October 1993 - Vol 7 Num 8

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Leo Durocher or some reFisionist said, "Nice guys finish last."

How abow, "Nice guys let you finish."

Vince Lombardi may have said, "Winning isn't everything-it's the only thing."

MAGINE HOW WEIRD it must A former says, "Winning isn't be to be a former President. everything-it's the only thing One day you're the most that doesn' t hurt after the game." powerful man in the world, A coach has told you, "The bigand the next day you're buyger they are, the harder they fall." ing fishing lures at Kmart.

After Macker, I say, "The bigJust like that it's over. On Tuesday, ger they are, the more it hurts you're making history and on when they fall on you."

Wednesday, you' re history. Unless Jack Norworth wrote, "Take me you're Grover Cleveland, former out to the ballgame." presidents can't get back Wheezing, we say, in the game.

"Take me out of the It's not like that with ball game." former athletes. A forFamous old guy mer athlete is still an Satchel Paige liked to athlete-or at least we say, "Don't look back. think we are. When we Something may be turn in our uni form for gaining on you." the last ti me, we don't More appropriate have to stop playing. forformers: "Don't Witness, for example, look back. You may what the SS magazine pull something." team did this summer.

By the way, the SS Tom Felten, Rob Bentz, team sailed through the and I teamed up with 18-team media division Michigan's Rob Pelinka .& The Vic tors. With a little help from his friends, Rob of the 18,000-player (whom we brought to Pelinka won the championship this time. Assisting the tourney, winning all six town to speak at the big guy from U of M were Tom Felten, Dave Branon, Sunday chapel service) Rob Bentz, and Pelinka's "little buddy" Stevie Branon. of our games and capturing first place. Reto take on all comers in you win or lose, it's whether or not minds me of something Charl ie the media division at the Belding, you can get up the next morning."

Conerly, a former New York Michigan, Gus Macker basketball You know abow, "The game's Giant QB, said. "When you win, tournament- the world's largest 3not over till the fat lady sings.'" you're an old pro. When you lose, on-3 showdown. Tom, Rob B., and Here's reality, "The game's you're an old man." D I are all former athletes (so is Rob over as soon as the fat guy colP. for that matter, but he's in a bit lapses." of a different class), having played Coaches say, "Just play them hoops at varying school levels and one game at a time." in differing decades. We ache difI say, "Just pray that you can ferently the day after.

Dave Branon, managing editor As a former athlete competing in play one more game."

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On Being a Former Athlete

such an all-out war as Gus Macker hoops, I've discovered that some of the greatest sayings in sports don' t work for former athletes as they do for current, in-shape athletes. Look with me at how some of them should be rewritten to accommodate "formers."

Remember, "Practice makes fJelfect"?

For former athletes: "Practice makes you sore."

How about, "It's not whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game."

Naw. I like, "It's not whether

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ASaint in Falcon's Clothing It may say "Falcon" on Bobby Hebert's contract, but there's still something saint-hearted about him

by Allen Palmeri

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Fans: Fanatic or Fantastic?

What is the responsibility of spectators in sports?

by David Egner

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS: Cover: Jimmy Cribb; p. 2 (left) Lisa Branon, (top) Jimmy Cribb, (bottom) Jonathon DanieVAIIsport; p. 3 (top) Allen Kee!Sob Rosato Sports Photography, (bottom) Bob Rosato; p. 7 Jimmy Cribb; p. 8 Mike PoweiVAIIsport; p. 9 Jimmy Cribb; p. t OJimmy Cribb; p. 11 (left) Atlanta Falcons, (right) Jonathan DanieVAIIsport; p. 12 David Madison/Ouomo; p. 13 (left) Bob Rosato, (right) Sam GreenwoodiPGA Tour; p. 14 Jonathan DanieVAIIsport; p. 15 Jonathon DanieVAIIsport; p. 16·17 Focus on Sports; p. 18 Chris Hamilton/Atlanta Braves; p. 19 Allen Kee/Bob Rosato Sports Photography; p. 20 (both) Jerome Trout Ill; p. 21 (both) Gayle Kelly; p. 23 Ross Obleylflorida State University Athletic Department; p. 24 (left) Auburn University Athletic Department. (right) Bob Rosato; p. 25 Bob Rosato: p. 26 Focus on Sports; p. 27 William A. Sallaz/Duomo; p. 28 Focus on Sports; p. 29 Focus on Sports; p. 30 (left) Courtesy, Kyle Rote Jr., (right) Focus on Sports.

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4 Open Court Ace returns from Sports Spectrum readers SS Fan Poll

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What You See Is What You Get There's nothing fancy about John Smoltz, but he gets the job done Sports Spectrum Interview

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The Wit and Wisdom of Bobby Bowden A lot of funny things happened for Bobby Bowden on the way to becoming one of the top coaches in college football

by Ken Walker

Clippings Dennis Byrd's new book Waddy's World

by Watson Spoelstra

12 Leaderboard

26 World Cup Watch Getting Ready for the Biggest Show in Sports: Coming to America

by Dave Branon Desmond Armstrong

by Jennie Chandler

LaVonna Martin~Fioreal

by Karen Drollinger Doug Jones

by Mike Sandrolini Tom Lehman

by Sam Woolwine

Legends Special

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Catching up with Kyle Rote Jr. with Tom Felten

Taking you on th e scene in the world of lacrosse

by Gari Meacham

31 Airing It Out

Front Row

28

What if... ?

by Tom Felten

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Volume 7, Number 8 SPORTS SPECTRUM MAGAZINE A DISCOVERY HOUSE PUBLICATION. PUBLI SHER Dave Burnham: MANAGING EDITOR Dave Branon; MARKETING/PRODUC· TION MANAGER Tom Felten: PRODUCTION ASSIS1ANT Rob Bentz: ART DI RECTOR Steve Gier; GRAPHICS DESIGNER Laurie Nelson; ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTS Usa Quist, Beverly Flynn; ADVISORY COMMITI EE Chuck Swirsky, Spons Director, WGN Radio. Chicago: Dick Ma son. President. Discovery House Publishers: Ralph Drollinger. President. Sports Outreach America; Kyle Rote Jr., President, Athletic Resource Management. COVER PHOTO: Jimmy Cribb

SPORTS SPECTRUM is produced 12 times a year by Discovery House Publishers. which is affiliated with Aacio 81ble Class. a nondenominational Christian Ofgani zation whose purpose is to lead people of all nations to faith and maturity in Jesus Christ by teaching principles from the Bible. Printed in USA. CopyrightO 1993 by Discovery House Publishers. Grand Rapids, Mk:higan. Sible quotations, unless otherwise noted, are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE. NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. CopyrightC 1973, 1978, 1984. 1nternationa! Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers. Free-lance writers should query the managing editor by mail. SPORTS SPECTRUM subscriptions are available for S18.971twelve issues or S23.97 outside the USA (in US funds) by writing to SPO RTS SPECTRUM subscriptions. Box 3566, Grand Rapids. Ml 49501·3566, by caning toll free 1-800·653·8333. or by sending a fax to 1-616-957·5741

SPORTS S P ECTR UM • OCTOBER

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For Subscription Services,*

CALL TOLL FREE: ~soo~s5a~saaa

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' New subscriptions, change of address, or other corrections 3

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He.-sey's Highlight As a youth pastor, I am constantly trying to show children and young adults how to apply their Christian faith to all aspects of life-including sports. I appreciate the role models you highlight.

As Hersey Hawkins pointed out in the May/June issue, we all must decide whether or not to open the door and let Jesus into our lives.

Thanks for giving us athletes who follow Jesus.

-DAVID THOMPSON Casper, WY Nu~~nbe ..s Count I just finished reading Rob Bentz's article "The Numbers Game" (July/August). What a neat way to learn Bible verses!

I' m the youth leader at my church. I can give most of the kids in my youth group a number and they know the name of some athlete who wears that number.

This could be a great way to help kids learn and remember Scripture passages-by using a sports number dri ll.

-CORDON BIGGER Holtville,CA

I ~il~e rwlil~e I recently read an article on Michael Chang (May/June). This proved to be very insightful into his personal relationship with Christ. I was encouraged by his boldness and unashamedness.

I wonder if it would be possible to secure his home address. I would like to correspond with him as a brother iti Christ. Any help in this matter would be greatly appreciated.

-CLAY SNYDER Jonesboro, GA

To send a letter to Michael or any of the other athletes ll'e feature, simply send your persona/letter inside a stamped envelope-with the athlete's name written on the front-to Sports Spectrum. We' II add the address and pop it in the mail for you. -Ed. 4

Sixteen & Suppoa"tive I am a 16-year-old girl who is very into sports. I love to play sports as well as read about them and those who play them. lused to get Sports Illustrated from my grandparents, but because of S./.'s supp01t of things we don't agree with, we don't receive it anymore.

I was so excited to find out about your magazine. Now I can continue to read about sports and athletes without supporting things that are wrong, and at the same time leam about others who are glorifying God through sports.

You focus on people who can : May/June 1992 issue ofSS, identibe role models. How do you : fy who we feel is the one true role respond to Charles Barkley's com- ' model: "People we consider true mercial, where he claims he isn't a heroes are proven over time--110t role model and parents should be? grown ovemig/11. Still, 1jyou look -DAN FERRIS long and liard enough you' II find Bourbonnais, IL that every personlws failed to live a peJfectlife. Eve1y person save Charles makes a good poi Ill---parone. Jesus Christ is the lone perents should be the most important son who is tmly a hero for all role models. But lie's m•oiding the reasons." -Ed. reality that because of the massive media coverage a pro mhlete of What's Up? his caliber gets, lie lias a responsiSend your thoughts and questions bility to set a good example. He's about what we've said in this magbeen given a special platform and azine, or about the sports world in should not be flippant about his general, to this address: responsibility. Bill we 1111/St realize Sports Spectrum Letters that no athlete will ever be the Box 3566 pe1ject role model. These words, Grand Rapids, Ml 49501-3566 taken from an article in the

-NICOLE CHARLES Lancaster, PA

Just Not Enough My children do not think that there is enough about Christ in the articles of your magazine. Please take us off of the mailing list. The idea of your magazine is really goodjust needs more about Christ.

-NAME IVIT/-1/-IELD

Doubly Blessed I want to commend you for putting together a great spot1s magazi ne.

Above and beyond sports, you point to Jesus.

I had been hoping you would become a monthly magazine. Now that you have, I feel doubly blessed.

SPOR TS S P ECTRUM • OCT OBER 1 993

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Sports lVews Worth a Second Look Jamie Holland from

P ..epa..ed to Walle DENNIS BYRD liked tO be prepared.

That's why as a high schooler he spent many hot, summer hours pounding against a pole getting ready for the football season.

That's why he always arrived early for his games as a New York Jet, allowing time to be mentally prepared for battle.

Toronto. Sure, J ohn is quiet.

SWEET-SWINGING John But friends expect him to Olerud has quietly put his speak openly about his faith trust in Jesus Christ. Being quiet is what the 25-year-old as he grows spiritually.

Toronto first baseman is all about. His wife Kelly told Reggie White is right at The Toronto Star in a latehome with the Green Bay season home-stand: "John Packers. At the and I are both team's first committed Long-time sportswriter Bible study, Christians."

Olerud began Wats.on (Waddy) Sp?elsh ·a, Reggie sat a scrtbe for the Detroit N ews down, opened attending the Bible and Sunday chapel for 30 years and founder services with of Baseball Chapel, takes an did the ~ach­ the Blue Jays inside look at some key people ing. " He really ill baseball and football. knows the in 1991, his And that's why going into the Word," says third pro sea1992 football season he took Steve Newman, Athletes in son. Last year he "kind of extra care to prepare himself dropped in" for the midweek Action staffer with the Pack financially-just in case he ever for 18 years. Ten players Bible study. John and Kelly sustained a career-ending injury. showed up. Later, at the were married last fall. Both But the most important preparafirst chapel service, Reggie are Bible study regulars in tion Byrd made for the aftermath sat with coach Mike 1993. JoeCarter,Paul of the paralyzing broken neck he Holmgren, a mature followMolitor, and Todd suffered last November 29 in a er of Jesus Christ, and 45 Stottlemyre are other game against the Chiefs was not team members. "The coach Toronto players who meet physical, mental, or financial. It really values Christianity," regularly to dig into the was the preparation of his spirit. It • Word together. The wives says Newman. "He and his wife Kathy gave testimonies was his longtime faith in Jesus have their own group and last spring to 150 football Kelly is always there. The Christ, his constant belief that Toronto spiritual coordinator coaches and wives. They did God's hand was on his life, and a goodjob. " Before they is DavidFisher, who has a · his preseason prayer for God's married, Kathy was a misChristian bookstore backprotection over him, his wife sionary nurse. Sure, the ground. He asked Olerud: Angela, and their little girl Ashlin.

