Dawgs score less than Alabama

Before now, I never would have believed that a "magical season" for UGA could include a loss at Jordan-Hare, but also involve a run for the roses that would catapult Georgia into the National Championship Game at Mercedes Benz Stadium. But, it happened quite rapidly. As soon as destiny's Dawgs redeemed themselves by slaughtering Auburn for the SEC title, a mean machine in red and black came barking through the streets of LA. And to be quite honest, they rocked a certain west coast stadium like Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre used to do and likely wish they still could.

But, Changes were made in Atlanta. When it looked like my beloved Bulldogs were FINALLY gonna win a National Championship, Nick Saban inserted a freshman QB in the game named Tua and he tainted my red and black script. It happened at the beginning of the second half. With Junkyard Dogs relentlessly gnarling at his facemask, there were a few moments when Tagovailoa made a few mistakes. But, the Dawgs seemed inclined to return the favor. Especially when Fromm threw a pass off the helmet of Crimson Tider Hand's head and into the arms of his teammate, Rayquon Davis.

Trailing 20-7, Bama got rolling and put a dagger deep into my Dawg loving chest with 13 unanswered points. But, Georgia was given new life when the Crimson Tide missed a game winning field goal at the end of the fourth quarter. So I cheered, I barked, and I yelled, "Go Dawgs!" as the game headed into overtime.

But, Alabama quickly turned my joy into agony. After holding my Dawgs to 3 scrawny points off an amazing kick from HotRod Blankenship, Tua became Dan Marino with legs. After a first down sack netted negative 16 yards and breathed life along the Bulldog sideline, Tagovailoa launched a pass that will forever be embedded in the misery of Bulldog fans across the globe. It was a game winning 6 strike, which Munson might have described as, "My God. A freshman from Saint Louis School in Honolulu. Hunker down, you guys. Dawgs on top 23-20, but Tagovailoa scrambles and he throws...Touchdown. Oh, God a touchdown. No flags on the play. Alabama wins. We fought hard, but the freshman from Honolulu just destroyed our 37 year old dreams. And he did it with a flick of his wrist."

Alabama became National Champions last night. Georgia did not. I don't like it. And I'll never find peace or tranquility or whatever you're supposed to find in order to make yourself feel better when this happens to your team. I won't lie to you. This loss stings and it will continue to do so. I've barely slept and I know the pain won't go away easy. These emotions will travel with my Bulldog loving soul, like an albatross around my neck until the title-less streak is reversed. Until then, I don't like it. I don't have to. But...It's just the way it is... Go Dawgs!!!

*This post is dedicated to the memory of my friend Marcus. Forever missed and never forgotten.

Falcons vs Saints

The Falcons are hosting the New Orleans Saints tonight, so this seems like a good time to talk about the Atlanta Hawks. Twelve games into the season, Mike Budenholzer has his team playing well. Point guard Jeff Teague has been very impressive so far, averaging 18.4 points per game along with 8.7 assists per contest. Meanwhile, former Gator, Al Horford is providing the offense with 17.4 points per game. The 6'10 center is leading the team in blocks with 2.1 per contest and collecting 8.2 rebounds during the young NBA season of 2013.

The 7-5 Hawks have the night off, but they will resume play tomorrow night at 7:30 in Motown. Atlanta will be facing a Pistons squad they just defeated 93-85 in Philips Arena on Wednesday evening. Detroit will be looking for more productivity from former ATLien, Josh Smith than the 11 scrawny points he scored during his first game at home in an away jersey. Another Piston with local ties is former Bulldog basketballer, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. The 20 year old shooting guard from Thomaston, Ga is averaging 7.4 points per game during his rookie season.

I'm expecting another close game on Friday night. The Hawks average 102 points per game to Detroit's 98 and allow 99 points per contest to the Pistons' 101. The key statistic that gives Atlanta an advantage is assists per game, as they are second in the league with 25.7. Both teams need to improve their efforts on the glass. The Pistons are 24th in the NBA in rebounding and the Hawks are currently 2 spots behind them at 26.

