» Chron: Berkman reaches 10-year mark of major league career

Interesting sidenote to this story that celebrates Lance Berkman's 10-yr anniversary with the Astros ...

As often as not, though, college also can be where religious faith wanes rather than waxes. Berkman is grateful his time at Rice strengthened his beliefs in that regard.

"I had a buddy who was a strong Christian and lived his life in accordance with that," he said. "This guy was different, and the more that I was around him, I realized that I was a guy who claimed to be a Christian, yet my life didn't look any different from someone who didn't claim Christianity.

"That was my Damascus road experience, where God said either you're in or you're out. If you're going to claim to be a Christian, you'd better demonstrate that. Otherwise, don't even bother."