Sports Spectrum Podcast

Episode 193 Tyler Trent is fighting for his life. The 20 year-old Purdue college student has cancer and is in hospice care. In 2014, Tyler was diagnosed with bone cancer in high school when his arm snapped playing ultimate Frisbee. He had his right arm removed from elbow to shoulder and replaced with titanium. In April of 2017, he was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer and aft...

Derwin Gray is a former defensive back, who played 5 seasons in the NFL with the Colts and Panthers. He’s also the Pastor of Transformation Church near Charlotte, North Carolina. On this Throwback Thursday edition of the podcast, we hear Derwin's encounter with a teammate known as “The Naked Preacher” that changes Derwin’s life forever and led him to faith in Christ.  You can listen to the entire...

Episode 192 Mike Tolbert played 10 years in the NFL with the Chargers, Panthers and Bills. He was undrafted in 2008 coming out of college at Coastal Carolina, but quickly signed a free-agent contract with San Diego. After 4 years with the Bolts, Tolbert signed a contract with the Carolina Panthers, where he would play 5 seasons, be named to three Pro Bowls, and was named First Team All-Pro in 2013...

Episode 191 Reza Zadeh was born in Iran in 1977. He came to the United States in 1980 at the age of 3.  Through his teen years in high school, Reza was focused on football and school but it was during his time at Colorado State in college that he was first introduced to Jesus Christ.  Today, he's the chaplain for the Denver Broncos and working for Athletes in Action ministering to college athletes...

Episode 190 Reza Zadeh was born in Iran in 1977. He came to the United States in 1980 at the age of 3.  Through his teen years in high school, Reza was focused on football and school but it was during his time at Colorado State in college that he was first introduced to Jesus Christ.  Today, he's the chaplain for the Denver Broncos and working for Athletes in Action ministering to college athletes...

Episode 189 Matthew Boyd is a pitcher with the Detroit Tigers. After playing his college ball at Oregon State, Boyd was selected in the 6th round of the 2013 MLB Draft by the Toronto Blue Jays.  He made his MLB debut on June 26, 2015 against the Texas Rangers. One month later, on July 30, he was traded to Detroit as part of the David Price deal.  Boyd earned his first MLB victory on August 5, 2015...

Katie Lentz is currently an administrator for MLB’s Baseball Assistance Team, a charitable organization that assists members of the baseball family in need of financial, medical or psychological assistance. But this story isn’t about baseball, it’s about survival. Katie should have died after being hit, head on, by a drunk driver. She suffered multiple fractures including two broken femurs, a brok...

Episode 188 Wesley Woodyard plays linebacker for the Tennessee Titans in the NFL. He was originally undrafted in 2008 coming out of Kentucky, where he was two-time First Team All-SEC in 2006 and 2007. In 2008, he signed with the Denver Broncos, where he played five seasons and helped Denver to a Super Bowl berth in 2013. In 2014, he signed with the Tennessee Titans and is now in his 5th season in...

Episode 187 Trevor Knight played quarterback at Oklahoma from 2012-2015. He was the 2014 Sugar Bowl MVP after throwing for 348 yards and 4 touchdowns in a 45-31 win over Alabama. In 2016, he transferred to Texas A&M, where he threw for 19 touchdown passes and ran for 10 touchdowns in his senior season. After not being selected in the 2017 NFL Draft, Knight signed a deal with the Arizona Cardinals...

Episode 186 Trevor Knight played quarterback at Oklahoma from 2012-2015. He was the 2014 Sugar Bowl MVP after throwing for 348 yards and 4 touchdowns in a 45-31 win over Alabama.  In 2016, he transferred to Texas A&M, where he threw for 19 touchdown passes and ran for 10 touchdowns in his senior season. After not being selected in the 2017 NFL Draft, Knight signed a deal with the Arizona Cardinals...

Episode 185 Kevin McCadam played 5 seasons in the NFL with the Falcons and Panthers. He was selected in the 5th round of the 2002 NFL Draft by Atlanta where he would play 4 seasons before signing in Carolina in 2006.  He played his college football at Virginia Tech where he starred at safety for the Hokies. In 2007, his NFL career was over after being released by the Jaguars in the preseason.  But...

James Brown is the host of CBS Sports' NFL Today show and joined us on Episode 17 of the podcast back in June of 2017.  Since February 2006, JB has served as host for the CBS Television Network’s NFL pre-game show, THE NFL TODAY. He has also hosted the Network’s Super Bowl pre-game show for its coverage of Super Bowl XLIV (2010) and for Super Bowl XLI (2007). On this Throwback Thursday edition of...