Packers landed Reggie as a "How do we get other people In Rise and Walk, the Jets' forfree agent from Philadelphia out to our Bible study?" mer defensive end and writer by offering him a $1 7 milJohn's reply: "By making Michael D'Orso provide a firstlion package, but some them comfortable like you hand look at Byrd's life story and did with me."

This was the believe that Holmgren's how his spiritual preparation, comspiritual stance was a priyear for Olerud to become a bined with outstanding care and mary factor. Also joining baseball icon. Week after support from family, friends, and the Pack are several other week he sustained a camfans, has led him to a remarkably players who are open about paign to be the next .400 successful recovery. D their faith. Guys like tackle hitter. "Think he can do it?"

Rise and Walk is published by proved to be the best way to Tunch Ilkin from Zondervan Publishing House.

Pittsburgh, kick returner start a fan conversation in

.....

SPORTS SPEC.TRUM • OCTOOER 1 993

Cleveland, and trainer Pepper Burress from the Jets. Ilkin played a dozen years with the Steelers.

Born in Turkey and raised in a Muslim family, he came to Christ in college at Indiana State. His parents have also accepted Christ. If you want to buddy up to Ilkin, his name is pronounced "Toonch." The Packers have solid chapel holdovers from last yearlinebackers Johnny Holland and Bryce Paup and tackle Ken Ruettgers.

.....

Coach Mac they call him,

and he's a fascinating guy.

Bill McCartney, 52, is in his 12th season as University of Colorado football coach. His teams have national stature. They were around number 8 in 1993 preseason polls . If you conclude that Coach Mac is consumed by gridiron strategy and gladhand recruiting, you're dead wrong. His passion is t o lead a life pleasing to God. Nearly two decades ago at age 33 he, as he puts it, "surrendered control of my life to Jesus Christ." In 1990 he envisioned putting 50,000 men into Folsom Field, his home stadium, to tell the wor ld that male Christians can have a booming voice for the Lord. "A real man is a tender man with a heart for God," he reasoned.

Well, through an organization called Promise Keepers the 50,000 showed up this summer. It was a tumultuous time, men "coming face to face with God and with each other. "

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A TLANTA FALCONS QUARTERBACK BOBBY HEBERT keeps reporters and cornerbacks on their toes. You never really know what the always active Hebert is going to say or do. • Take, for instance, the standard question for players who haven't played in the Big One yet. "Hey, Bobby, do you ever dream of winning the Super Bowl?" •

"Of course," he responds. But then Hebert

reveals that his dream is a bit unusual. Supernatural might be a better adjective. • "In my dream I'd say, 'Oh, this is a great feeling, a great time in my life, but the greatest time in my life will be the Second Coming of Jesus Christ,' " Hebert says with a smile. "Then they will grab the microphones back, but the message will have gotten across. They 'll say, 'How could he say the Super Bowl is not the greatest thing in his life?' • I woke up and the dream seemed so real." • Hebert had the dream while he was the starting quarterback for the New~ Orleans Saints, a perennial playoff team. But then last year's stunning loss to Philadelphia in the first round interrupted the dream, and Hebert's relatively stable existence turned into a bit of a nightmare. •

A free agent whose contract ran out after the

1992 season, Hebert thought he had agreed to a 2-year contract with New Orleans in April. But Jim Fi nks, the man who was general manager of the Saints at the time and who has been feuding with Hebert since 1989, had the last word when he reneged on the deal and signed free agent quarterback Wade Wilson of the Falcons to a 3-year pact. •

Left high and dry like a crawfish in the desert,

Hebert signed a 3-year contract with the Falcons. In effect, he and Wilson traded places. •

As the

Hebert soap opera was being played out in New Orleans, the city of San Francisco was going through

' Bobby Hebert may have transferred his team loyalty to the Falcons, but there is still a lot of saint left in him • By Alle n P a lme ri 6

SPOR T S SP.ECTRUM • OCTOBER 1 993

<II Up in the air.

Bobby Hebert led his team to a championship in the USFL in 1983, but the jury is still out about whether he can do that in the NFL.

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After 7 years with the defense-oriented Saints, Hebert could find more opportunities to look for receivers in Jerry Glanville's wide open offense.

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similar anguish as the 49ers tried to figure out what to do with quarterback Joe Montana. When the team finall y decided to trade Montana to the Kansas City Chiefs, fans had horribl y mi xed emotions. But 49ers president Carmen Policy revealed the NFL corporate mindset- in words that could have easily come from the lips of Finks.

"I think a trademark of the 49ers is a recognition that no matter how much we dislike it, this is an extremely brutal business," Policy said. "If you sit back too long and if you think too deeply about what you've done, then everybody else passes you up.

"I think what we all have to do, the players and the coaches and the front office staff, is to get on with the business of trying to put together the best football team in the NFL and win as many games as possible."

Both Hebert and Montana helped their teams rise to prominence in the 1980s. But Montana won four Super

Bowls, and Hebert lost all three playoff games he started. Montana, 37, lost his job to Steve Young. Hebert, 32, lost his job to the potential of Steve Walsh and Mike Buck. It's the NFL law of the jungle. The young and the strong rule.

When the Saints opted not to sign him, Hebert had to be hurt. But he chose not to show it publicly, saying all of the right things at press conferences. The man who came to be known as the "Cajun Cannon" called it "a blessing in disguise" and "a great situation." He also said he had no hard feelings or bitterness, but that he would miss the Saints' fans and his old teammates.

Atlanta represents a new beginning for Hebert. New Orleans represents unfinished business.

The Saints are the only National Football League team that has never won a postseason game. In the last six regular seasons, the Saints have won a total of 62 games. Only the San Francisco 49ers and Buffalo Bills have won more in that span. But those same Saints have gone 0-4 in playoff games. Three of those defeats came 8

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before angry Saints fans in the Louisiana Superdome, with Hebert at the helm of this horrible hat trick.

As the signal-caller always does, Hebert became the target for disgruntled Saints fans. Hebert bears the emotional scars. During the 1992 season, he was the victim of a threatening phone call before one home game-a situation that generated extra police protection for him.

When the season was over, wrecked like a ship on the rocks when Hebert threw three interceptions in a 36-20 playoff defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles, rabid fans renewed the cry for their quarterback's head. Finks dropped the guillotine in April.

Reggie White, the Pro Bowl defensive end who had sacked Hebert for a safety at a pivotal point in the playoff game, anticipated what Hebert would be facing. The Minister of Defense , touched by tender mercy , approached the beaten quarterback after the game and prayed with him right on the field.

"Some fan s were saying things, and he just told me, ' Don' t worry about these people,"' Hebert recalls. '"All of this is going to pass away.

Where are you going to be for eternity? This is nothin g. It's not like you're going to the Judgment Day."' "We knelt down and prayed ," Hebert recalls. "It was very rewarding, very peaceful. But I was not listening to him at the time, because you work so hard and it's discouraging. I heard him, but then you battle.

It's like, 'I don' t want to hear that.'

But then you know it's the truth."

White could onl y pray that the truth would prevail. Nothing on earth could prepare Hebert for what he would be facing that day. His career with the Saints had died on the floor of the Superdome. And now he had to deal with the postmortem.

Reporters tried to get coach Jim Mora to pin the defeat on his quarterback. Mora wouldn' t bite. So the scribes wandered over to Hebert himself, a man who has distinguished himself in many difficult interviews by showing consistent kindness and patience.

But this was the toughest interview of all. The Saints had been favored. They had failed once more. Hebert had given it his all. A victory would have made him a hit. Instead, Hebert struck out. At age 32, Hebert had to suddenly deal with a message that pounded "Failure!

Failure! Failure!" He wanted the peace of God, but he could not grasp it.

One of the writers used language that pushed him over the edge. Were the Saints chokers? came the question. "Who cares about those people?" Hebert snapped.

"If somebody told me that on the street, I'd punch him."

Looking back on the experience, Hebert referred to "a constant battle going on with my emotions." The angry reaction came "in the heat of battle." He knows that he should not have responded that way.

"It's like sometimes I don' t want to talk to the press right now," Hebert explains. "It's all negati ve. But it's

SPORTS SP ECTRUM â&#x20AC;˘ OC T OBER 1993

something you have to do, whether it's positi ve or negati ve. Then you thin k you' re prayed up and you say, 'God help me say the right th ings.'

But somebody might say something that triggers something.

It's not right, but it's the human nature that comes out."

In an odd way, Saints fans made Hebert a target because the team has had such a superlative defense. That unit led the NFL in fewest points allowed (2 11 and 201) in 199 1 and 1992. The Saints became known for their four Pro Bowl Ii nebac kers-Pat Swi IIi ng, Rickey Jackson, Sam Mi lls, and Vaughan Johnson. Hebert and his offensive uni t suffered in comparison.

But Hebert may be the best NFL quarter back who has never gone to the Pro Bowl.

Check out the numbers (see " Hebert's Saintl y Stats").

And the fear in New Orleans is that Hebert, dressed in the rival black and red of the Saints' most hated opponent, will somehow come back to haunt the team he used to direct.

In the October 7, 199 1, issue that featured Hebert on the cover, Sports Illustrated called him "the central figure with whom all other New Orleans players identify.

He is a durable all-purpose quarterback who excels at nothing except what needs to be do ne." The article touched on Hebert's exploits against the rival Falcons.

Despite a series of injuries, Hebert led the Saints to a 49-26 record during his days in New Orleans. Diane Pucin of Knight-Ridder Newspapers called him a "tough, shock-absorbing leader." Mora called hi m "one tough

cookie." But all that really mattered was the opinion of the boss, who obviously called him "expendable."

From head to toe, Hebert sacrifi ced hi s body on th e Saints' altar. Evidence includes eight concussions, six broken ribs, four knee operations and a broken foot. In 1988, he got his two front teeth knocked out in a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He returned to that game and guided the Saints to a 13-9 victory. In 199 1, he separated his shoulder in the season opener and suffered a rotator cuff inju ry in Ga me 8.

Offseason surgery corrected that problem.

After win ning one championship in the United States Football League as the leader of the Michiga n Panthers, Hebert came to the Saints as a free agent. In 1986, he won the startin g quarterbac k job in training camp. A hometown boy who prepped at South Lafourche High School just south of New Orleans, Hebert prepared for his first full season leading the Saints. But after three games, a broken bone in his foot forced him to sit out until the last game of the season.

Off the field, in a one-week span before Christmas of 1990, Hebert had to deal with the death of his maternal grandmother, the diagnosis of his father with colon Cllncer, and the suicide of his 29-year-old sister, Jill. His father has since recovered.

"You' re always going to have adversities in your life," Hebert says. "You just have to keep it in the right perspective. Football 's a game. It's not li fe and death.

You want to win, but you can't let it keep you down.

.,. Something to prove.

It's just like old times when Hebert was a young quarterback with the Michigan Panthers of the USFL and when he was an NFL newcomer with the Saints. Again he has to prove his worth as he aims for the top spot in the Falcon QB race.

â&#x20AC;˘ A Demon Turns to God IT TOOK MONTHS OF PERSISTENCE by a fellow quarterback at Northwestern State (LA) Univers ity, but In 1980 Bobby Hebert made the most Important decision of his life.

Hebert was the starter and Stan Powell was the backup for the Northwestern State Demons. Yet Powell, the man off center s tage, had a peace that Hebert, the second-team Division 1-AA All-American, did not have. This bothered Bobby to the point where he finally accepted one of Powell's frequent Invitations to attend a Fellowship of Christian Athletes meeting.

As a typical chUrchgoing Cajun, Hebert thought he had plenty of r eligion. But the FCA meeting , which g ave Hebert his first exposure to small-group Bible study, led him to put his fa ith in Jesus Christ for salvation. " I felt like the Holy Spirit started dealing with me then," Hebert told New Orleans interview er Harrison McCoy. " I didn't know at the time what the Holy Spirit was. But I went back in my room that night and wound up reading the Bible for 3 or 4 hours."

A verse that spoke powerfully to Hebert was 2 Corinthians 5:17. " Therefore, if anyone Is in Christ, he is a new c reation ; the old has gone, the new has come." He also exper ienced the " p eace of God, which transcends all under st anding " t alked about in Philippians 4 :7. This ve rs e h as become one of his favorites. He frequently refers to it in Interviews.

