Pablo Viruega serves as an analyst for ESPN International and ESPN Deportes’ weekly NFL studio show NFL Esta Noche and appears as a regular commentator on Cronómetro and Noche De Combates. In addition, Viruega serves as a football and basketball analyst and has covered the Olympic Games, Pan American Games, Central American Games, several World Cups, the Super Bowl and the NBA Finals.
On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Pablo about his broadcasting journey, calling events for an international audience in America, his journey of faith, and his experience recently calling Super Bowl LV in Tampa.
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If you enjoyed this conversation with Pablo, we know you'll love these podcasts as well:
- Bill Curry, Super Bowl Champion, Former College Football Coach
Today on the podcast, our Sports Spectrum Managing Editor Jon Ackerman joins host and Director of Media Jason Romano to preview the 2021 Spring edition of the Sports Spectrum Magazine.
We're offering a 15% discount to all new subscribers right now by using the code: SS15OFF
Subscribe to our magazine today at SportsSpectrum.com.
Jeremy Hefner is in his second season as the pitching coach for the New York Mets. Prior to that, he was a coach with the Minnesota Twins.
Hefner is a former MLB pitcher, who pitched professionally with the Mets, Padres and Cardinals. He made his MLB debut with the Mets in April of 2012 but after two Tommy John surgeries, his playing career was over at the end of 2016.
Today on the podcast, we talk to Jeremy about his deep faith in Jesus, living with purpose, coaching Jacob deGrom, coaching in 2020 and preparing for the 2021 season.
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Introducing the Get in the Game Podcast with former MLB pitcher Scott Linebrink
Today, we bring to you the very first episode of Get in the Game as Scott talks to Los Angeles Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts on faith, serving, culture, leadership and becoming a Red Sox cult hero.
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For more stories of sports and faith, visit our website: SportsSpectrum.com
Kelly Gramlich is a former Clemson basketball player who is currently a college basketball analyst with the ACC Network. She is also a radio host with 105.5 The Roar in South Carolina and co-hosts the "Gramlich and Mac Lain Talk ACC Sports" podcast.
During her time in college, Kelly broke multiple team records including the single-game record for most three-pointers made. She was a three-time member of the ACC All-Academic team and graduated with her Bachelors and Masters degree from Clemson in 2014 and 2016.
Today on the podcast, Kelly shares her story of basketball, faith, leadership and her experience with Covid-19 in late January.
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If you enjoyed this podcast, we know you'll love these conversations as well:
- Eric Mac Lain - Former Clemson Offensive Lineman
- Chelsea Newton - Georgia Assistant Women's College Basketball Coach
Daniel Ponce de Leon is a pitcher with the St. Louis Cardinals. His new book "ONE LINE DRIVE" depicts his story of being struck in the head by a line drive while pitching in AAA with Memphis in May of 2017. And after emergency brain surgery and multiple weeks in the hospital, he was able to make it back on the mound to pitch.
In July of 2018, he made his MLB debut and pitched 7 innings of no-hit ball against the Reds.
Today on the podcast, Daniel talks about writing his first book, why Jesus is the most important thing in his life and why he wants others to experience that as well, preparing for the 2021 season, becoming a dad for the 3rd time and the importance of his family and friends to support him during the most difficult time in his life.
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If you enjoyed this podcast with Daniel, we know you'll love these conversations as well:
- Adam Wainwright and Francis Chan from 2017
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR BRAND NEW PODCAST "Get in the Game with Scott Linebrink."
Rashad Jennings is a former pro running back who played eight seasons in the NFL with the Jaguars, Giants and Raiders. He was originally selected in the 7th round of the 2009 NFL Draft by Jacksonville and played four seasons there before coming to the Raiders in 2013 and then spending his final three NFL seasons with the New York Giants. He announced his retirement in December of 2017.
Away from the field, Jennings was the winner of Season 24 of ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" in the spring of 2017 and wrote his first book "The IF in Life" in 2018, which became a New York Times Bestseller.
Today on the podcast, we talk to Rashad about his reading challenge for kids in the month of March, how the last 12 months have shaped him in the midst of a pandemic and the loss of his dad, and the importance of breaking down his hypocrisies.
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Shay Knighten is a former college softball player with the Oklahoma Sooners. Known as "Big Play Shay" during her time at OU, Knighten won two WCWS National Championships and was the 2017 Big 12 Player of the Year and the 2017 WCWS Most Outstanding Player. In her four seasons with the Sooners, Knighten hit .360 with 42 home runs and was a four-time All-Big 12 honoree.
She is currently an assistant softball coach with the University of San Diego and is continuing her pro softball career with the USSSA Pride in the National Pro Fastpitch League.
Today on the podcast, we talk to Shay about her journey to Jesus, the difference between Shay the softball player and Shay the person, why community has been so integral for her after recovering from two knee surgeries, and her memories after hitting clutch home runs of the 2017 and 2019 WCWS.
