Category Archives: Sports

Poll: Most Americans Don’t Mind Religious Athletes

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(RNS) — Tim Tebow can wear all the Bible verses he wants on his eye black: Most Americans don’t mind professional athletes expressing their faith on and off the field, according to a new study.

A poll conducted by Grey Matter Research and Consulting shows that 49 percent of Americans see athletes’ public expressions of faith favorably; 32 percent don’t care, and 19 percent take a more negative view.

More than 1,000 American adults were polled about public displays of religion among professional athletes. Participants were asked about specific religious actions commonly displayed by religious athletes, including prayer after games, speaking about faith in interviews and making religious signs, such as crossing oneself or pointing heavenward, on the field.

“As a Christian, it’s very encouraging because I believe we recognize the influence that Christian athletes can have,” especially in such a sports-minded country, said Josh Canales, the Los Angeles County director for Fellowship of Christian Athletes. In college, Canales played baseball at University of Florida and University of California, Los Angeles, then went on to play three seasons for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Americans are most supportive of opposing teams praying together after games, with 55 percent of all Americans viewing it positively.

Americans’ least favorite expression of religion is when “athletes suggest that God helped them or their team accomplish something,” according to the study. Responses to statements such as “God really gave me strength out there” or “I kept believing and God let me hit that home run,” are viewed negatively by 26 percent of respondents.

In general, those who are not avid sports fans tend to be more ambivalent about players’ religious expressions than self-identified sports fans, who are more likely to support athletes’ expressions of religion.

While regular churchgoers are more likely to support religious expression, between 30 and 41 percent of that same group had either negative or neutral feelings toward open religious expression on the field or on the court, depending on the action.

“Positive feelings toward these expressions of religious belief are a bit more muted than one might expect among religious Americans,” Ron Sellers, president of Grey Matter Research, stated in the study.

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Texas Rangers Outfielder Josh Hamilton Locked In

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Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton, an outspoken Christian, became the 16th player in MLB history to hit four homeruns in a single game.

He became the second player in Major League history to hit 18 home runs in his team’s first 34 games, joining Cy Williams of the 1923 Phillies. Hamilton, a .402 hitter who leads the American League in virtually every major offensive category, claims to be as locked in as he’s ever been.

“As far as results go, yeah,” Hamilton said. “It’s been a good week. I’m thanking God for it. I’m trying to stay out of the way and think as little as possible and ride it while it’s going.”

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Report: Jeff Fisher close to selecting Rams

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One report indicates that Jeff Fisher is close to selecting the St. Louis Rams in a move that could begin a domino effect for the NFL clubs looking to hire a head coach.

Howard Balzer of ESPN 101 in St. Louis writes that Fisher is “on the verge” of choosing the Rams over the Miami Dolphins. He cites a variety of reasons, the ones you would expect. St. Louis has quarterback Sam Bradford in place and the Rams compete in the NFC West, which doesn’t have a powerhouse to deal with like the New England Patriots in the AFC East.

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Top-seeded Patriots wary of Tim Tebow magic

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Through My Eyes: A Quarterback’s Journe…

Price: $9.93


Tim Tebow has led Denver (9-8) on 18 scoring drives in the fourth quarter or overtime over the last 12 games, the most recent coming on Demaryius Thomas’ 80-yard catch and run on the first play of overtime in Sunday’s 29-23 playoff upset of the Pittsburgh Steelers. It was Tebow’s fourth win in overtime this season.

The second-year quarterback played well in his first test vs. a New England team that has struggled defensively, allowing 4,727 passing yards. Tebow completed 11 of 22 for 194 yards and was Denver’s leading rusher with 93 yards and two scores.

If quarterback Tom Brady and his high-octane Patriots start quickly and make the NFL’s top ground game (164.5 yards a game) less of a weapon, Broncos coach John Fox is confident Tebow will respond to the challenge.

Read full article here



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Church Super Bowl Outreach Resources, Videos, Ideas

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2012 POWER TO WIN: Men of Character
Featuring Jeff Saturday, London Fletcher, and Hunter Smith…with host Heath Evans

Power To Win is an unparalleled ministry tool. It’s a DVD that features testimonies from current and former NFL players who share their love for Christ. This year’s DVD features four Super Bowl Champions. Jeff Saturday and Hunter Smith from the Colts, London Fletcher from the Rams/Redskins and Heath Evans from the Saints. This year’s Super Bowl is February 5th, 2012 so plan your halftime outreach today!

Get Super Bowl outreach resources for your church here.

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UFC’s Jon Jones Fights for Christ in the Cage

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The Ultimate Fighting Championship’s Jon “Bones” Jones will walk into “UFC 140” on Dec. 10, as its light heavyweight champion. He’ll take on 17-2 Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida at Toronto’s Air Canada Centre in a winner-takes-all brawl. Regardless of the outcome, he’ll walk out with his staunch faith in Jesus Christ.

