The PFB Sports Survey is a feature here at Prayers For Blowouts where we throw a few sports related questions at some of the most notable voices among Christian authors, pastors, musicians, and unicyclists to see if they like sports as much as we do.

Today’s spotlight is on Brant Hansen, who was once booed by 17,000 fans at a home basketball game .

Brant Hansen is a syndicated morning radio host for WAY-FM and other affiliates in 23 states around the country.  A University of Illinois Alum, Brant was just given the Industry Achievement Award for Christian Radio Personality of the Year by Radio and Records Magazine. He was also recently injured playing electric football against New England Patriots Fullback Heath Evans. You can see that video, and keep up with everything else in Brant’s life, on his personal blog at www.branthansen.typepad.com.

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1. What number best describes the role sports play in your life on a scale of 1 to 10?

BH: At least an 8.  When my team loses, I don’t cry anymore.  In public.  I’m a HUGE St. Louis Cardinals fan, and it’s no a coincidence that we live within literal eyeshot of the Cardinals’ spring training home here in Jupiter, Florida.   I dreamt of making it to spring training when I was a kid in Illinois, now we live here.  Thank the Lord.

2. Rank your 3 overall favorite sports, college or pro.

BH: 1.  College hoops, 2.  MLB, 3.  NFL

3. What is the one team that you root for more passionately than any other, and is there a team that you hate, maybe a little too much?

BH: I hate the Chicago Cubs.  It’s not personal or anything, it’s just that I, personally, hate each and every Cub, as a person.  In a good way.

4. Do you play fantasy sports?

BH: I usually have three fantasy football teams.  I’m horrible at it.  I’ve written about this on my blog, how even in my “fantasy” realm, I’m a loser.  What a wonderful escape from reality.

5. What is the most memorable sporting event you have ever attended in person?

BH: Oh man — great question.  I was on-floor emcee for Illinois basketball for some big games against Michigan St., Indiana, etc.  That was sweet, except for when I was booed by 17,000 for playing stupid games during time-outs.  I had no control over these stupid games.  I wish, in retrospect, I would have announced that.

I’ve also done P.A. work for the St. Louis Cardinals and New York Mets in spring training.  It’s a dream come true to announce guys like Pujols, or “Meeting at the plate with the lineup cards…Bob Gibson for the Cardinals…”

6. What is the best highlight and/or worst lowlight of your sports playing career as a child or as an adult?

BH: I SO loved baseball that I played it for eight years.  Eight years — and NO HITS.  EVER.  I can’t see very well.  I kept playing, kept swinging — never once got a hit.

I hit a fly ball once off a very tough pitcher in Little League named Tricia.  The crowd gasped — I remember that.  And then the centerfielder caught it.  That was my highlight.

7. If you could change one thing about sports, what would it be?

BH: I’d seriously eliminate college athletic scholarships.  Seriously.  I know that sounds drastic, but these are, ostensibly, educational institutions, and athletics should be a mere adjunct.  I agree with Indiana’s Professor Murray Sperber, who says NCAA sports are used as distractions from the declining quality of undergraduate education.

It’s a long argument, but that’s where I am.

8. Do you have an opinion on Christian athletes who, without being prompted, talk about their faith in post-game interviews?

BH: People can sniff out fakery.  When it’s natural, I have no problem with it.  When a person goes through a traumatic experience — like a Super Bowl — it’s natural to try to put things into a larger context, so I can understand the impulse.

I’d LOVE to see more guys talk about it in the losing locker rooms.  That would be far more interesting.

9. High school gym class…your favorite 45 minutes of the day or the source of countless nightmares and embarrassments?

BH: I agree with Seinfeld about P.E.:  It’s like you have geometry, biology, then English, then Lord of the Flies for an hour, then off to typing class…

10. Sports are often the whipping boy of pastors and clergy because so much passion, money, time, and energy is poured into them. Do you think this criticism is valid, or are sports okay as a diversion from the stresses of life.

BH: Sports are organic to human life.  Shoot, anything can become an idol, and sports is, for many.  But so are many good things.  One can make an idol of Christian knowledge accrual, or family, for that matter.  Good things are often disordered.

I think sports is criticized often because it’s sometimes in direct conflict with the financial and time-grabbing goals of some forms of institutional church.  The little kingdom of sports can be in conflict with other little kingdoms.  Is that incendiary enough…?

11. If you had to compete against other radio DJs, in which of these 5 competitions would you have the best chance of winning? 5-mile run, 18 holes of golf, free throw shooting contest, arm wrestling match, or a game of bowling.

BH: I don’t enjoy running races, but I’ve done a 5k each year for the radio station.  Last year I ran it in 20 minutes, which, by radio DJ standards, is pretty fast.

I could probably out arm-wrestle other DJs.  I often dream of being given the chance.  No one is asking.

I can’t see very well, so I couldn’t out-shoot or out-hit anybody at anything.  If there was a competition, in a batting cage, at getting beaned a lot — I could win that.

12. What is your favorite sports movie of all-time?

BH: Gladiator.  And maybe that one movie about the Padres with Gary Coleman in it.  I kept waiting for him to say “Whatchoo talkin’ bout,” and he never did, so that was kind of disappointing.

Thanks for playing along, Brant!

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You can click here for an exhaustive (but not exhausting) list of everyone who’s been featured as a PFB Sports Survey participant.

If you’d like to be considered for the PFB Sports Survey, or know someone who should be, send along a name and email address to prayersforblowouts(at)gmail(dot)com.

The PFB Sports Survey is a feature here at Prayers For Blowouts where we throw a few sports related questions at some of the most notable voices among Christian authors, pastors, musicians, and astrologists to see if they like sports as much as we do.

Today’s spotlight is on Kent Shaffer, who ran exactly one pass pattern in his football career…and it didn’t turn out so well.

Kent Shaffer is the founder of ChurchRelevance.com, an online resource created to inspire and train ministers to be more relevant and effective. He also co-owns BombayCreative.com, a ministry-oriented design firm, and AcreScout.com, a commercial listings site.
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1. What number best describes the role sports play in your life on a scale of 1 to 10?

KS: These days it is a 4. I watch some on TV but not much. In high school, it was an 8 because I spent quite a bit of time playing soccer and football and running track.

