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September 14, 2023

Joe Kennedy, the high school football coach who took his battle to pray at the 50-yard line all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, said it was the “right time” to resign from the position he spent years fighting to win back.

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Kennedy, who is set to release a book next month, “Average Joe: The Coach Joe Kennedy Story,” made headlines this month when he returned to the football field after scoring a landmark religious freedom victory before the high court last year.

But right after returning to coaching and then kneeling and praying on the field, Kennedy decided to step away from his position.

“It just seemed like the right time,” he told CBN’s Faithwire, citing health issues in his wife’s family, among other deciding factors. “Also, it seemed like the right thing to do. I knew the school really didn’t want me there. They made it abundantly clear.”

Kennedy said he wanted to simply “end on a high note,” take the high road, and “retire on my own terms instead of anybody else’s.”

Regardless of Kennedy’s decision to stop working as a coach, he said he was elated to have the chance to kneel at the 50-yard line and pray at his first game back.

“It was the most amazing feeling,” he said. “I’ve had a lot of good days, I’ve had a lot of bad days, but that day was probably the most perfect day ever.”

Kennedy added, “We invited God right back into our schools and we could do it legally. So, that was just an awesome, awesome evening. I have no words except for, ‘Thanks to God for everything.’”

He said there weren’t any protestors, which he was grateful for, as he feared it would distract the players. On the flip side, the community reportedly showed up to support Kennedy, with three times as many people coalescing as at a typical game.

The now-former coach also explained why he believes the Kennedy v. Bremerton School District Supreme Court win is a victory for everyone, not just him and Christians more broadly.

“People have more freedom now than they have in the past 50 years,” Kennedy said. “The people that don’t understand and think that I did something wrong, they just need to take a history lesson. … Free speech is something that’s great in America, and I fought to defend that, and I will stand up for everyone’s right, even if they don’t agree with me and they’re protesting me.”

Kennedy will continue focusing on his First Amendment advocacy. Next month, he releases the book, “Average Joe: The Coach Joe Kennedy Story,” and a film about his story is due out next year.

He’s hoping these projects especially the upcoming book deliver a dose of inspiration.

“Ones that are on my side, they’ll be able to be inspired by it, because … there is so much going on in the world and there’s so much bad news and negativity,” Kennedy said. “This hopefully will show that, if one guy like me could stand up and change the nation, imagine what we could do if we all stand up together and stand up for our rights?”

Hiram Sasser, executive general counsel for the First Liberty Institute, the legal firm representing Kennedy, shed further light this week on Kennedy’s recent departure from the Bremerton School District, alleging the coach was mistreated upon his return.

“Well, coach is a Marine so he’s too proud, he has too much honor to tell you everything the school district was doing,” Sasser told “Fox & Friends.” “We’re currently investigating all the retaliation that was going on.”

***As the number of voices facing big-tech censorship continues to grow, please sign up forFaithwires daily newsletterand download theCBN News app, developed by our parent company, to stay up-to-date with the latest news from a distinctly Christian perspective.***

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BlockFi bankruptcy administrator and DOJ agree to dismiss $35M lawsuit

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BlockFi bankruptcy administrator and DOJ agree to dismiss M lawsuit

BlockFi bankruptcy administrator and DOJ agree to dismiss M lawsuit

BlockFi’s bankruptcy administrator and the DOJ have settled a $35 million crypto asset transfer lawsuit.

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Hard-throwing rookie Misiorowski going to ASG

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Hard-throwing rookie Misiorowski going to ASG

Hard-throwing rookie Jacob Misiorowski is a National League All-Star replacement, giving the Milwaukee Brewers right-hander a chance to break Paul Skenes‘ record for the fewest big league appearances before playing in the Midsummer Classic.

Misiorowski was named Friday night to replace Chicago Cubs lefty Matthew Boyd, who will be unavailable for the All-Star Game on Tuesday night in Atlanta because he is scheduled to start Saturday at the New York Yankees.

The 23-year-old Misiorowski has made just five starts for the Brewers, going 4-1 with a 2.81 ERA while averaging 99.3 mph on his fastball, with 89 pitches that have reached 100 mph.

If he pitches at Truist Park, Misiorowski will make it consecutive years for a player to set the mark for fewest big league games before an All-Star showing.

Skenes, the Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander getting ready for his second All-Star appearance, had made 11 starts in the majors when he was chosen as the NL starter for last year’s All-Star Game at Texas. He pitched a scoreless inning.

