Tag Archives: Balladeer’s Blog

NCCAA BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES AND NCAA DIVISION TWO RESULTS

NCCAA DIVISION ONE

cedarville u yellow jacketsNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The top seeds – the CEDARVILLE UNIVERSITY YELLOW JACKETS – took on the 2nd seeded WAYLAND BAPTIST UNIVERSITY PIONEERS (should be Flying Ws) in this title tilt.

Come Halftime the Yellow Jackets were nursing a 35-31 edge. After the break Cedarville University left the Pioneers further and further behind on their way to an 88-72 triumph. Grant Whisman and Chris Rogers led the Yellow Jackets with 20 points each. 

NCCAA DIVISION TWO

crown college polars logoNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The last two teams standing in this Division were the top seeded CROWN COLLEGE POLAR BEARS and the 3 seeds – the NORTH CENTRAL UNIVERSITY RAMS. 

The Polar Bears were on top of their opponents 35-29 at the Half. From there the Rams mounted a furious rally which fell just short as Crown College held on to win the game 75-72. The Polar Bears were led by Tyrus Buckner, who came up just short of a Double Double with his THIRTY points and 9 rebounds. Continue reading

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MORE SILENT FILMS ABOUT THE CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS

jesus speakingHAPPY EASTER, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! The good response to my blog post about one of the silent films depicting Jesus Christ and the Crucifixion has prompted me to provide the following list of more such silent movies – both shorts and feature films.

Here they are in no particular order:   

ChristusCHRISTUS (1916) – Directed by Giulio Cesare Antamoro, this is a fascinating look at Jesus, from the Angel visiting Mary through his Resurrection and subsequent visit with his Apostles. Christus runs 88 minutes and features some inventive variations on Biblical tableaux. The Star of Bethlehem is depicted as a comet; when Mary finds young Jesus preaching to his teachers His shadow appears as a cross; and Judas gets three visions of the Devil – first urging him on to betray Jesus, then taunting him when he regrets that betrayal, and finally welcoming him into Hell, which opens up under Judas’ swinging corpse.  Continue reading

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THE DUTCH SUPERHERO DE STILLE GETUIGE (THE SILENT WITNESS)

This weekend’s light-hearted and escapist superhero post here at Balladeer’s Blog looks at the Dutch-created superhero de Stille Getuige, created by Steven de Rie.

silent witnessDE STILLE GETUIGE (The Silent Witness)

Secret Identity: Koen Ernst

NOTE: Koen Ernst was a Dutch-Belgian policeman stationed in Antwerp. Dutch-Belgian artist and writer Steven de Rie created de Stille Getuige in 1987 but the figure did not see publication until 1989 in the pages of Veteranen – Het Album (Veterans – The Album).  

Origin: Police officer Koen Ernst clashed with the supernaturally powered villain Siam Silkpoint. The mystical criminal maneuvered Ernst into the clutches of the beautiful witch Miro Pyro. That witch tore out Koen Ernst’s tongue in the course of the origin story which saw the former policeman gain mystical powers himself as the Silent Witness.  Continue reading

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THE QUEST OF SETH FOR THE OIL OF LIFE (1962)

Quest of SethTHE QUEST OF SETH FOR THE OIL OF LIFE (1962) – Written by Esther Casier Quinn, this is one of the best and most concise works of comparative mythology that I have ever read. It’s a medieval legend often compared to the Grail story and is appropriate for Holy Thursday. The Quest of Seth for the Oil of Life is also known as The Quest of Seth for the Oil of Mercy, The Legend of the Rood and many other titles.

Quinn draws from a multitude of sources to provide several variations of this tale and explores the ways in which the course of history shaped the revisions and embellishments involved in this medieval legend. The Seth of the title is the son of Adam and Eve, the Oil of Life/ Oil of Mercy is often said to represent Jesus Christ, the Rood refers to the cross on which Jesus was crucified and its “legend” details the history and many forms of the tree/ wood that eventually became that cross. 

quest of seth for the oil of lifeFor those not familiar with this particular popular offshoot of the canonical story of Jesus Christ here’s a brief overview:

As Adam the First Man lies near death in his old age he longs for the Oil of Life/ Mercy. He instructs his son Seth to trace the footprints that he and Eve indelibly burned into the ground as they left the Garden of Eden. Since nothing ever again grew from those footprints, Seth can follow them backward to discover Eden, wherein Adam has told him he can find the Oil. Continue reading

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NAIA COLLEGE BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, PLUS NCCAA PLAYOFF ACTION

NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics)

freed hardeman university lionsNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – It was a case of Lion-on-Lion violence as the FREED-HARDEMAN UNIVERSITY LIONS did battle with the LANGSTON UNIVERSITY LIONS (should be Hugheses) for the title.   