“I have no doubt that Jon Jones is a devout Christian,” said Roger Pattison, a training partner at Capital MMA in Alexandria, Va. “He seems to be humble, hardworking and a good person. Faith in Christ provides strength outside of yourself and makes any of the work you do much more fulfilling.”

According to his website, Jones was born in Rochester, N.Y., and later relocated to nearby Endicott. He eventually won a state wrestling championship in high school before embarking on mixed martial arts (MMA) training in 2007. Four years later, he stands tall as the dominant champion of his weight division.

“Jon Jones is as good as they come,” said Joel Gerson, the owner of Toronto’s Revolution MMA training center. “He finishes premier fighters who are considered tough to beat and makes them look like B- or C-level fighters.”

The 24-year-old Jones will need all the help he can get against Machida, a veteran known for his extensive karate background. Gerson said Machida possesses a lifetime of martial arts experience and would thus fight Jones with precision honed over many practice hours.

“Machida does quick hits in-and-out,” he said. “The reality is he’s hard to hit. It throws other fighters’ rhythms off.”

Pattison said he believed Jones could counter Machida’s experience with his long reach to keep the elder fighter at a distance. Should the two get into a close scrap, he said Jones could utilize his unusual spinning elbow strikes or wrestling pedigree for another avenue to victory.

“God has blessed Jones with a natural raw talent,” he said. “Young and talented, he’s perhaps the most dangerous fighter I have seen for a long time. Jon Jones will win out on this one.”

Pattison said he sees Jones as the latest in a long line of Christian UFC fighters. Citing older competitors like former welterweight champion Matt Hughes, he said the sport attracts Christians who value its athleticism and self-improvement.

“Christianity and MMA are completely compatible,” Pattison asserted. “A surface glance at it and many will just see a couple of brawlers caged like dogs. It’s a sport and people get hurt, but there’s no real animosity towards your opponent. Once you understand the history behind the styles, the technical aspect and the respect that is inherent in this sport then you will truly appreciate what it has to offer.”

Pattison said training in MMA is a passion rather than a hobby. The best fighters, he said, master as many different martial arts styles as possible to become more versatile in the cage. Machida is a good example, he said, given he started in karate before expanding his skill set.

“Lyoto Machida is one of my favorite fighters of all time,” Pattison said. “He single-handedly brought traditional karate to MMA, which no one thought would work, and beat out the best competition in the world. He’s a classic martial arts figure.”

Eric Bailey, the manager of Warrior’s Gym in Alexandria, Va., said Machida would outmatch Jones with his elusiveness and patience waiting for striking opportunities. Such a strategy, he said, hasn’t been used by Jones’ most recent opponents like Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Maurício “Shogun” Rua.

“Jones has been lucky so far,” Bailey said. “Machida strikes at odd angles. I don’t think Jones can counter that.”

Win or lose, Jones has his Pentecostal faith and the “positivity, God’s love, and chasing dreams” he promotes on his Twitter account. Gerson, who describes himself as non-religious, said that such spirituality can help spell success for certain fighters.

“There are a lot of fighters who draw on their faith for their power,” he said. “They believe there’s a hand guiding them. It may soothe their insecurities.”

Besides, Gerson said, the real miracle will be how Machida matches a fighter as natural as Jones.

“Jones pulls stuff off other people can’t even do in training,” he said. “I don’t see the fight going the distance. Jones is just too good.”

Source: Christian Post

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Gene Chizik’s All In: What It Takes to Be the Best

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All In: What It Takes to Be the Best

Price: $16.49


All In chronicles the remarkable journey of Gene Chizik, who in two short years went from being the much-maligned 5–19 coach of the Iowa State Cyclones to the undefeated, AP SEC Coach of the Year of the 2010 national champion Auburn Tigers.

Coach Chizik shares never-before-told stories about his controversial head coaching career—from his highly contentious departure from Iowa State and his heavily criticized appointment at Auburn to his historic 2010 championship run and all the unexpected twists, turns, tragedies, and triumphs along the way. As he recounts his journey, he opens up about the pivotal role his faith has played in his life and career, and he shares his time-tested secrets to success, both on and off the field.

All In is an inspirational must-read for football fans everywhere and for anyone who has ever struggled to overcome their own 5–19 season of life.



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Son of Fallen Rangers Fan Throws 1st Pitch of Playoffs

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With 50,000 fans on their feet, many with tears in their eyes, 6-year-old Cooper Stone stood on the pitcher’s mound and tossed the ceremonial first pitch of the playoffs to his favorite player, Josh Hamilton.

Cooper is the boy who saw his firefighter father fall to his death while trying to catch a ball thrown to him by Hamilton during a Texas game on July 7. This was his first trip back to Rangers Ballpark, and it came at the center of a huge stage, with his widowed mother, Jenny, and Rangers president Nolan Ryan by his side.

