"Transplant Games of America" to be held in Michigan

When the National Kidney Foundation (NFK) did not announce the location of the 2012 U.S. Transplant Games during the closing ceremonies of the 2010 Games, the ones of us who were there knew something was up. So, when the NKF announced last May that it would not be holding the 2012 U.S. Transplant Games, we were not surprised. T.J. Maciak decided that someone needed to figure out a way to put on a similar event instead. He knew how important the olympic-style games are to many in the transplant community and felt that he had to make something happen. So, he founded the Transplant Games of America and put together a plan to hold them July 28-31, 2012 at Grand Valley State University in Michigan.

The current schedule of events includes :

• 5K run
• badminton
• cycling
• basketball
• golf
• swimming
• tennis
• table tennis
• volleyball
• track and field
• bowling
• racquetball

If you are an organ transplant recipient and are interested in participating, you can visit the Transplant Games of America website (click here) for more information.

Source : woodtv.com article titled Transplant Games Coming to W. Michigan

No U.S. Transplant Games in 2012

After my heart transplant in 2007, I participated in the U.S. Transplant Games in both 2008 (Pittsburgh, PA) and 2010 (Madison, WI). Last Friday, the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) sent out the e-mail below to games participants stating that The Games will not be held in 2012.

NKF SUSPENDS U.S. TRANSPLANT GAMES IN 2012

WilI Re-Examine Model in Light of Economic Conditions,

Programs to Encourage Organ Donation Continue.

The National Kidney Foundation will not be hosting the U.S. Transplant Games in 2012.

“For 20 years,” says NKF CEO John Davis, “the NKF U.S. Transplant Games have educated the public about the life-saving power of organ donation and dramatically demonstrated that those with transplants can and do lead normal and active lives. But the Games represent a multi-million dollar expense for the foundation,” he explains, “that also requires a significant commitment of staff resources.”

“Now,” Davis says, “when most Americans view transplantation as almost routine surgery that restores life, we will re-examine the format and financial structure of the Games, to achieve maximum impact and to ensure sustainability going forward. As always, we will work with a range of constituents and supporters to accomplish this.”

Since 1990, the biennial Olympic-style event has served to showcase the success of transplantation, promote health and fitness for transplant recipients and recognize and honor donor families and living donors.

“We want to thank the thousands of transplant athletes, living donors, donor families, medical professionals, supportive family members and volunteers who have worked so hard to make the NKF U.S. Transplant Games so successful over the years,” says NKF Senior Vice President for Programs Gigi Politoski.

“Special thanks to dozens of corporate sponsors for their support of the Games and our athletes. We could not have conducted the U.S. Transplant Games for 20 years without their generosity and enthusiasm and look forward to their continuing participation and partnership as we explore ways to restructure the Games.”

NKF will continue to direct its resources to helping ensure that every American who needs a transplant receives one. NKF’s far-reaching END THE WAIT! initiative offers a comprehensive action plan to address the shortage of available kidneys for transplant and to end the wait for those on the list by instituting best practices across the country and eliminating barriers to organ donation.

In addition to END THE WAIT!, NKF will continue to offer print and on-line publications and other resources for transplant recipients, donor families and living donors. A full range of educational materials can be found on the NKF website – www.kidney.org. Perspective living donors, transplant recipients, and donor families can also access the NKF Cares patient information help line.

For complete information about donation and transplantation please visit www.kidney.org/transplantation/. To participate in NKF’s on-going programs and services, click here.

My friends and family know that I'm not one to mince words. I generally speak my mind and call it like I see it. So, I'm not gonna hold back on this "announcement" either even though the NKF is a great organization which provides needed, beneficial services for a lot of people.

I felt that the e-mail was rather tacky and insensitive. I was appalled by the statement by NKF CEO John Davis that a transplant has become "... almost routine surgery." Apparently he has not had a transplant. If he had, he would understand why thousands of us transplant recipients can testify to the fact that it's anything but "routine." Perhaps he should try it sometime to see for himself how "routine" it is. It's not a walk in the park. Furthermore, if transplantation is so "routine," why do approximately 19 Americans still die every single day because the right donor match doesn't come in time ? Does that sound "routine" to you ? He also implies in his statement that the U.S. Transplant Games are no longer relevant as a tool for raising public awareness about the importance of organ donation. He's wrong. At each of The Games I've attended, the local community was impacted very positively for the cause of organ and tissue donation. In my opinion, Davis' comments show that he is out of touch with reality in regards to organ transplants and that someone else should be the NKF CEO.

