Author Archives: Brett Honeycutt

Angelic Host

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Angel Goodrich was the key last season in Kansas’ improbable 70-64 upset against third-seeded Delaware, helping the Jayhawks advance to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA women’s basketball tournament for the first time since 1998.

Goodrich’s 27 points led the 11th-seeded Jayhawks, who surprised many by even making the tournament and surprised even more by beating a Delaware team that entered with a 31-1 record and was led by the nation’s leading scorer, 6-foot-5 Elena Delle Donne.

Even though Kansas lost in the next round to perennial national power Tennessee, the run was a testament to Goodrich’s hard work to overcome setbacks in her own life.

Goodrich enters her senior season as one of the nation’s best point guards after leading the nation in assists (7.4 per game) last season and setting Big 12 and Kansas single-season records for assists (250).

But the road to the Sweet 16 was tough, not just because Kansas had to beat a team like Delaware, but because the Jayhawks had to overcome the loss of leading scorer Carolyn Davis to a knee injury at the beginning of February and then had to overcome the disappointment of losing six of their last eight regular-season games.

Overcoming, though, is what Goodrich had dealt with several seasons prior—multiple times.

Hurdles of Life

As a high school senior from Oklahoma in 2008, Goodrich was one of the most highly touted point guards in the nation. She was an All-American and Oklahoma’s 2007 Gatorade Player of the Year who had led Sequoyah High to three state titles and one runner-up finish. She even earned all-state as a sprinter in track.

Success was inevitable. Or so it seemed.

During the second day of practice her freshman year at Kansas in October of 2008, Goodrich crumpled to the floor.

The pain around her knee was evident.

“To be honest, I didn’t know what to think,” Goodrich says. “It hurt…I knew I did something.”

She had torn the anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee and would miss the entire season.

“It was very hard,” she says. “The tough part was just not being able to get out there and play my first year. Coming up here and being away from home, it was tough, because I couldn’t just go and talk to my mom. Another tough thing was it was painful. It’s like a mental thing. You had to have a strong mentality to get through it. It was just tough through the whole thing…trying to push through and not knowing what you had to go through.”

She was able to walk right after surgery, but it would take several months before she was pain-free in her rehab exercises and several more months before she was ready to play again.

Another Setback

The following season, she started the first 15 games and was fourth nationally in assists (7.1 per game) while also leading the Big 12 in that category.

Then, during the second half of a game against Oklahoma State, on Jan. 12, 2010, it happened again. This time she tore the ACL in her left knee.

“I know at one point when I was going through the process of my first one, I was thinking if this happens to me gain I won’t be able to do it,” Goodrich says. “After that, I didn’t know what to think. I didn’t know if I was being punished again or why this was happening to me. I didn’t know what to think. I knew I could get through it, though, because I got through the first one.

Her team, family, and her faith would be keys to helping her through it.

“It helped so much knowing they were there and they wanted to support me,” Goodrich said.

“The second time I was thinking, ‘Why me? Why did this happen?’ But through the whole thing, I got to the point that I wasn’t going to let this get me down. I’m not going to let this stop me. I’m going to keep pushing. This is something I really love to do and this is not going to be the thing that stops me from doing it.”

At first, she questioned God, but later realized the blessing in the injuries.

“Now I look back and I know He did it for a reason,” she said. “I know He made me a better person for putting me through it, and He was there with me through the whole process, and He just made me who I am today.”

Her family has been key in encouraging her in her spiritual walk, telling her that God “puts you through things to make you a stronger person.

“You just have to let him lead you on the right path.”

By Brett Honeycutt

Brett Honeycutt is the managing editor at Sports Spectrum magazine. This story was published in the All-Basketball, October 2012 DigiMag.

Airing It Out — Culture wars

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There is a culture war going on and Yunel Escobar is in the middle of it. So is U.S. gymnastics Olympic star Gabby Douglas.

The culture war involves an array of social issues involving Christianity, but we’ll address Gabby Douglas first. Her story deals with an attack directed straight at her faith.

It started with what Douglas said after winning Olympic gold for the all-around gymnastics competition.

“I give all the glory to God. It’s kind of a win-win situation. The glory goes up to Him and the blessings fall down on me,” Douglas said on TV as she was being interviewed after her competition.

It apparently didn’t sit well with Salon writer Mary Elizabeth Williams, who stirred things up when she wrote a bigoted piece against Christians in general, and against Douglas specifically.

Williams basically said, in a subtle way, that Douglas shouldn’t be given the freedom of speech and freedom of religion. Well, Douglas could be allowed to have those freedoms, but if she did it would make people not like her and it would make people feel “uncomfortable.”

However, Williams didn’t care that she was, in essence, advocating for silencing Douglas. Williams didn’t care about the denial of free speech or the denial of freedom of religion, given to us by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

Williams didn’t care about too much, except her feelings and her agenda. In a nutshell, she was showing religious intolerance.

