Sports Spectrum Podcast

Josh Manson is a defenseman and assistant captain for the Anaheim Ducks. He was selected in the sixth round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft by Anaheim, and made his NHL debut in 2014. In 2016-17, Manson played all 82 games and helped the Ducks to the Western Conference Finals. The next season saw him record a career-high 37 points (seven goals, 30 assists) and average more than 20 minutes of ice time for the first time in his career. He’s averaged 20-plus minutes every year since. In college at Northeastern (in Boston), Manson was awarded the Hockey East conference’s Best Defensive Defenseman award in 2013-14, and also named to the 2013-14 Hockey East Second All-Star Team. Josh’s father, Dave Manson, was a first-round pick and played in the NHL from 1986-2002. Today on the podcast, we talk to Josh Manson about his hockey season being cut short due to the pandemic, becoming a dad for the first time, coming to faith in Christ in 2017, and growing up in a pro hockey household. ..... If you enjoyed this episode with Josh, we know you'll love these conversations as well: Mike Fisher and Matt Hasselbeck Mike Emrick .....

Rusty is the lead pastor of Real Life Church Ministries in Valencia, California. For over 20 years he has provided visionary leadership and teaching to his churches.  He is the author of three books including his latest, "AFTER AMEN: What to D When You're Waiting on God," released on October 13, 2020.  On today's podcast, we talk to Rusty about his love for the Los Angeles Laker, how 2020 became the year of practicing patience, doing the next right thing and why this year has been the toughest season of his pastoring journey.  ..... If you enjoyed this episode with Rusty, we know you'll love these conversations as well: Episode 20 - Louie Giglio Episode 500 - Derwin Gray .....

Bryce Drew is the men's basketball coach at Grand Canyon University in Arizona. He was named to the position on March 17, 2020. Prior to coming to GCU, he was the head coach at Vanderbilt University from 2016-2019 and his alma mater Valparaiso from 2011-2016.  In high school, Bryce was a standout player and named Indiana's Mr. Basketball in 1994. At Valpo, Drew's college career saw him win Mid-Continent Player of the Year in back-to-back seasons (1997,98) and hit a very famous game-winning shot to help his team beat Ole Miss in the 1998 NCAA Tournament.  After college, Bryce was selected 16th overall by the Chicago Bulls in the first round of the 1998 NBA Draft. He played six seasons in the NBA with the Rockets, Bulls and Hornets before moving to coaching. His brother Scott is currently the head coach at Baylor and his father Homer was the longtime coach at Valparaiso.  Today on the podcast, Bryce shares about his new coaching role at GCU, how often he's asked about the March Madness 1998 buzzer beater, his favorite NBA story, the lesson he learned from being fired and the importance of his faith in Christ. ..... If you enjoyed this episode with Bryce, we know you'll love these conversations as well: Episode 180 - Tony Bennett Episode 117 - Jon Gordon .....     Episode 578

Browns QB Case Keenum and Patriots 8-time Pro Bowler Matthew Slater join Brock Huard to talk faith, football and using their platforms for a greater purpose.  You can watch the entire Sports Spectrum Football Special: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiTQGmwfvMU&t=27s   You can learn more about joining Compassion and Pro Athletes in releasing children from poverty at http://FilltheStadium.com  You can order Football Sunday 2021 for your church by visiting http://FootballSunday.com

Vernon Fox played eight seasons in the NFL with the Chargers, Lions, Broncos and Washington.  He was undrafted in 2002 coming out of Fresno State where he was a two-time First-Team All-WAC. Following his playing career, Vernon went into coaching and was the head football coach of Faith Lutheran High School in Las Vegas from 2013-2019. He guided his team to a 53-28 record and a Class 3A state championship in his seven years.  On today's podcast, we talk to Vernon about stepping away from coaching in 2020, his welcome to the NFL moment, playing for legendary coaches Mike Shanahan, Joe Gibbs and Marty Schottenheimer, and how he went from self reliant to God dependent.  ..... If you enjoyed this episode with Vernon, we know you'll love these conversations as well: Episode 326 - Justin Simmons Episode 126 - Mark Schlereth .....     Episode 577

