MY MAN J. R. HOUSE

What does it take? I've had this conversation with many over the years. What does it take to make it as a professional athlete on the major league scene?

J. R. House, as many of you know is a friend of mine. Actually I haven't been around J. R. all that much. It seems like we're always missing each other. But he's a great person and much closer to two of my closest friends.

Like Kent Williams, J.R. is on the verge. Last season an injury kept him out of the majors. He has been to the show. In fact, he's batting 1.000. One for one, if I'm not mistaken, so he has advanced farther than Kent. And although a free agent, he is working out and drawing interest from at least 3 clubs that I know of. He's going to make it this season, I'm confident. Whoever gets him will not be sorry either.

But back to my original query: what does it take? I've heard extra hard work and dedication. Yet who could work harder than Kent? As far as ability goes, he was a two-time runner up to Kyle Korver as the MV MVP. As a Sixer, Korver gets a lot of playing time. Jamal Crawford never matched Kent at the Shootout at Saavis Center when he set the all-time record. And Crawford gets a lot of minutes in the NBA, too.

I've also heard that "somebody's got to like him." I think there's something to that, but how could you not like guys like J.R., Kent, or my golfing buddy Nelson Rood who made it to AAA with the Astros where he roomed with Biggio? I mean these are three of the finest Christian men I know.

The right place at the right time may make sense, too. But with some of the old retreads they're lining up at the catcher positon and the money they're dangling, I can't see how they could overlook J. R. much longer.

I know it works in other areas such as writing or movie-making, too. It's just one of those things that keeps you scratching your head.