Down through th e years, Hebert has k ept in touch with Powell, who now lives in Shreveport, Louisiana. The pro quarterback d eeply respects the man who led him to Chr ist.

"Stan is a guy I continue to look up to," Hebert say s. " Here was a guy who alway s stood up for righteousn ess. To this day, I always say it takes mor e for a man or woman to stand up for God than to g o the w ay of the world.

"Stan stood up for what was right. He didn't let the world influence him. He influenced the world . People resp ect ed him ultimately for that."

- Allen Palmeri

If the idea of following Chris t and being a "ne w creation " as Bobby Hebert described himself app eals to you, write for the free booklet What Does It Ta ke To Follow Christ ? Write to Sp orts Spectrum, Box 3566, Grand Rapids, M l 49501 .

SPO R TS SPECT R UM â&#x20AC;˘ OC T OBER 1 993

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FOR QUARTERBACKING the team to its first winning season, playoff berth, and divi· sion championship In its 26year history, Bobby Hebert will always have a prominent place in the history of the New Orleans Saints.

He ranks as the number two passer in Saints history behind only Archie Manning.

He holds team records In completion percentage in a career (58.6 percent), season (62.9 percent in 1989), and game (87 percent in 1988).

The 1992 season was Hebert's best. He threw for a career-high 3,287 yards, including a career-high 355 in one game. He averaged 7.79 yards per pass attempt, second in the NFC behind San Francisco 49er quarterback Steve Young. He was fourth among NFC quarter· backs in yardage and sixth in quarterback rating at 82.9.

Intangibles also show how strong a season Hebert had. He was sacked only 15 limes, a league low, which indicates his ability to dump off passes to his backs when the pocket collapses. He also ran for 95 yards, tying a career high, improved his play-action passing as the Saints' running game sputtered, and he enjoyed a streak of 91 passes without an interception.

"I rank Bobby ~p there with all the great quarter· backs in the league," said former teammate and Saints wide receiver Eric Martin.

The statistics would seem to agree.

- Allen Palmeri

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"Inj uries are part of the game. It 's like physics.

On April 12, Finks called a news conference in Someth ing has to give. I pray no w. My mom also New Orleans to an nounce the signing of Wilson. A always prays that God would have His guardian angels few minutes before it began, Finks called Campbell encamped around me." to let him know which quarterback would be signed Adversity has dri ven two Bible verses deep into and which one would not. Campbell 's reactio n?

Hebert. He quotes them easil y from memory. The first "There's no dignity there."

Hebert was more than just an on-the-field leader for is Joshua I:9: "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discour- the Saints. He cared about the spiritual welfare of his aged, for the Lord your God teammates. He was instrumental in start ing a Saints wil l be with you wherever yo u go." Th e second is 2 Bible study, which met once a week on Thursday during the Timothy I :7: "For God did not give us a spirit of timidi ty, season. Mi lls has helped keep but a spirit of power, of love the group toget her, fi rs t in and of self-discipline."

1990 when Hebert was sitting On the field, a quarterback out- and part icu larly now needs to make quick, rational that Hebert is gone. decisions. In the NFL, every"You have a lot of gu ys thing happens at warp speed. searching," Hebert said. "They Playoffs heighten the intensikind of use it like church." ty. Hebert tries to face it with Saints teammates came to Scripture, reminding himself know Hebert as a fi ery that the spirit of fear attackChristian with fiery opinions. ing him on the fi eld is not " Gays in the mili tary ? I from God. don' t see how anyone could "That's where it helps to support that," he says. "You study the Word and apply it to can't be wishy-washy and just your life," he said. play around with these things, Hebert is a living example and say that God is going to overlook it. If you' re going to of I Peter 5:6, which says, "Humble yourselves, therebe blessed as a nation, then fore, under God' s mi ght y you'd better be a godly nation or get back to being a godly hand, that He ma y lift you up." Humbled Hebert has nation and fearing God. been. During his senior year "The United States has gotat Northwestern State (LA) ten like, 'Oh, we' re doing our University, he was supporting own thing. ' Yet the United his wife Teresa and daughter States is barely 200 years old.

There's no nation tha t's Ryan on food stamps. He signed with the Panthers in .A Run-and-shoot-and-learn. It took a while durstrong enough to last forever. ing training camp for Hebert to get used to the January of 1983 because he Falcons' " Red Gun" run-and-shoot scheme. He Look at the Roman Empire. could not afford to wait for was working, as he put it, "to get on the same People said it would never page" with veteran receivers like Drew Hill, An· the NFL draft. fall. It fell. Our nation was In April of 1993 Hebert dre Rison, Mike Pritchard, and Michael Haynes. founded under God. ' In God received a large payment from We Trust' is on the money. the NFL as part of an out-of-court settlement for his sit- It's not any god. That's the Christian God." ting out the 1990 season. Standing on common law in a And Hebert, more than most athletes, understands country founded under God, Hebert took on the NFL- what wi nn ing the Super Bowl can do. It can make you a specifically its policy that said a team owns a player' s god in America. rights after the player has fulfilled his contract. Hebert "From the football perspecti ve, that's what it's all called the settlement "common-sense justice," adding about," Hebert observes. "But I really think that if that "ultimately, God's law is better, no matter what the that's all you' re leaning upon, when it does happen, Supreme Court says or any country in the world says." you're going to have an empty life. It has to be part of Standing on God's law eventually led to his downfall your life, and a great achievement and excitement.

"But you have a vacuum inside, and the Super Bowl with the Saints. Hebert believes that Finks, a loyal NFL man, hated his stand from the beginning. He feels that won't fill it. A beautiful house won' t fill it, or fine Finks kept looking for a way to get even, and contract cars," says the man who can afford both. "Anything the negotiations provided the perfect opportunity. Finks world has to offer won't fill it. But Jesus will." floated the offer to Hebert and hi s agen t, Greg It may no longer say so on his un iform, but th is Campbell. Campbell told Hebert that things looked Falcon still has the heart of a saint. good, and Hebert accepted the 2-year contract offer in writing on April 9. Confident the dea l was done, Hebert Allen Palmeri is a sports copy editor for the Biloxi (Mississippi) Sun Herald. took off on a vacation with his fami ly.

SPORTS SPECTRUM • OCTOBER i 993

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Fans: Fanatic o .. Fantastic?

Spectators have a key role and a big responsibility in sports

• By David Egner With the Michigan Panthers of the old USFL and more recently with New Orleans, Bobby Hebert has heard both the wild cheers of loyal fans and the stinging jeers from disgruntled ticketholders. As a member of the Atlanta Falcons, he has new boosters to get used to. How fans respond often reveals more about them than it does about the team on the field.

HEY ARRIVE in every· away from stock market figures, thing from fancy conloading docks, convenience store version vans to rusty counters, and steamy kitchens to absorb themselves in the action.

Volkswagens. They wear team jerseys or evening gowns. They It Talces All llinds FANS CAN BE WONDERFUL. get there 2 hours before game time or fashionThis year the Phoenix Suns ably late in the second period. gave the mighty Bulls of Chicago all they wanted in the NBA finals They come to see and be seen, or before falling in six games to to sit quietly and analyze.

They may be starry-eyed 9Michael Jordan and company.

The Suns lost game six at home, year-olds, second-generation and as they walked slowly off the ticket holders, Hollywood stars, big financiers, or administrati ve court, Phoenix fans rose to cas· assistants. They are an oftcade them with the kind of long, neglected but all-important part dignified, appreciative applause they deserved. of the sports scene.

They are the fans.

And how about those loyal And they love a winner. They Cub fans? Year after disappointing year they fill Wrigley Field filled Yankee Stadium during the glory days of the Mickey Mantle with enthusiastic cheers and era. They packed Candlestick faithful support.

Park to root for the 49er teams FANS CAN ALSO BETERRIBLE. For some unexplainable realed by Joe Montana. They fill Mile High Stadium, flocking to son, back in Chicago after the see if John Elway can work his Bulls won, celebrating fan s riotcome-from-behind magic for the ed. The final tally: two killed, Broncos one more ti111e.

600 arrested, more than I 00 police officers wounded, and In that same stadium, the Colorado Rockies' fans have been millions of dollars in damage.

But it's not just Chicago. Riots absolutely amazing! At the rate of 58,000 a game, they came from all broke out in Dallas after the over the Rocky Mountain states to Cowboys won the Super Bowl establish attendance records. They and in Montreal when the Canareached a million fans in only 17 diens captured the Stanley Cup. home games and 2 million in 36- ; new records by a wide margin.

A Ne-.N Pel'spective Whether it's the Bulls or the WHAT ABOUT A PERSON WHO wants to honor God? What kind Bills, the Dolphins or the Sharks, fans come for one reason: To be of sports fan is he or she to be?

Several basic guidelines can entertained. They come to get

be found in the Bible.

• Supreme loyalty should always be to Jesus Christ. No sports figure, no matter how hero ic, is ever to take a higher place in life. Colossians I : 18 says that " in everything" Jesus should " have the supremacy."

• Because everythi ng is to be done " in the name of the Lord Jesus," behavior at games and rallies should always be honoring to Him (Colossians 3: 15- 17). No uncontrolled anger. No swearing.

No name-calling. No ref-bashing.

• Sports should not replace loyalties to family or to the Lord (Colossians 3: 18-24).

Besides those guidelines about our behavior, the Bible also mentions spectators twice. The fi rst occurs in I Corinthians 4:9, where Paul wrote, "For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on

by a watching world. How we li ve can make a tremendous difference on others, for people are looking to see if our faith is real.

In the second biblical reference to spectators, they are in heaven.

They are the heroes of faith mentioned in Hebrews I I. The writer of Hebrews used the metaphor of a contest being waged in an amphitheater when he wrote, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of wi tnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us" ( 12: I).

It's great to be interested in athletics and to support the home team. The entertainment and enthusiasm are good for us, and we can learn and mature through our enjoyment of sports.

JOt.IATKN-1 DNIELIALLSPOAT

• Da fans. Whether they are supporting a team that three· peats or a team that hasn't won it all since 1908, the best fans are the ones who stay true to their team while respecting the opponents.

display at the end of the procession, like men condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe."

According to the Bible, it's better to be a participant in life than a spectator. Just as athletes in the World Series are viewed and evaluated by millions of fans, we are observed and judged

S POR TS SPECTRUM • OC T OBER 1 993

But life is not a spectator sport.

We are participants, and the way we "perform" can make an impact on those watching us. So, following the advice of the apostle Paul to his young friend Timothy, let us not just stand along the sidelines of life. Let's get in there and " fight the good fight of faith" ( I Timothy 6: 12).

11

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• Athletes Who are Leading by Excunple

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• • LaVonna Martin-Floreal

WHENHAROLD ANDBRENDA MARTINtired of their 13-year-old daughter, Lavonna, j umping up and down on the kitchen counters and over the li ving room furniture, they did the smart thing.

They borrowed the hurdles from their local high school and taught her jumping techniques in the back yard.

her to take a steroid derivative.

Following an exhausting appeals process, Martin was reinstated in March 1992, but she then had to make up her lost training time.

Plus, she says, "My name was dirt to a lot of meet di rectors because of those problems. I wasn' t even considered to make the [Olympic] team, much less to get a medal!"

During that stressful time, Martin remem-

Not only that, the Martins started a junior track team in the Dayton, Ohio, area to develop Lavonna's emerging talent.

Today, having earned a 1992 Olympic silver medal in the women's I00-meter hurdles, 26-year-old Lavonna MartinFioreal credits that family support system for keeping her on track and seeing her through a controversial suspension incurred because of a positive drug test in January 199 1.

The 2-year ban was lifted after 14 months when Martin's coach admitted to lying while inducing

bered other lessons her parents had taught her in childhood, including the importance of trusting God first. · "I had become a Christian at a very young age, but at that time I wasn' t very committed," she recalls now. "But God started working some things out in me, and I began to realize that He had given me this talent for a purpose-to glorify Him." During the layoff, Martin spoke in schools about her experiences and contributed first-hand accounts from her Olympic preparations for her local paper.

Using He.. Silve.,

12

: : : : ; : • : : : : :

In elementary schools, she speaks to students about living out their dreams. "I tell them what my dreams were and how God deposited those in me. I try to teach them how to bring out their dreams and form a plan."

