Sports Spectrum Podcast

Episode 472 Robert Morris is the founding lead senior pastor of Gateway Church, a multicampus church based out of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. Since it began in 2000, the church has grown to more than 71,000 active attendees.  His television program is aired in over 190 countries, and his radio program, Worship & the Word with Pastor Robert, airs in more than 1,800 radio markets across America. He serves as chancellor of The King’s University and is the bestselling author of numerous books, including The Blessed Life, Frequency, Beyond Blessed, and his latest book Take the Day Off. Robert and his wife, Debbie, have been married 39 years and are blessed with one married daughter, two married sons, and nine grandchildren. On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Robert Morris about playing golf with Jack Nicklaus, pastor Cowboys tight end Jason Witten, how he stays connected to God and his awesome story of the great underwear crisis of 2004. This episode is sponsored by Compassion International, the most trusted child development ministry in the world. For more information about you can help sponsor a child and release them from poverty, check out their website - http://Compassion.com/SportsSpectrum For more stories of sports and faith, check out our website - http://SportsSpectrum.com 

BONUS EPISODE Korey Harris is currently an assistant basketball coach for the Chinese Basketball Association's Beijing Royal Fighters under their head coach, former NBA All-Star Stephon Marbury. He came to China in August of 2018 and was hired by Marbury to coach with the Royal Fighters in September of 2019.  Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, Korey has been in quarantine and isolation in his China hotel room since January.  On this episode of the podcast, Korey Harris joins us from China to talk about what the last few months have been like since the Chinese Basketball Association postponed their games in late January. We also hear how Korey has dealt with social distancing, why staying in China instead of returning to America was something he felt led to do and a great word of encouragement for all of us here in America.  For more stories on sports and faith, check out our website http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 471 Katie Engleson is a reporter covering sports for FOX Sports Southwest. She is a sideline reporter for the WNBA's Dallas Wings, covers the Mavericks, the New Orleans Pelicans and the Texas Rangers. The 2016 Alabama Crimson Tide graduate was a baton twirler in college and served as an Alabama Crimsonette during football games. She is also a part of the Best Buddies Texas Junior Advisory Board.  On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Katie about her role with FOX Sports Southwest, covering the craziness that is high school football in Texas, her testimony of faith, why 1 Peter 4:10 is so important to her, and what it was like on a Saturday afternoon in Tuscaloosa, Alabama during the Fall.  This episode is sponsored by Compassion International, the most trusted child development ministry in the world. Check out http://Compassion.com/SportsSpectrum and pray about sponsoring a child and releasing them from poverty in Jesus' name. For more stories of sports and faith, check out our website: http://SportsSpectrum.com 

BONUS EPISODE Aaron Craft is currently playing professional basketball in Italy for Aquila Basket Trento, and lives in Trento, Italy, with his wife and son. Trento is in northern Italy, a little less than three hours from what Craft described as the “epicenter” of the Coronavirus outbreak. Know for his tenacious defense during his time in college at Ohio State, Aaron was named the 2014 NABC Defensive Player of the Year, the 2013 Big Ten Tournament MVP, and a two-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in 2012 and 2014. On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Aaron about what it is like being in Italy right now during the Coronavirus outbreak and how his faith is helping him and his family stay calm in the midst of a very big storm.

Episode 470 Shane Doan is a former NHL player who played 21 seasons with the Winnipeg Jets/Arizona Coyotes franchise. He was selected in the first round of the 1995 NHL Draft (seventh overall) by the Winnipeg Jets. He was the Jets' final first round pick as the team would relocate to Phoenix the following season.  In 1996, Doan would begin a stretch of 20 straight seasons playing for the Coyotes in a career that saw him make two All-Star teams and in 2012, the winner of the Mark Messier Leadership Award.  In 2017, Doan retired from the NHL as the franchise record holder in career points (972), career goals (402) and games played (1540). In February of 2019, he had his number 19 retired and today he's working with the NHL as a Senior Advisor of Hockey Operations. On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Shane about faith in the NHL, the lessons he's learned from playing hockey, why Jesus is truth, having his number 19 retired and his welcome to the NHL moment with Mark Messier and Wayne Gretzky. This episode is sponsored by IJM, International Justice Mission. To learn more about how you can help join the fight to end slavery in our lifetime, visit http://IJM.org/TF For more stories of sports and faith, visit our website http://SportsSpectrum.com 

