MLB, football, and basketball

Hello! I'm going to divide the articles that I have into two posts. I'll do one now, and the other either later today or tomorrow.

The first article that I have is about some past and present MLB players getting together to help raise money for the MLB Players Trust last weekend. Those involved were Ken Griffey, Jr.(Reds), Ryan Howard (Phillies), Mark Grudzielanek (Royals), Chris Capuano (Brewers), Kenny Lofton (Indians), Brian Fuentes (Rockies), Mark Loretta (Astros), Josh Barfield (Indians), and Hall of Famers Frank Robinson, Dave Winfield, Ozzie Smith, Paul Molitor, and Eddie Murray. Here's the article: http://mlb.mlb.com/pa/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080106&content_id=2340299&vkey=mlbpa_news&fext=.jsp.

Here's an article about Pedro Taylor, the father or murdered Redskins safety Sean Taylor, visiting the Redskins after they lost in the playoffs last weekend: http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=333996.

Next, an article about Packers defensive end Aaron Kampman, a Christian, receiving the Red Smith Award, which "is presented annually to the individual who has contributed or continues to contribute to sports either on or off the field throughout the state of Wisconsin." Here's a quote from him about his work in the community:

Kampman's role in the community is nearly as extensive as his being named to back-to-back Pro Bowls as a player.

Last January, he and his wife, Linde, spent two weeks with the Gospel of Asia Christian ministry. He also previously traveled overseas with the Christian organization Unlimited Potential Incorporated. He has worked with the Packers' All-Pro Dad event in 2006 and volunteers extensively with the Green Bay Community Church youth group.

"I've done a lot of different things, speaking to different groups and just seeing what God is doing in different areas," Kampman said. "I enjoy speaking to kids. I have a degree in elementary education and just the opportunity to be an influence in people's lives, because regardless of what people think — right, wrong or indifferent — that's the responsibility you have."

Here's the article: http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080106/APC02/801060602/1892.

Here's an article about Rays Triple-A Durham Bulls manager Charlie Montoyo, whose 11-week-old son is fighting for his life after he was born with a rare heart ailment. The Rays and their minor-league affiliates, most of whom Montoyo managed at one time, have started funds to help the Montoyos pay for medical bills and other expenses. Here's a quote from Montoyo:

Montoyo said he has tried at times to think about baseball, a game that has been his life for decades.

"I thank God that the job I have allows me to be here everyday with my family," he said. "I don't want to miss a game, a day of baseball, so we planned to have the baby in the offseason. It worked out, it was perfect. And now I need to be here."

Here's the article: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080107&content_id=336926&vkey=news_milb&fext=.jsp.

Also, an article about Dodgers infielder Nomar Garciaparra and his wife Mia Hamm (former star soccer player), who are involved with a celebrity soccer game that helps raise money for Children's Hospital of Los Angeles and the Mia Hamm Foundation, which raises funds and awareness for bone marrow transplant patients and their families: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080107&content_id=2341211&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb.

Here's an article about Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier, a Christian, interviewing for the Dolphins head coaching job last week: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/2008-01-07-3264981647_x.htm.

Next, a Christian article about Kentucky tight end Jacob Tamme "was named winner of the Bobby Bowden Award, a national honor for character, service, academics, and football performance, as presented by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at the FCA breakfast held in conjunction with the national championship game." Also at the breakfast were Ohio State head football coach Jim Tressel, Florida State head football coach Bobby Bowden, and LSU head football coach Les Miles. Here's the article: http://www.fca.org/vsItemDisplay.lsp?method=display&objectid=256814F1-B388-4054-92C749EC1938B82B.

Staying with the national championship game, an article about LSU beating Ohio State in that game. Here's a quote from LSU head coach Les Miles about playing in and winning the game:

"Certainly there will be some argument as to who's the best team. But I think the national champion has been crowned tonight," Miles said. "I have give great credit to some divine intervention that allows us to be in this position."

Here's the article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080108/ap_on_sp_co_ga_su/fbc_bcs_championship

Also, a Christian article about former Florida State Heisman-Trophy winning quarterback and NBA guard Charlie Ward. Ward is now an assistant football and basketball coach at a Christian school in Houston. Here's a great quote from the article:

“When I look back over my life to where I am today, the Lord definitely had his hand on me because everything has happened for a reason,” Ward said. “It’s just a blessing that I had those different experiences over my career. It shaped my thought process and made me the type of husband and father I am today.”

Here's the article: http://www.bpsports.net/bpsports.asp?ID=5736.

Here's a Christian article about Boise State safety Marty Tadman, who just finished his college career. Here's a quote from him:

“Football has given me a national platform,” Tadman said. “It has opened many doors that otherwise would not be opened. I have been able to reach people that would not have listened to a word I say. It’s been awesome.

“The biggest witnessing tool you have is your life,” he continued. “I am living for heavenly things. I want to share my life being a loving testament to Christ. God wants me to stand up for myself and faith in a bold way. He wants to use me in a powerful way.”

Here's the article: http://www.bpsports.net/bpsports.asp?ID=5737.

Lastly on this post, an article about Reds high school scout Ken Neuhaus, who recently became a scout after coaching high school and college baseball for many years. Here's a quote from him about that:

"I always thought I was blessed because I got paid to coach for 26 years. Now, I'm getting a chance to get paid just for watching games."

Here's the article: http://www.thonline.com/store/view.cfm?id=JiZNUz7AhUTi9OCgz3Dz3D (originally found at: http://apps.facebook.com/sportsuperfan/teams/news/96).

college sports, MLB, NFL, etc.