With high schoolers, she says, "I talk about li ving beyond the masquerade, which was for me saying I was a Christian but not living like a Christian. [The suspension] caused me to change.

Either I was going to live for God or my life was going to be destroyed."

Man·ied last winter to Canadian Olympic long jumper Edrick Florea I (whom she met in Barcelona), Lavonna is looking forward to traveling overseas with him as they compete internationally.

While they spend a lot of time together on the track, they also make prayer a vital part of their daily regi men.

"Although we're just newlyweds, we've found out that we' re to be in prayer for everything," she says. "Prayer helps us stay in the mode God wants us to be in. When God blesses you abundantly above all you could ever ask, you can start thinking that it's YOU. You have to constantly check yourself to make sure you realize it's God and not yourself."

She's thankful for the silver medal and the platform it's brought her to share her faith.

"God's been showing me that He is God, and it doesn' t matter what the world wants to focus

: on."

- Karen Drollinger

SPORTS SPJ:OCTR UM • OCTOBER 1993

• Doug Jone s Pitching in f'o.. Teens

PROVIDING RELIEF MEANS MORE to four-time All-Star relief pitcher Doug Jones of the Houston Astros than the simple baseball interpretation of shutting down a potential run-scoring threat by opposing hitters.

To Jones, who led the Astros in saves (36) and victories (I I) while posting a 1.85 earned run average during 1992, relief means using his status as a major leaguer to help make life better for kids.

For several years, Jones has been acti vely in volved in Teen Challenge, a worldwide ministry that helps struggling teens overcome drug-related problems.

"They take kids off the street, get them off drugs, and give them an opportunity to become Christians," says Jones. "It also gives them an opportunity to develop into useful adults."

Jones, who makes his yearround home in Tucson, is associated with a branch of Teen Challenge in Tucson called "Springboard," which provides housing for teenage girls who are runaways, homeless, or who are having problems at home.

Jones contributes both personally and fi nancially to Teen Challenge because he believes "God has put us here for a reason, and He wants us to be an influence to those around us." In addition, Jones says he's aware of the impact pro athletes have on youngsters, and he wants to make a positive contribution.

"We're in the public eye on a regular basis, and role models are hard to come by these days," says Jones, who was among the NL leaders again in saves this season.

Jones racked up 37, 32, and 43 saves for the Indians from 1988-1 990. He was named to the

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800 ROSATO

All-Star team each of those seasons. Following a 1991 season that saw his workload diminish- and saw him return to the minors for the first time since 1987-Jones became a free agent at season's end, and signed with Houston.

As a member of the Astros, Jones also works for charitable causes in the Houston area. This year, for example, Jones assisted the sheriff' s department in Houston in a fund-raising effort to provide underprivileged children and their families with tickets to Astros' home games.

Doug Jones is a hands-on person when it comes to serving God. But of course, no one can be everywhere all the "time. " We may not be able to get involved personally as far as being there is concerned," he says, " but because of the blessings God has given us, we're able to contribute financially."

-Mike Sandrolini

• ToTn LehTnan The Return ToDAv TH E PGA TouR, tomorrow the ministry.

That idea might not be as farfetched as it sounds for 34-yearold Tom Lehman, despite his recent emergence as a budding star on the PGA Tour.

The idea may have been more believable a decade ago when he was doubting his ability and floundering in mediocri ty.

Lehman first played the tour in 1983, and again in 1984, but earned less than $20,000 total for both years. That came precariously close to poverty level. He could have made more money toting a bag for one of the more prosperous pros.

A career change seemed more a necessity than a choice back then. For the next 5 years he tried seven times unsuccessfull y to requalify for the Tour.

But big money preoccupied Lehman's mind back then. In the fall of 1989, he decided to try one more year.

The man who was sponsoring Lehman did not agree. " I told him I wanted to give it one more shot," Lehman says of those lean

times. " I needed some money to go to South Africa. He explained to me that it was time my wife [Melissa] and I take a chance."

Lehman agreed. He and Melissa drew their life savings from the bank and bought two tickets to South Africa. With his final $300 he entered the South African Open. He finished second, winning the largest check he had ever eamed at the time-$30,000.

Soon his game began to change. In 199 1 he was named the Ben Hogan Tour Player of the Year.

His performance boosted him to the regular PGA Tour, without having to qualify. In 1992, he stunned his peers by record ing nine top I 0 finishes and placing 24th on the Tour money list. He's on track to better that performance this year.

Lehman feels the change came when his attitude about the game changed.

"I had problems with my golf game, problems with my marriage. Everything

SPORT S SPECTR UM • OCTOB ER 1 993

revolved around golf. When I got my priorities straight, that changed. It used to be goIf first.

Now it's God first, famil y second, golf third," remarks Lehman.

Today Lehman is one of the leaders of the PGA Bible study, is outspoken about his faith in Jesus Christ, and fi nds greater j oy sharing that faith than in shooting a round in the 60s.

And he doesn't see himself staying on the tour indefinitely. " I honestly think that if I felt right now the Lord wanted me to put my golf clubs down to do something else, I could. If I felt He was calling me to be a minister or a missionary, I could let go of golf. But I don't think that's His will now."

For now, he's taking his resurrected golf game to places like Pebble Beach and Augusta.

In the future, he could be talking about another resurrection, an infinitely more important onefrom behind a pulpit.

-Sam Woolwine

13

14

SPORTSSPECTRUM•OCTOBEA 1993

1MHA

YOU YOU

In this Sports Spectru~n interview, you'll see Braves pitcher John S~noltz as a no-nonsense, straightforward, hard-working pitcher.

On the Jnound you get a player who works best when the hot lights of the pennant race shine on hi1n.

Spo:rts Spectrum: The Braves have had anoth-

er good year. Yet the Giants played so well that you've had to chase them all season. As a team did the Braves feel a lot of pressure to win the pennant for a third straight year?

Smoltz: Well , there's more ex pected of us.

People really expected us to run away and win it all based on the type of team we've had 2 years running, and because of our pitching staff. But when you're not in first place and you don' t live up to what people think is successful , then it's looked upon as a fai lure.

The bottom line is that we've put together a team and a nucleus that for the next 5 years has a chance to be successful every year.

SS: You mentioned the pitching staff, with names like Tom Glav ine, Steve Avery, Greg Maddux, and yourself. Is there a sense of competition among you ..IONATHAU OANIEt.fALlSPORf guys?

Smoltz: There's a great inner competition. We realize that we' ll be together for a long time, barring injuries and any major trade. The things that we could do as a pitching staff in the next 3 or 4 years could be great. We stay on each other and really pull for each other.

That's what I think makes us such a great pitching staff.

SS: At the beginning of your professional career, you were in the Detroit Tigers' farm system- preparing to play for the team you rooted for as a kid. Late in the 1987 season the Tigers are in a pennant race and they trade you, at the time a top prospect, for veteran pitcher Doyle Alexander. What were your thoughts and feelings at that time?

Smoltz: Well, it was kind of a shocking, eye-opening time for me. It was frustrating. I felt that I wasn' t wanted by one organization, but I was actually wanted by another one. It ended up being the greatest opportunity I ever had. It gave me a chance to pitch in the major leagues at a young age-quicker than I ever would have with the Tigers, and it brought me S P OR T S S PECTRUM â&#x20AC;˘ OC T OBER 1 99 3

<Ill Mr. October.

In t h e post-season, John Smaltz has been almost untouchable, fashioning a 2.27 ERA and a 4-0 record in the 1991 and 1992 LCS, and improving his ERA to 1 .95 with a 1-0 record against the Twins and the Blue Jays in the World Series.

15

WHAT

The Smoltz File\

YOU

SEE

to an organization that is now, I think, one of the best organizations in baseball.

SS: The Braves called you up late in the 1988 season.

Were you ready to make the jump to the big leagues?

Srnoltz: Probably not, but the best way to gain experience is to go through it. The best way to learn is to make adjustments from failures. You really can't teach experience. So the best way to get ready is firsthand.

SS: Since coming to the big leagues in 1988, you've matured a lot as a pitcher. How have you grown?

Srnoltz : I'm learning every day. One thing I have developed is the feeling that I belong. I've also developed my pitching each year to where I feel like I've become better. Whether or not I've reached the potential or the expectati ons of other people, I feel like a better pi tcher every year at the end of the season. That' s really what I try to do. I want to become a more complete pitcher each year.

SS: You've led the league in stri keouts. You've been on the A ll -S tar team three ti mes. How do you keep your success in perspective?

John Andrew Smoltz Born on May 15, 1967, in Warren, Michigan Wife : Diane Son: John Andrew Jr. (November 20, 1991) Career Highlights

. 1988 • Made major league debut on July 23.

Beat the New York Mets 6-1. Gave up 4 hits, 1 earned run , 2 base on balls, and struck out 2 in 8 innings. . 1989 • First full major league season.

• Became the youngest All- Star pitche r in Braves history, age 22.

• Was the losing pitcher in the American League's 5-3 All-Star game victory.

• Hurled first major league complete game and slammed first career home run on May 3. The Braves beat Philadelphia 6-3. . 1990 • Tossed his first m ajor league shutout on May 16 against the Cubs.

• Came within two outs of firing a no-hitter against the Phillies. Settled for a two- hit, 6-1 victory.

Limited right-handed batters to a .199 batting average. . 1991 • Fired a complete game in the Braves 6-2, National League Western Division clinching victory over the Houston Astros on October 5.

• Tossed a 6-hit shutout in the Braves pennant-clinching 4-0 victory, against the Pirates in Game 7 of the National League Championship Series.

• Overall totals for the NLCS: 2-0, 1.76 ERA .

• 1992 • Led National League pitc hers in strikeouts with 215.

• Won a career-best 15 games .

• Struck out 15 batters in a 2-1 victory over the Phillies, tying a fra nchise record set by Warren Spahn in 1960. The 15 K's were also a NL high for the season.

• Selected to the All-Star team for the s econd time.

• Named MVP of the NLCS while going 2-0 with a 2.66 ERA. • His NLCS 4-0 lifetime record is the best undefeated record in history. . 1993 • Selected to his third National League All-Star team.

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Srnoltz: I've learned that i f you think you've got it all figured out, or if you fee l like you've arri ved, that's when things can come up and bite you. I never take anything for granted. And I always work hard and give my best. I reali ze th at things could change at any minute, that it could all be different. I j ust work hard to make sure that on baseball standards, we never get back to where we were 3 years ago, in 1990, when we were the worst team in baseball.

SS: What's been the high point of your career so far?

Srnoltz : Pi tching in the playoffs. And pitching as well as I have in the pl ayoffs. If there's any point in an athlete's career when they want to be at their best, it's when it counts the most. I've been fortunate enough to be in those situations and fortunate enough to pitch what I feel is my best or at least to pitch to my potential.

SS: As a baseball player you' ve got fame, you've got a big contract, you've got a high-profi le job. Many people would love to be in your shoes. Why does John Smaltz need Jesus Christ?

Srnoltz : I think too many people honestly believe that pro athletes can do everything by ourselves. That we control everything. It's obviously not true. And I have learned how to handle things differently. Now I go through tough times by learning not to put the pressure of the world' s problems on my shoulders. I give them to the Lord.

SS: Wh at has influenced you to live the way you do- to understand the importance of trusting God? Srnoltz: Well, I grew up in a great family atmosphere. I went to a parochial school all my life and grew up in a home where from day one I was taughtthese are the things you're supposed to do, these are the things that are right. l grew up in a God-fearing atmosphere that really set the tone and gave me the j ump start on what's ri ght.

In my development not only in baseball but as a person, I've learned that nothing comes easy. Whether it's baseball or off the fi eld , I'm co nstantl y try ing to become better in both aspec ts. But when you think you've got it licked, or when you think that you've learned enough and th at your faith i s good enough, that' s when you start sli ppin g. Nobody said it was going to be easy to be a Christian.

SS: Has your faith been strengthened or weakened by being in baseball ?

Srnoltz: l became more affirmed and more assured about my faith as time has gone on. The people that I' ve met over the last 4 or 5 years, the great leaders, the people in Baseball Chapel, for example, have not only further strengthened me and reassured me, but guided me and aided me toward continuing on the path of faith. Walt Wiley [the Braves' chaplain] has really helped me learn more about my faith and getting closer to the Lord.

SS: You are currently involved with the Braves' chapel program and Bible study. Is there something that you have been learning or stri vi ng to achieve from these groups?

Srnoltz: Well, I think the biggest thing is constan t growth . Trying to learn more, trying to become more knowledgeable, better informed. I don' t know it all .

