2008 january february by Sports Spectrum

7 JFREIE 1Rrial PeriJ0d Inspiring messages from the lives of your favorite Christian athletes!

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contents

24 Tall

Order Michigan State's Allyssa DeHaan is a true student-athlete who excels both in hoops and in class- but it's not easy BY TED KLUCK

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Better Than Ever? San Diego Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson earns accolades for who he is as much as for the kind of football player he is BY KEVIN AGEE

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Motown Mission Job 1 in Detroit, of course, is winning- but front office man Jim Nill doesn't stop there BY JEFF ARNOLD

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3 6 Rules of Engagement Ever heard of The Code in hockey? What do Christian players do about this "gotta fight" standard? BY TED KLUCK

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Minority Report The NHL may not be a hotbed of evangelism, but there are some strong believers. Here are three BY MIKE SANDROLINI AND DAVE POND

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Top 5 Christian Sports Stories of 2007

Each sports year brings with it stories of success and courage among the faithful BY DAVE BRANON

Freed Safety Boise State's star safety Marty Tad man nearly threw it all away before turning to faith while in high school BY GAIL WOOD

COVER • PHOTO CREDITS: Courtesy: Tom DiPace INSET PHOTOS (from rop right, clockwisej. Courtesy, Boise State University I Stanley Brewster; Courtesy, Michigan State University; Mike Stobe I NHLI via Getty Images; Phillip Ma<:Callum I Getty Images; Dave SandlordI NHLI via Getty Images

-----------------------------------------------Power Up! pull-out devotional guide. The Sports Spectrum athlete contributors for this edition are Dee Dee Jonrowe and Dave Treadway.

Volume 22, Number 1 January·February 2008 SPORTS SPECTRUM MAGAZINE Aproduct of Sports Spectrum Publishing PUBLISHER Robert B. Walker publtsh•rCspMsspecfrum.com

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: 1

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quotations, unless otherwise noted, are taken •

from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAl VERSION. CopyrighiC 1973, 1978, 1984, International Bible Society. Used by permissk>n ot ZondeMn 81ble Pubhshers.

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Focal Point-with Aaron Kampman

Countdown- It's all about the numbers 7 Up Close-with Jeff Usher BY LORILEE CRAKER Heart and Soul-Lest We Forget, 9 remembering those gone BY VICTOR LEE '10 Up Next!--Brittany Smart, Dave Treadway, Ebony Jackson, Jackson BY JIM GIBBS &

'13 '14 '15 '17

Personal Best BY PAUL BYRD Staying Well BY TRISH BEARDEN Body Language BY ALAN TYSON The Coaching Zone BY STEPHANI EzoNARS

'18 20 22 28

Value Added BY RYAN HALL Pro and Con BY ALLEN PALMERI AND TED KLUCK lntake-Eniva supplements The Big Picture-LaDainian Tomlinson

53 54

Legends- Charlie Ward BY JOSHUA COOLEY The Plan-Wayne Simien .,.

It's Rll Rbout the Numbers COVN'IJitOW'N

REAL LIFE

0 What Bible character are you

most Like? "Wow! I've never been asked that before. I think my parents gave me the name David because of David in the Bible. We definitely have similar traits. I also spiritually? "In Indy, it was Tarik like Daniel. I want to have DanielGlenn [retired]. Here, it's [center] like faith to speak the things that Kevin Mawae. They help me get the are right in the midst of people spiritual encouragement I need. doing wrong, people doubting God, and the world being corrupt." Our chaplain, Reggie Pleasant, is 8 Dumbest fan request? great as well." " 'Would you autograph 8 What helps you grow in your relationship my forehead?' Some fans, with God? "It's important if they can't find paper, to disci pline yourself will ask you to sign anyevery day to spend quiet thing. She really wanted time with God. In Indy, me to sign her forehead. we had a 1-year Bible. We'd read I didn't. I signed her arm." a passage every day and ask God 0 Most exciting NFL moment? to open our heart. That forces you "The first time I put on a game jersey and played in my first to grow and keeps the Word in preseason game- in 2002. It was your mi nd and heart." not only my first time playing in the 0 What Christian principle are you working on? "Leadership in my NFL but also my first time being at family and on this team. I have a an NFL game. I came from humble 10-year-old daughter. I'm extremely beginnings. Once I reached this level, just putting on a uniform and proud of her, and I want to be a playing in that game were overgodly example to her. When she becomes of age and gets married, I whelming. I realized that while I want to be an example of what her had worked very hard, it was only husband should be like. Leadership by the unmerited favor of God that is a reason I was able to sign with I was playing. Now in my fifth year, Tennessee-to use my platform in I know that God has exceeded my this area, step out of my comfort expectations, but that's what His zone, and let my light shine." Word says: 'He is able to do exceedingly more than we ask or think: " Six things you didn't know about DAVID THORNTON, linebacker, Tennessee Titans 0 Who challenges you

you;路 and so is the goal-to provide a line of sports apparel with a message based on faith. Check it out at www.verumsports.com. 0 In His Grip Golf Ministry. Teaching pro Scott Lehman noticed that golf allows Christians to nurture relationships that can lead to introducing Jesus. He started In His Grip to teach golfers that skill. www.inhisgripgolf.com 0 Mike Hagen Strength Team. Performing prodigious feats of strength, this team of skilletbending behemoths wows crowds then tells them of the truly amazing One, Jesus. www.strengthteam.com 8 UCORA. United Christian OffRoad Alliance brings together recreational off-roaders-bikers, motorcyclists, ATVers, and four-wheel drivers under one banner. www.ucora.org

0 MIKE MI NTER, retired from the Ca roli na Panthers. Community pastor, King's Way Baptist Church, Concord, North Carolina. 0 CURTIS MARTIN, retired from the New York Jets. Martin is working with the Department of Homeless Services in New York City to help reduce homelessness in the city. He is also working toward ownership of an NFLteam someday.

SPIRITUAL GUIDES

Three Christian football players who became chaplains for NFL teams after their playing days were over. 0 HARRY SWAYNE, tackle,

defensive end (1987-2001; Ta mpa Bay, San Diego, Denver, Baltimore, Miami) Chaplain: Chicago Bears 8 ANTHONYJOHNSON, running back (1990-2000; Indianapolis, NYJets, Chicago, Carolina, Jacksonvi lle) Chaplain: Jacksonville Jaguars 0 KEN MOYER, guard, tackle, center (1989-1994; Cincinnati) Chaplain: Cincinnati Bengals

HARDLY RETIRING

REACHING OUT

Four Christian NFL players who are enjoying their first season of retirementby staying active. 0 SHELTON QUARLES, reti red

from Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Quarles, who has a degree from Vanderbilt in organizational development, has been appointed chairman of the Tampa Bay Regional other watersports-related ministry Development Authority. was founded by champion skier Kristi 8 TARIK GLENN, retired from Overton Johnson (SS, May 1998). Find Indianapolis Colts. He and his wife, out more at www.inhiswakes.com. Maya, direct the efforts of their 8 VERuM Sports. The motto is foundation: D.R.E.A.M. Alive Inc. Read about it at www.dreamalive.org. countercultural: "It's not about

Five ministries that are using sports to introduce people to Jesus Christ 0 In His Wakes. This skiing and

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Up Close • With Lorilee CrHker • If you look at the name "Jeff Usher" and think, "Why haven't I heard of this coach before?" ifs because you don't live in Matthews, North Carolina. Usher does not coach a major teamhe just makes major changes in the players he coaches. A longtime recreational coach, Usher has written a book called Take Them By the Hand, in which he guides coaches and parents alike about how to use sports as a guidance tool for youngsters. Lorilee Craker talked with Usher about his view of sports and life.

Two Christian pitchers who dominated the stats leadership in the National League in2007. 0 JAKE PEAVY: most

wi ns (19}, lowest ERA (2.54), most strikeouts (240). 8 BRANDON WEBB: most shutouts Japan than you can in the States. (3), most complete games (4), most The Japanese players are generally smaller than the players in the innings pitched (236.1} States. Another interesting observation is how often Japanese hitters will swing at inside pitches. In MLB it is difficult to get an inside pitch called a strike. Umpires are almost always more generous with the outside part of the plate than the inside. In Japan they do a really good job of calling the inside strike. They wi ll even give you a few inches off the plate inside, something that would never happen in MLB. Because of that, Japanese hitters swing at the inside pitch more, a tough pitch to hit, givi ng pitchers a nice advantage. "Off the field, the biggest adjustment is the mentality of the coaches, especially toward foreign players. The "coaches are much harder on the foreign players than the Japanese. When foreign players make mistakes, they will hear about it, rega rdless of how small the mistake, and their playing time will be affected. At times you almost get the sense that they want you One question you may have to do well, but not too well. It got wondered about. "What did to be very frustrating beca use you you find to be a couple of the begin to feel that the coaches are main differences between holding you baseball in the majors and back from being baseball in Japan?" successful." • "On the field, there is a signifi· cant difference in the power game -CJ NITKOWSKI when comparing the US and Japan . FUKUOKA As a pitcher I found that you can SOFTBANK HAWKS overpower a lot more hitters in

THE QUEST

WEB SIT E: www . S po rt sS p ect ru m.com

Lorilee: Whats your background in sports and coaching? Jeff: My son wa nted to play tee-ball when he was 8, and I've been involved in coaching ever since then. I've led kids from kindergarten through high school in various sports, usually two tea ms per year. The original motivation was to be with and play with my kids. Now my son is in college, but my daug hter is 13, and she plays soccer and basketball. Basically, I came to a realization 10 years ago that coaching is where God could use my gifts. Lorilee: Why should people get involved in coaching kids? Jeff: Kids need to learn the lessons of life. As coaches, we can make a decision to take them down that path of learning. We have the chance to pass something on to our kids. I hear from people who don't have the (sports] skills to coach. You just have to live you r life as a Christian. Kids don't listen to you, but they watch you. When I go to the soccer field, I become a role model. Lorilee: What's your core philosophy about coaching? Jeff: I'm just a dad and a regular person, but kids need someone other than their parents to go to-that they can look to. But we can't just tell people what to do or give them directions, we have to get down off our horse, take them by the hand, and lead the way. Lorilee: How do you deal with overbearing parents? Jeff: I make it clear that they need to be hands-off as parents, and that yelling and screaming is not acceptable. One year I wrote a letter to the parents and told the story of the Good Shepherd and how His sheep listen to His voice. My point was that the kids need to listen to one person- the coach-and that other voices would just confuse them. Sometimes you have to pull parents aside and say, "You're working against the good of the tea m and your child's progress." It's not good when a 12-year-old wants to please the one man in the crowd, his dad, who is telling him to shoot-and the coach is telling him not to shoot. Lori lee: How do you build a positive attitude on the team? Jeff: I think of something good every player does during every game. We get in a circle with all the parents after every game, and everyone gets a Tootsie Pop. It recog nizes that everyone makes a contribution. Also, when there's a bad call during a sports match, I find that if I react to it in a non-negative way, 90 percent of the parents will go along with the coach. Lorilee: How do you deal with a losing season? Jeff: When you get to the point where you're 0-9 and down in the dumps, you have to ask yourself why you're here. The kids are listening; they are havi ng fun; they are making friends. So, if you are coaching to help kids grow personally and you put learning and fun at the top of your list, 0-9 won't be a problem. •......,.."""',..,_... You can also pray, of course, and reach out to another coach or expert and say, "How can you help me here? Is there anything I could be doing di fferently?" To find out more about Usher and his book, visit www.takethembythehand.com SP ORTS SPE CTRUM - JA NUARY-FEB RU ARY 200 8

BIBLE

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o f dcrna l lifc, which God, docs not lie, promiKd before the bcJinnin& o f time, Jand a t h is a p po i nted snson he brou&ht his word to light through t he prnchina

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in love and in endurance. ' Likewist, t each the older WOt'nCn to be tevft'ent in the way they live. noc. to be slandtrers or addictfd to much wine. butlo teach what is &ood. "Then they can train the youn,er women to Jove 1htir husbands and childrfn , ' to bt Stlf-<ontroi!C'd a nd pu re, to bt busy a t home, to be kind, J.nd to be subjtct to their hwba.nds. so that no one will

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oul wha t was k ft unfinishfd 'Teach t he older mtn to be ltmand a ppoint' elders in cvny perate, worthy of rtspcC'I. town. as I dir«t«< you . •An c:land sound in faith,

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Time-tested and trusted for over 100 years Unique Chain-Reference® System Over 7,000 topics Over 100,000 References 25 Departments of Helps

The Thompson Chain-Reference Bible is free from outside influence. It has no commentary, no personal opinion, and no denominational bias. The Thompson Bible allows the cripture to interpret itself by "chaining" you from vers to related verse on any subject.

Heart and Soul • Bu Victor Lee

Lest We Forget • The last time Jason Ray had a meaningful conversation with his girlfriend of many years, Janel Blanchard, he wasn't sure when they would meet again. So his last words to her were simply, "nt see you when I see you," Janel recalls. Jason's innocent, perhaps even flippant, comment spoke more understanding about the temporal nature of life than most of us want to bother to grasp. Jason Ray died tragically last spring after he was hit by a car, just days before the University of North Carolina mascot, Rameses-whom Jason gave life to at every major UNC sporting event-was to perform again at the NCAA tournament. Death is rarely timely in our small human view, but we find ways -sometimes creative waysto keep alive the memory of those who made an impact. • The Southern California

Trojans' lineup was the football equivalent of the missing-man formation to honor their fallen kicker, Mario Danelo. After their first touchdown of 2007, they sent the "kicking" team onto the field kickerless for the extra point and then took a five-yard delay of game penalty before sending out the new kicker-all to · remember the gregarious Mario. • Kyle Petty's Victory Junction Gang Camp (Sports Spectrum, March-April 2007) is devoted to "enriching the lives of children in honor of Adam Petty, " who died in a racing accident at age 19. Daddy had nurtured son in a walk with Jesus; now he passes on the faith in Adam's honor. At 48, I regularly do something my children find morbid-read the obituaries. It is estimated that 150,000 people die every day worldwide. I not only wonder why some died, I wonder why some lived. I read obits looking for purpose. I cross many "Memorial Bridges" each week and often wonder about the late so-and-so's why-andhow. In the world of sports, we lose our competitors too, and we memorialize them.