Here’s what Williams wrote: “Yet after her victory, one of the first responses that truly resonated for me was from a colleague who noted, ‘I would like her more if she were not so, so, so into Jesus.’ Which raises the question—what is Jesus going to do now for Gabby Douglas’ career? And that clearly authentic image of a hardworking girl with strong values makes her a natural icon to her fellow Christians, just as it makes the somewhat less faithful uncomfortable.”

What Williams’ colleague said resonated with her so much, she wanted to let everyone else know.

Count Williams in the “somewhat less faithful” and “uncomfortable” crowd.

Remember, how people feel is how they believe and that negates what you believe, no matter if it’s based on truth.

What the opposing side to Christianity will say is that Christians are intolerant and bigoted, even though they are being bigoted and intolerant toward their faith and toward Christ on a regular basis.

In essence, they are saying, “What you believe is wrong. What we believe is right.” And in the same breath they will say, “You can’t be absolutely sure what you believe is right anyway,” while asserting, in a subtle way, that they are absolutely sure what they believe is right.

Seem like a double-standard? It is. But they don’t care.

Which brings us to Escobar, the Toronto Blue Jays star who ruffled some feathers when he used eye black with the Spanish word “Maricón” written on it.

It was labeled a gay slur by most media, but people in the Latin American community saw it a little different. Why? Because they understand the language.

It earned Escobar a three-game suspension by Major League Baseball, a press conference where Escobar apologized, and constant harassment by the media.

In the Latin American community, though, there was outrage—not at Escobar, but because of the way the media had portrayed the word and had portrayed Escobar, and there was outrage against MLB because of the suspension.

Julio Pabon, founder of LatinoSports.com, wrote a piece in which he acknowledged that the word was bad, but in no way was it a gay slur in the Latino community.

Pabon interviewed Latino baseball players who were incensed at how Escobar’s situation had been handled.

Said longtime star Omar Vizquel, “That, in our culture, in Spanish the word has a much different meaning.”

But lost in translation was that the media, and our culture, has said they don’t care about someone else’s culture or views. What they care about is how they feel. How they believe. And if you don’t conform or believe the same way, you’ll be labeled a basher, hater, and bigot. They will also say they have a right to their beliefs, and despite your right to believe differently, you are wrong and your right is negated because you are a basher, hater and bigot.

The sad part is that they are all of those things, too. They bash Christianity, they hate Christians and their faith, and they are Christian bigots.

They don’t believe that you have a right to believe anything that opposes what they believe. No matter what the truth is—whether it’s truth found in your faith or truth found in your culture.

They’re right. You’re wrong. At least that’s what they believe.

But don’t be surprised. We were warned in Isaiah 5:20: “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.”

Get used to it. We’re in a culture war.

By Brett Honeycutt

This column was published in the September 2012 Sports Spectrum DigiMag. Print and digital subscribers, log in and view the issue here. Brett Honeycutt is the managing editor of Sports Spectrum magazine. His column addresses topics from a biblical perspective. Follow him on Twitter-@Brett_Honeycutt. 

Training Table — NCAA Football (Week 5)

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Monday

“If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered.” Proverbs 21:13

Giving to the Needy

When University of Georgia head football coach Mark Richt made the commitment to begin visiting Honduras, he did so with a keen understanding of what the Bible says about our responsibility to the poor.

He didn’t use the trip as a weekend getaway, though.

Richt first went to the poverty-stricken areas of Honduras with World Vision on a mission trip, and has done so multiple times, as a way to minister to the poor. He understands perfectly what Proverbs 21:13 says, that if we ignore the cries of the poor, that when we cry for help we won’t be answered.

As we are reminded in Romans 11:35-36, it’s a reminder that God gives all things, and He is the One (not us) who enables us to give back so that we can experience the joy of giving. “Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?’ For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen” Romans 11:35-36.

— Brett Honeycutt, Sports Spectrum

Tuesday

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21 

Heavenly Awards

University of Alabama lineman Barrett Jones has won numerous awards related to college football: Two National Championships; All-American; All-SEC; the Outland Trophy for college football’s best interior lineman; Jacobs Blocking Trophy, for the SEC’s best offensive lineman; Wuerfel Trophy, for community service and athletic and academic achievement; and SEC Scholar Athlete of the Year after having a 4.0 GPA in his accounting major.

But his greatest award could be seen by the way he used his last three spring breaks to help the poor and oppressed in Haiti and Nicaragua.

His trips to Haiti focused on construction to help refugees, school children and other Haitians, and his trip, last spring, to Nicaragua was focused solely on presenting the gospel. “This is the most important kind of trip, to present the gospel.” Jones told Baptist Press. “This trip could have an eternal effect, hopefully, on some people’s lives.”

He realized that his football-related awards compared little in regards to eternity, and that sharing the gospel was “the most important” thing he could do to affect someone’s life now and after we leave this earth.

