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 137
Rashad Jennings played 8 seasons in the NFL from 2009-2016. He was selected in the 7th round of the 2009 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars (250th overall). Despite scoring 25 touchdowns and rushing for over 3,700 yards in his career, Jennings may be more known for winning Season 24 of ABC's Dancing with the Starsin 2017.
In 2018, Jennings released his first book, "THE IF IN LIFE: How to Get off Life's Sidelines and Become Your Best Self."
Growing up a chubby kid, who suffered from asthma and with a father who drank and smoked, Jennings wasn't sure if he would ever make it, but a moment in high school when he came off the bench after being a 4th string running back, changed his trajectory and started a path toward football excellence.
On this episode of the podcast, Jennings shares deeply personal stories about growing up with a father who drank and smoked, overcoming the odds to make it in football, what playing football at Liberty did for his faith, having his Dad come watch him for the first time at an NFL game, and why he felt called to start his own foundation to invest and give back.
For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com
Episode 136
R.A. Dickey pitched for 15 seasons in the Major Leagues with the Rangers, Mariners, Twins, Mets, Blue Jays and Braves.
A member of TEAM USA at the 1996 Olympics, Dickey pitched and helped the Americans win the Bronze Medal.
In 2001, Dickey made his MLB debut with Texas. 9 years later, Dickey found himself in New York, starting for the Mets and establishing himself as a very good pitcher. In 2012, he was the best pitcher in the National League, becoming the first knuckleball pitcher to win the Cy Young award. He went 20-6 with 230 strikeouts and an ERA of 2.73 and made his first and only All-Star team.
In December 2012, Dickey was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays, where he would win 49 games in 4 seasons that included a Gold Glove award in 2013.
Dickey would finish his career in 2017 at the age of 42 with the Atlanta Braves, winning 10 games.
Writing is also a passion for R.A. and in 2012, he released his autobiography "Wherever I Wind Up." In the book, he shares candidly about growing up in a broken home, being sexually abused, his struggles with infidelity, and wanting to not live anymore.
On this episode of the podcast, we talk with R.A. about his first season away from baseball, acclimating himself to "Dad Life," growing up in a broken home, seeking treatment, how faith in Christ saved him, and the platform God gave him after winning the 2012 Cy Young Award.
For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com
Episode 135
Kelvin Beachum Jr was selected in the 7th round of the 2012 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. After 4 seasons with the Steelers, he played one year with Jacksonville and in 2017, he signed a 3-year contract with the New York Jets.
Growing up in the church, Kelvin was a basketball and football player in high school before deciding to attend SMU in Dallas on a football scholarship.
Kelvin is also passionate about giving back and and has devoted a ton of time and money into ending hunger as well as education for young people.
On this episode of the podcast, Kelvin shares about the "necessary evil" that is NFL training camp, growing up attending church multiple times a week, the culture shock that was presented to him when he arrived for college at SMU, and how unity in the body of Christ is possible when topics such as race and injustice are brought to the forefront.
For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com
Episode 134
Lary Sorensen pitched 11 seasons in the Major Leagues with the Brewers, Cardinals, Indians, A's, Cubs, Expos and Giants.
After finishing his college pitching career at the University of Michigan, Lary made his MLB debut in 1977 at the age of 21, and a year later, was an All-Star in 1978, winning a career-high 18 games for Milwaukee.
During his MLB career, Lary began to experiment with drugs and alcohol. After being suspended in 1986 and then retiring in 1988, his life began to take a downward spiral.
From 1992 to 2008, Lary was arrested for DUI seven times. He was in and out of rehabs and life was getting out of control.
And then something changed in 2013 when he stepped through the doors of a church at the age of 58.
On this powerful episode of the podcast, Lary Sorensen shares his journey from MLB player to alcoholic to follower of Jesus.
For more, log on to http://SportsSpecrum.com
Episode 133
Since 2014, Tress Way has been punting in the NFL for the Washington Redskins. The Oklahoma University grad led the NFL in punting in 2014 with 47.5 yards per punt.
Undrafted out of college, Tress had to overcome being cut twice by the Chicago Bears at the end of the 2013 and 2014 preseason before finding himself in our nation's capital.
In 2016, Tress signed a 5-year extension with Washington in March of 2016 that will keep him with the club through 2020.
Tress is married to his wife Brianna Turang, a former softball and soccer star at the University of Oklahoma. Brianna is also the daughter of former MLB outfielder Brian Turang and the sister of Brice Turang, who plays in the Milwaukee Brewers organization. The couple became parents to twins (a boy and a girl) in April of 2018.
In his spare time, Tress is also an entrepreneur and has started a game company called "WAY FUN GAMES" --- His first board game "What's Your Bid?"is now available on Amazon.
On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Tress about punting, preparing for the 2018 season, his faith testimony, inventing a board game, meeting his wife in Oklahoma, his epic proposal and how he ended up in Washington after being cut twice by the Chicago Bears.
