Kainer Trying to Beat the Odds

Cincinnati Reds outfield prospect Carson Kainer has a chance to eventually make major league history, albeit in a manner not of his choosing. If he eventually makes the major league roster (he's in his first year with the organizaiton after being the co-MVP at the University of Texas last season), Kainer would be the first big leaguer who has undergone a kidney transplant.

The 22-year old Kainer had the surgery on September 12 and, while he is given the option to opt out of a drill during spring training camp, he is working as or near full speed.

"We feel like there's no reason, once he gets his legs under him a little bit, he can't compete and do a good job here as a professional athlete," said Grant Griesser, the Reds assistant director of player development.

Click here to read the article on the official site of Minor League Baseball, "Kainer overcoming adversity."

Andrea Jaeger Goes From Tennis Serves to Serving God

There are countless paths athletes take once their playing days are over, but the one former tennis prodigy Andrea Jaegar chose is truly unique. A few months ago, Jaeger became a Dominican nun.

That particular order does not require nuns to live in a convent. Instead, Jaeger lives in a ranch outside Durango, Colorado--the headquarters of the Little Star Foundation, a non-profit venture she founded in 1990 to help sick kids.

Click here to read about what motivated Jaegar to follow this different path in the Christian Post article, "Former Tennis Star Goes From Serving Aces to Serving God."

Ed Hearn: Looking For the Good

If you are a baseball fan, you surely remember pitcher David Cone, who was a star from the late 1980's through tne 1990's who spent most of his career with the New York Mets and the New York Yankees.

You probably don't remember the player the Mets traded to the Kansas City Royals to acquire Cone. His name is Ed Hearn, a catcher who wasn't a star--on the field.

Since walking away from baseball in 1991, Hearn has endured three kidney transplant operations and the accompanying physical and psychological suffering. Rather than wallow in misery, though, he has stepped out and become a life-changing motivational speaker. Hearn shares his story, both the upside and downside, and has a way of deeply moving people.

"This is bigger than baseball to me," Hearn says. "It's provided a sense of purpose I never had before -- not as a catcher, not as a father or husband. It has given meaning to all that I went through. Otherwise, all that suffering would have been in vain."

Click here to read Jeff Pearlman's ESPN.com feature, "The Royals' worst--and best--trade."

Integrity on the PGA Tour

Joe Durant is a professional golfer that a lot of people don't know. After you read this, you'll probably agree with me that we should all know him.

Like many professional athletes, Durant’s generosity is not limited to his own community. Last year when Durant placed sixth in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, he donated his entire winnings, $248,000, toward Hurricane Katrina Relief.

While many professional athletes make the headlines for their inappropriate behavior, there are many more professional athletes who are guided by their faith and who consistently live according to strong moral, ethical, and family values. Whether on tour or at home, Joe Durant is one of those down-to-earth guys who represents the world of sports with class, character and integrity.

Click here to read the Ethics Daily article: "Integrity on Tour and Beyond."

From the Battlefield to the Baseball Field

Cooper Brennan get choked up when he arrived at the San Diego Padres' traning camp and saw a uniform with his name on the back.

"I still can't believe it," Brannan says. "Look at this. They gave me a jersey with my name on it. Just seeing the uniform, the number, being in the same organization as (four-time Cy Young winner) Greg Maddux. I'm living a dream.

"How can you not get emotional?"

Fifteen months ago Brannan was fighting a war in Iraq. He was on the front line as a corporal and infantry team leader for the U.S. Marine Corps. He lost count of the number of friends who left Iraq in body bags and were dismembered in combat.

Brennan will be in the low minors this year, but considering where he's come from, I'm pretty sure he won't mind.

Click here to read more in the USA Today story, "Marine begins new fight."

Penguins' Laraque: Tough On the Ice, Good Guy Off

Pittsburgh Penguins' winger Georges Laraque has the size (6'3", 250 pounds) and ethnicity (black) more befitting a Steelers player than one who make a living on the ice. His intimidating presence in uniform is the opposite of his personality the rest of the time.

While playing for the Edmonton Oilers, the Montreal native won that organization's community service award three times, and he hasn't changed a bit since arriving in the Steel City.

I'm a Christian, and I thank God for giving me the chance to be in the NHL and the way of thanking Him is not just by saying it but acting it," Laraque said. "We have a lot of power as athletes in the community and why not take advantage of the fact that by seeing one kid that's sick, you can make his day. That's what drives me, that's what pushes me to be a better person. I just love doing that stuff."

Now folks, THAT's a role model. Click here to read more about this special man in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review article, "Pens' Laraque tough as nails on ice."

Lester Bouncing Back From Lymphoma

Jon Lester, a pitcher with the Boston Red Sox, made an immediate splash in his rookie season last year, winning his first five decisions for Boston. Soon thereafter, however, he was diagnosed with anaplastic large cell lymphoma and began chemotherapy treatment.

Lester is now cancer free and working his way back into the rotation. He took the mound for the first time in a "B" game on Monday and his comeback appears to be on track.

