Sports Spectrum Podcast

Episode 116 James Ihedigbo played 10 seasons in the NFL with the Jets, Patriots, Ravens, Lions and Bills. He was undrafted in 2007 after playing his college football at the University of Massachusetts.  As a member of the Patriots in 2011, James played in Super Bowl XLVI against the Giants. The following season, James signed with the Baltimore Ravens and not only played in Super Bowl XLVII but won a championship ring as his team beat the 49ers 34-31.  In March 2018, James officially retire from the NFL after 10 seasons.  His parents are immigrants from Nigeria, who came to the United States in the late 1970's to pursue higher education. James was raised in a Christian home, but learned that he had to make his faith his own. Following the death of his father when he was a teenager, James had a powerful encounter with the Lord.  Today, James is involved in HOPE AFRICA, a foundation that offers assistance to students of African descent in the form of scholarships, mentoring, funding, and developmental projects. On this episode of the podcast, we talk to James about growing up with Nigerian immigrant parents, how he made his faith his own, what it was like to play on the same team as Brett Favre and Tom Brady, how he dealt with temptations that came his way during his NFL career, and why seeing things through the lens of Christ is vital in the cultural landscape that we're living in today.  For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 115 Gene Watson joined the Kansas City Royals organization in 2006, and is currently their Director of Pro Scouting. In 2017, he was the recipient of the Legends in Scouting Award, given by the Professional Baseball Scouts Foundation. Gene began his baseball career in college, playing at the University of Texas-Arlington. After his playing days ended, he joined the Texas Rangers stadium operations staff in 1989. After stops in San Diego and Atlanta, he joined the Marlins organization as a professional scout before departing for Kansas City in 2006. Gene has been a part of 2 World Series championship teams, the Marlins in 2003, and the Royals in 2015. He has 20 years of experience covering MLB Spring Training, minor league scouting as well as winter league scouting in the Dominican, Venezuelan and Mexican leagues. On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Gene about what it takes to be a scout at the Major League level, how a scout is judged as far as performance, where his faith journey started, how he stays grounded in his faith despite hardship that includes his wife's battle with cancer and why appreciating each day that God gives is his mantra right now. For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com  

Episode 114 Just as professional athletes need a head coach to help them reach their full potential, Darleen Santore helps individuals gain clarity and focus in order to live well, lead well, and propel themselves to new heights. A Board Certified Occupational Therapist and coach, Dar's clients include professional teams and athletes, including the Phoenix Suns. Darleen grew up a big sports fan in Connecticut, watching the New York Giants play each Sunday with her Dad. At the age of 25, her life changed forever when she suffered a stroke. In an instant, everything was different. But as "Coach Dar" teaches, we can all use our tests into our testimonies. On this episode of the podcast, Darleen shares her powerful story of overcoming a stroke, where her faith in Christ began to take shape, how she helps pro teams like the Phoenix Suns, and her belief that we all need a life plan. For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 113 Léonce Crump Jr., is an author, international speaker, and the founder and lead pastor of Renovation Church in Atlanta. In 2006, Crump answered God’s call to relocate from Tennessee to Atlanta and begin the process of planting Renovation Church. He details the obstacles he and his family faced and the revelations he uncovered during this process in Renovate: Changing Who You Are by Loving Where You Are.  A champion for the Church’s participation in focused and intentional cultural renewal, Crump is the leading voice of a generation committed to operating as God’s redemptive agents in the earth. His unique background includes contacts from the world of professional sports and the music industry. At the University of Oklahoma, Crump was an All-American wrestler and defensive end for the Sooner football team; he went on to play professional football for the New Orleans Saints. He has been in ordained ministry for nine years and holds graduate degrees from the University of Tennessee and Resurgence Theological Training Center. He is currently a Master of Divinity student at Reformed Theological Seminary and a member of the Acts 29 church planting network. He and his wife, Breanna, reside in the heart of downtown Atlanta with their two daughters and son. On this episode of the podcast, we talk with Pastor Crump about his sports journey, playing college football at Oklahoma, the temptations that come from being an NFL player, why he became a pastor and planted a church, and the biggest issue the church is facing today.  For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com   

