The System

This is the newest book on my Kindle.  It has two chapters that were recently excerpted in the DesNews.  If the rest of the book is as good as these two chapters, this may well be one of the best books that I've read in a long time:

Kyle Van Noy:

Kyle Van Noy Awaits the Snap...

Kyle is one of the best linebackers in the country last year and this year.  He is likely going to be a very high draft pick in the NFL draft this Spring.  He basically won BYU's bowl game last December (against San Diego State) single-handedly--even though he is a defensive player--by blocking a punt, intercepting a pass which he returned for a touchdown, and forcing a fumble which he then returned for a touchdown.

For a defensive player to score two touchdowns in a bowl game is almost unheard of.  He's had a great career at BYU...but he almost didn't come to BYU.  Here is the backstory behind Van Noy's decision to come to BYU:

• Part 1
• Part 2
• Part 3

Kyle Van Noy is one of the reasons that I love BYU and I love BYU football.  No he is not perfect, but none of us are.  His decision to sit out an entire season so that he could come to BYU is admirable (and almost beyond belief).  It would have been very easy for him to go to another school and tell himself that he was going to make the changes necessary to get his life back in order at that other school.  But he didn't do that.  He knew that he was supposed to be at BYU and he made the necessary sacrifices so that he could attend (and play for) BYU.

I'm excited to see what Van Noy can accomplish at BYU this season, in his NFL career, and in life.  But in the meantime, I'll feel good cheering for him (and the rest of the Cougars) this Fall.

Bronco Mendenhall:

Bronco shows some emotion on the sidelines

How can you not like Bronco Mendenhall?  First of all, he's got a great name.  Second, he is loyal.  Third, his teams play with energy and passion.  I remember when he was first hired as BYU's defensive coordinator, I used to root for his defense to take the field because Bronco's defense at BYU was more exciting to watch than BYU's offense.  At a school known for its high-powered passing attack like BYU, this represented a fundamental paradigm shift.  (Of course, this was in the Gary Crowton years when the offense was a bit stagnant).

Here's the excerpt about Bronco from the book:

• "The True Story of How BYU Came to Hire Bronco Mendenhall"

I love that Bronco was loyal to his friend Gary Crowton.  I love that Bronco's players were loyal to him and went to the school's administration to support him.  And I love that one of the first things that Bronco did after getting hired was to get on his knees and pray.  (I can relate to feeling so overwhelmed with a new assignment that I felt like I needed to pray for guidance.)  

Anyway, I'm grateful that it's football season and I'm grateful for the opportunity to cheer for the Cougars.  Maybe if I'm lucky, I'll actually be able to see a game this season.  In person.  Go Cougs!!!!

On Volunteering

Ironman Florida Finisher Medal

I've blogged about how I've been inspired by the volunteers who help at the races that I do.  We really couldn't have the experience that we do--or even do the race--without those volunteers.  They are great and one of the reason that I love doing these Ironman races is because the volunteers make me feel like a rock star!

I came across this video the other day on the Facebook page for Ironman Florida.  I thought it was an amazing, inspirational video and I wanted to share it (partly because I can use some good news following last night's debacle!):

After watching this, I decided that I need to do something to give back.  It's a little early for a New Year's Resolution, but that's okay.  I want to find a race or event next years where I can be a volunteer and cheer on the participants.  Anyone have any suggestions?

The In Crowd

L-->R: Chy Johnson and Carson Jones

 I admit it. I'm a sucker for feel good stories, especially those that involve sports.  Did you see this one?

Chy Jones is a sophomore in Queen Creek, Arizona.  She has a brain disorder that affects her development and she basically has the mental development of a third grader.  She was being bullied at school.  Mean girls threw trash at her.  Her mom didn't know what to do, but watched helplessly as her cheerful, sunny-dispositioned daughter grew to dread going to school every day.

In desperation, Chy's mom reached out to a kid in her Mormon ward congregation who also went to school with Chy--Carson Jones--the senior starting quarterback for the football team.  Chy's mom asked Carson Jones if he could find out who was doing the bullying--so that Chy's mom could do something--anything.

Instead, Carson Jones found Chy at school and asked Chy to sit at his table during lunch and eat with him and his teammates.  Chy has eaten with the team every day since.  Miraculously, the bullying stopped.  Chy calls the football team "My Boys" because she knows that they look out for her and care about her.

This is the type of story that illustrates all that is good about our kids, high school sports, and our humanity.  Oh, by the way, Carson Jones is planning on serving a mission next year, has a 4.0+ GPA, and has the football team undefeated on the season!

The story has gone national.  Please read Rick Reilly's outstanding article here...

Here is a DesNews article as well:

No Man Left Behind

Ben Baltz, 11 Years Old, Is Carried Across The Finish Line by
Marine Private First Class Matthew Morgan, 19 years old
(Photo taken by Kim Baltz)

I heard about this story on the radio yesterday.  It touched me--not just because I love doing triathlons--but because it's the type of "feel-good", inspirational story that we need more of these days.  I later stumbled across the story on the net and felt like I had to share it!

Here's the gist of what happened:

Ben Baltz is 11 years old and he's also a bone cancer survivor.  The cancer took one of his legs.  On Sunday, he was competing in a triathlon in Pensacola, Florida (the Sea Turtle Tri).  Ben completed the swim and bike portions without any problems, but during the run, a screw in his prosthetic leg came loose and fell off.  Ben fell down as well.

Pfc. Matthew Morgan, a United States Marine (from San Diego) who was volunteering at the event came over to help.  Ben struggled to fix his prosthetic leg but realized he couldn't do it on his own.  At that point in time, Mathew picked Ben up and said: "Hey, you're going to be taken home by the Marines today."

Other Marines who were volunteering lined up into a column of twos and they all ran to the finish together.

I loved this quote from Pfc. Morgan: "He was going to finish the race no matter what, but I told him to jump on and we finished the race together," Morgan said."

You can read the full story here.

The Marine Volunteers from the Camp Pendleton Triathlon

The story reminded me of the many Marines that volunteer at the Camp Pendleton Triathlon that our family does every year.  I've always admired them and this story and made me more grateful for their efforts as well as the efforts of all of the other volunteers of the many races that I've done (especially all the volunteers from the St. George Ironman!).

I love the challenge of doing these races, but I love even more the inspiration that people like Ben Baltz--as he conquers the challenges in his life--and Pfc. Matthew Morgan--as he reminds us of that quote attributed to Abraham Lincoln--give us:

"No man stands so tall as when he stoops to help a child."

Semper Fi!