Proverb 19:7 teaches us this principle of having the right focus, “He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward him for what he has done.”

What is your focus? Are you concerned about your rewards on earth, or in Heaven?

— Brett Honeycutt, Sports Spectrum

Wednesday

“For, ‘All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever.’” I Peter 1:24-25

Glory for Self or God

As big-time college football players run onto the field, the crowd’s cheers are deafening and the moment overwhelming. It’s a scene replayed over and over again each college football season and, likely, in most of the minds of current and former college football players’ as they relive that moment.

Some dream of that moment until they reach college, some live for that moment each season while they’re still able to play the game, and others relish that moment when thinking about it years later as they remember “the good times.” But is all of that really the best we, as Christians, can imagine life being? Is that the ideal life? Is that all there is, to live for fame and glory?

As I Peter 1:24-25 reminds us, all of that glory will fade away as quick as the grass withers (which is pretty quick), but God’s Word and His promises stand forever. Begin chasing “forever” things by choosing God, and stop chasing the things that wither and fade.

— Brett Honeycutt, Sports Spectrum

Thursday

“The sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.” Proverbs 13:4

Hard Work Equals Results

University of Iowa running back Mark Weisman seemed to be your typical walk-on. He was given little respect, little chance and little motivation to succeed.

But he possessed a great drive, a great will, and a great attitude. He kept pressing on when he didn’t have any reason to do so.

Consider this: when he was in high school, he was offered a scholarship by only one Division I Football Bowl Subdivision school, Air Force. But he only lasted one semester at the military school.

He chose Iowa because they were one of only a few schools that still used the fullback position. When he arrived at Iowa, though, he was ignored. In the spring game, he had zero carries. How’s that for a welcome? And in his first two games this season, it was only slightly better as he totaled only two carries for eight yards.

Then, something happened. All of that perseverance seemed to begin to pay off. He was switched to tailback, and began to pile up the yards as he rushed for more than 100 yards in each of those games. It’s a reminder that desire alone will only satisfy your mind, but desires that are coupled with hard work and determination will completely satisfy.

— Brett Honeycutt, Sports Spectrum

Friday

“The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in men who are truthful.” Proverbs 12:22

Lying Lips Lead to Destruction

The University of Miami has been rocked by scandals involving their football team multiple times. The University of North Carolina, which had a pristine reputation, was recently cited for academic improprieties involving its football program. And, the Penn State sexual abuse scandal involving a former assistant football coach is all too familiar to everyone.

In the investigation process involving each of these situations, it was found that some people knew things were going on. But what kept the scandal from being uncovered was that people lied. Even though the scandal was eventually found out, innocent people had been punished, and reputations had been tarnished.

Heartbreak and disappointment flooded those schools, as well as the rest of the college football world. And those were only a few of the major scandals.

All of the heartache could have been avoided, though, had they understood that lying never succeeds as Proverbs 12:19 indicates, “Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.”

Ask for God’s guidance and direction on a daily basis so that you will avoid the temptation of lying and also avoid the destruction it causes to you and others.

— Brett Honeycutt, Sports Spectrum

Weekender

“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” Matthew 5:7

Going Long

Read Matthew 5:7 and meditate on what it says about showing mercy. Have you ever been in a position to show mercy and then decided not to do that? If so, why? In light of this verse, how important was it to Jesus to show mercy and what was the result for those who did?

Training Table — Penn State (Week 11)

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Monday

“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17

Living With Accountability

One thing that every Christian needs is accountability. Whether it’s a friend, a spouse, a co-worker, or whoever, accountability is the lifeblood of our growth in Christ. It helps keep us or point us in the right direction.

Imagine if Penn State’s football program, including coaches, players, administrators, etc., had accountability. Imagine if they would have held each other accountable each time they came to a difficult decision. Imagine, if we all, as Christians, did that.

If we as Christians did that and sought God’s guidance, the frustration and disappointment that was evident in the handling of the Penn State situation would be nearly non-existent. It would just be a matter of doing what we know is right.

When faced with difficult situations, seek guidance from a fellow Christian, and pray and seek God’s guidance. It will reduce the hurt and sorrow we so often feel when we fail to do these things.

—Brett Honeycutt, Sports Spectrum

Tuesday

“He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity.” Proverbs 2:7

Using Sound Wisdom

Proverbs says that wisdom is always at our fingertips. It’s there for the taking because God stored it up for us.

James 1:5 reiterates this by saying all we have to do to attain wisdom is ask: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”

The world, though, usually likes to rely on man’s wisdom. God, who they say is this unknown being they can’t see, can’t help them (they insist). He doesn’t exist. He is silent. He doesn’t care.

But He is very alive, and so is His word.

When faced with tough situations like the Penn State football situation, where things were unknown and known, stories were rightly and wrongly reported, things were told and covered up, and there were failures on both sides, it would be nice to have access to the wisdom that Solomon had.