• Randy Dorton was the engine that made Hendrick

Motorsports run. Or at least he made them. His picture still hangs over the team's engine builders as they work, for inspiration and motivation. Team owner Rick Hendrick-who has known more than most men's share of tragedy in his life- once said, "You see Randy's fingerprints all over the place. He laid the groundwork for so much of what we do on the engine side, and he deserves a ton of credit for the program's success." Dorton died in 2004 in a plane crash that also killed Hendrick's brother John and John's twin daughters. • When you see a NASCAR driver complete a victory lap backward around the track, do you know why? It started as a "Polish victory lap" to honor Alan Kulwicki- a Pole and a frequent pole sitter- whose plane went down in the prime of his career. • You've seen military swords held at 45-degree angles in a line to honor a passing hearse. You should have seen the emotion in the Indiana University football players' faces as they held their helmets in the same fashion as their late coach, Terry Hoeppner, took a final earthly ride. • Doug Bochtler pitched his first big-league game in San Diego wearing the wrong glove. Sort of. It was the glove of a fallen high school teammate whose dad asked Doug to take it to the big

SPO RTS SPEC TRUM ON THE WEB : www . Spor t sSp ec trum . com

.A Paying tribute: We find ways to remember those who have gone before: UNC's Jason Ray, NASCAR's Adam Petty, NASCAR's 1992 champ Alan Kulwicki, and Indiana's Terry Hoeppner.

leagues- although Doug was a longshot to get to the Big Show at the time of the request. Every time a new generation of people sees the UNC mascot, he will have a face, regardless of whose is in the suit. It'll be the face of Jason Ray. John Blanchard is Associate Athletic Director at UNC, a faithful follower of Christ, and the father of Janel. He recently spoke to the Duke University Athletes in Action group. "My message is this," he told me a week before the engagement. "Don't live your life in fear. Live a life of freedom in Christ. You don't know how long you have, but in Christ you know that your life has purpose and meaning that is eternal. Don't get bogged down in the things of this world, but focus on things eternal. Jason's life is an example. Jason had no idea his time would be so brief, but as God would have it, his death

has expanded Jason's ministry more than he could have. God knows what He's doing." Thousands showed up at Jason's memorial service- not bad for a guy whose primary public role involved wearing a disguise. "His life has impacted me more than anyone's except my morn and dad," Janel says. "nt remember his passion for life, especially his passion for people. He was sincere about relationships. He wasn't hypocritical. He hated "holier than thou." That's why he connected with a lot of non-Christians. "In his last e-mail to me, he said, 1'rn excited about what God is doing in my life: I'm so happy that when God took him horne, he was more in love with Him than he had ever been. This is how I want to go out." 0

Visit the Jason Kendall Ray Foundation at www.jasomay.org. Veteran sports journalist Victor Lee lives in Knoxville, Tennessee.

SPORTS SPECTR U M - JANUARY -FEBRUARY 2008

Up Next • Written

Compiled

JimGibb s

BRITTANY SMART: BELGIUM FIRST, WNBA LATER? • She may be headed for the WNBA at some point, but in September, former Cedarville University guard Brittany Smart was packing for Europe. "It would be great to be able to play in the WNBA, but the opportunities in Europe are so much better," Smart says. 'Tm not closing the door on the WNBA by any means, but at this point I just feel that the Lord wants me in Belgium." The 5-foot-9 guard from Springfield, Ohio, was named NAJA Division II National Player of the Year in March and was a three-time NAJA AU-America First Team selection. Smart led the nation with a scoring average of 28.4 points per game. She finished her career as the all-time leading scorer in NAJA Division II with 3,236 points. She also holds national tournament records for most points scored (405), most field goals made (138), and most free throws made {102). She also rates second in rebounds with 130. "When the season was over, I was sort of burned out with basketball

and wasn't sure if I wanted to play again after college," she says. "I didn't know if I was just burned out with basketball itself or just with college basketball, so I really did a lot of praying about it and found that I still love the game very much. Then I got this opportunity to play in Europe, and it has really rekindled my love for the game." Smart, who signed a 1-year contract to play professional basketball in Belgium, joined the Point Chaud Basketball Club, which competes in the highest division of women's basketball in the country. The road to Belgium, however, began in June when Smart was named MVP of the Coates Sports Management Pro Basketball Exposure Camp in Boston. The two-day event attracted approximately 70 women, including several NCAA Division I players, current pro players from overseas, and a few WNBA draftees. It was designed to give players with professional basketball aspirations the ..,. Standing out in the crowd. Last season, Smart was featured in Sports Illustrated's Face in the Crowd.

opportunity to showcase their skills in front of various pro scouts, coaches, and agents. As a result of her showing at the camp, Smart received ten offers from various European teams before selecting Point Chaud, located in Sprimont, Belgium. She will be the lone American playing for a club whose roster consists primarily of Belgian players. "I was sort of hoping that there would be at least one other American on the team with me so I could have someone to talk to and communicate with," she says. "But I think God will use that situation to help me rely more on Him." Smart adds that because she is not quite sure what to expect, she1l see how it goes before deciding to play another season abroad. "Our season goes from mid-October until April, so I1l just wait and see what happens this year before I make any longterm commitments," she says. "If I'm not able to speak the language, I'm going to show Christ's love through my actions. And I think actions speak a whole lot louder than words do anyway." 0 - JIM GIBBS

DAVE TREADWAY

Pro skier. Sports background includes motocross, mountain bike, wakeboard, slalom ski, skateboard, and snowmobile. Born in Kenora, Ontario, Canada. Sponsors include Eternal Riders, Oakley, Capital, Dalbel/o, Scott, Swany, Giro, Dakine, and Base. Age 23.

HIGHLIGHT: "We were up in the mountains of British Columbia and were on a heliski trip. In these heli-ski trips, a helicopter takes skiers up to the top of these incredible mountains and then the skiers ski down them. I wasn't officially one of the contestants. I was just helping run the contest. But then one of the skiers got hurt, and I got the chance to ski in his place. Even though I wasn't officially

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in the contest, I had an incredibly good jump and really skied well that day." TOP VERSE: 1 Timothy 4:12 HIS STORY: "When I was just four years old, my dad was telling me a bedtime story about a lynx (similar to a bobcat) and this lynx became a Christian in the story. It was just a simple story, but it made me realize that, without Christ, I was going to hell because we're all sinners and Christ died for our sins. Plus, my parents also played a big role in my salvation experience because they are very strong Christians. I saw how powerful Christ was in their lives, and I wanted in." KEY INGREDIENTS: "I try to read my Bible and pray every day. Plus, staying outdoors seems to keep me close to the Lord. It's hard to discount

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the power of the Lord when you're standing on top of a beautiful mountaintop." GOALS: ''I'd really like to do a trip to Alaska within the next year or so." FAVORITE CHILL ACTIVITY: "Actually, I like to go skiing. I also like to go surfing and camping." LIFE'S TOUGHEST MOMENT: "One day when we were filming some skiing scenes, one of the cameramen didn't respond when we called him on the radio. So we went over to where he was, and he was lying on the ground unconscious. There were several people with us who were not Christians, but I instinctively put my hand on him and prayed that the Lord would heal him. Then a helicopter flew him to the hospital and he died. He was only 24 years old, and I had a very tough time with that. I had prayed so much for God to heal him-not only for the sake of the cameraman but also for all those other guys who were not believers who were there when I prayed for him. I wanted them to see the power of the Lord. But for whatever reason, God chose not to heal him. That was a tough one. I kept thinking, 'How could God let this happen?' But as time went by, I began to realize that God is sovereign and that His ways are not our ways. That cameraman's time was just up, just like mine and everybody else's will be someday." SPORTS HEROES: "Glen Plake. He's sort of an icon among skiers and a guy who defined the sport in the early 1990s. He's not the best skier I have ever seen, but he's just a great guy and someone that I really have a lot of respect for." Read Dave's devotional articles in this edition of Power Up!

EBONY JACKSON

Basketball. Freshman. Indiana University- Bloomington. Age 19.

• Served as team captain at Arlington High in Indianapolis as a junior and senior. Averaged 14.5 points, 11.2 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 3.0 steals per game as a senior. Was a 2007 Indiana All-Star and a junior all-star nominee in 2006. Averaged 17.7 points, 10.2 rebounds, three steals and three assists during her junior season. Was also a 2006 Street & Smith's All-America honorable mention honoree. Earned all-city honors as a junior and senior and all-conference and all-metro accolades as a junior. Earned honorable mention All-Marion County in 2005. Was one of Indiana's Top 40 Seniors in 2007. Also lettered in track and field. Daughter of Vincent and Chrystal Jackson. Brother Vincent Junior plays for Indiana University-Fort Wayne. HIGHLIGHTS: "During my senior year in high school, I scored 33 points in one game. That has to be the highlight so far." TOP VERSE: Philippians 4:13 HER STORY: "I grew up in the church, and I really had a strong Christian upbringing. But when I was in second grade, I realized my need for a Savior and accepted Christ into my life and really made Him Lord of my life." KEY INGREDIENTS: "My family is always very encouraging. Every day they will send me some kind of little note of encouragement or a Christian CD or something like that." GOALS: "After I get my under· graduate degree, I'd like to get my master's degree, although I'm not sure exactly in what. I'd also like for our team to win a Big-1 0 cham pi-

onship before I graduate." FAVORITE CHILL ACTMTY: "I like to talk on the phone with my boyfriend, and when I do get a break, just sleep. I know that doesn't sound too exciting, but I'm on the go so much between school and basketball games and practice that, for me, it's really nice to just go home, relax, and take a long nap." LIFE'S TOUGHEST MOMENT: "My dad was very sick for two weeks not that long ago, and I had to leave him so I could come to college and start basketball practice. That was probably one of the toughest things that I've ever had to do because I didn't want to leave my dad. But thankfully he got well, and he's fine now." SPORTS HERO AND WHY: "My dad (Vincent Jackson Sr.) is really my sports hero. He used to play high school and college basketball and has really taught me a lot about the game." FAVORITE CHRISTIAN MUSICIAN: Donnie McClurkin

VINCENT JACKSON JR.

Basketball. Freshman. Indiana University- Fort Wayne. Age 20.

• Averaged 12 points, six assists, and two steals per game during his senior year at Arlington High School in Indianapolis, Indiana. Helped lead his team to an 18-4 record his senior year and scored 20 or more points in five games. HIGHLIGHT: "Starting as a freshman this year in college is easily the highlight. It's both a thrill and an honor." TOP VERSE: Philippians 4:13 HIS STORY: "My mom and

grandmother grew up in the church, and they wanted to make sure that they raised my sister and me to love the Lord. When I was in second grade, I realized that I was a sinner and that I needed a Savior. I think I was in about second grade when I realized that there was just no way that I could ever be good enough to get to heaven on my own, so I accepted Christ as my Savior and dedicated my life to Him." KEY INGREDIENTS: "I pray and read the Bible every day. Plus, my mom e-mails me a verse of Scripture every day to read and that really helps a lot." GOALS: "Finish my four years of college strong both academically and spiritually. I also want to go overseas and play basketball." FAVORITE CHILL ACTIVITY: "I enjoy just sitting back and listening to R&B music and talking on the phone with my girlfriend." LIFE'S TOUGHEST MOMENT: "I had a period of a couple of months in high school when I got off-track spiritually. My parents noticed that I had become very disrespectful and was drifting away from the Lord. But they got me back on track through a lot of prayer and meetings with our pastor. Through their prayers, I realized how disobedient and disrespectful! was being, so I repented and turned my life back to Christ and have been trying to walk with Him ever since." SPORTS HERO AND WHY: "My dad, Vincent Jackson Sr. is my hero because he was always pushing me to get better. I probably wouldn't have gone anywhere in basketball had it not been for him." FAVORITE CHRISTIAN MUSICIAN: Donnie McClurkin

SPORTS SPECTRUM - JANUARY· FEBRUARY 2008

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FEBRUARY 28

"TheLord's anger burned against Uzzah: 2 SAMU£l6:7

BRINGING THE ARK HOME February 28 • Get Serious: Disobedience lo God can come in specific defiance of His biblical standards or in refusal to do !he things !he Holy Spirit prompts us lo do. In what ways haue you neglected lo acl on God's commands recen!ly? • Go Deep: Read 2 Samuel 6. February 29 • Get Serious: What extra weigh! are you carrying !hal is hindering your progress? Are you ready lo ask God for help with this? • Go Deep: Read Hebrews 12.

• What would a player's teammates think of him if he lost the World Cup of Soccer? Not the game- the trophy. It happened. The great trophy that mesmerizes the world of soccer every 4 years was at one time on the lam. Once called the jules Rimet Trophy, the World Cup symbol of greatness was stolen when it was in the possession of Brazil. Eventually it was recovered. showing a bit of wear. and its discovery soothed many frayed nerves and assuaged volumes of angry people. . If losing a sports trophy is a bad idea. imagine what it must have felt like to the peo· pie of Israel when they lost the ark of the covenant. And imagine how excited they were to see it return. It had been 100 years since the Philistines had captured the sacred box. and David was endeavoring to bring it home to Jerusalem. It was a grand and glonous celebration for the Jewish people as David and 30.000 companions traveled to Baalah of Judah to fetch the ark. They placed the sacred box on a cart and prepared to escort the ark home in full glory. But there was a problem. Somehow they had missed an important detail. The_ark was not supposed to be on a cart; it was to be carried on two rods w1th Lev1tes bearing the burden. . . . When the cart hit a rough spot and appeared ready to t1p- and the ark w1th ltUzzah. reached out to steady it. Big mistake! He was struck dead 1mmed1ately. Understandably. David was filled with fear after this. and he refused to transport the ark back to Jerusalem. He ordered it left behind at the house of Obed·Edom. Disobedience takes its toll. What is disobedience costing us? It could cause us to lose something far more valuable than the Jules Rimel Trophy. - DAVE BRANoN Fast Fact: The next men's World Cup tourney will be played in South Africa in 2010. FEBRUARY 29 "Let us throw off everything that hinders: HEBREWS 12:1

WEIGHT THAT SLOWS US Power Up! is published by the creators of Sports Spectrum magazine and is designed to help its readers understand the gospel of jesus Christ and grow in their faith in Him. Managing Editor: Dave Branon Graphic Design: Steve Gier

-----------------------------------------------------Contributing Writers: jeff Arnold, freelance wriler Rob Bentz, freelance wriler josh Cooley, freelance writer Tom Felten, Managing Editor. Our Daily journey Tim Gustafson, Managing Editor.Our Daily Bread Brian Hettinga, Host. Producer. Discover the Word Jeff Olson, Biblical Counseling. RBC Ministries Molly Ramseyer, freelance writer Roxanne Robbins, freelance writer

Dave Treadway, professional skier Dee Dee }onrowe,ldilarod racer john Love, chaplain. New York Knicks

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Weekend articles: Emily Briggs, freelance wriler Natalie Creech, creative director. Sports Spectrum Eric Harris, freelance writer Nathan Krum, marketing director. Sports Spectrum Leah Metcalf, freelance writer

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• We have heard a lot about being overweight and the damage it does to our health. There are many articles. books. videos. and programs available to get us to see the pitfalls and obstacles created by carrying extra pounds. 1 am pa rticularly familiar with this concept, as "weight over distance equals speed" for sled dogs in an endurance race. I pay close attent1on to each 1teml place 1n my sled and continually reevaluate that item's worth agamst the we1ght 1t adds to the overall bulk my dogs will carry as we race in the Last Great Race on Earth- t_he lditarod. It is my goal to get to the finish line first. but more important. I want to my great athletes in being the best they were born to be by not burdemng them w1th a lot of unnecessary weight. . . This concept refers to physical weight, but I have just as often found that 1t IS true of mental weight. Baggage that I have chosen to keep in my head can interfere with my focus. . The lditarod has been an incredible training ground for hfe. The lessons that have been reconfirmed on the trail are true in my daily life. There are misunderstandings with people. stumbles that I make in my dealing with God and people. and worst of all delib· erate rebellious decisions that I make that hinder my progress to be the best I am capable of being. This willful sin "hinders my progress." It is weight that slows me down. God wants life to be smoother for me. and many t1mes I have to slow down long enough to reevaluate the sin in my life and ask God to "remove it from my sled." is not a sprint; it is an endurance race. With God's grace we can clear away the wetght that slows us down-physically and spiritually. - DrrDrr }oNRawE. vmRAN IDITAROD RAC!R Fast Fact: Beginning tomorrow. DeeDee ]onrowe embarks on her 26th ldilarod.