Auburn beats Georgia

I don't know how to discuss the painful outcome of this game. Although I know what happened, I still don't believe it. Somehow, the Aaron Murray led Dawgs rallied from a 20 point deficit to take a scrawny 1 point lead with less than 2 minutes remaining. All Georgia needed was 1 defensive stop to win this game. And, it looked like they would get it.

The momentum had seemed to take a drastic turn in favor of the Red and Black. With Auburn facing 4th and 18, it was a do or die play for the Tigers. As for UGA, 73 gigantic yards defensively separated them from victory or defeat. And then, Ole Lady Luck reared her ugly head once more. While Nick Marshall avoided Bulldog tacklers, the Auburn faithful prayed for divine intervention. And, they got it with 25 seconds left in the contest. A pass that should have been intercepted by Dawg defender Tray Matthews was tipped away by teammate Josh Harvey-Clemons and into the arms of WR Ricardo Louis for the game winning score. It was an Auburn version of the bluegrass miracle.

The final result is another tough defeat for the Bulldogs of Georgia. In a season when many predicted them to contend for the national championship, this team falls to 6-4. Injury issues aside, this ain't the record I expected to see during Aaron Murray's senior year at the helm.

This Week in the SEC

It's been awhile since I've posted some predictions on SEC football. But, tonight seems like a good time for me to get back into the swing of things. So, here we go...

Arkansas goes to The Grove tomorrow and loses to the Ole Miss Rebels by 17, while the Auburn Tigers fare a whole lot better in Knoxville. War Eagles by 13 over the Vols.

Meanwhile, the Vanderbilt Commodores take a journey into the Swamp and leave the sunshine state with an upset victory over my favorite Florida coach, Mr. Will Muschamp and his Gators.

In Athens, the Bulldogs of Georgia host Appalachian State. Injury issues aside, Dawgs celebrate homecoming with a 33-10 win. But, the party is a bit subdued when Kentucky loses to Missouri in Lexington.

South Carolina has the week off and Dan Mullen's Dogs wish they could say the same about themselves. Texas A&M won't need the 12th man in this one. The home team wins 42-14.

And, for the premiere game of the week, Les Miles leads LSU to Tuscaloosa, Alabama to take on the national champions. This will be an epic battle that goes down to the wire. To find out who I expect to win, please follow @RobSealerSports on Twitter. Will post a video soon.

Rallying behind my Dawgs

This season has been a strange tale that resonates back and forth between jubilance and disaster for the Georgia Bulldogs. Although we've seen the Red and Black emerge victoriously over South Carolina, Louisiana State, and Tennessee, we've also witnessed some less than stellar results versus teams named Tigers.

Aaron Murray led one of the greatest drives in Bulldog history three little weeks ago that vaulted UGA to an amazing come from behind victory over LSU. Then came the Tennessee game. Trailing UT by a touchdown very late in the contest, even the game clock was wearing orange. But, Murray dialed up similar heroics. UGA nail-bitingly tied the score and won in overtime. Unfortunately, the Dawgs ran out of miracles versus Missouri. It was a tough loss that may have derailed their hopes of winning the BCS.

Georgia has had to deal with some devastating injuries on the offensive side of the ball. But, they will never use that as an excuse for the final tally on any scoreboard. In describing the loss of 5 key players, I can only imagine Larry Munson saying, "Ole Lady Luck has not been on our side." And, he would be correct. She ain't been behaving lately. But, this battalion of Bulldogs continues to fight through adversity and give their all in pursuit of victory. As a fan, I can't ask for more than that. Go Dawgs!!

Disgusted by the WWE

Last night, I watched something so revolting that I feel guilty for allowing the program to enter my household. I know the antics are scripted and the actions that transpire inside the arena are all about ratings. But, on last night's episode of Monday Night Raw, the WWE succeeded in making me sick to my stomache. Vince McMahon's famous wrestling federation, founded on family entertainment and the battles between "faces and heels" (good vs bad), sunk to a new low during its most recent broadcast.