There are many things that I don' t understand. And there

SPORT S SPECTRUM • OCTOBER 1993

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are times when I struggle. But Smoltz: Wel l , l i ke anything el se-w hether through the Bible, all things are made easier because the it's pitching or working at answers are right there. And if a trade-somebody el se you have any questions or you knows a little more, somehave any doubts, or you' re body el se has bee n having any problems, there' s through a little more. It's no better tool or avenue than just been a pleasant expethe Word itself. ri ence to watch and to 55: You mentioned th e learn from a guy like Sid. He's a great leader. great family atmosphere that you grew up with . Can you Sid has been through a tell us a little bit about your lot of tough times. We' ve family and the support that been through some good they give you? times. But at the same time Smoltz: Well , I think it' s he's never wavered in the the biggest reason I'm where way he has th ought and I'm at now. I'm what I am approached things. Sid, a beca use of th e f amil y few other people along the upbringing. I wish everybody way, and Baseball Chapel, co ul d experience what I have all been a big innuence. experienced when I grew up.

When you' re a kid and 55: As a star pitcher in you're going through life's Atlanta, do yo u have struggles and you don't have much pri vacy? Can John support- if you don' t have Smaltz still go into th e the feeling that you have peogrocery store? ple that are going to help you Smoltz: No! Basically, out- you' re really fi ghting pri vacy doesn't exist much â&#x20AC;˘ Brave anyway. The Giants' drive for the pennant the world all by yourself. anymore. I mean there' s notwithstanding , Atlanta's pitching staff has still SS: How do you share proved that it has buckets of talent by posting the good and bad with everyyour fa ith in Jesus Chri st NL's lowest ERA. thing that you do. I always try and see the good in with your close friends and teammates? everything. But there's a lot Smoltz: I real ly think that everyone has his own of things that I don't like that are just accepted as part of way of doi ng things. There are people who are better the j ob. One of those things is that you basically have no talkers. They're knowledgeable and express things in a social life. People view you as what you are to them ... way that would maybe affect people in a different way or 55: Whic;h i s sort of a commodity to the public, affect people, period. But that's not me. I always try to isn' t it?

Smoltz: Yeah. The biggest thing is that the indilive my life by " what you see is what you get" and affect vidual person doesn't inconvenience you, it's the 20 people that way. I have just really tried to live my life as if not only my parents are standing right next to me, but individual people. For instance, once one person breaks God is standing right next to me. Would He approve of the ice in getting an autograph, then it just becomes an what I'm doing? I'm gonna make mistakes, and I'm inconvenience because there are so many more that follow. The thing that I've learned to do is that I have to gonna probably fail. But at the same time, I really don' t care if people think that what I'm doing is stupid. I feel say "no." When I'm with my family, that's my family' s like what I'm doing is correct. I've never been one who time. While I'm at dinner, that 's also the time that I' m has been overcome or taken in by peer pressure. with my fami ly. When I'm alone, or after I' m done SS: Do people challenge you or give you a hard time with dinner, then I try to accommodate people. about your commitment to the Lord?

55: Earlier you said that with John Smoltz it i s Smoltz: No, not really. I think you put yourself in "What you see is what you get." But can you tell us a a situation to be criticized or chastised, but at the same little story about John Smaltz that most people don' t know? Do you watch Star Trek or do you collect basetime you gain respect from people. I've got a long way to go in my walk with the Lord. But at the same time I ball cards or something? What is there about John that think you also put yourself in a situation where people most people don' t have any idea about?

Smoltz: I was a musician when I was a kid. Believe really are waiting for you to fail so they can say, "See I told you." That's the ultimate challenge. I've seen the it or not, when I was 4 years old I was an accordion way people handle it, and I've seen mistakes and I player. From what I understand, I was pretty good. know I make mistakes. The one great thing is we 're not Also, I don' t think people know th at I'm just a big, perfect and yet we can be forgiven. huge kid. Th at I just love to compete and love to play SS: Let's talk about your teammate Sid Bream. He's games. I really try and have fun in whatever I' m someone who took you under his wing. Could you doing, whoever I'm with. You know, ki nd of high on explain that relationship? life.

a

DAVID

S P O RT S S P ECT R UM - OC T OBER 1993

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1Anybody But Tony : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : :

There are two outs in the bottom of the ninth. The b ases are loaded, and Jolm Smoltz i s on the mound. Sports Spectrum asked j olm who would b e the last guy he w ould want in the batter 's box. " Man, ther e are too many of those hitters!

But the obvious one would b e Tony Gwynn of the San Diego Padres. I respect him so m uch as a hitter. He's the hitter that I'd least want to face with the bases loaded and two outs.' '

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Taking You On the Scene in the World ofLacrosse

Battling the Best at the Vail Shootout

By Gari M e acha m HE FAST AND FURIOUS GAME of lacrosse

was tested recently as the world's finest players assembled in Vail, Colorado, to battle for the prestigious championship title in the 1993 Vail Lacrosse Shootout.

The Shootout, now in its twenty-first year of play, has often been dubbed the "Wimbledon" of lacrosse, as teams travel from across the US and Canada to compete for the coveted tournament trophy.

Among the 44 teams participating in this year's shootout, one team was noticeably different: The Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Their name alone drew comments and sneers as opponents wondered just how tough a team with such a title could be.

Rut when the referee blew his whistle, and the face-off man from each team crouched in position to snatch the ball into possession, the sneers and jesting stopped.

Cradled as Vail is among the peaceful Rocky Mountains, the Shootout was anything but tranq uil.

Known as the oldest athletic game played in North America, lacrosse is a sport th at was contested by Indian tribes in Southern Canada and the Eastern United States IOI1g before Columbus arrived on this side of the Atlantic. The original game, something of a mi x between sport and war, has evolved into an interesting combination of hockey, rugby, and soccer. From the moment the whistle is blown, the pace is frantic as players use sticks with leather nets on the end to pass and carry the ball down the field in an attempt to deposit it in the 6'-x-6' opening of the goal.

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As players run with the ball, they feverishl y shout to one another, setting up strategy for the offense, or offering encouragement as their teammate is routinely hit with the opponent's sticks in a legal motion called checking. If a player illegally hits the opponent with his stick, it is called a slash, resulting in a !-minute penalty during which the player exits the field, leavi ng its team one man down.

In the 1992 tournament, the FCA was accused of playing their games "Man-up," with God on their side. Often called the "God Squad," the FCA club made their presence known in that tournament by upsetting The Greene Turtl e, the two-time defending champions, in the second game of tournament play.

They pushed through the semifinals, and landed a spot in the championship game. Although they were defeated in the fin al game I0-7, their performance in 1992 was anything but a loss.

"It was a Cinderella story," says Dan Britton, FCA attackman out of the University of Delaware and a member of the Baltimore Thunder in the Major Indoor Lacrosse League (MILL). "We wanted to impact the lacrosse community for Christ. After praying, we decided to put together a team and play as Christians in the best tournament available, the Vail Shootout. At first we had only five guys, and it wasn't until the night before we left that we got a twenty-third player. We had our first practice together as a team the day before our first game."

As crowds of 5,000 people watched the FCA team defeat its opponents, it was evident that they were witnessing more than good lacrosse. The team knelt on the field in prayer after each S P O RT S S_P EC TRUM • O C TOB E R 1993

GAYLE KELLY

GAYLE K ELLY

â&#x20AC;˘ Playing and praying. With the Colorado Rockies as a backdrop, a lacrosse team with the surprising moniker Fellowship of Christian Athletes made their second trip to Vail this summer to take their talents and their message to the nation's oldest and largest post-collegiate lacrosse tournament.

JEROME TROUT Ill

game, thanking God for the ; Americans and a MILL All-Star.

FCA won their first game, opportunity to play for Him. Their character also proved to be differeasily defeating their opponents ent from that of most lacrosse 15-4. The following day they gatherings. There was no swearfaced a tough eastern team called ing, drinking, or fighting, but Upstate Lacrosse. The clubs batrather a determined drive toward a tled in unison until FCA pulled goal li ving in each man's heart. away with a 16-10 win. Excited The 1993 tournament proved to as they were about another trip be nearly as successful as the '92 to the semifinals, the players huddled on the field after their campaign for Britton and his buddies. The FCA club returned to victory. One of the team members Vail, sporting almost the identical shouted, "Give God the glory," line-up that impressed spectators and with sticks, pads, and helmets the previous year. The talent-rich in hand, they bowed their heads roster included many Allto give thanks to God.

In the semifinals, FCA would go up against the same team they upset in 1992, The Greene Turtle.

The game was played in a downpour. The disappointing weather was a prelude to the loss FCA faced as they were defeated by the Turtle 17-6.

True to their character, the FCA team came back the next day and defeated their opponents to take home a third-place trophy. Out of a field that included 16 teams, this accomplishment looks enviable to any competiti ve athlete, but the real

SPORTS S P ECT RU M â&#x20AC;˘ OCTOBER 1 993

success of the tournament lies in the hearts and gentle smiles of the FCA teammates.

"We have two goals that we hope to accomplish through this tournament," says Britton. "We want to help each team member deepen hi s relationship with Christ, and we hope that other players and fans will see a difference in the way we play."

Nicknamed the "Miracle on the Mountain" in 1992, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes continued that miracle in 1993 as they again displayed their talents while taking the good news to the lacrosse community.

With packed bags and sticks in hand, FCA teanunates left the Vail Shootout with more than a third-place trophy. They left with the satisfaction that win or lose, they played for God's glory.

That's a winning attitude that fits in any athlete's heart. D Gari Meacham lives in Littleton, Colorado, with her husband Bobby and their three children.

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Bobby Bowden is playing in one of his frequent off-season charity golf tournaments. Action stalls and his group winds up on the same green with the foursome in front. Sensing an opportunity for laughs, Florida State's wily football coach grins and begins, ''You know, I heard a good Gator joke today."

Nobody responds. Bowden repeats the lure. Finally, a 250-pound hulk climbs out of his cart and says: "Coach, 'fore you tell that joke, I should tell you that I'm a Florida Gator."

Sweat pops out on the normally calm Bowden's forehead. Florida's a serious rived, and this gzty is frowning.

"In fact," he points, "that big guy in the next cart is a Gator too. See that 275-pound monster two carts over?

Another Gator. Now, you still want to tell that Gator joke?"

Bowden wipes his brow, pauses, and shakes his head, "No, I don't. Not if I'm going to have to explain it three times."

TRAVELING THROUGH HIS NATIVE ALABAMA, he substitutes "Auburn Tigers" in this story.

But Bowden has earned the right to joke. He says that in the beginning of his career at Florida State, the only worse jobs would be mayor of Atlanta after Sherman left town or replacing Custer at Little Big Horn.

Seventeen years later nobody's laughing at the Seminoles. Everybody's preseason number one pick is again in the hunt for an elusive national championship. After 6 straight years in the top four, Bowden would love to wear that crown.

Fourteen returning starters. Two-sport athlete and Seminole quarterback Charlie Ward.

Enough All-American candidates to field a lineup. Those are factors that make 1993 look Iike a deja vu of 1991 's title dreams. No matter where FSU winds up, though, the colorful wisecracker in the headphones intends to enjoy getting there.

"Yes, I do have a sense of humor," Bowden admits easily. "I don' t know where I go t it ; I guess my dad. I always loved to laugh. When I was comin' up, I loved any kind of joke. As I' ve gotten older and more mature, I only want to hear the clean ones."

"He's the master of the one-liner," affirms outside linebackers coach Jim Gladden, who signed on as a graduate assistant in 1975. "He can tell more side-splitting stories than anyone else I know."

Bobby says he gleans his material from vari ous books, although a friend mentions that the family (which includes four sons, two 22

daughters, and 15 grandchildren) swaps funn y, stories regularly. r They come in handy on his speaking circuit , a whirl wind of stops that includes dozens of golf tournaments, fund-raisers, and alumni groups. Last spring he visited 30 sets of alums in 6 weeks. And according to his wife of 44 years, his crowd-pleasing "downhome, good old boy" demeanor is no act.

"Bobby tries real hard not to be a pretentious person," says Ann, a pretty cheerleader of 16 when they eloped to Georgia. "I' ve struggled to have some things I want materially because he doesn' t want to project that image.

It doesn' t make that much difference to him."

