Sports Spectrum Podcast

Alfred Morris is an NFL running back. In 2016, he was with the Dallas Cowboys as a backup to rookie sensation Ezekiel Elliott. Prior to that, he played 4 seasons with the Washington Redskins as their starter.  In 2012, Morris was selected in the 6th round by the Redskins out of Florida Atlantic. Along with fellow rookie Robert Griffin III, Alfred took the NFL by storm, rushing for a Washington team record, 1,613 yards. He also scored 13 touchdowns and helped lead his team to an NFC East Division Title. He capped his dream rookie season off with being named to the 2012 NFL All-Rookie Team, as well as a trip to play in the 2013 Pro Bowl in Hawaii.  Morris continued to have success in 2013 and 2014, rushing for a combined 2,300 yards and 15 touchdowns. He played his final season in 2015 with the Redskins before signing as a free agent with the Cowboys in March of 2016.  Despite being ability to afford a new car, he still drives his 1991 Mazda 626, which he nicknamed "Bentley." On this episode of the podcast, Alfred Morris shares the story of his Dad coming to Christ, why his toughest season in the NFL on the field, was his most joyous away from the field, why he still drives his 1991 Mazda 626 and his desire to share the gospel with as many people that will listen. For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com  

Ethan Chapman was selected by the Kansas City Royals in the 30th round of the 2012 MLB Amateur Draft.  He played his college baseball at Cal State San Bernadino, a Division 2 school, and set the school's single-season record with 60 runs scored as a freshman in 2010. He earned second-team All-West Region honors as well as the ABCA West Region Gold Glove Award in his final season.  Over the past 5 years, Ethan’s minor league travels have taken him all over the United States. Places like Idaho to Northwest Arkansas to Reading, Pennsylvania. Small towns, with big dreams. Ethan’s dream to make it to the Big League level hasn’t happened yet. This past Winter, Ethan signed to play 2017 in the Mexican League (AAA level) with the Vaqueros Union Laguna club.  Ethan has also contributed a weekly entry to SportsSpectrum.com for the 2017 season, documenting his time playing minor league baseball in the Mexican League with the Vaqueros Union Laguna club.  On this episode of the podcast, Ethan talks about the unglamorous life that is minor league baseball, his dream to reach the big leagues, where his faith in Jesus began and what the day was like for him being drafted by the Kansas City Royals.   

Hugh Freeze is the head football coach at the University of Mississippi. Since being named as the head man at Ole Miss in December of 2011, Freeze has become the first coach in school history to guide the Rebels to a bowl game in each of his first four seasons, including wins in the BBVA Compass, Music City and Sugar. Ole Miss is one of five programs in the country (along with Alabama, Florida State, Michigan State and Ohio State) to make consecutive New Year’s Six bowl appearances in the first two years of the College Football Playoff system. Freeze is a devoted husband and father who is unashamed of his faith in Jesus Christ. On this episode of the podcast, Freeze shares about how he became a follower of Christ, his coaching journey, being outspoken about his faith, what it means to be a relational coach, balancing coaching life with family life, and how he deals with scrutiny and adversity when things don't go the way you planned.

Robby Shaffer is a drummer with the highly successful Christian band MercyMe. He joined the band in 1997 and has been a staple of the band ever since. MercyMe has sold more than 9 million units on CD, single and DVD sales and garnered more than 28 No. 1 multi-format Christian radio singles. They have sold out venues across the U.S. and Canada and have appeared on the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, The Today Show, CBS This Morning, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Fox News, CNN and ABC News. Their ninth studio album, "LIFER" is out now and their first single, "EVEN IF" has been played on radio stations across the country. On this episode of the podcast, Robby shares with us how he became a part of the band, how he ended up sneaking Bibles into China as a teen, his LOVE for baseball, getting to take batting practice at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, how his faith was tested during his teen years, and how they choose which songs to play on tour. We are also giving you a chance to win MercyMe's new album "LIFER" -- Listen to the podcast to find out details how you can win your own copy of the CD. To partner with us, log on to http://SportSpectrum.com 

Ted Barrett has been umpiring Major League Baseball Games since 1994. He became a full-time MLB umpire in 1999. Ted is the only umpire to ever be behind the plate for TWO perfect games. (David Cone in 1999 and Matt Cain in 2012) He has umpired in 3 World Series including the Red Sox Championship in 2007, the Cardinals title in 2011 and the Giants beating the Royals to win it all in 2014. Barrett is an ordained minister and recently completed his doctorate in theology. He is the co-founder of CALLING FOR CHRIST, a ministry serving professional baseball umpires. On this episode of the podcast, Ted Barrett takes us behind the curtain to what life is really like as an MLB Umpire. We also look back at his most memorable games as well as what it's like to be behind the the plate for a World Series. Ted's faith is strong and his story of faith is certain to inspire.