I hope The Games resume someday. However, I suspect that in order for that to happen some substantial corporate sponsorship(s) will have to be secured. I don't think that's likely to happen anytime soon.

Team Tennessee athlete set U.S. record in Madison

In addition to winning four medals in the 2010 U.S. Transplant Games, Vicki Geist, of Team Tennessee, set a record in the 400-meter run. She lives just outside Knoxville and attended The Games for the very first time this year. It was partly due to the fact that her son her told her that she wasn't "athletic." So, she set out to prove him wrong. Hopefully, he has enjoyed "eating crow."

Vicki was one of my Team Tennessee teammates. It was a pleasure to get to know her and her family while in Madison. I knew she had done very well, but I did not know she had set the 400 meter record. Congratulations to her. She earned it. You can read the entire story on KnoxNews.com titled "Organ Transplant Recipient Sets Record as She Realizes Dream" here.

The Sheepdog is back on post

After returning from The Games, I decided to take a break from blogging and get caught up on some things I'd been putting off for awhile. I had just been too busy. Some of those include some changes and improvements to the blog and the website such as a new blog template, new background, and new color scheme. I have also added a slideshow of pictures from The Transplant Games. Music lovers will enjoy the added playlist of tunes with artists from the '80s as well as the present. Artists include Third Day, Cinderella, .38 Special, Toby Mac, John Mellencamp, Skillet, and several others. Enjoy them as you browse around the blog. If you like your music loud, then there's some stuff here that's definitely "crankable." If you get in trouble at work for playing the music too loud, don't blame me. You were warned (ha, ha).

The website has been modified and additional information added, also. You can check it out at www.TheSecondChanceSheepdog.com. If you do your online shopping at Amazon.com, my website and blog are affiliates. On my "Shop" page and elsewhere on the website and at the bottom of my blog, you can make your online purchases and help me keep the website online in the process. It costs money to host it and I would appreciate your support as I receive a small commission on any Amazon.com purchase made by linking through my site.

Lastly, during the break, I've been working on a new three-part blog series that will start next Monday, August 23, 2010 and run Monday, Wednesday, and Friday next week. I'm calling it, "Sheepdog on the Warpath." Some are gonna love it and some are gonna hate it. Some are gonna be shocked. I'm running the series because I've got some "bones to pick" with some well-known political organizations including The National Rifle Association (NRA) who are up first on Monday. When the series concludes Friday, some people are gonna be scratching their heads and asking, "Who let the (Sheep)Dog out ??"

In the meantime, I'll run some other stories this week before declaring war starting next Monday. Stay tuned.

PLEASE NOTE : Unfortunately, the playlist had to to be removed from this blog. For some unknown reason it was causing the blog to crash. I apologize.

2010 U.S. Transplant Games - Wrap Up

View of downtown Madison, WI from across Lake Monona.

Thank goodness we are home from The Games. We departed Madison, WI at 6:20 A.M. CDT on Wednesday and arrived back home at 4:40 P.M that afternoon. I can't remember when I've been soooo happy to cross the Tennessee state line. We had some good times on the trip, but it will mostly be remembered as one of disappointment and an opportunity that slipped away .... again.

The main bright spot that I will remember from the trip is the beautiful scenery that we enjoyed driving through Illinois. There were corn and soybean fields washed in bright green all along the interstate for as far as you could see (below). They were only broken up by the occasional barn, farmhouse, or silo. In some areas, the fields would have tall hardwood forests and rivers running through them. All I could think of was that it was a deer hunter's paradise - peaceful, beautiful, quiet, and clean.

As I said before The Games, these were probably my last. The physical and mental toll has been brutal. The visits to the chiropractor twice and three times a week for my arthritic back, dislocated fingers, and a sore shoulder have been a bit much. Then, there's the mental and emotional strain of enduring the physical toll, working so hard to try to win, and then not achieving the goal desired. I did it, however, as a way of honoring the Lord, my donor Kent and his family, and because winning a sports competition is something I've never done but wanted to badly. However, it's become apparent that it's simply not worth it as my body is not physically able to handle it. I won't say I'll never go again, but it's not likely that I will. Plus, I'd hate to have to pull a "Brett Favre." It would have to be the perfect situation where it's either close by or in a city that my wife and I have been wanting to visit.

