Wednesday, December 22, 2010

The Game Guy Prayer

My old pal Geoffrey gave this to me when we were kids and it is still my favorite prayer. A lot of this content holds true for the game an athlete is about to play or the life he/she intends to lead.

Paul Gozzo

THE GAME GUY'S PRAYER
+Richard J. Cushing D.D.+
Archbishop of Boston

Dear God:

Help me to be a sport in this little game of life. I don't ask for any easy place in the line-up; play me anywhere You need me. I only ask for the stuff to give You one hundred-percent of what I've got. If all the hard drives seem to come my way, I thank You for the compliment. Help me to remember that You won't ever let anything come my way that You and I together can't handle.

And help me to take the bad break as part of the game. Help me to understand that the game is full of knots and knocks and trouble and make me thankful for them. Help me to be brave so that the harder they come the better I like it.

And, O God, help me to always play on the square. No matter what the other players do, help me to come clean. Help me to study the Book so that I'll know the rules and to study and think a lot about "the Greatest Player" that ever lived, and other players that are portrayed in the Book. If they found out that the best part of the game was helping other guys who were out of luck, help me to find it out too. Help me to be regular and also an inspiration with the other players.

Finally, O God, if fate seems to uppercut me with both hands and I'm laid on the shelf in sickness or old age or something, help me to take that as part of the game, too. Help me not to whimper or squeal that the game was a frame-up, or that I had a raw deal.
When, in the falling dusk I get the final bell, I ask no lying complimentary tombstones. I'd only like to know that You feel that I've been a good game guy, a saint in the game of life. AMEN.

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Avon Old Farms Hockey

This year I attended the 28th annual Avon Old Farms Christmas Classic in Avon, Connecticut.

All of the games were great as the tournament showcased some of the best talent in New England Prep school Hockey.

If you are a hockey fan, I highly recommend attending this event next year. You will get the opporunity to see some of college hockey's next group of stars before the make the next jump in their careers. Maybe even an NHL'er or two. Hall-Of-Famer, Brian Leetch, played in this tournament when he was in highschool.

Capitals vs. Penguins Winter Classic

As if this rivalry wasn't big enough, HBO's 24/7 series is adding fuel to the fire with its weekly show leading up to this year's Winter Classic.

http://www.hbo.com/sports/24-7-penguins-capitals-road-to-the-nhl-winter-classic/index.html

I (Paul Gozzo) thought the first episode was terrific and I am looking forward to the next one this Wednesday night on HBO.

Crosby vs. Ovechkin
Malkin vs. Semin

Hopefully these two teams will meet up in the playoffs this year...