Episode 373
Darrin Patrick is the author of the book "The Dude's Guide to Marriage and the founding pastor of "The Journey Church" in 2002. He was the former team chaplain of the St. Louis Cardinals and the former Vice President of the Acts 29 Church Planting Network.
In 2016, Darrin was removed from his church after a "historical pattern of sin" and spent time away restoring his marriage and his family. Recently, he's returned to ministry as the teaching pastor at Seacoast Church and is co-hosting a podcast called "The Pastor's Collective."
On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Darrin Patrick about sin, failure, shame, repentance, forgiveness, empathy and restoration. This is a powerful story of God's redeeming work in the life of a pastor who had it all and almost lost it.
For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com
Episode 372
Herbie Kuhn is a team chaplain and public address announcer for the Toronto Raptors in the NBA. He's also the team chaplain for the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL.
He joined the Raptors in 1995 as their arena voice and soon thereafter, came to faith in Christ. A few years later, Herbie was asked to serve as a co-chaplain with Steve Kerns.
On this episode of the podcast, Herbie Kuhn tells his awesome story of getting to be the voice everyone hears when they attend a Toronto Raptors home game. Kuhn shares what it was like to have his team win the NBA championship, how he came to faith in 1996 and how that new walk with the Lord changed the way he went about doing his job.
For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com
Episode 371
Aubrey Bledsoe is a professional soccer goalkeeper in the National Women's Soccer League with the Washington Spirit.
A 2-time high school state champion in soccer at St. Ursula Academy in Cincinnati, Bledsoe would play her college soccer at Wake Forest and then venture on a pro soccer career that has taken her to Norway, New Jersey, Denmark, Orlando, Australia and now Washington D.C. with the Spirit.
In week 4 of the 2019 NWSL season, Bledsoe won both NWSL player and save of the week.
On this episode of the podcast, we learn about Aubrey's life as a pro soccer player with the Spirit, her journey of faith in Christ, being a believer in the pro soccer world, and growing as a woman of God in a difficult season of life in pro soccer.
For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com
Today we look back to January of 2019, Episode 233 of the podcast with Pro Football Hall of Fame coach and NBC Sports NFL analyst Tony Dungy.
Dungy is a No. 1 New York Times bestselling author whose books include “Quiet Strength,” “Uncommon,” “The Mentor Leader” and “Uncommon Marriage.” He led the Indianapolis Colts to a Super Bowl victory on Feb. 4, 2007, the first such win for an African-American head coach. Dungy established another NFL first by becoming the first head coach to lead his teams to the playoffs 10 consecutive years.
Dungy joined the Colts in 2002 after serving as the most successful head coach in Tampa Bay Buccaneers history. He has also held assistant coaching positions with the University of Minnesota, Pittsburgh Steelers, Kansas City Chiefs and Minnesota Vikings. Before becoming a coach, he played three seasons in the NFL. Dungy was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2016.
Dungy has been involved in a wide variety of charitable organizations, including All Pro Dad, Abe Brown Ministries, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Athletes in Action, Mentors for Life, Big Brothers Big Sisters and Boys & Girls Clubs. He retired from coaching in 2009 and now serves as a studio analyst for NBC’s “Football Night in America.” He and his wife, Lauren, are the parents of 10 children.
His latest book, “The Soul of a Team,” is out now and tells the story of a fictional football team that goes on to win the Super Bowl after some very difficult trials. The book lays out four essential principles practiced by truly effective teams and shares how it can help us all in our places of influence.
Coach Dungy shares on this THROWBACK edition of the podcast about standing up for his faith and using the platform of winning the Super Bowl to share his love for the Lord.
You can listen to the entire interview with Tony Dungy by clicking here, or by searching his name on iTunes/Apple podcasts, Spotify, the iHeart Radio app or anywhere podcasts are listened to.
Episode 370
Steve Burdick is the Executive Director of College Golf Fellowship, a ministry that shares and equips college and pro golfers to be fully devoted followers of Christ.
Prior to joining College Golf Fellowship in 2001, Steve was an All-American golfer at the University of Stanford from 1991-95. During his time in college, Steve won a national championship in 1994 and was teammates with PGA Tour players Casey Martin, Notah Begay and Tiger Woods.