Lastly, I want to thank everyone again for their support whether it was through prayer, finances, or encouragement. Now, it's time to take some time away from blogging and regroup. Might be a good weekend to go shootin'. Viva la Second Amendment !!

2010 U.S Transplant Games - Day 5

Stick a fork in me - I'm done. Bowling was a disappointment again today. I only managed a 420 series and was no where near the medals. Jim bowled much better than I did in his competition but came up short, also. The one bright spot was he won a new Storm bowling ball in the drawing that was held. At least one of is taking some hardware home.

Just want to say thank you to everyone who supported us with monetary donations, prayers, and other support. We couldn't have made the trip without you. We will head home bright and early in the morning. I personally cannot wait to get home. I was so convinced that this was Jim and mine's year to win medals due to all the little positive signs God left along the way. I was so confident coming into the competitions because of them. Apparently, I misread something along the way because these Games have not went the way I thought they would.

Once I get home, it'll be time to start getting ready to do something I'm fairly good at - killing deer. The heck with bowling. Bow season starts September 25th and venison tastes much better than a bowling ball.

2010 U.S Transplant Games - Day 4

After, my update yesterday, Joy and I spent the evening watching Team Tennessee play basketball. They defeated Team Philadelphia convincingly in their first game 16-8. However, in a wild and exciting second game, they were defeated by Team Nebraska 34-26 and eliminated from the tournament.

Today, we drove over to the University of Wisconsin campus to watch the track and field events. However, no parking was available, so we did not stay because we realized time was running out on us before the Donor Recognition Ceremony. Before leaving the campus, we snapped this great picture looking out over Lake Mendota.

We were unable to attend the Donor Recognition Ceremony at the 2008 Games in Pittsburgh so we wanted to make sure we made it to this one. The ceremony is designed to honor not only the thousands of organ and tissue donors across the country who have given the gift of life to so many and improved the lives of others, but also to honor the donor families. Personal testimonies were given by both organ and tissue recipients but also by donor family members. There were not many dry eyes afterward. Songs were sung and a poem was read by actor and liver recipient Larry Hagman.

As I wrap up for today, I just want to briefly go back to the bowling competition from yesterday. I said yesterday that the the bronze medalist, which was Team Wisconsin, had bowled an 1156. That was incorrect. We learned today that they only bowled a 1039 which was only 119 pins better than what Jim and I did. It was the gold medalists, Team Philadelphia, that bowled the 1156. That being said, it does appear that we may have let an opportunity get away from us again. I have mixed emotions about that. On one hand it is disappointing because if we had bowled better in game 1 of our 3 game series, we might have had a shot at it. On the other hand, it makes me feel even better than I did yesterday about the fact that we didn't lay down and quit after the bad game 1. We kept fighting and actually made a pretty good run at it. We at least "skeered 'em" and made them work for it.

If I can add a bit of humor, also. When I looked at the results today, I noticed that we finished 6th out of 13. In 2008, we were 5th out of 6. So, we beat a bunch more teams this time !! I also got to thinking about Kent and Jack. I can imagine they were watching yesterday and cheering their heads off. Both of them were HUGE University of Tennessee football fans. Yesterday, Jim and I beat Team Kentucky by over 70 pins and Team Florida by over 230. We didn't just beat Florida - we smoked 'em !! I guess you could say Tennessee finally beat Florida and I bet Kent and Jack were thrilled.

Tomorrow, Jim and I bowl again in the singles competition at 9 AM. We will be up against many of the guys we competed against Sunday. It will likely be the last time we will compete in a Transplant Games event. We want to bowl much better tomorrow and know we have to if we want to win. Jim can do it. However, I know that on my own, I cannot. I am not a good enough bowler. However, with everyone's prayers and God's help, I can.

I can imagine Kent and Jack already getting the popcorn and ice tea ready to watch the games tomorrow. Something tells me they're saying something to the effect of, "Lay another beatdown on Florida and Kentucky, but this time include those other teams, too."

Lord willing, that's exactly what we'll do.

2010 U.S Transplant Games - Day 3

Well .... things did not go the way Jim and I had hoped they would today. We finished 6th and completely out of the medals. We both had a horrible first game as Jim bowled a 135 and I only managed a 105. However, I was proud of the way we finished. We could have quit, but we didn't as Jim bowled a 151 and 167 in the next two games and I bowled the two best games I've bowled in The Games with a 191 in game 2, including 6 strikes, and a 171 in game 3. We only had a combined 240 after game 1 but fought back to bowl a 920 which was 114 pins better than what we managed in 2008. Unfortunately, we just got too far behind to come all the back.