So he wasn't acting when he appeared on the E1•ening Shade TV show last May opposite FSU alumnus Burt Reynolds. He was just playing himself. Nor did he hide from USA Today writer Ben Brovm, who spent the 1991 season around Doak Campbell Stadium before writing Saint Bobby and the Barbarians, which was published in 1992. Also, an autobiography, written with the help of retired Charleston (WV) Daily Mail sports editor Bill Smith, is due out in the spring of 1994.

Yes, Bowden says, he's having more fun in his golden years (he turns 64 on November 8). Coaching now in his 41st season, he radiates confidence. Quite a change from the way he felt in his major college debut at West Virginia Uni versity, about which he says, "I never knew whether I would make it or not."

Despite his well -earned confidence, a nemesis haunts him. Like Ralph Branca has his Bobby Thomson, or the Broncos, Bills, and Vikings have the Super Bowl, the seventh winningest coach on college's all-time career list has his Miami .

Bowden i s speaking to another crowd of banquetgoers who have assembled to listen to the best of Bobby. He is lamenting losing the natio1wl championship. Two missed fi eld goals cost FSU two titles, he moans.

Although the S eminoles 'twice failed from the one-yard line, he says, it all came down to a pair of missed kicks.

"Three lousy feet," he gripes, "the same distance the NCAA narrowed the goal posts in 1991." Finally, a little grayhaired lady in the audience raises her hand and says, "Excuse me, coach. Did they move the goal lines, too?"

BOWDENCAN TAKE IT, and he can still give it.

Despite the pain, he can make cracks about his 5-1 2 record against the Hurricanes. Like the year FSU lost its opener in Miami, 31-0, the only blemish on an Il - l season. He guaranteed S POR T S s PECTR UM • OCT OOER 1 99 3

The

WIT and WISDOM or BOBBY BOWDEN

He's second on the victo ries list among active college football coaches.

Is it the wit or the w isdom that has gotten Bobby Bowden this far?

• By K e n Walke r

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Hig h hopes. Aide d by a s t a ff

tha t h as s tuc k with him for 8 y ea r s, a phe nome n a l quarter b ack -wide receive r t a nde m in Cha rl ie W a rd a nd T a m a rick V a n o v e r , and 41 y ear s of e xpe rience, Bobby B owde n s t a nds poised for a nothe r run a t a n ational cha mpions hip.

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he would never lose the first game like that to Miami again: "We moved the game to later in the season."

Jokes aside, that defeat probably cost FSU the title.

A I0-9 loss in 1980, followed by an 18-17 Orange Bowl loss to Oklahoma, ruined another. Three other one-point losses to Miami , plus las t year' s 19- 16 squeaker, awaken critics.

"Can't win the big one," is the most common knock, which ignores FSU's 11 -game unbeaten bowl stri ng and Bowden's 37- 17-2 record in nationally-televised games. "Too conservative."

It's ironic that the only coach ever to post six straight I0-victory seasons faces such gripes. And considering his 227-77-3 (.744) mark, and the flock of awards he has won, such criticism seems ridiculous. Yet the world measures college football success with national championships and little else.

"Who hasn' t been criticized?"

Auburn University's historic appointment of as ks Penn State's Joe Paterno, Terry Bowden to replace Pal Dye marked the first whose 247 wins going into the fall time both ends of an NCAA father-son coaching make him the onl y active coach tandem have guided major college football squads. outranking Bowden. "He's done a "He probably taught me everything I know," says fabulous job at Florida State, and I Terry, who like Bobby had his first university head coaching job at Division 1-AA Samford. He was 46think the majority of clear-think22-1. When It was known as Howard College, Dad's ing people appreciate that. His teams finished 31 -6 from 1959·62. teams have played good enough to "One thing that he emphasized was to keep It simwin against Miami . They've just ple and not to over-complicate things," Terry adds. had some tough breaks."

"Coaches tend to do The Penn State legend and onethat, especially when they're young." time Bowden nemesis (he defeatTerry is the fourth of eel Bowden's WVU tea ms six the half-dozen siblings times) says he has always coached (and their mates) In a wide-open innovati ve game, America's "First Family defense making the differwith of Football." Tom ence. At WVU, thou gh, the coaches Auburn's defense couldn't stymie the opporeceivers. Jack Hines, husband of older sition in case so mething didn' t daughter Robyn, work, Paterno explains.

•ueu"" uNrveRsHY .,._,TIC oe•r. directs Auburn's Those co mments are ironic .A Not his doing. defensive secondary. next to the conservative theory.

Terry Bowden's Youngest son Jeff Tigers face a 2-year So is Bowden's " Ri ve rb oat trains receivers at NCAA probation for Gambler" reputation for reverses Southern Mississippi.

Infractions he had Bobby and those four and fumb leroos ki s. Ju st ask nothing to do with. gather to conduct the Michigan's 199 1 team, victims of Bowden Academy each summer. Joining them is a surprise halfback-to-quarterback oldest son, John, Flagler University's Dean of pass and a fake-field-goal TD on Academic Affairs. the same dri ve.

The only clan member missing football camp Is FSU's leader responds that he John Madden, husband of younger daughter Ginger.

The center on FSU's 1980 team doesn't join dad-incalls a sound; basic football game. law because he's too busy managing a hotel and It just seems conservative because explaining that he's not THAT John Madden.

Miami's tough defense smothers Imagine the sparks that would fly if Auburn and trick plays so fast that nobody recFlorida State played a rematch of the 1989 Sugar ognizes them, he says.

Bowl, won by FSU, 13-7.

"It's hard for me to understand "I got into that predicament when Auburn played Southern Miss," recalls the family's leading fan, sometimes," Bowden shrugs about mother Ann. "Right now, I think it would be more Miami. "''m optimistic enough to Important for FSU to win. feel that one of these days things "Maybe a couple of years down the road [if will even up. So they owe me Auburn won) Bobby would probably secretly smile about five or six.' and say, 'Didn't my kid do a great job?' But first I'd "In a way I feel sorry for him like to see us win a national championship." because he's a great coach who - Ken Walker has come close to winning a 24

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championshi p but has n' t," say s Miami 's Denni s Erickson, who is 3-1 in their clashes. "But I don' t feel sorry enough to give him the wins that we've gotten."

Mark it on your calendar. Saturday, October 9, noon Eastern time. More than 60,000 fans in Tallahassee's Doak Campbell Stadium and millions watching ABCTV will see whether payback time has arrived.

"I like the one about the guys who go out hunting," Bowden chuchles.

"They've never been before, so they go to this hunting club and they can't hill a thing. Then they accidentally shoot their dog. They come baclz to camp and all they've got is that dog, bleedin' to death. A guy walhs up and ashs, 'What happened?' One of the hunters says, 'We shot our dog.' The guy asks, 'Was the dog mad?' And the hunter says, 'Yeah, he wasn't too happy about it.'"

IF JOKES ALONE KEPT COACHES TOGETHER, there would be more staffs like Fl orida State's. In a usually turnover-plagued field, onl y two assistants have left in 8 years, and quarterback coach Mark Riehl returned after a single season at East Carolina. The average 12year longevity helps sell FSU, says recruiting coordinator Ronnie Cottrell.

While Cottrell borrows Bowden's funny stories for travel duty, FSU's second-youngest assistant relates a serious anecdote to illustrate his boss's depth.

SPORT S S P ECTRUM • OCT OBE R 1 993

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The nation's number two preseason pick in 1989 His faith grew stronger when he followed ex-Georgia stood 0-2 after upsets by Southern Mississippi and Tech assi stant Jim Carlin to Wes t Virgini a before replacing him. The pressure at the top led him to comClemson. The mood was tense when the staff gathered Monday morning. pile a notebook of inspirational sayings and Scripture Holding his hands 6 inches apart, Bowden looked at verses. He can still rattle them off: offensive coordinator Brad Scott and said, "Your life • Proverbs 3:5, "Tru st in th e Lord with all your may be this long." He repeated that to heart .... " • James 4:2, " You do not have, several others and declared, " I want you guys to know I will not sell my because you do not ask God." soul for football. I'm going now to • Psalms 37, " Delight yourself in meet with the seniors. I'm interested the Lord and He wi ll gi ve you the in knowing th at 10 years from now desires of your heart." those players will know I was more • Joshua I :9, " Be strong and couraconcerned about the relationship I had geous ... , for the Lord your God will with them." be with you ...."

The Seminoles recovered to win 10 "There's a lot of Scripture verses I straight and the incident made a lastwrote down in days of trouble," he ing impress ion. Many would have recalls. "You notice that every one of pointed fingers, but that day Bowden them is based on fear- my fear. Fear emphas i zed the ri ght priorities, of failure, which is the big thing that Cottrell says. causes people not to try. I've always " In thi s profession where there's gotten strength from Scripture. And prayer. I have a deep belief that God such inconsistency, he makes his staff a family. I think we 've all had opporhears prayer." tunities to leave, make more money, " Bobby's a very moral person who but nothing can take away from that sets a good example for his children," famil y and the security of knowing .A. And loving it. Ahead of BOBROSA•o says his wife. " He was never one to get hi s heart. You al ways know where Bowden on the all-time victory out and throw the ball a lot or camp out you stand with him." list are Bo Schembechler (234 with the kids. But hi s guidance and spiritual life has probabl y been the key Pleasant area, friendly people, and wins) and Woody Hayes (238), good quality of life. Gladden lists the neither of whom seemed to have factor in his rol e as a husband and as much fun as FSU's mentor. factors that have helped keep him in father. The heart's where it's at, and Tallahassee for 18 years. "But the big reason is Coach Bobby has a very sensitive heart."

Bowden. He doesn't make your job the lord of your life.

Last winter Bowden and hi .<~ son. ll's important, but it's not the most important thing. He Terry entered the final weeh of a wants you to be with your family and enjoy some qualinational recruiting contest for ty time. Not all coaches are like that."

Lewis Battles, defensive bacll from Add to Bowden's consistency and straight-shooting Roanohe, Alabama. Terry set his something else: His faith. It's the key to his character. visit for Tuesday, so Bobby schedBowden's public stance, which he reveals as he speaks uled his Thursday. frequently in churches, conducts daily devotions for his When Battles hesitated to sign, Terry panstaff, and gives inspirational team talks, helped hang the icked and fibbed, "If you go to Florida State, I " Saint Bobby" tag on him long before Brown's book did. hope yozt play a lot the first two years becaztse "I've been around a lot of people in the world, and Dad's 63 ancl mandatory retirement age is 65." there' s nobody I respect more," says team chaplain The ploy clidtt't worh and word got bach to the Clint Purvi s. " He's real. I don' t know of anybody elder Bowden. On Bobby's visit he retortecl, "I who gi ves more of himself, his money, and his time. hearclwhat he said about me. Bztt son, I'll be at He's unbelievable."

Florida State longer than he'll be at Aztbum."

But still hum an. J-:Ie ad mits hi s youthful j okes Finally, home-state loyalty won oztt and weren' t always clean. Saint Bobby revealed a nervous Battles signed with Aztbztm. When the speedy habit of chewing Red Man and sometimes losing his recmit signecl, Terry just had to know: ''Why dicl temper in the lockerroom. Bowden didn' t obj ect to yozt pztt us off for so long?"

Brown's revelations. He wants the public to know that "Coach," he shrztggecl, "I jztst wanted my parhe doesn't claim to be perfect. ents to meet your fath er."

"Even the Bible tells how David had somebody killed, how Peter cursed, and how Paul had some people stoned.

TRUE STORY. A true story tells the truth. The facts reveal some of my Had things turned out differently, Terry Bowden weaknesses. I'm j ust lucky he didn't catch them all." might not be laughing so hard. Funny stories are the Bowden's spiritual j ourney is one of steady maturleast of what Bobby Bowden has given to hi s chil ing. While he accepted Jesus as his Savior at the age of dren-and college football.

I 0, he failed at trying to "be good." Not until he was 23 did he understand that he couldn' t earn God's grace.

Ken Walker is a freela nce writer wh o li1•es in Finally it became clear to him that it was simply a gift.

Huntington, West \lirginia.

SPORTS SPECTRU M - OCTOBER 1993

Listening to the Coach HUNDREDS OF YOUNG EARS are tuned to one of America's most famous football coaches as he speaks.

"Football is not my number one priority in life," Bobby Bowden tells them. "It's a priority, a big one. It's the ability God has given me to make a living. Somebody asked me why I'm In coaching. I don't know; He just led me Into it. I think God's got a plan lor everybody.

"You know what people do?" he asks as feet shuffle nervously. "You'll put everything you've got into taking care of your body.

Spend every penny, work your hands off-over your body. And yet your soul?

