Since 1992, When Baseball

SINCE 1992, WHEN BASEBALL was officially included in the Summer Olympics, Cuba has dominated the sport. The Caribbean nation remained undefeated en route to two gold medals. But in the 2000 Sydney Games, Tommy Lasorda’s band of minor leaguers made the most of an opportunity.

Lasorda, a former Los Angeles Dodgers manager, opted for a squad of athletes with AA and AAA experience rather than the usual collegians. But the Cubans humiliated the young players 6–1 in a preliminary round.

After advancing to the gold-medal game with a 3–2 victory over Korea, the United States drew a return encounter with Cuba in the championships. On offense, Team USA took charge early. With two out in the first, Mike Neill slammed a solo home run off Pedro Luis Lazo. The Americans iced the contest in the fifth, scoring three runs on Pat Borders’s double and a two-run single by Ernie Young.

On the mound, Ben Sheets pitched masterfully. The 22-year-old allowed only three hits and no runs through eight innings. Leading 4–0 in the ninth, he struck out the first two Cubans. Yassar Gomez then sliced a wicked fly, but Neill snagged the ball with a sliding catch for the final out.

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POINT Getting a second chance to redeem yourself can provide special moments in sports and in life. And God is a God of second chances. He gives us a chance at new life by believing in Jesus Christ. Then every time we mess up, he gives us the chance to pray and ask for forgiveness. That’s just who God is, and he’s always been that way.

At one point in the Old Testament, all the people—except for one family—had turned away from God. Their actions were incredibly evil. But instead of wiping out the earth, God gave humans a second chance by telling Noah to build a boat to save the animals and his family. After the Flood, God promised to never destroy the world with water again.

GOAL! Can you think of a time when you needed a second chance? Isn’t it great that God gives you that opportunity? Thank God for being who he is.