Adam LaRoche played 12 seasons in the Major Leagues with the Braves, Pirates, Red Sox, Diamondbacks, Nationals and White Sox.  He was selected in the 29th round of the 2000 MLB Draft by the Braves and four years later, made his MLB debut on April 7, 2004 against the Mets.  During his career, he accumulated 255 career home runs and 1,452 hits. In 2012, he was the Gold Glove and Silver Slugger winner at first base in a season that saw him hit a career-high 33 home runs and 100 RBI.  Since retirement in 2016, Adam is staying busy as a co-owner of Buck Commander with Chipper Jones, Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean and Willie Robertson. He's also in law enforcement, having went to Police Academy to be deputized in Ft Scott, Kansas.  Today on the podcast, we talk to Adam about his greatest hunting experience, retiring abruptly in 2016, the importance of being with a community of men and why he has a heart for combatting human trafficking. ...... If you enjoyed this episode with Adam, we know you'll love these conversations as well: Episode 66: Adam LaRoche and Gary Haugen on Human Trafficking Episode 554: Phil Robertson - Duck Commander Founder Episode 63: Francis Chan and Adam Wainwright   .....     Episode 576

Drew Stanton played 14 seasons in the NFL with the Lions, Jets, Colts, Cardinals and Browns. He was selected in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft by Detroit.  He was a standout quarterback at Harrison High School in Farmington Hills, Michigan and in college at Michigan State. Drew has spent time learning and mentoring quarterbacks in the NFL like Matthew Stafford, Jon Kitna, Andrew Luck, Carson Palmer and Baker Mayfield.  Stanton retired following the 2019 NFL season. On today's podcast, we talk to Drew Stanton about retirement, adjusting to life without football, coming to faith in Christ and the difficulty of playing the quarterback position in the NFL. ...... If you enjoyed this episode with Drew, we know you'll love these conversations as well: Episode 336 - Matt Forte and Justin Forsett Episode 96 - Kirk Cousins Episode 458 - Carson and Maddie Wentz .....     Episode 575

Vikings QB Kirk Cousins joins Brock Huard to talk about his recent hot streak where he's thrown for 16 touchdowns and just 2 interceptions in his last six games in helping his team jump back into the NFC playoff chase. Kirk also shares how the difficult start brought him closer to the Lord and why he's lended his voice to be a part of Football Sunday 2021 and Compassion International's Fill the Stadium initiative.    You can watch the entire Sports Spectrum Football Special here.  You can donate to our friends at Compassion International here. Sign up for Football Sunday 2021 here. 

Episode 574 Pat Combs is a former first round draft pick of the Philadelphia Phillies. He spent 8 seasons in total playing professional baseball with the Phillies and Milwaukee Brewers.  He was selected in the first round of the 1988 MLB Amateur Draft (11th overall) by Philadelphia and a few months later, he represented his country as a baseball player for Team USA in 1988 and was a part of an Olympic team that won the gold medal in the Seoul, Korea.  One year later, he made his MLB debut with the Phillies against Pittsburgh, going 6 innings and giving up no runs.  Combs retired from baseball in the mid-1990's and is currently a behavioral analytics consultant for numerous pro athletes, MLB and NFL teams and corporate leaders. His first book, "More Than the Score" released on October 15, 2020. Today on the podcast, we talk to Pat Combs about his time as an MLB player, his thoughts on the 2020 abbreviated MLB season, coming to Christ at a Phillies chapel service in 1989, pitching against a future Pro Football Hall of Famer in the minor leagues and why he's focused now on sports parenting and youth sports.  You can order Pat's new book "More Than the Score" here.    For more stories of sports and faith, check out our website http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Steve Sonderman is the founder of No Regrets Men's Ministries. His passion is to see every local church have its own ministry to men. He's a regular speaker at men's conferences and consults and leads seminars around the world assisting churches in developing local men's ministries.  He has worked in professional sports as a chaplain, ministering to athletes and coaches. He is the author of "Mobilizing Men for One-on-One Ministry. The No Regrets Conference is a one-day event broadcast LIVE on February 6, 2021 at 8:30am CT. You can sign up today and learn more at their website https://www.noregretsconference.org/.  ...... If you enjoyed this episode with Steve, we know you'll love these conversations as well: Episode 5 - Sam and Emmanuel Acho Episode 149 - Matt Hasselbeck Episode 433 - Brent Suter .....