But as Christians we do. All we have to do is ask. God won’t fail us. His promises are sure and right.

Next time you’re faced with a tough situation, remember to ask for wisdom in dealing with it. And in doing so, you will avoid the heartache of acting unwise.

—Brett Honeycutt, Sports Spectrum

Wednesday

“The way of life winds upward for the wise, That he may turn away from hell below.” Proverbs 15:24 (NKJV)

Acting Wise

I won’t pretend to know Jerry Sandusky or the reason he did what he did. The sexual abuse was unthinkable. Unimaginable. Wrong.

But I do know the things he did were avoidable, if only he had sought God.

As the verse above says, “The way of life winds upward for the wise.” Their wise acts point them to righteousness, to truth, to God.

But the end of the verse is telling. It alerts us to the consequences of someone who doesn’t act with wisdom. It tells us that their lives will be ruined if they continue to act foolishly.

The opportunity to commit heinous acts isn’t tempting to anyone at first. It’s a slow, gradual chipping away at someone’s thought process because they continually refuse to act with wisdom—the kind of wisdom that God offers.

Remember to seek God so that your life points people upward and turns them “away from the hell below.”

—Brett Honeycutt, Sports Spectrum

Thursday

“Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.” Psalm 25:5

Walking In Truth

Imagine if we asked God for this type of guidance every day. Imagine if we walked in truth constantly. Imagine what kind of world that would be.

Imagine if former Penn State football coach Jerry Sandusky had prayed Psalm 25:5 each day, or even Psalm 43:3, “Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling!” Imagine.

Unfortunately, though, we don’t live in a perfect world. We live in a world with too much sin. We live in a world where unthinkable acts are committed, like the numerous instances of sexual abuse by Sandusky.

Before you say, “Yeah, but I would never do something like that.” Read Galatians 6: “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted…For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.” It’s a reminder that we can be tempted into unthinkable acts if we’re not careful to remain constantly in tune with God and His desires.

—Brett Honeycutt, Sports Spectrum

Friday 

“Blessed  are they who maintain justice, who constantly do what is right.” Psalm 106:3

Justice Served

Some will say that justice was served in the Jerry Sandusky sexual abuse trial when he was sentenced to enough years that will keep the 68-year-old former Penn State coach in prison for the rest of his life here on earth.

Some will disagree and instead say justice could never be served when the lives of families and children were ruined. They will argue that no amount of punishment could make up for all the evil they endured.

In this case, though, a jury found that Sandusky should pay for his crimes. They found that justice, in this case, would be to have Sandusky away from society so that he couldn’t commit these acts again.

Those jurors, and the people who helped put Sandusky behind bars are the ones Psalm 106:3 refers to as “blessed” because they “maintain justice.” They are the ones who did what was right. Are you that type of person? Are you someone who seeks to do the right thing all of the time, or just some of the time?

—Brett Honeycutt, Sports Spectrum

Weekender

“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16 

Going Long

Read Matthew 5:14-16 and mediate on the image of being a light to the world. Our lives should be lived in such a way that there is no question we are followers of Christ. If we aren’t living this way, do what Hebrews 12:1 says and “throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”

Training Table — The Tebow Devo (Week 13)

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Monday

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Matthew 5:43-48

Loving in Difficult Circumstances

It would have been easy for Tim Tebow to make cutting remarks or rant against the Denver Broncos front office personnel or coaches when they decided to trade him, but he didn’t.

In some people’s eyes Tebow would have had every right to do that. He was fresh off leading the Broncos to the playoffs after some heart-wrenching victories, and he helped them to a playoff victory against Pittsburgh. The Broncos had even promised to keep Tebow as the starter for next season, but they traded him to the New York Jets, who only offered the backup role.

Irritating. Disrespectful. Unfair. Those were some of the things people thought, and are some of the things we think when we are done wrong. But Jesus tells us to love our enemies and to pray for those who persecute us. In context, enemies back then were people who could have you put in prison or killed, so showing love to those people would have been even harder. But Christ told us to do it.

—  Brett Honeycutt, Sports Spectrum

Tuesday

“…whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:43-45

Servant’s Heart

Backup or starter, it doesn’t matter. Tim Tebow just wants to help. He just wants to be part of the team. He just wants to contribute in any way possible.

That’s the heart of a servant and should be the heart of anyone who is a Christian. As Jesus said in Mark 10, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” And He is a King. Not just any person.

If we are to imitate Christ, it will start with being a servant to others.

— Brett Honeycutt, Sports Spectrum

Wednesday 

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.” James 1:17-18

Gifted

Tim Tebow can play quarterback, fullback, wide receiver, tight end, and he can also block. He can probably do a lot of other things, too. But doing whatever his new coaches with the New York Jets wanted him to do was what he said he would do. Whether they use him a little or a lot, he is doing what they ask.

That’s similar to how God wants us to live our lives. Our talents, as little or as many as God has given us, are all to be used for Him, when He wants us to use them and where He wants us to use them.

