Sports Spectrum Podcast

Episode 250 Jason Adam is a pitcher with the Kansas City Royals. He was selected in the 5th round of the 2010 MLB Draft by the Royals but his ride to the majors was anything but smooth. Injuries played a huge factor. Throw in a trade and being released multiple times and baseball life was anything but smooth for Adam. But after 6 seasons in the minor leagues, Jason's dream became a reality in May of 2018 when he was recalled by Kansas City. He would finish the year pitching in 31 MLB games, striking out 37 batters in 32.1 innings pitched. In December 2018, Jason re-signed with the Royals on a 1-year deal.  Jason and his wife Kelsey were married in 2014 and in 2018, they welcomed their first child, a baby girl named Kinsley.  On this episode of the podcast, we learn about Jason's crazy journey to the big leagues, going to seminary with his wife, becoming a new dad and the day he got called up to the Royals.  For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 249 Chris Mortensen is an award-winning journalist and one of the most respected and accomplished reporters covering the National Football League today. A senior NFL Insider, Mortensen joined ESPN in 1991. He regularly appears on NFL Insiders, NFL Live, Sunday NFL Countdown, Monday Night Countdown, SportsCenter and other programs. Mortensen also contributes to ESPN’s annual Super Bowl week and NFL Draft coverage, and his work regularly appears on ESPN.com. Mortensen, who was honored by the Professional Football Writers of America (PFWA) with the prestigious Dick McCann Award for his long and distinguished contribution to pro football in 2016, has covered every Super Bowl since 1985 with the exception of Super Bowl 50 when he was forced to take a leave of absence after being diagnosed with Stage IV throat cancer. Even while undergoing treatment, Mortensen broke one of the biggest news stories of the NFL offseason when his report in March 2016 confirmed that future Hall of Famer Peyton Manning would retire after 18 NFL seasons. Mort, as so many call him, is also a follower of Christ and on this episode of the podcast, he shares with us an update on his ongoing battle with cancer, his journey to faith in the Lord, how he navigates sharing his faith as a public figure, and the reason he has Matthew 18:6 on his Twitter page. For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 248 After spending six seasons working under Tony Bennett as associate head coach at Virginia, McKay returned to Liberty as the men's basketball head coach on April 1, 2015. McKay previously served as the program's head coach during the 2007-08 and 2008-09 seasons. Despite being predicted to finish 11th in the 2015-16 Big South Preseason Poll, McKay guided the Flames to a top five seed and a first round bye in the 2016 Big South Championship, finishing 10-8 in conference play. The Flames' finish in the standings prompted McKay to receive Big South Coach of the Year honors. Before returning to Liberty, McKay helped the Cavaliers post a 136-64 record, including back-to-back 30-win seasons in 2013-14 and 2014-15. Prior to his days in Charlottesville, McKay served two seasons as Liberty's men's basketball coach, posting a 39-28 overall record and a 19-13 mark in Big South play. He was named the seventh head coach in program history on March 26, 2007. Coming into the 2018-19 season, McKay has compiled a 204-186 career coaching record in 13 seasons as a head coach and has the  winningest career coaching record in program history with a .582 winning percentage.  Prior to his first stint as head coach at Liberty, McKay served as head coach at Portland State (1996-98), Colorado State (1998-00), Oregon State (2000-02) and New Mexico (2002-07). This season, Liberty is having a terrific season, already winning 20 games (through Feb. 11) and is the favorite to make the NCAA Tournament out of the Big South Conference. On December 29, 2018, Liberty defeated a Pac-12 opponent for the first time in its school's history, as they went into historic Pauley Pavilion and beat UCLA, 73-58. On this episode of the podcast, we talk to coach McKay about how this season has been going, his faith journey, the differences coaching for a place like Virginia compared to coaching at Liberty and the incredible story of his Dad coming to faith in Christ on his death bed.  For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Ted DiBiase is a former WWE wrestler, who was inducted into their hall of fame in 2010. Known as “The Million Dollar Man,” DiBiase was regarded as one of the greatest villains in pro wrestling history. In his 25 year career in the wrestling industry, Ted wrestled in some of the biggest venues in the world: Madison Square Garden, The Superdome, The Skydive, The Tokyo Dome and Wembley Stadium. Today, Ted is a full-time evangelist and motivational speaker. Officially ordained into the ministry, he speaks to churches, youth groups, men’s meetings, businesses and in public schools and universities all over the world. Ted is also a spokesman for THE SUNSHINE FOUNDATION, an organization that grants wishes to terminally ill and handicapped children Ted is married to his wife Melanie and has three sons, Michael, Ted Jr, and Brett. On this Throwback Thursday edition of the podcast, Ted shares his testimony of coming to faith in Christ. You can listen to the entire interview, Episode 50 of the podcast, here.   

