Stanley Tucker, Author at Sports Spectrum

Devotional of the Week: Never Changing

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Hebrews 13:8

Devotional of the Week: Powerful Display

Have you experienced this kind of power? Have you accepted by faith that Jesus, who paid the penalty for your sin, can grant you forgiveness and eternal life?

Devotional of the Week: Eternal Plan

It was gratifying, as a purist, to watch how the Kansas City Royals hustled to the World Series title last season. Their game plan throughout the playoffs was to be aggressive on offense, put pressure on their opponent’s defense, and hopefully benefit from it.

Devotional of the Week: Firmly Planted

Professional men’s sports are dominated by young men. The players who seem to produce the best results are between their late teens and mid-30s. There are some notable exceptions...

Devotional of the Week: Weighty Matters

Wrigley Field (so named in 1927) has been the home of the Chicago Cubs since 1916. Situated near Lake Michigan, it is legendary for its wind currents. Many a slugger has seen a home run turn into a routine fly ball, and many a utility player has seen a routine fly ball turn into a home run, depending on the direction of the wind...

Devotional of the Week: Unbelievable Underdogs

The ending of the NFC Championship on Jan. 18, 2015, between the Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks was, in Packers coach Mike McCarthy’s own word, “Unbelievable!” Seattle was down 19-7 with more than five minutes in regulation. The Packers had just intercepted a pass. They had the ball around midfield. It looked hopeless that this would end well for the Seahawks...

Devotional of the Week: Constant Encouragement

In 1989 as the NCAA men's basketball tournament began, University of Michigan Wolverines head coach Bill Freider accepted a job at Arizona. Bo Schembechler, Michigan's irascible athletic director, immediately fired Freider, saying emphatically that "no Michigan team will be coached by somebody from Arizona!"

Devotional of the Week: Selfish or Selfless

After losing to the New Orleans Saints on Oct. 26, Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy decided to make a defensive change. He called outside linebacker Clay Matthews into his office...

Devotional of the Week: Directionally Challenged

Moe Drabowsky was born in Poland in 1935. In 1956, he broke into the majors as a pitcher for the Chicago Cubs. Over the next 10 years with four different teams, his record was a paltry 48-81. Three times his teams finished last. It seemed as if his career was going no- where, a dead end, with the then hapless Kansas City Athletics...

Devotional of the Week: A Reason to Worship

In Game 7 of the 2001 World Series, Yankees closer, Mariano Rivera was brought in to preserve the lead against the Arizona Diamondbacks. In the ninth inning, his errant throw opened the gates to a 2-run rally. The Yankees lost the game and the World Series...

Devotional of the Week: Looking for Opportunities

Late in one game during a June 2014 home series with the New York Mets, St. Louis Cardinals center fielder Peter Bourjos drifted back to catch a fly ball near the warning track. It was the final out of the inning. Then Bourjos, like many outfielders have done before him, ran toward the left center field bleachers, pointed toward a bespectacled little boy on the front row, and tossed him the ball...

Devotional of the Week: Undying Love

On September 28, 1966, Larry Jaster, lefty pitcher for the Cardinals, prepared to face the Dodgers in Los Angeles. He had thrown shutouts in four previous starts against them that year...

Looking For Opportunities

Late in one game during a June 2014 home series with the New York Mets, St. Louis Cardinals center fielder Peter Bourjos drifted back to catch a fly ball near the warning track. It was the final out of the inning. Then Bourjos, like many outfielders have done before him, ran toward the left center field bleachers, pointed toward a bespectacled little boy on the front row, and tossed him the ball...

Riches That Last

What does it mean to be rich? When Stan Musial signed his 17th contract in 1958, he became the first National Leaguer to make $100,000. He was rich. In 1975, Catfish Hunter signed as a free agent for five years with the Yankees, making more than $3 million. He was richer. In 2012, Albert Pujols signed a 10-year deal with the L.A. Angels for more than $250 million. He is very rich. There is a permanent way to become “rich.” When a person acknowledges he is a sinner and trusts in Jesus as his Sin-Bearer, he becomes rich in at least three ways. He becomes rich in grace...