Personal Best SQUEEZING YOUR BEST EFFORT OUT OF TH E ABILITY GOD GAVE YOU

Taldag C... of Yo..- Pltc:lalag Ana Ia the Ollseasoa BY PA U L BYRD, PI TC H ER, C LEVELA N D I ND IA N S

• One of the greatest things you can do for your arm is to take care of it during the offseason. The winter months can also provide time to work on pitches other than your fastball, such as a change-up or breaking ball. But regardless of the amount of innings that you have thrown during the season, you need to rest both mentally and physically. Most trainers, doctors, and players recommend taking at least 6 to 8 v,:eeks off from throwing anything- rocks and snowballs included. I personally take 3 months. This is a must!

--------------------- ----------- --------------- ------------- ---------- ------ ---- --------- --- -----------

PERFECT PRACTICE MAIU:S PERFECT!

and core. Be skill specific. day. Start out at 60 feet, and The great challenge of the progress to about 90 feet by the winter months for me is strength- end of the 2 weeks. This allows your arm to ease back into the Strengthening muscles and ening the rotator cuff or small muscles of the shoulder by lifting throwing motion. the rotator cuff 3- to 5-pound weights. I find it After these 2 weeks, how to Aggressive weight-lifting, very boring, and I would much proceed next is highly debated. stretching, and getting on a rather sit around eating Krispy Depending on how my arm feels, solid rotator cuff program should Kreme doughnuts. But I know I will usually begin to ease into a take place no later than a month that I must press on! These long-toss program. Once warm, I before you begin your throwing exercises are crucial in avoiding will start to throw the ball on a schedule. This is the time to injury and having control on firm line at about 90 to 120 feet. push yourself for strength gains, all my pitches. I do this 3 days a week for about but remember that total body is 5 to 7 minutes. I will throw fourthe key when pumping iron. A Picking up the ball seam fastballs and change-ups large chest is nice, but you don't After some down time and a at this distance. Because your push the ball to home month or so of training, it's time change-up should have the same plate. Therefore, to pick up a ball again. Your arm action as your fastball, this work out your upper first two weeks of throwing is a great way to fine-tune two body but concenshould consist of nothing but pitches at once. I also begin to trate on your legs playing catch every other spin curves and sliders at 60 feet on flat ground. Again, I let my arm guide me and ease into spinning the baseball.

Taking the mound again When those 2 weeks are over, I continue to long-toss as a warmup and will now stretch out to about 150 feet. After stretching my arm out, I get on the pitcher's mound and ease into throwing to my catcher and hitting the corners. I am now letting the back of my shoulder get used to the downward slope of the hill. I throw nice and easy fastballs, change-ups, and spin the baseball. I do this 3 times a week for another 2 weeks. At the end of this session, I am usually ready to turn it loose. AU pitchers should exercise, long toss, and condition their rotator cuff throughout the year. Remember, your arm is a gift from God. Take care of it. 0

sprint

PAUUS PERSONAL BESTS Most wins: 17- 2002 Strikeouts: 129-2002 ERA: 3.90- 2002 Complete games: 7-2002; Led American League Fielding average: 1.000-2007 Most postseason wins: 2- 2007

sprint

Jrkout mggest- , .ening days. rill learn :t of the 5trength those bles, and l cardia,

Paul Byrd has been pitching in the major leagues since 1995. Originally from Louisville, Kentucky, he played college baseball at LSU. He was drafted in 1988 by the Cincinnati Reds but did not sign. Three years later, the Cleveland Indians drafted Byrd, but he didn't play for the Indians until 2006. In between, he pitched for the Mets, Braves, Phi/lies, Royals, the Braves again, and the Angels.

SPORTS SPECT RUM - JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2008

lilation nee 1/ therapy the g programs

IY 2008

1 5

Well • Tri sh Beard en ANew-....-ANew'Yoa id you know that the average life expectancy in 1900 was only 47 years? Today, the average female can expect to live 80 years and a male up to 75 years!* Although the twentieth century saw an increased life span of 30 years due to immunizations and medical advances, scientists aren't done. They are currently studying "disease genes" and '1ongevity enabling genes," hoping to identify and create drug targets to extend life even further. Dr. Thomas Perls marvels at the idea of long life. A gerontologist at Boston University, he runs the New England Centenarian Study, the most prestigious study of this kind. He evaluates folks who have lived 100 years in an effort to unlock secrets to longevity. Much of the data points to strong genetics. (Lifestyle factors sprinkle the free questionnaire he provides on his Web site livingto100.com and in his book, Living to 100.) But advancing age as a goal for scientists is a concern for some in the medical world. Practically speaking, eyes and joints of older individuals can already make life a day-to-day struggle. An ophthalmologist friend says his clients of advanced age can barely see, if at aU, making even simple tasks a challenge. Also, as a healthstylist, I witness many runners and tennis players possessing chronic joint maladies; some requiring knee and hip replacements in their fifties! As with politics or religion, people have various views on this subject. While some may rush to order Dr. Perls' book, others pride themselves on living the life of the rich fool in the parable Jesus spoke of in Luke who boasted, "Eat, drink, and be merry!" Christopher Hitchens, an overweight 58-year-old, chose that philosophy of life and shared this lifetime of neglect with Vanity Fair in the October 2007 issue. "A bit of a stomach gives a chap a position in society. A glass of refreshment ... never hurt anybody. This walking business is overrated: I mastered the art of doing it when I was quite small ... what are taxis for? Smoking is a vice ... but one has to have a hobby." I do not advise this course. Knowing the extremes we can choose for our bodies, where shall we put our focus in this New Year? Educate and execute!

'I 4

0 Do not use illegal drugs.

Wear a seat belt. G See your doctor for regular checkups. 0

Educating yourself about reasonable health goals will pay off. To my delight, after years of flossing, a connection was found between healthy gums and reduced heart-disease risk!

EXECUTION "I can give you a six-word for· mula for success; Think things through then follow through. " -CAPTAIN EDWARD RICKENBACKER, American WWI Fighter Pilot Ace and Indy race car driver

EDUCATION Opportunities arise each day for us to be exposed to ideas regarding health. It is paramount to discern which messages we digest and which ones we resist in the pursuit of a balanced, high-quality life. Years ago, I was taught a valuable lesson regarding oral health. While visiting a new dentist and furiously sprinting to fill out one of those health history questionnaires, I spotted a curious question. "As you age, is it a priority to keep your original teeth?" I never knew there was a choice. Like a rite of passage, aUold folks I knew wore

SPORT S SPECTRU M • JANUARY - FEBRUARY 1008

dentures! Now I choose to floss. The American Academy of Family Physicians provides an informational list of sound health advice for those wondering where to begin. 0 Refrain from smoking. 8 Eat a balanced diet.

Two Minute Educate and execute wise ideas the year through, As these choices may inspire the very best you! Be well, - TRAINER TR ISH, HEALTHSTYLIST

0 Exercise regularly.

Drink alcohol in moderation, if at all.

Education without execution is powerless. Therefore, whenever a worthy health goal such as eating an apple enters your brain, do it! A time-management business method may aid in this endeavor. It is called the One Touch Rule. According to entrepreneur Randy Elkins, when a document hits your desk or an e-mail or voice mail is received; touch it only once. By addressing these items once, time is not wasted later. So, when taking a walk comes to mind, take action before the idea is delayed. And one positive choice usually leads to another! 0

*Center for Disease Control and Prevention in cooperation with the United States Census Bureau, 2004.

Trish Bearden creates balance in her clients' lives through exercise, nutrition, Pi/ates, and massage therapy. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise and Wei/ness from South Dakota State University and is certified by both the National Strength and Conditioning Association and the American College of Sports Medicine. As a healthstylist. Trainer Trish has enjoyed working in both the inner city and the inner circle in Washington, D.C. TO SUBS CRI BE TO SPORTS SPECTRUM : CA L L 1·866 - 821-2971

Dodq 'tho CHRSB

BY ALAN TYSON

Second in a four-part series on the "CHASE," a lifestyle plan of exercise, fitness, and nutrition. HASE is an acronym designed to help us • .Yt>momber what the proper lifestyle is all about. C=Cruciferous and Colorful Vegetables H=High Fiber and Avoid Hydrogenated Oils (transfats) A=Assortment of Fruits and Nuts S =Sweat, Strengthen, Stretch, and Supplementation Strength Training E =Extra lean protein sources

(legumes, lean meats, whey)

In Part 1, Michelle Sigmon wrote about the best foods to place in your body. These were foods with the highest octane (cruciferous and colorful vegetables, assortment of fruits and nuts, and extra lean protein) to give your body the best fuel possible for your daily activities.

PART 2: SWEAT In Part 2, well examine the first "S," which stands for "Sweat." This is the cardia portion of the CHASE fitness approach to work your engine (i.e. your heart) once you have eaten the highoctane fuel. The workout is called the "Aerobic CHASE," and we have a level for ·beginners and one for more experienced exercisers. This aerobic workout applies to a run and a walk, plus the use of a treadmill, a bike, or an elliptical, and is based on the Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE) . The RPE is based on a scale of 1-10 with 1 being the easiest level at which you can work out and 10 being the hardest level. For example, if you were walking WEB SIT E: www.SportsSptelr u m.com

on a treadmill, Level 1 may be just barely moving or going 1-to-2 mph. Level10 would be an all-out sprint. This aerobic routine is based on the SAID principle, which stands for Specific Adaptations to Imposed Demands. By taking your normal cardia program and adding intervals, we can elevate your heart rate quicker, work your muscles more, and shorten your overall workout time because we increase your intensity. The levels for Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE) are the following: Level 1 very light intensity Level 2 light intensity Level 3-4 moderate intensity Level 5-6 strong intensity Level 7-S very strong intensity Level 9-10 extremely strong int.

BEGINNER'S AEROBIC CHASE-Total 20 minutes

For individuals who are just coming off an injury or are just starting an exercise program. Minutes 1-3 Minutes 4-6 Minute 7

Level1-2 Level 3 Level 5

Minute S-11 Level1-2 Minute 12-14 Level 3 Level 5 Minute 15 Minute 16-1S Level 3 Level 1-2 Minute 1S-20 Total: 20 minutes Once you can complete this 20-minute routine and feel ready, you can increase Minutes 4-6, Minutes 12-14, and Minutes 16-1S to Level 5. For Minute 7 and 15, increase your level of effort to a level 7.

ADVANCED AEROBIC CHASE-Total 20 minutes For individuals who work out three times per week. 2 Minutes 1 Minute 1 Minute 1 Minute 1 Minute 1 Minute

Level 3 Level 5 Level 6 Level 7 Level S Level 9

30 Seconds Level 10 sprint 1 Minute Level 6 1 Minute Level 7 LevelS 1 Minute 1 Minute Level 9 Level 10 sprint 30 Seconds 1 Minute Level 6 1 Minute Level 7 1 Minute LevelS 1 Minute Level9 30 Seconds Level 10 sprint 1 Minute Level 6 2:30 Minutes Level 3 Total: 20 minutes Performing an aerobic workout three times per week is suggested along with a strengthening program the other three days. In the next article you will learn more about the third part of the CHASE fitness program: Strength Training. Until then, eat those colorful fruits and vegetables, and add in the interval-based cardia, the aerobic CHASE. C>

Alan 7Json, Vice President of Sports Performance and Rehabilitation at Miller Orthopoedic Clinic and the Epicenter Sports Performance Enhancement facility in Charlotte, North Carolina, is a physical therapy and rehabilitative consultant for the Carolina Panthers. He is the developer of Pitching for Success and Power Pitching, training programs .--....- for pitchers. For information, call 704·945·1752.

SPORTS SP ECTRUM • JANUARY· FEBRUARY 2008

...

The Coaching Zone

-----------------------BY ST EPH A N IE ZO NARS

grew up before AAU basketball ruled summer schedules. Before Gatorade and cell phones. A self-professed "gym rat," I rode my bike to summer workouts in high school and went running in the snow (in my boots, no less) to stay in shape during my Christmas/

basketball break in college. As an athlete, my mindset reflected the times in which I grew up. The same holds true today. Born between 1980 and 1994 and often called Millennials, this generation of athlete represents a clear shift in thinking and attitudes from previous generations. Therefore, a coach can't rely on coaching methods used in the past, but needs to tweak them to ensure effective communication and connection with these new-generation players.

