Sports Spectrum Podcast

Episode 126 Mark Schlereth played 12 seasons in the NFL from 1989-2000 with the Redskins and Broncos. He is a 3-time Super Bowl champion, winning one ring with Washington and two with Denver. After retirement in 2001, he joined ESPN, where he would work as an analyst until departing in June of 2017 for a new opportunity with FOX Sports.  Born in Anchorage, Alaska, Schlereth attended the University of Idaho on a football scholarship. After his college career ended, he was selected in the 10th round of the 1989 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins and head coach Joe Gibbs. Known as "Stink" to many of his friends, Schlereth wheres many titles in his life including husband, a father, grandfather, an actor, an entrepreneur, a morning radio host and a television analyst.   In Part 1 of our conversation with Schlereth, we talk about Mark's departure from ESPN to FOX, how his football career almost ended in college, how Joe Gibbs impacted his walk with Christ, and where the nickname "Stink" actually came from.  For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 125 Riley Tincher was an All-American pitcher at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater where he was the Midwest Region Pitcher of the Year, the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Pitcher of the Year, a two-time first-team All-Region pitcher, a two-time first-team All-WIAC pitcher, a Max Sparger award recipient, and an All-Star in the prestigious Northwoods League He’s now a mental conditioning coach with a master’s degree in sports pedagogy with an emphasis in sports psychology from Baylor University. He’s the owner of Coachability - a mentorship program that serves athletes, at every level (youth, high school, college, professional, and Olympic), all throughout the country. Coachability was created to provide athletes a safe haven they can go to, to talk to someone who has been through what they are going through. It was also created to teach athletes the principles to succeed in sports, and more importantly, in life after sports. It is the mentorship program Riley wished existed when he was younger. Riley is also the author of the book "Pitching Against Myself," released in 2017.  On this episode of the podcast, Riley shares his powerful story of baseball, success, struggle, depression and why his pursuit of a baseball dream almost caused his life to end. Riley shares why Jesus is the answer and how it helped heal him after multiple suicide attempts and how he's now taking his pain and turning it into purpose. 

Episode 124 Nick Foles began the 2017 season as a backup quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles. In December, starting QB Carson Wentz injured his knee and 2 months later, Foles was the Super Bowl MVP after throwing for 373 yards and 3 TD in the Eagles 41-33 victory over the Patriots. Foles is also the only quarterback to ever catch a touchdown pass in the Super Bowl. Selected in the third round of the 2012 NFL Draft by the Eagles, Foles made the Pro Bowl in 2013, but a few years later, was traded to the Rams, released, signed by the Chiefs and then returned to Philadelphia in 2017.  Foles' new book "Believe It: My Journey of Success, Failure and Overcoming the Odds," released on June 26 and is a look inside his journey through football and faith.  On this episode of the podcast, Nick Foles shares his reason for writing a book, how close he was to retiring from the NFL, cultivating a culture of faith in the locker room, going from MVP to backup, and why he doesn't want to be called a "starting quarterback." For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 123 Mark Appel was destined for baseball greatness. The former Stanford pitcher was selected number one overall in 2013 by the Houston Astros, one pick ahead of Kris Bryant of the Chicago Cubs. Many thought it was just a matter of time before he would make it to the Major Leagues. But the career path of Appel didn't go as everyone expected. He never made it to the big leagues.  In February of 2018, Mark announced he was taking a "indefinite break" from the game of baseball at the age of 26.  On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Mark about what this first year without baseball has been like for him, why he stepped away, how Christ has helped him in his decision, the importance of mentorship in his life, and the amazing story of how he destroyed a panel wall inside a minor league dugout and how that night changed his outlook and perspective with God.  For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 122 Andrew Yun is in his first season as a professional golfer on the PGA Tour.  He graduated college from Stanford University, where he had a stellar golf career, finishing with the third-lowest scoring average in the program's history behind Tiger Woods and Patrick Rodgers.  Yun turned pro shortly after graduating and joined the Web.com Tour in 2015 before making his PGA Tour debut this season.  On this episode of the podcast, Andrew Yun shares where his love for golf began, staying grounded in Christ on the PGA Tour, how moving from Seattle to Arizona changed his life, and that time he had dinner at Tiger Woods' house.  For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 121 Jon Peters was the first high school baseball player ever to grace the cover of Sports Illustrated. In 1989, he set a record with 53 consecutive wins by a high school pitcher. He finished his dominant 4-year career by going 54-1.  