Executive Vice President of Talent and Live Events, Paul Levesque (Triple H) and his real life wife (the boss' daughter) Stephanie McMahon encouraged the character known as Randy Orton to act without moral regards, in order to regain his stature as the face of the franchise. And, Orton delivered by unleashing sadistic pre and post match attacks on Mike "The Miz" Mizanin. As if Orton's actions weren't heinous enough, he continued to assault his opponent just a few feet away from Mizanin family and friends at ringside. Although the scenario was scripted and the "injuries" suffered by the Miz failed to transpire in the real world, I still find myself disgusted by this reprehensible sensationalism of brutality.

And, unfortunately the show went on. The most egregious acts were based on a scene where Stephanie McMahon called WWE Hall of Famer Dusty Rhodes and "offered him a business proposal." There was a difference of opinion between Ms. McMahon and the 68 year old Virgil Runnels, in which "The Dream" told her where to go. She responded by calling in reinforcements. Against his will, Paul "The Big Show" Wight was told to knock the old man out. Allegedly destitute and perilously close to losing his job, Big Show delivered a devastating blow to Dusty Rhodes.

As I watched these scenes unfold, I started to wonder, what happened to the days when sports entertainment was also family entertainment? As a kid, I remember when the worst thing a wrestler could suffer inside the squared circle was having his hair cut off by the likes of "Brutus the Barber Beefcake."

After much thought, I did learn one valuable lesson...know when to change the channel.

Who is the greatest coach in SEC history?

SEC football fans, who would you say is the greatest coach in conference history? The Dawg in me wants to claim Vince Dooley as the best of all time, but also recognizes the fact the he only won one national championship. So, if you've got any suggestions, send me an email or vote for your choice in the poll located on the left column. Thanks for the feedback and for visiting RS Sports.

Outpaced in Indiana

Well, tonight's game between Atlanta and Indiana started out pretty well. After one quarter of basketball, the score was tied at 26. But then, the pesky Pacers stepped on the gas and outscored the Hawks 32-17 in the second quarter. Things got a lot worse for the good guys, when the home team put together a 27-20 3rd quarter. Going into the fourth, Atlanta trailed by an insurmountable 22 points, 85-63.

Refusing to go quietly, the Hawks put together a tremendous 4th quarter rally, aided by 10 Pacer turnovers and cut Indiana's lead to 98-92 with 19 seconds remaining. But, there was too little time left on the clock. Led by Roy Hibbert's 17 points and 13 rebounds, the Pacers did just enough to hold off the charging Hawks. The final score from tonight's contest is Indiana 100, Atlanta 94. Josh Smith had 20 points,3 rebounds,4 assists,4 steals,and 2 blocks. But, Atlanta falls to 39-32, while the Pacers improve their record to 44-27 on the season.

Hawks at Pacers

Josh Smith and Atlanta's 39 win Hawks are on the road tonight, as they take on the hoosier state's Pacers. Allowing less than 90 points per game, Indiana has become one of the toughest teams in the eastern conference. Former Georgetown Hoya, Roy Hibbert averages 2.7 blocks per game and anchors a squad that leads the NBA in rebounds.

With 12 games left in the regular season, Atlanta is currently 5th in the east, with only one more victory than Chicago's 6th placed Bulls. Danny Granger and David West will miss tonight's game, along with George Hill and Lance Stevenson. However, the Pacers will be led by small forward Paul George, who averages 17.7 points per game in his second NBA season.

Leading the charge for Atlanta will be power forward/center Al Horford, who averages 17.5 ppg along with 10.3 rebounds per contest. Alongside the former Florida Gator will be Johan Petro, who likely starts in the 5 spot and the electrifying Josh Smith at small forward. Atlanta needs the victory, but the task is a lot tougher without Devin Harris, who is sidelined with an injury to his left foot.