It was a disappointing day, but we'll just have to try again Tuesday in the singles. The bronze medalists today bowled an 1156 which was over 200 pins better than us. We have to bowl the same guys again Tuesday and will have to bowl the games of our lives to have a chance. I'll have to bowl a 600 or better to have a chance. My personal best is a 590 some 18 months ago. It'll take a miracle to win Tuesday. Pray for us. We will need it.

2010 U.S Transplant Games - Day 2

Today has been a great day at The Games. It's been nice with temperatures in the 70s. We've been driving around with the car windows down and been perfectly comfortable. Bet you folks back home in Big Orange Country can't say that.

We were up early since Joy was running the 5K. Over 2000 people including transplant recipients, living donors, and the general public participated in it. It was the largest field of runners in the history of the U.S. Transplant Games. Joy's goal was to complete it in under 40 minutes. She did it in right at 37 (pics below - blue shorts, white tank top, blue visor) !! She was thrilled and I was proud of her because she had trained hard and then MORE than achieved her goal. After I gave her a hug, I looked up and thought, "Lord, tomorrow it's my turn."

We completed the day with the team tailgate party and the Opening Ceremonies. I felt it was my duty as a Tennessean to provide some Big Orange and White for the party. Heck, everyone knows that any self-respecting Tennessean always has some at any tailgate party. Not to do so just ain't proper and is durn near rude. So, as Team Tennessee walked into the arena tonight during Opening Ceremonies, I MADE sure everyone saw that glorious Orange and White and knew Tennessee was there.

I am off to bed. Tomorrow at 9 AM, Jim and I hit the lanes for the doubles bowling competition. It's now game time and time for us to, in the words, of Elvis Pressley, "Take Care of Business." I feel good about our chances. Jim bowled a couple of practice games today with one being a 196. However, I also know that bowling is all about consistency. I ask for your prayers for Jim and I in the morning. We want to do exceptionally well and give ourselves an opportunity to win that gold medal very, very badly. I need your prayers for strength and the ability to focus solely on bowling. We've worked hard for the last two years for this moment. As I said earlier, Joy achieved her goal this morning, tomorrow morning it's our turn .

I'm praying that tomorrow's update includes a picture of Jim and I with our first gold medal.

Philippians 4:13 - I (We) can do all things things through Christ who strengthens me (us).

2010 U.S Transplant Games - Day 1

Well, we here in Madison, WI. We arrived yesterday a little after 5 PM CDT. We drove to St. Louis Wednesday and then went to see and go up in The Gateway Arch Thursday morning. I had been to The Arch over 20 years ago but was not able to go up in it then because it was closed for repairs. However, we got to yesterday and the view was amazing. Two photos for you - one of the arch and one looking straight down (630 feet) from the top. Note The Arch's shadow. That was pretty neat.

Today, I practiced at the two facilities the bowling competitions will be held at. I got a VERY, VERY welcomed surprise. I was expecting the lanes to be heavily oiled and that's what I had prepared for. However, they are oiled very lightly. This is a good thing for me. The best 3-game series I ever bowled was a 590 in March 2009 at Hermitage Lanes. Both facilities here are oiled very similarly to Hermitage. In fact, at the second facility this afternoon, I bowled a game of 180 !! Managers at both facilities told me the oil pattern they had down today is the same one that will be down for the competition. I am pumped because I am better in light oil conditions. There will be no problems with getting the ball to turn. I am very confident that I will bowl well. As I told Jim this afternoon - just gimme the dang ball !!

Tonight, we registered and had the team picture made (pic below of some members of Team Tennessee hanging out before team photo). Tomorrow, Joy is running / walking a 5K. I am resting to be ready for Sunday and we have a team tailgate party and the Opening Ceremonies tomorrow night. Speaking of the opening cermonies, I've got something planned for them that will make every Tennessee Volunteer fan happy. You'll love it !! It's gonna be Football Time in Tennessee .... just in Wisconsin.

Check back tomorrow for more.