Assured of Ultimate Victory

Game 2 of the 2013 National League Championship Series was a classic for baseball purists. The St. Louis Cardinals beat the L.A. Dodgers 1-0 behind 22-year-old rookie pitcher Michael Wacha. Each batter Wacha faced represented the tying or go ahead run. The tension was thick in every inning...

Devotional of the Week -- The Fourth Soil

In 2004 Bill Self left Illinois as head basketball coach and went to Kansas. He later won a national title in 2008. Illinois then hired Bruce Weber, former coach at Southern Illinois University, to replace Self. Since Self stressed offense and Weber stressed defense, the first year was difficult for the returning players, adjusting to a new coach and new coaching style…

Devotional of the Week -- Union in the Dugout

Baseball is a simple game. Throw strikes. See the ball and hit it. There are three outs, per team, per inning and nine innings in a game. Teams that play well together are usually successful. Team unity is enhanced in the clubhouse by energetic leaders like Orlando “Cha-Cha” Cepeda, who led the St. Louis Cardinals to the World Series in 1967 and 1968. It can also be augmented by quiet leaders like Carlos Beltran, who leads by consistent performance and is there to be an example and mentor to younger players...

Devotional of the Week -- Power Outage

The 2012 St. Louis Cardinals baseball team exhibited unusual power. Five players: Carlos Beltran, Matt Holliday, Allen Craig, Yadier Molina and David Freese each hit 20 or more home runs. This had never happened in franchise history. They made it to the postseason, winning the wild card playoff and division series. They were up 3 games to 1 in the National League Championship Series against the San Francisco Giants until San Francisco’s excellent pitching took over...

Devotional of the Week -- Plenty More of That

On January 9, 1977, Super Bowl XI was played between Oakland and Minnesota. Early in the game, Oakland moved into Minnesota’s red zone, but came away with only a field goal. John Madden, the Raiders head coach, was frustrated. Kenny Stabler, the Raiders quarterback, said, “Don’t worry, Coach. There’s plenty more where that came from.” He was right. With the Raiders’ line opening huge holes for Clarence Davis and Mark Van Eegham, while allowing Stabler time to find Fred Biletinikoff, Cliff Branch and Dave Casper, the Raiders won easily 32-14...

Devotional of the Week -- Strong In The Lord

In the 1970’s the Pittsburgh Steelers won four Super Bowls. Part of the reason was that their offensive front four could all bench press 500 pounds. Their superior strength protected Terry Bradshaw well and opened huge holes for Franco Harris and Rocky Bleier. The weight room is a vital part of athletic programs today in professional, college and even high school sports. Strength training pays off in football, basketball, and other sports as well...

Devotional of the Week -- Give Yourself a Break

In the 1934 World Series between the Cardinals and Tigers, Dizzy and Paul Dean (featured in the picture with Babe Ruth) combined to pitch in 5 of the 7 games, each working on short rest. In the 1946 Series, Harry Brecheen pitched in 3 of the 7 games, working on short rest. In 1964, 1967 and 1968, Bob Gibson pitched 3 of the 7 games. More recently, Curt Schilling and Randy Johnson of the Diamondbacks together pitched in 5 of the 7 games against the Yankees in 2001. Many of these times the results were positive, but not always...

Devotional of the Week -- Ask for directions

Yadier Molina is perhaps the best defensive catcher in baseball. His prowess at throwing out base-stealers (45 percent) is among the elite in the majors. His 41 pick offs rank first in the National League, “light years” ahead of second place. He has five consecutive National League Gold Gloves and one Platinum Glove, given to the best among all Gold Glove recipients for that particular season...

The Game Plan

“But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” Acts 20:24

Promise Keeper

“He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.” Romans 4:20-21

Diligence - 2 Peter 3:14

On September 19, 1985, the Chicago Bears played at the Minnesota Vikings in a Thursday night football game. The Bears offense was struggling until half-time when Coach Mike Ditka changed quarterbacks and brought in Jim McMahon in the second half. In his first series of plays, he called for a play-action pass. He faked a hand-off to Walter Payton (“Sweetness”) and dropped back to pass. As he was searching for a receiver, a Minnesota linebacker came charging through a gap in the pocket, intent on sacking McMahon. “Sweetness” promptly moved into position and stuck the linebacker with a bone-jarring block...