Gratification: make practice competitive with immediate rewards, set short goals to work toward (game or weekly), acknowledge off the court/field success ASAP 0 Tech savvy: use e-mail or text-messaging to communicate with players, use video clips to stress a point, take steps to learn the tech world 0 Value relationships: design a laminated CARE card with all team member cell phone numbers, promote open communication via e-mail and 1:1 scheduled meetings, stay current with Millennials' vocabulary

WHO ARE THEY?* Millennials have never known a world without cell phones, mini-vans, cable TV, laptops, Nike, ATMs, COs, AIDS, and kids killing kids. They never rode on a bike without a helmet or in a car without a car seat. Their strongest influences are the media, especially the Internet. They trust their parents more than prior generations did, and they are intensely loyal to causes they care about. On one hand they are... • impatient (need instant gratification) • skeptical (want to know why) • disengaged (enjoy variety over focused efforts) • blunt/expressive (value selfexpression over self-control) • image driven (care less about being a leader and more about being accepted) On the other hand they are... • techno savvy (can use every gadget known to man) • adaptable (welcome change) • able to grasp new concepts (love to learn) • multi-taskers (can text, listen to music, and do homework) • tolerant (easily accept others) WEB SITE : www.SportsSptctr u m.com

Attitudes & Influences of Adolescence* Topic

Boomers

Gen X

Millennials

OUR GREATEST EXAMPLE

Jesus communicated with relevance to everyone He Jerry Springer Television Bonanza Family Ties encountered, from the Drive Thrus Drive Bys Drive-Ins For Kicks Pharisees to the Samaritan woman to Peter. We can Can be bought Justice Always prevails Usually prevails learn from His example. He Show me HOW WHY do I need Tell me WHAT School/training recognized each person's to do it to learn this? to do uniqueness and spoke to Just because they're Respecting Elders Is automatic Is polite each accordingly. With His older? No way! help, we can do the same. Accept Demand Change Dislike Coaches coach because they want to make a Masters Technology Ignorant Comfortable difference. Seeking to your philosophy and vision in understand your players' world SO WHAT? and allowing that knowledge to One guideline of great communi- their playbooks influence how you coach comcation is to know your audience. f) Attention span: teach new concepts in the first hour of municates that you care. And Understanding Millennials, their practice, use repetitive drills, that's the first step in making attitudes, and their influences coach corrections one at a time, a lasting impact. 0 will make you a better coach keep team drills to 10 minutes only if that knowledge shapes and individual drills to 7 minutes *Resource: www.generationwhy.com how you coach. Ashland University basketball coach Sue A Life Coach trained by the Institute of Life Coach Training, Ramsey suggests the following: Stephanie Zonars resources coaches through 1:1 life coach0 Visual appeal: use the clock, ing, team-building sessions, and coaches retreats. Visit color-code defenses, post pracwww.lifebeyondsport.com for more information. Zonars tice schedules and game goals, keep film sessions short, write lives in Xenia, Ohio. 11946·641

11965-791

11980-941

SPOR TS SPECTRUM · JANUARY · FEBRUARY 20 0 8

Value Rdded -

Hall

TOP ATHLI:l E:S TALK ABOUT CHRISTIAN LIVING PRINCIPLES

LlviDg With Natunll PedonftaDco • As I'm sure you know, Marion Jones, a multiple gold medal-winner at the Olympics, has admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs. How should Christians view what's happened to her? Well, for me, her fall brings to mind the story of Jesus finding the woman at the well who had just committed adultery and was just about to be stoned. Jesus said to all those people holding a stone, "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone." Marion did a terrible thing, but her sin is just like any other sin. I think this is a neat opportunity for people to show her grace and for her to respond to that grace. I'm sure that the life of the woman at the well was changed forever because of the grace Jesus extended to her. Over and over again in the Bible, forgiveness is emphasized. How many times should we forgive our brother? Seven? No, seventyseven times. Forgiveness should be extended by Christian ath-

letes and Christians, in general, toward her. What should we learn from Marion Jones' mistake? It should teach us to follow God and His commandments. What's illustrated in the Bible is the life that we should aUstrive for. Whether you're an athlete, a student, a spouse, or an employee, it is crucial that you live your life with integrity. As a competitive runner, I have to report regularly to a governing body for drug testing called USADA (United States AntiDoping Agency). I send them e-mail updates so they can randomly find me whenever they want to. I've been tested both out of competition and in competition numerous times. There are a lot of pressures when you get into the professional scene. You have coaches influencing you, as well as doctors and others. There are some shady areas; for example, when does a supplement become a drug? I can see professional athletes drifting in that direction, and saying, "Well, it's not that much different than taking a supplement." It's tempting for a lot of athletes. But look at this way: If you reach your goal, whatever that goal might be, it's not going to be worth it if you didn't achieve that goal honestly. Just waking up every morning and living with that guilt would be terrible. I've done some neat things in my life, and I have accomplished some things as a professional runner. But risking getting caught and

SPO RT S SPECTR UM - JANUA RY- FEB RUARY 2008

• Never done before. In January 2007, Ryan Hall did something no American runner had ever done. He ran the half-marathon in less than an hour. His time of 59:43 is the 13th fastest ever recorded in that event. In April, Hall posted the fifth best time ever by an American marathoner at 2:08:24 at the London Marathon. In November, he qualified to represent the US in the 2008 Olympics. He and his wife, Sara Bel-Hall, who is also a world-class runner, live in Palo Alto, California.

risking the health factors if drugs are involved just to accomplish something isn't worth it. Plus, being successful, or achieving lofty goals, isn't going to satisfy you completely. There's example after example of people who have been at the top and are miserable. Sadly, people sometimes don't take your word for it and have to

experience it for themselves. But it doesn't have to be that way. We need to be passionate about following Christ as closely as we can and doing the things He tells us to do through His Word, through other people, and what we sense He's saying to us directly. Doing that will save you from going down the wrong path. 0

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Pro and Con ••Having a Supel' Bowl pawty at c:h\U'c:h on Sunday can cause low the local c:hU&'ch.11

• There are ways to throw a Super Bowl party at your church. My church has something caUed "The Blue Room." It used to be the sanctuary when we were smaUer. Now it is the youth room. I could live with a Super Bowl party in there. It's not a bad idea to bring a former professional footbaU player into your Super Bowl party so he can testify at halftime. Turn off the so-caUed halftime entertainment and let him talk. This too can happen at church. Ted's fifth point is pretty good. The American church is probably reaching the saturation point when it comes to culturaUy coot politicaUy correct, and biblically unwise methods of outreach. Is the American Super Bowl party part of that tsunami of shaUowness? Probably. Can partyers stiU come to Christ? Sure. American Christians who build with wood, hay, or straw are stiU beloved {2 Corinthians 3:12-15}. God's grace is amazingly super! So there are ways to throw a Super Bowl party at your church. It would probably work better if you don't normaUy have Sunday evening services. I would not recommend asking your pastor to forgo his sermon for the big game. But if your church is unoccupied on a Sunday night that happens to be Super Bowl Sunday, why not use it? Church plant pastors who are "out of the box" ought to UNOCCUPIED ON SUPER BOWL i think about doing this. For many of these brave men, a SUNDAY NIGHT, WHY NOT storefront or a home is their church. Throw your party there, but be disciplined. Use it as an opportunity to get to know your core group. Bond at halftime. Hug. Discipline is the key. Discipline and innovation. You can't just go off and throw a Super Bowl party on a night when the seasoned citizens are worshiping. You might get in trouble. But how about lining up somebody like a Bart Starr as a testimony speaker? Think that might get folks to change their routine for once in their last 37 years of having church on Super Bowl Sunday? You never know. It just might work. If it does, wait another 37 years before trying it again, when there may, or may not be, a Super Bowl party. C>

········;;ir-vo"lin·cii·uncil-is·- -------·: i

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• Problem 1: Ever get the feeling that aU of evangelical Christendom has become one big multi-purpose room? The place where you sing "Amazing Grace" and meditate on Christ's death and resurrection happens to be the place where the Awana kids race after beanbags, the old men play basketbaU, and the elders meet every second Tuesday on plastic chairs to sip bad coffee and make decisions. Problem 2: I can't watch the Super Bowl with church people. My pastor knows that I skip the evening service every Super Bowl Sunday to watch the game at home, with a very short pre-approved list of people (So far: my dad, my wife, and my buddy Regner) who I know won't interrupt the game with a discussion on election, premiUenial rapture, or what it means to "live missionaUy." Smug? Yes, but on 364 days out of the year I can handle, or maybe even enjoy, discussions on these topics (except missional living}, just not on Super Bowl Sunday. Problem 3: The Super Bowl is a paean to American marketing, consumerism, and a variety of other evil things that have no place in our churches. Caveat: Many American churches are also paeans to marketing, consumerism and good ot' American salesmanship. Another caveat: I stiU love the Super Bowl (see Problem 2} and I stiU love American churches. ... ······· ·· ······ ····· ···· ·· ····· ··············· ······· Problem 4: If we have a "IF WE HAVE ASUPER BOWL Super Bowl party at church, PARTY AT CHURCH, CAN I can I stiU laugh at the beer STILL LAUGH AT THE BEER commercials? COMMERCIALS?" Problem 5: Somebody great ........................................................ once said,"What you win them with is what you win them to." By making church a glorified social dub, sports bar, gymnasium, skate park, or movie theatre, we are essentiaUy winning people "to" that activity, rather than giving them a place to worship where they wiU hear the gospel preached and come to know Scripture more deeply. That said, outreach is stiUgood. Problem 6: I haven't completely figured out problem number 5. IncidentaUy, if anyone from University Reformed Church in East Lansing, Michigan, is reading this: Now you know that if you throw a Super Bowl party I won't be there. It's not you, it's me. I'm glad we had this talk. C)

'll.. Allen Pallnel'i I SAY WHAT? Would you like to respond? Send a note I Ted IC:Iuck '

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to edttor@sportsspectrum.com. We'd love to hear what you think about this topic.

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Intake - Bij Benjamin J. Baechler . M.D. EXPLORIN G THE NUTRITIONAL NEEDS OF SERIOUS ATHLETES

Aatloddaats aad Atlaletes • The human body is a creation of fascinating cellular processes that can translate into tremendous feats of athletic accomplishment. In order for the body to function at a base level, let alone meet the demands of rigorous physical activity, it needs to be nourished. However, nourishment is an often-misunderstood concept. Nourishment is different from simply providing raw calories for fuel-it actually refers to the concept of "providing the body with key essential substances needed to not only survive, but thrive." Although the best source for nutritional support is naturally occurring

foods, many athletes tum to dietary supplements because of the quantity required, concerns about contamination, high cost, and time of preparation. One aspect of nutritional support often overlooked by athletes is the increased production of damaging free radicals. These act as terrorists or thieves in the body, wreaking havoc on body systems. For the athlete, free radical production contributes to extended recovery time and sore muscles, plus it poses a roadblock to muscular or speed gains. Free radicals can even damage the genetic material in cells (DNA). Why does this happen? Intense athletic activity increases cellular metabolism and creates a high demand on the energy-producing systems of the body-thus generating i_ncreased free radicals in the process. Therefore, the athlete has an increased need for antioxidant support as compared to the sedentary individual. Fruits such as blueberries, cherries, and oranges are excellent sources of antioxidants, but many athletes also may need to supplement their diets to achieve adequate antioxidant support. This leads to the question of evaluating antioxidant supplements for athletes. It is 2 2

very rare to find athletes who are not already supplementing. EVALUATING SUPPLEMENTS When it comes to antioxidant support, I follow several key principles when evaluating a product. Step 1: I ask if the product is ORAC tested. ORAC stands for Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity. It is the scientifically recognized "gold standard" laboratory test that measures the ability of an antioxidant (or group of antioxidants) to quench or destroy damaging free radicals. The substance then receives an ORAC score, indicating the relative antioxidant strength of the nutrient or product. Step 2: I go a step further and ask if the product is also ORAC certified. A product can be tested once, but when certified, it represents an ongoing commitment by the manufacturer to regular antioxidant evaluation of the product. Step 3: I identify whether the product is a "single" versus a "broad spectrum" antioxidant supplement. Realize that single ingredient antioxidant supplements are like taking a quarterback and asking him to win a football game alone. On the

SPO RTS SPE CTR UM · JANUARY-FEBR UAR Y 20 0 8

other hand, when products incorporate multiple antioxidants with supporting nutrients, this is similar to assembling the whole football team for a victory. For example, the Vitamin Cin an orange doesn't work alone. It is much more powerful when surrounded by other naturally occurring nutritional components found within the orange. I call this "Cofactor Synergy." Together, a synergy is created that is much more effective than any of the substances alone. The combination of recognized antioxidants with fruit and vegetable nutrient extractsdelivered preferably in a liquid form- can create a winning team for optimal support and synergy. WHEN TO USE SUPPLEMENTS Another question often asked is when is the best time to use antioxidant supplements when training. As the body's antioxidant systems are dynamic, I recommend approximately 60 minutes before activity. This can provide support for both the workout and the post-recovery phase. If an exceptionally long or intense workout is taking place, it may be desirable to split the dosing to 60 minutes before the workout and within 30 minutes after.

KEEP IT SAFE There are two additional important issues that deserve mention: Safety testing and mega-dosing. Be sure the products you purchase have safety testing behind them. Just as foods can be contaminated, so can supplements. If this information is not provided, call the company and ask if they provide safety testing or data. Be sure they test their product for environmental contaminants and heavy metals. Although future laws regarding manufacturing practices of dietary supplements are on the way, they are not yet fully in place. Regarding mega-dosing, the best way to achieve safe nutritional support for the athlete is to use a high-quality product with appropriate dosing. Megadosing, especially with lowgrade or questionable products, holds the potential for harm. Be sure to seek advice from your personal health care provider regarding the safe use of supplements. Nutritional support of the athlete is a key part of any training program, but safety must always come first. 0

Next: Healthy Fats for the Athlete Dr. Benjamin J. Baechler received his medical training at the University of Minnesota Medical School with a focus on internal medicine plus fam ily and community health. Dr. Buechler's scientific and academic studies have concentrated in the areas of nutrient delivery systems, antioxidants, and angiogenesis. Dr. Buechler has formulated more than 100 wei/ness products, including several strategically designed to address the issues of aging, healthy cellular replication, and heart health.