The part that's gonna live forever. What are you doing about it? Nothing?

"Everybody has a void in life. II you think you can find happiness by becoming a millionaire, I'm sorry. I see as many millionaires commit suicide as I do the poor.

Money's not gonna fill it.

Fame's not gonna fill it.

Neither is fun. You can only fill it with God." While Bowden says he just shares his faith when he speaks, the man who is working on his autobiography says there's more to it.

"He preaches," says Bill Smith, who met Bowden while covering WVU lor the Charleston Daily Mail.

"The last two chapters of the book are boiled down from tapes. I read them to my Sunday school class.

Afterward, an 80-year-old woman came up and said, 'I've been in this church for 60 years and those are the best sermons I've ever heard.' " - Ken Walker

For more about the faith that Bowden spoke of, write to Sports Spectrum for a free copy of the booklet How Does God Love Me?

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delegates from the national associaMOON LANDING. It's tions of seven European countries older than the NBA. It's gathered "to promote the game of more popular than a Jurassic Association Football [as opposed to Park dinosaur. rugby or American football)."

And it's coming to America.

Although FIFA did sanction comWhen West Germany took the petition between member nations, field against Argentina in the 1990 it did not form the World Cup tourWorld Cup finals, more than a billion nament till later. During the first 25 people were tuned in to watch the years or so of FIFA's existence, the game on TV- three times the audi- squad that won the Olympic Games ence that watched on July 20, 1969, was generally recognized as the when Neil Armstrong world champ.

To FIFA, this was took his "one small not the best way to step."

The 1994 tournachoose the champ. ment will mark the fifSo, on May 26, 1928, the coalition anteenth time the nations have gotten nounced that it together to decide the would organize Its best soccer team in own championship. the world. The tourThe first such competition was nament began in 1930 (the NBA began in held in Montevideo, 1946) and has been Uruguay, in 1930.

Thirteen teams complayed quadrennially peted in 18 games since (except during e World War II, 1942 played befor e and 1946).

434,500 fans. As has On Friday, June happened four other 17, 1994, the attentimes since, the host tion of the world will country came away with the FIFA world be focused on Soldier Field and the championship.

By Cotton Bowl as the Sixty -one years D a v e B ran on first two games In later, on December stage one of the World Cup tourna- 8, 1991 , 141 teams entered the ment get underway. quest for the 1994 World Cup. By Fifty-one games and 30 days the time the first kick of the first later, the two best squads in the round takes place next June, more world will tangle at the Rose Bowl in than 500 qualification matches will Pasadena for bragging rights as the have been played to choose the 24 best soccer team on the globe. A bil- teams that will compete. Already lion people will hang on every shot. qualified are the USA (as host) and And when the winner is decided, defending champion Germany there will be exuberant dancing in (West Germany won the 1990 Cup).

An estimated 1.5 million Internathe streets all across the victors' homeland. tional visitors will make the trek to How did all this get started? the US to visit the nine venues.

The governing body for the World Yes , it' s coming . It is the biggest sports tournament in the Cup is the Federation lnternationale de Football Association (FIFA), world . And it is only 8 months an organization that has away. Will the US be ready for this 178 member countries. invasion?

FIFA was established Next repo r t: The World Cup on May 21 , 1904, when Trophy

Coming

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Desmond Armstrong By J e nni e C h a ndle r

O NE DAY Desmond came knocking on my door, asking, ' Have yo u got any old cleats?' " says Paul Caligiuri, a member of the US National soccer team. "Taken aback at fi rst, I was al l ear s when Desmond expl ained th at he was collecting used soccer gear to donate to inner-city ki ds. I spent a hal f a day gathering up stuff."

Desmond Armstrong says .A. Waiting for word. As with he would never have played many probable members of the soccer if his parents had not US squad for the World Cup, moved f rom Was hi ngton, defender Desmond Armstrong D.C. One of his goals is to must wait till next year to see who finally makes the team. change that kind of thinking for thousands of youngsters, especially African-Americans, by taking a leadership role in a program called Soccer in the Streets. "This will give me a chance to give back to the game when I'm no longer playing," Armstrong says.

But for now he is playing, and since March he has been the starting sweeper on the United States National Soccer team that is gearing up for the 1994 World Cup tournament.

Armstrong got a late start on his soccer career, for he didn't start playing until he was II . That's when a neighbor who coached a select club soccer team saw him playing basketball and invited him to be on his squad. Armstrong's dad told Desmond, " If you get involved, you have to stay with it." Armstrong promised he would. And he has.

At his first soccer camp, he saw the Most Valuable Player trophy and made his dad another promi se: " Next year I' m getting that trophy."

He did.

"That experience told me that if I set my mind to it, I could achieve anything. It gave me a winning frame of reference," he explains.

When Ar mstrong was 14, his family moved to Colu mbia, Maryland, which he describes as a " hotbed of soccer." After stan路ing at Howard Hig h School and pl ayi ng on Reg i onal Ol ympic Development teams, Armstrong went to the University of Maryland, where he was an All-Atlantic Coast Conference selection for 3 years.

In 1986, Armstrong inked his first pro contract, signing on with Cleveland in the Major Indoor Soccer League.

Things didn't always go so well after that-especially off the field.

For the next 2 years, Armstrong chose what he thought was the life of a pro athlete-going to singles bars and being promiscuous. That had

its own kind of rewards, though, and before long he had contracted enced team lost all th ree games. chlamydia, a venereal disease. Fortunately it was cured with medicaThings have changed for the better for the team since tion, but disenchantment with his promiscuous lifestyle set in.

1990. Armstrong and the other hopefuls are now in training On the field, the honors continued. In 1988 Armstrong was camp in Mission Viejo, California, worki ng daily to prepare for named to the Major Indoor Soccer League All-Star team and select- the 1994 World Cup. ed to play on the US Olympic team.

Being a member of the 1990 team doesn't guarantee that Armstrong Following the Olympic Games in Seoul, Armstrong returned to will be in uniform when the 1994 World Cup begins, and he is ready Maryland to play with the Baltimore Blast. Back home now, he for any eventuality. "Because I now understand that it serves no purwas reunited with old friends. One of pose in the kingdom of God if I'm not them, Paul Hill Ill , invited Armstrong supposed to be there, I'm not worried," he says. "I must still give my all and use to church. "I didn' t really want to go. I the talents God has given me, but I had attended church growing up, and I know that even after my poorest game knew about salvation, but not much God will accept me." about livi ng the life Christ promises.

That night the pastor helped me face a Someone else who accepts and comforts Ar mstrong is hi s wife, lot of frustration from tryi ng to do it all Quena. They have one child, Arielle, myself and I made a commitment to let who is 1112, and a second child is Jesus Chri st be the controll er of my life. It was the best thing I've ever expected in December. Quena was a done," Armstrong says.

Howard University student who lived Whi le playi ng with the Blast, in Armstrong's apartment complex Armstrong's faith was tested when he when they met while he was recovering from his broken leg. A part of broke his right leg. During this time, the national team was being given an outthei r courtship was attendi ng church side chance at qualifying for the World together-Desmond being the initiator. For both it was a time of maturing Cup, and Armstrong wanted to be on that team. "I experienced a miracle as in their faith and has provided a basis for setting priorities. my leg healed, and I was back playing in It's not easy being young parents 9 months. The Lord was my motivation.

I just kept thanking Him for what I had while Desmond has the pressure of making the national soccer team, but been able to do so far, anct He honored my commitment to Him," he says. he feels Quena is a big help because, "She keeps me foc used on what's Paul Caligiuri first met Armstrong 8 years ago when they were each vying for important."

Quena agrees that the "adjustments a spot on the US National team. "What I to the demands of marriage, the move fi rst noticed was Desmond's natu ral ability and his work ethic on the field. .6. Chasing respectability. In the matches Armstrong to Cal ifornia, and cari ng for a baby After playing with him all these years, I and his US teammates have played in 1993, one of have been difficult. Our growing closer to the Lord has been a blessing. I try to now respect him for his leadership on the goats was to show they belonged with the best in the world-which is just what they d id with a tight and off the field," Caligiuri says. be sensitive to the demand s of 4-3 loss to defending World Cup champ Germany.

When the US team beat Trinidad (1Desmond's need to put his all into the 0) on November 19, 1989, to clinch a team right now. When he's away, we spot in the 1990 World Cup, Armstrong was not on the field. "It usually talk twice a day. I try not to be negative, but share something was strange," says Caligiuri. "I was coming off an injury and for from the message I heard at church that week or on the radio." some unknown reason was given number 15, Desmond's jersey.

Armstrong believes that what the Lord has given to his family Before we played, Desniond led us in prayer. I was able to score must be shared. "I continually ask myself how did I get here and about the 29-minute mark on one of those out-of-the-sky shots. It who gave me these qualities? The answer is always Jesus. If I were wasn' t just me kicking the ball ; it was a special moment. Then at a 'closet' or 'parttime' Christian, I'd be no different from anyone the end of the game, Desmond called the team together and said, else. I want to share that God is in control," he says.

That's why, amid the swirl of activity and anxiety that goes with 'We have Someone to thank,' and led us in prayer again. That was not something we usually did." trying to earn a spot on the most prestigious soccer team in America, The young US National team was hopeful that quali fying for Desmond Armstrong can be a model of peace and poise. 0 the World Cup in 1990-the first US team to do that in 40 years-wo uld put the US on the soccer map. However, wi th Je1111ie Clta11dler, whose four so11s are all accomplished onl y two corporate sponsors to lend their support, the team had soccer players. lives with her boys a11d her ltusba11d i11 to make do with poor food and faci lities in Italy. The inexperi- Fr. Belvoir, Virgi11ia.

S P O R TS S PEC O:nUM â&#x20AC;˘ OC T OBE R 1993

27

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Catching Up With ...

By Tom Felten Stats Glance

-All-lime leading scorer in Dallas Tornado history with 128 points - North American Soccer League's scoring champion in 1973 with 30 points in 18 games - Selected 15 times to represent the U.S. in international competition - Won the ABC-TV Superstars competitions 3 times- 1974, 1976, and 1977 Awards/Honors: -Pro soccer Rookie of the Year in 1973 - Big "D" Award from the city of Dallas, 1975 - Pro Athlete of the Year from the Special Olympics in 1979

Most Memorable Career Moment: "Being a number one draft choice in the North American Soccer League.

An English forward that Dallas was trying to get in for our opening game-my first pro game- got stuck in London. I had been practicing in his role, and because he was detained, the coaches ended up having to start me. I had grown up in Dallas as an all-state football player. And now I'm the top draft choice and playing for the Texas pro soccer team. It was the hometownkid scenario- he's come home and they're gonna start him. I ended up scoring the opening goal on a diving header. And then I got an assist on the second goal. We beat Toronto 2-0 before the largest crowd we ever had." r:::::J 28

/'Is

l the United l States gears up for the World Cup, Sports Spectrum's Tom Felten helps get you in the spirit by talking with one of American soccer's most successful players, Kyle Rote Jr. The · former Dallas To17Ul(]Q lives in Memphis where he is president of a sports management company.

SS: Let's start by talking about your role with the Dallas Tornado in the NASL. Were you the "go to" man on the team?

Rote: I was a role player. If you were to measure the amount of time that I had the ballcompared with putting a clock on Scottie Pippen and Michael Jordan and measuring that against another pl ayer for the Chicago Bulls-! was Bill Cartwright. I was the gu y that you do not want to have dribbling the ball up the court. But get me the ball in the ri ght spot at the right time and I could do some damage.

I had to tell a friend at the New York Times, after the marketing of Kyle Rote Jr. became a bit too much, that for anyone to call Kyle Rote "America's answer to Pele" is so ludicrous that the Times will lose their reputation for printing that.

because during the Super Bowl, the NBA playoffs, or the World Series, our hospitals stay open. People are still out on the street. Stores stay open. But if Argentina plays Brazil , the nation will shut down for those 2 hours. And if there's a car crash during that 2-hour window, it will be a l:~:~::.::.:.:.-:----::;: single car crash. There won' t be Between Pele and me, we scored about I,300 goals. Of that total the I00 or so that I scored were clearly the most difficult. While I had a couple of great years, he had a couple of great decades.

SS: How do you think the U.S. will fare in World Cup competition?

Rote: We can compete with the best. But the American public should not expect a Lake Placid, U.S.-hockey-type result. At that time, our Olympic hockey team was ranked 5th or 6th. In the world of soccer, we are in the top 30 today- but we' re not in the top 5. The only reason people need to give us any chance at all is because the home team often wins the Cup. SS: What will this soccer spectacle mean to the average American sports fan?