2. Rank your 3 overall favorite sports, college or pro.

KS: A. Track & Field (particularly sprints and hurdles), B. Football, C. MMA – Honorable Mentions: Ultimate Frisbee and Disc Golf.

3. What is the one team that you root for more passionately than any other, and is there a team that you hate, maybe a little too much?

KS: I am a big Virginia Tech football fan (I used to live in VA), but a close second is the Cincinnati Bengals (my birth city). I have little patience for teams with overly obnoxious fans.

4. Do you play fantasy sports?

KS: No, because I live in reality.

5. What is the most memorable sporting event you have ever attended in person?

KS: During my senior year, I ran the 300m hurdles a track meet at Owasso High School (Owasso, OK). It was an especially surreal race. Coming off of the 200m turn into the final 100m, time seemed to slow down. The thuds of the track spikes were clear, and four of us were closely paced. It was intense and thrilling.

(and I won a medal)

6. What is the best highlight and/or worst lowlight of your sports playing career as a child or as an adult?

KS: The highlight of my sports career was my senior year of track and field running hurdles. The lowlight was when my football coach had me run a deep route during football practice and joked “Don’t let the ball hit you in the head.” As I ran, I thought… “Don’t let the ball hit you in the head.” “Don’t let the ball hit you in the head.” And then it hit me… in the head. It was a first and, fortunately, a last time.

7. If you could change one thing about sports, what would it be?

KS: Playoffs for college football.

8. Do you have an opinion on Christian athletes who, without being prompted, talk about their faith in post-game interviews?

KS: I think it is admirable if sincere.

9. High school gym class…your favorite 45 minutes of the day or the source of countless nightmares and embarrassments?

KS: I did not have high school gym class. But middle school was awesome. We played hockey on asphalt. It was rough, and one student even suffered nerve damage. But it was fun.

10. Sports are often the whipping boy of pastors and clergy because so much passion, money, time, and energy is poured into them. Do you think this criticism is valid, or are sports okay as a diversion from the stresses of life.

KS: It all comes down to the heart attitude and priorities of sports fans. If you make sports #1 in your life, you should be worried about what God thinks and not the pastor’s opinion.

11. If you had to compete against other designers/marketers, in which of these 5 competitions would you have the best chance of winning? 5-mile run, 18 holes of golf, free throw shooting contest, arm wrestling match, or a game of bowling.

KS: Can we make the 5-mile run a sprint?

12. What is your favorite sports movie of all-time?

KS: Prefontaine.

Thanks for playing along, Kent!

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You can click here for an exhaustive (but not exhausting) list of everyone who’s been featured as a PFB Sports Survey participant.

If you’d like to be considered for the PFB Sports Survey, or know someone who should be, send along a name and email address to prayersforblowouts(at)gmail(dot)com.

The PFB Sports Survey is a feature here at Prayers For Blowouts where we throw a few sports related questions at some of the most notable voices among Christian authors, pastors, musicians, and candy-stripers to see if they like sports as much as we do.

Today’s spotlight is on Jordan Green, who still needs to explain to us what ‘pickleball’ is.

Jordan Green lives in Phoenix, Arizona.  He is the editor of Burnside Writers Collective and of The Ankeny Briefcase, an infrequently published compilation of short stories from unpublished writers, co-edited by Donald Miller.  Besides editing, Jordan Green has also worked as a courier, a barista at a large coffee purveyor, and as a US Army Counterintelligence Agent, among other things. He occasionally posts here as a PFB Contributor, and more frequently at The Burnside Writers Blog.

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1. What number best describes the role sports play in your life on a scale of 1 to 10?

JG: 9.  It’s not the real sports, and it’s not even fantasy sports.  It’s the magical world of WhatIfSports.com that has me hooked.  I have four teams overall: three college basketball teams in Hoops Dynasty and the Portland Tall Firs in Hardball Dynasty.  A few months ago, three of my teams suffered devastating defeats all within a week, and I realized I was getting a little too upset over computer-generated athletes and play-by-plays.

2. Rank your 3 overall favorite sports, college or pro.

JG: College football is my favorite.  Ducks football on Saturdays has me glued to the television when I’m not grilling meats or opening beer.  College and pro basketball are next.  You can’t beat the NCAA Tournament, and the Trail Blazers are the only professional sports team within three hours drive. (apologies to the Portland Lumberjax of the NLL, but who are you kidding?) [editor's note: Jordan took the Sports Survey when he was living in Portland, OR]

3. What is the one team that you root for more passionately than any other, and is there a team that you hate, maybe a little too much?

JG: I’ve rooted for the Blazers the longest, but Oregon football draws my most ardent support.  It’s just the nature of college football…the whole pageantry behind getting up on Saturday, buying the kielbasa at Otto’s on Woodstock, and cracking that first Terminal Gravity at kickoff.  College football is so fun to live and die by.

Hating a team is really all about haves and have-nots.  Truly hating a team is about envy: you have to suffer defeat repeatedly at their hands, and region factors in heavily.  The Los Angeles Lakers used to fit that description, but I think the team I hate most is the Washington Huskies.  Growing up, the Huskies were dominant on Saturdays, and the Ducks were awful.  Nowadays, the Ducks are better, but the Huskies still sit up there in their overrated city, wearing their stupid purple and gold, hiring coaches like Rich Neuheisel, and recruiting players like this.

4. Do you play fantasy sports?

JG: Besides the aforementioned WhatIfSports, I do play fantasy football.  I typically have one team with the league I play in with my buddies, and one for the Burnside League.  I’ve never won a championship, but I always finish well.  I’m like the Utah Jazz of fantasy football.

5. What is the most memorable sporting event you have ever attended in person?

JG: Franklin High School versus Benson High School, mens soccer.  It was my junior year, and we were tied when our best player made this incredible run, weaving through four defenders and popping in the winning goal with 5 seconds left to play.

6. What is the best highlight and/or worst lowlight of your sports playing career as a child or as an adult?

JG: I was obsessed with Little League baseball, and I always thought I was a good player.  It all culminated with two years on the All-Star team.