Are the talents God has given to you being used for God’s glory, or for self glory? Or are those talents even being used at all?

Remember, since “every good and perfect gift comes from God” those gifts were meant for a purpose. And that purpose is to honor, glorify and please God.

— Brett Honeycutt, Sports Spectrum

Thursday

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:8-9

God of Peace be With You

You can do a lot with eye blacks. You know, it’s what players wear underneath their eyes to help reduce glare.

Tim Tebow was known for his eye black because he would put references to Scripture on it as a form of witness. One of his favorite verses, according to his foundation’s website, to wear on the eye black was Philippians 4:8-9. It is a verse that his foundation bases its core values on: being truthful, noble, just, pure, lovely, virtuous and highly praised, and having good reports.

Are you seeking all of these traits that Paul mentions in his letter to the church in Philippi? If you do and you put them into practice, the Bible assures us that “the God of peace will be with you.”

—  Brett Honeycutt, Sports Spectrum

Friday

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.” Romans 1:16
Ashamed or Not?

One thing that Tim Tebow is well known for is his faith. He doesn’t hide the fact that he’s a Christian. He doesn’t shy away from it. He’s not embarrassed by it. He’s not ashamed.

It’s a trait that makes others, Christians and non-Christians, admire him even more because he is so bold. His love for Christ negates his fear of what others feel or think about him.

If you struggle with fear, you can ask for boldness from God. Even Paul,  who seemed to have no problem with being bold in his faith, had to ask God for boldness (Ephesians 6:19, Philippians 1:20).

If you fear what others think of you because of your faith, remember that type of fear is not from God as II Timothy 1:7 says, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” Remember that power, love and a sound mind run contrary to fear.

Ask for boldness and proclaim Christ’s goodness.

—Brett Honeycutt, Sports Spectrum

Weekender

“Like one who grabs a stray dog by the ears is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own.” Proverbs 26:17

Going Long

Read Proverbs 26:17 and see how it contrasts with the beatitude that speaks of peacemakers in Matthew 5:9. Which one are you? Are you like the description in Proverbs 26:17 or Matthew 5:9? Ask God to help you become or continue to be a peacemaker.

Airing it Out — Oh, when the Saints go cashing in

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“Cart-offs” and “knockouts” aren’t terms that normally produce thoughts of leadership and the NFL. If anything, they make me think of the anything-goes-world of boxing.

But that terminology, made infamous this past spring because of the connection to the New Orleans Saints bounty scandal, or “Bounty Gate” as it’s been dubbed, is actually synonymous with the NFL and a lack of leadership.

Despite the proof, there are mixed feelings about the scandal.

But there shouldn’t be, especially when you review the evidence.

On one side you have some of the players named in the investigation who deny it even happened.

But others, who have viewed the evidence (of charts listing $500 to $1,000 payouts, testimony from players, and audio tape, especially that of former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams telling players to go after a player with a history of concussions), say there’s no doubt it happened.

Most disturbing was a quote by Williams, who admitted to NFL investigators that “he was rolling the dice with player safety and someone could have been maimed.”

Maimed. MAIMED!

No gray area there.

Even more crippling to the naysayers was a document in Williams’ handwriting that showed player donations to a “QB Out” pool. The donation total, for knocking a quarterback out of a game, was $35,000, with Saints player Jonathan Vilma contributing $10,000.

For a taste of the evidence, google “Sean Pamphilon” and “ninersnation” and add “bounty” to your search. Some of the evidence released by the NFL will make your stomach churn.

What is clear is this: Players admitted that side bets are common in the NFL, and some have termed this particular incident by the Saints a Pay for Performance, which is against the league’s collective bargaining agreement.

But the main focus of this investigation was the Bounty Program, slightly different than a Pay for Performance program and something that could bring legal action.

For now the scandal has resulted in the suspension of four players (Vilma, Anthony Hargrove, Will Smith, and Scott Fujita), three coaches (Williams, head coach Sean Payton, and assistant coach Joe Vitt) and General Manager Mickey Loomis. The Saints also had to pay a $500,000 fine and give up second-round draft picks in 2012 and 2013.

Even after the evidence, the NFLPA still issued a statement saying the suspensions were unjustified.

After putting out that statement, I’m wondering how their leadership can be justified.

I say that because the bounty scandal is more about leadership, or a lack of thereof, than it is about the wrongs of injuring other players.

If Williams, Vilma, the NFLPA and others had just applied what Philippians 2:4 says (“Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”), or even Luke 6:31 (“Do to others as you would have them do to you.”), the mere thought of injuring other players would be unthinkable.

And to think that the leadership lesson from Philippians was written from prison should cause anyone to pause and think before they act negatively toward others.

Good leadership advice is found through God’s wisdom, not the wisdom of fallen man.

