Stay ConnectedSports Spectrum brings you stories and conversations at the intersection of sports and Jesus.
On Tuesday, former Chicago Bears pro bowl running back Matt Forte hosts TUEDAY MORNING RB.
On Friday, we feature a guest from the world of sports to share their Jesus story.
Copyright: © Sports Spectrum
James McCann is a catcher for the New York Mets. He signed a 4-year deal to come to New York in December, 2020 after spending the previous two seasons with the Chicago White Sox, including a berth in the All-Star game in 2019.
Originally selected in the 2011 MLB Amateur Draft by the Tigers, McCann made his MLB debut on September 1, 2014 and played five seasons with Detroit before signing with Chicago in 2018.
On this episode of the podcast, we talk to James McCann about signing with the Mets, the importance of prayer in making the decision to come to New York, his 2019 All-Star appearance, what he learned during the 2020 pandemic, and how God gave peace to James during the premature birth of his twin boys back in December 2017.
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Dansby Swanson is entering his sixth season as the shortstop of the Atlanta Braves. He was originally the number one overall pick by the Arizona Diamondbacks back in 2015 before being traded in December 2015 to the Braves.
In college at Vanderbilt, Dansby was named the 2014 College World Series Most Valuable Player after helping lead his club to the College Baseball World Series Championship.
Last season, Swanson led the Braves to within a game of the World Series, and hit a NLCS Game 7 home run in a 3-2 loss to the eventual champion Los Angeles Dodgers. He finished the shortened 2020 season with 10 homers and hit a career high .274 in 60 games.
Today on the podcast, we talk to Dansby about the shortened 2020 season, what its like to hit a home run in a Game 7, how he coped with fear and anxiety and why intentionality is his one word for 2021.
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Shaun Nepstad and his wife Dianna founded Fellowship Church in Antioch, California in 2002. In nine years, the church has grown from 350 to over 5,000 people each week attending services. In 2018, Fellowship Antioch was named of the 100 fastest growing churches in America.
Shaun's new book "Don't Quit In the Dip: Stay Focused on God's Promises for you" released in August of 2020.
Today on the podcast, we talk about what it means to not quit in the dip, Shaun's love for the Golden State Warriors, his amazing experience with Alabama football and Nick Saban, and trusting God while he was battling ulcerative colitis.
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Barrett Jones is a former Alabama offensive lineman who was a member of three national championship teams under head coach Nick Saban. He was named first-team All-American in 2011 and 2012 and was awarded the Outland Trophy (best lineman in college football) in 2011.
He ended his Alabama career winning three BCS national championships and played a different position in each of those seasons, as an All-American guard, an All-American right tackle, and an All-American center.
Following his college career, Barrett was selected in the fourth round of the 2013 NFL Draft. Due to injuries, his career only lasted three years and by 2017, his pro football career was over at age 26.
Recently, he's been working as a color analyst on college football broadcasts with ESPN Radio.
Today on the podcast, we talk to Barrett about winning championships at Alabama, what makes coach Nick Saban special, what it means to commit to the process, the identity crisis he went through and the difference between justification and sanctification.
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Murray Garvin has been leading the South Carolina State Men's basketball program since taking over as head coach in 2012. The 2016 MEAC Coach of the Year joins us today to talk about the difficulties he's faced during this Covid 2020-2021 college basketball season and why he came up with the idea to hold a National Day of Prayer for college basketball coaches on March 1.
If you are a coach or basketball administrator and you'd like to be a part of the National Day of Prayer, please email jason@sportsspectrum.com and we will get you the info.
Chelsea Newton is an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the University of Georgia's women's basketball program. She has coached an impressive list of 14 WNBA players and 17 All-Conference selections in just 12 seasons of college basketball coaching.
Prior to coaching, Chelsea was a standout player with the University of Rutgers under legendary coach C. Vivian Stringer. After college, she was a second round selection in 2005 WNBA Draft to the Sacramento Monarchs, where she helped her team to a WNBA World Championship that same season. After her pro career as a player, she moved to coaching and returned to Rutgers as an assistant coach before coming to Georgia in 2015.
Today on the podcast, Chelsea shares the pivot she's had to make in recruiting during the pandemic, the importance of counseling, how her faith guides her, playing and learning from coach C. Vivian Stringer and the traits that make a great coach.
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Cori Close - UCLA Women's College Basketball Coach
Carly Thibault-DuDonis – Minnesota Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach
The story of Sam Marsonek is incredible. He made his MLB debut July 11, 2004 with the Yankees. He faced the Tampa Bay Rays that day and gave up zero runs in 1.1 innings. That appearance would be Sam's one and only time he'd pitch in a Major League Baseball game.
Today on the podcast, we hear Sam's journey to the Big Leagues and what took place that ended his baseball career but gave him renewed purpose to live life for something bigger than himself.
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Allen Arnold is an author, speaker and the Executive Producer of content for Wild at Heart ministries.
His new book "Chaos Can't: Overcome What Comes Against You in this Shaken World" was released in October 2020.
Today on the podcast, we talk to Allen about parenting, pivots in a pandemic, why living a chaos filled life is a lie, and his struggle with chaos as a middle school basketball coach.
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William Gates is a former college basketball player who was featured in the Oscar-nominated documentary "Hoop Dreams" back in October 1994.
Gates was a member of St. Josephs High School in Chicago, where he played on the varsity team all four years under legendary coach Gene Pingatore. After being highly recruited by many of the top colleges in the country, Gates chose to play for Marquette and appeared in 80 games during his college basketball career with the Golden Eagles.
A few years later, Gates would enter Moody Bible Institute and train to become a pastor. Today, he's started a clothing line
On today's podcast, William Gates shares about his experience being on Hoop Dreams, what it's like to have your high school career documented on camera, the loss of his brother, playing basketball against Michael Jordan, his journey to Moody Bible Institute and living a life as a follower of Christ.
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NASCAR driver Michael McDowell joins us fresh off of winning the 2021 Daytona 500.
Today on the podcast, Michael shares how the last few days have gone since winning the Great American Race, being patient in waiting 358 races to get his first career win, the quiet time he spent with God the morning of the Daytona 500 and preparing for another race just days removed from winning NASCAR's biggest race.
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