The problem was, my coach didn’t agree.  In two years and 6 games, I played three and a half innings in left field.  He even put me in the bullpen to warm up and pitch, then brought in a kid completely cold in relief.  I gave up baseball after the second year.  And while I don’t think the coach was warranted in leaving me out, I wish I’d stuck with it…summers at the ballpark were beautiful.

7. If you could change one thing about sports, what would it be?

JG: This may sound weird, but I wish they’d restructure the NHL.  Cut it down to 16 teams focused around major hockey-centric cities, boil the talent pool down so every line is spectacular, and I’d be hooked.

I’d divide it up like this.  East Coast: New Jersey, Boston, New York Rangers, New York, Philadelphia.  Northeast: Montreal, Toronto, Pittsburgh, Chicago.  Midwest: Detroit, Minnesota, Edmonton, Calgary.  West Coast: Vancouver, Los Angeles, San Jose, Colorado.  That’s all…problem solved.  This is a Big 4 sport once again.

8. Do you have an opinion on Christian athletes who, without being prompted, talk about their faith in post-game interviews?

JG: I would hope it would come from a good heart.  I tend to think evangelism is best done with personal relationships, but an athlete who’s a believer should be free to communicate the largest part of his or her life.

9. High school gym class…your favorite 45 minutes of the day or the source of countless nightmares and embarrassments?

JG: Not my favorite, but I always appreciated a good game of pickleball, team handball, and, later, hoops.

10. Sports are often the whipping boy of pastors and clergy because so much passion, money, time, and energy is poured into them. Do you think this criticism is valid, or are sports okay as a diversion from the stresses of life.

JG: The values team sports teach us are immeasurable, but there is a danger zone.  For one, I think the horrors of nationalism are very apparent in fandom.  Look at the violence between hooligans in England, or the crazy pride in SEC football.  Or, alternately, look at my disparaging comments toward Seattleites above.  The best part of sports is illustrated by boxers who hug at the end of a bout, or NHL players shaking hands at the end of a playoff round…these guys are killing each other non-stop, but in the end they know it’s a game.

11. If you had to compete against other writers/editors, in which of these 5 competitions would you have the best chance of winning? 5-mile run, 18 holes of golf, free throw shooting contest, arm wrestling match, or a game of bowling.

JG: Wii Bowling or real bowling?  I once rolled a 243 in one of those, and I won’t say which.

I’m not particularly strong, but I’m good at arm wrestling.  I had a manager at a restaurant where I worked who was some kind of champion.  It’s all about technique.

12. What is your favorite sports movie of all-time?

JG: The Natural.  That music gets me going.
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You can click here for an exhaustive (but not exhausting) list of everyone who’s been featured as a PFB Sports Survey participant.

If you’d like to be considered for the PFB Sports Survey, or know someone who should be, send along a name and email address to prayersforblowouts(at)gmail(dot)com.

The PFB Sports Survey is a regular feature here at Prayers For Blowouts where we throw a few sports related questions at some of the most notable voices among Christian authors, pastors, musicians, and beet farmers to see if they like sports as much as we do.

Today’s spotlight is on Chip MacGregor who, judging from his fantasy sports answer, thinks most of you need to get a life.

As an agent for MacGregor Literary, Chip has secured more than 1,000 book deals for authors with all of the major publishers in both CBA and ABA. He has written more than two-dozen titles, including two books that hit #1 on the bestseller lists in their category. A popular writer’s conference speaker, Chip has presented workshops at more than 100 locations, spoken at colleges and universities, and is frequently invited to speak to writers groups around the country on the topics of writing and publishing. You can keep tabs on what’s going on in the publishing world at his blog, ChipMacGregor.com.

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1. What number best describes the role sports play in your life on a scale of 1 to 10?

CM: I’m probably an 8. I love football (Oregon Ducks on the college side, Green Bay Packers on the NFL side), and am passionate about baseball (I could probably watch a baseball game every day of my life and never get bored). Sports are the only sort of “reality” TV that’s worth watching, in my view.

2. Rank your 3 overall favorite sports, college or pro.

CM: 1. NFL  2. MLB  3. College football

3. What is the one team that you root for more passionately than any other, and is there a team that you hate, maybe a little too much?

CM: Oregon Ducks (so I hate the Washington Huskies).Also the Green Bay Packers (so I hate the Minnesota Vikings) and the Atlanta Braves (so I hate the Mets).

4. Do you play fantasy sports?

CM: Nope. It’s not real. The guys who get really involved always seem to need lives.

5. What is the most memorable sporting event you have ever attended in person?

CM: A 13-inning game between the Atlanta Braves and the Colorado Rockies, won by the Rockies 7-6. Both sides used up all their pitchers, so backup catcher Brent Mayne worked a scoreless inning to win the game, becoming the first position player to be a winning pitcher in nearly 40 years. It was the first time Mayne had ever pitched at any level, and the Rockies’ skipper called on him because he figured “a catcher was used to throwing that distance.” Mayne wasn’t supposed to play that day, due to a sore wrist. A great game — one team used 22 players, the other 23. It lasted more than 4 hours.

6. What is the best highlight and/or worst lowlight of your sports playing career as a child or as an adult?

CM: Best highlight: hitting a home run in high school. The only time I ever hit one, when it came off the bat, the pitcher hung his head and the catcher said, “That one’s gone.”

7. If you could change one thing about sports, what would it be?

CM: Abolish the BCS and have major college football teams have a playoff, just like every other sport in college (and high school, and the pros).

I’d also get rid of the offsides rule in soccer. I find soccer completely boring, of course, but if they didn’t have an offsides rule, one team could station guys in front of the net all day, if they wanted to. The other team would be forced to either defend them or ignore them and focus on scoring themselves. Either way, it’s a change that would make a dull game more interesting. I’ve always said if soccer had been invented by Americans, it would be a better sport — no offsides, bigger nets, more scoring.

8. Do you have an opinion on Christian athletes who, without being prompted, talk about their faith in post-game interviews?

CM: I do not have an opinion, except to say that in my work in publishing, I’ve had the decidedly unpleasant task of having to work with professional athletes at times, and they are all raging a–holes. Whether talking about their faith or not, every one of them is an overpaid, out-of-touch jerk who has been treated special since he hit puberty.

9. High school gym class…your favorite 45 minutes of the day or the source of countless nightmares and embarrassments?

CM: Loved high school gym class. Not as much as English class, but I still loved it.