By Brett Honeycutt

This column was published in the July 2012 Sports Spectrum DigiMag. Print and digital subscribers, log in and view the issue here. Brett Honeycutt is the managing editor of Sports Spectrum magazine. His column addresses topics from a biblical perspective. Follow him on Twitter-@Brett_Honeycutt. 

Stephanie Brown Trafton: ‘God has been preparing me for this’

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For Stephanie Brown Trafton, a year made a world of difference; not only in the discus ring, but in her personal faith, as well.

The track and field standout who had never won a U.S. track and field title or even an NCAA championship while at Cal Poly, won the discus at the 2008 Olympics. She followed that with three U.S. titles (2009, 2011, 2012) and an American record this year in the event.

The 2008 Olympic gold was the first time in 76 years (since 1932 when Lillian Copeland won) that an American woman won the event at the Olympics.

From there, it was as if a new world opened to Brown-Trafton, who is participating in her third Olympics and hails from the small community of Galt, Calif. (population 24,081) where she was given the keys to the city after winning the gold in 2008.

She ended 2008 ranked No. 1 in the world, with a personal best throw of 217-feet, 1 inch. She also became the first female in a throwing event to be awarded the Jesse Owens Female Athlete of the Year, the highest honor given by USA Track and Field.

In 2009, she kept rolling by winning her first U.S. title in the discus on June 25. And once again she had the best throw in the world (217-2) by throwing another personal best.

“I know that God has been preparing me for this for a long time,” says Brown-Trafton, who was a six-time All-American in college. “I have always been a very down-to-earth person, and with a gold medal people somehow expect me to be a larger-than-life kind of person. Trying to balance public attention and family/church life has been my biggest challenge yet, but I believe God is leading me in this direction and I know He has given me the tools to succeed in this new territory.”

Although the success has helped her grow spiritually, it has also caused her to realize how much she needs to depend on God.

“I have had to really lean on God more than ever for strength and peace in the last year,” says Brown-Trafton, who is 32, married and works in the information technology services industry when she’s not practicing or competing.

“If I try to be a control freak and take on all of life’s struggles by myself, I will quickly be reminded that God led me to this place and has promised me that He will be with me in all of my hard times. I sometimes say, ‘I can do this without you,’ but I know from life experience that as soon as I take my eyes off Him, I start to sink. With God I can walk on water, but in my own power I sink like a rock.”

Her continued growth in Christ has been helped by encouragement from others, which in turn has helped give her a noticeable enthusiasm for delving into God’s Word.

“I have been encouraged by my church, family, and community,” she says. “In addition, every time I read the Bible in my devotions I am encouraged because there is something that is relevant in my life. If you pick up the Bible and read but don’t find anything relevant, it might mean that life is getting stagnant. God works through us when we are out in the world interacting with people. The Bible is made up of stories about God and people taking action. It’s really exciting to find that, even though the Bible is thousands of years old, it was written for the people of today and tomorrow, too!”

By Brett Honeycutt

Brett Honeycutt is the managing editor at Sports Spectrum magazine.

Airing It Out — A true hero

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When the Olympics come to mind, I generally think of one thing: track and field, the oldest sport in the Olympics, which date to 776 BC when the first games were held in Olympia, Greece. Actually, track was the only sport in that first Olympics and there was only one event—a race of approximately 192 meters (210 yards).

Like most people who think about track, the names of Olympic greats like Carl Lewis, Usain Bolt, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Ben Johnson and Allyson Felix come to mind.
But, given enough time, I end up thinking about Eric Liddell.

For those who grew up in the 1980s, you will remember him as one of the two key characters in the 1981 movie Chariots of Fire, which documented the real-life events surrounding the 1924 Olympics and won four Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
For those who grew up after that, it’s worth watching—multiple times.

Liddell invades my mind because he was so principled, he was a great athlete, and, most importantly, his love for God was so deep that he would later risk, and give, his life to spread the gospel in China.

Running was something he was good at, but it never seemed to rule his life. He knew its place and its place was for a certain period of time, the Olympics. That’s where he let the world see his principles (he refused to run on Sunday), his athletic ability (he set a world record in the 400 meters that stood for seven years and remained a European record for 12 years) and his love for God (besides honoring the Sabbath, people knew he would be going to China to be a missionary after the Olympics).

My mind is forced to contemplate all of that. How could a man, who was seemingly revered by so many people that they flocked to track meets to watch him run and packed churches to hear him preach, be so convinced that none of that mattered?

How could he ignore all of the attention in Great Britain and his native Scotland and move to China, a nation where his status would be far less and where those things wouldn’t command the same respect as in his homeland?

Because he loved God more than anything else.

That love was easily seen in his actions. Not for forsaking the spotlight and becoming a missionary, but for what he did years later.

It’s the part the movie doesn’t cover because its focus was about the 1924 Olympics. It’s also the part that intrigues me about Liddell.

Nine years after moving to China, in 1934, Liddell married Canadian citizen Florence Mackenzie, and they had two children, Patricia and Heather.

