Captain Comeback--Major Applewhite and the Holiday Bowl, ten years ago tonight!

(San Diego CA) Dec. 28, 2001: Holiday Bowl-Texas 47, Washington 43

Master magician QB, Major Lee Applewhite, then a 23 year old senior at UT, engineers a thrilling comeback, showing once again his gritty heroics in the fourth quarter, leading the Longhorns to victory with 27 points in the final period.

The game was played before 60,548 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, but one very serious and very tired fan was listening on a small alarm/clock radio in Houston TX. My family and a large moving van spent the day on Branard Street, unloading lots of “stuff;” packing it all into a tiny rental house. Moving all day from Dallas, the driver gave me his business card confidently as he jumped up into the truck saying, “For when you decide to move back.” (I think he was a solid Dallas-boy?!) Well, we stayed! We've loved it...

Even though underdog Univ. of Washington held tightly to a 36-20 lead at the start of the 4th quarter, QB Applewhite, who now coaches for the Longhorns, led his offense to 4 last-frame touchdowns, the final thrust occurring with just 0:38 left on the fancy scoreboard, forever cementing his place in NCAA bowl history. It was his last game in burnt orange & white, assuring another top-ten finish for Texas in the BCS voting.

Exhausted by the time we put our 6-month old daughter down in her crib, we collapsed on our queen-mattress amidst the piled brown boxes. But I awakened later in the night, remembering the big game! Frantically searching for a radio, because the TV was not anywhere near an electrical outlet; I found a small alarm/clock radio and sitting with it in my lap, I listened to the miracle comeback. It turned into a Longhorn keepsake.

Simms versus Applewhite dominated the discussion that fall in Austin, the future coach as disparate from the future bust as could be. Always rooting for a redhead when I can, Major Applewhite burned a place in my memory unlike any other Longhorn legend.

A lot has happened during the decade that has slipped by without realizing it. During the ten-years elapsed, the family was given a boy to raise also, the Longhorns won a national championship led by another unique QB, the most popular Houston corporation is gone, and I am beginning a new career, in another business from that which caused me to move in the first place.

Hard to believe that on the tenth anniversary of that day, the Texas team with an historic RB coach, Major Applewhite, returns to the same field he dominated a decade earlier.

Starting another life in one of the most dynamic southern cities in the US, ten years ago tonight, Major Applewhite finished his fabulous career as a Texas player with one of the best comeback victories in the annals of UT sports. It was one of the most stirring radio broadcasts I have ever heard; I went to sleep happy that dark night in Houston! #hookem Major.

[Texas plays California tonight on ESPN in the Holiday Bowl. Longhorns are favored by 3 points.]

©Mark H. Pillsbury

Introducing Timeline -- a New Kind of Profile - YouTube

Introducing Timeline -- a New Kind of Profile - YouTube:

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Who the heck is Andy Sparks? 

Whereas the old #fb might have been healthy narcissism-lite, within the next few weeks, whether you have the time to review whatever you have previously put on Facebook, you will be asked to change to a new feature. Timeline is what Facebook would have you believe is a beautiful, powerful, compelling, fulfilling, innovation that appears to me as really just narcissism with a capital N!

The Timeline interface is Facebook’s most radical change thus far, and should help differentiate Facebook from other social networking programs that hope to compete with it, such as Google®

photo credit: freefoto.com


Would you like your whole personal history laid out by month-by-month, all the way back to your birth, like Andy Sparks? I am not sure the traction my life has in the marketplace, but maybe Timeline will rev-up interest in the “new” slicker, packaged, Mark Pillsbury. But when are they going to make me do it? That is the important question!

If you voluntarily decide to switch to Timeline now, you’ll have (7) seven days to make changes to your profile before Facebook pushes it live onto the worldwide platform. You can make it public yourself anytime within the one-week period. These guys from Palo Alto don't mess around.

Timeline is like a digital scrapbook with OCD, collecting every detail, no matter how trivial, in chronological order; however businesses pay Facebook to feature posts and activity mentioning their brands within your timeline with priority, amounting to “product placement” in the movie of your life. That is how Facebook will generate stacks and stacks of advertising cheddar.

Trust me, the ads that currently pop-up over on the right are getting smarter because of this feature and Facebook is very powerful even though it seems to be free.

Let me know how you like it, friends: www.facebook.com/mark.pillsbury

What does Christmas mean?

