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"Gods and Goofballs: The Blog" has moved!

To compensate for an expanded vision, the blog is now a Web site.

At www.godsandgoofballs.com, you'll find the same blog, but with more features and more interaction. Check us out, easily subscribe via e-mail and let us know what you're doing!

Thanks, and see ya there, where you too can find out who's in Candace Parker's ear.

'The biggest goofball you'll ever meet'

Someone in the College World Series is bothered by nothing.

Find out who.

Another 'God's Gym'

At 25th St. and Broadway in Oakland, owner Gary Shields lives his story. From angry youth to living testimony, Shields tells Oakland Tribune columnist Dave Newhouse why he owes his life and his business to a higher power.

Telander: 'Dear God'

A certain Chicago politician has Sun-Times columnist Rick Telander pausing in mid-sentence and saying, "Dear God."

A bidder pill to swallow :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Rick Telander

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Book excerpt

When it comes to tennis rituals, the author likes how the gods of the grass courts lug their own equipment from the locker room to the court:

Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal played greatest match at Wimbledon - Jon Wertheim - SI.com

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Will God punish Guillen again?

With a little less than eight hours before first pitch, there's still a chance the Cubs and White Sox will get it on today.

Or, scattered thunderstorms will offer Sox manager Ozzie Guillen another reason for reflection.

"God is punishing me to have a rain delay in this place," a smiling Guillen told reporters Tuesday, which eventually became a quasi off-day for both clubs.

Weather conditions postponed the series opener until Wednesday, a 4-1 Sox win.

Examiner: 'Lakers defeat Magic, and God'

You knew somebody wouldn't let this lie. The somebody in this case? Examiner.com.

"Lakers defeat Magic, and God." That's the headline to this Examiner.com article. It pins Magic center Dwight Howard to his NBA Finals prediction, the one about the Magic beating the Lakers because of God.

The Magic lost, and now Howard's left to explain. Or at least left listening to everyone else explain for him, which is sort of what the Examiner's doing.

Cross spotting

Anthony Ranaudo lasted only 3 1/3 innings tonight, but during that time he made a statement.

Ranaudo wore a cross necklace while on the hill of LSU's 9-5 win over Virginia in the College World Series. He exited the game with the bases loaded and a 3-2 lead, which remained in tact.

The Jackson, N.J., product went to St. Rose High School. He now has a 3.03 ERA for the No. 3-seeded Tigers.

Howard's advice in jeopardy

After losing to the Lakers in overtime Thursday, Dwight Howard's not doing God any favors.

Before the NBA Finals, Howard advised everyone to pick his Magic over the Lakers. His reasoning quite simply was because of God.

Howard, an outspoken Christian, once dreamed of incorporating the cross into the NBA logo. Now, trailing 3-1 to the mighty Lakers, he should be crossing his fingers.

MLB drafts a superstitious one

When Brandon Belt and Austin Wood were selected in the fifth round of the MLB draft Wednesday, it reminded GAG of the 25-inning regional they played May 30. And May 31.

Texas' victory over Boston College started on Saturday and ended on Sunday. Throughout the game, the Longhorns tried every rally cap and superstition in the book.

Texassports.com went around the horn, asking several players from that game for their take on superstitions. Belt, taken by the Giants, said he used to be superstitious but grew out of it. Wood, picked by Tigers three picks after Belt, said he puts his uniform on the same way every time, right cleat before left cleat and so-on.

Dwight Howard's pregame ritual

Ever wonder what Dwight Howard does before every game? Sure you wanna know?

He sits on "the throne of grace," which is exactly what you think it is. Hear it from the man himself.

Speaking of grace, the Magic's going to need a little if it plans on coming back against the Lakers. The NBA Finals resumes tonight.

A cross on the NBA logo?

In ninth grade, Dwight Howard posted his master plan on his bedroom wall. Alongside The Ten Commandments and a cross fixture was a handwritten list of goals.

Last but not least, Howard documented his hope to incorporate the cross into the NBA logo. He drew a sort-of faceless stick figure with two legs and no arms. On the chest, a cross, with the letters NBA next to it. All of this was circled.

See it here. (Fast forward to the 3-minute mark).

Tonight, Howard and the Magic resume play in the NBA Finals down 2-0 to the Lakers. Beforehand, Howard said to bet on the Magic because of God.

Insightful Twitter update

Spurs forward Bruce Bowen recently tweeted this: "Just met TD Jakes, I read many of his books."

When it comes to Bishop Jakes' written works, GAG personally recommends "He-motions." If you don't understand yourself better after reading it, you might just understand the Cubs' Milton Bradley a bit more.

GAG cover photo

The folded hands in the GAG blog ID above belong to Bryce Harper. The words and numbers (Luke 1:37) belong to the big man upstairs.

Behind the book, chapter and verse are the words, "For nothing is impossible with God." That might explain why the 16-year-old baseball phenom has been able to garner the nickname "Baseball's LeBron," if not originally given to him by SI then by someone else along the way.

The SI article doesn't explain Harper's viewpoint on religion or faith or those kinds of matters; writer Tom Verducci let's the photo speak for itself. On Harper's other wrist? The words "Play For Him."

