Sports Spectrum Podcast

Episode 458 Carson Wentz is the quarterback of the Philadelphia Eagles. He was selected No. 2 overall in the 2016 draft, and he has started each of the 57 games he has played since. He earned a Pro Bowl selection in 2017 but was unable to play due to an ACL injury earlier that season, which also kept him out as the Eagles went on to win Super Bowl LII. Wentz battled injuries in 2018 as well, appearing in only 11 games, but he started all 16 regular-season games in 2019 and got to play in his first NFL playoff game. He enters his fifth season as one of the NFL’s best young quarterbacks. In the summer of 2017, Wentz started his Audience of One Foundation, which is dedicated to “uplifting individuals and communities around the world by demonstrating God’s love for His people.” It is made up of three primary ministries: Thy Kingdom Crumb (a food truck that distributes free food); Outdoor Ministry (hunting and fishing trips for kids); and the Haiti Sports Complex (sports facilities in Haiti). Wentz is also a married man and soon-to-be father. Shortly after winning the Super Bowl, Wentz proposed to his girlfriend, Maddie. The two were married in July 2018, and they are expecting their first child, a girl. On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Carson and Maddie about marriage, what Maddie’s Sundays are like watching her husband on the field, how Christ is at the center of their marriage, and the excitement surrounding their upcoming baby girl’s arrival. For more stories of sports and faith, check out http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 457 Clint Hurdle has been a staple in Major League Baseball for over forty years. He was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the first round (ninth overall) of the 1975 MLB Draft and just two years later, made his MLB debut. A member of the 1980 American League championship team in Kansas City, Hurdle would play for seven more years until retiring in 1987. After his playing days ended, Hurdle went into coaching in 1988 and 14 years later, would be named the manager of the Colorado Rockies. During his time with Colorado, he would lead the Rockies to the National League title and a trip to the World Series in 2007. After his time in Colorado ended in 2010, he would sign on to manage the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2011 where he led the Bucs to three straight playoff appearances in 2013, 2014, and 2015. In 2013, he was named Sporting News NL Manager of the Year.  In September of 2019, he was relieved of his duties as manager of the Pirates. On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Clint Hurdle about adjusting to life away from baseball, where his faith in Jesus began, how a crisis of faith in his early forties helped him grow closer to the Lord, how he lived his faith out as a manager and why spending time with his family right now is his number one priority.  For more stories of sports and faith, check out http://SportsSpectrum.com 

BONUS EPISODE Josh McCown spent the 2019 season as a quarterback with the Philadelphia Eagles. He was originally selected in the third round of the 2002 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals after playing his college football Sam Houston State.  Josh would go on to play 17 NFL seasons with eleven different teams (Cardinals, Lions, Raiders, Dolphins, Panthers, 49ers, Bears, Buccaneers, Browns, Jets and Eagles). In 2019, Josh backed up Carson Wentz in Philadelphia and found himself making his first ever appearance in a playoff game when he came in to relieve an injured Wentz in the Eagles loss to the Seahawks. In that game, McCown suffered a torn hamstring off the bone and continued to play an entire half with the injury. On this episode of the podcast, Josh McCown shares a health update on his torn hamstring, getting the opportunity to play in his first ever playoff game, why he came out of retirement to play in 2019, what faith in the Eagles locker room was like and what Josh's plans are for 2020.  For more stories of faith and sports, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 456 Since 2014, David Baker has been the President and CEO of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. At 6'9 and 400 pounds, David is an imposing figure but he's also the one guy every former NFL player loves during the Super Bowl as Baker is the guy who knocks on the door and congratulates the new inductees every year to the Hall. In 2018, the Pro Football Hall of Fame was voted the Best Attraction for Sports Fans in the USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice travel award contest. Before his football governing days, Baker played professional basketball in Switzerland and worldwide with a Christian basketball team that beat the best in the world. He was elected Mayor and Councilman of Irvine, Calif., the country’s first master-planned city and served for 12 years as the Commissioner of the Arena Football League. Baker is the father of two boys – Ben who is the Director of Broadcasting at NASCAR and Sam who played left tackle for the Atlanta Falcons and currently serves as a coach for Mission Viejo High School football team. David and his wife Colleen also have a daughter Leyla and a son, Michael; and are the proud grandparents of eight beautiful grandchildren. On this episode of the podcast, we talk to David about his job telling football players that they're in the Hall of Fame, the parallels of football and scripture, the experience of telling Jimmy Johnson and Bill Cowher in person live on a broadcast that they were going to Canton. David's a strong leader and he shares how his walk with the Lord guides his work each day. For more stories on sports and faith, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 455 Matt Carpenter is a 3-time All-Star with the St. Louis Cardinals. He was selected in the 13th round of the 2009 MLB Amateur Draft out of TCU. A three-time second-team All Mountain West Conference selectee, he broke TCU's school record for games played and at bats. He would make his MLB debut in June of 2011 and has been a mainstay in the Cardinals lineup since becoming a regular in 2012. In 2013, he would be selected to his first All-Star game in helping St. Louis to the World Series. He would make two more All-Star game appearances in 2014 and 2016. In 2018, he hit a career high 36 home runs and in 2019, he reached 1,000 career hits. On this episode of the podcast, we talked to Matt about the 2020 season, why he doesn't wear batting gloves, how his time in college at TCU opened his heart up to the Lord and what living that faith out each day looks like today compared to when he first came to St. Louis nine years ago. We also want to send a special welcome to our new partners and sponsors International Justice