FINAL Pre-2010 U.S. Transplant Games Update

Well, hello everyone. I am a day late with my Transplant Games update for this week which happens to be my last Pre-Games update, and I apologize. The next update will be from The Games on July 30th which is just 6 days away. Registration and team photos will be that day and Jim and I will practice bowling that day in Madison in the facility or facilities we will compete in on August 1st and 3rd. At this point, we do not know if the bowling events we be in just one or two different facilities. If you look at the schedule of events, it's unclear. Personally, I'm hoping both the doubles and singles are at the same place. That way we only have to focus on learning the "lay of the land" in one. Plus, it might minimize the "home lanes" advantage of Team Wisconsin.

I don't have much new to report this week except for the fact that informs arrived this week (see pic). I really like them. The red, white, and blue colors along with the outline of the state and the circle with three stars (like in the state flag) really stand out. In my opinion, the only way it could be any better would be if the colors were Big Orange and White (ha, ha). But that's another story.

I practiced twice the week. On Monday, I went to Smyrna Lanes where I was able to rent a lane for an hour and pick certain spares to work on. I chose to focus on picking up the 7-pin, 10-pin, and the 3 / 10 split. However, my primary focus was on the 10-pin since he has been my nemesis for the last 2 1/2 years. The good news is I smoked him on 12 out of 15 attempts. Then, after working on those spares, I decided to bowl one game but only managed to score a 142. The tough part to accept was that after being pretty successful picking up the 10 pin and hour earlier, I left it standing both times I needed to pick it up during that game.

On Thursday, I practiced again for the last time before departure. The next time I throw a bowling ball will be in Madison. I bowled a 170, 169, 125, and 134. The first two games were exactly what I was hoping for, but the last two were not. The same issue, consistency, bit me again just as it has for the last 2 1/2 years. I'm hoping that demon stays home and doesn't make the trip.

Lastly, I want to pour out my heart. Some have wondered why I have worked so hard and focused intently on these games. Some have wondered and not understood why I was so disappointed after the 2008 Games. So, I feel like I should offer an explanation. The heart disease that led to my transplant was caused by muscular dystrophy (MD). I am blessed to still have my mobility but it is limited. When you consider the fact that as a 10-year old boy, I was told I would be in a wheelchair in my early 20s and I'm now 40+ and walking, it's obvious that God has truly looked out for me. I am blessed to be much healthier than most with the disease. I've always been a sports nut and always had a competitive spirit because of it. When I was a boy, I played pickup games of football, baseball, and basketball with my buddies. I wasn't the best athlete in the bunch by far. However, we had a lot of fun and it was great exercise. However, when it came to basketball, I was probably the best long range shooter in the bunch. My biggest problem was a lack of stamina and that was due to the disease. The thing that frustrated me is that I was not allowed to play on a team such as Little League, etc. The reasoning was that if I blew out a knee, or broke a leg, and got laid up for a while, it would could allow the MD to accelerate the muscle deterioration. I didn't like living in a bubble because of "what could happen" but I had no choice. That was the rules.

When I was first approached about competing in the 2008 Games, I hesitated at first mainly because I hadn't played any sports in years. I didn't know what I could do. Then, bowling was mentioned. I had bowled some in years past but never seriously so I figured I could give it a try. Plus, it dawned on me that it would be another way to honor the Lord and Kent because without them, I would not even be alive let alone competing in anything. So, Jim and I got together and starting practicing and the competitive juices started flowing. We even began to feel good about our chances and I got to thinking that this could be my opportunity to do something I hadn't done before - win a sporting event. We went to The Games, bowled, and came up just 13 pins short of bronze in our rookie games. We were very disappointed. Why ?? This is what is hard for so many to understand. Both of us bowled 20 pins below our average in the second game of the three game series. If we had just bowled our average and had those additional 40 pins, we would have won SILVER. If you're a football fan, you've heard football coaches say "we beat ourselves" more than once. That's the way Jim and I felt. We knew the other guys didn't bowl that much better than us. We just didn't do what we knew we were capable of. That stung, and it stung because of our competitive spirit. If the other guys had bowled consistent 170s and 180s and beat us, we could have accepted that because they would have simply been the better bowlers, but that's not what happened, and it was hard to accept. Plus, my donor family was there and I wanted to honor them and Kent's memory with a medal. However, the experience did accomplish something - it made us hungry and determined to not come up short again because we didn't do what we know we are capable of. So, we go into these games to try again.

