AIA News

Black History Month Profiles: David Robinson

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 08:55:53 -1000

David Robinson started his basketball career at the U.S. Naval Academy as a two-time All American and winner of the Naismith and John Wooden Player of the Year award. He was drafted in 1987 by the San Antonio Spurs but delayed his NBA career to complete his Navy commitment. He joined the team in 1989 and played there until his retirement after the 2003 NBA Championship in which he won his second ring with the Spurs.

During his career, Robinson was Rookie of the Year, a ten-time All-Star, and MVP among numerous others. He was a three-time Olympian, won the NBA Sportsman Award, and posted career averages of 21.1 points and 10.6 rebounds per game.

Robinson’s legend off the court is equally strong, as he and wife Valerie founded the David Robinson Foundation in 1992, a Christian organization that supports programs meeting physical and spiritual needs of families. In 2001, the couple funded The Carver Academy in San Antonio, a private school for students from the city’s eastside, focusing on service, leadership and faith.

Summer Ball Tour Makes Impression on CO Player

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 06:10:36 -1000

Everything about the Athletes in Action basketball tour to Macedonia and Kosovo was appealing to Austin Dufault. A senior forward at the University of Colorado, Dufault was intrigued by the opportunity to travel overseas for the first time, play a sport he loves AND represent the Lord with other believers. What could be better?

“A few of my teammates had gone on trips (with AIA) before and they told me what the program was about and how great it was for them not only as basketball players but also as Christians,” says Dufault, a psychology major who hails from Killdeer, N.D.

Dufault joined young men from across the country on the two-week tour of the Balkans that included a tournament in which the AIA team walked away with the championship trophy. The trip was a great investment of Dufault’s time in several ways. For one, he loved the competition and the coaches, and enjoyed experiencing a new setting of play after three years in Colorado.

“It’s always nice to get outside the area you’ve been around, see how other teams do things and learn from other players and coaches to get new ideas to incorporate into your game,” he says.

On the spiritual side, Dufault says the trip was equally rewarding.

“I loved the daily Bible studies we did as a team,” he says. “Each day, I learned something new, whether from the Scriptures or through an experience a teammate or coach shared. I loved just that time day to day to learn more about God and each other.

“It helped me learn more about the Bible and got me interested in reading the Bible more.”

Dufault says since he returned to Colorado, he’s brought the renewed passion for the Word of God back with him, following his AIA coach’s recommendation to read at least 10 minutes daily and complete the entire Bible in a year.

On the court, he brings more confidence in his own abilities, growing significantly after playing with AIA teammates from other quality Division I programs. He also brings a few new skills he learned on the tour.

One of his summer teammates, guard Will Spradling of Kansas State, echoed some of Dufault’s sentiments in the effects on his game. The sophomore from Overland Park, Kan., earned MVP honors for the tournament the AIA team won and picked up some honed leadership skills and confidence as well.

“I can see a tremendous difference after I got back,” says Spradling, a business major. “My coach feels like I’m being a better leader this year, and I’m improving a lot on things I needed to work on. A lot of that came from Europe.”

Dufault attends a local church and participates in a Bible study weekly with other teammates, something the group began a few years ago. He says he would consider participating in another AIA tour and has recommended it already to other teammates.

For more information on summer tours with AIA sports teams, visit the AIA website: http://www.athletesinaction.org/opportunities/ and choose a sport from the list on the right.

By Teresa Young, AIA Communications

Photo: Austin Dufault goes up for a shot against defenders from Georgia in an early season game at Colorado.(Photo courtesy CU Sports Information)

Academy Inspires Coaches From Around the Globe

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 06:07:31 -1000

The annual Basketball Coaches’ Academy that is conducted at the World Resource and Training Center in Xenia, Ohio, is just another example of the true global reach and impact Athletes in Action can have.

The academy began in 2009, born out of intense interest in learning more about the game from coaches that had been exposed to AIA (through AIA’s short-term international tours). Global Sports Director Eric Nelson says he would have coaches approach him at the end of a tour pleading with him for an opportunity to learn more about building a team and improving, not only their teams but the overall quality of basketball in their nations.

