Sports Spectrum Podcast

Episode 409 Turner Ward has been a part of Major League Baseball since making his debut as a player in 1990. He was selected in the 18th round of the 1986 MLB Draft by the Yankees but was traded to the Indians in March of 1989. He would make his debut on September 10, 1990 and play 12 seasons with Cleveland, Toronto, Milwaukee, Pittsburgh, Arizona and Philadelphia. He retired from playing following the 2001 season.  Ward has two World Series rings during his time with the Toronto Blue Jays, when they won back to back championships in 1992 and 1993. Moving into coaching, Turner was the hitting coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks from 2013-2015, the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2016-2018 and with the Cincinnati Reds in 2019.  On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Turner and his wife Donna about their baseball life, coaching, playing, coming to faith and their participation in an IAmSecond.com video as they share on our show how their world was changed when Donna was diagnosed with cancer in 2012.  For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 408 Matt Adams is a World Series champion. In 2019, he was part of the Washington Nationals team that defeated the Astros in 7 games to win Major League Baseball's championship. Selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 23rd round of the 2009 MLB Draft out of Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania, Matt made his MLB debut with the Cards in May of 2012. He would go on to play six seasons in St. Louis, including a World Series appearance in 2013, before moving to the Braves in 2017 and then the Nationals in 2018, back to the Cardinals and then back to the Nationals in 2019. The 2020 free agent is coming off of three straight seasons of hitting at least 20 home runs and is one of the more dangerous power hitting left handed bats in the big leagues. On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Matt Adams about winning a World Series, his favorite moment from this season, how God was working in the clubhouse of the Nationals, where his faith journey began, and his desire  for God to lead him in his decision to sign with a team in 2020. For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

BONUS EPISODE Patrick Estepp is beginning his 20th season of coaching college basketball at Cedarville University (NCAA Division II). His school is part of both the NCAA and the NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association).  In 2019, Coach Estepp was named the NCCAA National Coach of the Year in helping lead his team to the NCCAA National Championship.  He was named the head coach of the team in 2008 and was also a graduate of Cedarville in 1997.  On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Coach Estepp about his team's motto of "fearing one," preparing for the 2019-20 season, his testimony of faith in Christ, how he stays connected to God during a long season and the challenges in coaching at a Christian organization.  For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 405 Tim Lopes is an infielder with the Seattle Mariners. He was selected in the 6th round of the 2012 MLB Amateur Draft by the Mariners.  He would spend the next 4 years in the Mariners minor league organization before being traded in September of 2016 to the Toronto Blue Jays organization. After two seasons in the minor leagues with the Blue Jays, he signed a minor league contract to return to the Mariners in November of 2018.  After starting the 2019 season in AAA with Tacoma, Tim was promoted to the Big Leagues and made his Major League debut on July 24. He would remain with the Mariners for the rest of the 2019 season, hitting .270 in 41 games.  On this episode of the podcast, Tim Lopes shares what that experience was like getting called up to the Big Leagues and emotions surrounding that special moment. He also tell us about his faith journey and beginning his walk with Jesus and how he lives that faith out as a pro baseball player everyday.  For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 406 Danelle Bishop is the women's basketball coach for Cal Poly Pomona (Division 2). She was hired by CPP in 2010 and has led her teams to three Sweet Sixteens, two Elite Eights and a Final Four berth in 2014. Entering her 10th season, Danelle is striving for that national title that has come Cal Poly Pomona's way 5 times previously. On this episode of the podcast, we talk to coach Bishop about her core values as a coach, what being "All In" means, why she almost quit coaching, women coaching in the NBA and why coaching for Christ is her true calling. For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 405 Jake Locker is a former NFL quarterback. He was selected 8th overall by the Tennessee Titans in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft. He would go on to play four seasons with the Titans before abruptly retiring from the NFL at the age of 26 in March, 2015.  In college, Jake was a standout quarterback at the University of Washington. He was also a top prospect in baseball, being selected by the Angels in the 40th round of the 2006 MLB Draft. On this episode of the podcast, we hear Jake's story of faith, how that faith became the most important thing in his life and led him to walking away from his NFL career. We also talk to Jake about his journey through the NFL, the impact his teammate Matt Hasselbeck had on him and the pressures that came with becoming a millionaire, first round pick in 2011.  For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 404 Carly Thibault-DuDonis is the assistant women's basketball coach at the University of Minnesota. She came to Minnesota in April of 2018. Prior to that, she was two seasons with Mississippi State from 2016-18, where she was a part of two teams that made it all the way to the NCAA Women's National Championship game in 2017 and 2018.  Her father Mike is the head coach of the WNBA champion Washington Mystics and her brother Eric is an assistant with the club.  Carly played her college basketball at Monmouth University, graduating in 2013.  On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Carly about celebrating a WNBA title with her family, how tragedy led to her walk with Christ, growing deeper in her faith with her husband and the toughest part of being a basketball coach.  For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

BONUS EPISODE Derrick Brown is a senior defensive tackle for the University of Auburn. Projected by many to be a first round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Derrick came to Auburn as a top recruit from Buford, Georgia where he was a dominant high school player and the MaxPreps national player of the year in 2015. In a September win over Texas A&M, Derrick had two sacks, a forced fumble, and three tackles for loss. At 6'5 and 318 pounds, Brown has consistently been in the top 10 list of prospects on Mel Kiper's ESPN Big Board. On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Derrick about returning for his senior season, the influence his Dad has had on his life,    his journey to Jesus and going on a missions trip to the Dominican Republic and the impact that trip had on his faith. For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 403 Rennie Curran is an author, speaker, podcast host and the CEO of Game Changer Coaching, whose mission is to help business professionals and elite athletes reach their fullest potential through personal development workshops and one-on-one coaching in order to improve leadership and career performance. Prior to his business career, Rennie was an All-American linebacker with the Georgia Bulldogs from 2007-09. He was selected in the third round of the 2010 NFL Drafty by the Titans (97th overall) and played two seasons with Tennessee before moving to the CFL where he played three more seasons before retiring. His book "The Perspectives of a Young African American Athlete" was released when Rennie was just 23 years old in 2012. On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Rennie about his football journey, his struggles with identity, his first meeting with coach Mark Richt, dealing with disappointment and having a personal board of directors. For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 402 Brooks Webb is currently the Director of Operations for the Vanderbilt University baseball team. Prior to his role with Vanderbilt, he was a General Manager with Team USA Baseball from 2013-2016. A former pitcher with Birmingham-Southern college, Brooks helped the Panthers to there conference titles. In 2019, Brooks was a part of a Vanderbilt team that went 59-12, won the SEC title and then the College World Series title to become NCAA Division One champions. On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Brooks about being a part of a national championship team, leaving a legacy for Christ, how a Christmas Eve service in 2008 changed his life and how he lives out his faith in his job each day. For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com