At Halftime Langston University was on top 40-31 but after the break FHU was primed for a comeback. The Lions outscored the figurative “Hugheses” 40-27 for a 71-67 triumph and their first ever hoops crown. Quan Lax led Freed-Hardeman in this total team effort with his 15 points.

NCCAA (NATIONAL CHRISTIAN COLLEGE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION) DIVISION ONE

sagu aic warriorsFIRST QUARTERFINAL – The 6 seeds – the SAGU-AMERICAN INDIAN COLLEGE WARRIORS – had a surprise in store for the 3rd seeded MISSION UNIVERSITY PATRIOTS.

The Warriors put Mission University on Upset Alert by the Half with their 41-31 advantage. From there SAGU-AIC maintained their intensity against the Patriots, moving on to the semifinals by a final score of 80-64. Harley Upton’s 24 points led the Warriors, while his teammate Keyshawn Celestino-Clyde logged a Double Double of 16 points and 11 rebounds.  Continue reading

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EASTER SILENT MOVIE: LIFE AND PASSION OF JESUS CHRIST (1903, 1907 in America)

jesus christSince this is Easter Week the Silent Film geek in me figured I’d post this 44-minute work about Jesus from the cradle to the crucifixion.

As a 1903 production it is certainly crude but the novelty value is high. Plus, viewers can listen to their favorite spiritual/ inspirational music while watching it. 

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BALLADEER’S BLOG: ACCA BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME PLUS MORE

ACCA (Association of Christian College Athletics)

Ozark Christian College Ambassadors new logoCHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The ACCA includes teams from the U.S. and Canada. Their title tilt pitted the 3 seeds – the OZARK CHRISTIAN COLLEGE AMBASSADORS – against the 4th seeded UNION COLLEGE (NE) WARRIORS.

On their way to the championship game the Ambassadors defeated the (6) Free Lutheran Bible College Conquerors and the (2) Providence (Manitoba) University College & Seminary Pilots in the previous rounds. Meanwhile, the Warriors downed the (5) Oak Hills Christian College Wolfpack and the (1) Trinity Bible College Lions.    Continue reading

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TALES FROM THE QUADEAD ZONE (1987) – BAD MOVIE

tales from the quadead zone coverTALES FROM THE QUADEAD ZONE (1987) – The second and – to date – final movie written and directed by Chester Novell Turner. The man’s films became so renowned for being legendarily bad that in 2014 a documentary about their making was released under the title Return to the Quadead Zone.

Once again, it’s time for Balladeer’s Blog’s standard warning for readers who are not into the more remote, violent and tasteless corners of the cinematic universe. Don’t go past the “Continue reading” mark. Continue reading

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BALLADEER’S BLOG’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL: NAIA ELITE EIGHT SET

NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics)

evangel valorELITE EIGHT: FIRST BERTH – The EVANGEL UNIVERSITY VALOR faced the LEWIS-CLARK STATE WARRIORS (should be Explorers).

This was a tale of two Halves as the Valor thoroughly dominated the opening, leading their opponents 43-26 at the break. From there Evangel University had to hold on by their fingertips against a furious Warriors rally for a 77-74 victory. Garrett Davault of the Valor led his team with 22 points.  Continue reading

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THOR AND HERCULES, SIDE BY SIDE

thor and herculesThis weekend’s light-hearted and escapist superhero post from Balladeer’s Blog looks at the Marvel Comics run in which Hercules and Thor fought side by side against assorted menaces.

Previously I examined the first encounter between Thor and Hercules as well as Hercules’ first period as a member of the Avengers.

th 221THOR Vol 1 #221 (March 1974)

Title: Hercules Enraged

Villains: Ares and Pluto/ Hades

Synopsis: In Asgard, the Valkyrie named Hildegarde tells Thor that via Odin’s magic implements she saw her missing sister Krista trapped in the Greek pantheon’s Netherworld being used as a slave by Pluto and Hercules.

The furious Thor travels to Mt. Olympus to demand answers. He encounters his former ally Hercules and when Herc says he doesn’t know anything about Krista, Thor attacks him in a berserker rage.

The lengthy battle between Hercules and Thor ends when Zeus abruptly appears. Zeus tells them that Pluto is indeed holding Krista captive in the Netherworld, but his ally was really Ares disguised as Hercules to incriminate the demigod in the eyes of Asgard. Continue reading

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