Wearing a Rangers jersey featuring Hamilton’s No. 32, and “Cooper” between the shoulders, the boy threw the ball on a line to Hamilton, who was crouched like a catcher about halfway to home plate. The outfielder – who has been through his share of personal struggles – stood to catch it, then pumped his fist, smiling wide the whole time.

Then he went to the front of the mound to meet Cooper and Jenny for the first time.

Hamilton embraced the boy, then his mother. He held her for a while, speaking words that made it tough for her to control her emotions.

“I just asked her if they were believers in Christ and she said they were. I said, `Well, we know where your husband is right now. Make sure that the little one knows who his daddy was and what he stood for,’” Hamilton said.

Jenny Stone appeared to thank Hamilton. They hugged again, then Hamilton – whose wife gave birth to their third daughter only a few weeks ago – gave Cooper another hug, too. The reigning AL MVP started heading to the dugout, only to realize he still had the ball. So he reached back and gave it to Cooper.

A security guard met Cooper as he reached the dirt in front of the Texas dugout and gave him a fist bump. Nelson Cruz was the first of many Rangers waiting at the steps of the dugout to slap hands with the boy. His mother wiped tears as she walked away with Ryan.

“They have turned a difficult return to The Ballpark into a once-in-a-lifetime experience for Cooper,” Jenny Stone said in a statement issued by the team. “Nothing could be more exciting for a boy than throwing out the first pitch to his favorite player. We are glad and grateful to be here to see the Rangers start their march to the World Series.”

Cooper, his mom and six more in their group sat in front-row seats one section closer to home plate than Ryan. When Hamilton singled in his first at-bat, Cooper jumped up and down, twirling a red towel.

“We’re just honored that they were willing to come out and do that and share the day with us,” Ryan said.

Shannon Stone was reaching for the ball thrown by Hamilton when he fell headfirst about 20 feet, landing on concrete behind the outfield wall. Cooper was his only child, and the two were extremely close, with the nearly three-hour drive from their home in Brownwood to Rangers games among their favorite activities together.

The Rangers recently announced plans to build a statue of Shannon and Cooper Stone outside the home-plate entrance as a tribute to them, and to all fans. The team hopes to unveil it by opening day next season. The club also is planning to raise the railing throughout the stadium.

A memorial fund started by the team on the family’s behalf recently received more than $150,000 from an auction sponsored by Fox Sports Southwest, the team’s main broadcaster.

“I call (Jenny) periodically just to see how she’s doing and see if they have any needs that we might be able to assist with,” Ryan said. “It’s been ongoing since the accident.”

Ryan also discussed with Jenny Stone the best time for Cooper to return to the stadium.

The boy wanted to come sooner, but Jenny “wasn’t ready to deal with it,” Ryan said. However, she realized that coming back “was in (Cooper’s) best interests, because this is what he was wanting to do.”

A few weeks ago, Ryan called to invite them for the final homestand. Knowing the playoffs were likely, he also invited them to not only come to the game, but to throw out the first pitch. The Rangers played the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 1 of their AL division series, which also happened to be the first game of the entire postseason.

“He represents what we believe we’re about and he is a very dyed-in-the-wool Ranger fan,” Ryan said.

Ryan also made sure Hamilton felt comfortable being part of this. Hamilton is a recovering substance abuser whose career nearly was derailed by his personal demons.

“I went to Josh before we decided anything and asked Josh how he felt about it, because I didn’t want to put Josh in any awkward position,” Ryan said.

Hamilton said he prayed to help steel himself for the moment, and to know what to say.

“The Lord gave me words at the right time,” he said. “I’m not good with speeches. Not good with knowing what I’m going to say before. Because I rehearse it too much and it don’t sound genuine. So I just kind of let it happen. It worked out good. … You could tell she was really emotional about coming back to the park. The little one, he’s young enough where he understands but at the same time it’s not as emotional for him as it is mom.”

Cooper and his family sat near the Rangers’ on-deck circle, and Hamilton gladly caught the boy’s eye several times. It was a nice counter to the scoreboard in a game the Rangers lost 9-0.

“Just to see the smile on his face and him enjoying himself,” Hamilton said, “it was pretty special to see.”

SOURCE: The Associated Press
Jaime Aron

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“Game On: Find Your Purpose – Pursue Your Dream” by Emmitt Smith

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Game On: Find Your Purpose–Pursue Your…

Price: $12.49


Emmitt Smith, the NFL’s all-time leading rusher of the Dallas Cowboys, Dancing with the Stars champion, and successful real-estate investor, outlines the principles that helped him become a winner on and off the football field. In this book he encourages you to live your God-given dream, now. Emmitt reveals that it’s not only vision and talent that propel us toward our dreams, but also a combination of determination, persistence, humility, courage, and faith. In this book, Emmitt gives readers the tools to pursue their dream with all their mind, heart, and soul.



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