The Daily - Sports Spectrum

Sports Spectrum Radio (Sat)

by Frank Giardina, 4 Jul 2009

GUEST FEATURE:

Andy Petite, New York Yankees pitcher
Billy "White Shoes" Johnson, former Houston Oilers receiver and return specialist
Bill Crowder, Sports Spectrum chaplain
Tony Caridi, radio voice of the West Virginia Mountaineers

On the next Sports Spectrum Saturday, we will take you around the world of sports with baseball, the NFL, the Winter Olympics and college athletics.

First, we will take you back in time and re-live the exciting NFL career of Billy "White Shoes" Johnson. Billy was a dazzling receiver and return man in the NFL for the old Houston Oilers. He is now involved with training member of the United States Winter Olympic team.

Bill Houston talks with "White Shoes" and you will be encouraged to hear what the Lord has done in his life after football.

In major league baseball, we will catch up with one of the winningest pitchers in New York Yankees history. Don't miss our clubhouse visit with Yankee great Andy Petite.

We will also hear from Sports Spectrum chaplain Bill Crowder. Bill will share his thoughts on this special weekend in our nation's history.

And, in college athletics, LSU's win in the College World Series, put an official end to the college athletic season. We will take your phone calls on your favorite story of the year in college athletics. A long time Big East broadcaster, Tony Caridi of the Mountaineer Sports Network in West Virginia, will also share his thoughts.

Enjoy a 4th of July Saturday on the next Sports Spectrum.

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Noteworthy

by Jenelle Jonkman, 3 Jul 2009

NBA

Ron Artest says he's happy to be heading to Los Angeles to join the Lakers. Let's think about it for a moment. You are going to join the reigning champions with one of the best players in basketball today, plus you'll get a good paycheck to be there... what's not to be happy about.

The verbal deals are flying fast and furious around the league until formal agreements can be announced... Artest to the Lakers, Ariza to the Rockets, Gortat to the Mavericks, and several more suspected in a few days. There's more "wooing" going on in the NBA right now than on anywhere else on Valentine's Day...

TENNIS

The Williams sisters will face off on center court in the finals at Wimbledon. No one is really surprised. But now the question is "which sister?"

MLB

It took 10 innings, but the Mets came back from 5 runs down to beat the Pirates. We'll see if a win can turn the tide on their downward slide.

Cubbie Derek Lee was in the zone with 7 RBIs against the Brewers. A grand slam and a 3-run homer - that's an ERA wrecker right there.

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Sports Spectrum Radio (Fri)

by Frank Giardina, 3 Jul 2009

GUEST FEATURE: C.J. Woollum, head basketball coach, Christopher Newport University

It is time to talk real life issues in coaching on Sports Spectrum Today.

Many college coaches are recruiting athletes at a younger age. Earlier this week, University of Tennessee head football coach, Lane Kiffin, got a verbal commitment from a 13 year old football prospect.

We will talk about the problems of this trend with a long time college basketball coach, C.J. Woollum. He is the head coach at Christopher Newport University in Virginia.

This is a trend that has been happening in basketball with very mixed results. Now it may start happening in football, a sports where is it much more difficult to make early evaluations.

Why do coaches do it? Should they do it? These are some of the issues we will discuss with C.J. Woollum on Sports Spectrum Today.

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Wimbledon Semis are Set

by Jenelle Jonkman, 2 Jul 2009

So the semis are set and we'll see the American Andy take on the British Andy. That's Andy Roddick facing Andy Murray. In the other men's semi, Tommy Haas upset Djokovic to earn his first Wimbledon semi appearance in 11 appearances. What is Haas' reward? He gets to face Roger Federer who has been nearly invincible.

On the women's side all four top ranked players will face off. Venus Williams will play top-ranked Dinara Safina, while sister Serena faces No. 4 Elena Dementieva.

Is there a Williams' sister that you think will take it? Anyone other than Federer to claim the trophy in Center Court? What do you think?

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Sports Spectrum Radio (Thur)

by Frank Giardina, 2 Jul 2009

GUEST FEATURE: Ron Pegram, SS NASCAR analyst

Last weekend was a historic one in NASCAR. The youngster from Joe Gibbs Racing, 19-year old Joey Logano became the youngest driver in history to win a Cup race when he won the rain shortened race in New Hampshire.

On this edition of Sports Spectrum Today, we will talk with our NASCAR analyst, Ron Pegram. Ron will share his thoughts on Logano's win and his future.

Ron will also talk about the biblical concept of mentorship? How important is mentorship in all professions and all walks of life? What can this young driver learn from his owner, Joe Gibbs.

Do we have an obligation to mentor those around us? It makes for an interesting visit with Ron Pegram on Sports Spectrum Today.

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Revolving Door In Detroit

by Jenelle Jonkman, 1 Jul 2009

Detroit said goodbye to another head coach. Joe Dumars announced that Michael Curry would not be returning for a second season with the Pistons.

There has been lots of talk about difficult player relationships, no control in the locker room, and not making in further in playoffs.

Curry was the fifth coach this decade for the Pistons in what is almost seen as a revolving door. Remarkable enough, the Pistons have seen great success this decade as well.

With plenty of free agent money available, the Pistons need to act quickly in naming a new coach to be able to take advantage of the talent pool available.

Piston Coaches This Decade

2008-09 Michael Curry
2005-08 Flip Saunders
2003-05 Larry Brown
2001-03 Rick Carlisle
2000-01 George Irvine

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Sports Spectrum Radio (Wed)

by Frank Giardina, 1 Jul 2009

GUEST FEATURE: Joe Girardi, manager of the New York Yankees

It is not easy being the manager of the New York Yankees, Some may say it is the toughest job in all of sports. On this edition of Sports Spectrum Today, we will visit with Yankees skipper, Joe Girardi.

Joe is a former Yankees players and a former manager of the year with the Florida Marlins. He played his college baseball in the Big Ten at Northwestern.

Joe will talk about his faith in Christ and how he came to know Christ. He will also talk about how his faith helps him deal with the pressure of managing the Yankees.

Following our visit with Joe, we will also talk with a long time college coach and Sports Spectrum analyst, C.J. Woollum. C.J. will talk about some of the toughest "managing/coaching" jobs in sports.

Don't miss an interesting discussion on Sports Spectrum Today.

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Questionable Future for Yao

by Jenelle Jonkman, 30 Jun 2009

The Houston Rockets are admitting that Yao Ming's future is uncertain. Ming's broken foot has not healed and will likely miss most if not all of the upcoming season.

The true uncertainty is whether this injury will be career ending for the 7-foot-6 All-Star center.

It's just another reminder for all of us that life is uncertain. We don't know what tomorrow will bring. There are no guarantees except for this - nothing will happen that takes God by surprise.

The security that comes from relying on God who is in control gives us confidence. God who is mighty to save, is powerful to provide.

That truth applies to All Stars and fans alike.

Oh, and for the critics that claim that Ming's absence marks the end of the road for the Rockets... Where were you this season? Wasn't Ming out of good part of the season and the Rockets still did well without him? Did you not see the Rockets in the playoffs? Didn't a Ming-less team take the future NBA Champion Lakers to game 7, narrowly missing the Western Finals?

Let's not write the Rockets off yet.