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.
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Episode 167
Giyasi Zardes plays soccer in the MLS for the Columbus Crew and is also a member of the United States National team.
He began his pro soccer career signing with the Los Angeles Galaxy as a homegrown player in 2012. He made his MLS debut on April 15, 2013.
After a breakout 2014 season in which he scored 16 goals to go with a pair of assists, Zardes has experienced tough times in the production department thanks in part to injury (2016) and the worst Galaxy season ever (2017). In January 2018, the former MLS All-Star was traded to the Columbus Crew and did not disappoint scoring 16 goals through 30 games and is currently 4th in the league in scoring.
On this episode of the podcast, we talk with Gyasi about his resurgent 2018 season, transitioning to life in Columbus, Ohio, preparing for Team USA matches against Columbia and Peru, what faith looks like in the MLS and how sharing a hashtag on his Instagram page has helped him be more intentional about his faith in Christ.
For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com
Episode 166
London Fletcher played 16 seasons in the NFL with the Rams, Bills and Redskins from 1998-2013. He is a 4-time Pro Bowler who was a member of the 1999 Rams team that won Super Bowl XXXIV.
He played his college football at Division III John Carroll where he was an All-American. He was undrafted in 1998 and signed with the Rams as a free agent. He would make the team out of training camp and never miss a game in his entire 16 year career. He’s one of only 5 players in the history of the NFL to play in over 250 consecutive games. (256)
London is currently working at CBS Sports as an NFL analyst and just recently was named a nominee for the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2019.
In part 2 of our two-part podcast, we talk with London about making it to the NFL after playing Division III college football, playing in 256 consecutive games and if there was ever a time that he almost missed a game due to an injury. We also hear his testimony of coming to faith in Jesus Christ during his time in the NFL with the Bills.
For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com
Episode 165
London Fletcher played 16 seasons in the NFL with the Rams, Bills and Redskins from 1998-2013. He is a 4-time Pro Bowler who was a member of the 1999 Rams team that won Super Bowl XXXIV.
He played his college football at Division III John Carroll where he was an All-American. He was undrafted in 1998 and signed with the Rams as a free agent. He would make the team out of training camp and never miss a game in his entire 16 year career. He's one of only 5 players in the history of the NFL to play in over 250 consecutive games. (256)
London is currently working at CBS Sports as an NFL analyst and just recently was named a nominee for the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2019.
In part 1 of a two-part podcast, we talk with London about being nominated for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, growing up in a very tough environment in Cleveland, Ohio, how he overcame family tragedy to pursue a football career.
Episode 164
Demario Davis is a linebacker with the New Orleans Saints. He was selected in the third round of the 2012 by the New York Jets where he played 4 seasons before signing a deal with the Browns. In 2017, he was dealt back to the Jets where he had a career year with 135 combined tackles and 5 sacks in starting all 16 games.
In March of 2018, Davis became an unrestricted free agent and signed a 4-year deal to come to Louisiana and play with the Saints. In Week 4 of the season against the Giants, Demario's 11 tackles and 2 sacks helped the Saints to a 33-18 win over New York. For his efforts, he was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week.
On this episode of the podcast, we talk with Demario about his transition to New Orleans, faith in the Saints locker room, social justice and why he's a part of the Players Coalition.
For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com
Episode 163
Ryan Carpenter is a hockey player with the Vegas Golden Knights in the NHL. He played his college hockey at Bowling Green University in Ohio where he won the BGSU Rookie of the Year in 2012.
In March of 2014, he was signed as an undrafted free agent by the San Jose Sharks and joined their minor league club in Worcester, MA.
He made his NHL debut in December 12, 2015 with San Jose and would remain on the roster in the postseason as the Sharks made the Stanley Cup Finals.
In 2016-17, he played in 11 games for the Sharks and signed a 2-year deal in June of 2017. A few months later, in December of 2017, he was placed on waivers by San Jose and picked up the next day by the Vegas Golden Knights where he would thrive and help lead the expansion club to an improbable Stanley Cup Finals run.
On this episode of the podcast, we talk with Ryan about his hockey journey, being a part of a Stanley Cup Finals run with Vegas, what trusting in God looked like to him during uncertain times, how he came to faith in Christ and his favorite NHL moment.
For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com
Episode 162
Samantha Ponder is the host of Sunday NFL Countdown on ESPN during the football season. She began her career at ESPN with their Longhorn Network in 2011. Prior to her current role on Sunday Countdown, she had been a staple as a reporter on ESPN's College Gameday and college football broadcasts.
In 2012, she married former NFL QB Christian Ponder is since then, has given birth to three children, two girls and a boy.
In part 2 of a two-part conversation, Sam shares the amazingly crazy story of how she met her husband Christian, whether she likes social media, what the Lord is teaching her and the Bible verse that has stayed with her through the years.
For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com
Episode 161
Samantha Ponder is the host of Sunday NFL Countdown on ESPN during the football season. She began her career at ESPN with their Longhorn Network in 2011. Prior to her current role on Sunday Countdown, she had been a staple as a reporter on ESPN's College Gameday and college football broadcasts.
In 2012, she married former NFL QB Christian Ponder is since then, has given birth to three children, two girls and a boy.
On part 1 of a two-part conversation, we talk to Sam about balancing motherhood with her broadcasting career, making the transition from College Gameday to Sunday NFL Countdown, growing up with parents who are missionaries, and speaking out on issues as her platform has evolved over the years
For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com
Episode 160
Leslee and Matt Holliday have been married for 17 years. She is the mom to four children, 3 boys and a girl.
On this episode of the podcast, we talk with Leslee Holliday about being a baseball wife, how she reacted when her husband Matt decided he wanted to play baseball again, where her faith in Christ began, what a WAG is in baseball, and how she stays grounded in Christ when life gets chaotic and uncertain.
For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com
Episode 159
Alex Kirilloff was selected in the first round of 2016 MLB Amateur Draft by the Minnesota Twins out of high school. He is one of the top prospects in baseball and at the top of the list of players to watch for in the next few years as he continues his pro baseball journey.
In 2017, he missed the entire season due to recovery from Tommy John surgery but returned to the diamond in 2018 where he tore up Class A ball both in Cedar Rapids and then Fort Myers. His total stats for 2018 included a .348 average, with 20 home runs and 101 RBI. He also helped Fort Myers to the Florida State League championship after hitting .362 in just 65 games with the Miracle.
On this episode of the podcast, we talk with the highly touted prospect about his dominant 2018 season, dealing with the hype of being a top prospect, playing in the 2018 MLB Futures Game, how Jesus Christ guides him each day, what marriage has been like for him after tying the knot at age 18 and the time he got "star struck" as a pro player.
For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com
Episode 158
Jimmy Spencer has been the head of athlete relations and content at the Uninterrupted since November 2015. He has covered the NBA for over a decade with such publications as the Sporting News, FOX Sports and Bleacher Report.
In part 2 of our interview with Jimmy, we hear his incredible story of faith in Christ, how he lives that faith out in the workplace, the state of Christian athletes and why he is starting a new podcast that will allow athletes to talk about the thing that matters most to them.
For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com
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