New Sports and Faith book will be out in late November

Daniel Norris Photo 

Worthwhile Struggle features inspirational stories of exemplary athletes together with accounts of Patrick McCaskey’s personal experiences. Each of the first 10 chapters is titled from the author’s popular “10 Commandments of Football”—principles based on the author’s growing up in the Halas-McCaskey family with the Chicago Bears. Spending his time on faith-based initiatives and charitable causes, McCaskey is passionate about promoting the good—the focus of this series.  

Worthwhile Struggle is the fourth book in the Sports and Faith Series. Here's a few sentences on some of the people who are mentioned in the book:

Mike Ditka

Bears’ history comes with a lot of Mike Ditka. Six years at tight end (1961-1966) and 11 years (1982-1992) as head coach. During his time with the team, the Bears won 2 NFL Championships. He was a big part of both.

Gene Pingatore

Gene Pingatore is the long-time Head Basketball Coach at Saint Joseph High School in Westchester, Illinois. The 1000game winner was inducted into the Sports Faith International Hall of Fame, which calls attention to the accomplishments of exemplary athletes, coaches, and teams. Pingatore’s program focuses on character and discipline.

Bill Wennington

Bill Wennington is a 7-foot tall 245 pound former professional basketball player who won several championships during his long career. “Wennington’s story is one of great patience, hard work, and a burning desire to succeed.”

Jim Finks

On September 12, 1974, Jim Finks joined the Chicago Bears as the executive vice president, general manager, and chief operating officer. Here is how he built the Bears’ 1985 Championship team.

Walter Payton

Walter Payton is right at the top of many sports analysts’ lists of the best players in NFL history. In 13 seasons, Payton had 3,838 rushes for 16,726 yards and 110 rushing touchdowns.

Kyle Long

Kyle is a 6-foot-6, 315 pound offensive lineman for the Chicago Bears. Kyle Long was selected by the Bears with the 20th pick in the first round of the 2013 draft out of Oregon.

Tom O'Hara

Tom O’Hara was one of those runners who could not stay off the Chicago streets, alleys, parks, and paths. They led from his family’s modest Bucktown apartment to world records.

Guy Chamberlin

Guy Chamberlin won his NFL Championships in the 1920s. He was a brainy player and coach for championship teams— teams that no longer exist: The Canton Bulldogs, the Cleveland Bulldogs, and the Frankford Yellow Jackets.

Gale Sayers

Gale Sayers was a remarkable player. Exceptionally elusive, he used every inch of his body to twist and turn through defensive lines and past their best players. Sayers could see or sense everyone around him on the field.

New Saint Kevin Shirt

We are creating a "Saint Kevin and the Blackbird" shirt. The image was created by Curt Rabinak and I think it is a winner. We are including a brief story on Saint Kevin in our next book in our Sports and Faith Series called Worthwhile Struggle. 

Seamus Heaney wrote a poem based on Irish-Catholic tradition called “Saint Kevin and the Blackbird.”A blackbird landed on the Saint’s hand while his arms were extended in prayer—the bird laid its eggs in his hand. The kindly saint holds the bird until the eggs hatch and the young birds leave.

The actual story dates from roughly 800 years ago. 

I am having the design printed in grey and available in men's sizes--small-medium-large-2X and 3X for starters. They are $25 and should be here by mid-October. If you'd like to order just send me a note at lmj.norris@gmail.com. I used the same fabric and color for a shirt I did on the Way of Saint James and work it myself many many times--very durable.