Practice Makes Perfect.

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT. It’s an old saying, and a true one. But as New York Yankee Tino Martinez learned in game four of the 2001 World Series, watching television can also be helpful.

The Yankees trailed the Arizona Diamondbacks two games to one and hosted the fourth contest in the best-of-seven series at Yankee Stadium. A New York defeat would almost certainly clinch the world title for Arizona.

The Diamondbacks appeared to be on the brink of their third victory, taking a 3–1 lead into the eighth inning. Manager Bob Brenly brought in Byung-Hyun Kim, a submarine-style closer, to shut down the Yankees.

New York had never faced Kim, and Martinez elected to watch his motion on the clubhouse television. Tino saw the Diamondbacks’ reliever strike out Shane Spencer, Scott Brosius, and Alfonso Soriano.

Then in the ninth, Derek Jeter bunted into a groundout, Paul O’Neill singled, and Bernie Williams struck out. Martinez stepped to the plate as the Yankees’ last hope. Seeing a fastball he could handle, Martinez ripped it over the wall in short right field to tie the game.

In the tenth, Kim coaxed Brosius and Soriano into fly outs, and Jeter came to bat with the score tied. After working the count full and fouling off a pitch, the shortstop belted a fastball over the right-field fence, giving New York a 4–3 win and tying the series at two games each.

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POINT Tino Martinez could have sat in the dugout anticipating a pitcher he had never seen. But he had a better idea. He hurried into the clubhouse to watch the televised game. Martinez scouted the opposition, looking for pitch patterns and speed. Watching and learning paid off with the two-run homer that kept the Yankees alive.

Watching and learning are important in our life too. Moses reminded God’s people to watch, learn, and remember. Then he urged them to teach the Lord’s lessons to their children and their children’s children.

GOAL! Watch a broadcast of your favorite sport, paying particular attention to learning something new. Ask God to help you remember all you’ve learned about him.