Episode 112 Inky Johnson is a motivational speaker, author and former college football player with the University of Tennessee. With a dream of playing in the NFL, Inky rose from a life of poverty and drugs in the ghetto of Atlanta to play college football with the Volunteers. In 2006, his dream was shattered when Johnson suffered a life-altering injury on the football field that would take him from defensive back to sitting in a hospital wondering if his life would ever be the same. Today, Inky travels the country sharing his story and encouraging others as a motivational speaker. He's a mentor to many athletes and teams both in college and professional sports.  On this episode of the podcast, Inky shares his journey to Tennessee, how the worst day of his life actually turned into the best day of his life, why he feels it is not about just believing, but about having a relationship with God, why there's a lesson and blessing in everything that happens for us and how he's seen people impacted by the message of his story.  For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 111 Jeremy Affeldt pitched for 14 MLB seasons with the Royals, Rockies, Reds and Giants. He was selected in the 3rd round of the 1997 MLB Amateur Draft by the Kansas City Royals. 5 years later, on April 6, 2012, he made his Major League debut for Kansas City against the Chicago White Sox. In November 2008, after stints in KC, Colorado and Cincinnati, San Francisco signed Affeldt to a 2-year deal. That deal turned into 7 remarkable seasons with the Giants when Jeremy and his club won 3 World Series. Known for his performances in the postseason, Jeremy holds a career postseason ERA of 0.86 in 33 games pitched. He finished his career in 2015 with 22 consecutive scoreless postseason innings, the second longest in MLB history. (Mariano Rivera – 1st) Currently a broadcaster and community ambassador with the Giants, Affeldt is also a faithful follower of Jesus Christ, who blogs about issues of faith weekly. In 2013, he wrote his first book “To Stir a Movement: Life, Justice and Major League Baseball.” On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Jeremy about his faith journey, how sports played such an important role in his life, living your faith out, spiritual battles, wanting to give back and what it was like pitching in a World Series Game 7 back in 2014. For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 110 Randy Alcorn is the founder and director of Eternal Perspective Ministries, which began in 1990. Previously, he served as a pastor for fourteen years.  He is a New York Times bestselling author who has written over fifty books including Heaven, which sold over one million copies, and The Treasure Principle, which has sold over two million copies. His books have been translated into seventy languages and have sold ten million copies.  Randy's connection with sports includes a relationship with us here at Sports Spectrum, where you can read Randy's Gospel presentation in our latest issue of Sports Spectrum Magazine.  On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Randy about ministering to professional athletes, the struggles that fame and fortune can bring to many in the faith, athletes adjusting to the real world after retirement and why it's important to find their identity in Christ and not in their profession.  For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 109 Donnie Floyd ministers to NASCAR drivers and staff each day as the chaplain for Hendrick Motorsports in North Carolina. He currently leads a Bible Study (fellowship lunch) each Wednesday to over 100 race crew members.  Prior to becoming a chaplain, Floyd was a pit crew member with Hendrick for 18 years where he traveled to the biggest races in NASCAR.  Floyd also served our country for eight years in the Air Force as a Security Forces Peacekeeper and spent five years in law enforcement as a cop.  On this episode of the podcast, Donnie shares his story of being a minister to the NASCAR family, why a tragic plane crash led him to an awakening and eventually to becoming a chaplain. He also shares the biggest spiritual battle he sees among drivers and his favorite NASCAR racing memory.  For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 108 Steve Springer teaches baseball players about the mental aspect of hitting.His clients include MLB stars Nolan Arenado, Ben Zobrist, Paul Goldschmidt, and Daniel Murphy.  He played 14 seasons of Minor League Baseball from 1982-1995. In 1,591 games played with six different organizations, Springer slugged 128 home runs and collected 1,592 hits.  His dream to play the highest level of baseball in the Majors was achieved in 1990, when the Cleveland Indians called him up. His stint was short and in 1992, he got a second chance with the New York Mets. In total, he played 8 career games in the Big Leagues.  For 8 years, Steve Springer was the performance coach & major league scout for the Toronto Blue - Jays. He is now on his own, teaching all levels of baseball players from Little League to the Major Leagues, about the mental aspect of hitting through his Quality At Bats product.  You can learn more about Steve at http://QualityAtBats.com

Episode 107 Julianne Viani is our guest on Episode 107 of the Sports Spectrum Podcast. She was a 4-time MAAC champion and MAAC MVP her senior year with Marist College. Upon graduation in 2009, she was inducted into the MAAC Basketball Hall of Fame. She's currently a basketball analyst covering men and women on the college and pro level for ESPN, CBS Sports Network, NextVR, Pac 12 Network and MSG Network. On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Julianne about her blossoming broadcasting career, being one of the rare women analysts to call NBA games, the future of virtual reality for sports, the difficulty of walking with the Lord when a family member or parent isn't on that same path and the powerful story of her father coming to faith in Christ. For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com