NBA, football, MLB, etc.

First of all, a Christian article about new Lakers guard Derek Fisher, a Christian, and his decision to leave the Jazz in order to go to Los Angeles where his infant daughter could get treatment for cancer: http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2007/september/15.25.html (originally found at: http://www.timellsworth.com/).

Here's an article about Saints quarterback Drew Brees and the things that he and his wife Brittany have done to help out in New Orleans since he signed there as a free agent before last season:

Brees did more than play. He invested himself in the community.

While the vast majority of Saints players live in the suburbs, he and his wife, Brittany, bought an antebellum home in the city's historic Uptown district.

They put the Brees Dream Foundation to work on a variety of fronts: a charity fishing tournament, a youth football classic, events and activities for children's hospitals, and a $2.5 million drive to raise funds for youth programs and rebuilding schools, parks, playgrounds and athletic fields.

In May, Brees issued an invitation to his old fraternity, Sigma Chi. More than 80 members, a third of them from Purdue [his alma mater], came to New Orleans for a week to work with Habitat for Humanity rebuilding homes and experience the city's unique culture.

Community and quarterback embraced. The NFL honored Brees as its Walter Payton Man of the Year, an award he shared with his old San Diego teammate, LaDainian Tomlinson.

Here's the article: http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070904/SPORTS03/709040386/1100.

Next, a great article on Georgia football head coach Mark Richt, a Christian, and how he's a role model to his players, and how there are things more important than winning for him with his team. Here's a quote:

Success for Richt is defined more by people than percentages. The coach wants to win, but who doesn't? However, God and education are what he believes his mission at Georgia is about. If victories come too, well, that's fine.

But those first two are near and dear. It's why when the coach came back from his mission trip to Honduras this summer he started to talk about going back next May. This time he wants to take some players along.

"I'd love to have them," Richt said. "There's 28 bunks for the guys. I'd love to fill those bunks with those guys and let them see it."

Here's the article: http://www.ajc.com/uga/content/sports/uga/stories/2007/09/03/ugafoot_0904.html?imw=Y.

Here's an article on Braves pitcher John Smoltz, a Christian, and how he's working to feed the hungry in Atlanta and his other work in the community. Here's a quote about his work to start a Christian school in Atlanta:

He also is an educator with strong feelings about spiritual instruction. Smoltz helped establish Kings Ridge Christian School in the Atlanta area.

"Our area did not have a private Christian school," he said. "It's another option for people. We tend to gravitate toward that because of overcrowded public schools and some people want an extension of their home to be in the educational process. We finally got our first building. We're embarking in a big campaign to build the campus out."

The Kings Ridge school runs its own fundraising campaign. So Smoltz has multiple avenues for helping others.

Here's the article: http://mlbplayers.mlb.com/pa/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070904&content_id=2188281&vkey=mlbpa_news&fext=.jsp.

Also, an article about the NBA working in South Africa to help those in need there. The group of current and past players are led by Rockets center Dikembe Mutombo and Bobcats center Emeka Okafor, and also includes Spurs forward Bruce Bowen, Bobcats center Primoz Brezec, Hawks guard-forward Josh Childress, Magic forward Pat Garrity, Suns center Sean Marks, Kings guard Kevin Martin, Knicks forward Malik Rose, and former NBA players Steve Smith and Jim Jackson. Here's the article: http://www.nba.com/news/southafricadevel_070904.html?rss=true. Here's a webpage with more information about the trip, which is going on now: http://www.nba.com/global/africa_bwb_2007.html.

Here's an article about the nominees for MLB's Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award, which is for community service. The nominees include several Christians, including last year's winner, Cardinals 1st baseman Albert Pujols. Here's the article: http://mlbplayers.mlb.com/pa/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070904&content_id=2188314&vkey=mlbpa_news&fext=.jsp.

Next, an article about Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins, a Christian, winning the NL Player of the Week Award for the week of September 2nd: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070904&content_id=2188644&vkey=news_phi&fext=.jsp&c_id=phi.

Here's an article about Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte, a Christian, winning the AL Pitcher of the Month Award for August: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070904&content_id=2188786&vkey=news_nyy&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy.

Also, an article about Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano, a Christian, apologizing on Tuesday for criticizing the Cubs fans for booing him after a bad performance on Monday. However, I think that he had every right to be upset about his home fans booing him. I think that it's rude for fans to boo the home team in most cases. Here's the article: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070904&content_id=2188742&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc&partnered=rss_chc.

Here's an article about former Braves outfielder Dale Murphy and his new book The Scouting Report: Youth Athletics that is about the importance of coaches and parents helping kids to enjoy competing in sports: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070904&content_id=2189082&vkey=news_atl&fext=.jsp&c_id=atl&partnered=rss_atl.

Next, the webpage for pro cyclist Amber Neben, a Christian who competes in the top races in the U.S. and Europe: http://www.amberneben.com/. I found the website link in an article in the current issue of Sports Spectrum Magazine: http://www.sportsspectrum.com/.

Lastly, a good Christian sports blog that I found out about recently, Saved in Sports Blog: http://savedinsports.wordpress.com/.