NFL and MLB misc.

Hi. Sorry that this is so long. I got kind of behind on reading articles and have spent the past few days playing catch up. I have several articles to include here from the past week. First of all, after the Colts Tarik Glenn's foundation, D.R.E.A.M. Alive, Inc., was mentioned in "The Daily"(http://www.sportsspectrum.com/daily/archives/070122.php), I did an internet search for it and found the website: http://www.dreamaliveinc.org/. Glenn is a Christian.

Also, yesterday I noticed that the Orioles Brian Roberts' website had been added to the list of players websites on the MLB Players Association website. His site is: http://www.brianroberts1.com/. He is also a Chritian.

I added both website links to the people in sports links.

Next, a Q & A article with the Rangers Mark Teixeira, a Christian: http://www.ajc.com/gatech/content/sports/gatech/stories/2007/01/19/0120teixeira.html.

Here's an article about the Colts Peyton Manning. Here's a quote about his pre-game ritual before the Patriots game last Sunday at 6:30:

Back to the locker room about 5:10. On the field for team pre-game at 5:40. At his locker at 6:15 for a few gulps of Gatorade, a quiet moment and a quick prayer.

Here's the article: http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070121/SPORTS03/701210442/1100/SPORTS03.

Next, an article about Patriot and Indianapolis native Rosevelt Colvin and his mom. Here's some quotes:

She [his mom] remembers the days when the teenager [Colvin] worked at the [RCA] Dome's concession stand operated by members of Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church. His job was to make and sell cotton candy during Colts games, but he frequently slipped away to see the action....

She [his mom] still leads the choir at Ebenezer, where her children were always in tow....

"It's home, so everything about the area reminds me of joyous things," Colvin said this week. "I had a great upbringing, and my parents were great role models. All the people were at my church, my high school . . . I'm a Midwestern cat."

Here's the article: http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070121/SPORTS03/701210406&theme=.

Next, an article about a charity function hosted by the White Sox Jim Thome to help raise money for a children's hospital: http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070121&content_id=1783560&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb.

Here's an article about how the Saints kept their loss last Sunday to the Bears in perspective in relation to what the city of New Orleans is still going through: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs06/news/story?id=2738551.

Also, an article on the speech that the Colts Jeff Saturday, a Christian, made to the team last Saturday night before the Patriots game: http://www.colts.com/sub.cfm?page=article7&news_id=4577.

Here's an article about the game-saving interception that the Colts Marlin Jackson made in the Patriots game. Here's his teammate Bob Sanders' reaction to the play:

Said Colts safety Bob Sanders, “Time stopped for me. Everything just paused and stopped. I kind of froze for a second, because I didn’t think it was over, but it was over.

“Time just stopped for me. I kind of looked up to the sky and thanked God.”

Here's the article: http://www.colts.com/sub.cfm?page=article7&news_id=4578.

Next, an article about the AFC Championship trophy presentation after the Colts game last Sunday. Here's the quotes Colts owner Jim Irsay and head coach Tony Dungy, that I mentioned earlier this week:

Irsay: “There’s a lot of glory up here with this trophy. As the humble leader of this organization, we’re giving all the glory to God.”

Dungy: “We just have to thank the Lord. He did it in such a way that no one would believe it.”

Here's the article: http://www.colts.com/sub.cfm?page=article7&news_id=4574.

Here's an article about the Colts final touchdown drive to win the game. Here's a quote from Peyton Manning about it:

On the Colts’ final drive, Manning completed three of four passes for 57 yards, and on 3rd-and-2 from the Patriots 3, Manning handed to rookie running back Joseph Addai, who ran through the back of the end zone for the Colts’ first lead of the game.

“I don’t know if you’re supposed to pray for stuff like that, but I said a little prayer there,” Manning said....

Here's the article: http://www.colts.com/sub.cfm?page=article7&news_id=4576.

Next, a great article that interviewed clergy and others in response to Peyton mentioning that he prayed during the game: http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070124/SPORTS03/701240532/1100/SPORTS03.

Also, an article about Tony Dungy and Bears head coach Lovie Smith. Here's a quote about them from ESPN's John Clayton:

On the Friday evening before the start of the AFC playoffs, Bears coach Lovie Smith had dinner in Indianapolis with his close friends, Tony Dungy and [Chiefs head coach] Herman Edwards, before the two squared off for their first-round playoff game between the Colts and Chiefs.

His Bears in a bye week, Smith sensed history. The three African-American coaches, devoted Christians and family men, were striving for the Super Bowl. Smith and Edwards learned NFL coaching from Dungy, their mentor when they worked for him with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It was a special moment.

Here's the article: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs06/columns/story?columnist=clayton_john&id=2738645.

All I have to say about the Colts is that I'm proud to be an Indiana native and a Colts fan because of what a good Christian people they have.

Here's an article about the Bears victory on Sunday, and here's a quote from Lovie Smith after the game:

"Our players knew about it and they wanted to help us make history today," Smith said. "I feel blessed to be in this position, but I'll feel even better to be the first black coach to hold up the world championship trophy."

Here's the article: http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070122/SPORTS0303/701220422&template=printart.

Next, an article about the Pirates Jason Bay's work with the Ronald McDonald House: http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/pa/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070123&content_id=1784441&vkey=mlbpa_news&fext=.jsp.

Here's a Q & A article with the Diamondbacks Conor Jackson. I wanted to point out what he had to say about his teammate Tony Clark, a Christian:

MLBPLAYERS.com: A good veteran first baseman in Tony Clark is also on the Arizona roster with you. How have the two of you worked together for the good of this club?

Jackson: He is such an unbelievable guy. He has made the adjustment for me so much easier. He was coming off a huge year himself in 2005 and that just shows the character that he has. He really helped me out tremendously.

Here's the article: http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/pa/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070123&content_id=1784467&vkey=mlbpa_news&fext=.jsp.

Also, an article about bracelets that the Cubs Derrek Lee is selling through his foundation, the 1st Touch Foundation, to help raise money for Project 3000, the foundation he co-founded to help fight Lebers Congenital Amaurosis (LCA). LCA has caused his 3-year-old daughter to go blind in one eye. Here's the article: http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070123&content_id=1784904&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc.

Lastly, an article about the Baseball Assistance Team (BAT), which helps former MLB players and others out in hard times: http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070123&content_id=1785241&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb.