Sports Spectrum Podcast

Episode 259 Daniel McKim is one of the most unique athletes we've ever had on the podcast. He is one of the best to ever compete in the Scottish Highland Games where he's won three world titles, four national championships and two world records. Training and humor are two of his passions, which has made him a large, funny man who is a sought after athlete, speaker and author. McKim resides in the Kansas City area with his wife, Natalie, and their five boys. On this episode of the podcast, we learn about Daniel's unique journey to the Scottish Highland games, what type of training he goes through to compete, spiritual battles he's faced on his walk with Christ and how he lives out his faith every day. For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 258 Lance Berkman played 15 seasons in the Major Leagues with the Astros, Cardinals, Yankees and Rangers. He was a 6-time All-Star and a member of the 2011 St. Louis Cardinals World Series championship team. Scott Linebrink pitched 12 seasons in the big leagues with 6 different teams from 2000-2011. Scott is the "stewardship coordinator" for Water Mission, a non-profit Christian ministry that looks to provide sustainable safe water solutions to people in need. On this episode of the podcast, we sat down with Lance and Scott at a conference in Florida and discussed why it is important to use your platform to give back, and how all people, athletes included, are called to live out the Great Commission in their lives. For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 257 Devin and Jason McCourty made history on February 3, 2019 becoming the first set of twin brothers to play in and win a Super Bowl, beating the Rams in Super Bowl LIII.  Jason was selected in the 6th round of the 2009 NFL Draft by the Tennessee Titans. After playing 7 years with the Titans, he played one season with the Browns in 2017 and was then traded to the Patriots in March of 2018. He was a key contributor to New England's Super Bowl run. Devin was selected in the 1st round of the 2010 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots and has played his entire career with the Pats. The 2-time Pro Bowl safety has played in five Super Bowls, winning three.  On this episode of the podcast, co-host Wesley Woodyard of the Tennessee Titans joins Jason Romano in a poignant conversation with the McCourty twins, looking back at what it was like to win a Super Bowl together as twin brothers, the bond of faith that they share and an update on Devin and Jason's immediate football future.  For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

On this THROWBACK THURSDAY edition of the podcast, we revisit our conversation from Episode 69 with former lead singer of the band Third Day, Mac Powell.  When Mac was a sophomore in high school, he moved to Atlanta, GA where his passion for music and faith found an outlet in the band THIRD DAY. Over the past 25 years THIRD DAY helped transform Christian music and built a devoted fan base while traveling the world many times over, selling nearly 10 million albums, earning 4 Grammy awards, 1 American Music Award, 24 Dove Awards, and by being inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame. In 2018, THIRD DAY ended their time together as Mac and others pursued other passions and projects. Mac has also put together two collections of independent original country music (Mac Powell in 2012 and Southpaw in 2014), which include collaborations with songwriters such as Darius Rucker, Christian Bush (Sugarland), Chris Stapleton, and Travis Tritt. You can listen to the entire interview with Mac from Episode 69 in January of 2018 here.  For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com   

