Thursday, June 24, 2010
Author Creates International Incident - Begs Forgiveness
First of all, let me begin by stating to those who may be horrified (my wife) and those who might possibly be delighted (my 8 and 10 year old boys) that this is the last blog (I promise) in which I will ever use the word "booger."
Even though I am now a fully functioning adult, in a way, it all happened because I was trying to make the Perkins boy laugh. That's how I see it anyway. At heart, I'm still just a simple smart-aleck trying to be funny for my friends. It's the same thing that used to get me in trouble when I was twelve years old.
Let me take you back to Easter Sunday morning, 1973. The whole church was on its feet singing from the hymnbook. "Up from the grave He arose!" their voices rang, and from the corner of my mouth, as the congregation sang the next line, I sang along. But I changed the words because Kevin Perkins was standing beside me. He was my best friend and always particularly vulnerable to my humor. I took great pride in forcing his loss of composure, as he—mere putty in my hands—would often dissolve into laughter at the most inappropriate of times.
Now the words to the song were: "Up from the grave He arose! With a mighty triumph o'er His foes!" But what I sang, without a smile or warning, in a voice only loud enough for Kevin to hear, was: "Up from the grave He arose with a mighty booger in His nose."
Now, give me a break here. I know I am supposed to be a serious author and blogs are important platforms which should be used in a responsible manner. What can I say? I was twelve. Anyway, Kevin almost collapsed, which was my intent, really. When he recovered, his parents were shooting "eye daggers" at him from the choir loft. I, of course, with a look of total innocence on my face, had moved a step away and was continuing to sing my Christian heart out in praise of my Lord and savior as if unaware that my friend was leaning over the pew gasping for air.
Roger Luker, on the other side of Kevin, was just as baffled as I was at Kevin's sudden loss of control. When we finally sat down and the preacher began to speak, Roger persuaded Kevin to tell him what had been so funny. Immediately, as Kevin had been before him, Roger was overcome.
Wade Steed, sitting with Wanda Webster behind us, leaned over to ask Roger what had happened. When he was informed, Wade quickly jerked his head back, catching Wanda, who had also leaned forward to hear, directly on the nose. Bleeding badly, she was helped out of the auditorium by her mother with as much drama as you can imagine.
I was informed later, after much finger pointing, that none of it would have ever happened if I hadn't been "trying to make the Perkins boy laugh."
Flash forward now, if you will, to several days ago and my recent appearance on MSNBC. Within an hour of my attempt to bring some perspective to the oil spill currently devastating the Gulf of Mexico—including the beaches in my very own hometown—message boards across the Internet were jammed with outrage about an innocuous comment I tossed off about my region's lack of interest in World Cup soccer.
Sheesh. I'm sorry.
The indignation ranged from snide comments written by mothers of nine-year-old soccer enthusiasts to long rants about the lack of sophistication displayed by stupid American sports fans in general.
Again ... I'm sorry.
Look ... I didn't say that real sports require "hand/eye coordination". (And they do. Have you ever heard Bob Costas refer to "foot/eye coordination"?) I never said a sport whose games last forever and often end with a score of 1-0 is boring. (It is.) I only said that most of us are not interested. (And we aren't!) This is not an opinion, my friends. Simply compare the television ratings of any recent Food Network program to the last big soccer match between anybody and anybody. The sad facts are that more people would much rather watch Giada or Paula or Rachel make salad dressing than sit and hope to God in Heaven above that at some point during the next ten hours somebody can "bend it like Beckham." Once.
Forgive me for speaking the truth.
Here's how it happened. Arriving at their beach location about an hour before I was to go on the air, I said hello to the folks with MSNBC from New York. Their set was simple and the crew small, consisting of a producer, a couple of runners, a sound technician, and a cameraman with whom I bonded immediately. He was big and burly and now that I think about it, might have reminded me a little bit of my childhood friend, Kevin.
