Sports Spectrum Podcast

Today we look back to Episode 7 of the podcast from May of 2017 with Ernie Johnson from TNT.  A 3-time Emmy award winner, Johnson joined TNT in 1989 and is most notable for his hosting of the NBA on TNT with Charles Barkley, Shaquille O'Neal and Kenny Smith.  On this throwback edition of the podcast, we talk to Ernie about adoption and his son Michael, whom he and his wife adopted from Romania and why adoption is so important to him. You can listen to the entire interview of Episode 7 with Ernie by searching for it on this podcast app or by clicking on our website here.

Episode 330 Casey Sadler is living the life of a professional baseball pitcher right now. He is currently with the Los Angeles Dodgers organization at AAA Oklahoma City.  He played his college baseball at Western Oklahoma State University before being drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 25th round of the 2010 MLB Draft. After going through the grind of the minor leagues, Sadler made his MLB debut on May 2, 2014 with Pittsburgh. After pitching in 7 games total over two seasons with Pittsburgh in 2014 and 2015, Casey would miss the 2016 season after having Tommy John surgery.  After spending all of 2017 in the minor leagues, Casey made it back to the majors in 2018 with Pittsburgh and again in 2019 with Tampa before being traded on July 3 to the Los Angeles Dodgers and optioned to AAA Oklahoma City.  On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Casey about the crazy life of a yoyo pitcher going up and down from the minors to the majors, the crazy story of driving 15 hours in an RV to arrive and pitch for the Rays, coming back to Christ after falling away, and how having Tommy John surgery tested his faith.  For more stories and interviews on the intersection of sports and faith, visit our website http://SportsSpectrum.com   

Episode 329 Life hit Harvard team chaplains Pat and Tammy McLeod hard when their son Zach collapsed on a high school football field—he had sustained a severe brain injury. Two emergency brain surgeries later, Zach began waking up. Slowly the entire family woke up to the reality that life would never again be the same. The fallout of his injury would reshape their marriage, their family, their future and their faith in ways they never saw coming. What would it take for them to navigate the endless fallout of their son’s life-transforming injury? How could they reconcile their grief over the life Zach lost, with gratitude for the life that remained? And how does a couple move forward together in their search for hope, rather than letting indefinable loss drive them apart? Hit Hard releases todayand is the true story of the McLeods’ journey through ambiguous loss—both having and not having their son. It’s the story of a family who faced unexpected heartbreak, a story that offers us all glimpses of how we can pick up the pieces, redefine expectations, and find hope in the midst of unresolved pain. On this podcast, we hear Zach McLeod's story, learn from Pat and Tammy about ambiguous loss, why they wanted to tell Zach's story, what it is like to grieve the loss of their son when he's still alive, and safety on the football field in 2019.  For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 328 Mitchell Traver is a former professional baseball pitcher who was selected in four different MLB drafts. He was selected by the Astros in the 39th round of the 2012 MLB Draft. He was selected by the Cardinals in the 28th round of the 2015 MLB Draft. He was selected by the Reds in the 17th round of the 2016 MLB Draft and in 2017, was selected by the Angels in the 20th round.  He played his college ball at TCU, where he helped the Horned Frogs to the College World Series in 2017. After his collegiate career ended, he signed with the Angels and played two years of minor league baseball before retiring in 2019. On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Mitchell about retirement at the age of 25, why he is stepping away from pro baseball, playing through pain, trusting God in the process, and the awesome story of giving his life fully to Christ in 2014.  For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 327 Steven Elliott joined the military in 2003 and served as a member of the elite 75th Ranger Regiment. After being deployed to the Afghanistan/Pakistan border in 2004, Elliott found himself in the midst of an enemy ambush. He was one of four Rangers who mistook Pat Tillman's position for that of the enemy and fired there. He is one of two Rangers considered likely to have fired the fatal shots. Elliott served the remaining years of his enlistment and returned to civilian life in 2007.  Tormented by remorse and PTSD in the aftermath of Tillman’s death, Elliott descended into the depths of guilt, alcoholism, and depression; lost his marriage and his faith; and struggled to stay alive. The war that began on foreign soil had followed him home. Elliott's story is depicted in the new book "WAR STORY: Sometimes The Real Fight Starts After the Battle." On this episode of the podcast, we look at Steven Elliott's incredible story of pain and purpose, love and tragedy and ultimately renewal by the grace of God. Steven shares about his relationship with Pat Tillman and candidly talks about how forgiveness and faith have freed him from the demons that tormented him for many years.  For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Today we look back to Episode 54 of the podcast with Chad Robichaux, a former Marine and professional MMA fighter.  Chad is the president and founder of Mighty Oaks Foundation, a leading military nonprofit serving the US military active-duty and veteran communities with highly successful peer-to-peer, faith-based, combat-trauma programs and combat-resiliency conferences. Chad and his team are dedicated to helping America’s military warriors and their families suffering from the unseen wounds of combat such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This is a powerful conversation that takes us through Chad's life as a member of law enforcement to fighting in Afghanistan to a broken marriage, suicidal thoughts and a life falling apart. And then Jesus came, and saved Chad from himself.  You can listen to the entire interview with Chad from Episode 54 here or by searching his name on iTunes or Spotify. 

