NFL, MLB, basketball, etc.

Hello. First of all, an article about LPGA golfer Lorena Ochoa, a Christian, winning the 2007 Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year Award: http://sports.espn.go.com/golf/news/story?id=3164961&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines.

Here's an article about Broncos kicker Jason Elam co-writing a Christian fiction book, Monday Night Jihad, along with his pastor Steve Yohn. He's used what he's learned while studying about the world's major religions through Liberty University to write the book about a Christian in espionage overseas. Here's the article: http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=321194.

Next, an article about Colts tight end Dallas Clark, a Christian, and how important he's been to the team's success since the start of last year's playoffs: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/colts/2007-12-21-sw-dallas-clark_N.htm?csp=34.

Here's an article about ESPN's Stuart Scott, who is currently undergoing chemotherapy after cancer was found during an emergency appendectomy. The cancer was removed, but he's having chemo as a precaution. He's continuing to work some on NBA shows. Here's a quote from him about it:

"Talk about a shocker," Scott said. "But I feel good, am in great hands medically and the doctors are confident they got all the bad stuff. I'm not the type of guy to let this eat up my life. I've got strong faith and family and friends who are tackling this with me. I can't find the words to express how much I appreciate everyone's thoughts and prayers. I probably won't be able to get back to you all; but know it means a ton."

Here's the article: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/news/story?id=3163058&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines.

Also, an article about former Mariners community relations staff member Kristen Bushnell, who left the team to work for the Christian organization Children of the Nations. The Mariners are working with her and the organization, including their front office and some of the players. Here's a quote about outfielder Raul Ibanez and pitcher J.J. Putz:

Ibanez and Putz are among the most give-back-to-the-community-minded players on the team, giving their time and significant amount of money to charity. Both are financial contributors to the Children of the Nations, and Putz said he and his wife, Kelsey, plan to get even more involved next year.

The organization works with orphans or underprivileged kids in Africa, Malawi, Uganda, and the Dominican Republic. Unfortunately, the article doesn't mention that it's a Christian organization. I checked it out on their website (http://www.cotni.org/), and this is what their mission says:

To provide responsible care to orphaned and destitute children by the equipping of nationals, giving children every possible advantage available to grow in a stable, Christ-centered environment, empowering them to be the leaders of tomorrow.

Here's the article: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20071221&content_id=2335850&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb.

Here's an article about the IU men's basketball team helping out a family in the area who recently lost their home to a fire (including video of the news segment): http://www.theindychannel.com/sports/14908711/detail.html?rss=ind&psp=news.

Next, an article about Reds outfielder Josh Hamilton, a Christian, being traded to the Rangers last week before his second major-league season. It sounds like he's just what the Rangers were wanting and that he'll get a lot more playing time there. However, I'm kind of sad because we get over half of the Reds games on TV here in Indiana, but hardly any of the Rangers. He became one of my favorite players last season and it was nice to watch him last season. I'll just have to start following the Rangers now, I guess! Here's a couple of quotes from him:

... Hamilton missed 3 1/2 years from 2002-2006 because of his drug problems while going in and out of rehabilitation eight different times. He said he has been clean for over two years and his arrival in the Major Leagues last season appeared to be in the end of a long, hard road.

"I've never met anybody who hasn't made a mistake in the past or wrestled with demons," Hamilton said. "The main thing is you learn from it and you don't repeat it. I've taken some steps in my life to put God and my family first. I have a good support system in place and I'm very comfortable in saying that the past is in the past and the future is brighter.

"Now I really want to show these guys what I can do." ...

"Last year was a dream come true," Hamilton said. "I took a very different road to the Majors than most players, and that made it even sweeter. Before I was taking things for granted and going through the motions. When I finally got back, everything I did made me realize how fortunate and blessed I was."

Here's the article: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20071221&content_id=2336081&vkey=hotstove2007&fext=.jsp.

Here's an article about Mavericks head coach Avery Johnson, a Christian, having his number retired by the Spurs, the team that he had the most success with as a player: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/basketball/nba/12/23/spurs.avery.ap/index.html?eref=si_topstories.

Also, an article about Cardinals outfielder So Taguchi, a Christian, signing with the Phillies as a free agent today: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20071223&content_id=2336269&vkey=hotstove2007&fext=.jsp.

Lastly, Sports Spectrum has put on their website the Christian athletes that are in their January/February issue: Chargers runningback LaDainian Tomlinson, Hurricanes Dave Tanabe, Senators Dean McAmmond, Rangers Ben Walter, Boise State safety Marty Tadman, and Michigan State basketball player Allyssa DeHaan, among others. Here's their website: http://www.sportsspectrum.com/. Matter in fact, I'm watching Boise State play East Carolina in the Hawaii Bowl right now, and when they're on defense all I hear is Marty Tadman this and Tadman that. He's pretty good!

MLB misc. and basketball

First of all, an article about Yankees pitcher Roger Clemens helping out 21-year-old pitcher teammates Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes. The 45-year-old Clemens began pitching in the Majors 24 years ago, before Chamberlain and Hughes were born. Here's the article: http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/yankees/ny-spherr195338195aug19,0,3122854.column (originally found at: http://mlb.mlb.com/pa/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070820&content_id=2159755&vkey=mlbpa_news&fext=.jsp).

