Sports Spectrum Podcast

Brett Phillips is currently an outfielder with the Tampa Bay Rays. He was selected by the Houston Astros in the 6th round of the 2012 MLB Amateur Draft. Five years later, he made his MLB debut on June 5, 2017 with the Milwaukee Brewers. After two seasons with the Brewers, he was traded to Kansas City, where he spent three seasons. In August of 2020, he was once again traded to the Rays and found himself in a pennant race that ultimately saw Tampa win the American League championship. In October 2020, on the biggest stage at the World Series, Brett Phillips became a baseball hero. In Game 4 against the Dodgers, Phillips found himself at bat in the bottom of the 9th inning with 2 runners on and his team down 1 run. He would line a single to right field and ultimately both runners would score on the hit, giving the Rays a Game 4 World Series 8-7 win. Today on the podcast, we welcome back Brett Phillips to tell us about his World Series moment, why baseball is fun, how his faith in God leads to the joy that he brings each day on the field and what his MLB All-Star Game correspondent experience was like.  --- Receive our 10-day Sports Spectrum Devotional written by professional athletes for FREE when you sign up for our Sports Spectrum Weekly Email Newsletter. Sign up here.

Mike Linch is the pastor of NorthStar Church in Kennesaw, Georgia. The Liberty grad played baseball for 3 seasons in college under former New York Yankees World Series champion Bobby Richardson.  He is currently a high school baseball coach and a sports chaplain and the host of "LINCH WITH A LEADER" podcast that launched in August 2017.  Today on the podcast, we talk to Mike Linch about the lessons he learned from playing for a Yankees World Series champion, how sports can be a great way to share the Gospel, leading like Jesus and the difference between 'calling' vs 'hobby.' --- Receive our 10-day Sports Spectrum Devotional written by professional athletes for FREE when you sign up for our Sports Spectrum Weekly Email Newsletter. Sign up here.

It's a FOOTBALL FRIDAY and today we talk to Buffalo Bills legend and Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly about the excitement in 2021 with his former team, how he would do playing in today’s game, growing in his faith and the important of telling his cancer story. --- Receive our 10-day Sports Spectrum Devotional written by professional athletes for FREE when you sign up for our Sports Spectrum Weekly Email Newsletter. Sign up here. 

Jefferson Bethke is a New York Times-bestselling author and speaker who has written five books. In 2012, Bethke’s YouTube video, “Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus,” went viral and has since received more than 34 million views. After the video, he decided to write the book “Jesus > Religion,” which would go on to become a New York Times bestseller. His latest book, "Take Back Your Family: From the Tyrants of Burnout, Busyness, Individualism, and the Nuclear Ideal" released September 7, 2021.  On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Jefferson Bethke about his new book, parenting like a coach and involving his kids in sports.  --- Receive our 10-day Sports Spectrum Devotional written by professional athletes for FREE when you sign up for our Sports Spectrum Weekly Email Newsletter. Sign up here.

Preston Spradlin is the men's head basketball coach for Morehead State. In 2021, he led the Eagle program to prominence winning the program's first Ohio Valley Conference Tournament championship in 10 years and leading his club to the NCAA Tournament with a 23-8 record. He was named OVC Coach of the Year.  Spradlin joined Morehead State in 2014 as an assistant coach and became the head coach in 2016. Prior to his time with the Eagles, he spent 5 seasons with the University of Kentucky basketball program and head coach John Calipari. He spent two campaigns (2009-11) as a graduate assistant with the Wildcats before three years as the assistant director of operations (2011-14).  His duties included film breakdown, creating and maintaining playbooks, assisting with opponent scouting and day-to-day operations. Today on the podcast, we talk to Preston about his historical 2021 season, his testimony of faith in Jesus, how Christ guides him as a coach, coming to work with Kentucky and the impact John Calipari has had on his life.  --- Receive our 10-day Sports Spectrum Devotional written by professional athletes for FREE when you sign up for our Sports Spectrum Weekly Email Newsletter. Sign up here.