As I was being fitted with an earpiece in order that I might converse with the anchorperson back in New York, the cameraman was loudly teasing the producer about having watched soccer on television the night before. The sound guy jumped on the producer, too, and never one to miss an opportunity for good-natured ridicule, so did I. It was all in good fun of course and soon, we were on the air.
Now, I don't know if you have ever tried to have a conversation with a voice in your ear, but it is not easy for me. All I knew that morning is that I would be talking to "Chris", a person whom I would not be able to see, about the oil spill. "Is Chris a male or female?" I asked the cameraman right before we went live on satellite broadcasting to 139 countries around the world.
No one answered. The red light came on. Chris and I talked about something for a moment. I can't remember exactly what, but I do remember concentrating to determine whether this was a girl's voice in my ear or a guy's. A lady Chris, I quickly decided. And I was off, words bubbling in an unbroken stream from my mouth as I strived to convey a message of hope and perspective to my fellow gulf coast residents.
Then she threw me.
What did I think, Chris asked, about BP honcho Tony Hayward having been photographed enjoying himself on a yacht while we waited in misery for his company to cap the well that continued to pump crude into our backyard?
Now as my wife or any of my close friends will tell you, I don't watch a lot of news. Most of it makes me scared or mad and I don't do my best parenting, husbanding, writing, speaking, etc. when I am scared or mad. So I don't watch. Oil is gushing from a hole BP caused? Let me know when it is capped. Most of the information from the media between the beginning and the end of an event like this is repeated waaaay too much to make me sit and watch. (I am oversimplifying this, I know, but you get the point.)
Anyway, though I remained outwardly calm as Chris talked (watch the clip), my brain was sounding alarms you should have been able to hear at home. Who was on a yacht? My mind scrambled for traction. The BP Bozo was on a yacht? You've got to be kidding me. While all this mess is still going on?
As I was endeavoring to make sense of what the anchorwoman was asking and the implications of her question, I glanced at the cameraman (I think you can see me do this on the clip) and he chuckled, while rolling his eyes ... at the thought of Tony Hayward on a yacht, I thought. And my point here is that I was no longer thinking about Chris and the interview. In any case, another thing my wife and close friends will tell you is that I am easily distracted.
You see, when I focused (no matter how briefly) on the cameraman, the few cerebral synapses I possess began firing in different directions. I still maintained a mental connection to BP and the oil and my neighbors and the situation at hand. Unfortunately, there was still room in my head for the cameraman, whose laugh and sense of humor I had admired only moments ago. And because of the cameraman, soccer also popped into my mind at that moment.
Therefore, what came out of my mouth was a tragic (to some) analogy between BP's credibility and the Gulf Coast region's interest level in World Cup soccer. The cameraman (and the sound guy and the producer) snickered out loud which was music to my sarcastic ears and just like that, the words had been spoken, forgotten, and Chris and I were off to another topic.
It was later, driving home, when I received a call from a friend to inform me that "the internet was blowing up and angry soccer hooligans might soon be paying me a late night visit."
So that, in a nutshell, is my story. With all the remorse I can muster, please allow me to apologize for my unintended disrespect of Albania and Brazil and Nigeria and all the people from all the countries who will never know the thrill of a National Championship in good old American college football. Roll Tide to them.
Please forgive me. Hey, I know we are in the midst of a tragedy and acknowledge that my focus should have been somewhere other than the delivery of a joke for the cameraman. And somewhere in the recesses of my mind, my mother's spirit is gently prodding me, making me aware, that really, none of it would have happened if I hadn't been "trying to make the Perkins boy laugh."
Here's the clip ...
Yours,
Andy
63 Comments
1. Brenda Standlee:
June 24, 2010 @ 2:30 PM
"Andy,
Your critics need to move to Alabama and try to earn enough money to even send their kids to soccer camp!
This is a world changing event...not a yachting event and not a game. Lives and livelihoods are on the line."
2. Doug Hibbard:
June 24, 2010 @ 2:31 PM
"Andy,
I'm a big supporter, but your apology just isn't right. Anything with Roll Tide in it can't be. Woo Pig SOOIIEEE!!