Update: Indiana outscored Atlanta 32-17 in the second quarter, to take a 58-43 lead into the half. Josh Smith leads the Hawks with 17 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and a block, as he continues to fill up the stat sheet. For the Pacers, shooting guard Orlando Johnson (averages 3.7 ppg) tallied 15 points to go with 3 rebounds and 2 assists in the first half.

Keep Josh Smith Day

With the NBA trade deadline inching closer and nerve-rackingly closer, I have decided to make February 19, 2013 Keep Josh Smith Day. The former McEachern and Oak Hill Academy star has become the most exciting Atlanta Hawk since the days of Dominique Wilkins. His gravity defying dunks and tremendous shot blocking prowess consistently transform Philips Arena into the Highlight Factory. But, it is highly speculated that the Hawks are exploring trade possibilites revolving around J Smoove. So, I'm campaigning for the Hawks to keep Josh Smith.

The AJC's Jeff Schultz recently wrote, "Smith hardly is the Hawks' biggest problem. They need a center. They need consistency at point guard. They need more players to build around. Moving past years of being a punchline isn't easy."

Although the Hawks have made great strides over the past 5 seasons, Schultz is right. There is still a lot of work to be done, as far as tuning up the roster. But, trading your best player ain't the answer. As a fan, I hope to see #5 continue to deliver an exciting brand of basketball to the hometown Hawks. Josh Smith is the heart and soul of the Highlight Factory. Without those elements, what remains?

To Hawks GM Danny Ferry, I offer a few simple words. Keep Josh Smith.

Fooled by Otis Nixon?

Last April, I wrote an article praising the works of former Atlanta Brave, Otis Nixon off the field. But, according to tonight's Fox 5 report, I may have been tragically off base with my words. Allegedly, the "On Track Ministries," over-seen by Mr. Nixon hustled unsuspecting citizens and failed to deliver on promises made.

As I sat in the front row at Milford Baptist Church, I was mesmerized by the former centerfielder. Here stood one of my childhood heroes, spilling his heart on his struggles and his path toward redemption. It was a tale that could only be inspired by the power of Jesus Christ. But, maybe it wasn't. Maybe it was more like a false prophecy. Honestly, it's tough to say. But, as someone who believed every word Otis Nixon told the congregation, I wonder if I too was fooled by the words spoken during his "testimony."

For more information on this topic please click on the title of this post
or you can visit http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/story/21129294/former-braves-star-otis-nixon-accused-of

September 8 in the SEC

Last Saturday, I was very impressed with Derek Dooley's Tennessee Volunteers. Led by Junior QB Tyler Bray, the Knoxvillians defeated NC State 35-21 in a game I expected the Wolfpack to win. This week, the Vols welcome Georgia State to Neyland Stadium. But, there won't be a whole lot of pleasantries. Tennessee wins 56-3.

Meanwhile, the UTEP Miners will travel to Vaught-Hemingway Stadium as they take on the Mississippi Rebels. New head coach, Hugh Freeze, faces the tall task of building a contender in Oxford. Fans at the Grove will be greatly disappointed to see the home team drop to 1-1 on the season.

The most boring games this week will be Alabama vs Western Kentucky and Louisiana Monroe at Arkansas. Tide Leader, Nick Saban recently told the media, "We play these games for a reason..." And, there are two great challenges facing the home teams: keeping their players focused and healthy. Tide and Hogs easily crush inferior opponents. Also on the list of snooze-worthy matchups is Kent State at Kentucky. The Wildcats will rebound from a 32-14 loss to Louisville by defeating the Golden Flashes 35-17. Meanwhile, ECU at South Carolina receives honorable mention, as Spurrier's team wins by 3 touchdowns. Also, look for LSU to throttle Washington 31-13, while Vanderbilt gets a victory on the road against Northwestern.