“I’m speechless,” said a teary-eyed Misiorowski, who said he was given the news a few minutes before the Brewers’ 8-3 victory over Washington. “It’s awesome. It’s very unexpected and it’s an honor.”

Misiorowski is the 30th first-time All-Star and 16th replacement this year. There are now 80 total All-Stars.

“He’s impressive. He’s got some of the best stuff in the game right now, even though he’s a young pitcher,” said Yankees slugger Aaron Judge, who is a starting AL outfielder for his seventh All-Star nod. “He’s going to be a special pitcher in this game for a long time so I think he deserved it and it’s going be pretty cool for him and his family.”

Carlos Rodón, Carlos Estévez and Casey Mize were named replacement pitchers on the AL roster.

The New York Yankees‘ Rodón, an All-Star for the third time in five seasons, will replace teammate Max Fried for Tuesday’s game in Atlanta. Fried will be unavailable because he is scheduled to start Saturday against the Chicago Cubs.

In his final start before the All-Star game, Rodón allowed four hits and struck out eight in eight innings in an 11-0 victory over the Cubs.

“This one’s a little special for me,” said Rodón, an All-Star in 2021 and ’22 who was 3-8 in his first season with the Yankees two years ago before rebounding. “I wasn’t good when I first got here, and I just wanted to prove that I wasn’t to going to give up and just put my best foot forward and try to win as many games as I can.”

The Kansas City Royals‘ Estévez replaces Texas’ Jacob deGrom, who is scheduled to start at Houston on Saturday night. Estévez was a 2023 All-Star when he was with the Los Angeles Angels.

Mize takes the spot held by Boston‘s Garrett Crochet, who is scheduled to start Saturday against Tampa Bay. Mize gives the Tigers six All-Stars, most of any team and tied for the franchise record.

Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia will replace Tampa Bay‘s Brandon Lowe, who went on the injured list with left oblique tightness. The additions of Estévez and Garcia give the Royals four All-Stars, matching their 2024 total.

The Seattle Mariners announced center fielder Julio Rodríguez will not participate, and he was replaced by teammate Randy Arozarena. Rodríguez had been voted onto the AL roster via the players’ ballot. The Mariners, who have five All-Stars, said Rodríguez will use the break to “recuperate, rest and prepare for the second half.”

Arozarena is an All-Star for the second time. He started in left field for the AL two years ago, when he was with Tampa Bay. Arozarena was the runner-up to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the 2023 Home Run Derby.

Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen, a first-time All-Star, is replacing Angels left-hander Yusei Kikuchi, who is scheduled to start Saturday night at Arizona. Rasmussen is 7-5 with a 2.82 ERA in 18 starts.

San Diego added a third NL All-Star reliever in lefty Adrián Morejón, who replaces Philadelphia starter Zack Wheeler. The Phillies’ right-hander is scheduled to start at San Diego on Saturday night. Morejón entered the weekend with a 1.71 ERA in 45 appearances.

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M’s Raleigh hits 2 more HRs, brings total to 38

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M's Raleigh hits 2 more HRs, brings total to 38

DETROIT — Cal Raleigh hit his 37th and 38th home runs in Seattle‘s 12-3 victory over Detroit on Friday night to move within one of Barry Bonds’ 2001 major league record for homers before the All-Star break.

Raleigh hit a solo homer off former teammate Tyler Holton in the eighth to tie the American League record of 37 before the All-Star break set by Reggie Jackson in 1969 and matched by Chris Davis in 2013.

“[Holton] and I are really good friends, and I’ve caught a lot of his pitches,” said Raleigh, who was in the lineup as the designated hitter instead of at catcher. “I don’t think that helped much, but I’m sure he’s not very happy with me.”

Raleigh hit a grand slam off Brant Hurter in the ninth.

“I didn’t even know it was a record until just now,” Raleigh said. “I don’t have words for it, I guess. I’m just very grateful and thankful.”

It was Raleigh’s eighth multihomer game this season, tying Jackson (also in 1969) for the most such games before the All-Star break in MLB history, according to ESPN Research. He also tied Ken Griffey Jr. for the most multihomer games in Mariners franchise history.

Seattle has two games left in Detroit before the break.

“Cal Raleigh … this is just unbelievable,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said. “He’s already set the AL record and now he’s only one short of Barry. There are two games, so who knows?”

Raleigh hit 10 homers in March and April, 12 in May, 11 in June and has five in July.

“This is a very boring comment, but baseball is all about consistency,” Wilson said. “This hasn’t been one hot streak, he’s doing this month after month. That says everything.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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