*Interview recorded prior to coronavirus outbreak* Episode 469 Anthony Sherman is a fullback for the Kansas City Chiefs. Selected in the fifth round of the 2011 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals, Sherman would play two seasons with the Cardinals before being traded in 2013 to the Chiefs.  In 2019, Sherman helped his Kansas City Chiefs team to an NFL championship, beating the San Francisco 49ers 31-20 in Super Bowl LIV.  In college, Sherman was a standout blocker at the University of Connecticut and served as a team captain for two seasons.  On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Anthony Sherman about his Super Bowl experience, winning the title, the crazy story from the Super Bowl parade, how his faith took shape and why he felt compelled to attend a missions trip with Compassion International.  For more stories on sports and faith, check out http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 468 Craig Denison is the author of First15, a daily devotional guiding over a million believers into a fresh experience with God’s presence. He writes, speaks, and he and his wife, Rachel lead worship to help believers establish a more tangible, meaningful connection with God. Craig graduated from Dallas Baptist University with a bachelor’s degree in Biblical Studies and a minor in Music. He also spent a year in Nashville and San Diego working with award-winning producer Pete Kipley (MercyMe, Phil Wickham, Shane and Shane). If you're looking for a guide to a daily, meaningful time alone with God, go to First15.org, and sign up to receive his daily devotional guide for free.  On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Craig about First15, why he started it, how a ski trip accident changed his life, the importance of getting in God's word each day and the struggle that so many have in staying connected each day with Jesus.  For more stories of sports and faith, check out http://SportsSpectrum.com  * Interview recorded prior to coronavirus outbreak.

BONUS EPISODE Dave Pasch was getting ready to call an ESPN NBA game between the Kings and Pelicans on Wednesday March 11. A few minutes before the start of the game, officials announced the game had been postponed. And since then, the sports world has been shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic.  On this episode of the podcast, we talk with Dave Pasch about that March 11th telecast, being on air but never calling the game due to the coronavirus, where he stands right now in waiting mode with his job, and the opportunity that we have right now as believers to serve and help others in a tangible way. You can listen to Dave's testimony of faith in Jesus from our July 2018 interview here. 

Episode 467 * Interview recorded prior to coronavirus outbreak. Brad Frost is the head coach of the University of Minnesota's women's ice hockey team. He has led the Lady Golden Gophers to four NCAA championships, seven Frozen Four appearances, and coming into the 2019-2020 season, he had a career coaching record of 373 wins to just 65 losses with 31 ties. Raised in Burlington, Ontario, Brad played forward on the Bethel University hockey team and served as team captain for two years. After graduation, he was an assistant coach for the Eagan (Minnesota) High School girls' team and then for the Bethel University men's team. In June 2001, he joined the coaching staff at the University of Minnesota as an assistant to Laura Halldorson. While working as an assistant coach, Minnesota won the NCAA Championships in 2004 and 2005. In 2007, he became the head coach for Minnesota and won NCAA titles in 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2016. That title in 2012-13 featured a team that went undefeated, 41-0-0 and a winning streak of 62 consecutive wins from February 2012 to November 2013.  On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Brad about the cold winters in Minnesota, his four values, what true success is, how he maintains a standard of excellence at Minnesota, where he came to faith in Christ, and how he continues to seek others for teaching and discipleship. For more stories of sports and faith, check out http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 466 Trevor Rosenthal is a pitcher with the Kansas City Royals. He was selected in the 21st round of the 2009 MLB Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals, and made his MLB debut in July 2012. The next season, he pitched in the World Series against the Boston Red Sox. A few years later, Rosenthal cemented himself as the Cardinals’ closer with 45 saves in 2014, and a club-record 48 saves in 2015. He was rewarded by being named an All-Star in 2015, when he also helped St. Louis to a division title. He is the third-youngest pitcher in MLB history to record back-to-back 40-save seasons. After a few down years, Rosenthal was released by the Cardinals following the 2017 season. He underwent Tommy John surgery in 2018, and returned to the major leagues in 2019 with stints on three different teams. In December 2019, Rosenthal signed a minor-league deal to pitch with the Royals and reunite with his former manager from St. Louis, Mike Matheny. On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Rosenthal about overcoming adversity, his very difficult 2019 season, the new opportunity with the Royals, how he came to faith in the minor leagues, and how his teammates with the Cardinals helped encourage him to live out his faith. * Interview recorded prior to coronavirus outbreak.