Sports Spectrum Podcast

Brent Jones played 11 seasons with the San Francisco 49ers from 1987 to 1997. The four-time Pro Bowler played in 7 NFC Championship Games in his 11 years and won three Super Bowl titles in 1988, 1989 and 1994.  Jones was initially selected in the 5th round of the 1986 NFL Draft (135th overall) by the Pittsburgh Steelers but after an accident caused a herniated disk in his neck, Brent missed all of the 1986 season. After moving on from the Steelers, he signed on with the 49ers and in his second season, found himself winning his first Super Bowl, beating the Bengals 20-16 Brent would go on to be mainstay on that potent San Francisco 49ers offense with legends like Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, Steve Young, Roger Craig, Tom Rathman and others.  On this BONUS episode of the podcast, we talk to Brent Jones about his San Francisco 49ers journey, watching his old team make it to the Super Bowl, playing in Miami, how he came to faith in Christ and how he became a part of the very first 50-yard line postgame prayer in NFL history back in 1990.  For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 445 Napoleon Kaufman is a former NFL running back who played six seasons with the Raiders. He was selected in the first round of the 1995 NFL Draft (18th overall) out of the University of Washington, where he was the Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year in 1994. Kaufman holds the single game rushing record for the Raiders, rushing for 227 yards in a 1997 game against the eventual Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos. At the age of 27, Kaufman abruptly retired from the NFL to pursue ministry as a pastor and today, is the Senior Pastor at THE WELL CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY CHURCH in Livermore, California. On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Napoleon about being part of Raider Nation, coming to faith during an NFL training camp, feeling called to leave football for ministry and the importance of keeping Christ as the foundation of his life.  For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 444 Blake Mazza just finished his redshirt sophomore season as the kicker for the Washington State football team. The Plano, Texas native was one of the top kickers in the country and  became the first kicker in Washington State football history to be a finalist for the Lou Groza award for college football's top kicker.  After redshirting his freshman season at the University of Arkansas, Mazza transferred to Washington State and was their kicker in 2018 as a redshirt freshman. In 2019, he was awesome, hitting on 20 of 21 field goals and finishing with 115 points. He was named first team All-Pac 12 in 2019 for his efforts. On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Blake about his 2019 season, growing up a pastor's kid, leading ministry in college at Washington State and how he stays grounded in his faith during a long season.  For more Sports Spectrum content, visit our website - http://SportsSpectrum.com  

Episode 443 Dr. E. Dewey Smith Jr is the senior pastor at The House of Hope in Atlanta, Georgia. Besides leading a congregation as a minister, he is also a teacher, musician, actor and media producer with EDS Ministries.   He began his journey as a minister at the age of 19 and has been producing media and film now for over 25 years. The sought-after keynote speaker is a Morehouse College grad and is the author of many books including his latest, "Maximizing Your Membership." On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Dr. Smith about the different roles God has brought him to in ministry, his love/hate relationship with the Dallas Cowboys, why he started a youth basketball league in 2012 and how the Lord has helped him through a crisis of faith back in 2016.  For more Sports Spectrum content, check out our website http://SportsSpectrum.com. 