10. Sports are often the whipping boy of pastors and clergy because so much passion, money, time, and energy is poured into them. Do you think this criticism is valid, or are sports okay as a diversion from the stresses of life.

CM: Sports are a nice diversion — and something that can often be settled. Unlike arguments over politics, history, and religion, sports eventually come to a conclusion — the teams play a game, and a winner and loser are determined. (Um… except, of course, in major college football, where we don’t want to put too much of a burden on those wonderful student athletes.)

11. If you had to compete against other agents, in which of these 5 competitions would you have the best chance of winning? 5-mile run, 18 holes of golf, free throw shooting contest, arm wrestling match, or a game of bowling.

CM: The 5-mile run. No question. Have you seen some of these agents? A walking advertisement for heart disease. I run just about every day. I’m a lousy golfer, an even worst free throw shooter, and haven’t been bowling since junior high.

12. What is your favorite sports movie of all-time?

CM: Hoosiers. I’d like to give you a baseball answer, but even the best ones don’t hold a candle to Hoosiers.

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You can click here for an exhaustive (but not exhausting) list of everyone who’s been featured as a PFB Sports Survey participant.

If you’d like to be considered for the PFB Sports Survey, or know someone who should be, send along a name and email address to prayersforblowouts(at)gmail(dot)com.

The PFB Sports Survey is a feature here at Prayers For Blowouts where we throw a few sports related questions at some of the most notable voices among Christian authors, pastors, musicians, and embalmers to see if they like sports as much as we do.

Today’s spotlight is on Ted Kluck, who deftly manages to slam Keith Olbermann, Kevin Costner, and the entire city of Ann Arbor, Michigan in the span of twelve questions.

Ted’s work has appeared on ESPN.com, and in ESPN the Magazine, and he’s the author of four books, including Facing Tyson: Fifteen Fighters, Fifteen Stories and Why We’re Not Emergent (by Two Guys Who Should Be). In 2009 he will be releasing books on topics including professional wrestling, the church, international adoption, and a collection of essays on sports from a Christian perspective. Ted has played professional indoor football, coached high school football, trained as a professional wrestler, served as a missionary and he speaks frequently to churches, schools, and writing groups.  You can check him out here for more info, and you can check out his blog to let him know how great he is.  He’s especially partial to the phrase “intellectual tour de force.”

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1. What number best describes the role sports play in your life on a scale of 1 to 10?

TK: I would have to say “9″ during the Fall, because I do have a literally and figuratively unhealthy obsession with football – literal because I can’t stop playing, and subsequently getting hurt playing, and figurative because I am unhealthily obsessed with my fantasy team, The Rusty Hilgers (see: fantasy question below).  Probably about a “5″ during the rest of the year, with a spike again in April due to the NFL Draft.

2. Rank your 3 overall favorite sports, college or pro.

TK: Pro Football, College Football, Pro Boxing

3. What is the one team that you root for more passionately than any other, and is there a team that you hate, maybe a little too much?

TK: I root pretty passionately for the Chicago Bears, the team of my youth.  I cried when Walter Payton retired, and I cried when they lost to the Dolphins in ‘85 to ruin the perfect season.  And I’m not a crier.  Living near East Lansing I’ve developed a nice hatred for the University of Michigan, but I’ve decided what I hate more than UM is the actual city of Ann Arbor, which I describe to people as “like one giant Starbucks.”

4. Do you play fantasy sports?

TK: Yes.  I swear off fantasy football every year, and every year I play in one league, with one team, The Rusty Hilgers.  Heading into Week 11 we’re 9-1 without my #1 pick, Tom Brady.  Oh, and I refer to my fantasy team as “we” as though the players are real people with whom I interact on a regular basis.

5. What is the most memorable sporting event you have ever attended in person?

TK: My first NFL game, with my dad.  We saw a preseason Indianapolis Colts game in the Hoosier Dome, where the Colts played Warren Moon and the Oilers.  I was so excited I hyperventilated at the stadium.  True story.

6. What is the best highlight and/or worst lowlight of your sports playing career as a child or as an adult?

TK: My best highlight was going, again with my dad, to Indiana University for a football recruiting visit and being toured through the facility, walked out onto the field, etc.  The lowlight was any time I have ever tried to play basketball (this includes childhood and adulthood).  I really suck.

7. If you could change one thing about sports, what would it be?

TK: I would get rid of the spread offense in college football – partly because it produces bad NFL quarterbacks, but also because I miss the I-formation.  I’ve become addicted to the classic games on the Big Ten Network.  I miss fullbacks.  I would also get rid of Keith Olbermann – partly because he produces bad television…and partly, well, really mostly for that reason alone.

8. Do you have an opinion on Christian athletes who, without being prompted, talk about their faith in post-game interviews?

TK: I want to be okay with this, but in all honesty it usually ends up being cringe-worthy and prosperity-gospelish.  I always kind of enjoy listening to non-Christian athletes talk about Jesus – Mike Tyson and Ricky Williams come to mind here.

9. High school gym class…your favorite 45 minutes of the day or the source of countless nightmares and embarrassments?

TK: Neither…I don’t remember a lot about gym, except the short, nylon shorts and the fact that little skinny guys could always do more pull ups than me.

10. Sports are often the whipping boy of pastors and clergy because so much passion, money, time, and energy is poured into them. Do you think this criticism is valid, or are sports okay as a diversion from the stresses of life.

TK: Sports are okay because they’re okay.  They’re just something fun to do with other people.  (Aside: I promised myself I would try to write this section without using the words “community” or “participatory.”)  Some of my best friends in life have come from sports, and some of the best spiritual, gospel-sharing conversations I’ve had with non-Christians have come because of sports.  And they make the church lobby just a little bit less awkward for guys.  Plus, to quote Brokeback Mountain, I can’t quit sports.

11. If you had to compete against other bloggers, in which of these 5 competitions would you have the best chance of winning? 5-mile run, 18 holes of golf, free throw shooting contest, arm wrestling match, or a game of bowling.