Episode 256 Xavier Scruggs played professional baseball in 2017 and 2018 in Korea. He was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 19th round of the 2008 MLB Draft. He made his MLB debut with St. Louis on September 4, 2014 and played 2 seasons with the Cardinals before moving to the Marlins in 2016. In December 2016, he made the decision to sign with the NC Dinos in in Korea where he hit .300 with 35 home runs in 2017.  On this episode of the podcast, we talk with Xavier about baseball in Korea, the decision to go play overseas after 3 seasons of Major League Baseball, what God taught him in Korea and how he stayed grounded in his faith playing baseball with the Dinos.  For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 255 Chris Draft played 12 years in the NFL with the Bears, 49ers, Falcons, Panthers, Rams, Bills and Redskins. He was selected in the 1998 NFL Draft in the 6th round (157 overall). He was a four-year letter winner and a three-year starter at inside linebacker for Stanford in college where he was a two-time Second-team All-Pacific-10 Conference selection.  Draft is the Founder, President, and CEO of the Chris Draft Family Foundation (CDFF) whose mission has been to empower families to lead healthy lifestyles. He is also the Co-Founder of Team Draft, leading the creation of a national campaign that is changing the face of lung cancer. He is an internationally recognized speaker, community leader, and family and character advocate who serves as an NFL Ambassador and a national spokesperson on many health-related issues, including the care and treatment of asthma, from which he suffers, and lung cancer. In 2006, while with the Carolina Panthers, he met Keasha Rutledge. In November 2010, after Chris had announced his retirement from the NFL, Keasha was the vision of health and a non-smoker, doing P90X and preparing to run in a 10K race. A shortness of breath led her to see her primary care physician who ordered X-rays and discovered a mass in her chest. Additional tests and confirmed Stage IV Lung Cancer. On November 27, 2011, standing side-by-side, Chris and Keasha launched Team Draft at their wedding with the expressed goal to fight lung cancer. Just one month later, Keasha lost her courageous fight and died at the age of 38. On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Chris about manhood, faith, health challenges, and overcoming adversity.  For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 254 LaChina Robinson calls games for a myriad of companies including ESPN, Fox Sports, Raycom’s ACC women’s basketball, the Atlanta Dream, and works at ESPNW, where she hosts the “Around The Rim” podcast. After her tenure as a star basketball player for Wake Forest University ended, Robinson developed a winning transition offense: she went on to work as an administrator for the Georgia Tech Women’s Basketball Program for several years- and she never missed a game. She then leveraged her experience on the court and her passion for collaboration into the career of her dreams: broadcasting. Her broadcasting career began when she was asked to cover the WBNA’s Atlanta Dream in 2008, both on radio and television for Fox Sports South: 2015 marked her eighth season as the basketball analyst for WNBA’s The Atlanta Dream.  ESPN asked Robinson to join the team in 2009. Over the course of her broadcasting career, Robinson has celebrated many triumphs. During the 2014- 15 season, Robinson was an analyst on ESPN2’s women’s college basketball Sunday telecasts, and she made her sixth consecutive appearance as a game analyst during ESPN’s coverage of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship first and second rounds. The 2015 national tournament marked Robinson’s third year as a reporter in the regional round: since 2012 she has served as a reporter covering the Women’s Final Four for espnW and NCAA.com. In 2013, Robinson made her debut as the primary analyst for Fox Sports 1’s Big East Women’s Basketball package. Robinson has covered the WNBA Draft for ESPN and espnW, as well  as serving as a reporter for ESPN during the WNBA Playoffs. In 2010, NBA TV selected Robinson to serve as its primary WNBA analyst in studio: she went on to serve as a reporter for the networks at the WNBA All-Star game as well as the WNBA Finals. On this episode of the podcast, we talk to LaChina about her crazy basketball broadcasting schedule, what she's learned from failure, her powerful testimony of coming to Christ and her thoughts on Maya Moore's decision to pursue Christ and step away from the WNBA. For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 253 Chris Dowling is a writer, producer and director known for his work on such films as WHERE HOPE GROWS and PRICELESS and the television series Repo Games. Chris earned his radio/television/film degree from the University of Texas and moved to Los Angeles in 2009, when he wrote and directed his debut film ROCK SLYDE featuring Patrick Warburton. As the director and co-writer of the new film RUN THE RACE, Chris joins Tim Tebow and his brother Robby to help bring a story of hope told through the story of football. In theaters today, February 22nd, RUN THE RACE shows what's possible when you run to-instead of from-the overwhelming love of God.  On this episode of the podcast, we talk with Chris about the new movie, how he became a part of it, having Tim Tebow as an executive producer, faith in Hollywood, his powerful story of coming to Christ and his love for the Dallas Cowboys.  For more on the movie, check out RunTheRaceMovie.com. 

Episode 252 Case Keenum has been a quarterback in the NFL since 2012. At the University of Houston, Case set several NCAA passing records and was a 2-time Conference USA Player of the Year and 2-time winner of the Sammy Baugh Trophy for the nation's top collegiate passer.  Case's NFL journey has taken him to Houston, St. Louis, back to Houston, back to St. Louis, then Los Angeles (Rams), Minnesota in 2017 and Denver in 2018. He and his wife Kimberly join us on the podcast to discuss the news of the Broncos trading for Joe Flacco, how uncertainty hasn't kept them from trusting in God's plan, the use of social media in their lives and why they want to tell the story of their struggles in the midst of them.  For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 251 Shaun Alexander played 9 seasons in the NFL from 2000-2008 with the Seahawks and Redskins. The 3-time Pro Bowler helped Seattle to the Super Bowl in 2005, a season where he also rushed for a then NFL record 28 touchdowns in winning the NFL MVP.  Chris Broussard is well known sports commentator who spent many years with ESPN as an NBA reporter. He's now with Fox Sports where he hosts a radio show and podcast and makes regular television appearances. Chris is the founder of K.I.N.G ministries equipping men across the country in growing as followers of Jesus.  On this episode of the podcast, we spoke to Shaun and Chris at an event in Atlanta on biblical manhood, the struggles that men have in becoming disciples of Jesus, athletes living for Jesus, and unity within the church.  For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com