THIS IS THE SPORTS SPECTRUM PODCAST
WITH JASON ROMANO, FEATURING DARRYL STRAWBERRY
Darryl Strawberry is a former MLB player who was the No. 1 overall selection in the 1980 MLB Draft by the New York Mets. He made his MLB debut in May 1983 and went on to play 17 seasons with the Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants and New York Yankees. He was an eight-time MLB All-Star and four-time World Series champion.
In 2010, Strawberry was inducted into the New York Mets Hall of Fame, and on June 1, 2024, Strawberry’s No. 18 jersey will be retired by the Mets.
Today on the podcast, we talk to Darryl Strawberry about his number being retired, appreciating his legacy as a player with the Mets, suffering a heart attack on March 11, trusting in God’s healing, and continuing to live the rest of his life for Jesus.
THIS IS THE SPORTS SPECTRUM PODCAST WITH MATT FORTE, FEATURING ROBERT MATHIS
Robert Mathis spent 14 seasons with the Indianapolis Colts (2003-16) and is the franchise’s all-time leader in sacks (123). He was inducted into the team’s Ring of Honor in 2021, and won Super Bowl XLI with the team in 2006-07. He retired as the NFL’s career record holder in forced fumbles (52).
Matt Forte welcomes Robert Mathis to the Sports Spectrum Podcast to talk about his journey of faith in Christ, the worst year of his life in 2014, the power of prayer, his favorite quarterback to sack, and the Colts’ culture.
Robert Mathis, who spent all of his 14 seasons with the @Colts and was part of the Super Bowl XLI winning squad, is now a Semifinalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2025. #PFHOF25pic.twitter.com/CErpQyajCL
Georgia Tech pitcher Tate McKee, May 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
Tate McKee has become a key piece of one of the best teams in college baseball this season, the ace of a staff with sights set on its first national championship.
The Georgia Tech right-hander is 6-0 with a 3.50 ERA through nine starts, leading the team with 43.2 innings pitched and 45 strikeouts. He’s made 25 consecutive series-opening starts, and the Yellow Jackets are 21-4 (.840) in those games. They have won each of the last 12 series begun by him, including a program-record nine series wins to start this season.
His consistency has helped power Georgia Tech to a 31-5 record and No. 2 national ranking, after a sweep of No. 5 Florida State this past weekend and a mid-week win over Georgia Southern on Tuesday. The Yellow Jackets have tied the best 36-game start to a season in program history, and are on a 13-game winning streak, their longest since 2011 and the second longest active streak in Division I, behind only No. 1 UCLA.
Seven of Georgia Tech’s wins during the streak have come against top-15 opponents (No. 14 NC State, No. 11 Auburn, No. 5 Florida State). The Yellow Jackets take that momentum into a pivotal ACC road series this weekend at No. 3 North Carolina. McKee will take the mound for the Friday-night opener.
Georgia Tech finished last season as the ACC regular-season champions and advanced to the 64-team NCAA Tournament for the fourth time in five years, but the program hasn’t reached the College World Series (the final eight teams of the tournament) since 2006. McKee and company are hoping to change that.
While McKee’s performance has been steady on the mound, his growth off the field has been a major part of his development. Speaking on the heels of the 2025 season, he said on Sports Spectrum’s “What’s Up?” podcast that he’s seen a noticeable shift in the team’s spiritual culture, particularly through Bible studies and consistent connection among players.
“This year to last year we had a big growth in our team with Bible studies and more people coming in,” he said. “It’s a true blessing. We get to see how many guys were getting together with Christ. Then, building that relationship with that small group chat that we had … just to build a small relationship through that was great.”
That environment has helped shape how he approaches the game on a daily basis.
“Baseball itself, I feel like every day you see little bits of Christ through even a practice game, stuff like that,” he said.
WHAT'S UP Tate McKee!
On Monday, you can listen to our full conversation with the @gtbaseball pitcher. @TateMckee1 shares about this past baseball season, what he's all about right now, leading at FCA, and more! Stay tuned! pic.twitter.com/Q9jaTOd0gA
McKee’s growth on the mound mirrors his development over the past two seasons. As a freshman in 2024, he struck out 61 batters in 47 innings but finished with a 7.28 ERA while adjusting to the college level. By 2025, he had taken over as the team’s Friday night starter, opening all 16 series and helping lead Georgia Tech through the postseason with a 2.03 ERA in ACC and NCAA Tournament play.
This season, he’s taken another step forward, becoming one of the most reliable arms on one of the top teams in the country.
As he’s grown as a player, McKee has also been intentional about his own spiritual habits.
“I set a bunch of different goals for 2025 — different ways that I could connect with the Lord and build my relationship,” he said on the podcast. “I would say this year has been just such a blessing with being a part of the FCA leadership team, this reading plan I’m doing every day, journaling about Christ every day, it’s been awesome.”
Those routines have stayed consistent regardless of how he’s performed.
“Even when I was struggling down in those times [last] season, I was keeping consistent with what I was doing every day,” he said on the podcast.
That faith is something he carries with him onto the field as well. Through Georgia Tech’s partnership with 44 Gloves, McKee designed a custom black alligator-skin glove that features a teal and mint green cross along with Philippians 4:13.
“That’s probably one of my favorite gloves I’ve ever gotten,” he said. “To be out there pitching with Him on my glove, it’s very meaningful.”
His faith is also reinforced through relationships within the program, including with head coach James Ramsey and teammates. McKee is part of a group chat where he, Ramsey and other coaches send a Bible verse to each other every day.
“That’s just kind of how our relationship is,” McKee said. “Just knowing the guy running the show has a relationship, like me, with Christ, that means so much.”
THIS IS THE SPORTS SPECTRUM PODCAST WITH MATT FORTE, FEATURING DAVID POLLACK
David Pollack is a former University of Georgia All-American linebacker, who was a first-round draft pick in 2005 by the Cincinnati Bengals. After his playing career, he spent more than a decade at ESPN as a college football analyst. He is also the co-host of the “Family Goals” podcast and the host of the “See Ball Get Ball” podcast.
Today on Sports Spectrum, we welcome David Pollack back to the show as he provides an update on his wife’s battle with brain cancer, trusting God in the storms of life, his just-released book “Every Day Counts,” and the 2026 NFL Draft.
THIS IS THE SPORTS SPECTRUM PODCAST WITH MATT FORTE, FEATURING JAMEIS WINSTON
Jameis Winston is an NFL quarterback who played the 2025 season with the New York Giants. He was originally selected No. 1 overall in the 2015 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and after five seasons with Tampa moved to New Orleans, where he spent the next four seasons with the Saints. In 2024, he signed a one-year deal with Cleveland, and in 2025, he signed a two-year deal with New York.
In college, Winston was the 2013 Heisman Trophy winner, and a few weeks later led his Florida State Seminoles to a BCS National Championship victory over Auburn.
Today on the podcast, Jameis Winston is back on the show for an inspiring and wide-ranging conversation about faith, football, his surprising receiving touchdown last season, and how much longer he plans to compete at the highest level of the NFL. A powerful and candid discussion between Winston and host Matt Forte.