Mission. You can learn more about the great work they're doing at IJM.org/TF For more stories and interviews, visit our website -- http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 454 Bob Goff is one of the most unique people in the United States. These days, he is most widely known as the New York Times-bestselling author of “Love Does,” released in 2012, and “Everybody Always” in 2018. Before Goff was an author, he was making a difference around the world as the founder of Restore International (now known as Love Does), which he started in 2001 to “find daring, productive and effective ways to fight the injustices committed against children.” Love Does now works to promote human rights and education in current and recovering conflict zones. It works in Uganda, Iraq, Nepal, Somalia, Afghanistan and India. Goff also serves as an adjunct professor at Pepperdine University, in both the law school and the graduate degree programs, with courses such as Nonprofit Law in the school’s Global Justice Program. In a previous career, he was a trial lawyer. He’s also an international speaker and launched the Dream Big Framework in 2016, a curriculum and workshop designed to motivate people to accomplish their biggest dreams and ambitions.  On this episode of the podcast, we talked to Goff at a conference in Dallas about his testimony of faith, why he wears a Boston Red Sox hat every day, why the people he learns the most from aren’t those that have it all together, starting a New Year’s Day parade on his street, and the desire he has to simply love like Jesus. Bob is great and you’ll love his story. For more stories and podcasts check out http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 453 Ingle Martin was selected in the fifth round of the 2006 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers. He began his college career at the University of Florida before transferring to Furman for his junior and senior season and setting multiple team records as well as being a punter for the Paladins. After being drafted in 2006, Martin found himself as a backup quarterback on a Packers team that featured Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers. In August of 2007, he was released by the Packers and picked up by the Titans. He would have stints with Tennessee, Denver, and Kansas City before ending his professional career in 2009. In 2011, Martin became the head football coach of Christ Presbyterian Academy, a private high school located in Nashville, Tennessee. In 2019, his club finished as the state runner-up despite a 2-6 start.  On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Ingle Martin about his football journey, the difference is in adversity in football as compared to adversity in life and why keeping Christ has helped him both as a player and now as a coach. He also shares what his experience was like playing with Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers.  For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 452 Nicole Hensley is a professional women's hockey goaltender and a member of the United State's 2018 Gold Medal winning team at the Winter Olympics in South Korea.  Growing up a fan of Patrick Roy, Hensley always wanted to be a goalie and began her hockey journey when she was just a little girl.  As a member of the U.S. Women's National Team, Nicole has competed in one Olympic Winter Games (gold-2018), two International Ice Hockey Federation Women’s World Championships (gold-2016, 2017); and two Four Nations Cups (1st-2016, 2017) On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Nicole about where her love for hockey began, how she became a member of Team USA, the experience of competing in an Olympics and that moment she won a Gold Medal. Nicole's faith is strong and throughout the conversation, she talks about how the Lord has been her guide.  For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 451 David Prince is a two-time United States Paralympian sprinter. Raised by missionary parents, David traveled frequently across the country and to Oaxaca, Mexico. In 2002, at the age of 18, he crashed his motorcycle which resulted in having his leg amputated below the knee as well as a traumatic head injury. After seeing his life come crumbling down, David was able to turn that setback into a comeback and began training to become a sprinter. In 2010, Prince won a gold medal at the U.S. Paralympic National Championship in the 400m event, a silver medal in the long jump and a bronze medal in the 200m event. In 2011, Prince won a gold medal at the 2011 Parapan American Games in the 200m and 400m events. In 2011 at the IPC World Championship, he won a silver medal in the 4 × 100 meter relay and a bronze medal in the 400m event. Later that year at the Paralympic National Championship, he won a gold medal in the 200m and 400m events and a silver medal in the 100m race. Prince narrowly missed qualifying for the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing, China but four years later, he achieved his goal of qualifying for the 2012 Paralympic Games where he won an individual bronze medal in the 400 m T43/44 event, in a new world record time for his own T44 classification. In 2016, he was back at the Paralympic Games in Rio where he finished 6th in the 200 m event. In November of 2019, Prince, at the age of 36, won a bronze medal in Dubai at the 2019 World Championships in the 200 m race. On this episode of the podcast, we hear the inspirational story of David Prince as he shares how the accident the almost ruined his life, brought him closer to God and how recent trials in his life has helped him re-shape his focus to living for Christ in the midst of continuing his quest to compete in the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 450 Kelsey Plum was selected as the number one overall pick in the 2017 WNBA Draft by the San Antonio Stars. She shined in college at the University of Washington where he helped the Lady Huskies reach the Final Four in 2016. In 2017, she was the Naismith College Player of the Year and won the John Wooden Award as the top women's college basketball player.  Her 3,527 points scored in her four-year career at Washington is the most all-time in Division One Women's College Basketball.  After being selected by San Antonio, Plum was named to the WNBA All-Rookie Team in 2017 and has played her last two seasons in Las Vegas after the team relocated from Texas to Nevada.  On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Kelsey about the 2020 Olympics, being the number one overall pick, her prolific career at Washington, feeling the weight of expectations, how her faith in the Lord grew in college and how adversity has helped her re-align in her walk with Christ.  For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com