Louie Giglio is the pastor of Passion City Church and the founder of the Passion movement, which exists to call a generation to leverage their lives for the fame of Jesus. Since 1997, Passion has gathered collegiate-aged young people in events across the U.S. and around the world. Most recently, Passion 2017 gathered more than 55,000 students in Atlanta's Georgia Dome in one of the largest collegiate gatherings in its history. Louie is a passionate sports fan, who lives and dies with his Auburn Tigers football team. He's also a huge fan of Atlanta sports, including the NFC Champion Atlanta Falcons. Giglio pastors tons of athletes in their walk with Jesus Christ and even started Passion City Church with a former NFL kicker, Todd Peterson. Giglio has authored four books including "The Comeback," "The Air I Breathe," and his latest "Goliath Must Fall." Louie and his wife Shelley make their home in Atlanta. On this episode of the podcast, Louie Giglio shares why he began the Passion movement, planting a church at 50 years old, his love for the Auburn Tigers, why he wrote "Goliath Must Fall" and whether or not he's gotten over the Falcons Super Bowl loss to the Patriots. For more, log on to http://SportsSpectrum.com

Ryan Hall is is a retired American long-distance runner who holds the U.S. record in the half marathon. With his half marathon record time (59:43), he became the first U.S. runner to break the one-hour barrier in the event. He is also the only American to run a sub-2:05 marathon (2:04:58 at the 2011 Boston marathon) and represented the U.S at the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games. Ryan is a husband to Sara and has adopted 4 children from Ethiopia. His "Hall Steps Foundation," founded in 2009, empowers the running community to use the energy and resources that fuel runners' athletic achievements, for social justice efforts. In Episode 19 of the podcast, Ryan shares how he became an Olympic runner, how he incorporates his faith into his running, the time he decided to make God his running coach and what it's like to run 7 marathons in 7 days on 7 continents. To become a member and partner with us, check us out at http://SportsSpectrum.com

Katie Lentz is currently an administrator for MLB's Baseball Assistance Team, a charitable organization that assists members of the baseball family in need of financial, medical or psychological assistance. But this story isn't about baseball, it's about survival.  In this episode of the podcast, Katie shares the incredible story of her survival after being hit by a drunk driver. She suffered multiple fractures including two broken femurs, a broken tibia and fibia, a broken left wrist, nine broken ribs, a lacerated liver, ruptured spleen and bruised lung.  It's a miracle she is alive.  But the story doesn't end there.  There's a mysterious priest, a will to press on, and a courageous act of forgiveness.  For more on Katie's story, follow her on twitter  -- http://twitter.com/katielentz   To learn more about Sports Spectrum, check us out on the web at http://sportsspectrum.com 

Our guest on Episode 17 of the podcast is James Brown from CBS Sports. Since February 2006, JB has served as host for the CBS Television Network's NFL pre-game show, THE NFL TODAY, and had served as play-by-play announcer for the Network's coverage of college basketball, including the NCAA Tournament. He has also hosted the Network's Super Bowl pre-game show for its coverage of Super Bowl XLIV (2010) and for Super Bowl XLI (2007) in Miami. In this episode of the podcast, James Brown talks about his journey to faith, how he got into the broadcasting field, his 70 pound weight loss, and how he shares his faith in Christ in the workplace. His first book, "Role of a Lifetime: Reflections on Faith, Family and Significant Living," hit bookstores across the country in September 2009. In his memoir, Brown relayed how he found the role he was meant to play, highlighting both the good and bad decisions he made along the way, teaching readers how to discover life's purpose for themselves. Brown served as host of "FOX NFL Sunday" for 12 years prior to returning to CBS Sports. He joined FOX Sports in June 1994 after a decade with CBS Sports. Brown first joined CBS Sports in 1984, where he was part of the network's broadcast team for its NFL coverage and college basketball coverage as well as a reporter for the NBA Finals. He also was host of an afternoon show, the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, France. JB is a three-time Emmy Award winner and was honored with the 2009 Dick Schaap Memorial Award for Media Excellence. In 2010, he was named "Best Studio Host of the Decade" by Sports Illustrated. A graduate of Harvard University, Brown was selected as a fourth-round draft pick by the NBA's Atlanta Hawks and a seventh-round pick by the Denver Nuggets. In 1996, Brown was inducted into the Harvard Hall of Fame. JB resides with his wife Dorothy in Maryland. Brown's daughter, Katrina, and her husband, John, have three daughters and a son.

Benjamin Watson has played 14 NFL seasons as a tight end with the Patriots, Browns, Saints and Ravens.  Watson attended Northwestern High School in Rock Hill, South Carolina and was a letterman in football. In football, as a senior, he caught 31 passes for 515 yards. The two-time All-Region selection and Northwestern HS Student of the Year led his team to the state championship in his junior season. He was also a member of his high school chapter of The Fellowship of Christian Athletes. After attending Duke University as a freshman, he transferred to the University of Georgia where he majored in finance. After an all-SEC senior campaign, he was drafted in the 1st round of the 2004 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots. As a Patriot, Benjamin was blessed to receive a Super Bowl ring in his rookie season as well as appear in another in 2007. Off the field, Benjamin stays busy with his foundation One More, his growing family, and the NFL Players Association, where he serves on the Executive Committee.  He is also an NFL Spokesman for the All Pro Dad Campaign. In 2015, Watson published his first book, “Under Our Skin: Getting Real About Race- And Getting Free From The Fears and Frustrations That Divide Us”. This book stemmed from a facebook post that went viral following a football game in November of 2014.  On May 2, 2017 Watson released  “The New Dad’s Playbook: Gearing Up for the Biggest Game of Your Life."  In this episode, Benjamin talks about parenthood, why he wrote his latest book, the epidemic of absent fathers, his injury rehab, how much longer he wants to play, catching touchdowns from Drew Brees and Tom Brady and his viral Facebook post that changed his life.  To become a member of the Sports Spectrum family and subscribe to our magazine, go to http://SportsSpectrum.com