Episode 247 Rocco Grimaldi plays professional hockey with the Nashville Predators in the NHL. He was selected in the second round (33rd overall) by the Florida Panthers in the 2011 NHL Draft after playing his college hockey at the University of North Dakota. He made his NHL debut on November 1, 2014 with Florida and even had the unique honor of playing in 2 professional hockey games, with 2 different teams, in the same day.  He was traded from Florida to Colorado on June 23, 2016 and then signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Nashville Predators in July of 2018.  On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Rocco about the grind of playing in the NHL, how he lives his faith out as a hockey player, being patient in the midst of adversity, and how he came to play 2 pro hockey games with 2 different teams in the same day. For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 246 Janie Reed is a member of Team USA softball's 2019 Women's National Team. She played her college softball at the University of Oregon, where she was an NFCA All-American 3 straight years as well as First Team All-Pac-12. In 2018, she represented Team USA in the WBSC Women's World Championship, where she won a Gold Medal, hitting .360 (9-for-25) with 1 HR, 6 RBI and 7 runs scored, helping  America qualify for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.  Janie also was part of a group of people who started a ministry called "Church on the Dirt,"where as Vice President, she helps merge the worlds of faith and athletics nationally, by sharing the love and presence of Christ to coaches, families, and athletes when they are unable to attend church. On this episode of the podcast, Janie Reed shares her vision for Church on the Dirt, why she wanted to bring Jesus to the field, her experience as a chaplain in Oklahoma, playing for Team USA in Japan and being a part of a team that was able to clinch a spot in the 2020 Summer Olympics.  Married to professional baseball player Jake Reed, Janie appeared with her husband on Episode 91 of the podcast, which you can listen to here.

Episode 245 Danny Kanell is currently a sports commentator for Sirius XM's Mad Dog Sports Radio and CBS Sports. He played his college football as a quarterback at Florida State under hall of fame coach Bobby Bowden where he would later be inducted into the Florida State Athletic Hall of Fame. He also played baseball with the Seminoles and would be drafted in the 25th round of the 1993 MLB Draft by the New York Yankees. Upon returning to football, he would set his eyes on the NFL and in 1996, he was selected in the 4th round by the New York Giants. His NFL career saw him play 9 seasons with the Giants, Falcons and Broncos. After his football career was over, Danny went into broadcasting, where he worked with ESPN as an analyst and radio host for over a decade before being laid off in April of 2017. On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Danny about the impact Bobby Bowden had on his life, where his faith journey took shape, being let go by ESPN, the regret he has for not sharing his faith with others and why Romans 8:28 has been a verse he's clinged to.  For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Episode 244 Scott Smith is a co-host of the "Scott and Kelli" everyday from 11am - 4pm ET on the KLOVE radio network. Scott grew up in southern Minnesota where his passion for sports was fueled by watching his dad coach high school football, track and basketball. As a boy, Scott dreamed of being a professional football player for his beloved Minnesota Vikings. At the age of 15, Scott got his first job in broadcasting, as a radio DJ on KKOJ in Jackson, MN. For 24 years, Scott has worked in Christian radio, with the past 11 being with KLOVE. Scott has been married to Missy for the past 25 years and has 3 children, Nathan, Austin and Charin.  On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Scott about his job with KLOVE, which famous athlete listens to his show, his powerful story of coming to faith, facing temptations as a young broadcaster and how Christians can do a better job of not putting famous Christian athletes on pedestals.  For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com 

Francis Chan is the founding pastor of Cornerstone Community Church and author of Crazy Love, Forgotten God, and Erasing Hell. He travels throughout the world challenging Christians to a higher commitment to Christ. He’s also the founder of Eternity Bible College and has been pastoring churches and discipling people for over 25 years. He currently lives with his family in the Bay Area where he oversees We Are Church, a network of house churches. On this Throwback Thursday edition of the podcast, Francis shares his thoughts on discipleship and the state of the local church.  The original interview featured Francis and Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright at a conference in San Antonio, TX discussing their unique friendship, what Adam is learning from Francis’ teaching, why it’s important to use your platform to share the Gospel, and what is breaking Francis’ heart in the church. You can listen to the entire interview HERE. 

Episode 243 Jonathan Byrd made his professional golf debut in 2000 after a successful college career at Clemson University where he was the first four-time First Team All-ACC player in the school's history. In 2002, Jonathan was named the PGA Tour Rookie of the Year ands gone on to a golf career that has seen him finish with 5 PGA Tour wins and 2 Web.com wins.  In 2003, he finished tied for 8th at the Masters and tied for 15th at the U.S. Open.  On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Jonathan about his beloved Clemson Tigers, how to "struggle well," playing the Masters, and living a life of faith on the pro tour.  For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com