football, basketball, NASCAR, etc.

Hi. First of all, an article about Bills tight end Kevin Everett, who suffered a spinal cord injury in their first game of the season against the Broncos. It was originally feared that he would never walk again, but thanks to a cutting-edge medical procedure Everett is beginning to walk again. Last Sunday Everett was able to return to Buffalo and go to the Bills game against the Giants. Here's a quote from Domenik Hixon, the player that Everett was tackling when Everett was injured:

Everett's appearance marked the latest step in a remarkable recovery. Doctors initially feared Everett would never walk again after what was described as a life-threatening injury suffered while making a tackle on Domenik Hixon on the second-half kickoff in the season opener against Denver on Sept. 9.

Everett was paralyzed from the neck down when he arrived at Buffalo's Millard Fillmore Gates Hospital and spent the first few days on life support.

Hixon, who now plays for the Giants, was whisked away to meet with Everett after the Giants won 38-21 .

"It's a blessing," Hixon said. "I just want him to make a 100 percent recovery. I'm going to continue praying for him, and he's going to make it back 100 percent."

Here's the article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071223/ap_on_sp_fo_ne/fbn_bills_everett.

Here's a great article about Kansas star defensive tackle James McClinton, a Christian, and about how God turned his life around and then used him to bring the team together. This season the team has become what many of the players believe to be "God's Team". Others on the team that the article includes, and it sounds like they're Christians also, are head coach Mark Mangino and teammates Gary Green, Darrell Stuckey, Brandon McAnderson, Chris Harris, and Olaitan Oguntodu. Here's a quote from McClinton about his faith and football:

“I’m focused on giving God the glory,” McClinton says. “When I’m tired, he gives me strength.”

Here's the article: http://www.kansascity.com/sports/story/417721.html (originally found at: http://www.fca.org/).

Next, an article about long-time Valparaiso head men's basketball coach Homer Drew, a Christian. The article was written just after Valpo lost to Wisconsin by only ten points. Here's what Wisconsin head coach Bo Ryan had to say about Drew:

"What a great guy for the game," Ryan said of Drew. "People in that area ought to be so thankful you got a family like that, a basketball family and a patriarch like him."

Here's the article: http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?SectionID=8&SubSectionID=96&ArticleID=8007 (originally found at: http://apps.facebook.com/sportsuperfan/teams/news/430).

Here's an article that Yahoo! Sports NASCAR writer Bob Margolis wrote about his overcoming two kinds of cancer in the last couple years. Here's a quote from him about it:

I'm convinced God has brought me through this most difficult year of my life for a reason. He obviously has some important work for me to accomplish before my time in this world is over.

Here's the article: http://sports.yahoo.com/nascar/news;_ylt=AqYW.cDWPmQM7qcTgDMHL5k5nYcB?slug=bm-bobsstory122507&prov=yhoo&type=lgns.

Also, an interesting article about pro athletes, teams, and organizations giving back to their communities and the difficulties that they have. The article is mainly about Indiana sports, but it talks about others too. Here's the article: http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071225/SPORTS/712250376/1247/NLETTER12.

Here's an article about how NASCAR and its drivers give back to kids and the outdoors: http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071225/SPORTS01/712250370&theme=.

Next, an article about the top ten Christian sports stories of 2007 from the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA): http://www.fca.org/vsItemDisplay.lsp?method=display&objectid=204090DE-BF59-4963-A363D26370753C22.

Here's an article about Colts center Jeff Saturday, a Christian, and how important he is to the Colts offense and quarterback Peyton Manning: http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071226/SPORTS03/712260409/1247/NLETTER12.

Lastly, a funny article about Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, a Christian, and trying to find something that he can't do because he seems so perfect. Once he struck out in intramural softball, but then a hit a long homer his next at-bat. Also, apparently he's not that good of a singer. The article mentions some other things that he's not great, but improving at. Here's a good quote about him from the article:

He's just as smooth off the field, never mumbling or stuttering in front of the cameras. He preaches the Christian gospel to teammates, inmates and Filipinos half a world away.

Here's the article: http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/stories/2007/12/26/tebow_1227.html.