Click here to read the ESPN.com story, "Lester OK in first game after cancer treatments."

Braves' Escobar Reunites With Father

Three years ago, Atlanta Braves shortstop prospect Yunel Escobar escaped from Cuba on a small, crowded boat with the dream of playing major league baseball in the United States. On Saturday, his father saw him in uniform for the first time. Escobar's father and sister arrived in the U. S. in January, but they are still missing one important family member.

Click here to read more about Escobar's journey from Cuba to the cusp of a major league career and how he is working to help his family in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution article, "Emotional day for Cuban player: Braves' Escobar makes father proud."

Spurs' Finley Happy to Give Time To Sick Kids

Instead of staying home and resting after a hectic road trip, Michael Finley of the San Antonio Spurs kept his committment to visit a San Antonio Ronald McDonald House.

Afterwards, Finley said:

“My visit is important for this organization and for me,” Finley said. “It makes me realize how blessed I am as a role model and an athlete. It’s a great opportunity to be a ray of sunshine for these kids.”

Click here to read "Finley Brings Smiles To Ronald McDonald House" from the Spurs' official website.

Dropping Down Picks Sillman's Career Up

Mike Sillman was, by his own description, "just another right-handed guy in the bullpen" at the University of Nebraska. His coaches suggested he try dropping down and throwing sidearm but there was a catch; they didn't know how to coach it. Through trial and error, Sillman found a groove that led him to become the closer for the Cornhuskers and get drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals. He'll still be in the minors this year but appears to be on track to reach the majors.

Click here to read more about Sillman's path from Nebraska to the defending World Champions spring training camp in "Dropping down has Sillman looking up" on the Cardinals' official website.

Now THAT'S A Teammate

You hear about teammates having each other's backs, but here's a story about one who had not only his former teammate's back but also his kidney.

Ron Springs, a former running back for the Dallas Cowboys, needed a kidney transplant. His son, Shaun Springs, is currently a defensive back for the Washington Redskins and offered to give his father a kidney. Not wanting to jeapordize Shaun's career, Ron turned him down.

That's when Everson Walls, a former defensive back for the Cowboys and teammate of Ron Springs, stepped up and offered one of his. Springs accepted the offer and the surgery was completed today. Please join me in praying for the health of both men, especially Springs.

Click here to read the Associated Press story "Everson Walls donates kidney to ex-teammate Springs." There is a link within that piece to a story by ESPN's Gene Garber that delves deeper into the story of their friendship.

Villanueva Makes Bald Beautiful

That lead is not a fashion statement. It refers to something much more important. Charlie Villanueva, a forward for the Milwaukee Bucks, suffers from alopecia, a disease that results in hair loss and baldness. It kicked in when he was 10 and, well, you know how mean school kids can be. Villanueva is now helping youngsters deal with the condition through the National Alopecia Areata Foundation.

Click here to read about it from the ESPN.com story "Villanueva connects with kids through rare disease."

Three Strikes And You're Out--In Football?

That's a joint proposal from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and NFL players' union executive director Gene Upshaw. The result of a summit meeting in Indianapolis, management and labor both expressed the desire to improve the image of the league by punishing players convicted of crimes three times by banning them from the playing field for life.


As the Associated Press article points out, the number of players with a rap sheet is still a small minority, but also a very visible one.

It appears the league and players association wants to make their intolerance of criminal activity just as visible.

That's good news.

Click here to read "NFL Union: Players Want to Stem Violence."

Poised To Be the Youngest Player Ever in the NFL Draft

That's the position 19 year old defensive end Amobi Okoye finds himself in these days. He just finished up his appearance at the NFL's annual meat market, also known as The Combine.

Okoye is used to the title of "youngest player" since, as a 16-year old college freshman at Louisville, he was the youngest college football player in the nation. His success on the field allowed him to become the youngest to play in the Senior Bowl last month.

He was pretty successful off the field, graduating with a degree in psychology.

Atlanta Falcons coach Bobby Petrino, Okoye's coach at Louisville, said simply, "He's ready to play."

Click here to read about Okoye's journey from a child prodigy in Nigeria to the cusp of becoming a teenage millionaire in the Jacksonville Times Union's story "Age is odd stat for DT Okoye."

Still Perfect Over 50 Years Later

This story really tickled me. On Friday night at the Yogi Berra museum (yes, there really is such a thing) at Montclair State University, there was a showing of the only known film of the NBC broadcast of Don Larsen's perfect game in the 1956 World Series. This is still the only no-hitter or perfect game in baseball postseaon history, and Vin Scully did the play-by-play (he's still going strong working Dodgers games).

Here's what I thought was really cool. This was the first time that Larsen or his catcher that day, Berra, had ever seen the entire game. Even better, the event was held as a fundraiser with funds going to Larsen's charitible foundation and the endowment that Berra is gathering to fund an expansion of the museum.

Click here to read the New York Times story "Still Perfect After All Those Years," about the event and the story of how this film was one of the few from that era of television that still exists.