What's disturbing is the people whose lives are so wrapped around any sport that it's as important to them as the catastrophe that this oil nightmare is.
Anyway, speak the truth. It offends often, but if causes someone to reexamine whether soccer/futbol/football or more American-famous sport is too important, it's a good thing.
Doug"
3. Mike Silverberg:
June 24, 2010 @ 2:33 PM
"Andy, you are absolutely right. Our country's level of interest in soccer is right about at the same level as our interest in table tennis (ping-pong). Unfortunately for me, I love to play ping-pong and am active in our local table tennis club. But... most people don't care a thing about the game - just like soccer. The fans who enjoy soccer will wax poetic about certain moves, strategies and tactics that are completely lost on me. But they don't understand table tennis either. So what. Life goes on and we each enjoy the things that move us.
I'm on your side on this one."
4. Mollie Finn:
June 24, 2010 @ 2:53 PM
"Hey Andy!
Sorry to hear you and your family are being so directly affected by this BP disaster. You said nothing wrong in your MSNBC interview. I have to agree on several points, including Tony Hayward and BP's lack of credibility, and the fact I'd rather watch just about anything than soccer or reality TV shows...
I hope you and your family are able to enjoy your little slice of heaven in Orange Beach, Alabama again soon.
Look forward to the next time I can hear you speak in person! Really enjoyed the Greensboro event in May. I learn something new every time get the opportunity to hear you speak or read one of your great books!
~Mollie"
5. Bob Prather:
June 24, 2010 @ 2:54 PM
"You go boy!
1-0 seems to be a high scoring game this year. Roll Tide Roll"
6. Joe Carmichael:
June 24, 2010 @ 3:03 PM
"The reaction of people never surprise meAndy...no kick on soccer fans....but hey folks...lighten up. There are a few more things in life to get upset over."
7. ron burrow:
June 24, 2010 @ 3:16 PM
"you do a good job
the oil on the beach is a lot more inportant
than soccer
your last book was great
ron"
8. Scott Doehrman:
June 24, 2010 @ 3:19 PM
"I watched the video first and then the had to read your blog to figure out why you were apologizing. Oh well, I'm sure if someone was so offended to hear many of us could care less about soccer,they are even more outraged by your blasphemous childhood.
Keep us laughing."
9. chi walling:
June 24, 2010 @ 3:57 PM
"I agree- soccer is boring- especially when College World Series baseball is going on- and for the record- Go Gamecocks!!
Even though we have our own opinions the real focus is the need, the damage and the reality of what has, will and is to come- and if anyone wants to be a part of the "bigger" picture of doing something about the tragedy- I too do not watch the news- or read the news paper- if it is important information for me to know it will make its way to me-
PS. LOVE THE HEART MENDER!!
I want to visit just to see where the story took place-"
10. Ray Reid:
June 24, 2010 @ 4:02 PM
"You are a stand up guy. My daughter has been playing competitve soccer for 6 years and we have become mild soccer fans. I cannot tell you how many games end in a 0-0 tie. Basically we watch our daughter because she is our flesh and blood and want to support her. Soccer for the most part is boring and most people do not watch the sport. Those are the facts. Thanks for taking the high road anyway."
11. Jim Gymbeaux Brown:
June 24, 2010 @ 4:27 PM
"What's a "World Cup?""
12. Gail:
June 24, 2010 @ 4:35 PM
"Andy:
I am not a big soccer fan either but I was in Florida a few weeks ago and the Fact that BP persident is off yachtimg half way around the world he should be siting in the golf figuaring out how to get this spill stop not in some race or what ever he is doing."
13. Jason Wells:
June 24, 2010 @ 4:38 PM
"Hah, thats amazing. I wouldn't have thought twice about your comment, and would in fact have laughed while nodding my agreement. It's just a fact about life.
All the same, keep it up, I love your blog and your books, and look forward to the next time i get to see you, hopefully at a AdvoCare Success School!! I love me some Advocare!
God Bless,
Jason"
14. Sadaf Sultan:
June 24, 2010 @ 4:42 PM
"Hey Andy!!
