Tim Fortugno is a former Major League Baseball pitcher and currently a professional scout for the New York Mets.
But the story of baseball is just a small part of the incredible life journey that Tim has had. Growing up as a child in a broken home, Tim witnessed physical and emotional abuse at the hands of his step-father. At 15, Tim was ready to end it all, but God intervened and brought Tim to foster family that turned his life around and changed him forever.
An unlikely trek to professional baseball started to take place and at the age where most baseball players are giving up their dream of making to the Majors, Tim Fortugno, age 30, gets the call to the show.
On this podcast, you’ll hear Tim’s incredible story of overcoming childhood abuse, the moment he wanted to end it all, how he came to faith in Jesus, why baseball was taken away from him and how getting married and having a child at a young age actually opened the door for him to pursue a professional baseball career.
For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com
Demario Davis is in his 6th year as a linebacker in the NFL. He was selected by the Jets in the third round of the 2012 NFL Draft. After four seasons in New York, he signed with the Browns in the offseason of 2016.
On June 1st, Davis was traded back to New York and is now once again starting at linebacker for the Jets at Met Life Stadium.
Through 3 games in the 2017 season, Demario is second in the NFL in tackles with 32 and he helped the Jets win their first game of the season in Week 3 over Miami 20-6.
But it was what happened prior to that win over the Dolphins that had everyone talking.
The comments from President Donald Trump regarding NFL players protesting the National Anthem struck a cord with the league's teams and players.
On this episode of the podcast, Demario Davis will talk about standing and locking arms with teammates during the National Anthem on Sunday, what went on in the team meeting the night before, why this has caused such division in our country and what the plans are for him and the Jets going forward.
For more log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com
As the south’s sweetheart of sports, Rachel Baribeau has been dubbed an “SEC-ologist” as she has covered the SEC, and college football, for over ten years. In fall of 2015, she was bestowed a Heisman vote by the Heisman Trust. These days can be heard on SiriusXM's ESPNU Radio. She was the first female host on that platform. She can also be heard on MadDog Sports Radio, in the SiriusXM family of Networks. Her heartfelt, and captivating, storytelling is also featured on www.GridironNow.com
Outside of her broadcast work, Baribeau may put down the microphone but chooses to pick up a megaphone and rally others for the causes in her community. In April of 2014, she organized a climb up Kilimanjaro for former NFL, and Alabama, fullback Kevin Turner, who suffers from ALS. The climb was later turned into a movie narrated by Mike Ditka. For more information on how to get involved in finding a cure for ALS, or to see the movie, visitwww.KevinTurnerFoundation.org!
Rachel is also an avid speaker at many colleges and churches, sharing her story on “Changing the Narrative.”
On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Rachel about her faith in Jesus, her passion for college football, why "changing the narrative" is so near and dear to her heart, and why mentoring young female broadcasters has become a passion of hers.
For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com
In 1987, John O'Leary was a curious nine-year-old boy. Playing with fire and gasoline, John created a massive explosion in his home and was burned on 100% of his body.
He was given a 1% chance to live.
And live he did.
With the help of a St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame broadcaster, and his love for baseball, John was able to survive and even more than that thrive in life.
John is now a motivational speaker and author, sharing his incredible story. His new book, "ON FIRE: The 7 Choices to Ignite a Radically Inspired Life" was an instant #1 National Bestseller selling 30,000 copies in the first 3 weeks.
On this episode of the podcast, John shares his story, recalling vivid details of what it was like sitting in a hospital bed moments from death, how he learned to write after losing his fingers, how a baseball hall of fame announcer helped him heal and impacted his life, and taking his mess, his darkest time, and turning into a powerful message of faith, hope and love.
For more, check us out at http://SportsSpectrum.com
Craig Terrill played 7 seasons as a defensive tackle in the NFL with the Seattle Seahawks from 2004-2010.
He was selected in the 6th round by Seattle (189th overall) and was part of four NFC West division championships (2004-2007) and a member of the 2005 Seahawks team that won the NFC and made it all the way to Super Bowl XL.
Dubbed “Dr. Love” for her work on marriage and relationships, Dr. Rachel Terrill is passionate about making marriages work.
When Rachel's husband was drafted to Seattle in 2004, Rachel launched what has become a thirteen year journey of investigating love and marriage in the NFL. She holds a Ph.D. in Communication from The University of South Florida. Her research interests include relational communication - what makes people fall in love and what makes people stay in love.