TK: Definitely arm wrestling…or eating

12. What is your favorite sports movie of all-time?

TK: Probably Paper Lion starring Alan Alda and Lauren Hutton, which was made in 1968 and was a great football movie because it used real football players.  Chariots of Fire is probably the best movie ever written about men and male issues.  I also love the hockey movie Slap Shot for its authenticity, and the baseball film Field of Dreams, which in Europe is alternately titled “Kevin Costner’s only good movie, ever.”

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You can click here for an exhaustive (but not exhausting) list of everyone who’s been featured as a PFB Sports Survey participant.

If you’d like to be considered for the PFB Sports Survey, or know someone who should be, send along a name and email address to prayersforblowouts(at)gmail(dot)com.

The PFB Sports Survey is a feature here at Prayers For Blowouts where we throw a few sports related questions at some of the most notable voices among Christian authors, pastors, musicians, and sidewalk artists to see if they like sports as much as we do.

Today’s spotlight is on Anne Jackson, who believes blood and broken bones = more fun.

Anne Jackson serves on staff at Cross Point Church in Nashville, Tennessee. Her articles have been published in a variety of print and online magazines, and her blog, FlowerDust.net, is ranked as one of the top blogs in Christian Leadership with hundreds of thousands of page views a month. She is an advocate for Compassion International, a down-to-earth communicator, and an all around dreamer. Anne has an unwavering passion to see the Church grow, thrive, and fulfill its purpose. Her book Mad Church Disease (Zondervan) releases in February 2009.

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1. What number best describes the role sports play in your life on a scale of 1 to 10?

AJ: I’d say a 3. Mmmm. No, a 2. I love the Dallas Mavericks and will go out of my way to watch their games. When I lived in Dallas, I can’t tell you how many times we went. I’ve loved them since I was in high school and they had the triple J’s…Other than that though, I’m out.

2. Rank your 3 overall favorite sports, college or pro.

AJ: Basketball (because I played forever and was pretty darn good), shoe shopping, and Scottish Rugby. Because that means I’m in Scotland.

3. What is the one team that you root for more passionately than any other, and is there a team that you hate, maybe a little too much?

AJ: The Mavericks…And I am not a fan of the Suns because one of my good friends is and it’s just fun to fight.

4. Do you play fantasy sports?

AJ: That’s really funny. I laugh at the boys in my office who play. Although I have kind of wanted to just randomly pick a team because I am so ignorant. It’d be funny to watch my team win after everyone puts so much effort into compiling theirs.

5. What is the most memorable sporting event you have ever attended in person?

AJ: Stanley Cup Finals, Game #5, 1999. I was a big hockey fan then. We paid $500 a piece for the tickets. The Stars ended up losing, but Mike Modano fell down and snapped his neck pretty good.

6. What is the best highlight and/or worst lowlight of your sports playing career as a child or as an adult?

AJ: Best highlight? I was one of the most accurate 3 point shooters in our district, and in West Texas – that’s a big deal. Lowlight was having a girl from Odessa Permian (the school they based Friday Night Lights off of) slam me into a brick wall while I was going up for a layup…thus ending my basketball career and I’ll probably have to have a knee replacement before I’m 35. Looking forward to that day…Gerrr…

7. If you could change one thing about sports, what would it be?

AJ: I would take away all the padding and protection we wear. So much more fun to get down, bloody and have broken bones.

8. Do you have an opinion on Christian athletes who, without being prompted, talk about their faith in post-game interviews?

AJ: I have an opinion on many things, but not this. I’d say it’s probably more important to actually live that faith and have their team members respect them than to make a generalized or over-spiritualized statement which would potentially have no accountability. But that’s just thinking out loud.

9. High school gym class…your favorite 45 minutes of the day or the source of countless nightmares and embarrassments?

AJ: Totally my favorite 45 minutes a day. Except we had 3-a-Days for basketball, so it was more like my favorite 5 hours a day.

10. Sports are often the whipping boy of pastors and clergy because so much passion, money, time, and energy is poured into them. Do you think this criticism is valid, or are sports okay as a diversion from the stresses of life.

AJ: I think that sport is a completely gray area. And I know so many pastors are fans or play fantasy or whatever, so…whipping boys they may be…but they can’t really do much about it. .

11. If you had to compete against other bloggers, in which of these 5 competitions would you have the best chance of winning? 5-mile run, 18 holes of golf, free throw shooting contest, arm wrestling match, or a game of bowling.

AJ: Oh, free throw shooting contest, hands down. BRING IT.

12. What is your favorite sports movie of all-time?

AJ: Any chick flick where a girl is running in stilettos.

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You can click here for an exhaustive (but not exhausting) list of everyone who’s been featured as a PFB Sports Survey participant.

If you’d like to be considered for the PFB Sports Survey, or know someone who should be, send along a name and email address to prayersforblowouts(at)gmail(dot)com.

The PFB Sports Survey is a feature here at Prayers For Blowouts where we throw a few sports related questions at some of the most notable voices among Christian authors, pastors, musicians, and butchers to see if they like sports as much as we do.

Today’s spotlight is on Mark Scandrette, a man who’s been terrorized by drunken Raiders fans at 7am on gameday and lived to tell about it.

Mark is an author and speaker who recently toured the country with Tony Jones and Doug Pagitt on the Church Basement Roadshow. His most recent book is called “Soul Graffiti: Making a Life in the Way of Jesus“. You can find him online at MarkScandrette.com.

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1. What number best describes the role sports play in your life on a scale of 1 to 10?

MS: It depends on how you define sports. If by sports you mean the big three or four (football, baseball, basketball and soccer) then I’m not much of a sports fan. I watch the Superbowl almost every year, but I’m that guy who finds out who is playing two days before the game—and I mostly watch to see the commercials and the half-time show.

2. Rank your 3 overall favorite sports, college or pro.

MS: I don’t know how to answer this without sounding like the nerdy non-sports guy. Watching sports and enjoying the game and sports talk is one of those things that I think you learn from your elders while growing up. I have this theory that many people become sports fans because they associate watching sports with a cherished memory of quality time spent with their fathers. In my family we didn’t watch much sports. Instead my father took me on hikes and bike rides—and as a kid these were the special times that made me feel close to my father. So as an adult I love to hike and bike—and I take my kids on many hikes and bike rides as well.