You are such an awesome individual...you did nothing wrong. Be yourself like you usually are :-) petty stuff isn't worth crying over...wish more people understood that. Cheers."
15. Bonnie Bartel Latino:
June 24, 2010 @ 5:01 PM
"Andy, with apologies to young American soccer players and their mamas, what you said on MSNBC was spot-on! America is simply not a nation that is big into soccer--especially not in a way many other nations are.
Man! I wish I'd met you when you were a child instead of only about a decade ago.
By any chance was YOUR daddy the preacher on that long ago Easter Sunday? ;-)
Bon in 'Bama"
16. Bonnie Bartel Latino:
June 24, 2010 @ 5:11 PM
"Please allow me to add this...This whole soccer "controversy" proves the truth of the old axiom, "No good deed goes unpunished."
There you were spreading a national invitation to Americans to come support the Gulf Coast - and the ONE comment anyone latches onto and tries to turn into a negative is a throw-away line about soccer.
Good for you and people like Taylor Hicks, Jimmy and Lucy Buffett for spreading the GOOD word and trying to help people who are losing their livelihoods, homes and sanity.
Good for you, Andy Andrews, good for you!
'Bon in 'Bama"
17. Kevin:
June 24, 2010 @ 5:37 PM
"Still laughing..."
18. Larry:
June 24, 2010 @ 5:54 PM
"Way to go Andy. The truth needs no defense. it stands on its own merit."
19. Pam Champagne:
June 24, 2010 @ 6:29 PM
"Soccer is boring, you're interesting. 'Nuff said."
20. Kathy:
June 24, 2010 @ 6:50 PM
""Up From The Grave He Arose" will never sound the same to me again. :) Hysterical comment - people need toget a life."
21. Foncie:
June 24, 2010 @ 7:08 PM
"All I can say is that Joe's and my children played soccer. We went and watched and cheered. However, there are folks who love the sport and then there are folks who love the player playing the sport. You did a great job on the MSNBC spot. You handled the situation perfectly."
22. Will Ezell:
June 24, 2010 @ 8:38 PM
"All I can say is how lucky Kevin Perkins was to have a jokester like you as his friend!! And now I am committed to say "booger" at least 3 times this week - in honor of you and your phenomenal humor!
Let yourself off the hook on this one Andy - you just gave the world a little taste of what us Southerners are really like!"
23. Jeff Herring:
June 24, 2010 @ 8:43 PM
"Hi Andy!
Great story and any apology is great when you can work in real Southern football on the world stage...
The only down size is I can now not get out out my head "He arose, He arose, Hallelujah Christ Arose" - I guess it could be worse...huh?
Jeff"
24. Rhonda:
June 24, 2010 @ 9:37 PM
"Andy, I got the joke...and in the next breath I thought "Oooh, Andy's in trouble!" I knew the instant you said it that somebody was gonna be mad. Don't let it bother you. It has happened to all of us. You are right, even if we had an interest in soccer, the damage being done to our gulf far outweighs anything else going on right now. I actually thought the World Cup was over when Robin Roberts came back to New York on Good Morning America. It's still going on??? Here's to a day of clean white beaches, beautiful clear waters in the gulf and a plate full of crispy fried oysters!"
25. Doctor S.:
June 24, 2010 @ 10:07 PM
"Hey Andy!
Reminds me of an incident in church in the early '50's. We had a wonderful lady pastor for about 17 years. She loved the young people that came to church even though some of us (me) were always trying to play tricks on her. She loved a good joke and was as "bad" as we were on occasion. It seemed to me it would be a good idea to see her burst out laughing in the middle of her sermon. I took two narrow strips of paper and folded them back and forth on each other and proceeded to stick them in my nostril. Waiting for the magic moment when she looked my way I slowly pulled out the spring like paper. Her eyes bugged out, but she kept her composure until later. It's a good thing you and I didn't go to church together. I, like you, am "just a simple smart-aleck trying to be funny for my friends." Thanks to you, at 75, I'm at last finding out who I am. Oh, I'd just as soon watch grass grow as to watch soccer. Thanks for sticking to the truth."