On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Steve about being teammates with Tiger Woods, winning a national championship at Stanford, living out his faith during a difficult moment in college in 1995, why he decided to walk away from golf and how the death of his Dad helped shape his faith.
For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com
Episode 369
In 2019, Lyndsey Oates will begin her 15th year as the head volleyball coach at the University of Northern Colorado. She's a three-time Big Sky Conference Coach of the Year in 2009, 2011, and 2014.
Lyndsey was a standout volleyball player in high school, where she won a state championship in 1997 with Easton High in Colorado. She would go on to play volleyball in college at LSU before beginning her coaching career in 2002 as an assistant with Samford University.
On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Lyndsey Oates about her role as head coach, the unique lessons volleyball teaches, how her faith was shaped in college at LSU and seeing her faith in God tested after losing her Dad in a car accident.
For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com
Episode 368
Monty Williams is the head coach of the NBA's Phoenix Suns. He was named to his current role in May 2019 after serving as an assistant coach with the Philadelphia 76ers last season.
Selected in the first round of the 1994 NBA Draft by the New York Knicks, Monty played 11 seasons in the NBA with the Knicks, Spurs, Nuggets, Magic and 76ers.
After his playing career finished, Monty went into coaching, serving as as assistant with the Portland Trail Blazers for 5 seasons before being named the head coach of the then New Orleans Hornets, now Pelicans franchise.
On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Monty Williams about his new role with the Suns, coming to faith in Christ, the state of faith in the NBA today, and how he's processed grief and forgiveness since the loss of his wife 3 years ago in a tragic car crash.
For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com
Episode 367
Mike Fisher played 19 seasons in the NHL with the Ottawa Senators and Nashville Predators from 1999-2018. He retired after the 2018 season. He's married to country singer Carrie Underwood and has 2 children.
Matt Hasselbeck played 17 seasons in the NFL with the Packers, Seahawks, Titans and Colts from 1999-2015. He retired after the 2015 season. He's currently an analyst with ESPN and is married to Sarah and has 3 children.
On this episode of the podcast, Matt Hasselbeck interviews Mike Fisher about their friendship, faith in sports, social media, retirement, role models, and daily spiritual disciplines.
For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com
Today we look back to July of 2018, Episode 132 of the podcast with ESPN announcer Maria Taylor.
Maria is becoming a household name on sports broadcasts. She has been an ESPN host and reporter covering college football’s National Championship game, college basketball, the NFL Draft, the NBA Combine, the NBA Draft, the ESPYs and College Gameday.
A graduate of the University of Georgia in 2009, Taylor played basketball as well as making All-SEC honors in volleyball for the Lady Bulldogs.
Her 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.
Maria shares on this THROWBACK edition of the podcast about her walk with the Lord and where that began.
You can listen to the entire interview with Maria Taylor by clicking here or by searching her name on iTunes/Apple podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio App or anywhere podcasts are listened to.
Episode 366
Tammi Carr is the co-founder of the Chad Tough Foundation. She and her husband Jason met in college at the University of Michigan and have been together ever since. Jason played quarterback for the Wolverines football team. Tammi's father Tom Curtis, played football at Michigan and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2005. Tammi's father in-law is Lloyd Carr, the legendary Michigan football coach from 1995-2007.
In 2015, Chad Carr, Tammi and Jason's son, died at the age of 5 years old. He lived 14 months after being diagnosed with an inoperable, malignant brain tumor: diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma. It is a cancerous tumor located within the brain stem, which overwhelmingly targets children, and there are zero long-term survivors.
After his death, the Chad Tough Foundationwas formed in 2015. Tammi is on the board of directors of the foundation and her husband is president of the part-time staff and they have raised close to $10 million dollars for DIPG research.
On this episode of the podcast, we remember Chad Carr through the words of his mom Tammi, trusting in God as they walked with their son in his fight, starting the Chad Tough foundation, how Chad's death has brought others to come to faith in Christ and finding purpose in the pain.
For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com
Episode 365
Semi Ojeleye was selected by the Boston Celtics in the second round of the 2017 NBA Draft (37th overall). He's played in 129 career games for Boston over his two NBA seasons including 23 playoff games. He scored a career high 17 points in a 116-110 win over Washington on April 9, 2019.