One of my personal philosophies is that I want to be a participant in what’s happening rather than being a spectator. I would rather play sports than watch sports, much like I would rather make art than view it, or follow the teachings of Jesus rather than talk about Christianity. I don’t know how consistent I am with this philosophy, but I try. Jesus seemed to have his fans and his followers—and if you could only choose one, I think its better to be a follower than merely a fan.

I think we all find things we enjoy and I’m glad that many people enjoy watching the drama of sports. I love watching the Olympics with my kids. During the games this summer we were on a two week vacation, and we watched the Olympics every night.

3. What is the one team that you root for more passionately than any other, and is there a team that you hate, maybe a little too much?

MS: I went to the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa, so of course I am a Bama football fan—Roll Tide Role! I went to every home game they played the two years I was at the university (‘88-‘90. But in general I am the fairest of fair weather fans– though I can really get into the World Series or the Superbowl when my hometown team is playing. Then I’ll invite friends over and watch the game every night of the series or championship. When I was a kid I watched Chicago Cubs baseball with my grandfather—so the Cubs have a special place in my heart. (I don’t even know if they are still a team).

I have a bit of attitude about the Oakland Raiders, but only because I was once on a 7 a.m. Sunday morning flight from San Diego to Oakland with some drunken Raider’s fans. They were all painted and dressed up in Raider gear and got into a fistfight with opposing team fans while the plane was in the air. We nearly had to hold them down until we landed and the police escorted them off the plane. It was scary.

4. Do you play fantasy sports?

MS: Nope.

5. What is the most memorable sporting event you have ever attended in person?

MS: Five or six years ago my kids were in a Barry Bonds Junior Giants summer baseball league. We would often get free tickets to see the Giants play and it was really something to see Bonds hit a homerun with such power—despite later revelations about performance enhancing drugs.

I also went to the ’89 Iron bowl game between U of A and Auburn. Alabama lost and I remember thousands of deeply disappointed and depressed fans filing out of the stadium. You know that in Alabama football is religion—so it was like the disciples of Jesus on the night of his crucifixion.

6. What is the best highlight and/or worst lowlight of your sports playing career as a child or as an adult?

MS: I hit puberty quite early and when I was 12 years old I was almost six feet tall—so this gave me a certain advantage as the center on my basketball team. I use to run around the house jumping up to palm the ceiling to practice my lay-up jump. (At age 12 I could grab the rim when I made my lay ups). One night while I was getting into the shower I tried to jump up and touch the bathroom ceiling (which was the tallest ceiling in our house) but on the way up I slammed my hand on the bottom of a marble counter. I played that season with a broken hand. So that was the best and the worst.

I was the second best arm-wrestler in the cafeteria of my high school. I beat all the football players and weightlifters. The only person I couldn’t beat was a coon hunting redneck kid who was 19 years old with unnatural strength and demon eyes.

7. If you could change one thing about sports, what would it be?

MS: The abuse of performance enhancing drugs. My kids have been very disappointed in the athletes they have admired who have been deceptive in the use of these—and we’ve spent a lot of time as a family talking about this injustice.

8. Do you have an opinion on Christian athletes who, without being prompted, talk about their faith in post-game interviews?

MS: I watched several Olympians this summer make gestures giving credit to God for their performance during the games—even when they did not achieve medal status. It seems a little peculiar to give credit to God when you finish in 8^th place. Many people find those faith-laced post-game interviews annoying. I’m more interested in the character an athlete display, their pursuit of love and justice in all of life—than in their talk on camera.

9. High school gym class…your favorite 45 minutes of the day or the source of countless nightmares and embarrassments?

MS: I loved gym class—especially in Alabama where the coach had us 7^th through 12^th graders play tackle football on a rocky field together every day. I’m surprised that no one got killed—but there was a lot of blood and bruises

10. Sports are often the whipping boy of pastors and clergy because so much passion, money, time, and energy is poured into them. Do you think this criticism is valid, or are sports okay as a diversion from the stresses of life.

MS: Sports and exercise, in general, are great for stress relief and a natural source of endorphins. But most of the benefits come from playing rather than watching.

11. If you had to compete against other authors, in which of these 5 competitions would you have the best chance of winning? 5-mile run, 18 holes of golf, free throw shooting contest, arm wrestling match, or a game of bowling.

MS: I’d be competitive in the 5-mile run, might win the arm-wrestling match and because my mom was a bowler and I was practically raised in a bowling alley, I might have a chance at that

12. What is your favorite sports movie of all-time?

MS: Rudy.

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You can click here for an exhaustive (but not exhausting) list of everyone who’s been featured as a PFB Sports Survey participant.

If you’d like to be considered for the PFB Sports Survey, or know someone who should be, send along a name and email address to prayersforblowouts(at)gmail(dot)com.

The PFB Sports Survey is a feature here at Prayers For Blowouts where we throw a few sports related questions at some of the most notable voices among Christian authors, pastors, musicians, and traffic cops to see if they like sports as much as we do.

Today’s spotlight is on Christian George, who isn’t afraid to shave his legs to gain a competitive advantage.

Christian is a writer, a speaker, and a lover of travel. His most recent book – Sex, Sushi, and Salvation – was released on January 1st, 2008 by Moody Publishers. His next book – Godology: Because Knowing God Changes Everything – will release on January 1st, 2009. For more information about Christian, who  blogs here, visit his website: (ChristianGeorge.org)

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1. What number best describes the role sports play in your life on a scale of 1 to 10?

CG: 7

2. Rank your 3 overall favorite sports, college or pro.

CG: UFC, soccer, racquetball

3. What is the one team that you root for more passionately than any other, and is there a team that you hate, maybe a little too much?

CG: Manchester United, and I hate anyone they’re playing. 

4. Do you play fantasy sports?

CG: No, not much time.

5. What is the most memorable sporting event you have ever attended in person?

CG: US v. Argentina, Olympics, 1996.  I was twenty feet from Alexi Lalas, and he looked right at me.

6. What is the best highlight and/or worst lowlight of your sports playing career as a child or as an adult?

CG: I scored six goals in a varsity soccer game once.  That would be a highlight.  A lowlight would definitely be when I hit my head on the soccer post, the goal came crashing down, and they had to cancel the rest of the game.  And then there was the time I shaved my legs before a middle school soccer game.  Surprisingly, I wasn’t any more aerodynamic, and I took a lot of grief for it.