Rote: This is a lot like Halley's Comet. It's a once-in-alifetime event. Ticket sales indicate that people are beginning to sense that. This is a world news event-the world's most popular sporting event.

It's not a Super Bowl- it's 30 days of Super Bowls. It's very difficult for us to understand,

SPORTS SPECTRUM • OCTOBE R 1 993

another car on the road for it to crash into.

It's a lot more than a sporting event because it has political implications. Pele today could still be elected president of Brazil. We love our Julius Ervings and we love our Roger Staubachs-but they couldn' t win an election hands down like Pele could.

SS: Do you think World Cup will help soccer to become more popular in the U.S.?

Rote: Some people say, "Why isn't soccer succeeding in America?" Well, soccer has succeeded in America. You' ve got more NCAA schools playing soccer than play football.

You've got hundreds of schools giving scholarships to women soccer players.

I don 't think World Cup will suddenl y turn Americans on to soccer. What it will leave is an awareness, understanding, and education for the American public.

It will also help convince the rest of the world that America is finally a soccer nation. There was a tremendous amount of heat given to the governing body

in soccer because they selected the U.S. to host the World Cup. It'd be li ke selecting Zambia for the Olympics. But they understood that until you have America you don't reall y have a world- wide sport.

SS: Who makes up the Rote home roster?

Rote: We've got Will who's been almost 16 since the day after his 15th birthday, because 16 is when he gets to start dri ving. And we have John, I I; Josie, 9; and Ben, 3. And watching them all is Mary Lynne- we've been married 21 years.

SS: Let's go back a few years to your dat ing years. How did you meet Mary Lynne?

Rote: We met at the Uni versity of the South, also known as Sewanee. She had grown up in a very strong, conservative Christian family. My background was one of the exploded family. My folks split up when I was 12 and my dad lived in New York- llived in Texas. We rarely saw each other and we didn't have any real family traditions. Lynne's background was just the opposite. It was one of economic modesty, yet it was a family centered on Christ.

I came to Christ at the age of 16 through the great ministry of Young Life. My Young Life director happened to be a former All-American college fbotball player, Roy McKassen.

When Lynne and I met, I had been a Christian less than 5 years but was very committed to establishing the Lordship of Christ over all my relationships. It was very critical to me-if I was going to get married- to marry someone who was a lot more mature than I was as a Christian.

SS: Is there a verse from the Bible that has special meaning to you?

.A Battling the best. During his NASL career, Kyle Rote Jr. went up against teams like the Cosmos, who won the NASL championship 5 times in the league's 17 years. Rote's Tornado was runnerup in 1973.

Rote: One passage that really challenges me, even though it's not well-known, is I Timothy 4:6-8, which paraphrased says, "train yourself spiritually.

Physical exercise is useful , but the usefulness of the spirit is that it's eternal, where the physical's only temporary."

That passage is one that has reall y challenged me throughout

my playing career- not to lose sight of who I am and what my primary goal is. I was not a pro ath lete who happened to be a Christian. I was a Christian who happened, for a short period of my life, to play a pro sport.

When I won the Superstars competition, I suddenly had great notoriety. 1 had 60 miII ion people watchi ng me compete against OJ

SPORTS SPECTR UM â&#x20AC;˘ OCTOBER 1 993

Simpson, Pete Rose, Ju lius Erving, Bruce Jenner, and Roger Staubach. In the midst of that, I was trying to keep a sense of perspective. First Timothy 4 helped me realize that the fame and glory fade away. I'm very fortunate to have been turned on to that biblical truth so I can cling to my identity as a child of God. SS: You had a great athletic career, much like your father.

What were some of his accomplishments?

Rote: My dad, Kyle Rote, was the number one bonus pick of the New York Giants in 1951.

This came after he was an AllAmerican runn ing back at SMU and fini shed high in the Heisman Trophy balloting. Because he had three knee surgeries, the Giants moved him to wide receiver where he reestabli shed himself and became an All-Pro. He had a tremendous impact on the New York communi ty and his teammates. There's a league called the Kyle Rote Youth Football League, one of the many, many causes to which he gave of himself. That helped me see what I had to do as a soccer player- to give back to the community.

But I think maybe the highest compliment, despite being an All-Pro player in the NFL, playing on a world championship team as he did in 1956, and playing in what some consider the greatest game ever played-even though the Giants lost it to the Baltimore Colts and John ny Unitas- is the fact that he had 13 teammates name sons after him.

Frank Gifford has a son named Kyle, as does Pat Summemll, and on and on.

After his playing career ended, Dad became a successfu l backfield coach for the Giants before moving into broadcasting sports 29

COURTESY OF KYLE ROTE JR.

4 Watching the kids. With his playing days behind, Rote spends his time on athletic fields following the development of his own children, observing them, as he puts it, "as a very silent spectator."

Although he is actively involved with pro athletes, Rote is concerned with the way many parents "take out their own athletic frustrations on their kids."

on TV-becoming one of the first athletes to do so.

He's extremely creati ve. He wrote the New York Giants fight song that is still played today. He continues to get royalties from ASCAP. He is a published poet.

He's very gifted in many areas.

SS: I believe your mother's faith has meant a great deal to you and many others. How did Christ use her life in a special way?

Rote: My mother came to Christ in her late 30s, but within a few years she suffered from a cerebral aneurysm. She was paralyzed and in a wheelchair for the rest of her life. It was likely caused by a combination of smoking and birth control pills.

She died a few years ago, but her life was a great testimony. If 30

you had asked her, "Do you wish you weren' t paralyzed ?" the answer would obviously be, "Yes." But she saw how God redeemed the time and her life in the wheelchair. Her own words were that "life is much more exciting paralyzed in a wheelchair li ving for Jesus, than it was when I was physicall y whole and didn't know Christ."

She was a great testimony that the real issue in life is not whether you have a paralyzed body or not, the real issue is whether you have a paralyzed heart. And her heart left behind its paralysis when she became one of Christ's children. She had an inner joy that helped her die peacefully in her 50s.

SS: Let's discuss Athletic Resource Management, your professional athlete agency. How did you get into this, and what do you do at ARM? Rote: Our fami ly came to Memphis in 1981 on a 2-year mission to establish pro soccer in this community. They asked me to be the general manager of the team, and we stayed for a third year. After that we sold the team to a group of investors who moved it to Las Vegas and invited us to go along. But we decided to stay in Memphis.

During those days Don Kessinger, a former All-Star infielder for the Chicago Cubs, came to me with an idea to start a sports management company. He wanted to give his peers some godly ethical management services. He had a background in investments and I had a background in negotiating contracts and law, so we started the company in 1984. After a couple of years, we ended up hiring an outstanding young man, Jimmy Sexton.

Then Don left to coach base-

â&#x20AC;˘ ; ; :

ball at the University of Mississippi , where his two sons were playing, and he had to divest himself of his ownership in the company because of NCAA rules.

At that point Jimmy became vice president of the company, while I continued as president.

But, effectively, we' re partners.

We've got a terrific staff of 10 quality people to help us represent some 50 pro athletes, including a lot of NBA players like Scottie Pippen and Horace Grant and his brother Harvey, among others. In football , we represent people like Reggie White and Darrell Green-4-time NFL Fastest Man. We do more than prov ide professional negotiation services and accounting, tax, investments and lifestyle management. We have a real ministry to a lot of our clients.

SS: How do you keep your work-life and home-life balanced?

Rote: I don't want to commit adultery with my work, so I've made a number of adj ustments in my schedule. l generall y get to work about 10:30, work until 7:30, and I miss dinner every night. But I'm home in the morning, and I attend every school acti vity I possibly can.

The three most important things in my dail y agenda are family time, some quiet time with God-I'm going through Oswald

S P O RTS SPECTRUM â&#x20AC;˘ OCT OBER 1993

Chambers' My Utmost for His Highest right now, and I have a commitment to read through the Bible every year-and exercise. I don't want to have the words, "What profits a man if he gains the whole world, but loses his own soul ?'' become true in my life. What does it profit Jimmy and me to have the most successful sports agency and lose our families?

I just hope God can use me to teach and reach others. D

••••••••••••••••••••••••••

...

•r..-Disjointed thoughts and ~-

re~note

reflections fro~n the

wild world of sports • By Tom Felten floral patterns, and stripes?

What if Pat Summerall What if bocci becomes traded broadcasting America's favorite pasduties with Dick Vitale? time?

Vitale: "Azinger is on What if Monica Seles his game, baby . .. he's had n' t been injured by a a primetime player. The deranged fan? (Was a organi zed sports?

Grand Slam stolen away rest of the field needs a What if, just once, a player T.O.! Zinger's all-world . .. " -or was it a career?) looked up from the contract Producer: "Dick, Dick, chill What if negotiation table and said, "Oh, out. This is round one-second Kryzyzewski that's way too much. You're far hole!"

(Coach Mike from Duke) was an too generous. Please, just give What if pro players had to payallowable word in Scrabble? me half that much." to-play and fans were given conWhat if Mike Ditka calls a What if Emmit Smith and tracts to sit in the stands?

Bears game in his new TV job?

Barry Sanders were in the same What if scientists conWill he begin directing plays? backfield? clude that the greatest athWill he chew gum into the mike?

What if people celebrated letes in the world are sumo Will he look happy? championships by tossing confetti wrestlers?

What if Deion Sanders was instead of hurling rocks What if Bo had never had • really good at basketball? "Yo, and overturning cars? the big hurt put on his hip?

Hawks front office, please. This What if players dependWhat if the Fridge, Oliver is Prime Time." ed on their own ability Miller, and John Kruk rode instead of trash-talking • What if the Metrodome spri ngs the same elevator? a leak and goes and feeling it Whm if the NCAA "p-f-f-f-f-t -t-t-t"Division I Swimming sailing and swooping through the air until it lands in Championship received the same coverage and Idaho? necessary to "hate What if Dallas wins the next hype as its March the other team"?

Madness sibling?

I0 Super Bowls?

What if the What if the Mighty What if all sports peopleYanks would win the World Cup? Ducks sign a player named from coaches, to players, to ownWhat if big Chief Joe Montana and ultra-hip all/fit, Andre's ers, to fans-stopped using Donald-or even Huey, faces the 49ers in the Big One? derogatory racial terms?

Louie, or Dewey? definitely winning this match."

What if boxers were allowed What if John Madden teamed What if M.J. decided to grow What if Doc Gooden hadn't to retire just once? pitched those mega-innings early dreadlocks down to his shoutwith Yin Scully to call a game?

What if Mugsy Bogues had Yin : "Well, Hi , everybody. A • ders? Would basketball players in his career? believed he was too short to very pleasant good day to you across the country do the new What if Dennis Byrd had play hoops? wherever you may be . .We have "do"? "Li ke Mike, I wanna wear • What if it were acceptable failed to depend on God and had a dandy for you today, and it ' my hair like Mike . . . " sunk into a pit of despair after to help an oppon ent up from will be played under splendid What if ESPN's Chris "My becoming paralyzed? the play ing surface during a azure skies." name isn' t Herman" Berman had What if Hakeem Olaj uwon, for pro game?

John: "Yep, and there's a lot called some of the skating action just one season, could have the What if Len Bias had refused at last year's Winter Olympics? of mud and stuff on the field. to experi ment with cocaine? supporting cast Michael Jordan has enjoyed the last three seasons?

Hey, look! Now there' s my kinda Would we have heard names li ke: What if players were penalized player! He's already got his uniMidiro "Frito Banned" !do, What if sports didn' t have a for profanity? form dirty and look ... he's Petr "The cow's in the," Barna, What if the Tour de France was dark side? drooling just thinking abow the Paul Wylie "Coyote"? run just one time wi th Harleys?

What if sports provided a posigame. Hey, Vin, you gonna eat What if parents would voice What if tennis commentator tive way to spread God's love that candy bar?" support for their kids and the and truth to people everywhere?

• Bud Collins decided to dress really differently- for him-by What if image reall y was Whacldaya say we give it a try? refs and the other team when their yo ung ones are playing everythi ng? I can hear it now. not mixing polka dots, plaids, HAT IF SHAQ HAD BECOME A JOCKEY?

Commentator: "Well, Chang lias a much better game going today. lnfact he's dominating Agassi with his serve and with those consistent baseline backhands.

He leads 2 sets to none.

But because of Agassi' s hair

S PORTS SPECTRUM • OCTOBER 1 993

31

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