Fernando Martin

Fernando Martin, the first Spaniard to play in the NBA. Martin, a 6-10 power forward, signed as a free agent with the Portland Trail Blazers on May 6, 1986, playing 24 games for Portland in 1986-87, recording 22 points, 28 rebounds, nine assists and seven steals in 146 minutes.

After one season with the Trail Blazers, he returned to Spain to play for Real Madrid, where he played from 1981-1986 and 1987-89. Martin made 86 appearances on the Spanish National Team, earning the silver medal in the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Martin was enshrined in the FIBA Hall of Fame in the inaugural class on March 1, 2007.

Rudy Fernandez paid a very thoughtful tribune to Spain’s first NBA player last night in the slam-dunk contest, by wearing a replica of Fernando Martin’s Trail Blazer uniform for his first dunk. It’s a shame the people doing the broadcast on TNT were not educated, prior to the event, about Martin. And then they might have at least pronounced his name correctly (it’s mar-TEEN) and not looked like ignorant fools with their jokes at the sight of the uniform.

Shahar Peer

Shahar Peer being denied a visa by the UAE officials to play in the Sony Ericsson Open in Dubai. This is a clear violation of sporting guidelines and the WTA guidelines. Peer was to be the first Israeli to play in Dubai. It seems like this is the fallout of the Gaza syndrome that is going to play out in the coming weeks.

Now, I know that people are certain to make a mountain out of this molehill as they are accutomed to doing, but then what we need is some objective rationale. No doubt it is a grave injustice to Ms. Peer, but will politics ever stop to reflect on sport and sporting decisions? If that be the case the US of A would have never boycotted the Moscow Olympics. Use your brain cells, before you subject us to your opinions.

The world number 48 has been denied a visa by the Gulf state's authorities, prompting a strongly worded response from the Women's Tennis Association (WTA), which runs the women's tour. The blocking of Peer is a surprise because she was given a visa to play in the Qatar Open in Doha last year, a visit which was a considerable success both in tennis and diplomatic terms. But the change in relations between Israel and neighbouring states, following the recent Gaza conflict, is almost certainly the reason for a change of attitude in the United Arab Emirates, according to AFP.

Billy Graham

Billy Graham's 1959 visit to Australia (see the preview here). What amazes me is the number of people that I have met, mostly in their late 60s now, who were at Billy Graham's evangelistic crusades in Australia and attribute the beginning of their spiritual journey to that event. Oh, that times of spiritual refreshing would visit the shores of Australia again!

No doubt your friend is sincere in what he believes, but unfortunately he is not correct, because this is not what Jesus Christ taught about his return. When Jesus Christ came into the world slightly more than 2,000 years ago, his birth was virtually unnoticed. Only a few shepherds and a small group of foreign wise men came to pay homage to him; as far as most people were concerned, he was just another baby, born to an insignificant peasant couple.

The most important question about Christ’s return, however, is this: Are you prepared for that day? Or are you prepared to meet him when you die? You can be, by confessing your sins to him and by faith trusting him alone for your salvation. Open your heart to Christ today. Jesus said, “You will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven”.