26. Jeffrey Holton:
June 24, 2010 @ 10:10 PM
"The fact that 1-0 is a boring final score does NOT magically make cricket a fascinating sport.
(However, it does make yesterday's Wimbledon match kinda interesting.)
What IS truly amazing is the fact that a guy who doesn't give a hoot about any sport at all (me) just typed this comment. Wow. See what your influence does?"
27. Amy Sorrells:
June 24, 2010 @ 10:11 PM
"Roll Tide, indeed. Your book, "Return to Sawyerton Springs," redeemed our recent 20th trip to the gulf coast, when I was torn between my toes in the powdered-sugar sand and the oil on my husband's fingers the night it came ashore. Love this post."
28. Ken Rogers:
June 24, 2010 @ 10:44 PM
"Andy, you are such a "BOOGER". People just need to get serious about life, While sports have been an important part of my family's life (and I fell asleep at most of the soccer games I went to) even my children know the difference. Sports are fun, life changing events are serious. God Bless and hurry up and get another book out, I need something good to read."
29. Dawn Fletcher:
June 24, 2010 @ 10:55 PM
"Hey Andy, Your "apology" cracked me up because it was simply a defense of the accuracy of your comments--No matter--You are family to all your fans-- We love you and support you and feel you are entitled to your own opinion without others taking it personally. Why were you in Destin instead of Orange Beach?"
30. Tricia Garner:
June 24, 2010 @ 11:01 PM
"That was vintage Andy Andrews! I can just picture you and that Perkins boy - having witnessed you two in action several times during those years!
Great job on MSNBC.
Go USA soccer, but that does NOT compare to the recent Isner/Mahut match at Wimbledon!"
31. Robin B:
June 25, 2010 @ 6:14 AM
"After reading your apology and THEN watching the video I clip, I was amazed at how well you handled yourself and answered Chris' questions with such sophistication, knowledge and grace, that I would have thought you had been given the questions ahead of time.
I agree with most everyone else's comments here... soccer can be a boring sport... so can baseball when your team is losing 11 to 2! (The only live baseball game my father ever took us to at Candlestick Park to watch the San Francisco Giants get whipped by one of the Sox clubs. He was livid!) And the fact that you only mentioned it once.. silly people... need to grow up and not take offense when none was intended to them. I've learned that some people look for things to be offended by. Too bad for them.
You did a fabulous job on the interview. With the wind and all, I am amazed that you heard anything Chris said to you in your ear! And your quick whit! We love you for that. And thanks for telling it like it is... and that BP guy... should be taking an active interest in what is happening in the Gulf right now... with thousand of people losing their jobs as a result of this catastrophe, not to mention the ocean and the wildlife.
Thanks for sharing the story about you and your best friend, Kevin Perkins... that must have been a site to see! I can just see you, standing next to him... acting as tho you had NO idea what caused him to crumble over the pew gasping for air! Oh, and thanks for letting me know how to spell "booger"! I"ve wondered about that. =)
Love your books, your whit, your family and you. Thanks for sharing so much of your life with us! EnJOY Your Day! Hugs to You! =)"
32. Tracy Russell:
June 25, 2010 @ 7:45 AM
"I love the fact that you enjoy making people laugh and I'm so tired myself of having to apologize for my opinion. I learned through a seminar and found it to be true that when people take our comments personal it's usually about them and not really about us or what we said. Keep up the great work! Always enjoy your stories."
33. Julie:
June 25, 2010 @ 8:32 AM
"I agree with Joe Carmichael...there are much bigger things to be worried about than whether someone with oil washing up in his backyard rains on a soccer mom's fantasy that her precious little darling will someday be playing in a World Cup game by telling her that people in Lower Alabama won't care. :-)"
34. Jo:
June 25, 2010 @ 9:22 AM
"Seriously? People are so quick to get offended. When will we learn that people are different and have different opinions and it doesn't lessen our own, so don't get all riled up for something that ultimately has no real impact on your life. I applaud those great athletes who are living their dreams for themselves and their families but I still have little interest in the game itself. Yet somehow I doubt my lack of interest is of any interest to them. Its all these other people who should be more concerned about going out and winning in life for THEIR families instead of living vicariously through the triumph of others. No problem with being a fan as I am a fan of many things myself but don't let it cloud your judgement so much that you can't appreciate another person's right to an opinion. We can disagree without an uprising... its called maturity. "SHEESH" was right."