Episode 326 Justin Simmons is a safety with the Denver Broncos. He was selected in the 3rd round of the 2016 NFL Draft by Denver out of Boston College.  In college, Simmons named Second Team All-Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) by the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association and ACC head coaches. He was named to Phil Steele's All-American Fourth Team and ProFootballFocus.com All-America honorable mention. After coming to Denver, Simmons has solidified himself as the starting free safety the past two seasons. In 2018, he started all 16 games and recorded a career-high 97 combined tackles (71 solo), four pass deflections, and three interceptions.   On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Justin about goals for the 2019 season, learning how to be a pro, being all in for Christ and staying connected to the Lord during the NFL season.  For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 325 Matt Brown is an evangelist, author, and founder of Think Eternity, a ministry dedicated to amplifying the gospel every day to millions through podcasts, devotionals, videos, live events and more.  He is the author or co-author of 8 books including his latest release, "Truth Plus Love: The Jesus Way to Influence." Matt has built a large following on social media with over 1 million people following his pages. On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Matt about loving others without compromising the truth of who God is, the mistaken idea of spiritual maturity, living in an age of online megaphones, getting baited into anger and living a life that's relational instead of transactional. For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 324 Rick Barnes is the head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers Men's Basketball program. In 2018-19, Barnes was named the Naismith College Basketball Coach of the Year for leading Tennessee to a 31-6 record and an appearance in the Sweet Sixteen.  Barnes began his head coaching career in 1987 with George Mason. After that, he has had stops at Providence, Clemson and Texas before coming to the Volunteers in 2015.  He is a 4-time Big 12 Coach of the Year during his time with Texas and led the Longhorns to the Final Four in 2003. His 690 career wins ranks him 22nd on the all-time list for Division 1.  On this episode of the podcast, we talk with Coach Barnes about the 2018-19 season, winning coach of the year, his amazing testimony of faith in Christ, why he partners with Nations of Coaches, and his desire to preach the Gospel wherever he goes.  For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 323 Hunter Kemper is one of the most decorated U.S. triathletes in history. A four-time member of the U.S. Olympic triathlon team, he was one of only two men in the world to qualify for the first four Olympic triathlons (2000-2012). His best finish at an Olympics was seventh in the 2008 Beijing Games. In 2005, he was ranked No. 1 in the International Triathlon Union world rankings, one of only two American male triathletes to earn such a ranking. He ended 2005 by being named the U.S. Olympic Committee Sportsman of the Year. In 2003, Kemper won a gold medal at the Pan American Games, becoming the first U.S. male to do so. Last year in 2018, Kemper was inducted into the USA Triathlon Hall of Fame. At the ceremony, he also announced his retirement from competition. On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Kemper about the difficult adjustment to retirement, competing in four Olympic Games, what faith looked like at the Olympics, how he came to know Christ in college at Wake Forest, his favorite moment at the Olympics, and the tension he wrestled with in sharing his faith as an elite athlete. For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com