since it's throwback Thursday, I thought I'd post this feel good story I came across about Brian Doyle, Yankee hero and World Series star of 1978 (the year of the "Boston Massacre")...
"Today, the 60-year-old ordained minister serves as a missionary, motivational speaker and team builder as he travels around delivering God's word with his special gospel bat."
"...eight years ago when Doyle was speaking at a baseball clinic in a South American country. Doyle said he was speaking to more than 300 players when a notorious gang arrived armed with machetes.
"I had my Yankees uniform on," he said. "The leader of the gang told me he was stronger than me. I told him I was faster and offered to prove it by putting a dime in his hand and holding a penny over my head. I told him I would change the coins before he could close his hands and I did."
"I told him I would give him a brand new glove if he won," Doyle continued. I told him if I won he would have to come to my clinic. Of course, he said we cheated so I did it a second time. The deal was if he won he could have five new gloves. If I won, all of the gang had to come to the clinic."
Doyle said he won and the gang had to come to his clinic, where they learned the teachings of Jesus Christ.
He said the leader of the gang is now the praise leader of the church in Nicaragua."
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On about the 3rd day of the camp, Brian Doyle was limping around in pain and had to leave early.
The morning of the 4th day, he arrived bright and early, gathered all us campers together, and told us he had severe back trouble the day before. He said several of his fellow believers had held a prayer meeting that night, in which they'd laid hands on him and prayed for him to be healed.
He said he and all of them in the room felt the hand of God remove a tumor from his back and heal him. And praise the Lord, he had been healed and was back to spend the day with us.
All due respect to those who believe in that way, but it was really over the top for a bunch of kids who were there to play baseball.