And now, let's discuss the weekend's big 3. Auburn kicks off an intense battle against Dan Mullen's Bulldogs at noon on ESPN. This is a big road test for the 0-1 War Eagle Tigers, but I believe they will prevail. Auburn 24 Mississippi State 17. A few hours later, Texas A&M will make its SEC debut, as the Aggies host the Florida Gators at Kyle Field. But, the fun won't last very long in Texas. Gators win 33-16. Speaking of conference newcomers, Missouri takes on "Old Man" Mark Richt and the Georgia Bulldogs at 7:45 on ESPN2. Although I've got the Dawgs on upset alert, I expect their defense to regain its Junkyard Dog mentality and be a key factor in UGA's victory over Mizzou.

This Week in The SEC

South Carolina just scratched out a tough win in Nashville, by defeating the Commodores 17-13. And tomorrow evening, Double D's Volunteers will suffer the first loss of their season at the hands of (gasp) an ACC squad named NC State. But, there's plenty of football left to be played in the SEC. Florida opens their season with a loss to Bowling Green on Saturday, while Georgia is busy beating up on the Buffalo Bulls in Athens.

Meanwhile, the University of Mississippi will defeat Central Arkansas in Oxford. Also on the schedule, the Bobby Petrino-less Pigs will demolish Jacksonville State in a similar fashion to the trouncing LSU will give North Texas. In a laugher, the Dogs of Mississippi State will easily defeat Jackson State in Starkville. Due to weather issues, newcomer to the SEC, Texas A&M will not play Louisiana Tech this weekend. The game is a rescheduled loss for LA Tech, which will occur later in the season. In Louisville, I've got former Dirty Bird, Ray Buchanan's Cardinals over the Wildcats of Kentucky.

Now, let's discuss the highest profile games of week one in the SEC. Nick Saban's National Champions will derail Denard Robinson's Wolverines in Arlington, Texas by a score of 31-17. Not to be outdone by their in state rivals, the War Eagle Tigers will corral a Clemson offense that is minus Sammy Watkins. First year defensive coordintor, Brian Van Gorder will make an immediate impact on the plains. Auburn wins 24-19.

*For those of you who are new to the site, I ain't crazy. But I do enjoy celebrating the RS Sports tradition of picking Florida to lose their season opener, regardless of whom those Gators are playing. It is personal. Ha ha. Go Dawgs!!!

Note: I forgot to mention the Missouri Tigers. But, there won't be anything exciting about their lopsided victory over Southeast Louisiana.

South Carolina at Vanderbilt

Currently watching South Carolina vs Vanderbilt. The Gamecocks are leading 10-7 in the second quarter after a 78 yard six-strike from Jordan Rodgers to Jordan Matthews. It's good to see the 'Dores suddenly come to life. The Dawg in me is pulling for an upset.

Thomas Brown

As football fans, we all have our favorite players. One of mine was a 5'8" scatback from Tucker named Thomas Brown. During his UGA career, number 20 ran for 2,646 yards and 23 touchdowns. But, some of his greatest plays went unnoticed by statisticians.

In 2007, Knowshon Moreno burst onto the scene, rushing for 1,334 yards and 13 scores. But, one of my favorite plays transpired with Thomas Brown in the Bulldogs backfield. On a playaction pass with 3:09 left in the first quarter, Brown threw a key block on a blitzing Auburn defender, allowing Matt Stafford to launch a 58 yard six-strike to wide open receiver, Mohamed Massaquoi. The score gave Georgia a 10-3 lead and electrified the sellout crowd at Sanford Stadium on Blackout Saturday.

Bolstered by tremendous efforts from Brown, Moreno, Sean Bailey, and a defense that played with clean, old fashioned junkyard tenacity, the Dawgs finished the drill by defeating Auburn 45-20. The last score of the game was a 1 yard touchdown by Brown with 6:48 left in the fourth quarter.

As a member of the Georgia Bulldogs, the Tucker native led by example in all aspects of his life. Brown was a leader in the classroom, the weight room, and on the field. If you ask Mark Richt about the strongest player, pound for pound in UGA history, I'm sure he'll say, "Thomas did it the right way...as a matter of fact, he did it the Georgia way."

