Archive for February 2, 2008
Nantz held mic when Dungy credited God
CBS lead announcer Jim Nantz held the microphone when Indianapolis Colts Tony Dungy spoke of his faith in Jesus Christ before a national audience after winning last year’s Super Bowl.
Nantz took some heat.
“When I interviewed Tony Dungy last year at the Super Bowl, I got some flak about allowing him to talk about his personal faith,” Nantz told Baptist Press before the annual “Legends for Charity” dinner Jan. 31 in which he received the “Pat Summerall Award” for character, integrity and leadership.
“But I don’t think we should be so jaded or cynical that we don’t focus on the goodness of people and their faith,” Nantz said.
“I think Tony Dungy, like John Wooden, has a true saintly quality …. They have showed how a person can live your life the right way, to be a man’s man and to live a life to honor others.”
Nantz credited his parents and an unnamed pastor for learning how to tell a story that can inspire an audience. “There is faith in my delivery and transparency in my heart,” Nantz said of his broadcast style. “I have one voice to tell a story to help uplift others.” (more…)
Faith gives Patriots punter a leg up
Maybe the most significant moment that kick-started Chris Hanson’s NFL career came at East Coweta High School on the soccer field..
Hanson hopes to be used on the field more as a holder for field goals and extra points during Sunday’s Super Bowl XLII game than booting his New England teammates out of trouble against the New York Giants as the Patriots’ first-year punter.
But before he launched punts for the Indians, Hanson was a hard-shooting left-footed sophomore for then ECHS soccer coach Bill Screws. During a routine spring practice in 1993, Screws sent Hanson and another lefty to practice corner kicks and the pair obliged, working their way to the playing field at Shoemake Stadium.
Along came East Coweta football coach Danny Cronic, who had heard from Screws — also the Indians’ defensive line coach — that were some potential prospects at kicker out on the football field. He approached the pair during this particular practice and asked if the two would kick soccer balls over the football goalposts as both obliged. (more…)
Christ has given Seymour strength to battle through tough situations
Richard Seymour is still not at 100 percent, but that isn’t going to stop him from trying his best to help the Patriots stymie the Giants’ running game and put pressure on quarterback Eli Manning in Super Bowl XLII on Sunday.
The Patriots will need a big effort from him. The Giants have been on a roll as of late, winning 10 straight road games and moving the ball with ease both on the ground and in the air.
Patriots coach Bill Belichick has a lot of confidence in Seymour, who missed the first seven games of the regular season while rehabbing from offseason knee surgery.
Seymour has started in 11 of the 12 games since his return and has recorded 40 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and six quarterback hits.
Everything is in place for Seymour to have a big game on Sunday. (more…)
NFL players unite for charity
Former NFL player Ervin “Blueprint” Parker is hosting a charity Super Bowl party at his home Sunday to raise money for his youth leadership program.
Parker, who founded the Blueprint Leadership Academy, has spent the past three years making motivational presentations to students in the Georgetown County School District.
His program teaches students life skills, and it focuses on 10 principles: attitude, respect, honesty, faith, courage, self-esteem, self-determination, accountability, education and leadership.
“I think leadership training is something that is missing out of the school system. They don’t have a life skills program,” said Parker, who played as a linebacker for the Buffalo Bills. (more…)
