football, basketball, MLB, etc.

Hi. First, a good article about Auburn football chaplain Chette Williams, who is known as the team's "spiritual coordinator" (offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator, spiritual coordinator!). The article talks about his life and his new memoir Hard Fighting Soldier. Here's a quote about him from head coach Tommy Tuberville, also a Christian, when he was named Coach of the Year in 2004:

Williams "has made the biggest difference in my life, our coaches' lives, our families' lives and our players' lives than anything I have ever seen," Tuberville said in accepting the award from the American Football Coaches Association.

Here's the article: http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/uga/stories/2007/12/31/bowlchaplain_1231.html.

Here's an article on Texas forward Gary Johnson, who was cleared to play this week after doctors checked out a heart problem that was discovered last summer. It was originally feared that he might not be able to play again. Here's a quote from him about being able to play again:

"I feel it's a gift being able to play again," Johnson said Monday as he talked with reporters for the first time. "Right now I'm taking it as that, trying to take every minute as a gift on the court."

Here's the article: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=3175273&campaign=rss&source=NCBHeadlines.

Next, a couple of articles about all of the hardships that the Redskins have gone through this season to make it to the playoffs. They've had to deal with injuries to key players, the murder of one of the players, etc. Here's a quote in the first article from head coach Joe Gibbs, a Christian:

"I just want to say a big thanks to our fans and our players," Gibbs said. "It was really a testimonial these past four weeks of really just character. The Lord's blessed us with a great group of guys. When you think about what they've gone through this year . . . everybody would have said this is just impossible."

Here's the article: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/sports/articles/1231nflinsider1231.html (originally found at: http://apps.facebook.com/sportsuperfan/teams/news/32).

Here's the second article on the Redskins and Joe Gibbs: http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5huhioZ9aocDiie_nAjBKnFONRzyg (originally found at: http://apps.facebook.com/sportsuperfan/teams/news/32).

Also, an article on Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, a Christian, and how winning the Heisman Trophy has created increased attention on him, for better or for worse. Here's a quote from him about that:

In the three weeks since Tebow became the first sophomore to win the Heisman Trophy he hasn't been able to go anywhere without being swarmed or having his photo taken and flashed around the Internet. He accepts the role-model part of the deal and the scrutiny that comes with it.

"It really makes you think about everything you do, that someone's watching. That's a good and bad thing," said Tebow, whose 29 passing touchdowns and 22 running TDs made him the first player in NCAA Division I-A history to achieve that 20-20 double in the same season.

"Hopefully it's a good thing, that they see things I do and are impressed with and I can influence people for the better. But it can also be a bad thing if you're not careful about what you do."

Here's the article: http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-elliott31dec31,1,178156.column?coll=la-utilities-sports&ctrack=3&cset=true (originally found at: http://apps.facebook.com/sportsuperfan/teams/news/209).

Just a note: during the Sugar Bowl on New Year's between Georgia and Hawaii, they showed Georgia's "water wife". Head coach Mark Richt's wife Kathryn (both Christians) and some of their kids fill the team's cups with water and give them out during their games. I just thought that was kind of neat.

Here's an article about former MLB 3rd baseman and new Indians minor league manager Travis Fryman, a Christian, who is eligible for induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame this year. Here's a quote from him about his career:

If part of the measure of a player is the effect he has on his teammates, however, then Fryman can look back on his days in uniform and feel pretty happy. That's how he likes to look at his career, and that's one reason he's giving himself a shot at managing.

"That would be what I am most proud of in my career," Fryman said, "not what I ever did between the chalk lines, but the changes that took place in my life, to the point that I began to care for the men that I played with and try to contribute to their success in life and their careers. Some of those relationships continue even through today.

"When you look back, it is about relationships. For me, those relationships were the most important thing. As athletes, we're limited by what God has given us. It's our responsibility to get the most out of that." ...

Injuries helped prompt him to retire in 2002 at age 33, but the numbers he put up were nothing to easily dismiss. Yet as he prepares to re-enter the rigors of the baseball season as manager of the Indians' short-season Class A club in the New York-Penn League, it's the relationships he values, and the values he wants to pass along to the first-year professionals he'll be leading.

"All I really set out to do," Fryman said, "is get the most out of ability that God gave me, to do it the right way, and to respect the game and guys who came before me. At the end of the day, I felt like I did that."

Here's the article: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20071219&content_id=2333710&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb.

Next, an article about Tigers outfielder Curtis Granderson, who is having a fund-raiser for his Grand Kids Foundation, which helps inner-city schools. Some of his teammates are helping him out, including Nate Robertson, a Christian. Here's the article: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080102&content_id=2338008&vkey=hotstove2007&fext=.jsp.

Here's an article about Redskins assistant head coach Joe Bugel and his daughter Holly, who is fighting a rare form of bone cancer. Here's a quote about her from Bugel's wife Brenda:

"You pray for a miracle," Brenda Bugel said. ...

Here's the article: http://washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080103/SPORTS/735083145/1001&template=nextpage.

Also, an article about Washington State women's basketball coach June Daugherty, who is back coaching after going into cardiac arrest last summer. She had just pulled into the parking lot at a hospital for a doctor's appointment about her heart when it happened, which probably saved her life. Here's a quote from her about it:

"I'm truly blessed to have a second chance in life," Daugherty said.

Here's the article: http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaw/news;_ylt=AiS9FnH4FDBtezCqR1L9EAV.T4h4?slug=ap-daughertysreturn&prov=ap&type=lgns.

Next, an article about Colts assistant coach Jim Caldwell, a Christian, interviewing for the Falcons head coaching job: http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080103/SPORTS03/801030483/1247/NLETTER12.

Here's an article about former Red Sox pitcher Matt Clement, a Christian, signing as a free agent with the Cardinals: http://cbs.sportsline.com/mlb/story/10557449/rss.

Also, an article about Colts center Jeff Saturday, a Christian, being named the NFL Alumni Offensive Lineman of the Year: http://www.colts.com/sub.cfm?page=article7&news_id=99835dee-b214-4f58-afea-860200994ed2&et_cid=13884153&et_rid=464416201&linkid=http%3a%2f%2fwww.colts.com%2fsub.cfm%3fpage%3darticle7%26news_id%3d99835dee-b214-4f58-afea-860200994ed2.

Lastly, here's the website for professional freeskier Dave Treadway, a Christian: http://www.davetreadway.com/.