Semi came to the Celtics after a college career that saw him begin at Duke University with Coach Mike Krzyzewski and then move on to SMU, where he was named AAC Player of the Year after averaging 18.9 points and 6.8 rebounds for the Mustangs.
Ojeleye's parents emigrated from Nigeria to Kansas and Semi starred at Ottawa High School where he was named Parade Magazine's National Player of the Year in 2013.
On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Semi about coming to the NBA, adjusting to his role with the Celtics, preparing for a bigger role in 2019-2020, where his faith in Christ took root, living out his walk with God as an NBA player and finding a church home in Boston.
For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com
Episode 364
Steve Merriman spent the 2019 baseball season as the pitching coach for the Colorado Rockies AA affiliate, the Hartford Yard Goats.
Since 1995, Merriman has coaches baseball at both the college and professional levels. He began his coaching career with the University of Michigan Wolverines as their hitting coach. His pro baseball coaching career has seen him make stops with the Detroit Tigers, Colorado Rockies, New York Mets, Arizona Diamondbacks and Chicago Cubs.
On this episode of the podcast, Merriman talks about his whirlwind baseball coaching journey, the challenges of being a pitching coach, his testimony of faith in Christ, and the broken relationship he's had with his father.
Steve's story is a powerful one.
For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com
Episode 363
Anthony "Booger" McFarland is a former NFL player turned analyst on ESPN's Monday Night Football coverage.
Selected in the first round of the 1999 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Booger would play 8 seasons with Tampa before being traded to Indianapolis in October of 2006. He would play two seasons with the Colts before retiring after the 2007 season.
Booger was a a first-team All-American in 1998 with LSU and would win two Super Bowl rings during his time in the NFL with Tampa in 2002 and Indianapolis in 2006.
In 2014, he began his broadcasting journey when he joined the SEC Network and ESPN. In 2018, he was named as an analyst on ESPN's Monday Night Football coverage.
On this episode of the podcast, we talk with Booger McFarland about his role on Monday Night Football, how he got the nickname "Booger," his story of faith, growing up without a Dad in his life, how the loss of his mother tested his faith, and what coach Tony Dungy meant to him as a player and as a person.
For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com
On this throwback edition of the Sports Spectrum podcast, we bring you a conversation with former NFL QB and current Dallas Cowboys QB coach Jon Kitna.
Jon played 15 seasons in the NFL with the Seahawks, Bengals, Lions and Cowboys. He has thrown for just under 30,000 career passing yards and 169 touchdown passes. He has coached football on the high school level for many years before coming to Dallas and his current role with the Cowboys.
On this podcast, we hear from Jon about how he began his walk with Christ and how he's learned to become a real man of God.
You can listen to the entire interview with Jon and pastor Bryan Loritts from Episode 93 here or by searching his name on iTunes, Spotify, iHeart Radio, or anywhere else podcasts are found.
Episode 362
Jay Feely is currently an analyst for CBS Sports Network’s coverage of The NFL On CBS. Prior to joining CBS Sports, Feely spent 14 years in the NFL as a kicker with the Falcons, Giants, Dolphins, Chiefs, Jets, Cardinals and Bears.
Throughout his career he had an 82.7 field goal percentage and was the NFL field goals made leader in 2002. Following a record-breaking season with the Giants, Feely was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2005.
He was named the 2002 Atlanta Falcons Man of the Year; 2006 New York Giants United Way Man of the Year; 2007 Miami Dolphins Man of the Year; and the 2013 Arizona Cardinals Man of the Year.
A graduate of the University of Michigan, Feely won the National Championship with the Michigan Wolverines in 1997 and earned an honorable mention for the All-Big Ten team in 1998.
On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Jay about his crazy NFL journey, serving in the NFL broadcast booth as a former kicker, the state of faith in the NFL, why living out his faith is vital, his favorite broadcasting moment, and what it was like to work on a broadcast team at the Super Bowl.
For more information, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com
Episode 361
Tim Burke pitched for 8 seasons in the Major Leagues from 1985 to 1992. He was selected in the second round of the 1980 MLB Draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates and was traded four times in his MLB career.