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t would seem impossible

for someone 6 feet 9 inches tall to walk into a room and be unassuming, but Michigan State's sophomore center All yssa DeHaan does exactl y that. DeHaan is the tallest player in the history of Spartan women's basketball, and she started her career by shattering the Big Ten record for blocks in a season, setting an NCAA freshman record in the process. Still , DeHaan is nervous,

BOTH ON THE COURT AND OFF, MICH IGAN STATE SOPHOMORE CENTER

ALLYSSA DEHAAN HAS HER WORK CUT OUT FOR HER BY TED KL U CK 2 4

SPORTS SPECT RUM - JANUARY路FEBRUARY 2008

quiet, and at times unsure of herself, on and off the court. "I' m trying to build aggressiveness . .. and confidence," she says. She will mention the word confidence several times, as though just invoking the concept will somehow make it come to pass. DeHaan, from Grandville, Michigan, has added 20 additional pounds since a freshman year that saw her rank second on her team with 12.5 points a game. She was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year, in addition to garnering second-team All Big Ten honors. "I asked Allyssa in my office yesterday if she still felt like a freshman, and she said 'yes,' " says DeHaan's position coach Rick Albro of his quest to instill confidence in his young protege. "AIIyssa is such a quality young lady, and our goal is to get her to play wi th the passion that I know is inside her." Albro, who coached against DeHaan's mother Tracie as a high school coach, says that she is a perfectionist. "We need to let her know that the most important play is the next play," he says. "We need her to get more shots up. We need her to play slower and stronger, which is tough for her because she's a finesse player learn ing a new system. I'd like her to hold the ball a little bit longer and look for her own shot. She needs to let her passion for the game show, because right now the slightest miscue has a huge effect on her mentality." And like most other college sophomores, DeHaan is stressed out about her course load. "I've got a horrendous class schedule," explains the pre-med major. "Organic Chemistry, Molecular Biology, Physics, and Psychology. Everything is so much more intense in college. There's so much going on that

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it can be overwhelming at times." The months between the end of her freshman season and the beginning of her sophomore campaign were a time of transition for DeHaan. She was surprised by the departure of former coach Joanne McCallie, who left the team to take the head coaching job at Duke University. "It was a big surprise," she says. "It was a big obstacle for this team, but we handled it very well and came together as a family. What's life without obstacles, right? But I completely love the new coaches and the new staff. They're excited to coach, and we're excited to play basketball every day." DeHaan also spent her summer playing for gold-medal winning Team USA at the FIBA U19 World Championships in Bratislava, Slovakia. She averaged 5 points and 6.6 rebounds per game, and she ranked second among all players in the tournament with 19 blocks. "It was my first time in Europe, and my first time in International competition;Âˇ she says. "We traveled everywhere and played so many teams. Our USA coach (DePaul's Doug Bruno) worked us so hard every day, and sometimes we didn' t understand that-wondering why we practiced so' ' hard. He had the end in sight at the beginning. We wanted to get gold, and we did. Working so hard for that made me want to take that work ethic back here to our team. Standing on that pedestal and bringing gold back to America was a pretty special moment in my life." presence. Whether she's battling Kia Vaughn of Rutgers or other centers on the MSU schedule, Allyssa DeHaan will attract more and more attention as the Spartans' go-to player. SPO RTS SPECTRU M â&#x20AC;˘ JANUARY- FE BRUAR Y 2008

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DeHaan, who chose Michigan State because of a desire to win a national championship and also pursue her dream of being a doctor, says that she handles adversity by leaning on Philippians 4: 13, which says, "I can do all th ings through Christ who strengthens me." "My faith reall y helps me set apart the idea that this is just a sport, and it's just a part of who I am," she says. "It helps me keep perspective. God has blessed me so much through basketball, and He's given me so much. I just want to give Him glory and keep giving to my teammates. I give my problems to God, who helps me through good and had situations." It is understandably difficul t for • DOB: 6-21-88 DeHaan, named Miss Basketball in • Hometown: GrandMichigan after averaging 24 points, ville, Michigan • Parents: Brandon {6·6) 9 boards, and 9 assists as a senior and Tracie {6-4) at Grandville High School, to blend • Brother: Collin {6-11) in. She can handle the stares, and the • Also played volleyball struggle to fi nd clothes that fit, and in high school. she is sti ll asked periodically by • Maintained a 3.85 GPA students if she plays basketball. But in high school. DeHaan says she feels uniquely • Set the Mic higan called to the life she leads. single-season record "It started out just being taller than (third best nationally) for blocks with 236 her everybody else," she says of basketjunior season. {She ball. "But I grew to love the game, twice had 15 blocked and I have passion for it. It's not just shots in one game.) being taller that got me here. I' m not • Set an MSU freshman sitting here today in a Spartan uniform record for points {412) just because I'm 6' 9". I'm feeling and field goals {166). more comfortable and more confident • Grew up a few miles every day. I already made it through a from Katie Feenstra, a year, and I' m a sophomore now, which fellow Christian basketis pretty amazing." 0 ball player (Det roit Shock), who is 6-8. • While in high school, Ted Kluck is the author of three went with a group from books, including Paper Tiger: One her church to build a Athlete's Journey to the Underbelly house in Chihuahua, of Pro Football. Visit him online at Mexico. www.tedkluck.com.

.A The future: On her behalf, Allyssa's parents, Brandon and Tracie, pick up the MSU Sports Hall of Fame "Tomorrow's Winners" award.

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r---------------------------------------------------------------------- -------- ------------- --------- ---- -----an Diego Chargers head coach Norv Turner said a few words

and then asked LaDainian Tomlinson to lead a team prayer following one preseason game this past summer. In a room gone silent, the league MVP turned a ritual often so stale and contrived into a heartfelt appeal to his Maker. The scene left at least one Chargers staff member shaking his head in a kind of wonderment. "You could tell that was for real," the man who was in the locker room volunteered later. "He was talking right to his Lord." The tone with which the story was told was with the same surprise often conveyed when people speak of witnessing Tomlinson's genuineness, humility, and honesty first-hand . Even those who know him best- and who know better- are sometimes awed. "You can sit here and can't find anything wrong with the guy," says

I .I

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MLINSON,

BESIDES HIS PRODIGIOUS SKILLS

IS THE KIND OF PERSON HE IS â&#x20AC;˘

BY KEV IN ACEE

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New Orleans Saints quruterback Drew Brees, who still works out and hangs out with Tomlinson in the offseason and shares faith in Christ with his former Chargers teammate. And the thing is, the better he gets the better he gets. Tomlinson certainly does not hold himself up this way-not with the type of understanding of faith in God that he has. ("LT is probably one of the most humble guys you'll ever be around," Brees says.) But ever since his mom's faith became his faith as a teenager, Tomlinson has tried to live by the words of Luke 12:48.

"To whom much is given, from him shall more be required." "The more success I have and the more the Lord gives me," Tomlinson says, "I feel like the more He requires something from me." It is not a burden but a way of life, not a cross to bear but a torch to cany. It defines the man whose life has become more crowded with things and commitments than most people could ever imagine. Tomlinson has the cars and the humongous home of a man who has over the past seven years made tens of mil-

lions of dollars. He and his wife, LaTorsha, vacation in exotic locales. In the past year, following his MVP season of 2006, in which he scored an NFLrecord 31 touchdowns and led the league in mshing yards, he has vaulted to the status of having one of the most recognizable names in all sports. There are not too many football players who appear in more national or local adve11isements than Tomlinson. All this comes with a price most people think they would love to pay. But reality tends to take a bigger chunk of life. Being famous can be suffocating.

T Joining the club. On November 25, 2007, LaDalnian Tomlinson became the 23rd running back to join an elite NFL group. With this carry against Dawan Landry of Baltimore, LT passed the 10,000-yard rushing mark In his career. Warrick Dunn and Fred Taylor also punched their 10,000-yard membership cards In November.

SPORTS SPECTRUM - JANUA RY - FEBRU ARY 200 8

BETTER THAN

LONE STAR RUNNERS Three of the top runners in NFL history were born in Texos. Campbell and Dickerson are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Earl Campbell • Tyler, Texas • College: University of Texas • NFL: Houston Oilers, New Orleans Saints • 9,407 yards

Eric Dickerson • Sealy, Texas • College: Southern Methodist University • NFL: LA Rams, Indianapolis Colts, LA Raiders, Atlanta Falcons • 13,259 yards

LaDainian Tomlinson • Rosebud, Texas • College: Texas Christian University • NFL: San Diego Chargers • Passed the 10,000yard milestone in 2007

"A lot of things we take for granted he can't do," says Lorenzo Neal, Chargers fullback and Tomlinson's close friend. "It's unfortunate. It doesn't compare to what the rest of [the players] go through. I couldn't do it." When the Chargers travel, Tomlinson rarely leaves his room. He is almost always accompanied by a security guard. This is not standoffishness. It is necessity. Not all fans are respectful of personal space and time constraints. Tomlinson has, as part of the increasingly rare air in which he moves, been able to spend time with Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods. He marvels at the way in which they are able to glide through public with a sort of tunnel vision that conveys they are not to be bothered. "I remember when I went out to dinner with Tiger," Tomlinson says. "It's so amazing how he handles people. He has this aura around him. When he walks or he's going somewhere, there is such a focus. It's like he doesn't see anybody else." Tomlinson shakes his head as he puts up his hands on either side of his face to illustrate the straight-ahead, can't-be-bothered vision that Woods possesses. "It's weird to me," he says. To be sure, Tomlinson has developed some of this trait. It is natural defense when friends, family, teammates, public relations people, advertisers, business

partners, agents, and managers are all trying to get time-on an almost daily basis. But playing and living in laid-back San Diego has helped him remain one of the most accessible superstars in modern times. Knowing where he came from is even more important. "My faith and understanding the bigger picture-that's why nothing gets me overwhelmed or excited or makes me want to change," he says. To know Tomlinson is to know this is true. Teammates talk of his generosity to strangers, his giving thousands of dollars at a ti me to the league's old-timers, his patience obliging the never-ceasing request for an autograph. A Sports Illustrated poll of NFL players this season named Tomlinson the friendliest player in the league. Media that cover the NFL have named him year after year as the league's best interview. Tomlinson's smile is the only thing that shines brighter than the gigantic diamonds always affixed to his lobes. He flashes that smile as he nods while acknowledging this stratosphere to which he has ascended with such grace. "It's been pretty wild," he says. "But l always just take it in stride. It is what it is. To be honest, I always expected to be this type of athlete. So with me expecting to be this type of athlete, I always knew how I wanted to carry myself in this situation-be a special athlete but still act like a nor-

mal person. That's the way I've always wanted to be." To speak of"always" with Tomlinson is to speak of his mother, Loreane. And it quickly becomes clear where he got grounded and why he still refuses to let his ego take off. Just a few minutes speaking with Loreane Tomlinson makes it clear from where LaDainian's learned his ways. She has always told her son, "You are the best at what you do, because it's gift. Accept it at face value." For years, like many you ng Christians, LaDainian lived with a belief in his mother's Savior. He said was in a period toward the end of school and early in his time at Christian University, as the pressu and attention intensified, that grabbed onto God and made his tionship real and personal. Loreane is a woman who commun cates in a very real way with God. S believes the Lord has often given insight into LaDainian's life. "I can't remember exactly when was," she says. "I know he was in lege and the Lord said to me that was raising up my oldest son to be blessing to Him." A defining moment for Loreane how he privately handled a low point. Prior to his junior year, Tom!" and a friend were arrested for having small amount of marijuana. Tom!" protested his innocence and were eventually dropped. It was

BITTER THAN <111 La Wife: LaDainian and LaTorsha Tomlinson at the 2007 ESPY Awards in Hollywood in July 2007. <111 La Fan: LT signs a young fan's No. 21 jersey through a chain-link fence at Charger Park in San Diego, where the Bolts conduct their preseason training.

important to him that he was believed that he insisted then-TCU coach Dennis Franchione give him a drug test, which came back negative. But with his name sullied in the press; Tomlinson was distraught. "LaDainian was feeling really, really bad. The Lord told me to go see him. I just picked up the phone and told him, 'I' m coming over.' He said, 'Okay.' He was so busy all week, but he was sitting at home. When God does something, everything is already set in motion. "During my time driving over I was praying for him, asking God for strength to restore him. He was feeling pretty bad. I don't remember what exactly we talked about, but I had come to encourage him, to tell him all would be well. 路 "The Lord told me to tell him if he keeps his eyes on Him, He would take LaDainian places he never dreamed of going. I told him that, and he broke down and cried. He knew he hadn't disappointed God. He knew God had forgiven him. "As the years passed by, I could see what those words meant. I always tell him God is not a liar. Whatever He says, look for it. It will happen. God has stepped in and encouraged him." Even this year, as the Tomlinsons WEB SITE: www.SportsSptct ru m.com

commiserated over the Chargers' struggles, Loreane told her son, ''The Lord said to enjoy the journey, be grateful for the journey. You will receive intense and joy." Loreane would say later when recounting that conversation,"That's not something I would say-intense. ! don't use that word. That was God talking." And that's what LaDainian Tomlinson lets God do. Perhaps men like the Chargers' staffer so impressed by the postgame prayer are surprised because of Tomlinson's lack of posturing about his faith. Tomlinson's witness is one of a constant walk and only rare words. He and LaTorsha attend a growing church in San Diego pastored by former NFL player Terrell Fletcher. He donates his time and money to help children and the underprivileged. And on a daily basis, he is an uncommon husband, friend, and public figure. He does not shy from invoking God's name in conversation, but he is careful about when to do so. He is not prone to the postgame shout out to Christ his Savior. It is the measured omission of a man aware of his humanness. He does not ignore God. In fact, God is always on his mind.

While some believers might have issue with his reluctance, there is no questioning his motive. Nor when his words are dissected is it possible to find holes in his faith or believe he does anything but believe. "I don't want to get to the point where people think that I'm some guy who doesn't mess up," Tomlinson says when asked about his rarely talking about God in interviews with the secular press. "[don't want people to get the wrong idea like I' m perfect. I don't want people to say, 'He's perfect. He doesn't curse.' I don 't curse, but you know. I don't want to give people that feeling of, 'He's perfect.' "Sometimes people get unrealistic views of Christians. Christians are real people. Just because they luve God and strive to be perfect like God doesn't mean they don't mess up. Everybody does." More realistic to Tomlinson is the message he sends by his pouting. At one point early this season, as the Chargers st111ggled, Tomlinson acknowledged his mood swings that accompany losing. More than loving to win, he actually hates to lose. In one quiet moment, he acknowledged his fear that he was becoming known as a poor sport. He has never swung at another player. But he has said things on the field and in the press. His honesty is both a blessing and a curse. He is mindful of what perceptions mean to a man's witness. "I don't want to get to the point where people say, 'I've seen him on the football field push a guy or say something to a guy,' Tomlinson says. "The key for me is learning from the mess-ups and trying to get back on the right track." CJ

<III LaMama:

LaDainain and his mom, Loreane Tomlinson, pose for a photo after being drafted as the newest Campbell's Chunky soup spokespeople in Toronto last April.