Here's an article about IU basketball head coach Kelvin Sampson helping to raise money for a children's home in Richmond, Indiana, along with his players D.J. White and Lance Stemler: http://www.pal-item.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070820/NEWS01/708200302/1008 (originally found at: http://iuhoosiers.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/082007aaa.html).

Next, an article about Reds pitcher Bobby Livingston and the Little League team from his hometown of Lubbock, Texas. The team lost today in the Little League World Series national finals to Georgia. Livingston had helped out the team financially and was rooting for them in the World Series. Here's the article: http://news.cincypost.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070820/SPT05/708200324/1027.

Here's an article about Cubs outfielder Cliff Floyd's return to the team after the death of his father. Here's what he had to say about being back with the team and the support of his teammates during the time after his father died:

"It's nice -- you can get caught up in all the stuff that's going on and caught up in sitting at home," Floyd said. "These are the guys who stood behind me and backed me through this and were present during the funeral. I'm really blessed to have good people around me."

Here's the article: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070820&content_id=2159671&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb.

Also, an article about injured Red Sox pitcher Matt Clement, a Christian, and his rehab. from shoulder surgery this season. He's hoping to be able to pitch some at the end of September. Here's the article: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070820&content_id=2160116&vkey=news_bos&fext=.jsp&c_id=bos.

Here's a biographical article about Diamondbacks pitcher Brandon Webb, a Christian: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070821&content_id=2161329&vkey=news_ari&fext=.jsp&c_id=ari&partnered=rss_ari.

Next, an article about Mavericks guard Jason Terry being honored for his work with kids: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/basketball/mavs/stories/082207dnspomoore.3098995.html (originally found at: http://www.nba.com/news/linkcentral.html).

Here's the latest blog post from Cardinals pitcher Mike Maroth, a Christian: http://www.marothbaseball.com/2007_08_01_archive.asp.

Also, a note about Pirates pitcher Solomon Torres, a Christian, and his decision to drop a grievance against the Pirates because of his Christian beliefs:

Torres drops suit: In a decision that Salomon Torres said was made solely because of his "duty" as a Christian, Torres has decided to drop both his pending grievance and lawsuit against the Pirates organization.

"It's not my place to seek for justice," Torres said. "I wasn't trusting God to do what he wanted. Let God handle the situation. I just need to put that behind me."

Torres initially filed a grievance after claiming that the organization was less than candid with him into signing a contract for less money. And just last week, Torres had made plans to meet with an attorney to try to move forward with a legal suit.

But Torres had recently admitted that the pending lawsuit was affecting his on-the-field performance and said that as a result of that and his religious beliefs, he woke up on Sunday morning knowing that he needed to back down.

Here's the article: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070814&content_id=2148025&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb (originally found at: http://www.bpsports.net/bpsports.asp?ID=5655).

Here's an article about former MLB pitcher Orel Hershiser and his support of Diamondbacks pitcher Brandon Webb and Webb's attempt to break Hershiser's record of 59 consecutive scoreless innings. Webb's streak ended at 42 innings. Here's the article: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070821&content_id=2162045&vkey=news_ari&fext=.jsp&c_id=ari.

Next, an article about Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte, a Christian, and the Yankees turn-around this season: http://mlb.mlb.com/pa/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070821&content_id=2161408&vkey=mlbpa_news&fext=.jsp.

Here's an article about Giants pitcher Barry Zito and his work to raise money to give financial help to injured soldiers through his Strikeouts for Troops organization. There are 35 other MLB players that also raise money for the organization. Here's the organization's website, which includes a list of the players involved: http://www.strikeoutsfortroops.org/. Here's the article about it: http://mlb.mlb.com/pa/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070821&content_id=2161410&vkey=mlbpa_news&fext=.jsp.

Also, an article about Mets outfielder Carlos Beltran, a Christian, and his hot hitting of late: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070821&content_id=2162577&vkey=news_nym&fext=.jsp&c_id=nym.

Here's an article about Braves outfielder Matt Diaz, a Christian, and his success hitting this year even with having to platoon: http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/braves/stories/2007/08/21/brvdiaz_0822.html.

Next, a Christian article about Angels outfielder Garrett Anderson after his 10-RBI game last Tuesday: http://www.bpsports.net/bpsports.asp?ID=5652. Here's an article about the game: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20070822&content_id=2162982&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb.

Lastly, a couple of notes from things that I heard while watching baseball on TV today. First, during the Little League World Series national semi-final game between Lubbock, Texas, and Warner Robins, Georgia, broadcaster Orel Hershiser mentioned that Georgia's Hunt Smith (not Colts punter Hunter Smith!) had put on his questionnaire that each player filled out for the ESPN/ABC broadcasts that he wanted to be a pastor when he grew up. Hershiser also said that his parents didn't know about it before that.

The other thing that I heard while watching baseball on TV today was when I caught the end of the Reds ceremony to retire former shortstop Davey Concepcion's #13. During Concepcion's speech of thanks, he said something like "Thanks to God for giving me the ability...".