Photo credit: ACTA

What does Christmas mean?

In a world where weakness is pitied, morality is what works, materialism grabs our attention, and the motive power for many is gaining just enough happiness to feel good; the story of Jesus Christ astounds with unlikely messages. For believers, it turns “strength” upside down, and causes assessment of modern thinking.

God himself steps off the multi-universe throne to inhabit a virgin’s womb, borne in a middle-eastern cow stall, with only a few witnesses; quickly travelling a great distance with his poor parents to avoid doom? The eternal Son of God took on humanity — two natures, one person; such an outrageous tale seems poorly written if it were merely a story.

The Lord Jesus Christ appears as a helpless baby; his final destination is destruction on a cross? Not a powerful metaphor for a coming King, but essential in the context and purpose of his life. He lived a perfect life of obedience because we cannot; he died as a ransom for our sins. I know it is presumptuous of me to characterize the Christmas story this way, but in the minds of many this season, passing by without concern, there is no need of absolution. The national Christmas tree at the Capitol has no ornaments about Jesus or Christmas; in some circles, He is not relevant.

Nevertheless, the baby’s birth in the tiny city of Bethlehem changed the course of world history. His life of service, humility, and righteousness was a glorious example of sacrificial love. Dismissing it as myth or impossible, is to lack the fidelity to Jesus necessary for belief in the whole Bible. Christians must face the fact that a denial of the virgin birth is a denial of Jesus as the Christ.

John Sartelle says, “In the incarnation, the creating Son came to redeem and restore His creation. His miracles were designed to prove His divine identity. With each miracle He was declaring, “So that you may know I am the eternal Son.” He made the blind to see, the paralyzed to walk, and the dead to live. His miracles also demonstrated His purpose to redeem and restore His creation. Everywhere the creator Son saw the effects of the fall on His creation, and He repaired the wounds and injuries, and pushed back the darkness.”

His entry is unconventional? His life not regal? Death at the hands of Romans tragic and untimely? Jesus came as the pure Lamb of God in order to be the sacrifice prophesied in the Old Testament, in a blatantly supernatural way. Indeed, the Christmas story is at the beginning of a long theological journey through the New Testament, leading to the passion of the cross. As unlikely as it seems, what starts on Christmas leads to Easter!

Immanuel, meaning God is one of us, was the real son of a real mother. The virgin birth is the starting point of the gospel. During this time of year, when so much of Christmas is shiny, glossy, new, liberal and modern; why not take some time to look back to historic Bethlehem, to an obscure little family ordered to return home for the census?

Incarnation is a big word, but it means that God decided to become one of his enemies, salvation coming through menial condescension; in other words, God decided to lower himself and enter into the lives of sinners, posers, liars, and the fallen human race. It seems bizarre?!

A little baby, born to walk a life of obedience toward the calling set out before him; agreeing with his Father that amazing grace would take an astounding work on the cross. Christmas is the beginning. It ends on hill with a crucifixion. That is the real meaning of Christmas, Charlie Brown.

As with every birth, every gift of life, there is hope! We don’t have to rely on our own works; Jesus did the work required to stand in our place. Why must a perfect man be convicted of sin he did not commit? Why Jesus makes the exchange for our sin, becoming man in an act of love and understanding? These are mysteries as perplexing as the virgin birth in Bethlehem. These are things to ponder as you look out into the dark winter sky.

©Mark H. Pillsbury

Gingrich Is Inspiring—and Disturbing - WSJ.com

Gingrich Is Inspiring—and Disturbing - WSJ.com:

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Penetrating, sobering, incisive, thoughtful, fascinating, creative, leading-edge, stimulating, charming, and talented political prose about the rise of GOP candidate Newt Gingrich by Wall Street Journal columnist Peggy Noonan.

She continually writes opinions that make me think long and hard about a topic. Thank you Peggy!

Scale - Google®

Scale - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

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The Scale of Google®

how many search queries does Google® take per day?  A billion?

how much electricity does it consume?

how much storage capacity does it own?

how many streets have been photographed on Google®Earth?

how much private data is gathered by StreetView® cars as they photograph the world's streets?

how much G-mail does it store?

can one Google® answers to these questions?