I .I

Kevin Acee covers the San Diego Chargers for the San Diego Tribune. SPORTS SPECTRUM - JANUARY路 FEBRUARY 1008

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im Nill's cozy work space is situated in the weathered underbelly of Joe Louis Arena, smack dab in Hockeytown's epicenter. There he is surrounded by reminders of his organization's storied history, which is centered on the I0 Stanley Cup trophies that have made the Detroit Red Wings the winningest hockey franchise in the United States, surpassed on the North American stage by only the Montreal Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs. In his capacity as the Red Wings' assistant general manager, however, Nill's daily chores are focused more on the present and future of a hockey institution that regularly holds itself to the spOit's highest standard while being built around a succinct mission statement. "The expectations are to be No. I," Nill says. "So there's pressure. We all

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SPOR TS SPECTRUM - J AN UARY路 FE BRU ARY 2008

have pressures- It JUSt depends on how you deal with them." As stressful as success-seeking is within the organization, the lofty goals aren't confined to Nill's offices. Outside the walls of the "Joe," the Wings' success is monitored by Detroit's legions of hockey fanatics, who expect nothing less than an annual trip to the Stanley Cup finals. Despite the high-stakes effort that goes into keeping the Red Wings among the National Hockey League's eli te, Nill finds solace in something very different from rinks, rings, and the Stanley Cup. His bedrock is the foundation provided by his faith in Christ and in NiH's daily dependence on a Savior who has carried him to his role with one of the world's most powerful hockey organizations. "We always go back to our faith in the

end," Nill says. "That's our stability." Nill's place within the management of the Red Wings' infrastructure is one he never expected to find himself occupying. Nill, who spent 9 years as a journeyman NHL right-winger for St. Louis, Vancouver, Boston, Winnipeg, and Detroit, never planned to continue working in a game he had played since his childhood. Not even his spot on Team Canada's 1984 Olympic team seemed to suggest to Nill that hockey was in his post-playing future. Nill, who had long been fascinated with the stock market, sought a career in financial planning rather than continuing in the hockey world. After being given the chance to coach at the minor league level at the end of his playing career, however, Nill followed a road to the front office. He spent 3 years in Ottawa as a scout

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DETROIT RED WINGS ASSISTANT GM JIM NILL FINDS STABILITY AS HE SEEKS TO HELPTHE WINGS WIN •

BY JEFF ARNOLD

for the Senators before being hired by the Red Wings in 1994. While continuing on a professional journey that routinely takes him around the world, Nill has also continued to grow in his faith in Christ while working in a sport in which faith is often looked upon as a weakness. "It's kind of a difficult"setting, where there are lots of challenges," says Laurie Boschman, who played both against Nil! and as his teammate during his NHL career, and who now works with Hockey Ministries International. "Hockey's been one of the last major sports to really embrace Christianity." But Boschman-who spent 14 years in the NHL and who was often ridiculed for his faith- sees in Nill a shining example of one of hockey's great, godly di fference-makers. "You can just see it in the way he WEB SITE : www . Spor t sSpu tr um.com

does his job and in his work ethic and in the way he maintains his integrity and consistency," he says. "That's one of the biggest things I see in Jim's life." In a league in which born-again Christians are often viewed as passive and unable to match the game's physical nature, having believing executives in place can have a positive effectaccording to former NHL enforcer Stu Gri mson. "I think it's extremely important because there are a lot of folks in a position to make decisions who look at Clu·istians as being soft," says Grimson, who now works with the National Hockey League Players Association. "So I think when you have folks like Jim, they bring more of a balanced view when it comes to what having Christians on your roster could do for a team." Nill grew up always considering his

faith to be strong, but he really saw his Christianity come alive when he met his wife, Bekki, 25 years ago. Before then, he found himself growing up in a country where one's faith isn't often discussed and where it is maintained from withi n. But in Bekki, Nil! noticed a different level of faith, inspiring him to make his own faith in Christ a more vibrant part of his life. He found himself hungrier to spend time in the Scriptures, building on a relationship that continues to grow. "I know I've come a long way, and I know I've got a long way to go yet. We're always strivi ng to get there, and it's a daily process," Ni l! says. "But I'm at peace knowing God and knowing He's helping me along the way. It's reassuring to know that He is there." Outside of hockey, Nill sees his faith bloom through his family-a wife who's beaten breast cancer, a daughter who is in college, a son who plays hockey in British Columbia, and a daughter who's just stm1ing high school. It is at home, in church, and in the moments he spends away from the stresses of the hockey business where Nil! continues to grow the most. He'll often spend hours on fl ights to Europe to scout international talent, pouring through the Scriptures as he continues to strive to learn more about the God he serves. Duriug his quiet time, Nill discovers peace and contentment while also relying on the instruction that keeps him on God's path to righteousness. "It's funny how God hits us in the head at certain times and says, 'Hey, wake up- you're on a little bit of skid here. Let's straighten the wheels out,' " Nill says. "But I know through it all, He's going to see me through." Nill often ties his faith in with the familiar path he has followed with the Red Wings to a championship. During Nill 's tenure in Detroit, the Red Wings have captured three Stanley Cup titles, the most recent in 2002. "There's going to be some great times; there's going to be some rough times. There's going to be some hurdles and challenges along the way, and there's going to be times when you question what you're doing," Nill says. "And I think that happens in our faiththey're very similar paths. But it's the end that matters." 0

..,. The Joe: (far lett) One of Jim Nill's jobs is to make sure Joe Louis Arena is still the place to be in Motown on hockey night. ..,. The braintrust: (top) In 1997, the management team showed off some impressive Red Wings hardware. ..,. The draft: (below) Jim Nill and General Manager Ken Holland confer at the 2007 NHL Draft on June 23, 2007 in Columbus, Ohio. The Red Wings had the 27th pick in the first round and selected Brendan Smith, who is currently playing for the University of Wisconsin. .._ The man: (above) Jim Nill played in the Stanley Cup finals in 1982 as a member of the Vancouver Canucks, who lost to the New York Islanders.

Jeff Amold, who resides in the Detroit suburb of Canton, is a sports reporter for the Ann Arbor News. SPORTS SPECTR UM - JAN UAR Y· FEBRUARY 200 8

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IN HOCKEY, IT'S CALLED T HE CODE.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN, AND HOW DOES IT AFFECT CHRISTIAN HOCKEY PLAYERS? •

I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I

BY TED KLU CK

here are differing strategies as to how best to do it-some say to put your head down and throw as many punches as possible. Others advocate grabbing your opponent's jersey and holding on for dear life, while still others would suggest that it's best to let your opponent wear himself out before pouncing. There are camps that teach it, and its purveyors are valuable, highly paid assets to NHL franchises. Fighting is what we're talking about. Good, old-fashioned hockey fights. Laurie Bosch man, a veteran of 14 NHL seasons, and a Christian, thinks there is a place for fighting in hockey, and more impottant, he feels that there is a place for Christians in hockey. "There's this perception that people who are professing Christians should look and act a certain way," he says. "I was a rough and tumble player. I racked up a lot of penalty minutes, and I had to square everythi ng I did in my career, and my life, in light of Scripture." Boschman, who is one of only 16 players in NHL history to have recorded 500-plus points and 2,000-plus penalty minutes in their careers, says that the NHL has cleaned the game up a great deal since the bench-clearing brawl era of the 1970s. "During the Philadelphia Flyers' heyday in the 70s, hockey was known for the bench-clearing brawl and guys going up into the stands and that sort of thing," he says. "Now there is physicality there on every shift, and teams are even going away from having just one guy on the roster who CODE fights. But fighting is still THE n • Unw r itton Rules cr Fi ghting ., Het.a l!atton an infraction, and it's NHL still on the rule booksthough it plays a smaller . --:·--, , part than it used to." The unwritten rules that cover fighting in pro hockey are sometimes w..,.,_ referred to as 'The Code" 1

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and have been the subject of a recent book by Ross Bernstein, as well as much debate both inside and outside professional hockey. Code apologists defend it as a necessary part of the game, similar to the intentional foul in basketball or the brushback pitch in baseball. Detractors blame the Code for the NHL's steady decline in viewership and popularity.

Terms of lngogement A closer look at fighting in hockey reveals that captains and scorers are usually off limits, and most of the brawling is done by a few playersknown around the league as "enforcers"- who see the ice only when their unique services are needed. They fight only each other, and they

pair off along lines usually seen in professional boxing: heavyweights with heavyweights, middleweights with middleweights, and lightweights with other lightweights. "The players look after it," Boschman says of fighting. "Generally speaking, the players and the fighters have an understanding of what's appropriate and what isn't. Tough guys will fight tough guys, and players have long memories. There's an understanding that if you go after a goalie, you will have to pay for that down the line. It may not be the next time you play, but it will happen in time. These guys aren't out there sucker punching each other, and there's a genuine mutual respect that players catTy off the ice." The fights happen as a result of little indiscretions that may have taken place days or weeks in TO SUBS CR IBE TO SPORTS SPECTRUM: CALL 1·866·821·2971

advance-events that usually involve sticking up for a captain, or a scorer who has been checked in the back, or retaliation for an opponent using the stick as a weapon. And while this may stlike some as barbaric, it is a unique part of what makes hockey perhaps the only spo11 that truly regulates itself. The fights themselves, which often signal momentum shifts throughout the course of a game, have a cult following of their own. A visit to the Web site www.hockeyfights. com reveals a sort of online archive of pro hockey fi ghts, categorized by year and player. Visitors can view video cli ps and then vote on winners and losers. According to a recent USA Today article, the Web site receives nearly 800,000 viewers per month.

The Grim Reaper According to Stu Grimson, who amassed over 2,000 penalty minutes as a player for eight NHL clubs, fighting has a more tactical purpose. "It's evolved to the point where it's not done at random," he says. "And I always said to myself, 'If someone on the team has to do this unpleasant physical work and stick up for the smaller guys, it should be me.' "

WEB SIT E: www.S po rtsSpu tru m. co m

Grimson, outspoken about his Christianity, stands 6' 6", weighs 240 pounds, and was dubbed "The Grim Reaper" for his fearsome fighting style. He came of age during the 1996-97 season when he scored wins over such lighters as Randy McKay, Dan路en Langdon, and Shane Churl a. "I never stopped trying to add other aspects to my game," says Grimson. "But fighting was always an important part of the game, and something I took pride in. The lighting was something my teammates valued, though I never really cared for it. It wasn't a part of the game I enjoyed." Grimson said that although he frequently faced critiques and questions from people in the Christian community regarding his craft, he never felt judged by other Christian hockey players, who he felt understood his role. "A Christian defensive lineman [in football] isn't going to let up on a quarterback or pass up an opportunity to make a hit," Grimson explai ns. "And a Christian pitcher isn't going to stop throwing inside stuff. I talked to [former major league pitcher Frank] Tanana often, and he said, '!threw my inside stuff before I was a Christian, and you beller believe I threw it after I became a Christian.' " Gri mson began suffering the effects of postconcussion synd rome in his last season and was reportedly forced to retire after a bout with Georges Laroque of the Edmonton Oilers. "I had some tough years," he told reporters then. He now suffers only the occasional headache and recentl y completed his law degree at the University of Memphis Law School. Grimson is now employed by the NHLPA. "Fighting is something that takes place within the context of the game," he says. "There's something honorable about it. And there's a camaraderie between the guys that fight. There are lots of old stories and shared experiences. I recently got to spend some time with (former Philadelphia Flyers enforcer) Dave Brown, who was a guy I locked horns with often. He's a line guy." 0 SPORTS SPECTRUM - JANUARY 路 FEBRUARY 2008

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THE NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE HAS NOT HISTORICALLY BEEN A HOTBED OF CHRISTIAN ATHLETES. FOR VARIOUS

J u

REASONS, THERE IS BUT A HANDFUL OF BELIEVERS IN THE LEAGUE. AMONG THOSE ARE BEN WALTER, THE SON

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OF A FORMER NHL PLAYER;

DEAN MCAMMOND, A LONG-TIME STALWART WHO HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE 1991, AND DAVE TANABE, A JOURNEYMAN WHO IS BACK WITH THE TEAM THAT DRAFTED HIM IN 1999. I

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BlNWAlllR Son

t's been said that professional sports is a business. Well, Ben Walter experienced that often-used adage firsthand last September. Walter, the son of NHL veteran Ryan Walter, was drafted by the Boston Brui ns in 2004 and spent two seasons in their organi zation. Shortl y after he arrived for training camp this fall, he got word that he had been traded to the New York Islanders. The trade caught Walter off guard. Just last year, he was named Most Valuable Player of the Bruins' American Hockey League affiliate in Providence, scoring 24 goals and 43 assists for 67 points. "I was quite survrised at first, mostly with the timing of the whole thing," the 23-year-old center says. " It was hard to leave all the friends that I had made on the team, but at the same time you have to realize that this is a business." Walter says he's excited to be a part of the Islanders, who grabbed the eighth and linal playoff spot in the Eastern Conference last winter, then fell to Buffalo in the quar1erfinals. GEIT<....o<s "The Islanders are a great organi zation with big plans for the future," he says. "I see myself fitting in as a part of the team's future, and I'm willing to chip in however I can." A future in professional hockey seemed destined for Ben Walter. At age 2, he was already skating on the icc of the famous Montreal Forum- his dad was wi th the Canadiens in the mid1980s-and as he got older he moved up through the ranks: from youth and high school hockey to minor league hockey and into collegiate hockey. "I've always hoped that Ben and Ryan [Jr. I and Joe IWalter's other sonsI would love the game because I loved the game," Ryan says. "But I didn't want it to be my dream; I wanted it to be their dream. To be a son of an NHL player, there are a lot of expectations from other

people. But the only expectations that Jennifer and I had for them is to love what they do and be the best they can be. If that were in tennis, soccer, or whatever, in school. They chose hockey, so we're excited about that." What's also been exciting for Ryan is watching Ben carry himself with dignity on and off the ice as he tries to establish himself in the league. "He really keeps his eye on the ball and, ' How do I get back there (into the NHL)?' " says Ryan, who gives seminars and motivational speeches as a leadership and personal performance coach. "And he goes about his business. He's really level-headed. Maybe the Lord has helped him there, but he takes it a day at a time, and he works to get better a day at a time." Although Ryan has been a mentor throughout Ben's hockey career, he says his father's and mother's influence in his Christian walk is even more prevalent. "My parents raised me in a Christian home and environment," Ben says. "I came to know the Lord when I was 4 years old in my bedroom with my parents there. I reaffirmed my faith when I was a little older, but I have considered myself a Christian for as long as I can remember." Some might say th at being a Christian in the NHL is difficult because of hockey's nrgged nature and because the players can drop their gloves if tempers flare. Walter begs to differ. "l don' t think it's any harder to be a Christian in the NHL than a Christian in any other profession," he says. "I never push my faith on anyone but always try to act in a way that people notice is different. I try to let the way I live and the way I treat people do the talking for me. "My goals as a Christian arc to be myself and not let anyone or anything change how I act or how I live my life. I

BRUCE BEhNI"n STUOIOS I GETTY tMAOES

For Ben Walter, It's time to prove that he's ready for the Big Show. After playing In six games for Boston In 2005-06 and in four games for the Bruins the next season, Walter is still trying to earn his way onto the ice for the Islanders after four early season appearances. His dad, Ryan, (above) who spent 15 years In the NHL, got into show business as well. He was a consultant for the movie Miracle, and he played a referee In the movie version of the big USA vs. Russia s howdown.

