The Irish Books, Art, and Music Program at the Irish American Heritage Center in 2018

Sporting Chance Press was at the Irish American Heritage Center for the IBAM event. I was one of the authors present and had a table with The Brown and White, Sports and Faith II, The 10 Commandments of Baseball, and my Saint Kevin and the Blackbird shirt.

THE BROWN AND WHITE

Great Quick Read

The Brown and White is my own story about a young Irish American boy in his freshman year in high school during the Chicago Troubles in the late 1960s. 

SPORTS AND FAITH II

The Sports and Faith Series are books that promote the good in sports. Sports and Faith Book 2 includes stories of current professionals and legends; spotlighted are teams such as Bob Ladouceur s De La Salle squad portrayed in the motion picture When the Game Stands Tall. Burke Masters (featured on cover), Matthew Lightner, and Grant Desme three promising athletes who decided on a role of lifetime service are spotlighted. McCaskey recalls the stories of those who strove to make the cut on and off the field.

 

THE 10 COMMANDMENTS OF BASEBALL

The 10 Commandments of Baseball is about the baseball principles created by the greatest Major League Baseball manager of all time, Joe McCarthy. McCarthy's Irish youth was troubled by the early death of his father and his parish priest convinced his mother that Joe should pursue his baseball dreams and go to college rather than jump right into the plumbing trade. 

Most of my books are available on Amazon. But click on the links above for more information.  

Saint Kevin and the Blackbird is an an 800 year old Irish story about the great saint. Saint Kevin went out to his small hut or cell to pray one day and he extended his arm out the window of the tiny building. A blackbird landed on his hand and the saint patiently left his arm outside while the bird built a nested, laid eggs, and saw them hatch and fly away. Seamus Heaney wrote a beautiful spiritual poem looking at what the saint might have thought and gave his reasons for the deed.   I was so enamored with it that I had the shirt made up.  Patrick McCaskey is a big Seamus Heaney fan and in our next Sports and Faith book, Worthwhile Struggle,  we include Saint Kevin's story and the Heaney poem. You can see the sweatshirt below, but send me your requirements at lmj.norris@gmail.com--it comes in men's sizes small, medium, large, 1X large and 2X large. All are gray  long sleeved and I had another themed shirt made up on another saint a few  years ago just for myself and I have worn holes in it--it's that comfortable. 

Saint Kevin and the Blackbird

Our latest Sports and Faith Series book is Pilgrimage

Pilgrimage is Patrick McCaskey’s third book on Sports and Faith. Pilgrimage explores various Christian shrines and holy places popular with today’s trekkers and seekers. Awakened by modern fascination with places like the Way of Saint James, many athletes whose achievements are celebrated in this Sports and Faith book, have made pilgrimages part of their faith journey. The Holy Land, Rome, Lourdes, Fatima, Assisi, and several other places of interest and their origins are examined.

Author Patrick McCaskey has peppered the book with his own poems and narratives on all things McCaskey. The popular author’s poems and his own literary and papal pilgrimages are here. McCaskey shares personal episodes that readers will find simple, insightful, and touching.Pilgrimage shares stories of exemplary athletes and others who are successful in sports and life. These writings are often the product of the author’s efforts on behalf of Sports Faith International, an initiative that honors devout athletes and coaches. In Pilgrimage, some of those featured have left sports for religious vocations—a college volleyball star, an Olympic Speed-skater, and a professional (female) football player! Add to these, stories on coaches, teams, and athletes of all shapes and sizes, including some who have struggled mightily with their sport and their calling. Sports training as a metaphor for religious growth and is found throughout. Athletes train seriously for sustaining endurance, improving their skills, and maximizing performance. Many faithful Christians use such training to make a difference for the unfortunate, teaching young people, and working tirelessly for others. These efforts are featured.

Pilgrimage includes some stories you may not expect: The story of Lou Gehrig, the great Christian gentleman of baseball. EWTN sensation,Bear Woznick, devout Catholic, radio and TV host who challenges people to abandon themselves to God, and live a life in pursuit of God’s will in the boldest, most rewarding way possible. Then there is Mark Philippi, a nationally recognized Strength and Conditioning Coach and Power-lifting champion. Another story features West Point graduate and army officer, April Ortenzo, who is following her family’s example of service and sacrifice to others.

Pilgrimage is a well-rounded offering that helps readers on their own faith journey through the examples of many others. Some readers may not be able to make a life-changing journey across continents and oceans, but this book can give readers some insights and enrichment. For those seeking adventure and travel in their future, here’s a personal introduction.

Book: Flesh and Blood Experiences

Good Read with a Cup of Tea

Publishing could be fun if it wasn't so frustrating these days. But after 16 years of Catholic schools and decades of work in professional publishing, I have had some input on things we publish and the works themselves. I bring my experiences into the mix and that makes it more fulfilling.

I was taught by Dominican Sisters, Carmelite Priests and Brothers, and Benedictine Monks and Nuns. In-between publishing books like The 10 Commandments of Baseball by J. D. Thorne and our Sports and Faith Series (most recent Pilgrimage) by Patrick McCaskey, I did publish an eBook about my grammar school years called Callaghan Goes to St. Cajetan and I published a print book on my high school experience called The Brown and White. These are humorous books that are based on my childhood.  Books of this kind allow readers to enter the author’s world and at the same time call to mind their own experiences as well. That’s one thing I have found in my work at Sporting Chance Press—a good book can be a personal invitation to remember things we may never have been able to remember without some kind of stimulation.

That may sound a little weird, but I swear it is true. Going out with J. D. Thorne to speaking engagements I heard him talk principles, players and his own experience from The 10 Commandments of Baseball.  And sure enough, the audience would react to what he was saying and often mention stories and experiences his book quelled within them.  The 10 Commandments mentions that baseball on the radio was one of the few forms of entertainment that people had before TV.  Out on the farms, it could be a real life-saver.  Some in J. D.’s audiences talk about those experiences. Often, J. D. and his audiences remember a special love they both had for the game and its players. 

Patrick McCaskey is a grandson of George Halas, the founder of the Chicago. Bears Halas was a leading member of the original NFL organization. Some people might imagine that they would have little in common with his family, but that’s not true. In many ways, Pat and his siblings were raised like many of us with shared bedrooms, chores, school work, athletics, and much more.  Sure there are experiences Pat had that are much different, but there is a lot of common situations as well.  Often Pat’s presentations, like his books, talk about some funny things that happened to him that most of us can appreciate.  As a teenager, Pat once hopped on his bike and road 10 miles to see a girl he had met—she wasn’t home. Pat also shares his faith experiences and what it has meant to him. 

I always find it a little difficult to sit at a table sometimes at an event staring down at a collection of books that some people may see as a commodity—books for $12.50 or $20.  But for me the books are about flesh and blood experiences—laughter and tears—and much more. 

Saint Kevin and the Blackbird

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.