I came to the conclusion this week that Jim and I have done all we can do at point. I also realized that maybe we have put too much emphasis on us "doing it." For that reason, I ask for you prayers at The Games. I ask that you pray specifically for the following :

• Safety to, from, and while there.
• Plenty of rest.
• We will be able to focus on bowling.
• We do the fundamentals - hit our marks and follow through.
• The wisdom to make the proper adjustments during the competition.
• Control our emotions - not get too excited when things go good or too down if they don't.
• Have a short memory when we through a bad ball.
• We only have to compete at one facility.
• And most of all, we remember to praise and honor the Lord in everything we do there and to ask Him to help us on the lanes because we cannot be successful on our own.

I know without a shadow of a doubt that I am not a great bowler and that there will be a number of much better ones competing at these games than me. However, I also know that Philippians 4:13 says, "I can do all things with Christ who strengthens me." Some would say "that ain't got nothing to do with bowling." To that I would say, "How do you know ?? It could." He could choose to help us bowl several perfect games while we are there. That would definitely be a miracle. Furthermore, as I said I know there will be better bowlers than me there, but I also know that none of them will be any hungrier to win those gold medals than us. I know that in my heart without a shadow of a doubt. That takes me back to the quote I've used in the past from Dale Earnhardt - "It ain't always the fastest car that wins the race. It's the one who refuses to lose" and I would add "the hungriest." Those words perfectly describe the spirit I am in right now. It's like I've been given another "second chance," and I want to take advantage of this opportunity.

Until Madison ........

P.S. For more information on the 2010 U.S. Transplant Games, visit their website HERE.

The Washington Post's Report on the U.S. Transplant Games

The Washington Post did a wonderful article, These Athletes Are Already Winners, this past Thursday the 22nd. The article gives a brief synopsis of The Games including some information about The Games' history. In addition, a few of the athletes are highlighted. Read the full story by clicking on the title of the article (above).

For additional information on the 2010 U.S. Transplant Games, please visit their website here.

2010 U.S. Transplant Games - Update #8

It's hard to believe that it's now just two weeks until the start of The Transplant Games. Time has flown. I've got one more week of practice left here at home before departing and I don't feel like I'm ready yet.

This week has not been a particularly good week of practice. For weeks I've been struggling with getting my bowling ball to turn better. I've had it re-drilled and re-surfaced. Some days it turns. Some days it doesn't. I've talked about the "tune-ups" I've had done on it, but at this point, I don't know what else to do. Those of you that know me well know that I've been a NASCAR fan for 30 years. If you're a fan or watch the races, you've heard drivers and crew chiefs use the terms "tight" and "loose" when describing how their car is handling. When they talk about it being "tight," it means that when the driver turns the steering while in a turn, the car doesn't want to turn and wants to go straight. So, you'll next hear them say something about "loosening" the car up. There's a number of ways they can do that. They can adjust the tire pressure. They can put some wedge in or take some out which basically means they are shifting weight from one part of the car to another to make it turn better. My bowling ball has had the same problem - it's been "tight." Instead of hooking and turning into the pocket, it has continued going straight and missed the pocket. So, I had the pro shop "loosen it up" by plugging my original finger holes and drilling new ones. This basically shifted the weight block inside the ball so it would "flip" and turn into the pocket better. Some days it has worked but others it hasn't. That brings me to yesterday .....

Jim and I practiced together for the last time yesterday before we will depart for The Games. We will practice separately on our own next week. Neither of us had a good day but still bowled a combined 849 which would have won us the silver medal in 2008. However, we're not after silver. Silver is the first loser. In my first two games I bowled a 121 and a 112. I was ticked at the end of them. I prefer to play more of a finesse game. I bowl down the right side of the lane, let the ball turn left and hook into the pocket, and try to leave myself with easy spares and then pick them up. However, yesterday that simply did not work in the first two games. So, I told Jim I was gonna try something drastically different but risky in game three. I would try a power game. I would throw the ball straight down the middle of the lane as hard as I could. My goal - knock down all 10 every time and break them in half !!!!! The risky part is that if you hit the head pin straight on, you're gonna get splits that are extremely hard if not impossible to pick up. However, I knew if I was gonna try it, I needed to do it now in practice. So, first frame - STRIKE. Second frame - STRIKE. Third frame - seven on first ball and picked up spare. Fourth frame - STRIKE. I went on to throw 5 strikes in that game finishing with a 160. It worked !! I would prefer not to have to do that in Madison, but if the ball doesn't turn, I will. I now have a plan B. Now, for the moral of the story.

