JasonChatraw.com

Larry Munson: A Tribute

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When I heard Larry Munson died Sunday night, my first memory of his distinct voice was listening to the 1981 Sugar Bowl on short wave radio in the wee hours of the morning while living in England. From that moment on, his signature calls were imbedded into my consciousness every time I thought about some [...]

Why Joe Paterno Failed Us

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“Defend the poor and fatherless: Do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.” – Psalm 82:3-4 In reflecting on the heinous allegations leveled toward Penn State athletic and administrative officials of covering up the reprehensible behavior of Jerry Sandusky, my stomach churns [...]

What We Were Talking About in June

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I normally write about things that interest me — but that doesn’t always translate into things that interest other people. But thanks to the wonderful world wide web and its dazzling array of analytics, it’s easier for me to take the guess work out of what really engage or resonates with readers versus what I [...]

Why Christians Ignore Unethical Behavior in College Football

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GUEST POST: Today’s guest post comes from former Northwestern football star Jason Wright, who went on to have a solid seven-year NFL career. I connected with Jason when he was in Atlanta, struggling to make the Falcons’ roster. He retired this season and we’re working on a writing project that talks about his time in [...]

Discipleship: The Constant of Change

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GUEST POST: Today’s guest post comes from my dad, Darrell Chatraw — a fitting tribute for Father’s Day week. When it comes to discipleship, my dad has modeled for me what this looks like in an effective and natural way. And while many church leaders admire pastors who build megachurches with thousands of weekly attendees, [...]

Father’s Day: Is It about You or Is It about Being a Father?

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My father used to play with my brother and me in the yard. Mother would come out and say, “You’re tearing up the grass.” “We’re not raising grass,” Dad would reply. “We’re raising boys.” — Harmon Killebrew, former Major League Baseball great I love being a dad. All those corny jokes that made me an [...]

Jim Tressel & the Importance of Quitting

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Ohio State coach Jim Tressel resigned Monday. For a man who built his reputation as a winner who did things the right way, Jim Tressel – the now former head coach of the Ohio State football program – is teaching us all another important lesson. He’s teaching us the importance of quitting. But I don’t [...]

Time Machine Fridays: When I Hit Niekro

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Almost 15 years ago, I had my one shot at hitting off a former Major League pitcher, Phil Niekro. It was an unforgettable experience. As to how it turned out, well, that’s what Throwback Fridays are for. Read for yourself in this column that I wrote appearing in the May 21, 1996 edition of The [...]

Butler: Sentimental Favorite to Crowned Champion

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Positioning yourself as an expert for this year’s NCAA Tournament can pretty much make you look silly. So, I’ll write this as a curious onlooker who had the good fortune to spend some time around the Butler program this season. In the one-and-done universe that is college basketball today, there’s something compelling about the throwback [...]

Butler’s Nored Gets to the Point

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Earlier this basketball season, I had the opportunity to interview one of the most delightful college athletes I’ve encountered in 20-plus years of writing — none other than Butler’s Ronald Nored. He’s a fast-talking quote machine with a vibrant personality that has this odd Pied Piper quality about him. In just a few short minutes [...]

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Sports

Larry Munson: A Tribute

What We Were Talking About in June

Why Christians Ignore Unethical Behavior in College Football

Discipleship: The Constant of Change

Father’s Day: Is It about You or Is It about Being a Father?

Jim Tressel & the Importance of Quitting

Time Machine Fridays: When I Hit Niekro

Butler: Sentimental Favorite to Crowned Champion

Butler’s Nored Gets to the Point