Project Director Megan Soderberg says between 20 to 25 coaches, including one female in each academy, from as many as six different nations across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, have participated in the first two academies.

“A lot (of the coaches) come because Eric invites them directly, but also our AIA national leaders in their countries promote the academy,” Soderberg says.

Once the coaches arrive for the two-week academy, they are exposed to high-caliber teaching from experts in various areas from coaching philosophy and skill development, to budgeting and leadership development.

“We bring in ‘basketball guys’ that are successful in life as well,” says Morris Michalski, who serves as program director for the academy.

The academy participants take several field trips to watch 4-5 local college and pro basketball games to see how the fundamentals they are being taught are put into practice.

“These are educational trips, not entertainment,” Michalski says. “We expect them to learn the techniques and principles we teach them. We have a final exam and they earn a diploma at the end, it’s not called an academy for no reason.”

According to Nelson, those coaches who have attended the academy have realized a certain level of success in the sport when they return to their respective homelands.

“We find that most of those who come, win their leagues and dominate the sport in their countries for a year or two after coming to the academy,” he says. “But they aren’t keeping it to themselves. When they go back, they share what they’ve learned with other coaches in their countries, and that is by design.”

In addition, and more importantly, what Michalski calls “education of the game,” attendees receive “heart education.”

“We teach personal development as well as professional development, and spiritual development is a huge part of personal development,” he says.

Every day, during what is called “team time,” AIA staff share the Scriptures with the coaches and lead discussions about the spiritual aspects of life.

“The academy is some of the best direct ministry time we have,” Soderberg says. “It’s interesting to see how they open up to discussion of the Scripture and the spiritual principles—even the coaches from other religions are eager to participate in the conversation.”

Sharing the gospel is a team effort. Soderberg says all 12 staff members and their families are involved in this aspect. “One of our goals as a department is to truly love each other and be examples of Christ’s love,” she says. “That kind of love is something many of the coaches don’t see a lot of in their cultures, and we want to model that.”

Nelson says, “It’s a way to meet needs around the world and the way to meet the needs of local (AIA staff in those countries) who don’t have these types of resources readily available to them. It helps create a vision for ministry in their different countries. It’s like taking a mission trip to six different countries at once, not just in terms of time, but impact as well.”

Michalski adds, “The endgame is more than teaching how to win basketball games; it’s about teaching individuals how to build character and how to develop their spiritual lives (including having a personal relationship with Christ) as well.”

By Tommy Young, AIA Communications

American Football is Vehicle for Gospel Message in Prague

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:57:30 -1000

When people think of the “Lions” in terms of football, they conjure up images of Joe Paterno and his Nittany Lions of Penn State, or maybe even Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson running around in the Honolulu blue and silver. Zach Harrod thinks about Prague in the Czech Republic.

Harrod is an AIA staff member assigned to the Czech Republic and Europe. He is the head coach for the Prague Lions Junior (Under 18) Division team as well as serving as offensive coordinator for the Senior (over 18) Division Lions.

Harrod has been in the Czech Republic working with American-style football since 2004. He played defensive back for the Lions senior division team for a couple of years, helping the team win two national championships, before moving to the coaching ranks. Since becoming the junior division coach, Harrod has led the Lions to back-to-back national championships and recently lost the 2011 championship game to the rival Prague Panthers.

In addition to teaching a complicated game like football to a brand new group of players Harrod’s real purpose is trying to break through the spiritual darkness that has enveloped the Czech people.

“Ninety percent of the Czech people are still atheist,” Harrod says “Communism created such darkness that the light of the gospel has had a hard time breaking through in their hearts.”

Harrod also contends that communism broke the spirit of the Czech people. He has developed a character building program among his players called Srdce Lva (Heart of a Lion). Harrod says he borrowed some of the concept for Heart of a Lion from Chip Kelly and the University of Oregon football program.

The Ducks express their desire to “Win the Day.”

“The slogan communicates the ethos of their program,” Harrod says. “They talk about ‘Winning the Day’ every moment of the day in the classroom, on the football field and in society.”