It never ceases to amaze me how God can teach you things about life it the most unlikely of places. And of all places - a bowling alley. His lesson yesterday didn't occur to me until I was going home. We all get into our habits, ruts, and comfort zones daily. We have our way of doing things and don't want to do it any other way. The problem is that then when things don't go our way, we get angry or frustrated. Sometimes we even give up. Instead, as the Lord taught me yesterday, we should look for a Plan B. We should get out of our comfort zone, if we have to, and use the smarts and the wisdom God gave each of us to figure out a way to accomplish the task before us. We've all heard the saying, "where there's a will, there's a way." There is wisdom in those words. Furthermore, we can NEVER give up. I've always tried to be someone who never gives up. Yesterday, after game two, I was tempted to throw the bowling balls in the bag and head home, but I didn't. I couldn't. That's not me. Furthermore, if I had, I would not have found Plan B in case the ball doesn't turn in Madison. It could be the difference between bringing home gold and coming home empty handed and disappointed. The lesson God taught me yesterday was mainly about myself and my bowling. However, if you think about, it has a lot of implications to everyday life.

Two last thoughts that I want you to think about today. They stick with me always. In fact, I have each of them taped to the metal support inside my bowling glove.

• Philippians 4:13 says, "I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me."
• One of my heroes, Dale Earnhardt, once said, "It's not always the fastest car that wins the race. It's the one who refuses to lose."

2010 U.S. Transplant Games - Update #7

Hello everyone. I must apologize for being a couple of days late on my Transplant Games Update. I took a few days away from the computer. I needed a break.

In my last update. I shared that I had just put my bowling ball in the shop for a tune-up. I got it back this past Monday and tried it out. I was more than happy with the result as I bowled a 160, 165, 188 for a 3-game series of 513. It was my first 500+ series since mid-February. It didn't matter where or how I threw the ball, it turned like it was supposed to. Now, I've got something to work with and my confidence is back up. If you look back through the history of The Games, it shows that to be in contention for a medal you've got to be over 500. I'm now on the pace I need to be on. I'll get in another couple of days of practice with it this week hoping to improve even more.

I'll update again on Friday.

2010 U.S. Transplant Games - Update #6

Check-in for The Games is now only 4 weeks away. Time is flying and there is still a lot to do. Online fundraising ended Wednesday, June 30th. I was blessed to raise $1500 which was my original goal. After reaching it, I raised the goal by $500 to my second goal of $2000. However, no more donations came in. However, I believe I'm in good shape as far as having my expenses covered. My reason for setting the second goal was because I believed it would enable me to help some of my teammates who have not be as fortunate with their fundraising. I want to say thank you to all who donated. I kinda feel like a race car with multiple sponsors. I am so blessed to have 8 sponsors for The Games.

Now that fundraising has ended, I have one less thing to think about and can focus on bowling. I've been having trouble with my Roto Grip Cell Pearl for the last several weeks. It has not been turning as well as it used to. I've tried having it re-surfaced. I've tried slowing it down and changing lines. Nothing has worked. It became obvious that in order to get the ball to perform the way I need it to I had to do something drastic. That's not usually what you want to do four weeks out from a tournament, but I knew if I didn't I was not gonna be competitive. I am not going to run second, third, or fourth. Silver is the first loser.

Therefore, I put the ball in "the shop" today for a tune-up. It is being re-drilled more aggressively to make it turn better and hook more. I will get it back Monday afternoon and then get back to work with three weeks of practice left. The re-drilling is a bit of a gamble, but like I said, I'm going to Madison to win - period. NASCAR Champion Dale Earnhardt once said when asked what his strategy was for winning the The Winston, NASCAR's All Star Race, "I'm either gonna win it or bring back nothing but the steering wheel."

That works for me.

2010 U.S. Transplant Games - Update #5

We're getting closer and closer. Check-in for The Transplant Games is now only 5 weeks away with only 4 weeks of practice left. Jim and I practiced together twice more this week bowling a combined 875 Tuesday and a 968 today. Tuesday's score would have won us silver in 2008 missing gold by 7 pins. Today's total would have been a gold medal winner.