Christian Ponder is a former quarterback who played six seasons in the NFL. He was selected 12th overall in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings. After spending four seasons in Minnesota, he played two more years with Oakland, Denver and San Francisco before retiring in 2017.  In college, Ponder was recruited by legendary coach Bobby Bowden at Florida State and was a three-year starter for the Seminoles. In 2010, Ponder was the first Seminole quarterback since Chris Weinke in 1999 to lead his team to victories over both its in-state rivals, Miami and Florida. He also the 2010 Bobby Bowden Award presented to the top student athlete among FBS schools. Ponder graduated from Florida State in two and a half years with a degree in finance and a 3.73 GPA.  Today on the podcast, Christian shares about his journey of faith, being baptized by Jon Kitna, the spiritual impact of his wife Samantha, and his memories of Bobby Bowden and the legacy he's left.  --- Listen to our conversation with Christian's wife, Samantha Ponder from 2018 here and here.  Receive our 10-day Sports Spectrum Devotional written by professional athletes for FREE when you sign up for our Sports Spectrum Weekly Email Newsletter. Sign up here.

Andy Pettitte pitched for 18 seasons with the Yankees and Astros. He is a 5-time World Series champion who pitched from 1995-2013. He holds the MLB record for postseason wins with 19 and has 256 career wins (42nd all-time).  Today on the podcast, we look back at the 20th anniversary of 9/11 with Andy, who shares his memories as a pitcher with the Yankees and what that time was like for him as a baseball player and as a man of faith.  --- Receive our 10-day Sports Spectrum Devotional written by professional athletes for FREE when you sign up for our Sports Spectrum Weekly Email Newsletter. Sign up here.

It's a FOOTBALL FRIDAY and today we talk to 2-time Super Bowl champion and Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB coach Clyde Christensen about the upcoming NFL season, coaching Tom Brady and Peyton Manning and how his faith in Jesus continues to fuel why he coaches football. --- Receive our 10-day Sports Spectrum Devotional written by professional athletes for FREE when you sign up for our Sports Spectrum Weekly Email Newsletter. Sign up here - https://sportsspectrum.com/newsletter/

Paul Maholm is a former MLB pitcher who was selected 8th overall in the first round of the 2003 MLB Amateur Draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates. He made his MLB debut in August of 2005 and threw a gem, pitching 8 shutout innings and earning his first career victory. In college, Maholm was a standout pitcher at Mississippi State and was inducted into their Hall of Fame class of 2018. After a career that saw him pitch 10 seasons in the Big Leagues, Paul retired after Spring Training 2015.  Today on the podcast, we talk to Paul Maholm about Mississippi State's 2021 College World Series run, being struck in the face by a line drive in the Minor Leagues, making his MLB debut in 2005, how his faith became real to him in college, how he processed grief in the loss of his mother and a unique moment where he faced a comedy legend while pitching in Spring Training of 2008.  --- Receive our 10-day Sports Spectrum Devotional written by professional athletes for FREE when you sign up for our Sports Spectrum Weekly Email Newsletter. Sign up here.

Antwaan Randle El is currently the wide receivers coach for the Detroit Lions. In 2020, he was an offensive assistant coach with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and helped his team to a Super Bowl championship. As a player, Randle El was selected in the second round of the 2002 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers and in 2005, he threw a memorable touchdown pass in Super Bowl XL, helping the Steelers beat Seattle 21-10.  His NFL career spanned four seasons with the Steelers, four seasons with Washington and returned for one final season in 2010 with the AFC Champion Steelers.  In college, Randle El excelled as a three-sport athlete, playing baseball, basketball and football. But it was his play at quarterback that stood out and saw him named Big Ten Most Valuable Player and First-Team All-American in his senior season of 2001. While at Indiana, Randle El became the first player in NCAA Division I history to pass for 40 career touchdowns and score 40 career rushing touchdowns Today on the podcast, we talk to Antwaan about his faith in God, living his life to honor Christ, coaching and winning a Super Bowl last year with Tampa and how he hopes to make an impact as a coach with the Lions.  --- Receive our 10-day Sports Spectrum Devotional written by professional athletes for FREE when you sign up for our Sports Spectrum Weekly Email Newsletter. Sign up here.