In Canada, Royal Couple Comfort Cancer Patient with Only Weeks to Live - Urban Christian News

In Canada, Royal Couple Comfort Cancer Patient with Only Weeks to Live - Urban Christian News:

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While the royal couple, William and Kate visited Canada in July 2011, they took the time to speak to an Ottawa man with terminal cancer, 47 year old Terry Joyce.

[From Canadian news reports:  It was a touching moment that reduced Mr. Joyce, who lives in the Bruyere Hospice, to tears. He said: “This has given me a tremendous lift. It goes to show that we have a wonderful monarchy and we really need people like this. I was told a week ago I would be meeting them and I have been looking forward to it ever since. It has been one of the best days of my life.”]

As we watched the report of this tonight on NBC, we were able to share with our children what happened to Princess Diana; but more importantly we told them that she was compassionate with people with AIDS and victims of land mine explosions, recovering in hospitals. We told them that even though she was dead, she would have been proud of her son's behavior in Canada, last July.

William took the time during an amazingly busy schedule in Canada to speak over 5 minutes personally with Terry Joyce, who later said it was "the best day of his life." Observing the video of how William asked Kate to come over to speak, and the gentle way they comforted Mr. Joyce as he sat in a wheelchair was the most remarkable part of the trip in my opinion. As much as Brits criticize their royals, it was a heartwarming show of love for a common (dying) Canadian. It was the perfect example of public relations, humility, and love of people. William and Kate seem like they were born for their duties.

We explained that everyone wants to be around royal couples, but the genuine love that comes when one human recognizes the terminal condition of someone else, and treats them with dignity and respect; transcends celebrity or fame. Whether royal or common, we explained, people love to associate with others who take notice of their plight, communicate honestly, and show a true regard for our shared lives as fellow humans.

I think Princess Diana took her sons with her to all the corners of the earth, often in dirty, uncomfortable situations, to inculcate them with a regard for all human beings whatever their circumstances. Compassionate leadership comes from an internal force of character, not a position in a royal family. Love for one's fellow man, or even "subjects," as in Canada, comes from identification of one's struggles, whether cancer, or losing a dear mother at a young age. This trip was a great start for the new royal couple, and they now have a fan in Texas. I can't wait to meet them someday!

Postscript: Terry Joyce passed away from Cancer in Ottawa, 52 days after being warmly greeted by the royal couple.

©Mark H. Pillsbury

Tebow top ten list

Sunday 12.11.2011:

I saw another Tebow miracle tonight, and at our house we can’t stop talking about this remarkable young man. But what makes him different than any other professional athlete interviewed at the end of the game?

What about his "persona" seems to lift the Broncos to a higher level of performance, if not at least in the fourth quarter?

What he lacks in pure skills he more than makes up with team leadership, confidence under pressure, humility in success, fierce competitiveness, and an other-worldly ability to rally the troops to not quit.

Watching Tebow interviewed after the victory (7th in a row, 5th coming from behind) over Chicago made me think that his interviews in postgame are very different than one normally sees. (My top ten list how, below)

10.  He seems shocked that he won again. Tebow claims the other guys on the offensive side of the ball make him look better than he really is. Really?!

9.  His smile starts the interview off with a disarming glow.

8.  He acknowledges the Lord Jesus Christ first, before he answers the initial question.

7.  Tebow’s overall attitude is one of sincere thankfulness, not "expectation."  He is evidence that God can make even weak men successful if that is God's will. (other examples: David, Joseph, Moses, Peter). But does God have anything at all to do with the NFL?

6.  After the first question, about 80% of viewers are uncomfortable, but is it because this sort of attitude is so unusual?!

5.  The other players are given credit, not his performance, even though the other players are not asked the questions.

4.  Tebow assumes that teamwork is the higher calling resulting in the success of the last 8 weeks, not his own role as the most important position on the field.

3.  He uses jargon like “belief” “faith” “special” “god bless you” “encouragement” “team” (these are words that most professional athletes do not use!)

2. “Christianity is like smoking," said Larry Taunton, "You can do it, but only in the designated areas. Don't bring it into the public arena.” (see #6 above)

But the number one reason the Tebow effect is so interesting:

1. People are praying for this young man. The power of prayer is subversive, anti-worldly, and mysteriously engaging. Thinking prayer is worthwhile takes faith, and watching the secular world blanch at Tebow is almost as much fun as watching his comebacks!

©Mark H. Pillsbury