For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com
Episode 132
Maria Taylor is becoming a household name on sports broadcasts. In 2018, the ESPN host and reporter has been covered College Football's National Championship Game, College Basketball, the NFL Draft, the NBA Combine, the NBA Draft and the ESPYs .... and it's only July.
A graduate of the University of Georgia in 2009, Maria played basketball as well as making All-SEC honors in volleyball for the Lady Bulldogs.
It was also during her time in college that she began to investigate her faith. After joining FCA, Maria began a journey that culminated in a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Maria's passion to serve the Lord and give back culminated in 2014 with her co-founding the Winning Edge Leadership Academy. The Academy provides a place where college student and young professionals, particularly women and minority leaders, can get professional development to prepare them for the sports business world.
On this episode of the podcast, Maria Taylor shares about her journey to faith, covering her first NBA Draft, what it was like working College Football's National Title Game as a Georgia Alum, why she wanted to start a leadership academy, and why prayer is the first thing she would do if someone asked her about her faith in Jesus.
For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com
Episode 131
Jordan Matthews is a wide receiver with the New England Patriots. He was selected in the 2nd round of the 2014 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles and played 3 seasons there.
In August 2017, he was traded from Philadelphia to Buffalo and spent last season with the Bills. A few months later, in April of 2018, he signed a 1-year deal with the Patriots.
Jordan attended Vanderbilt University, where he had 262 receptions for 3,759 yards and 24 touchdowns, setting many school records.
The athletic pedigree for Jordan runs in the family as his second cousin is former NFL hall of fame Jerry Rice.
On this episode of the podcast, we talk with Jordan about his passion to serve, transitioning from the Eagles, Bills and now with the Patriots, why his wife is his best friend, how an Eagles teammate helped him grow spiritually, and why he says his identity is not found in his job as a football player.
Episode 130
Denard Span is a centerfielder with the Seattle Mariners. He was traded to Seattle on May 25 from the Tampa Bay Rays as part of a 4-player deal.
He was selected in the first round of the 2002 MLB Amateur Draft by the Minnesota Twins out of high school at the age of 18. After 6 years in the minor leagues, Span would make his debut in April of 2008 at the age of 24. He would play 5 seasons with the Twins from 2008-2012 before being traded to the Washington Nationals where he would play 3 more seasons in D.C.
In January of 2016, he signed as a free agent with the San Francisco Giants where he’d play two more seasons until being traded in December of last year to Tampa.
Span is red-hot right now, hitting .351 in the month of July as the Mariners look to stay in the hunt for a playoff berth.
Near and dear to Span is his foundation, the Denard Span Foundation, whose mission is to serve and empower single parent homes. The foundation is dedicated to creating strong sustainable home environments where both parents and children can thrive physically, emotionally, financially, and spiritually.
On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Span about his desire to give back and help those in single parent homes, being traded in the middle of the season, the biggest difference between playing baseball at 24 compared to 34, and where how he continues to trust in the Lord during a long MLB season.
For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com
Episode 129
Dr. Tony Evans is the founder and senior pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas, founder and president of The Urban Alternative, chaplain of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks, and author of over 100 books, booklets and Bible studies. The first African American to earn a doctorate of theology from Dallas Theological Seminary, he has been named one of the 12 Most Effective Preachers in the English-Speaking World by Baylor University. His radio broadcast, The Alternative with Dr. Tony Evans, can be heard on more than 1,200 US outlets daily and in more than 130 countries.
Dr. Evans launched the Tony Evans Training Center in 2017, an online learning platform providing quality seminary-style courses for a fraction of the cost to any person in any place. The goal is to increase Bible literacy not only among lay people but also among those Christian leaders who cannot afford nor find the time for formal ongoing education.
His latest project is a partnership is a digital app with his son Jonathan called iCoach. You can learn about that project at http://iCoachApp.org
On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Dr. Evans about his work with the Dallas Cowboys, how he got started in sports ministry, where the state of faith is in the NBA, the biggest spiritual battles athletes face, and the church's role in the current climate that we live in today.
For more check us out at http://SportsSpectrum.com
Episode 128
Dave Pasch is an announcer for ESPN as well as the radio voice for the Arizona Cardinals in the NFL.
A graduate of Syracuse University in 1994, Pasch became the voice of the Cardinals in 2002 and then joined ESPN the following season in 2003 where he calls college football, college basketball and NBA games for the Worldwide Leader.
Pasch may be most famous for calling college basketball games on ESPN with his partner, the hall of fame basketball player, Bill Walton.
After growing up in a Jewish home, Dave came to Christ in the 1990's after spending time investigating the faith.
On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Dave about working with Bill Walton, the growth of his broadcasting career, becoming a Christian, the crazy schedule he has in the Fall, how a fellow broadcaster helped him in his faith walk, and what its like to be a believer in a very public job with ESPN and the Arizona Cardinals.
For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com
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