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WEB SI TE: ww w.S portsSpec t rum . com

SPORTS SPEC TRUM - JANUARY - fEBRUARY 200 8

MIN ORIT Y REPORT

want to be an example and have people notice my character and values while never being pushy about it." 0 - Mike Sandrolini

McAMMOND I

Purpose-Driven forward uring last season's Stanley Cup Finals, Dean McAmmond was arguably playi ng the best hockey of his career, which is 15 seasons and counting. He had played in 81 of the Sens' 82 regular-season contests and 18 of the club's playoff games- a long road in the quest for Lord Stanley's Cup, which took Ottawa to the finals against the Anaheim Ducks. (The Senators defeated Pittsburgh, New Jersey, and Buffalo to advance to the finals.) Unfortunately for McAmmond, his postseason came to an abrupt end in Game 3 of the finals. Shortly after scoring the go-ahead goal for the Senators late in the second period, McAmmond, trying to skate past rugged Ducks defenseman Chris Pranger on an offensive msh over the blue line, shot the puck, then caught an elbow to the head, courtesy of Prenger. McAmmond fell to the ice and slid into the boards. Eventually, he was helped up by teammates and skated off with their assistance. Pronger was suspended by the league for Game 4, but McAmmond, who had suffered a concussion, ended up missing the rest of the series, which the Ducks won 4 games to I. The native of Grand Cache, Alberta, recovered and started the 2007-08 campaign on schedule with the Senators after re-signing with them over the summer. Little did he know he was about to fall victim to another vicious hit, this one delivered during an ex hi bition game against the Philadelphia Flyers in late September. McAmmond was carrying the puck behind the Flyers' goal when just after he centered it, Flyers' rookie Steve Downie--coming in from the opposite side around the net- slammed full force into McAmmond. The 34-yearold McAmmond lay motionless, face first, on the ice. He was carried off on a stretcher, with his neck stabilized,

.,. Long-term Senator: Dean McAmmond played in his SOoth career NHL game last March. The former first-round draft pick of the Chicago Blackhawks (1 991) is in his 16th year In the league and second with the Ottawa Senators.

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and taken by ambulance to a local Ottawa hospital. Miraculously, McAmmond left the hospital later that evening, but the Senators put him on injured reserve to sta11 the season as he began recovering from his second concussion in less than four months. (He's suffered three concussions during his career.) "They let me out right away, took a CT scan," says McAmmond, who also suffered a sprained shoulder from the hit. "Nothing broken. IThey said tol have my wife wake me and ask me questions every couple of hours." McAmmond looks at Prenger's elbow as just part of Pranger's game: "He reaches out and gives you a shot to keep you off-balance. Lots of guys do it;' McAmmond says. Downie's hit, though, appeared to be more intentional. Downie, who received a 20-game suspension from the NHL, later called McAmmond to apologize. McAmmond

spoke with Downie and insists he doesn't hold a grudge against either Downie or Pranger. "When I looked at the Downie hi t, and looked at the fact that I walked out of the hospital that night feeling pretty decent, I' m thankful that God had His hand on my life," he says. "Whatever comes out of this media attention, I feel like God is always up to something, whether it's in my li fe or hockey career." His attitude stems from his perspective. "I' m in a place where I know that my career and my life- it's not about me. God has plans. As I realize the things that God is doing, and as I see things more, like this hit, not lbeing] angry about it- and the one in the playoffs last year- 1 don't question it so much anymore, and just want to be used by God. "These are things that He's allowed in my life to renect His glory." 0 - Mike Sandrolini

DAVl TANABl

Hurricane force s the Carolina Hurricanes' first selection in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft, 19-year-old David Tanabe's ticket to hockey stardom had already been punched. One of just four '99 draftees to reach the NHL that season, he found himself in the Stanley Cup Final two seasons later. At a time when most players his age were developing in the minor leagues, Tanabe was in a sometimes uncomfortable spotlight, dealing with the pressures of being a top draft pick while learni ng to defend some of the best skaters in the world. But the whirlwind li festyle of a rising NHL star was nothing compared to the stilTi ng he felt in his soul when on Easter Sunday in 2000, Tanabe fully embraced Jesus Christ as his Savior. "I grew up going to church, and there was always a belief, but it certainly wasn't 'real' to me," Tanabe says. "When I decided to take a deeper step and began to read His Word and dive into my own faith, I realized that there was more to life than just hockey." Looking to get more physical on defense, the 'Canes sent Tanabe to Phoenix in June 2003 in exchange for veteran Danny Markov. Tanabe continued to blossom with the Coyotes, ranking second on the team in goals by a defenseman before his season was cut short by a knee injury. Tanabe recovered and spent the league's "lockout" season with a pair of Swiss teams, racking up 19 points in 28 games. Shortly after NHL play resumed, Tanabe was traded to Boston. It proved to be deja vu all over again- what was shaping up to be a successful season with the Bruins was wlped out by Tanabe's second knee injury in a little more than 2 years. Then, during recovery, the Bruins refused his arbitration victory, making the two-way blueliner a free agent again. "When you face that much adversity in such a short time period, it can be di fficult to see what's going on," Tanabe says. "All you can do is turn to God's Word." Back to full strength, Tanabe signed a 1-year contract with Carolina in August 2006, giving him a chance to display the

WEB SITE: www .Spo rtsSp 1ct r um.com

speed and skills that led the organization .to draft him 7 years earl ier- in addition to a maturation that only comes with years of NHL experience. Tanabe's faith had matured as well, so when he found himself a free agent at season's end, he rested in the assurance that the Lord would continue to direct his path. After spending training camp with the St. Louis Blues, Tanabe inked a 3-year deal to return to the Hu1Ticanes for a third time in October of 2007. "I've definitely learned a lot about what it means to be on a team where you're a good lit," he says. "We have a lot of strong character guys-good family guys and good Christian guys like Cam Ward and Glen Wesley. This is a special team." Over the last few years, Tanabe's

perspecti ve has changed as well- no longer does he look to others to decide the type of NHL player he's destined to be. "I think for so long I was trying to change my ways or be something I wasn't," he says. "I thin k my play has improved since I began to trust in what God has given me. "That's been the biggest thingfocusing on trying to do my best and just letting who I am come out," Tanabe says. "It's been fun since He's taken the weight off my shoulders, and I am starting to reall y enjoy the game again." C> - Dave Pond

.6. For hockey and country: Dave Tanabe was one of four American players drafted in the first round when the 'Canes selected him in the 1999 NHL draft. Over the years, Tanabe has competed for USA Hockey, including playing on the 2000-2001 US World Championship team.

Dave Pond is a freelance wriJer who lives in Clay/on, Norlh Carolina. SPORTS SPECTR UM -JANUARY-FEBRUAR Y 2008

r------------------------ --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------, When faith and sports collide, some people get a little nervous. But if they would just think deeply and then learn a bit about the top Christians in sports, they might feel better. •

BY DAVE BRANON

A close proximity between the two can be problematic in a postmodern culture that embraces tolerance over truth and inclusiveness over spiritual realities. fn that kind of society, criticism awaits nearly everyone in the sports world who stands up for traditional, biblical, Christian fa ith. Almost any athlete who suggests that he or she values a saving faith in Jesus Christ faces a barrage of negative responses ranging from the tired "Christians are soft" contention to the unrealistic view that "faith is private and should not be presented in a public arena like sports" to the easily refuted "God has too much to do to be interested in sports." None of these critici sms of Christians who happen to participate in sports and have the'temerit)"<to talk about faith can stand up under the scrutiny of truth, history, or even logic. Evidence that these criticisms are unfounded ca1 be found in the lives of five sports figures who mod eled true Christianity for all to see in 2007- men and women who showed that belief in Jesus is not only compatible with sports but also predominant to it in importance. These are sports people who know how to win on the field of play while enjoying a vic tory of the heart that permeates sports and life and leads to ultimate victory. They are tough, they present their faith winsomely, and they show that God, while perhaps not wrapped up in sports, does care about the people who participate in them.

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JOSH HAMILTON: The Comebacl芦 IUd

TONY DUNGY: Classy Champion Patience, Mr. Dungy. Your time did not come back in the 70s when you . . were playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Super Bowl. Wait for it. Your time did not come in the 80s when you were making a name for yourself as the best assistant coach not hired as a head coach. Wait for it. Your time did not come in the 90s when you fi nally got that big chance and you took over a moribund Tampa Bay Buccaneers team. Wait for it. Your time did not come when the Bucs turned their back on you and the way you had brought the team to respectability-and handed the team over to a kid from Oakland who would take your guys to a Super Bowl. Wait for it. And your time did not come when you turned the Indianapolis Colts into a regular-season success story only to see that rum pled guy in the boody keep stealing your chance at the Super Bowl. Now! Your time came in 2007. A perfect storm of events converged for you as you got the recognition you deserved but seemed so uncomfortable accepting. Your team was the best in the league. Your good friend had the next-best team. You decided to give in and write your memoir. A Super Bowl victory over Lovie Smith gave you another chance to respond with a class and dignity that only a few clearly miserable pundits could criticize. When the spotlight shone on you for the fact that you and your buddy Lovie had accomplished a remarkable feat as black men, you turned the spotlight on Jesus Christ- the One who erases the lines of demarcation men like to draw in the sands of life. And when your book came out, it clearly pointed away from you and toward your Savior. It became a No. I bestseller on the New York Times list, and the world had no choice but to talk about it. Patience is indeed a virtue that you, Mr. Tony Dungy, proved can be the trademark of coaching genius as you climbed alongside John Wooden as one of the most respectable successful coaches in American sports annals. 0 WEB SITE: www. SportsSp ec t rum . com

had given up on Josh Hamilton. who could blame them? Here was another wunderkind who had fame foisted on him too early, and he responded by flaming out on riotous living. He was, indeed, baseball 's prodigal son. Pigs' husks were too good for a young man with caring parents, a multimillion-dollar contract, and the hopes of a struggling franchise on his shoulder- but who tossed it all away to grab the fl eeting, destructive high of illicit drugs. Hamilton was destined to become another grimy footnote in baseball history. Yet someone cared him back. Name of Katie. She married him during a sober ti me in his life, but he turned out to be a rotten husband. Drugs does that to good people. She kicked him out, but then turned to Jesus, who influenced her to forgive Josh. Jesus can do that to anybody. Without Katie and without Jesus, Josh would never have turned his li fe around, reunited with his famil y, and ended up with the Reds. He wouldn 't have hit 19 home runs, knocked in 49 runs, and batted .292 in 2007 playing a game no one thought he would ever play at the major league level. Hamilton knows what he faces as a recovering addict- he's one bad decision from throwing it all away. But Katie and Jesus are doing what they can to make sure that never happens. 0

JEFF GRO$S / GEtn' IYAGES

SPORTS SPECTRUM - JA NUA RY路 FE BRUAR Y 2008

ALLYSON FELIX: .k'i\

. . . She has gone on record as wanting to " " " change the perception of track and field athletes. Taking the mantle of natural competition upon her slender shoulders, Allyson Felix would like to recapture lost ground for athletes in her field-ground lost to the Marion Joneses and Ben Johnsons of the world, athletes who were not satisfied with what God gave them and therefore sought lightning in a vial. It's a goal that came upon her kind of suddenly, just as did her career as a world-class runner. One day she was just another kid playing basketball at Los Angeles Baptist High School. But then she ran in some track events and discovered how incredibly fleet she was. Similarly, she was cruising along as a maturing track athletenever giving any thoughts to the influence of drugs on her sports. But then she found out what was going on, and, she says, "I was shocked." Now, though, "there's a younger generation of fresh and focused athletes coming up now, and that will help clean it up," she says. Nobody's going to let a young woman lead the way on a campaign to clean up her sport unless she leads the way on the track. In 2007, Felix did just that. In late summer of 2007, she traveled to Osaka, Japan, and defended her world title in the 200 meters. That wasn't all. Felix won two more gold medals at the IAAF World Championships, teaming up with the US team for two of them in the 400 and I ,600 relays. Who wouldn't listen to a clean-living, fair-competing track star who is arguably the best sprinter in the world? 0

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ZACH JOHNSON: ..._ Who wears a green jacket to church on Easter Sunday? On purpose? Only the most brave. Only someone who can stand up to the best golfer in the world and beat him on the biggest stage there is. When Zach Johnson awoke on Easter Sunday last April, he was tied for fourth place behind Stewart Appleby, the forementioned Tiger Woods, and Justin Rose. During the day, he was just one of six players who at one time had their names listed atop the Augusta leaderboard. But in the end, Zach Johnson stood alone on golf's pinnacle. To be路 at the top at Augusta means the spotlight, the TV cameras, the guys asking questions, and--Df course-that green jacket. Sticking a mic in Johnson's face, Jim Nantz of CBS Sports revealed to the world how this relatively unknown golfer from Iowa would respond to newfound fame and fortune. Johnson stood there next to Nantz and turned the whole thing into a church service-an Easter Sonrise service. "Because it's Easter today," he told golf fans everywhere, "I want to say, 'Thank you, Jesus.' "Johnson wasn't done. "My goal is to glorify God," he said, "and hopefully I did that today." Indeed, that is exactly what the previously little-known golfer did that day, reminding everyone who had forgotten just exactly what Easter is all about. 0

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p:!J.:

__ _

OVER

GOD's GAME

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COLORADO ROCIUES: The Rockies' Road Let's get this If the Colorado Rockies had finished last in the NL West in 2007, they would still hqve made a pretty good story. After all, the revelation that from the general manager to the field manager to some of their key players there were Christians sprinkled throughout the organization made news in 2006. That was long before this eclectic mix of the devout and the not-so-devout gelled.on a mid-September day against the LA Dodgers and went on a hot streak for the ages. The fact that the Rockies went from nowhere to Boston in just five weeks time makes it a story of special significance. With gum-chewing Clint Hurdle coaxing his youngsters along; with who-knowswhere-he-came-from Matt Herges reappearing in a major league bullpen to help out; with rescued-from-Kansas-City Jeremy Affeldt mastering his face-the-lefty relief chores; and with glad-to-be-here Matt Holliday hitting like Mickey Mantle, the National League champion Rockies became known for more than the team without Playboy in the clubhouse. They grew to be respected for never giving up, for always stepping back from the cliff, and for putting the sparkle in the web gems. Some scoffed when GM Charles Monfort revealed that he was using biblical principles to run his baseball team. But one World Series later, no one seems to be laughing anymore. 0 WEB SITE : www.SportsSpect r um.com

Seattle Pacific is a premier Christian university that equips people to engage the culture and change the world. Its high-quality academic program serves nearly 3,900 undergraduate and graduate students. Located in the Pacific Northwest, SPU graduates people of competence and character who bring about positive change in the communities they serve. The SPU Falcons compete in M/W basketball, M/W cross country/track, M/W soccer, M/W rowing, and women's gymnastics and volleyball. Member, NCAA Division 11 18 national team titles 47 M/W intramural sports/activities Men's basketball team reached the National Semifinal of 2006 NCAA tournament Women's cross country team finished second in the nation in 2007.