35. Brian:
June 25, 2010 @ 11:35 AM
"After trying to watch soccer for several minutes , I have decided that I was mistaken about televised golf being boring to watch. Can't wait for Sunday afternoon now!"
36. Joey:
June 25, 2010 @ 11:40 AM
"Getting someone laughing in church is such a high! On a particular Sunday morning my hymn of choice was "Gladly the Cross I'd Bear". Sitting right on the front pew I belted out at the top of my voice "Gladly the Cross-eyed Bear" and cracked up a whole pew of kids! I don't think that it would have been such a big deal if I hadn't been the quest speaker for the morning!"
37. Becky Word:
June 25, 2010 @ 1:06 PM
"Andy, the reaction to your comments just proves that people are WAY too concerned about what is said, rather than what is done. And since when is it wrong to have an opinion?
Anyway, I agree with you. I live in Destin, and the Gulf is so very precious to me - I am heartbroken over our situation."
38. Jenn the Pen:
June 25, 2010 @ 1:15 PM
"I recently saw a quote that went something like this - "You offended someone? Good - that means you stood up for something!"
And hey sometimes the truth hurts!"
39. Danny:
June 25, 2010 @ 4:02 PM
"I really didn't become offended with your comments, Andy, and I'm a true soccer fan. Yes, 1-0 games don't sound too exciting, but if a true fan watches enough of the game, you'll find many exciting moments. To me, it's way more exciting than baseball; too many down moments and way too long. I'm sure neither you or I will dwell on the "controversy" long. Keep up the good work. PS: read the Heart Mender a long time ago. Waiting for your next piece of work!"
40. bill:
June 25, 2010 @ 4:51 PM
"Come on folks. The oil tragedy was an accident!
Sure BP is culpable. So are the several Federal Gov. agencys who's job it is to prevent this from
happening! How about we find our who these guys are and why they didn't do their job. Wonder what they were all doing last week-end?
Soccer, who cares?"
41. Chris:
June 26, 2010 @ 7:43 AM
"Forget soccer. Curling - now there is a real sport, a real action fest! ;)
We are keeping the Gulf, the wildlife, and the families in our thoughts, Andy."
42. Erick Blackwelder:
June 26, 2010 @ 1:46 PM
""
43. Erick Blackwelder:
June 26, 2010 @ 2:16 PM
"Soccer fans are infamous for their customary post-game brawls between the fans of the winning and losing teams.
One might suspect that a portion of the fans enjoy the post-game brawls than than the games.
So when I read that soccer fans wanted to pick an argument with you, it was no surprise to me."
44. Cathy Smith:
June 26, 2010 @ 8:30 PM
"Usually the truth hurts Andy and that it all this is. I know here in Southeast Louisiana our kids play baseball - not soccer. Now if we wanted to talk about that we could talk.
I am a lot like you myself. I speak my mind. Say it like it is. My husband says you always know where you stand with me. I guess in one sense that is good but some people get offended. I feel like those that get offended have the same pants on to get glad. I am honest and forthright and definitely not mean-spirited.
Don't know the first thing about soccer though. I bet those guys with BP does though. We are so sick and tired every day hearing the same thing from BP that have a fix and then they don't. If man can land on the moon and spend all that money to do so why can't they use a little of those brilliant minds that NASA has and put their heads together and to S T O P this leak before the all the coast of Louisiana - Mississippi - Alabama and Florida have no beautiful coast or shoreline left.