I'm still not bowling as well as I'd like. However, I picked up more spares today than I have been and learned some more things about different lane conditions. I'm still having issues getting my Roto-Grip Cell Pearl to turn the way it used to, but I'll keep working at it. I believe, though, that it may be the lanes where I've been practicing. I learned today that the facility sometimes only oils the lanes every 2 or 3 days which allows the oil to accumulate at the end of the lanes. With a ball set-up like mine that goes long and then flips hard (turns sharply) at the end, that can cause problems. So, I had the pro shop re-surface it again today to help the problem. Hopefully, that'll do it.

Due to these lane conditions and a recommendation from a friend, who's a bowling coach, I decided that starting next week I'm gonna mix up my practice locations to places I'm not as familiar with. I'm wondering if this oil accumulation is preventing me from getting an accurate understanding of how my ball is really working. Plus, I believe changing locations some could pay dividends when I get into the new environment in Madison. It kinda goes along with a quote I ran across from one of my heroes and favorite NASCAR driver, Dale Earnhardt - "It's not always the fastest car that wins the race, it's the one who refuses to lose." That's the game plan for the next 5 weeks - refuse to lose.

Lastly, online fundraising ends in only 5 days on June 30th. If you haven't donated but would like to, you can do so at my online fundraising site by clicking here. Any amount will be greatly appreciated whether it's $5, $10, $25, or even $100.

2010 U.S. Transplant Games - Update #4

In exactly 6 weeks from today, July 30th, teams will began arriving in Madison, WI for the 2010 U.S. Transplant Games. We will register and have team photographs made that day. Jim and I will practice at the bowling facilities where we will compete sometime that afternoon. We will then compete in the doubles event two days later and hopefully have the first of two gold medals around our necks by this time that evening, August 1st.

I have 5 weeks of practice left as I will practice here, at home, for the last time on July 23rd, and then take the week off before departure to allow my shoulder, arm, and back a chance to rest and rejuvenate before gametime. We practiced twice this week bowling a 915 combined on Tuesday and a 913 today. Both would have won gold in 2008. However, we're still looking for improvement. My first game today was much improved as I bowled a 168. However, the last 2 games went downhill, but I learned some things during them which I will apply next Tuesday in hopes of finally turning my inconsistency issues around.

I'm still fundraising but it has been slow. I only have 12 more days left in which I can raise funds as June 30th is the deadline. If you haven't made a donation but would like to, you can by clicking here.

2010 U.S. Transplant Games - Update #3

This will be a short Games update. I have been under the weather the last few days so I did not bowl today. Jim and I practiced Tuesday and both of us had a bad day. Our individual scores were not good at all and our combined was only 825. That would have tied us with the silver medalist in 2008. The problem with that is, if I may quote Dale Earnhardt, "second place is the first loser." We're not making the trip to finish second.

I'm still working on fundraising. My total raised online has not changed since last Friday. My goal is $2000 and I'm only $500 away from reaching it. The deadline is 19 days away on June 30th. You can still help by clicking here.

2010 U.S. Transplant Games - Update #2

There's not a whole lot to report this week as far as an update on training / bowling practice. Jim and I bowled both Tuesday and Thursday. On Tuesday, we bowled a combined 961 which would have won gold in 2008 by 79 pins. Jim rolled a 569 which would have won him silver in '08. We won't talk about my day. Thursday, we bowled a combined 932 which would have once again been a gold medal winner in '08. Hopefully, we can keep that up. However, we actually would like to do better because the scores could be higher this time around. Jim's doing his part. It's time for me to get my act together. The doubles event is only 8 weeks from this coming Sunday.

As I reported last Friday, I have been fortunate and blessed to reach my original online fundraising goal of $1500. God has been faithful. However, I believe He will provide even more. I have set a second online fundraising goal of $2000. Basically, it amounts to $500 more. Why am I doing it ?? I believe that amount will not only cover my total Games expenses but also enable me to help some of my Team Tennessee teammates who have not been so fortunate with their fundraising. The deadline is June 30. If you would like to help out you can visit my online fundraising page by clicking here.

It could be worse

I went and practiced my bowling again this morning in preparation for the Transplant Games and did horribly. After the high of last Thursday and Friday, it was a little frustrating. However, when I got in my truck and fired it up to come home, I realized very quickly that my day could be worse. The radio DJ was talking about the fact that Chelsea Clinton was engaged to be married and had asked her father, "Slick Wilie" Clinton to lose a bunch of weight before the wedding. Then it hit me - I could have the misfortune of being Chelsea's fiancee and be looking at a future that included having Hillary Clinton as my mother-in-law.

Man ...... that would REAALLLY SUCK !!!!