Episode 442 Matt Wieters has played 11 seasons as a Major League Baseball catcher. He was selected in the first round (5th overall) in the 2007 MLB Amateur Draft by the Baltimore Orioles. Two years later, he would make his MLB debut in 2009 for Baltimore against the Detroit Tigers and a day later, would have his first career MLB hit, a triple, off of pitcher Justin Verlander. During his nine seasons in Baltimore, Wieters would be named to four All-Star teams and win the Gold Glove award in 2011 and again in 2012.  In 2017 and 2018, Wieters was a catcher for the Washington Nationals and in 2019, he played with the St. Louis Cardinals.  On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Matt about his 2019 season with the Cardinals, playing and learning from legendary catcher Yadier Molina, how he's trusting in God's plan for the 2020 baseball season, being a light in the clubhouse and why it is important to live in the increase of Christ.  For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 441 Mike "Doc" Emrick is a legend in the broadcasting circles. He's currently the play by play voice for NBC's NHL coverage. He began his broadcasting journey in college at Bowling Green in 1971 and is now in his 47th year of broadcasting professional hockey.  A multiple Emmy Award winner, Mike is known as "America's voice of hockey." In December 2011, Emrick became the first member of the media to be inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame and in December 2019, was inducted into the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame.  An avid Pittsburgh Pirates fan, Mike was able to call his one and only regular season MLB game in 2016 with Bob Costas on MLB Network.  On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Mike Emrick about his hockey broadcasting journey, being inducted into the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame, the importance of prayer, how he prepares for each game he broadcasts, and how he brings his faith into his job as a broadcaster.  For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 440 Jaelene Hinkle plays professional soccer for the North Carolina Courage in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). She was selected seventh overall in the 2015 NWSL Draft by the Western New York Flash. Playing the defender position, Hinkle starred in high school at Valor Christian in Highlands Ranch, Colo., where she was a Parade High School All-American and named first-team all-state. She has played the last five seasons in the NWSL, the first two with Western New York and the last three with North Carolina, which has won three consecutive NWSL Shields (best regular-season record) and the past two NWSL championships. On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Hinkle about her journey to pro soccer, winning the NWSL title again in 2019, where her journey with Christ began, and facing scrutiny for standing up for her faith. For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 439 Rodney Pryor plays professional basketball in the NBA's G League with the Salt Lake City Stars. He played his college basketball at Robert Morris, where he helped his squad to an NCAA tournament berth in 2015. In 2016-17, he transferred to Georgetown, where he led the team in scoring (18.0 ppg) and started all 32 games for the Hoyas.  In 2017, after not getting selected in the NBA Draft, he decided to continue his pro basketball career and is currently in his third season in the NBA's G League.  On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Rodney about his basketball journey and his desire to achieve his dream of playing in the NBA. Rodney's passionate about his faith in Christ and shares with us his testimony and why he believes the platform that he has been given is to glorify the Lord.  For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 438 Brad Mann is the founder of Livin’ The Dream, an organization that aims to positively influence people through the game of basketball. Comprising of youth teams, camps, clinics and leagues, LTD uses the game “to develop goodwill in order to lead people to God and to help them discover their God-given dreams.” Mann played at various levels of basketball. He was a McDonald’s All-American nominee at Riverton High, as he set school records in points, rebounds, and blocks, and still remains the Kansas high school all-time leader in career rebounds. He went on to play Division I basketball at the University of Missouri-Kansas City for three years, transferring after his junior season to Missouri Southern State University. He helped lead that team to the NCAA Division II Final Four and the best record in D-II. After college, Mann toured internationally with Athletes In Action to play against top-level professionals, and he later signed a contract to play professionally for the Fargo Beez and the Salina Rattlers of the International Basketball Association (IBA). Now, Mann is a USA Certified Youth Basketball Coach. He is also an ordained minister that holds a degree in communications and oversees the day-to-day operations of Livin’ The Dream. On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Mann about starting Livin’ The Dream, intersecting his love for basketball with his love for God, overcoming cancer twice, and how sports ministry has changed over the years. For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 437 Jonathan Stewart played 11 seasons in the NFL with the Carolina Panthers and New York Giants. He was selected in the first round (13th overall) by the Panthers in the 2008 NFL Draft.  In college, Stewart was a two-time First-Team All-American running back in 2006 and 2007 with the University of Oregon and won the 2007 Sun Bowl MVP after rushing for a career-high 253 yards in the game.  After coming to the NFL, Stewart would become the Panthers all-time leading rusher after rushing for over 7,300 yards and 58 touchdowns in 10 seasons and made the Pro Bowl in January 2016.  After one injury riddled season in New York with the Giants, Stewart announced his retirement in April 2019 after 11 seasons.  On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Jonathan Stewart about his transition to retirement, living his faith out as an NFL player, the experience of playing in the Super Bowl, and why he calls himself a "convicted competitor."  For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com