War broke out after Japan invaded China, and, in 1941, when Florence was pregnant with their third daughter, Maureen, Eric sent his family to Canada because staying in China had become too risky for his wife and small children.

He wanted his family to be safe while he continued to minister, but he thought the war would be temporary and they would be reunited soon.

However, it was the last time they would see each other.

Two years later, in 1943, Eric Liddell was detained at Weihsien prison camp. He died on Feb. 21, 1945, after suffering from a brain tumor. Five months later the camp was liberated and the war ended.

His death impacted a nation; Scotland had a national day of mourning and it made headlines in newspapers.

At least 12 books have been written about Liddell’s life. Also, several documentaries, Eric Liddell: Champion of Conviction and The Story of Eric Liddell, retrace his life, but most of all they show how much people admired and loved him—more than 50 years after his death.

Because he was born in China to missionary parents and he died there, some of China’s 2008 Olympic literature listed Liddell as China’s first Olympic champion. In August of 2008, readers of The Scotsman newspaper voted Liddell the most popular athlete in Scottish history.

That same month, just before the Beijing Olympics, the Chinese government revealed that Liddell had a chance to leave the prison camp in a prisoner exchange, but instead gave up his place to a pregnant woman.

His athleticism and sacrificial devotion to God and people were what made others in Scotland and China, then and today, love, adore, and admire him.

It’s also the reason I wanted to let you know about him.

I hope his story will encourage and inspire you to action as you think about his life and commitment to God.

By Brett Honeycutt

This column was published in Vol. 26, No. 3 of Sports Spectrum’s print magazine. Brett Honeycutt is the managing editor of Sports Spectrum magazine. His column addresses topics from a biblical perspective. Follow him on Twitter-@Brett_Honeycutt. 

Musings — Thoughts from around the world of sports

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If you wondered why Kansas City Royals fans were booing New York Yankees All-Star Robinson Cano last night and also on Monday night during the Home Run Derby, it was because he seemingly lied.

Most commentators, writers, etc., failed to mention that fact when they derided the Kansas City fans for booing. The booing was merciless and constant—during the Home Run Derby, when Cano, the defending Home Run Derby champ, failed to hit a home run (0-for-10), and each time he took the field or came up to bat.

What irked the fans was that Cano, back in June on ESPN, said he would choose a Kansas City Royals player for the Home Run Derby. Then, instead, without explanation or apology, chose three other players (L.A. Angels star Mark Trumbo, Toronto power-hitter Jose Bautista and Detroit star Prince Fielder).

It seemed completely opposite of what he said to ESPN in June.

“That’s gotta be the right thing, you gotta pick one of the Royals players,” Cano told ESPN in June. “Cause, I mean, that’s their hometown. I mean, that’s where the All-Stars (game) going to be. So the fans want to see their player there and this way to make it more fun.”

View the entire interview here.

The Royals had only one All-Star, and that was Billy Butler, who had one more home run than Fielder at the All-Star break.

Again, when Cano didn’t choose Butler, he gave no apologies to the fans that he failed to keep his promise.

So, the fans were seemingly justified in their booing, because they saw it as Cano just flat-out lying.

On the surface, I can’t disagree. In a nutshell, what we have is a lie, no reason given, and no remorse.

But there is a reason, at least somewhat of a reason. Cano said he had to pick the team before the players were named, but I’m not sure how much that holds up when you consider that he didn’t know that Trumbo was going to be part of the American League All-Stars, either. The others were considered locks because of how many votes they had, but Trumbo wasn’t a lock. Kansas City was guaranteed one All-Star selection, and most felt it would be Butler.

The most upsetting thing about all of this, though, is the media’s complete disregard for the truth.

But few seemed to care, which was also disturbing.

They showed that by focusing the majority of their stories on the fans and not holding Cano accountable for what he said, which I had to dig for (even though ESPN took the video off their website, it’s still on YouTube).

But even when the media did mention or allude to Cano’s statement, they glossed over it.

Chuck Schilken of the L.A. Times said Cano “hinted” at picking Billy Butler. Yahoo! Sports columnist Jeff Passan vilified the city and said, “A city can’t boo a guy who, in the eyes of most, did nothing more than commit a slip of the tongue and then chafe at those who dare question the source of the jeers.”

Hinted at picking? A slip of the tongue?

So now lying has become nothing more than a hint or a mistake. Yet, Cano never just hinted, he said he would. And he never said it was a mistake. That’s just a misguided writer’s take on the main problem: lying.

They are attempting to redefine the word.

But, as Denver Broncos head coach John Fox famously has said, “It is what it is.”

And, well, that’s true. A lie is what it is—a lie.

At the least the media could have held Cano accountable for not keeping his word, then he could feel that what he did was wrong.

Why? Because, well, it is. Lying is wrong. Even by the world’s standards, or at least I thought.