Yours in Christ,
Cathy M. Smith
Woman of Faith
Norwood, Louisiana"
45. Ernie:
June 27, 2010 @ 1:45 AM
"Andy, Proud of you we think you did a great job. The Lechners' Ernie, Michelle, Drew and Blake"
46. Kole Mogel:
June 28, 2010 @ 2:12 PM
"I had an opportunity to listen to you speak this weekend in Cleveland, OH which gives great perspective on the BP incident as a whole. It is ironic that the messaging in the story was first and foremost about the good side of life. The area is great, we have so many opportunities. The oil spill is temporary and in time will be resolved.
At the end of your talk this weekend, and at the end of the interview, the conclusions both were still resounding. The moments in time we have right now and how we interact with them impact our children and their future.
I love the fact that at the end of the day, the way you talked about the spill had very little to do with the spill. Your interview was about doing the right thing, being the North Star for your family and for your region.
As far as the soccer goes, my honest opinion, there are some folks with some big egos that are perfect, maybe, if we work hard enough, we can be just like them....nah!
Kole Mogel
Cams, WA"
47. Jeanne:
June 29, 2010 @ 7:52 PM
"Oh, thank you for the great laugh! My sister and brother-in-law (and their daughter and son I might add) are extreme soccer fans. Their son is soon joining the Seattle Sounder's developmental team and he's weighnig his options for college scholarships at the moment (he will be a senior this coming year and already has offers)...
So I hope you laugh when I tell you that when my sister text'd me on our separate drives up to another nephew's H.S. graduation party (no we were not the drivers to texting was okay to do while in a passenger seat of a car)...."Did you watch the USA match; wasn't it great!!!?" I text'd her back and said "No and WHY and hee hee!""
48. Mike Porter:
July 1, 2010 @ 5:09 PM
"I love soccer, and if you don't that is ok. I don't like bowling or baseball. Your humor, and insight, are much more important. Thanks for a great blog that made me smile. It is great to see that we all say things that possibly can upset people.
Relax Soccer lover, it will be okay I know, I am on too."
49. Len Leonard:
July 2, 2010 @ 11:57 PM
"The world is a place of reality and dreams. The reality of the oil spill is hurting the dreams of many people around the world, not just our country. You put all of that into perspective with the wisdom of Solomon and the innocence of a 12 year old. Your interview was outstanding and your vision wonderful. Thank you for your thoughts and foresight. I enjoy both. And I agree with you on soccer and how about those guys that turn left."
50. Cindy Conway:
July 10, 2010 @ 7:33 PM
"Andy, THANK YOU for making the Perkins boy laugh! Thank you for making me laugh!! To make people laugh, think, cry is a gift to be shared. 'The Heart Mender' is a priceless story."
51. Carla Brogden:
July 11, 2010 @ 8:33 PM
"this is so funny ---I love the way you write and think .... so witty! the critics are not paying attention to reality. most of us don't follow soccer and I always have to ask who's playing in what? no matter the sport. as for the BP guy, he showed is colors when he whined that "I want my life back" as if thousands of lives were not devastated by this event! I think the cameraman was the best audience for you! there was nothing anyone could say to make the BP guy look good.
BTW, my reason for visiting your site: I won a free copy of "The Heart Mender" from Michael Hyatt and read half of it so far today and plan to finish tonight. A wonderful piece of writing and an education as well....so far! I anticipate a wonderful conclusion and already have been recommending the book! Then I will read your other writing with anticipation."
52. Joe Meeks:
July 14, 2010 @ 9:34 AM
"Andy, Its now the middle of July and I can't tell you who won the World Cup. I think it is over but I don't even know that forsure. Thanks for always being Honest and telling it like it is. Me and Lynda love your books and the inspiration you have provided all of us over the years."