Also, I grew up playing soccer with Catherine Reddick, who’s now on the US women’s soccer team.  I taught her everything she knows, clearly .

7. If you could change one thing about sports, what would it be?

CG: I don’t really like the offsides rule in soccer.  I understand it, but I just don’t like it.  I’d prefer prison rules.

8. Do you have an opinion on Christian athletes who, without being prompted, talk about their faith in post-game interviews?

CG: I think it’s brave, and we need more people to take their faith seriously enough that it permeates their whole lives.  Matt Hughes is one guy who does this a lot, and he even passed out Bibles to contenders on his UFC reality show.  He has a platform, and he’s not afraid to talk about the most important thing in his life.

9. High school gym class…your favorite 45 minutes of the day or the source of countless nightmares and embarrassments?

CG: favorite 45 minutes.  My high school PE teacher was Jeremiah Castille, who played for Bear Bryant at Alabama and then professionally for Tampa Bay and Denver.

10. Sports are often the whipping boy of pastors and clergy because so much passion, money, time, and energy is poured into them. Do you think this criticism is valid, or are sports okay as a diversion from the stresses of life.

CG: I think in our culture, some sports have been elevated to the level of God.  People worship what they talk about, and when we only talk about sports (which happens a lot), it reveals our hearts.  But, the Bible supports physical training as a discipline (1 Timothy 4:8, among others), and sports can be used to glorify God.

11. If you had to compete against other authors, in which of these 5 competitions would you have the best chance of winning? 5-mile run, 18 holes of golf, free throw shooting contest, arm wrestling match, or a game of bowling.

CG: 5-mile run, probably.  Unless of course the other authors are Olympians.  In that case, I’d take bowling.

12. What is your favorite sports movie of all-time?

CG: Chariots of Fire.  “When I run, I feel God’s pleasure.”  What’s not to like?

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You can click here for an exhaustive (but not exhausting) list of everyone who’s been featured as a PFB Sports Survey participant.

If you’d like to be considered for the PFB Sports Survey, or know someone who should be, send along a name and email address to prayersforblowouts(at)gmail(dot)com.

The PFB Sports Survey is a weekly feature here at Prayers For Blowouts where we throw a few sports related questions at some of the most notable voices among Christian authors, pastors, musicians, and butchers to see if they like sports as much as we do.

Today’s spotlight is on Ernie Johnson, who is pretty sure he can take you down in a shooting contest from the charity stripe. (Yes, even you too Mr. “I once hit 25 free throws in a row when no one was looking”.)

Ernie is the two-time Emmy winning studio host for TNT’s NBA Coverage. In addition to his work with basketball, E.J. has also covered Wimbledon, the NFL, the Winter Olympics, the PGA Tour, and Major League Baseball. Even more impressive than beating out Bob Costas for the Emmy in 2006, Ernie also is the highest rated media member in Deadspin’s Media Approval ratings poll (96%)

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1. What number best describes the role sports play in your life on a scale of 1 to 10?

EJ: Despite the fact that I make my living as a sportscaster I wouldn’t call myself a 10. While I love sports, and my dad played pro baseball (Milwaukee Braves, Baltimore Orioles in the 50’s) I don’t spend every waking moment watching sports, so I’m probably about an ‘8′. My wife, Cheryl would be a ‘1′ on that scale in terms of watching sports on tv…but she loves to play tennis and went to Wimbledon with me one year when we were televising it, so I’ll give her a ‘4′.

2. Rank your 3 overall favorite sports, college or pro.

EJ: #1 would be baseball because I grew up with that and wanted to be a player when I grew up. That dream lasted through my freshman year at the University of Georgia. I walked on as a freshman and walked off as a sophomore.

#2 would be basketball…love working the NBA with Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith, and don’t miss March Madness in the college game.

#3 Golf. I’m a lefthander…and actually played a few holes with Phil Mickelson in a pro-am before we televised the Grand Slam of Golf in Hawaii. He said of one of my tee shots, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a ball go that far left.”

3. What is the one team that you root for more passionately than any other, and is there a team that you hate, maybe a little too much?

EJ: I don’t really root for teams. You sort of have your allegiances drift away once you work in the media because you’re covering so many different teams and you don’t show favoritism. Growing up in Milwaukee I used to be a huge Packers fan.

4. Do you play fantasy sports?

EJ: The only time I’ve played fantasy sports is when we’re told to by our sales department as part of a promotion with the NBA. It’s great for some people, but I can’t see myself sitting up until 2:30 in the morning waiting to see how the Angels-Mariners game came out, wondering if Ichiro went 3 for 4.

5. What is the most memorable sporting event you have ever attended in person?

EJ: The most memorable moment I witnessed was Henry Aaron’s 715th Home Run.

6. What is the best highlight and/or worst lowlight of your sports playing career as a child or as an adult?

EJ: When I was playing 7th grade basketball at St. Jude’s Elementary School in Atlanta, we were playing Westminster for the championship. I hadn’t scored…we were up by 1 with the ball in the closing seconds and Westminster needed to foul. They fouled me, and I hit 2 free throws to ice it.

At Georgia, as a reserve first baseman I hit a dazzling .154. One of my 2 hits that season came at Tennessee and gave us a 1 run lead (it was my 1 college RBI) in the top of the 9th. We were 3 outs away from clinching the Eastern Division of the SEC. A grand slam homer by Tennessee spoiled that. We still won the division the next week, and as usual in the SEC Championship series against LSU I found my familiar spot on the bench.

7. If you could change one thing about sports, what would it be?

EJ: One thing I’d change about sports these days is the starting times of games. When I was a kid I could always watch the world series…there were day games back then, folks. I think earlier starts would allow more kids to see more games.

8. Do you have an opinion on Christian athletes who, without being prompted, talk about their faith in post-game interviews?

EJ: I don’t have a problem with athletes talking about their faith. I have a problem with athletes thinking God wanted their team to win a game.

9. High school gym class…your favorite 45 minutes of the day or the source of countless nightmares and embarrassments?

EJ: High School gym class was cool with me when we were playing games. When it came to exercises, etc., I always found a way to avoid the pull-up bar. Still do.

