Mike Yorkey - Playing With Purpose Collection: Inside the Lives and Faith of Todays Biggest Football, Basketball, and Baseball Stars

As a coach, Im always looking for both talent and character. Playing with Purpose: Basketball will introduce you to several professionals whose faith is as strong as their court presence. Youll love their stories.

M IKE K RZYZEWSKI

H EAD COACH , D UKE U NIVERSITY B LUE D EVILS

This book brings to life the testimonies of ballplayers who are living life and playing the game with a greater purpose and an eternal perspective. Playing with Purpose: Baseball will inspire readers.

C LAYTON K ERSHAW

2011 C Y Y OUNG W INNER AND AUTHOR OF A RISE

Faith is the basis for a strong presence in the locker room, and leadership on and off the field. Playing with Purpose: Baseball describes how many of todays Christian athletes carry these assets of faith in their careers.

M IKE S CHMIDT

B ASEBALL H ALL OF F AMER

As a former pitcher familiar with the pressures of Major League Baseball, Im encouraged to see how my brothers in Christ are handling fame and fortune. They are using their gifts to exalt Christ and build His kingdom. This book is a fascinating glimpse into some great players who love Jesus!

F RANK T ANANA

T WENTY-YEAR M AJOR L EAGUER AND THREE-TIME A LL S TAR

A must-read for everyone who wants to get to know the good guys in baseball.

J EREMY A FFELDT

S AN F RANCISCO G IANTS RELIEVER

2012 by Mike Yorkey with Jesse Florea and Joshua Cooley

Print ISBN 978-1-61626-854-1

eBook Editions:
Adobe Digital Edition (.epub) 978-1-62029-042-2
Kindle and MobiPocket Edition (.prc) 978-1-62029-043-9

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All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the H OLY B IBLE , N EW I NTERNATIONAL V ERSION . NIV . Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Cover images Tim Tebow: David Drapkin/AP
Kevin Durant: Tony Gutierrez/AP
Mariano Riviera: Bill Kostroun/AP

The author is represented by WordServe Literary Group, Ltd., Greg Johnson, Literary Agent, 10152 S. Knoll Circle, Highlands Ranch, CO 80130.

Published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., P.O. Box 719, Uhrichsville, Ohio 44683 www.barbourbooks.com

Our mission is to publish and distribute inspirational products offering exceptional value and biblical encouragement to the masses.

Printed in the United States of America.

Their first two seasons are in the books.

During the National Football Leagues 2010 and 2011 campaigns, we got to sit back in our Stratoloungers and watch three up-and-coming quarterbacksSam Bradford, Colt McCoy, and Tim Tebowmake their mark in Americas most popular sport. Armed with DirecTVs NFL Sunday Ticket and holding remotes in our hands, many of us had front row seats for all the action.

They experienced varying degrees of success.

Sam Bradford, Colt McCoy, and Tim Tebowlisted here in alphabetical ordercame into the league after performing spectacularly at the universities of Oklahoma, Texas, and Florida, respectively. Theyve been groomed for greatness since high school, and they burst into our living rooms as college freshmen (though only Tim played as a true freshman) when they were handed the responsibility of guiding high-powered NCAA football programs down the field.

Instead of collapsing under the weight of the high expectations placed on their shoulder pads, though, they became folk heroes to their fans and focal points of television and radio coverage on ESPN, CBS, Fox Sports, andduring their college yearsregional football networks. They passed, they scored they praised the Lord.

During their storied collegiate careers, the three QBs led their teams to Bowl Championship Series (BCS) National Championship games, set numerous passing records, bounced back from injuries, and fought for the Heisman Trophy. Now theyre trying to find their way in the National Football League, and if the 2010 season was any indication, it looks like Sam, Colt, and Tim will make their mark in one way or another.

Theyre used to generating tons of heat on hundreds, if not thousands, of Internet fan blogs. The raves, rumors, rants, and outright falsehoods posted in cyberspace werent a phenomenon just 10 or 15 years ago, but thats the reality of playing today at the most visible and talked-about position in football.

Sam, picked No. 1 in the 2010 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Rams, has seen the most playing time of the Three QBs. He earned the starting role as soon as he signed his record-breaking six-year, $78 million contract. Sam backed it up by having a great rookie year in 2010, taking a 115 team in 2009 almost back to the playoffs. His sophomore season in the NFL didnt quite match up, though. Some football experts thought Sam regressed since he threw only six touchdown passes in ten starts, winning only one game. A high ankle strain caused him to miss six contests.

Colt, who had to wait until the third round before the Cleveland Browns picked him, wasnt expected to play during his rookie year, but injuries to the two quarterbacks ahead of him gave Colt an unexpected chance to take over a team heading south in a hurry. Colt performed admirably, which earned the starting position in 2011but a porous offensive line and lack of a running game allowed defenses to tee off. Colt, like the Browns team, struggled to a 412 season. During the 2012 draft, the Browns selected Oklahoma States Brandon Weeden in the first round, and now Colt is in another battle for playing time in 2012. Well have to see how things play out near Lake Erie.

And how to sum up Tim Tebows NFL career so far? He was basically ignored by the Denver Broncos during his rookie season until he came off the bench and sparked the team late in a forgettable year. He didnt look to play much in 2011 until Coach John Fox, in the midst of a 13 start, handed Tim the reins to the team. What a magical season for the Broncos, who, with one jaw-dropping fourth-quarter comeback after another, returned to the NFL playoffs. There, Denver upset the mighty Pittsburgh Steelers in overtime on an amazing touchdown play involving Tim and receiver Demaryius Thomas. Then a shocking development during the off-season: The Broncos signed free agent Peyton Manning and declared the Tim Tebow era was over in the Colorado Rockies. Tim was traded to the New York Jets, where he and quarterback Mark Sanchez will fight for playing time. And, once again, well have to see how that plays out.