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Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life
by Tom Kelley
In 1965 Joe Willie Namath, from Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, was drafted by the then St. Louis Cardinals of the National Football League. He passed over the Cardinals to sign with the upstart American Football League's New York Jets. Why do I bring this up now? "Broadway" Joe turned 63 yesterday. His place in the rich history of what is now two leagues playing as one is an important one. His play, as much as anyone's, cemented the fact that the merger of the NFL and the AFL was long overdue.
Namath won Rookie of the Year in 1965. Two years later he did what was previously thought to be impossible. During the schedule of the '67 season, Namath passed for more than 4,000 yards becoming the first player to ever accomplish that feat. To make it sweeter was the fact that it was in the second year of the new merger of the two leagues. It was not an AFL record. It was a NFL record. Most importantly it was a portent of greater things to come as the Jets landed in the Super Bowl (the AFC/NFC Championship Game, as it was originally labeled) the very next year.
Before the game was played on January 12, 1969, Namath guaranteed the victory. Who was the opponent? The juggernaut that was the then Baltimore Colts. They were considered to be almost unbeatable. But Namath's passing and the running of fullback Matt Snell sunk the mighty colts to the tune of 16 to 7. Suddenly the merger looked legit and Namath's place in the lore of the game was secured as one who guaranteed victory. Such guarantees are risky at best and downright foolish at worst.
Namath's guarantee could have made him look like a chump and the merger like a mistake had the Colts blown out the Jets in that third Super Bowl. But Namath had done his homework and knew what he was talking about. He saw a flaw in the mighty Colt defense and shared it with his coach. Then he and his teammates made history. Almost two thousand years ago there was a flaw in the game plan of mankind. God knew the flaw was there and he knew how to correct it.
Into the seemingly endless victories of His adversary, Satan, God placed His Son, Jesus. With His life, Jesus guaranteed that mankind could have the victory. It would not come through them, but through Him. Answering a question posed by His disciple, Thomas, Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6 Jesus guaranteed that if any person wanted total victory they would have to go through Him. Then He gave His life to win the victory.
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...He was the Minister of the Minorsville Christian Church located near Stamping Ground, KY.
...Becky and Tom have three children; John, single and in worship ministry in Nicholasville, Kentucky; Sean, married (Jennifer, elementary school teacher) with twins (Grace and Patrick, b.d. 10/31/04) and regional director of Papa John's Pizza in Central KY; Kara, married (Vince Taylor, prison guard) and working with Hospice East in Winchester, KY.
...Tom went to be with the Lord on November 13, 2009 after a lengthy battle with cancer. If you have been touched by Tom's writings please send an email to Tom's son at jkelley@catalystchristian.net
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