Seatde Pacific UNIVER S ITY

1-800-366-3344 1email: admissions@spu edu Iwww.spu.edu

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up: Marty Tad man is one of those athletes who likes to honor God when things happen in his lifebut with No. 20, it's not a show. It's the real deal. In this case, Tadman was celebrating an interception that he returned 27 yards for a TO against Oklahoma during the Tostito's Fiesta Bowl on January 1, 2007.

drugs, sometimes making as much as $1,000 in a month. "My life at 16 was going to clubs every day, going to parties every day, going to bars every day, trying to get as many girls as I could," Tadman says. At 17, Tad.man was caught by the police with drugs, resulting in misdemeanor charges. ft scared him. But still , Tadman made such a poor impression at his recruiting visit to Boise State in January 2004 the coaches nearly withdrew a scholarship offer. Then a desperate Tadman made his life-changing discovery alone on the Cali fornia beach. It wasn't at a church, or a response to a television evangelist's prompting. It was out of a hunger for something more in life. "Marty wouldn't say his conversion was a Saul experience on the way to Damascus," says Steve Crane, Tadman's pastor at Eagle Christian Church in Eagle, Idaho. "But he would say he knew he had to make a change."

SPORT S SPECTRUM - JA NUARY - FEBRUARY 2008

"Nobody really knew me," Tadman says. Recruiters from USC, Notre Dame and Boise State knew him as a high school All-American, a two- way starter with the knack for making big plays. In high school, he played wide receiver, quarterback, and defensive back, plus he returned punts. Friends knew him as the wild partycr. His parents-his mother is a private investigator and his father is a businessman- knew him as a good student, a good athlete, and a good kid. "He was a very good actor," his mother, Joey, says. Tadman was transformed after that night on the ocean beach, a night he angrily left a party because of a fight. After that encounter with God, he stopped doing drugs, stopped partying, and stopped womanizing. His high school friends were shocked by the change. "I saw a complete change in him,"

says Nicole Tadman, Tadman's high school girl friend and now his wife. " ! found a drug more powerful, a party more fun in God," Marty Tadman says. "He showed me true happiness." Now Tadman calls himself a "walking evangelism cube." His arms are covered with tattoos, including Scripture verses on salvation and drawings of Jesus. It's the' gospel message in tattoo form. " It is a great outreach toward the world," Tadman says. "Not a day goes by that someone doesn't ask about my tattoos." It's taken 55 hours for a Christian friend to do all the tattoos on both of Tadman's arms, from his shoulders to wrists. On one of Boise State's games that was televised on ESPN, the announcers talked about Tadman's Christian faith as cameras showed close-ups of his anns. Tadman is a committed Christian who makes a difference. He's a faith-

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路-------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------"What Marty tries to do is point people toward Christ,'' Crane says. "He gives God the glory." Tadman's journey has taken him from drug and alcohol abuse, to a national role as an All-American football player on a nationally ranked team, to leading a large Bible study on campus. The transformation is like night and day. "I was ready to end my life,'' Tadman says. "I came to the beach that night with nothing, and I left with everything." 0

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Out of the blue: Tadman and some of his teammates pause on the blue turf of Bronco Stadium to unify their hearts in prayer.

Veteran sportswriter Gail Wood, who played college football for the University of Puget Sound, lives in Olympia, WA, where he writes for The Olympian. ful volunteer at his church- giving his testimony, helping with fundraisers, and working with other college kids. "And it's not just with our church," Crane says. "He's also spoken at high schools, junior high and grade schools." Tadman, a good golfer, was even auctioned off to play in a foursome to raise money for a building project at Eagle Christian. Tadman then surprised Crane when he auctioned off his BSU jersey. "Players get to keep one jersey a year," Crane says. "His freshman jersey he gave to his parents. He gave this jersey to the church. That's just Marty." The jersey went for about $16,000. It's Tadman's passion that makes his testimony so powerful. He's been through so much. For the past several years, Crane has been mentoring Tad man, meeting with him once a week for instruction and accountability. After several meetings, Crane became annoyed with Tadman. "The first couple of times we met, I was really disappointed because he didn't write anything down," Crane says. "He never took notes." Finally, Crane put Tadrnan on the spot. "I said, 'Marty, I want you to share with me what I've been sharing with you the last couple of weeks,' and he gave it right back to me verbatim. He has a phenomenal mind, as well as Christian character. He's a very smart guy." Boise State coach Chris Peterson has called Tadman "the smartest guy in college football." Tad man's conversion story from drugs to Christ has drawn national attention, told in magazines, newspapers, and Web sites. WEB S ITE: www.Sp ortsSpectrum .co m

"He's always giving his testimony," Crane said. "I see football as a platform,'' Tadman says. "It's my opportunity to share my faith." The national attention, his success on the football field, and even the attention and admiration inside his church hasn' t inflated Tadman's ego. A Boise State graduate went so far as to name his child Marty Tadman Nettles. But Tadman's celebrity status hasn't changed the way he sees himself- a forgiven sinner. "You won't see Marty getting all puffed up," Crane says. "It's more, 'Come on, I' m just a football player.' He' ll say on the scale of things, football is really unimportant. He really tries to point people toward Christ. He gives God the glory." Tadman uses football as a way to share his life-changing experience. "You'll never hear an interview with him that you won't hear about his faiih,'' Crane says. Tadman's commitment to sharing that hope and faith in Jesus is why he's used his arms as a billboard, telling the gospel's message of salvation. Crane has seen Tadman's tattooed message. Crane shares the same message, but not necessaril y the mode of the message. "Oh, I don't want my sons to get tattoos,'' Crane says with a chuckle. ''I don't condone tattoos. But Marty is going to reach a group of people I can't." Tadman's insight into despair will also help him empathi ze and connect with the down and out. He's the illustrated man with a mission.

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Marty Tadman faced a difficult either end the relationship with his high school girlfriend or make a commitment. Coming out of high school in Mission Viejo, California, Tadma n and Nicole James both were offered athletic scholarships. Tadman went to Boise State to play football. James went to Drake to play soccer. Separated by 1,700 miles, their only contacts were .bY e-mail, text-messages, and long-distance phone calls. Absence truly made their hearts grow fonder. Nicole and Marty were married in June 2006, 2 years after Marty graduated from high school. After Marty proposed in the spring of 2005, Nicole transferred from Drake to Boise State, and they married a year later. "We didn't have any doubts about getting married," Nicole says. Nicole's and Marty's parents, however, thought differently. They thought the two college athletes were too young to marry. But after Nicole and Marty went through pre-marriage counseling with their pastor, they were married. The couple is involved in an on-campus Bible study at Boise State and they attend church in Eagle, Idaho. Their faith and trust in God has been a blessing to their marriage. "God is our lives," Nicole says. The Tadmans are one of two married couples on the football and women's soccer teams. 1

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â&#x20AC;˘ Bu Joshua Cooleu C:atc:IUng Up With Cluulle Wartd FORMER NBA STAR lthough Charlie Ward has amassed some splendid achievements in his lifetime, there is one thing he'll never be noted for: Talking about himself. "That aU?" he asked near the conclusion of a recent phone conversation from his Houston home. He wasn't being rude. It's just that there's only so much about Charlie that Ward cares to discuss. Ward's modesty made his recent decision-one that probably dropped quite a few jaws in basketball circles-quite easy. The 1993 Heisman Trophy winner once ruled the sporting landscape. After a spectacular college football career, he landed in the NBA, where he played for 11 years and coached for another two. As a further testament to his sheer athleticism, he even was drafted twice by Major League Baseball teams and participated in a charity tennis event prior to the 1994 US Open. Just don't ask him to talk about any of it. Last June, Ward left his position as a Houston Rockets assistant coach to join the staff at Westbury Christian School, a small, private K-12 school in Houston, where he's currently a basketball coach. Not the head coach, mind you. He's an assistant coach. "People who know Charlie the most probably aren't that surprised,'' says Greg Glenn, Westbury Christian's executive administrator. ''What he has accomplished is not going to get in the way." Oh, the things he accomplished! In 1993, the 6-foot-2 native of Thomasville, Georgia, was the greatest college football player in the land. His accurate arm and escape skills translated into an amazing statistical season (69.5 percent completion rate, 3,032 passing yards, 27 TDs, 4 INTs), a landslide Heisman Trophy win, SPORT S SPEC TR UM ON T HE

and Florida State's first national championship. He also helped guide the Seminoles' basketball team to three NCAA tournaments in four seasons. Undrafted by the NFL in 1994, Ward became a first-round draft pick of the New York Knicks later that year. In 11 seasons, including brief stints with San Antonio and Houston, he averaged 6.3

last year and was immediately intrigued with the idea of shifting to the high school level. He now works fulltime as a school admissions/development administrator and also coached Westbury Christian's quarterbacks in the fall. "Charlie recognized an opportunity where he could impact some people in a way few people could, and he is taking advantage

a good thing going. The Wildcats have won 14 Texas private school championships in the last 18 years. The football team, meanwhile, is more of a work in progress. For Ward, the challenge of coaching at a grassroots level is exciting. At the NBA level, he didn't have the opportunity to mold young players or learn how to deal with parents and alumni.

4 From the NBA to TAPPS. Charlie Ward was an assistant with the Houston Rockets after his playing days ended. But now he helps Coach Russell Carr teach the Wildcats of Westbury Christian School of Houston. WCS competes in the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools.

points and four assists per game at guard, helping New York reach the play.offs 6 straight years from 1996 to 2001. After injuries forced his retirement in 2005, he stayed on with the Rockets as an assistant coach. But NBA life started wearing thin. Now 36 years old, Ward was burdened about the time away from his wife, Tonja, and their two children. He wanted to put down roots in one place and learn coaching's finer nuances. "AU these things started weighing on my mind,'' he says. "I thought it must be time to go." The NBA's loss is Westbury Christian's windfall. He met Glenn through a mutual coaching friend

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of it," Glenn says. "He's going to reach kids you and I could only think about reaching." Despite his dazzling athletic resume, Ward exudes no superiority complex. A Christian since age 10, he has exhibited humility uncommon among athletic stars of his luster. "He has never at any point made me feel like he is overshadowing me in any way,'' Westbury Christian first-year basketball coach Russell Carr says. "That has been the neatest thing in getting to know him. There's no question, with his testimony, what type of guy he is." Carr and Ward's job on the basketball team is simply to keep

"There's not one coach I know who hasn't had to go through the process to get where they are today,'' he says. "It's just like discipling or anything-you have to grow." Ward's ultimate goal is to become a Division I college basketball coach. But he is willing to defer those goals. "Despite aU the plans I've made, God's plan always works out," Ward says. "I have to be obedient to His calling. I have goals I want to accomplish, but in the end, He might have something different for me." 0 Freelance writer Joshua Cooley lives in Germantown, Maryland.

SPORTS SPECTRU M - J A N U ARY- FEBRUA RY 2008

NBA FORWARD

Wayne Sianien

A CHANGED ,,.. ,,.__ÂŁ... â&#x20AC;˘ Growing up in Leavenworth, Kansas, I was raised by two wonderful parents who "spoonfed" me their faith and taught me right from wrong. I always knew that I should live for God, but as I got into junior high and high school I buckled under peer pressure. I never felt like I had the ability to live the righteous type of life that God calls you to live because I was young and had so many temptations around me. So I made the choice to live for myself. This choice would lead me into a life of selfishness, insecurity, drug and alcohol use, sexual promiscuity, and depression. Though I continued to excel in my athletic career from high school to college at the University of Kansas, my life was nowhere near the great destiny that God had for me. From the outside looking in, it appeared as if I had everything in the world that should make a person happy. Deep down inside, though, I was empty. I was tired of living for myself, tired of living for basketball, tired of trying to be what others said I should be. Deep down inside, I was looking for something great to live for! I discovered that there is no greater thing to give your life to than to the One who created you and then to live for the kingdom of God! At the end of my sophomore year in college, I began to seek for answers. I found them in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. I began attending Bible studies and chapel services, and spending time with other Christians to learn more about what it meant to follow Jesus. I was invited to a Christian athlete's conference where I was able to see young men and women truly living for God. I learned that I had a destiny and purpose in God- that God had sent His Son Jesus to pay the penalty for every sin I had committed and to be my Savior. And I learned that God had sent his Holy Spirit to strengthen me and help me to walk in victory over sin. That weekend in July 2003, I made the decision to follow Jesus with my whole heart and make him the Lord and Savior over my life. Since then God has done an amazing work in my life, and I am continuing to grow every day. I no longer live for merely myself but to love God and love others. My identity is no longer wrapped up in who people say I am or how I perform on the court, but rather as a son of God. It is in my heart to see Jesus miraculously change other people's lives as He did mine. C> What Does It Mean? While at Kansas, Wayne realized a truth that we all need to recognize: Living for self is not enough. There is a God-shaped hole in every person's heart-and only through a relationship with God through faith in Christ can we ever be truly fulfilled in life. Who are you living for? Trust Jesus and live for Him. You won't believe the difference!

Christian business owner or ministry leader, if this is acceptable with you, read no further! If not, then it's time to fight back. Did you know that more than $10 billion is spent annually on adult-oriented businesses? In retail and online, the majority of these purchases- all paid for with a credit card- are made through these objectionable businesses that must contract with a credit card processor to facilitate these transactions. These same processors may be handling the credit card transactions for your business or ministry. This does not have to happen! You can take a stand! Cornerstone will NOT provide credit card processing for businesses that support activities that are morally wrong. In addition , under the Processing with a Purpose program, Cornerstone Bancard will donate a portion of each transaction processed to fuel the vital work of the Kurt Warner 11First Things First" ministry. Take a stand against pornography. We are so committed to this program that we will pay you $100.00 if we cannot provide you with a savings on credit card processing fo'r your business or ministry.

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