tried to live his life:

1. Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God’ s glory, and my own good, profit and pleasure, in the whole of my duration, without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriads of ages hence. Resolved to do whatever I think to be my duty and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general. Resolved to do this, whatever difficulties I meet with, how many soever, and how great soever.

7. Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if it were the last hour of my life.

41. Resolved, to ask myself, at the end of every day, week, month and year, wherein I could possibly, in any respect, have done better.

54. Whenever I hear anything spoken in conversation of any person, if I think it would be praiseworthy in me, Resolved to endeavor to imitate it.

His list is worth a few minutes of your time to read. Oh, that we would all live in such a way.

Begin rant:

Can someone explain to me why clothing companies see the need to put so many blasted straight pins in new shirts? I just pulled 10 pins out of a new shirt — 10. What’s the point? Does a shirt really need to be pinned up that much in order to be acceptable? Heck, they could knock 50 cents off the price of the shirt if it didn’t come with so many stinking pins. Why, why, why???

Rant complete. Now back to your regularly scheduled programming.

My column this week is about Tony Dungy and the tragedy his family has endured with the suicide of his 18-year-old son, James.

Former relief pitcher Jeff Reardon says medication he was taking made him rob a jewelry store.

I think it’s time for the FDA to look into that drug, huh?

Give me a break.

Thanks to Jeremy for the link.

My friend Roger is involved in a discussion over at Talk to Action, a liberal blog that claims to be Christian.

Notice how when Roger politely raises an issue to contribute to the discussion, he’s greeted with a rude “Do you agree with the stated purpose of this site?” by one of the site’s owners, who continues to badger Roger. The implication is clear — Roger will not be allowed to post if he doesn’t “agree with the stated purposes of this site.”

Now, what’s interesting is the site’s “terms of use” to which you must agree before registering. You can read them here. Unless I’m missing something, there’s nothing in the terms of use that requires you to “agree with the stated purpose of this site.” All you have to do is agree to the terms of use, which, strangely enough, state that the site wants to “encourage dialog and even sharp disagreement.”

Of course, as anyone with half a brain knows, liberals aren’t interested in encouraging dialogue and sharp disagreement. They claim to be open-minded, but that’s simply empty rhetoric that doesn’t manifest itself in reality. This discussion in which Roger tried to participate is proof.

The St. Louis Cardinals signed outfielder Juan Encarnacion to a three-year, $15 million deal. Last year with the Marlins, Encarnacion hit .287 with 16 HR and 67 RBI.

I like this signing by the Cardinals. Encarnacion will be the starting right fielder for the team, and he should contribute nicely.

It also looks like the Cards are on the verge of signing Junior Spivey to be their second baseman. That would also be a decent pickup for St. Louis.

The team is shaping up nicely. I’d like to add another big bat in left field, but I haven’t checked lately to see where the team’s payroll is. Another slugger might be out of the question.

My column this week is a letter to Santa with a list of sports-related requests.

The 18-year-old son of Indianapolis Colts head coach Tony Dungy was found dead in his apartment. To echo Alex’s words, suddenly the Super Bowl and an undefeated season aren’t so important.

Keep the Dungy family in your prayers.

UPDATE: Here’s a story from earlier this year in which Dungy talks about his Christian beliefs.

May you and your family have a joyous and blessed Christmas.

One of my favorite Saturday Night Live sketches — watch it here.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson, known for his outrageous end zone celebrations, has suggested he may somehow use a deer in a celebration if he scores a touchdown on Christmas Eve.

“On the highway, I hit a deer,” Johnson said Tuesday, insisting he was serious and that the animal wasn’t hurt. “I kept him. He’s at home in the garage. I’m going to use him for the celebration this weekend. He’s a prop. They might suspend me for the last game, but I think this one is worth it.”

Oh, for more athletes like Barry Sanders, who simply flipped the ball to the referee when he scored a touchdown. He acted like he had been there before, and like he was going to be back. Johnson must not have the same confidence.

Victoria Osteen, the wife of Lakewood Church pastor Joel Osteen, apparently caused a scene and delayed a flight to Colorado yesterday.

“She was just abusive,” said Sheila Steele, who said she was sitting behind Victoria Osteen. “She was just like one of those divas.”

A church spokesman said the couple and their children left the plane voluntarily after the incident Monday and took another flight to Vail, Colo.

However, FBI Special Agent Luz Garcia said the Osteens were asked to leave the jetliner after an “altercation.” She said Victoria Osteen “failed to comply” with instructions from the flight attendant. She added that no one was detained.

The incident delayed the flight for two hours, and passengers weren’t happy. I don’t blame them.

The St. Louis Cardinals signed pitcher Sidney Ponson to a one-year deal. Yeah, this is the kind of guy you want on your team — one who just served five days in prison for drunk driving and who previously served 11 days in jail for punching a judge.

That’s without even mentioning that he stinks as a pitcher.

This just makes my blood boil. Excuse me while I go step outside to cool off.

Thanks to Owen Seaton for the tip.

Talk about a turncoat. Johnny Damon will sign with the New York Yankees for four years and $52 million, according to reports.

Evidently the rivalry doesn’t mean as much to the players as it does to the fans.

Jeff, how do you feel about that?

Thanks to Steven for the tip.

The sale of alcohol has been banned at next week’s Monday night game between the New England Patriots and the New York Jets.

The ban comes after nine fans were arrested during the Jets-Saints game Nov. 27. One man was charged with stabbing two fans in a restroom, and a state trooper broke his leg while trying to eject a fan who reportedly threw a beer bottle.

Jets spokesman Ron Colangelo said Tuesday the ban was put in place to protect fans. The Jets and New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority made the joint decision.

A lot of football fans in New York aren’t going to be happy about this.