Hi. I'm trying to play catch up again. The first article is about Indiana high school basketball player Tyler Zeller, a Christian, committing to playing for North Carolina starting next year. He turned down IU, Purdue, and Notre Dame, which is were his older brother Luke, also a Christian, plays. Here's the article: http://www.courierpress.com/news/2007/nov/06/zeller-finds-comfort-in-tar-heels/ (originally found at: http://apps.facebook.com/sportsuperfan/teams/news/321).

Here's a Christian article by Lee Warren about Nebraska volleyball player Tracy Stalls: http://christiansportsblog.blogspot.com/2007/11/nu-volleyball-player-tracy-stalls.html.

Next, a couple of articles about MLB players trying to help out in their native Dominican Republic after tropical storm Noel devastated the island. Those that were helping and asking for help were the Mets Pedro Martinez and Moises Alou (http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20071107&content_id=2295120&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb) and Red Sox shortstop Julio Lugo (http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20071109&content_id=2296948&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb).

Here's a good Christian article about former Nebraska football head coach and current interim athletic director Tom Osborne: http://www.bpsports.net/bpsports.asp?ID=5702. Also, here's the website, included in the article, for the TeamMates Mentoring Program that he and his wife started: http://www.teammates.org/.

Also, a couple of articles about the late Cowboys chaplain John Weber, who died November 1st following a hear attack. The first article is about his funeral in Dallas, which those who attended included many current and former Cowboys, including defensive lineman Greg Ellis, a Christian, and quarterback Tony Romo. Football broadcaster Pat Summerall also attended. Here's that article: http://www.bpsports.net/bpsports.asp?ID=5703.

The other article about Weber article is a good article written by a Cowboys website columnist about his friendship with Weber and the funeral: http://www.dallascowboys.com/news.cfm?editorialAuthor=1&id=17E260AC-EBD2-060B-2FCFEED2691DFFD4 (http://www.aia.com/news.aspx?newsitem=254).

Next, another article about Lions quarterback Jon Kitna, a Christian. The writer of the article seemingly is not a Christian, but she still takes a positive approach to Kitna's outspoken Christian beliefs. I thought that this statement by the writer in the article was very interesting:

Some fancy Kitna as a religious zealot, but if having strong faith is the worst thing we can say about a professional athlete, maybe we're the ones who need to reevaluate our priorities.

I don't agree that being a Christian is a bad thing off course, but even if you're not a Christian, there are athletes doing and saying things on and off the field of play that should be seen as worse by non-Christians. Here's the article: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=hill/071107&sportCat=nfl.

Here's an article about Colts cornerback Marlin Jackson and the Fight for Life Foundation that he started to encourage education and wellness in kids: http://www.colts.com/sub.cfm?page=article7&news_id=e011c704-06b1-4524-859b-2ae2d95bd7d4.

Also, an article about a football player at Landmark Christian High School in Atlanta, Walter Lenard, and how his extended family has helped him: http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/highschool/stories/2007/11/08/hsback_1109.html.

Next, an article about the Gardner-Webb men's basketball team's unbelievable upset at Kentuckty last week. Gardner-Webb is a Baptist school in North Carolina. They went on to play in the next round of the tournament that they were in last night, but they were beat in New York by Connecticut. Here's the article about the celebration back on their campus after the game last week: http://www.bpsports.net/bpsports.asp?ID=5707.

Lastly, a couple of Christian notes from Sports Spectrum's The Daily this week. The first is about retired LPGA golfer Betsy King, and the missionary work that she's doing to help orphans in Rwanda:

KING KEEPS GIVING: Betsy King put together a Hall of Fame career on the golf course. Put now that she has mostly retired from the game, she is using her fame, her contacts in the golf world, and her Christian faith to do something of much more eternal value. She has created an organization called Golf Fore Africa, which is a mission to Rwanda to assist the children of that war-ravaged, disease-torn country. Recently, King and several others LPGA golfers returned from a visit to this tiny African country just east of Congo . King has teamed up with World Vision to provide essential services to the suffering folks of Rwanda . One of the major problems King is trying to address is the huge numbers of orphans. There are an estimated 1.3 million of them in a country of 9 million people. An atrocious attack on the Rwandan citizens by ruthless warriors in 1994 is one of the reasons for these orphans. Hundreds of thousands of people were killed. Also, AIDS has taken thousands of other parents from their children. If you wish to help King in her efforts, go to www.worldvision.org to find out more.

Here's the webpage: http://www.sportsspectrum.com/daily/archives/071112.php.

The other note is about a Christian outreach at tomorrow's Ohio State/Michigan game that' being run by a Christian former football player from both schools:

RIVALS NO MORE: Shawn Lazarus played football for the University of Michigan. Joel Penton played football for the Ohio State University. That should make them . . . brothers? Well, the fact that they suited up for rival schools doesn't make them brothers, but their shared faith in Jesus Christ does. And they want others who relish the rivalry to join them in knowing the freedom of salvation. So they have teamed up to form Rivals Team Up, which will have a presence in Ann Arbor on Saturday when the Buckeyes roll into town to face the Wolverines at the Big House. While 111,000 people or so will have their minds set on enjoying another reenactment of one of college football's favorite border wars, Penton and Lazarus will be trying to tell some of those people about winning the most important battle ever-the battle for the human soul. Find out more about what these two former rivals and their friends have in mind. Go to http://www.rivalsteamup.com/ to find out more.

Here's the webpage: http://www.sportsspectrum.com/daily/archives/071116.php.

More tomorrow!