But maybe in our age of enlightenment when U.S. Presidents can follow and enforce some, but not all, laws and when “is” is debated, maybe even lying can be classified as something that it’s not—a mistake, or “a slip of the tongue” as some would like to think.

So, we are left with the media not only redefining a term, but feeling empowered to criticize fans who actually believe that lying is bad.

Read Brett Honeycutt’s “Airing it Out” column in Sports Spectrum magazine, and follow him on Twitter - @Brett_Honeycutt

Musings — Thoughts from around the world of sports

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Musings about the world of sports…

Contracts, new jobs, difficult situations, working behind the scenes, slander, forgiveness.

Some of that sounds like what people deal with on a regular basis, but those things were evident in the world of sports this past week.

* The first concerns New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, a committed Christian, who is hoping to get a long term contract worked out with the Saints. Nothing has been resolved so far, though. When thinking about this, a lot of people could pass this off as greedy athletes. But, why not pass it off as greedy owners? Because we think of things one-sided at times, what we should recognize it as is a disagreement and, well, disagreements have to be worked out. Unfortunately, Brees and the Saints have to work out their disagreements in the public eye. For more on the story, click here.

* NHL star Jordan Staal, NASCAR points leader Matt Kenseth, and high school football star Drew Davis will be in new surroundings soon. Staal and Davis sooner than Kenseth, but nonetheless all three will have new digs soon.

All three have different circumstances as to why they will have new surroundings; Staal was traded, Kenseth is leaving his current team willfully, and Davis is going from high school to college.

Of the three, Davis’ move caught my attention first. He will be a walk-on on the University of North Carolina’s football team, the same team that his dad, Butch Davis, coached before being fired about a year ago. To be honest, that would be tough to do, but the Davis’ seem to understand forgiveness.

”We’re parents,” Butch Davis told reporters. ”As much as anything else, you want what’s best for your child. This is what he wishes to do and we’re going to support him.”

”I think he was concerned about how we’d feel,” said mom, Tammy Davis, to reporters. ”But we just kept reiterating that it was his decision.”

For more on the Davis’ story, click here.

Staal, who has been featured in Sports Spectrum along with his hockey playing brothers and also his mom and dad, didn’t have a choice in his move. He was traded from the Pittsburgh Penguins, who he helped to a Stanley Cup title in 2009, to the Carolina Hurricanes, who won in 2006, and will join his brother, Eric. For more on that trade, go here.

Kenseth, who was featured in Sports Spectrum in 2009, is set to leave Roush Racing despite having a remarkable season. For more on his move, read the story here.

* Extortion is a strong word, but it happens even in the world of sports. I can’t understand why someone would do it to a person they know when that person is a high-profile athlete with the clout to get the attention of law enforcement authorities.

Well, it happened to recent Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III, the former Baylor football quarterback who was drafted by the Washington Redskins. Richard Hurd, 25, was arraigned Monday for allegedly saying he would release ”derogatory information” about Griffin unless Griffin paid him a ”substantial sum.”

The only sense I can make of something like that is that we live in a fallen world. Sin happens. It’s not an excuse, but we shouldn’t be surprised.

For more on the situation, click here.

* I saved the best for last because, well, I just did.

Even though I was rooting for the Oklahoma City Thunder (I know, I’m supposed to be impartial, but no one is. I am at least admitting it) because of Kevin Durant, the Miami Heat did have other people besides LeBron, D-Wade and Chris Bosh who helped them win the NBA title. Miami Heat reserve Norris Cole helped the trio. Why am I telling you this? Because he’s a strong believer. For a good story on him, click here.

BRIEFLY…OLYMPIC HEADLINES:

– U.S. track star Allyson Felix tied for third in the 100 meters at U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials. A coin flip or run-off could decide if she runs the 100 in London, though. Read here for more.

– Heather Dorniden Kampf made the women’s 800-meter final at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials after surviving prelim and semifinal rounds. Although she finished seventh overall and didn’t make the team, this inspirational video (when she was in college at Minnesota) will get your competitive juices flowing.

World high jump champion Jesse Williams made the Olympic team even though he placed fourth at the U.S. Olympic track and field trials Monday.

He had the Olympic “A” standard, so even though he wasn’t in the top three at the trials he made the U.S. Olympic team.

The weather was cold and rainy, which contributed to the low marks by all of the high jumpers (the top four all jumped 7-feet, 5 3/4 inches, but tie-breakers determined their individual places, 1-4).

In the press tent, though, Williams was talking about Christ in a very bold way.

“Praise the Lord for allowing me to go to London,” Williams said. “The Lord Jesus calmed me down as I was technically not doing what I should. If I am on my game, I can do well as I am in great shape.”

Four Winds Christian Athletes and Sports Spectrum correspondent Liz McConkey is at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials reporting.

Read Brett Honeycutt’s “Airing it Out” column in Sports Spectrum magazine, and follow him on Twitter - @Brett_Honeycutt

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