Episode 184 Les Norman was selected by the Kansas City Royals in the 25th round of the 1991 MLB Draft. He made his Major League debut on May 29, 1995 and played 2 seasons with the Royals.  He is currently a syndicated sports radio host, TV analyst, author and motivational speaker. You can hear his show "Breaking the Norm" on ESPN's 1510 AM and 94.5 FM in Kansas City each Tuesday as well streaming...

Episode 183 Jason Eaker joined Oklahoma Baptist as their head men’s basketball coach in April 2018. Eaker, who spent one season in a Bison uniform before finishing his playing days at Hardin-Simmons University, grew up coming to OBU games. His father, Allen Eaker, is an OBU Athletics Hall of Famer who played on the 1966 OBU national championship basketball team. Eaker came to OBU from Mercer, wher...

Episode 182 Jason Eaker joined Oklahoma Baptist as their head men’s basketball coach in April 2018. Eaker, who spent one season in a Bison uniform before finishing his playing days at Hardin-Simmons University, grew up coming to OBU games. His father, Allen Eaker, is an OBU Athletics Hall of Famer who played on the 1966 OBU national championship basketball team. Eaker came to OBU from Mercer, wher...

Episode 181 Ashley Brewer covers sports in Los Angeles for ABC7 as a reporter and anchor.  Ashley attended the University of Southern California, where she was a member of the varsity women's swimming team and competed in the 2012 Olympic Trials (100-meter backstroke).  After graduating from USC, Ashley became a college football sideline reporter for Cox 7 Arizona. She then became the weekend spor...

Ernie Johnson hosts TNT's Inside the NBA and joined us on Episode 7 of the podcast back in May of 2017.  On this Throwback Thursday edition of the show, we bring back Ernie's story of coming to faith in Christ.  You can listen to the entire interview of Episode 7 of the podcast here .  For more, log on to SportsSpectrum.com  

Episode 180 Tony Bennett has been the men's basketball coach at the University of Virginia since 2009. He's led the Cavaliers to 3 ACC regular season titles, and 2 ACC conference titles. In 2018, Virginia was the number one overall seed in the NCAA Tournament after finishing with a 31-3 record. For his accomplishments, Bennett was named the NABC Coach of the Year, the Naismith Coach of the Year an...

Episode 179 Christa Dietzen is a 2-time Olympic Volleyball player with Team USA. She was the co-captain of the 2012 London team that captured the Silver Medal and the 2016 team that won Bronze. She was selected to join the U.S. National team roster in May of 2009. Prior to that, she  led Penn State University to 2 back-to-back NCAA championships. The 2007 Big-10 player of the year retired from vol...

Episode 178 Christa Dietzen is a 2-time Olympic Volleyball player with Team USA. She was the co-captain of the 2012 London team that captured the Silver Medal and the 2016 team that won Bronze. She was selected to join the U.S. National team roster in May of 2009. Prior to that, she  led Penn State University to 2 back-to-back NCAA championships. The 2007 Big-10 player of the year retired from vol...

Episode 177 George Schroeder is in his 7th season covering college football for USA Today. Previously, he worked in Arkansas and Oregon before taking the job with USA Today in 2012.  The University of Oklahoma grad is married to Elizabeth and has 3 children, Elizabeth, 18, George, 17 and Christopher, 8.  On this episode of the podcast, we hear about George's work covering college football and wher...

Episode 176 Charlie Ward played 11 seasons in the NBA with the Knicks, Spurs and Rockets. He was selected in the first round of the 1994 NBA Draft by New York (26th overall) after a stellar college career that saw him shine as a football player. In 1993, Charlie won the Heisman Trophy as college football's most outstanding player. He would lead the Seminoles to the National Championship and 13 yea...

Episode 175 Kyle Gibson is a pitcher for the Minnesota Twins. In 2018, he set career-highs in ERA (3.62), innings pitcher (196.2), and strikeouts (179). His 10 wins placed second for a club that finished the year with 11 wins in their final 14 games.  Selected in the first round (22nd overall) of the 2009 MLB Amateur Draft, Gibson has been a part of the Twins organization his entire pro career.  H...

Episode 174 Rich Donnelly coached and played professional baseball for 48 seasons. He was signed as a catcher by the Minnesota Twins in 1967 and played for the late, great baseball legend, Ted Williams. He has spent 25 years as a MLB coach with the Rangers, Pirates, Marlins, Rockies, Brewers, Dodgers and Mariners. In 2018, he spent time as a coach with the New York Mets minor league affiliate in B...

Episode 173 Rich Donnelly coached and played professional baseball for 48 seasons. He was signed as a catcher by the Minnesota Twins in 1967 and played for the late, great baseball legend, Ted Williams. He has spent 25 years as a MLB coach with the Rangers, Pirates, Marlins, Rockies, Brewers, Dodgers and Mariners. In 2018, he spent time as a coach with the New York Mets minor league affiliate in B...