Harrod encourages his players to give 111 percent effort.

“I was always taught to give 110 percent, to go above maximum effort,” Harrod says. “I learned quickly that the communists used a similar saying so that carried a negative connotation with the Czech people. I decided we could give 111 percent because it was one whole percent better.

“This is just another way to motivate the kids to make the most of life, and it tills the soil for the gospel. We work to drive home values that aren’t embraced by the larger Czech culture – courage, heart and loyalty.”

Harrod believes these three elements are vital in preparing the hearts of Czech people to receive the gospel. Harrod asks friends of AIA to “Pray for the young men to often return to the things they are hearing and that God would use them to sow seeds of redemption and changed lives.”

Even though Harrod says none of his players have come to faith, he believes two of them are close to making a decision to follow Christ. The Lions junior division quarterback, Lukas, has spent significant time with other Czech believers.

“Lukas had some great conversations about how to pray and why we need Jesus. He got some great answers, but he is still reluctant to fully embrace the gospel,” Harrod says.

David, the long-snapper for the Lions, has been going through some difficult legal situations with his family. While these circumstances have been tough on David, they have also opened the door for Harrod to engage him in faith conversations.

“I took David out for coffee for his birthday,” says Harrod. “It was a blast; we had a real conversation about God, life and the upside-downness of the gospel and faith.”

Harrod knows that he faces an up-hill struggle in relating his faith to the Czech people, but he knows that the platform of sports is a vital tool in communicating the Christian message. He also knows with the faithful prayer support of believers around the world, the message of Christ can touch the hearts of the Czech people.

By Tommy Young, AIA Communications

Black History Month Profiles: Mike Singletary

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:30:23 -1000

A second-round draft pick of the Chicago Bears in the 1981 draft, middle linebacker Mike Singletary received the AIA-sponsored Bart Starr Award in 1991. In his first season with Chicago, he earned NFL defensive rookie of the year honors. He played in Super Bowl XX and his 10 Pro Bowl selections are a record for the Chicago team. His career 172 starts are second only to the late Walter Payton.

Singletary led the league as defensive player of the year three times and was team captain for 10 years. He ranked first or second on the team in tackles in each of his final 11 seasons. He was part of six NFC Central Division title teams and made the playoffs seven times. He retired in 1993 and was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1998 and to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1995.

He joined the staff of the Minnesota Vikings in 2011 as special assistant to Head Coach Leslie Frazier, a former Bears teammate, coaching the linebackers. Previously he had been head coach of the San Francisco 49ers from 2008-10 after coaching linebackers for three seasons there and for two seasons in Baltimore. He is known throughout the league as a man of deep faith.

Black History Month Profiles: Rafer Johnson

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 08:35:45 -1000

As a standout in four sports at California’s Kingsburg High School, Rafer Johnson made the decision to focus on the decathlon after seeing Olympian Bob Mathias compete in the event. Channeling his talent in speed and agility, he won the California Junior AAU decathlon championship as a senior, and finished third in the national AAU championships.

While he earned a scholarship in football, Johnson opted to concentrate on the decathlon at UCLA, a decision that would prove wise. As a freshman, he won the Pan American Games in 1955, then scored a world record at a meet in California. He won his first national championship in the event in 1956 and earned silver at the Melbourne Olympics despite being injured. He won the event in the first U.S.-Soviet Union dual meet in 1958, then sat out most of 1959 with a back injury. At the 1960 Olympics, Johnson won his event and captured gold, setting a then-Olympic record of 8,392 points in the process.

He was named the 1960 Associated Press Athlete of the Year and won the Sullivan Award for outstanding American amateur athlete of the year, the first African American to do so. Following his track career, Johnson tried his hand in acting, then became a TV sportcaster before becoming involved with politics. He worked on the presidential campaign for Robert Kennedy and helped capture Kennedy’s assassin while at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. He served on the President’s Commission on Olympic Sports in the 1970s and is a member of the National Track and Field and U.S. Olympic Halls of Fame. Johnson was chosen to carry the Olympic torch, lighting the flame to open the 1984 games in Los Angeles. He published his autobiography, “The Best That I Can Be” in 1999, and is involved in Special Olympics in California.