53. Jennifer Clement:
July 14, 2010 @ 11:11 AM
"Hey, World Cup soccer is great! Have you never watched the drama emitted from the Italian team? I highly recommend it! It is better than most comedies I have seen and throughout the last 4 ish weeks, has entertained my daughter and I upon many occaisions. And when Germany, always serious and focused, plays Italy there is nothing better! Who care's about the score when you've got a new twist on Abbot and Costello on your t.v. set!!! Anyone's lack of interest in a sport is or shouldn't be a big deal. It's just entertainment, a way to escape from reality for a spell. The Gulf spill caused by BP is a tragedy and we all know, well, with the exception of Hayward, how horrible it is. There isn't a heart that hasn't been broken nor a heart that hasn't gone down to you all in the Gulf region. To supply a little humor is a good thing and well needed. I just read The Traveler's Gift, finished it last night. Brilliant! Truly spirit lifting to an otherwise tricky time in my life. A source of inspiration. Thanks! and p.s. @ Mr. Meeks, Spain won. It was a pretty good game."
54. wayne:
July 15, 2010 @ 2:41 AM
"Even my sport fanatic junior grandson could not watch more than 5 minutes of any world cup match without falling asleep. This same kid can watch a whole golf tournament."
55. Wes:
July 15, 2010 @ 9:28 PM
"Andy, this was AWESOME. I am beyond thrilled with today's news of the oil finally being capped. Wow, what took so long?!!!!!
Love to you and your family."
56. Pam:
July 26, 2010 @ 10:38 AM
"Dear Andy, Anybody offended by your commentary obviously wasn't listening to "what" you said. One day, WHEN the national news asks my opinion on anything on LIVE TV, I hope I can be as poised and well-spoken;-)"
57. Billy Bowyer:
August 24, 2010 @ 12:41 PM
"Andy,
i have found that often times the truths hurts. We don't really care to hear the the truth because then it exposes us and our true nature and many times this is not the view we have come to see of ourselves.
As always you spoke the truth and did a nice job of it. I personally feel that you had no need to apologize.
If more people embraced the truth then we as a whole would be in a far better situation with every aspect of our lives!
God bless! - Billy"
58. Patty:
August 24, 2010 @ 8:08 PM
"Hmmmm...there was a soccer game going on then??? :) Thanks for inspiring and the humor in that inspiration is much appreciated!!! Hope things are looking better for you in the Gulf. Go Vols!!
Patty"
59. Edith Jones:
August 27, 2010 @ 4:03 PM
"Andy, Just love your books. I used to participate in Soccer because I wasn't any good at the sports that "counted" like Basketball and Softball. Keep up the good work. I haven't been down to Pensacola Beach this year. even though it's only a 14 mile drive. I think the media has blown the whole thing out of proportion . And now they are crying because they can't find,what is it 77 million gallons, that have disappeared. Be glad the LORD of Creation has ways of cleaning up our big messes!!!
Keep looking UP.
Edith in Pensacola"
60. Cyndi Scheid:
September 7, 2010 @ 9:15 AM
"Wow! People are just a little too sensitive aren't they? Talk about needing a change in perspective... you're up there trying to send an encouraging message to the world about a horrifying situation and all they can talk about is the fact that you don't care about Soccer. Too Funny! I, personally, love your sense of humor and your perspective on life. By the way, I just read "The Noticer" and it was great. My daughter's Honor's Reading class is concentrating on your books for their projects this year and I couldn't be happier about the teacher's choice. In short, you are awesome Andy, I wish I was surrounded by more people like you.
Warmest Regards,
Cyndi Scheid"
61. Phyllis:
September 9, 2010 @ 10:00 AM
"I can't ever sing that song without thinking"Up from the gravy arose,with a mighty triumph for His foes..."-a friend told me that's what she thought of when she was little and I can't get it out of my head. I so enjoy your perspective and listening to you on xm radio. Watch out for wayward soccer balls."
62. Vicki:
September 20, 2010 @ 3:34 AM
"First, I will never be able to hear that song again without thinking of your "version". As to the comment about soccer...your totally right. Our generation is not interested in soccer, mainly because we don't understand a game that seemingly has no rules.
But as your 3rd grade baseball coached would have said....it's not really anybody's fart...Loved that book!!!"
63. Sunny James:
August 23, 2011 @ 5:43 PM
"Hey Andy great story thanks"