NBA Draft

As a Hawks fan, draft night usually means I should go to bed early. Although I have yet to be mistaken for an NBA expert, I rarely agree with their decisions. Even when they're not busy selecting busts like Priest Lauderdale, Cal Bowdler, and Marvin Williams, I'm consistently disappointed with their moves.

Al Horford has been an All-Star and Josh Smith has brought an exciting brand of basketball to Philips Arena. But, this team can not win a championship with both players at the core of their roster. Smith fills up the stat sheet, but also has a tendency to forget that his 3 point shot is both dismal and deficient. If healthy, Horford could be a very valuable asset to this team, but he's gotta be moved to power forward. For that to happen, Atlanta needs to acquire a quality center to take over the 5 spot. Then, the high flyin' J Smooth must be evicted from playing the 4.

In today's NBA, good ain't good enough. You've got to have an elite squad, if your goal is to win championships. Atlanta has plateaued and will continue to be another title-less team, if significant upgrades to the roster aren't made. A rebuilding project will be tough to overhaul with Joe Johnson's immovable contract on the books. But, an attempt at shaking things up, in order to pursue a greater collection of talent would be extremely refreshing.

Braves vs Nats

A rainy night in Washington caused Friday's game between the Nationals and Braves to be postponed. Stephen Strasburg will get the series started at 4:05 this afternoon, when he throws the first official pitch. Instead of Mike Minor opposing him on the mound, Atlanta will turn to Brandon Beachy, who is 5-3 with an ERA of 1.77 in 2012. Today's matchup is very intriguing, as a couple of the game's best young pitchers will duel in D.C.

Catching up with the Atlanta Braves

At 7:05 on Friday night, Atlanta's Braves will be in D.C. as they take on the first place Washington Nationals. With a winning percentage of .538, Atlanta trails the Nats by 2 games in the NL East. The visitors will send former Commodore, Mike Minor, to the mound. The 24 year old south paw is off to a rough start in 2012, with a 6.98 ERA and diminutive record of 2 wins and 4 losses.

Meanwhile, Washington will be represented by the hard throwing Stephen Strasburg. The former San Diego State Aztec has recorded 70 strike outs, along the way to an impressive 5-1 record. With an ERA of 2.64, the right handed pitcher has held opponents to a .223 batting average.

Looking to improve their infield, Atlanta will replace shortstop Tyler Pastornicky and his 7 errors with minor league prospect, Andrelton Simmons. Although he has yet to play an inning above double A ball, Simmons is expected to provide the Braves with a huge upgrade defensively.

Mar-Tans at IMax

If you're looking for a great place to spend a Friday evening out, I highly recommend the Fernbank I-Max Museum. Local blues band, the Mar-Tans will be performing from 6:30- 11:00 PM. The talented musicians are led by the soulful sounds of Matt Wauchope on vocals/piano, Melvin Zachary's legendary basslines, and the charismatic Terrence Prather on congos. Regardless of your taste in music, you'll be hooked on the Mar-Tans, as soon as the notes start flyin' off the page. There is a small cover charge of $7, but it is definitely money well spent. Hope to see you there.

For more details, please go to www.fernbankmuseum.org/experience-imax/martinis-and-imax/

Otis Nixon

What is the first thought that comes to your mind, when you hear the name Otis Nixon? For many, it has always been "The Catch." Well, Sunday morning, myself and the rest of the congregation at Milford Baptist Church were blessed with the opportunity to hear the former Atlanta Brave share his testimony. He spoke about his baseball career and his relationship with Jesus Christ.