He made his MLB debut in April of 1985 with the Montreal Expos and pitched for 7 seasons in Montreal before being traded to the Mets in 1991 and then to the Yankees in 1992. He he would retire from pro baseball after Spring Training in 1993.
Burke's best MLB season came in 1989 when he 9-3 with 28 saves and a 2.55 ERA, leading to his one and only trip to the All-Star Game.
After retirement, Burke would spend time raising his four adopted kids, as well as enter into the world of pro hockey ministry to share and equip NHL players in their walk with God.
On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Tim about his pro baseball journey, the story of pitching in the 1989 All-Star game and then adopting his child in Guatemala, coming to faith in Christ as a minor leaguer and how God has redeemed his life after bouts with heavy drinking, depression, a broken marriage, and a difficult season of parenting.
For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com
Episode 360
Jay Harris is a SportsCenter anchor at ESPN who has been featured on the signature show since arriving in Bristol, CT in February of 2003.
Prior to his arrival at ESPN, Harris worked as a news anchor and reporter in Pittsburgh with WPGH-TV. He also worked at WAMO-FM in Pittsburgh and WOWI-FM in Norfolk, VA.
Harris is a graduate of Old Dominion University and in 2004, was the keynote speaker for Old Dominion's 100th commencement ceremony.
Jay has been a part of SportsCenter's Sports Emmy-winning efforts in 2004 and 2005 and is a recipient of the Silver World Medal from the New York Festival Awards.
On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Jay about his journey to ESPN, living the SportsCenter life, when he began his walk with the Lord, using his platform to share his faith and his most memorable interview.
For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com
Episode 359
Todd Blackledge is a college football analyst at ESPN and ABC. He is also a former NFL QB who was selected in the 1st round (seventh overall) of the 1983 NFL Draft by Kansas City.
Playing his college football at Penn State, Todd had a decorated career with the Nittany Lions winning the 1982 Davey O'Brien Award as the nation's most outstanding quarterback and helped his club win the national championship that same season when Penn State beat Georgia 27-23 in the Sugar Bowl.
He would go on to play six NFL seasons with the Chiefs and Steelers before beginning his broadcasting journey in 1989 and eventually coming to ABC Sports in 1994.
In 2009, he was awarded Penn State’s Distinguished Alumni Award and is a member of Penn State’s Board of Visitors for Penn State’s Center for Sports Journalism.
Blackledge lives in Canton, Ohio, the birthplace for football and coaches high school basketball in the offseason.
On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Todd about the upcoming football season, the state of parenting in youth sports, his testimony of faith in Christ, his calling as a believer in the broadcasting industry and the state of faith in college football.
For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com
Today we look back to May 31, 2018, Episode 113 of the podcast with former NFL player and now Atlanta pastor, Léonce Crump Jr..
Léonce is the author of “Renovate: Changing Who You Are by Loving Where You Are.”
A champion for the church’s participation in focused and intentional cultural renewal, Crump is the leading voice of a generation committed to operating as God’s redemptive agents in the earth.
His unique background includes contacts from the world of professional sports and the music industry. At the University of Oklahoma, Crump was an All-American wrestler and defensive end for the Sooner football team; he went on to play professional football for the New Orleans Saints.
He has been in ordained ministry for nine years and holds graduate degrees from the University of Tennessee and Resurgence Theological Training Center. He is currently a Master of Divinity student at Reformed Theological Seminary and a member of the Acts 29 church planting network. He and his wife, Breanna, reside in the heart of downtown Atlanta with their two daughters and son.
Léonce shares on this THROWBACK edition of the podcast, about the temptations that come from being an NFL player.
You can listen to the entire interview with Léonce Crump from Episode 113 here or by searching his name on iTunes/Apple, Spotify, iHeart Radio App or anywhere podcasts are listened to.
Episode 358
Danny Woodhead played 10 seasons in the NFL with the New York Jets, New England Patriots, Los Angeles Chargers, and the Baltimore Ravens.
He went undrafted in 2008 after a college career at Division 2 Chadron State that saw him win the Harlon Hill trophy in back-to-back seasons in 2006 and 2007.
He was able to make his mark in the NFL with the Patriots, playing in Super Bowl XLVI and catching a touchdown pass from Tom Brady in New England's loss to the New York Giants.