10. Sports are often the whipping boy of pastors and clergy because so much passion, money, time, and energy is poured into them. Do you think this criticism is valid, or are sports okay as a diversion from the stresses of life.

EJ: Sports to me only becomes a problem if it hinders what you’re doing as a father/husband, or actually becomes idolatry. If you skip a bed time story with your daughter because you might miss the kickoff…if you blow off a family outing because you want to play 18, etc, etc…then I think it’s a problem. Otherwise I feel sports is a great diversion from all the “stuff” that’s going on in the world, at the office, or down the street.

11. If you had to compete against other media folk, in which of these 5 competitions would you have the best chance of winning? 5-mile run, 18 holes of golf, free throw shooting contest, arm wrestling match, or a game of bowling.

EJ: I’ll shoot FT’s with anybody, anytime.

12. What is your favorite sports movie of all-time?

EJ: Favorite sports movies of all time would be “Field of Dreams”, “Bull Durham”, “Remember the Titans”.

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You can click here for an exhaustive (but not exhausting) list of everyone who’s been featured as a PFB Sports Survey participant.

If you’d like to be considered for the PFB Sports Survey, or know someone who should be, send along a name and email address to prayersforblowouts(at)gmail(dot)com.

The PFB Sports Survey is a weekly feature here at Prayers For Blowouts where we throw a few sports related questions at some of the most notable voices among Christian authors, pastors, musicians, and farmers to see if they like sports as much as we do.

Today’s spotlight is on Jim Palmer. No, not that Jim Palmer, this is the Jim Palmer who quit playing baseball after a bad hop at the hot corner sent him to the emergency room.

Jim Palmer has been called an amalgamation of Don Miller, Anne Lamott, and Brian Mclaren (try to wrap your head around what that might look like). He is the author of “Divine Nobodies: Shedding Religion to Find God (and the unlikely people who help you)“, and “Wide Open Spaces: Beyond Paint-by-Number Christianity“. He blogs at divinenobodies.com, and can be reached at jim@divinenobodies.com

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1. What number best describes the role sports play in your life on a scale of 1 to 10?

JP: If you’re talking about doing sports, I’d have to say 8ish on the scale. My wife Pam might say 10 because I’m currently training for a Half Ironman in October. I also do various running and cycling events. My daughter Jessica is always active in one sport of another – soccer, basketball, tennis, etc. In terms of watching sports, these days I tune in at playoff time like NFL Playoffs, Bowl games, Final Four, Division Series, that sort of thing. The Tour de France has interested me more in recent years. I do have a few idols like MJ and the dynasty Bulls. Okay, and I’m also a clone who listens regularly to the Jim Rome show. I know what you’re thinking; this all seems to be adding up to a 10. Well, we don’t have cable and so ESPN isn’t an option. Otherwise, I’d probably be watching stuff like International Ping Pong, and the Pacific Islands Professional Bowling Tour.

2. Rank your 3 overall favorite sports, college or pro.

JP: 1. Major League Baseball, 2. NFL Football, 3. Professional Cycling, 4. Tiger Woods

3. What is the one team that you root for more passionately than any other, and is there a team that you hate, maybe a little too much?

JP: There isn’t just one. For reasons to lengthy too explain here, I’m passionate about the Cleveland Indians, Va. Tech Hokies, and Tennessee Titans. There are also several individual athletes I pull for. I don’t think I can ever forgive the Yankees for burying the Braves in the 1996 World Series after the Braves were up 2-0 and headed to Atlanta for game 3. We won’t mention what happened in 1999.

4. Do you play fantasy sports?

JP: I don’t play fantasy sports. Seems like there are too many numbers involved; I was never real good with math.

5. What is the most memorable sporting event you have ever attended in person?

JP: The Music City Miracle comes to mind. Do you remember that Titans-Bills playoff game when the Titans did their magic on a kick-off return on the last play of the game? I was there! Close behind it was my daughter’s first soccer game that she scored a goal. She was very Mia-esque.

6. What is the best highlight and/or worst lowlight of your sports playing career as a child or as an adult?

JP: Thinking of my adulthood, a highlight would be running a half marathon in 1 hour, 26 minutes. A lowlight would be taking a bad hop in the face when a baseball was cracked down the line in my direction while I was playing Third Base. Just a friendly little pick-up baseball game. Blood, ambulance, hospital…it was really ugly! I’ve never played baseball since.

7. If you could change one thing about sports, what would it be?

JP: The $ cost of most sporting events doesn’t rules out a bunch of people, especially families. In a perfect world, the number of people attending sporting events increases, and the number of people watching them on TV decreases. Also, I feel there’s a lot of room for improvement in making the Olympic Games a higher priority and focus in terms of U.S. sports interest.

8. Do you have an opinion on Christian athletes who, without being prompted, talk about their faith in post-game interviews?

JP: I don’t judge Christian athletes for speaking publicly or not speaking publicly about their faith. It’s all good, either way. Just keep it real.

9. High school gym class…your favorite 45 minutes of the day or the source of countless nightmares and embarrassments?

JP: Next to study-hall and lunch, it was my favorite 45 minutes. Hard to believe I actually got an M. Div.! However, I hated climbing that damn rope in gym class. I couldn’t do it worth a flip, and I was afraid of heights.

10. Sports are often the whipping boy of pastors and clergy because so much passion, money, time, and energy is poured into them. Do you think this criticism is valid, or are sports okay as a diversion from the stresses of life.

JP: I don’t compartmentalize God or life that way. Some of my most transformative God-experiences and many of my most significant relationships are linked in some way to sports. Whether it’s my friendships at the local YMCA, coaching my daughter’s sports team, or involvement in a local cycling club, I see all as sacred.

11. If you had to compete against other writers, in which of these 5 competitions would you have the best chance of winning? 5-mile run, 18 holes of golf, free throw shooting contest, arm wrestling match, or a game of bowling.

JP: In this order: 5-mile run, free throws, arm wrestling, bowling, golf.

12. What is your favorite sports movie of all-time?

JP: Rocky or Hoosiers

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You can click here for an exhaustive (but not exhausting) list of everyone who’s been featured as a PFB Sports Survey participant.

If you’d like to be considered for the PFB Sports Survey, or know someone who should be, send along a name and email address to prayersforblowouts(at)gmail(dot)com.