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If you enjoyed this podcast with Shay, you'll love these conversations as well:
– Patty Gasso, Oklahoma Head Softball Coach
– Janie Reed, USA Softball Player/VP of Church on the Dirt
– Sydney Romero, Oklahoma Sooner All-American Softball Player
Mallory Weggemann is a record-setting, two-time Paralympic swimmer for Team USA. She has set fifteen world records and thirty-four American records, and is also the recipient of an ESPY Award, a 15-time World Champion and a Paralympic gold and bronze medalist.
Her new book "LIMITLESS" released March 2, 2021 and is available everywhere books are sold.
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Greg Hendricks is the campus pastor at The Rock Church in San Diego, California. He was a former standout basketball player at Morehead State University and played overseas professional basketball for 8 years. He also served as a volunteer coach in the NBA with the Seattle Supersonics.
In his role as campus pastor, Greg is a mentor and speaker, teaching the word of God. He has taught and spoken at churches, athletic camps, worships and clinics both domestically and globally. He has delivered team chapel services to various pro sports teams.
Today on the podcast, Greg shares his incredible story of coming to faith in Christ, growing up without a Dad, and his recent trip to the Super Bowl in Tampa.
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If you enjoyed this podcast with Pastor Greg, we know you'll love these conversations as well:
- Miles McPherson, Pastor/Author
- Dr. Tony Evans – Pastor, Speaker, Dallas Mavericks Team Chaplain
Liberty Men's Basketball is back in the Big Dance, earning a trip to the 2021 NCAA Tournament for the third straight year and head coach Ritchie McKay joins us to talk about what this season has been like, the difficult year that 2020 presented, the importance of cultivating a culture of vulnerability and the lessons that God has taught him and his program this year.
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If you enjoyed this podcast with Coach McKay, we know you'll love these conversations as well:
- Tony Bennett, Virginia Men's Basketball Coach
- Inky Johnson, former Tennessee defensive back, motivational speaker
Jordan Hulls is a former Indiana University basketball player, currently playing pro basketball overseas in Germany. Jordan was born and raised in the backyard of Indiana Hoosiers basketball in Bloomington, Indiana. In high school, he was the 2008-09 Gatorade Player of the Year and led Bloomington High School South to a perfect 26-0 record and a Class 4A IHSAA State Championship.
In college at Indiana, he led his club to back-to-back Sweet Sixteen appearances under head coach Tom Crean and played with future NBA players Victor Oladipo, Cody Zeller and Yogi Ferrell.
After his college career, Jordan began a pro basketball journey that has seen him play overseas in Poland, Kosovo, Belgian and now Germany. In 2019, he was the FIBA Europe Cup Fan Vote MVP.
Today on the podcast, we talk to Jordan about his crazy basketball journey, playing at Indiana University after growing up in Bloomington, what Indiana basketball is really about and the importance of Jesus Christ in his life.
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Kevin Burrell is the Area Scouting Supervisor with the Chicago White Sox. He has worked in pro baseball as both a player and MLB scout for the past 40 years. He was originally selected in the first round of the 1981 free agent amateur draft (25th overall) and played 10 years of professional baseball with four different organizations. He reached as high as AAA before finishing his playing career in 1992.
Today on the podcast, we talk to Kevin Burrell about his desire to use baseball as a mission field to share the Gospel. He also shares some fun stories of his 40 years in pro baseball and what it was like to be at Spring Training as a player with the New York Mets in 1986.
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Dalton Risner was selected in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos, and has started all 32 games of his NFL career. During his time in college, he turned in an All-American career at Kansas State, and also created the Risner Up Foundation, which is designed to help those in need.
Today, Risner talks about the 2020 NFL season, why he’s rooting for Tampa Bay in the Super Bowl, how football isn’t where he finds his identity, and his favorite story of growing up on a ranch.
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Nick Ahmed is a shortstop for the Arizona Diamondbacks. In 2011, he was selected by the Atlanta Braves in the second round of the 2011 MLB Amateur Draft, and he was traded after the 2012 season to Arizona in a seven-player deal. He made his MLB debut on June 29, 2014.
The University of Connecticut alum became the regular shortstop for the Diamondbacks in 2015, and is a two-time Gold Glove winner in 2018 and 2019.
Today on the podcast, we travel to Nick's home in Massachusetts to talk with him about his offseason training, playing the 2020 season during a pandemic, the picture he drew as a young boy that sits in his workout gym, what it means to tame the tongue as a Christian in professional baseball and why he's a part of Compassion International's Fill the Stadium Initiative.
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If you enjoyed this podcast, you'll love these conversations as well:
- Nick Ahmed and Darryl Strawberry on Biblical Manhood from 2020
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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Karen Kingsbury – NY Bestselling Author
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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If you enjoyed this podcast with Chelsea, we know you'll love these conversations as well:
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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