Verducci did mention that Harper attends religious education classes regularly before school. Look for him every day in the big leagues in a few years, following his stint with Las Vegas High School.

More superstitions in hockey

Unlike the last post about superstitions in the Stanley Cup Finals, we're opening up the floor to Detroit's superstitious ways.

The Tribune-Review has something to say about the Penguins switching hotels because of center Sidney Crosby's superstitions and Detroit coach Mike Babcock wearing his McGill University necktie.

Superstition in Stanley Cup Finals

Compliments of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: Superstition factors in with Penguins fans.

Editor's note: GAG originally published this naked (this, as in this post) -- without anything other than the article link. But upon looking back and feeling bad for the post and bad for hockey fans who would see the other posts and quickly have post envy, we reconsidered.

Hockey deserves commentary.

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Wheaties vs. Fruity Pebbles

If it's not the water, then is it something in the cereal bowls of these high-powered athletes?

No, this isn't a post about steroids. This is a post about the cereal that Atlanta Dream forward Chamique Holdsclaw and prep phenom Bryce Harper have admitted to eating. (That's Harper on the cover of SI). Both revealed this sweet little secret to SI writers for the current issue.

According to these articles, Holdsclaw ate Fruity Pebbles in the dark while battling depression. Harper leaves empty bowls of the stuff laying around his bedroom.

Did you know that a five pack of this cereal goes for $29.99 on Amazon? More importantly, what ever happened to Wheaties?

Zambrano wins 100th

Carlos Zambrano picked up his 100th career victory Friday and hit what proved to be the game-winning home run. Not bad for someone coming back from a six-game suspension.

The perennial preseason Cy Young hopeful led the Cubs to a 2-1 win over the Reds. He's 4- 2 on the year and off to what should amount to another 15-win season.

It's no secret Zambrano credits God for his talent. In 2005, he specifically told La Voz Nueva (a publication for Hispanics in Denver, Colo.) that "it's God that gave me these talents. The physical is God-given."

As for pointing to the sky on his way to the dugout between innings, Zambrano told the Chicago Sun-Times' Lacy J. Banks this in 2006:

"I give thanks to God for that inning, be it a bad or good inning. I don't want people to think that I'm some big ... you know. I just want people to see the love of Jesus and that Jesus is true. That's why I try to show the people that I have Jesus in my heart."

Zambrano's 100th comes one day after Randy Johnson's 300th.

Will Zambrano be sky high tonight?

On the heels of Randy Johnson's 300th win Thursday, Cubs ace Carlos Zambrano takes the hill tonight in search of win No. 100.

Zambrano pointed to the heavens after he no-hit Houston last year, but things have hardly come that close to perfect for "Z" in 2009.

Zambrano's coming off a six-game suspension for losing his cool after a close play at the plate May 27. He complicated matters by missing a team flight during that off time. Supposedly though, all of the above's been worked out.

Time will tell... First pitch is at 6:10 p.m.

Johnson: 'Thankful and blessed'

Forty-five-year-old Randy Johnson won his 300th career game Thursday night.

Afterward, Johnson had this to say, and at the very end of the press conference he added that he was "very thankful and blessed." Some feel he'll be the last to ever reach this mark, making this a moment to savor.

"Gods and Goofballs" has been tracking Johnson's pursuit the past few days.

Singletary's still the man

Good to see Hall of Famer Mike Singletary sporting a cross around his neck again this year.

Singletary, the second-year head coach of the 49ers, has emerged as a leader both on and off the field since becoming a second-round draft pick out of Baylor in 1981.

In this video, learn how he's risen to the top.

Known for his wide-eyed play at middle linebacker for the Monsters of the Midway, Singletary's now known as a no-nonsense coach.

In his debut with the 49ers last year, he relegated tight end Vernon Davis to the locker room with time still left on the clock. Moments earlier, in an unrelated incident during halftime, Singletary dropped his pants to prove a point.

Wonder what he'll do next to get the 49ers over the hump.

UPDATE: Johnson goes for 300th tonight

Weather postponed Randy Johnson's first bid at career win No. 300 Wednesday. He'll go for it (again) at 3:35 p.m. today in the first game of a doubleheader.

See yesterday's post for more background and insight into Johnson, the person.

Johnson bears cross

When Randy Johnson takes the mound tonight in pursuit of win No. 300, there's a good chance he'll have his dad in mind.

During spring training, Steve Kelley of The Seattle Times interviewed Johnson and got that much out of him and more. Johnson also revealed what his tattoo symbolizes. It's a cross with the word "honor" written over it, as in to honor his late father.

(If you've found this article through the archives, please visit the right-hand side of the blog's home page for a picture of the tattoo, compliments of Sports Illustrated. Then click on that picture to read the full article).

Atheism Examiner: God on (or at?) Howard's side

The fix is in for this year's NBA Finals. A different kind of fix. No referees involved.

In this article, Dwight Howard tells ESPN to pick the Magic.

Why? Because of God.

Be the judge; otherwise, read someone else's take on Howard's comments:

Atheism Examiner: World in shambles, but God's priorities are in the right place

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