Super Bowl Breakfast Features Tributes to Several NFL Greats

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 04:20:52 -1000

Athletes in Action’s 2012 Super Bowl Breakfast featured a host of National Football League legends and current players but with a twist – all were pointing to their faith in Jesus Christ as the key to life.

Former San Francisco 49ers tight end Brent Jones emceed the 25^th annual breakfast, held at the Indiana State Fairgrounds on Saturday, Feb. 4, the day before the New York Giants and the New England Patriots took the field at Lucas Oil Stadium for the Super Bowl.

Current and former Indianapolis Colts players Jeff Saturday and Tarik Glenn – who co-chaired the event – and Hunter Smith, a member of the host committee, shared first about their football experiences. Marine Corporal Josh Bleill inspired the audience with his story about losing both legs in Iraq in 2006 when his Humvee was struck by an explosive device. He now serves as community spokesman for the Colts after an encounter with the team at Walter Reed Medical Center after their Super Bowl win in 2007.

Jerry Reese, general manager for the Giants, also spoke briefly about the role of the AIA chaplain in the team’s growth.

Recalling “the catch”

A special guest for the morning was David Tyree, formerly with the New York Giants and the receiver of “the catch” made famous in Super Bowl XLII when the Giants and Patriots played in Arizona. Tyree recalled that 32-yard desperation pass on the Giants’ final drive in more spiritual terms.

“I was probably the least likely candidate to be in position for Super Bowl 42 to have any kind of impact… as a special teams guy,” Tyree said. “The night before the game was probably the most amazing moment I had. I was praying with someone I call my spiritual mother, and she said to me, ‘David, God is quickening your feet, giving you hinds feet like the feet of a deer to jump high; the Lord is putting a spiritual glue on your hands.’ The last thing she said to me is, ‘God is going to give you the big play.’

“I believe that God speaks however He wants to speak, and I received that word from God and said, ‘Thank you.’ But I never knew it would amount to Super Bowl history.”

Tyree retired in 2009 after a season with the Baltimore Ravens.

Ravens Coach John Harbaugh attended as well and was featured in an interview segment with longtime friend Mark Householder, current president of AIA. Harbaugh spoke of his four years with the Ravens, the unique experience of playing against his brother, Jim, head coach of the 49ers, and the close call that changed the Ravens’ path to the big game.

“It’s hard to describe, and you don’t know what to expect, but really what I felt was an unbelievable peace,” says Harbaugh about the last-minute loss in the AFC championship. “Right then when Lee (Evans) dropped the pass and Billy (Cundiff) missed the kick, I felt something that was an incredible peace, what I refer to as a peace that is really unknown to mankind, beyond understanding. That’s a peace we prayed for as a team throughout the season.”

Harbaugh also spoke highly of Jim Caldwell, former head coach of the Indianapolis Colts and now the quarterback coach for the Ravens, who kept his commitment to the breakfast and served on the host committee.

Celebrating silver

In celebration of the 25^th year for the breakfast, several former Bart Starr Award winners were interviewed by Jones – also a Starr Award winner – including Anthony Munoz and Troy Vincent. Vincent shared about the honor he was unable to receive in person, having been home for the funeral of his grandfather on the day he was honored in 2004.

“To be a recipient of the Bart Starr Award and knowing what those individuals mean and what Bart means is truly a humbling experience,” Vincent said.

“You start to really go down memory lane of all those individuals that God puts into your life that really model character, that allow us to achieve certain things,” Munoz said. “I know firsthand it’s not just myself. I thought about having a chance at USC to enter into my spiritual journey and let God build character into our lives.

“Knowing about Bart Starr on the football field and as a person, I am still very thankful to be part of this great fraternity. Having that award after your name brings a responsibility to be an upstanding citizen and live a life of character. It holds you accountable.”

The celebration continued with a special interview segment of Starr, Green Bay Packers legendary quarterback, Hall of Famer and MVP of Super Bowl I and II, and his wife Cherry. Mrs. Starr enjoyed sharing some funny moments of their nearly 58-year marriage, including their elopement while in college at two different schools in Alabama.

