MLB and NFL misc.

First of all, an article about how Indians outfielder Trot Nixon, a Christian, has become a leader on the team in only his first year with them after several with the Red Sox: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070726&content_id=2111186&vkey=news_cle&fext=.jsp&c_id=cle&partnered=rss_cle (originally found at: http://mlb.mlb.com/pa/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070727&content_id=2112639&vkey=mlbpa_news&fext=.jsp).

Here's a quote from Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano, a Christian, after he helped the Cubs to win with both his pitching and hitting last Sunday:

"Any time I can do something for myself -- pitching, running, fielding, kicking the ball, whatever -- it's good for me," Zambrano said. "I have to be able to use what God gave me and use the ability."

Here's the article: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20070729&content_id=2116811&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb.

Next, an article about the Baseball Hall of Fame inductions last Sunday, including the induction speeches given by former Padres outfielder Tony Gwynn and former Orioles shortstop Cal Ripken, Jr.: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070729&content_id=2116814&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb.

Here's a link to the latest blog post from Colts head coach Tony Dungy, a Christian: http://www.mycolts.net/tonydungy/blogentry/762777e1-17e5-4430-a915-cabbd3ae1337.

Also, here's a note from Sports Spectrum's "The Daily" about the health of former Major Leaguer and current Double-A Mobile BayBear manager Brett Butler, a Christian, after he had a stroke last week:

WHO TO PRAY FOR: BRETT BUTLER, Manager, Mobile BayBears, Double A team of the Arizona Diamondbacks

WHAT ABOUT? Former major league star Brett Butler suffered a stroke last Thursday. He is resting in Mobile, Alabama, taking things slow and easy before considering a return to the field. After the first couple of days in the hospital, his progress was called, "remarkable." In a conversation with his daughter, Stefanie, Butler told her, "Stef, I don't know what's going on but I know that God is going to get us through it. We just have to remember that and trust Him."

Here's the webpage: http://www.sportsspectrum.com/daily/archives/070731.php.

The Braves designated 1st baseman Julio Franco, a Christian, for assignment today to make room for Mark Teixeira (also a Christian), who they just traded for from the Rangers yesterday. It's sad, he's one of my favorite players. I assumed they would send down the other first baseman Scott Thorman instead, but he doesn't have any options left. So they went with youth instead. I'm wondering that if no one picks up Julio if he'll go to the minors for August as like a player/assistant coach, and then come back up for September. Then he might retire and be hired as a minor league coach by the Braves for next season. Here's the article: http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070801&content_id=2123087&vkey=news_atl&fext=.jsp&c_id=atl.

Lastly, a few websites that I've come across recently. They are also all included with my links too. First, a couple of websites for Christians in sports. The first is for Baseball Hall-of-Fame catcher Gary Carter and his foundation: http://www.garycarter.org/. Here's a quote from the website homepage:

"The Baseball Hall of Fame is something every player dreams about, but being a member of God's Hall of Fame is the greatest achievement of all. God offers each of us the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ. When we accept God's gift of salvation, our name is written in The Book of Life, guaranteeing us a place in heaven forever."

"I made that decision during spring training in 1973, and prayed asking Jesus to come into my heart as Lord and Savior. It was then that I first realized that when Jesus died on the cross, he died for me and paid for my sins. Accepting his payment was all I needed to do. I couldn't earn my way into heaven. You can become a member of God's Hall of Fame too, by making the same decision today."

Also, the website for James Brown, from the NFL Today on CBS: http://www.jbjamesbrown.com/.

The last website is another website about the good things that are going on in sports, called, appropriately enough, Good News in Sports: http://goodnewsinsports.blogspot.com/.