In 2015 he had his best season of his career with the Chargers, finishing with 80 receptions, 1,091 combined rushing and receiving yards and nine total touchdowns.
He retired from the NFL after the 2017 season
On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Danny about taking his faith into the NFL, identity as a pro football player, his favorite Tom Brady story, his testimony of faith in Christ and adjusting to life after football.
For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com
Episode 358
Dan Orlovsky is current a football analyst with ESPN working on studio shows like GET UP and SportsCenter, while also calling games for ESPN and ABC Saturday college football with Bob Wischusen and Allison Williams.
Prior to his broadcasting career, Dan was a 12-year veteran of the NFL. He was selected in the 5th round of the 2005 Draft by the Detroit Lions. His football journey saw him play with Detroit, Houston, Indianapolis, Tampa Bay and a preseason stint with the Rams before announcing his retirement with Sports Spectrum in 2017.
Dan was a stud college QB at the University of Connecticut where he set many passing records including most pass completions (916), pass attempts (1,567), yards passing (10,706), touchdown passes (84), interceptions (51), total plays (1,710) and total yards (10,421).
On this episode of the podcast, we welcome back Dan to the show to talk about his thriving broadcasting career, working with Mike Greenberg on GET UP, choosing to be different on social media, staying disciplined in his faith journey, his favorite play call during his career and the time he practiced in one city and played a preseason game in another city the same day.
For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com
Episode 357
Chad Lunsford is the head football coach at Georgia Southern. The 2019 campaign marks the 11th season overall, and seventh in his current stint at Georgia Southern. Lunsford was promoted from assistant head coach to interim head coach on Oct. 22, 2017. He was named the 10th full-time head coach in the modern era on Nov. 27, 2017.
In 2018, he led the Eagles to the biggest turnaround in the FBS, from two wins in 2017 to a 10-3 finish in 2018 including a Racom Media Camellia Bowl win over Eastern Michigan 23-21.
In 2019, his club opens the season on August 31 at LSU and has a road game at Minnesota on September 14 before embarking on a tough Sun Belt Conference schedule.
On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Coach Lunsford about the turnaround his club had last year and preparing for this upcoming 2019 season. We also hear his powerful testimony of faith, the daily disciplines he instills to his team and how his priorities got out of order during his early coaching days.
For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com
Episode 356
Darren Carr coaches high school football at Bakersfield Christian High School in California. He's also the middle brother of former NFL QB David Carr and Oakland Raiders QB Derek Carr.
Darren played his college football at Bakersfield College and the University of Houston. He became the head coach of Bakersfield Christian in 2015 and has his brother David and Dad Rodger on his coaching staff.
On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Darren about growing up in a football family, where his faith in Christ became real, watching his brother play QB with the Raiders and dealing with the backlash from the outside critics.
For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com
Today we look back to August of 2018, Episode 136 of the podcast with former MLB Cy Young winning pitcher R.A. Dickey.
R.A. pitched for 15 seasons in the major leagues with the Rangers, Mariners, Twins, Mets, Blue Jays and Braves and was a member of the 1996 Bronze Medal winning Olympic baseball team.
In 2001, Dickey made his MLB debut with Texas. eleven years later, 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 he made his first and only All-Star team.
R.A. shares on this THROWBACK edition of the podcast about the platform God gave him after winning the 2012 Cy Young Award.
You can listen to the entire interview with R.A. Dickey here or by searching his name on iTunes/Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio App or anywhere podcasts are listened to.
Episode 355
Eric Mac Lain played football at Clemson 2011-15, where the Tigers captured two conference championships and made a national championship appearance. He obtained the most wins (46) by a single player in Clemson history, while earning Strength and Conditioning All America honors.
As a student, Mac Lain was an All-ACC Academic Football Team selection and was graduated with a bachelor’s in health science (2015) and a master’s in athletic leadership and administration (2017).
In 2019, he joined the new ACC Network as a studio analyst. Prior to that, he was with JMI Sports where he has worked on multimedia sponsorship rights for Clemson athletics.
On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Eric about playing for Dabo Swinney, being part of the birth of a dynasty, faith at Clemson, learning from losing, and the crazy journey to now being a broadcaster with the ACC Network.
For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com