Rachel teaches at Purdue University and Northwest University, writes for the National Football League’s Player Engagement website, and serves as a family advisor for the NFL Players Study at Harvard University.
Rachel and Craig are the parents of three daughters.
On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Craig and Rachel about their journey to the NFL, what it was like to find out your life was changing the instant you are drafted into the NFL, the myth on relationships in sports, and how the glorious life in the NFL isn't so glorious.
For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com and partner with us at just $36 a year.
Matthew West is a four-time GRAMMY® nominee, a multiple-ASCAP Christian Music Songwriter/Artist of the Year winner and Dove Award recipient, and was awarded an American Music Award (2013), a Billboard Music Award (Top Christian Artist, 2014), a K-LOVE Fan Award (2016), and named Billboard’s Hot Christian Songwriter of the Year (2016).
In addition to his own recording career, he has co-hosted the K-LOVE Fan Awards three times and has more than 130 songwriting credits to his name, including cuts by Rascal Flatts, Scotty McCreery, Casting Crowns, Michael W. Smith, Amy Grant, and Mandisa, among others. Selling more than 1.6 million albums to date (TEA), West’s discography includes acclaimed releases: Live Forever (2015), GRAMMY-nominated Into The Light (2012), The Story of Your Life (2010), Something to Say (2008), History (2005) and Happy (2003).
His latest album All In releases September 22, 2017.
Adding author to his list of accolades, West has written five books to date: Give This Christmas Away, The Story Of Your Life, Forgiveness, Today Is Day One, and his newest release, Hello My Name Is. He is also passionate about providing hope and healing through the power of prayer and story, so along with his father Pastor Joe West he founded popwe, a non-profit ministry helping others to craft, share, and live a more meaningful life. Please visit popwe.org for more information.
On this episode of the podcast, we talk with Matthew about the release of his new album, his new book, the story of coming to faith in Christ, his love for baseball, why he picked the Patriots to win the Super Bowl (again) and how an accident almost prevented him from becoming the musician he is today.
For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com and partner with us by becoming a member for just $36 a year.
Scott Hanson hosts the NFL RedZone channel every Sunday during the season.
He is a graduate of Syracuse University and has been working with the NFL Network since 2006.
On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Scott about what it's like to be LIVE on television, without a bathroom break for 7 straight hours. We also hear his amazing story of how he came to faith in Christ, and why missions and going overseas to share God's love to others, is extremely important to him.
Check us out at http://SportsSpectrum.com and become a member of our family for just $36 a year. You'll get a quarterly magazine and have access to all of our content from the past 30 years.
Atheist-turned-Christian Lee Strobel is the former award-winning legal editor of The Chicago Tribune and best-selling author of more than twenty books. His classic, The Case for Christ, is a perennial favorite which details his conversion to Christianity.
His recent release, The Case for Grace, just won the 2016 Nonfiction Book of the Year from the EPCA.
For the last twenty-five years, his life’s work has been to share the evidence that supports the truth and claims of Christianity and to equip believers to share their faith with the people they know and love.
Lee's life story is depicted in the recent release from Pure Flix: "The Case for Christ" and is available now on DVD, Blu-Ray and digital download.
On this episode of the podcast, we talk with Lee about his conversion from atheism to Christianity, his thoughts on his life being portrayed on the big screen, why he'll root for the Cubs until he dies, and the time he had a sit-down discussion on religion with basketball legend Kareem Abdul-Jabaar.
To become a member of Sports Spectrum for just $36 a year, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com and click the subscribe button.
James Laurinaitis was a 3-time consensus All-American linebacker at the Ohio State University.
He was selected 35th overall in the 2nd round of the 2009 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Rams.
His Dad, Joe was one half of "The Road Warriors" wrestling duo in the WWE, and WCW.
James is the only player ever to win two Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year awards.
In April of 2017, James announced his retirement from the NFL at the age of 30.
On this episode of the podcast, James shares with us why he chose to retire at 30 years old, what it was like growing up with a Dad as a professional wrestler, what the morning after an NFL game feels like from a pain perspective, and what he plans to do following retirement.
You can partner with us for $36 a year (just $3 a month) and become a member of the Sports Spectrum family.
Sign up now by clicking the “SUBSCRIBE” link at the top of SportsSpectrum.com and receive our quarterly magazine as well as digital access to over 30 years of content produced by Sports Spectrum.