The highlight of the breakfast was the presentation of the Bart Starr Award to London Fletcher, linebacker for the Washington Redskins. Fletcher thanked his peers for the honor and spoke of the importance of using his platform for God’s glory and message.

The event ended with Jones explaining how to become a Christian and asking the 2,000 attendees to fill out comment cards indicating any faith decisions they made at the breakfast.

By Teresa Young, AIA Communications

Photos: Top: Brent Jones (right) interviews Bart and Cherry Starr (photo by Mary Dixon, AIA)

Bottom: David Tyree (left) talks about “the catch” with Brent Jones (photo by Dave Perlow, AIA)

Black History Month Profiles: Jenny Johnson Jordan

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 09:15:20 -1000

The daughter of Olympic decathlete Rafer Johnson, Jenny Jordan is a recognizable face on the professional beach volleyball scene, competing in more than 100 events worldwide.

Jordan played college volleyball at UCLA, starting for three seasons and serving as captain for two seasons. She earned All-American honors and got her degree in communication studies. From there, Jordan took her talent to a more sandy arena, starting her pro beach volleyball career in 1996 with one event with Katy Eldridge. She then competed for two seasons on the four-person circuit with Gabrielle Reece, Stephanie Cox and Annett Davis, helping the team to the title at the 1997 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships in Los Angeles. That year, she also began partnering with Davis on two-person events, culminating in the finals in Orlando. The pair qualified for the 2000 Olympics in Sydney and placed fifth at the games.

In her storied career, Jordan finished first 10 times in the U.S. and 2 times internationally, including 7 times on the AVP tour. In 2004, she and Davis became the U.S. team with most career tournaments played together. Jordan and her husband, Kevin, a former ULCA football player, have two children and live in Pennsylvania, where they work with Athletes in Action’s pro ministry.

Photo by AVB: Jordan, left, with longtime volleyball partner Annett Davis.

Black History Month Profiles: Jackie Robinson

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 10:12:52 -1000

History will forever remember Jackie Robinson as the first African American in Major League Baseball. But Robinson’s faith in God played a key role in his reaction to the racial taunts he faced when he began playing with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947.

Born to a family of sharecroppers, Jackie excelled at sports from an early age. He continued his education at UCLA and became the first athlete to win varsity letters in four sports: baseball, basketball, football and track. After two years in the U.S. Army, he was honorably discharged. In 1945, he played one season in the Negro Baseball League. In 1947, Jackie was approached to join the Dodgers and he earned National League Rookie of the Year honors with 12 homeruns and a league-leading 29 steals. In 1949, he was the NL MVP and won the batting title with a .342 average. He played 10 seasons, retiring in 1956 after leading his team to six World Series matchups and one championship pennant.

Robinson was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962. His number 42 jersey was retired throughout the MLB program in honor of his achievements. In 1997, on the 50^th anniversary of Robinson’s breaking the color barrier, the U.S. Post Office issued a commemorative stamp.

Black History Month Profiles: Tim Brown

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 09:12:45 -1000

The first wide receiver to win the Heisman Trophy, Tim Brown played his college football at Notre Dame, setting a freshman record with 28 receptions. While Brown’s Fighting Irish teams had limited success, he left his mark on their record books in all-purpose yards (5,024) and ended his career with 137 receptions.

He was selected in the 1988 NFL draft as the sixth pick of the Los Angeles Raiders. He led the league in kickoff returns, return yards and yards per return average in his first season. Over his 16-year NFL career, Brown was voted to the Pro Bowl nine times and set the Raiders’ record for games played as well as receptions, receiving yards and punt return yards. He left the Raiders in 2004 and signed on with Tampa Bay, playing one season. He signed a one-day contract with the Raiders in 2005 to retire with the team, officially signing off with 14,934 receiving yards – the second highest in NFL history – 1,094 receptions and 100 touchdown catches.

Brown was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2010 and was a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2012. He is starting a NASCAR racing team as part of the Drive for Diversity Program.