Tim Ellsworth

Justin Taylor has an interview with Robert P. George, McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence at Princeton University, about Roe v. Wade. An excerpt:

The justices who manufactured a right to abortion in Roe violated and dishonored the very Constitution they purported to interpret by substituting their own moral and political judgments for those of the elected representatives of the people. Their ruling was a gross usurpation by the judiciary of the authority vested by the Constitution in the people themselves, acting through the constitutionally prescribed institutions of republican democracy. As dissenting Justice Byron White put it, Roe was nothing more than an exercise of “raw judicial power.” It was not merely an incorrect decision, but an anti-constitutional one.

Drew leads Baylor’s turnaround
Former C-N star now lives out faith in NFL
Tigers, Robertson agree to contract
Roussin leads CBU to win
OBU holds off Arkansas-Monticello
Locke: Of steroids and sin

A story in today’s Wall Street Journal addresses the issue of churches who take seriously the Bible’s instructions to practice church discipline.

While many Christians find such practices outdated, pastors in large and small churches across the country are expelling members for offenses ranging from adultery and theft to gossiping, skipping service and criticizing church leaders.

Unfortunately, only a small percentage of churches are willing to obey the biblical commands to discipline wayward members. The story cites estimates from scholars that only 10-15 percent of Protestant evangelical churches practice church discipline.

And while many churches might be willing to discipline for offenses such as adultery, sadly, they’re not willing to discipline for such issues as “skipping service and criticizing church leaders.” I know a lot of churches that could have been spared so much heartache and division if the church had obediently and lovingly disciplined those who were habitual gossips and consistent critics of church leaders.

This is not a matter of interpretation, as the biblical commands to practice church discipline are abundantly clear. It’s a simple matter of obedience. And it’s too bad that so many churches are more concerned about offending some of their members than they are in promoting holiness.

Hat tip: Denny Burk

Have a good weekend.

Baseball owners have given Bud Selig a three-year contract extension.

Seriously? Good grief. Nobody in the world needs to be fired more than Bud Selig does.

I originally posted this back in September, but given New England’s presence in the AFC championship game against San Diego this weekend, thought it would be appropriate to post again. Good stuff.

UPDATE: The embedded video was taking a long time to load, so I removed it. If you want to see the video, go here.

Former major leaguer Doug Glanville has an interesting op-ed piece in today’s New York Times about steroids, aging and fear.

The newest round of Congressional hearings danced around Miguel Tejada, the remorse of baseball leadership and a lot of could haves, should haves, and might haves. Moving forward, we must openly address not only the drug issues plaguing the sports we love, but the culture of fear that shakes our society.

We’re scared of failure, aging, vulnerability, leaving too soon, being passed up — and in the quest to conquer these fears, we are inspired by those who do whatever it takes to rise above and beat these odds. We call it “drive” or “ambition,” but when doing “whatever it takes” leads us down the wrong road, it can erode our humanity. The game ends up playing us.

I’ve been a Glanville admirer ever since I read this article by Jayson Stark about the video game exploits of Glanville and Curt Schilling.

“Not enough attention is paid to the off-the-field motivators that create nasty on-field grudges,” Glanville revealed. “I believe video atrocities top the list. Curt Schilling assassinated my lovable Dwarf Paladin in EverQuest, happily smiling as his character stood in the safety of the town guards. That can create serious internal friction.”

Another great quote from Glanville:

“Schill has to live with what he has done,” Glanville said. “He can tell whatever story he wants, but the facts are the facts. Bingbong was set up, led to an untimely death in the prime of his life for no other reason than pure malice. Things like that do not go unavenged. Sometimes it spills out onto the field of play.”

Mike Huckabee and Barack Obama win in Iowa. John McCain and Hillary Clinton win New Hampshire. Mitt Romney and Clinton win Michigan (although given the situation on the Democratic side, the win for Clinton was much less meaningful).

If anybody tells you they know how the primaries are ultimately going to shake out, they’re full of it.  Nonetheless, if you’d like to make your predictions about the winners, go right ahead. If you’d like to try to convince someone to support your candidate, feel free. I’m still not 100 percent certain who I’m voting for, although I’m probably leaning toward Romney.

My predictions: John McCain and Hillary Clinton.

Got another radio interview today, again about my most recent column. This one’s on the Coach To Coach Radio Show with Ronnie Cottrell and Dave Wilson, on WRJM FM 93.7, the largest news talk FM radio station in South Alabama that also reaches western Georgia and the Florida panhandle.

I’ll be on about 5:10 p.m. Central time. If you go to the Coach to Coach site, on the right side of the page there’s a link where you can listen live.

This afternoon I’ll be on Supertalk 97.7 to talk about my most recent column. If you’re interested, I believe you can listen to the station through its website. I’ll be on sometime around 2:15-2:30 Central time.

The St. Louis Cardinals and Toronto Blue Jays have reportedly agreed to a Scott Rolen-Troy Glaus swap, pending the passing of physicals by both players.

Hat tip: Scott 

Cowboys’ Henry recounts tough childhood
Packers’ players believe in power of prayer
Beijing: A city of opportunity
Locke: The meaning of sports
Ellsworth: Lowering the bar

During the telecast of the Music City Bowl between FSU and Kentucky, ESPN college football analyst Ed Cunningham made a statement that left me shaking my head.

FSU coach Bobby Bowden got it right in his comments about the matter, and placed the blame squarely where it belongs – on the shoulders of the players who cheated.

Read the rest of my column at BP Sports.

Have a good weekend.

Unless the St. Louis Cardinals do something dramatic by Opening Day — or a lot of somethings dramatic — their lineup is going to be one of the ugliest lineups I’ve seen in St. Louis in a long time.

Here’s the way it’s looking right now:

1B-Albert Pujols
2B-Adam Kennedy
3B-Scott Rolen
SS-Cesar Izturis/Brendan Ryan
LF-Chris Duncan
CF-Colby Rasmus/Rick Ankiel/Skip Schumaker
RF-Ankiel/Ryan Ludwick
C-Yadier Molina

Rotation: Adam Wainwright, Braden Looper, Joel Pineiro, Matt Clement, Anthony Reyes

Aside from Pujols, the infield is one huge question mark. Will Rolen still be with the team in April? What will his production be like? Up the middle is a nightmare. Kennedy and Izturis? That’s enough to throw me into a fit of convulsions.

The outfield could provide some pop with Duncan, Ankiel and Ludwick, but it’ll also lead the league in strikeouts — probably by far. It’d be great if Colby Rasmus would claim the center field job, but you certainly can’t expect him to tear it up as a rookie.

Wainwright has the makings of an ace, but after him there’s a bunch of nothing in the rotation.

Who in the world is going to get on base ahead of Pujols? He almost didn’t reach the 100 RBI mark this past season. With the players he’ll have around him, he’ll be fortunate to get there in 2008.

Can this team even win 75 games? I don’t see how. Unless things change, my prediction for the season is 74-88 and a fifth place finish.