one of those… almost…

Yes, I really enjoyed reading the Harry Potter series and now I am enjoying the movies. I also read and enjoyed the Twilight series. I don’t see them as being any more damaging to human kind than Cinderella with her bibbity bobbity boo and pumpkins changing into carriages and mice into carriage drivers, or Sleeping Beauty and the poisonous apple, or Snow White and the magical mirror that identified her as being the ‘fairest in the land’. The Harry Potter series is filled with so much wisdom, more than a princess finding her prince and living happily ever after – talk about false expectations! At the Hogwarts School, there are strong female characters who sometimes have to fight their own battles. There are strong male characters who, when faced with choices between right and wrong, show the struggle they go through before choosing the right path. Many of the ‘evil’ characters are protrayed with beautiful almost perfect exteriors, covering and hiding a rotten and hideous spirit. A lot of the wisdom within the walls of the castle known as Hogwarts is attributed to Albus Dumbledore. This quote is one of my favorites:

“It is not our abilities that show who what we truly are. It is our choices”

Ain’t that the truth! Think of all those people we consider to have natural ability – like sports heroes, actors, or talented musicians – then think of the choices that many of them have made. Those people have SO much going for them – why do they choose the wrong path? The world they live in is filled with so much temptation, so much adoration. People adore these celebrities before they even meet them. And no matter what that person does, they still get that adoration. Someone can be a complete jerk and people are still clamoring to get to know them; to be close to them; to be a part of their world. Bad behavior is reinforced – because there are no bad consequences for it. I think after a while, these people we ‘adore’ now feel like normal rules don’t apply to them – and not just laws, but even normal etiquette – how to treat people.

A person may have many natural abilities or talents, but a person’s CHARACTER is not predetermined – it is built, challenged, and tested on a daily basis.

great sports quotes…

• “I’m  working as hard as I can to get my life and my cash to run out at the same  time. If I can just die after lunch Tuesday, everything will be  perfect.” ~~Doug Sanders, professional golfer
• “All the fat guys watch me and say to their wives ‘See, there’s a fat guy doing okay. Bring me another beer.'” ~~Mickey Lolich, Detroit Tigers Pitcher
• “Last year we couldn’t win at home and we were losing on the road. My failure as a coach was that I couldn’t think of anyplace else to play.” ~~Harry Neale, professional hockey coach
• “When it’s third and ten, you can take the milk drinkers; I’ll take the whiskey drinkers every time.” ~~Max McGee, Green Bay  Packers receiver
• “I found out that it’s not good to talk about my troubles. Eighty percent of the people who hear them don’t care and the other twenty percent are glad you’re having  trouble.” ~~Tommy LaSorda, LA Dodgers manager
• “My knees look like they lost a knife fight with a midget.” ~~E. J. Holub, Kansas City Chiefs linebacker regarding his 12 knee operations
• “My theory is that if you buy an ice-cream cone and make it hit your mouth, you can learn to play. If you stick it on your forehead, your chances aren’t as  good.” ~~Vic Braden, tennis instructor
• “Blind people come to the ballpark just to listen to him pitch.” ~~Reggie Jackson commenting on Tom Seaver
• “When they operated, I  told them to put in a Koufax fastball. They did – but it was Mrs. Koufax’s.” ~~Tommy John N.Y. Yankees recalling his 1974 arm surgery
• “I don’t know. I only played there for nine years.” ~~Walt Garrison, Dallas Cowboys fullback when asked if Tom Landry ever smiles
• “We  were tipping off our plays. Whenever we broke from the huddle, three backs were laughing and one was pale as a ghost.” ~~John Breen, Houston Oilers
• “The film looks suspiciously like the game itself.” ~~Bum Phillips, New Orleans Saints after viewing a lop-sided loss to the Atlanta Falcons
• “When I’m on the road, my greatest ambition is to get a standing boo.” ~~Al Hrabosky, major league relief pitcher
• “The only difference between me and General Custer is that I have to watch the films on Sunday.” ~~Rick Venturi,  Northwestern football coach
• “I have discovered, in twenty years of moving around the ball park, that the knowledge of the game is usually in inverse proportion to the price of the seats.” ~~Bill Veeck, Chicago White Sox owner
• “Because if it didn’t work out, I didn’t want to blow the whole day.” ~~Paul Horning, Green Bay Packers running back on why his marriage ceremony was before noon.
• “I have a lifetime contract. That means I can’t be fired during the third quarter if we’re ahead  and moving the ball.” ~~Lou Holtz, Arkansas football coach
• “I won’t know until my barber tells me on Monday.” ~~Knute Rockne, when asked why Notre Dame had lost a game
• “I tell him ‘Attaway to hit, George.’” ~~Jim Frey, K.C. Royals manager when asked what advice he gives George Brett on hitting
• “I learned a long time ago that “minor surgery” is when they do the operation on someone else, not  you.” ~~Bill Walton, Portland  Trial Blazers
• “Our biggest concern this season will be diaper rash.” ~~George MacIntyre, Vanderbilt football coach surveying the team roster that included 26 freshmen and 25 sophomores