With dreams of making it to the Major Leagues, Jon accepted a scholarship to Texas A&M where injuries would end his baseball career. In his first book "When Life Grabs You By The Baseballs," Jon chronicles his journey from riches to rags and back to riches. Struggling to find value and happiness, Jon turned to alcohol, and eventually suicide. In the worst place of his life, Peters took a risk, reached out in desperation, and found a God that loved him and cared about him.  In this episode of the podcast, Jon Peters shares his story of struggle, fame, identity and success. A very vulnerable and transparent Peters tell us about being on the cover of Sports Illustrated, why baseball was his God, losing it all, and how he was able to find a life full of joy and peace in Christ.  For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 120 Ben Utecht played 6 seasons in the NFL with the Indianapolis Colts and Cincinnati Bengals. He was a 4-year starter at the University of Minnesota, but went undrafted in 2004 due to an injury.  He was signed by the Colts and head coach Tony Dungy. 2 years later, he was a part of a championship team, helping Indianapolis win Super Bowl XLI over the Chicago Bears.  Ben signed with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2008 but soon thereafter, his career was over due to concussions.  9 years later, Utecht is now an author, speaker, musician, and business owner, sharing his story of faith and football. On this episode of the podcast, Ben talks about overcoming 5 concussions, making the decision to retire, how he ended up on the Colts after a promise from Tony Dungy, what it is like to win a Super Bowl and how God has sustained him through the trials of post concussions symptoms, even to the point of thinking his mind might literally slip away.  You can order Ben's book "Counting the Days Until My Mind Slips Away" on Amazon.  For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 119 Dan Winkler is a pitcher with the Atlanta Braves. Thus far in 2018, Winkler has been dominant on the mound as a reliever. Through June 14, Dan has pitched in 27 games and has a team-best ERA of 0.99 with 38 strikeouts in 27 innings. Even more, the Braves are near the top of the standings in the National League East as the young team looks to return to the postseason for the first time since 2013.  But it hasn't always been success on the field for Winkler. He's had to grind through 2 major injuries, including Tommy John in 2014 and a fractured elbow in 2016 before finally returning to the Majors in August of 2017.  Winkler is married to his wife Camille and in October 2017, they welcomed their baby boy Declan.  On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Daniel about his success in 2018, the type of culture the Braves organization has, overcoming two major injuries, trusting in Jesus, living out your faith in your job and why being a Daddy is the best job he could ever have.  For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 118 Michael Chadwick is a swimmer for TEAM USA and a 2016 Olympic Trials finalist. He won 22 All-America honors as a swimmer at the University of Missouri. He is considered the most decorated swimmer in the history of the school and is currently training with his sight set 2020 and qualifying for the Olympic Summer Games in Tokyo, Japan.  David Chadwick is Michael's father. He's also the pastor of Forest Hill Church in North Carolina. David played college basketball at the University of North Carolina under the legendary head coach Dean Smith. He was a member of the 1969 Final Four team and the 1971 NIT championship squad. He's also the author of the book "It's How You Play The Game: The 12 Leadership Principles of Dean Smith." On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Michael and David about competing in athletics at a high level, the father/son relationship that they both have, how Michael is preparing for an Olympic run, why David believes he's best served as Michael's dad and not his coach, and the key leadership principles that David has learned and implemented into his life and his role as a father to Michael and his two other children. For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 117 Jon Gordon is the author of 18 books, including 5 best-sellers: The Energy Bus, The Carpenter, Training Camp, You Win in the Locker Room First and The Power of Positive Leadership. His latest book, The Power of a Positive Team releases today, June 13, 2018.  Jon and his leadership principles have been featured on The Today Show, CNN, CNBC, The Golf Channel, Fox and Friends and in numerous magazines and newspapers. His clients include The Los Angeles Dodgers, The Atlanta Falcons, LA Clippers, Miami Heat, Pittsburgh Pirates, Los Angeles Rams and Clemson Football. In this episode of the podcast, Jon talks about the practices that are essential in making a great team great, how sports and faith can work together and why Celtics coach Brad Stevens and Dodgers coach Dave Roberts are building their teams the right way. We also turn the tables on him and ask him questions that were posed in his book The Carpenter from the character J. Emmanuel.  For more on Jon, check out all of his resources at http://JonGordon.com