In 1991, Braves general manager, John Schuerholz acquired Nixon in a trade with Montreal. Looking back, Nixon had some regrets about joining his new team. "On April Fools day, I got traded to the Atlanta Braves. You guys probably don't remember, but I do very well. It was the worst team in America. You guys had the worst team in America... How in the world did I go from here (Montreal Expos) to there and get traded to the worst team in baseball?" At the time, Nixon's concerns were legitimate. Atlanta would struggle into the All Star break and stand 9.5 games behind the division leading Los Angeles Dodgers. But, this was a team destined for a miraculous second half. And, Otis Nixon knew the key to turning the season around. "What happened is, we started believing inside, what nobody else would believe and we started to win... The only thing I could do, was to think we're in the worst spot in the world, we're in last place, we got the worst team, we can only go up."

And, eventually, they did. During a game on June 16, 1991, in which he stole an MLB record 6 bases against the franchise that sent him to Atlanta, Nixon started to voice some of his concerns. "That particular game, I went up to Bobby Cox (and said) Right now, I'm doing everything. We're supposed to have eight other guys out there and I'm the one scoring all the runs. I scored four runs, stole all the bases, made some catches out there. If I could get some help from Ron Gant, Terry Pendleton, Mark Lemke. I was calling out everybody and they busted out laughing. But don't you know, we went on to win 13 straight games?"

In a disappointing end to his season, the North Carolina native tested positive for cocaine in September of 1991 and was suspended for 60 games. "I did not play in the first World Series....I had went out with some friends one day and I had a couple drinks and there was a doctor. I won't call his name, but man I wanted to get him to this day. And he had something back there, cocaine. He said, I love you, man. We're gonna do this in front of you. I said no, no man, I don't wanna do this. And he kept pressuring me, and pressuring me. I went back there and I said one line. Okay, I'm gonna do it. That was a trick of the devil. One line and a couple drinks and went home. I got into the car and I said, why in the world did I just do one line? And, don't you know, when we got ready for the World Series, I thought about it for a minute and said, what if they test me? I couldn't sleep all night, not worried about who's pitching and how many hits and everything. I'm worried about if they're gonna test me. A guy comes in with a white coat on, randomly decides who to test. He says, (pointing) let me have you, let me have you, let me have you, and let me have...okay that's it. My heart was beating like an instrument and I said, Thank God. And he came out to see me and said, I forgot somebody. Mr. Nixon, can you come with me? My heart came out my chest, rolled down, fell on the floor and I felt like I had died, man. He said, You alright? I said, yeah I'm just thinking about the game, you know? So, what happened is, I went in there and tested positive.... So, I went into rehab. I hurt a lot of people, hurt myself. I didn't know exactly what was going on, but I knew every time I looked at the drink, I felt different. Every time I tried to do drugs, I felt different....That addiction was so powerful, that you can't break it just by saying no, don't do this. I believe you need a little Jesus to break that power over you. I realized something, I can't do it unless I have the power of God in my life."

Well, Otis Nixon clearly has the power of God behind him and has put the struggles in his past to rest. And, what makes his testimony so compelling, is the fact that he's been there. He's been through adversity and battled his way back to solid ground. And now, he's in position to reach out his hand and lift others up. Today, the former Atlanta Brave is doing much greater things than stealing 620 bases and batting .270 during a 17 year career in Major League Baseball. Through On Track Ministries, the Otis Nixon Foundation is making a tremendous impact in our communities by helping others change their lives in a positive direction...One man, one woman, and one child at time. "I believe that when Jesus Christ comes back and I'm sitting in line...and He says, Otis why should I let you into my kingdom? (Otis responds) Well, I caught that ball and made it to the World Series, (Jesus answers) Not good enough. (Otis replies) I stole six bases and those other guys didn't even help...(Jesus answers) Ain't good enough...(Otis responds) I said, Lord I believe in you. I believe that you died on the cross. I believe...hold on, can I do something? Can I ask my guys that I've helped, one man at a time to stand up, so they can know you? And, I believe He's gonna say, Otis, welcome. Good job, faithful servant. Come on in."

If you or anybody you know has been incarcerated because of substance abuse, please contact the Otis Nixon Foundation at www.otisnixonfoundation.org.