basketball, football, MLB, etc.

Hi. First, an article about the importance of Athletes in Action (AIA) for student athletes at Yale: http://www.yaledailynews.com/articles/view/22435 (originally found at: http://www.aia.com/news.aspx?newsitem=255).

Here's a Christian article about how Lambuth University basketball player Mike Beasley, Jr., became a Christian following the death of his father in a traffic accident. The fifth-year senior and his fiancee will be going on the mission field in Sierra Leone after their wedding in May: http://www.bpsports.net/bpsports.asp?ID=5716.

Next, an article about a complaint by the ACLU about Clemson head football coach Tommy Bowden, a Christian, taking his team voluntarily as a team to church once a year: http://www.greenvilleonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007711290310 (originally found at: http://www.bpsports.net/bpsports.asp?ID=5722).

Here's three more articles about nominees for Sports Illustrated's Sportsman of the Year Award. Packers quarterback Brett Favre received the award on Monday. The first article is another one about the Rockies giving a playoff share to the family of minor league coach Mike Coolbaugh, who was killed when hit by a line drive last summer. None of the players would take credit for coming up with the idea for giving the share, which ended up being 233,505.18. Here's the article: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/magazine/specials/sportsman/2007/11/28/price.sportsman/?cnn=yes.

Another of the Sportsman of the Year nomination articles is about NC State women's basketball head coach Kay Yow, a Christian, and her public battle with breast cancer. She's continuing to coach even while undergoing chemotherapy treatments, which has been an inspiration to others. Here's the article: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/magazine/specials/sportsman/2007/11/11/anderson.yow/index.html.

The last Sportsman of the Year nomination article is about former Cowboy Everson Walls giving one of his kidneys to his friend and former teammate Ron Springs, who needed a kidney transplant. The transplant was successful, but unfortunately Springs went into a coma during a routine surgery in October. Springs' son Shawn plays cornerback for the Redskins. Here's the article: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/magazine/specials/sportsman/2007/11/28/deitsch.sportsman/index.html.

Also, another article about Redskins safety Sean Taylor, who was murdered in his home last week, this one from the Saved in Sports blog: http://savedinsports.wordpress.com/2007/11/30/sean-taylor-of-the-washington-redskins-will-be-missed/.

Here's a note about Cubs minor league pitcher and former Notre Dame wide receiver Jeff Samardzija donating uniforms to his high school's teams:

This fall, Samardzija also took care of the Valparaiso (Ind.) High School football team, and donated new Under Armour uniforms to the players. He's going to make sure the baseball team at his high school receives new jerseys, too. The baseball coach now is former Cubs infielder Mickey Morandini.

Here's the article: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20071130&content_id=2314222&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc.

Next, a note about Braves first baseman Julio Franco, a Christian, and his future with the Braves:

If Franco is going to realize his dream of playing in the Majors through his 50th birthday in August, he will likely have to do it outside of Atlanta. The Braves are not expected to even offer him a Minor League contract.

Hopefully some other team will give him a chance. Here's the article: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20071130&content_id=2314244&vkey=news_atl&fext=.jsp&c_id=atl.

Lastly, an article about Cubs outfielder Alfonso Soriano bringing gifts and cheer to a children's hospital in Chicago last week: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20071130&content_id=2314833&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb.