It was 1967-68, and I went to bed most evenings those summers listening to Harry Caray and Jack Buck on KMOX, broadcasting the games of the St. Louis Cardinals.

My brother and I would go down to our bedroom in the basement, turn on the transistor radio, and fade off listening to those magical voices. And the Budweiser songs, of course. I’m not even sure we knew they were advertising beer. They were just the songs of the Cardinals.

Some people like to fall asleep to complete silence. Me? I’ve always liked a little noise — especially the sound of a ballgame. I think it goes back to 617 Reid Road in Neosho and the voices of Caray and Buck.

How about you? What do you remember falling asleep to? Music? TV? Radio?

4. Lou Brock
3. Ozzie Smith
2. Albert Pujols
1. Bob Gibson

By “my lifetime” I’m referrring to 1964, the first year I went to a Cardinals World Series (vs. the Yankees) and the first year I remember knowing much about the team. Musial’s last game with the Cardinals was the fall of 1963, so he’s not on the list. Based on a full career of productivity (.331 average, 3630 hits, 470 home runs), you have to figure Stan the Man would be safely #1 for now. Still, Pujols is the best player in the game today.

(And I didn’t go to #5 because then I’d have to deal with whether Mark McGwire belongs on the list or not!)

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Two weeks ago I saw the space that an Abilene church rents. The name of the congregation is the Second Chance Baptist Church. I like that! Perhaps we could change ours to the Mulligan Church of Christ. How about the Do Over Church?

“Do you love me?” Jesus asked someone who’d blow it big time. “Then feed my sheep.”

Michael Scott understands what many Christian leaders don’t: “Everyone deserves a second second chance.”

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Congrats to ACU’s two players who were drafted by the NFL this weekend: Johnny Knox in the 4th round (Bears) and Bernard Scott in the 6th round (Bengals).