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On this episode of Our American Stories, Faith and sports go hand in hand. Quarterbacks quote Bible verses in interviews, star players host team Bible studies, and a last-ditch attempt to win a game is called a “Hail Mary.” But it isn’t just the players who are indebted to faith—sometimes, the sports themselves are. Paul Putz, author of The Spirit of the Game: American Christianity and Big-Time Sports, shares the unusual origin story of basketball: a game initially designed to bring people to Christ that took on a life of its own.

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On this episode of Our American Stories, Faith and sports go hand in hand. Quarterbacks quote Bible verses in interviews, star players host team Bible studies, and a last-ditch attempt to win a game is called a &ldquo;Hail Mary.&rdquo; But it isn&rsquo;t just the players who are indebted to faith&mdash;sometimes, the sports themselves are. Paul Putz, author of&nbsp;<a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FSpirit-Game-American-Christianity-Big-Time%2Fdp%2F0190091061&amp;data=05%7C02%7CUraelBlackshear%40iheartmedia.com%7C47ea58e31eae402a0ffa08dd76b13d6d%7C122a527e5b714eba878d9810b495b9e3%7C0%7C0%7C638797225804206545%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=GhGu7haKrwvuUZ4bGqTjt1OCO4gWcKJuHjgjPpIHmOg%3D&amp;reserved=0" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">The Spirit of the Game: American Christianity and Big-Time Sports</a>, shares the unusual origin story of basketball: a game initially designed to bring people to Christ that took on a life of its own.
Support the show (<a href="https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate">https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate</a>)

Our American Stories tells stories that aren’t being told. Positive stories about generosity and courage, resilience and redemption, faith and love. Stories about the past and present. And stories about ordinary Americans who do extraordinary things each and every day. Stories from our listeners about their lives. And their history. In that pursuit, we hope we’ll be a place where listeners can refresh their spirit, and be inspired by our stories.

Our American Stories

Our American Stories tells stories that aren’t being told. Positive stories about generosity and courage, resilience and redemption, faith and love. Stories about the past and present. And stories about ordinary Americans who do extraordinary things each and every day. Stories from our listeners about their lives. And their history. In that pursuit, we hope we’ll be a place where listeners can refresh their spirit and be inspired by our stories.

Our American Stories tells stories that aren&rsquo;t being told. Positive stories about generosity and courage, resilience and redemption, faith and love. Stories about the past and present. And stories about ordinary Americans who do extraordinary things each and every day. Stories from our listeners about their lives. And their history. In that pursuit, we hope we&rsquo;ll be a place where listeners can refresh their spirit and be inspired by our stories.

The Origins of Basketball: The Christian Gift for Everyone

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/dec935af-4c56-4013-8eb7-b2b901479c97/transcript

On this episode of Our American Stories, in 2021, former Negro Leagues baseball player Buck O'Neil was finally inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, years after being denied by just one vote, a decision that surprised many of his friends and supporters.

Bob Kendrick, president of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Missouri, tells the story of how Buck handled that loss, in Kendrick’s words, “like a man.”

Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)

On this episode of Our American Stories, in 2021, former Negro Leagues baseball player Buck O'Neil was finally inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, years after being denied by just one vote, a decision that surprised many of his friends and supporters. Bob Kendrick, president of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Missouri, tells the story of how Buck handled that loss, in Kendrick&rsquo;s words, &ldquo;like a man.&rdquo;
Support the show (<a href="https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)">https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)</a>

What Happened When Buck O’Neil Missed the Hall of Fame by One Vote

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/fcb06d24-2bb7-4312-ae5b-b43a0138e7c8/transcript

On this episode of Our American Stories, before he became evangelist Billy Sunday, William Ashley Sunday played professional baseball in the major leagues, known for his speed and energy on the field. In the 1890s, at the height of his athletic career, he walked away from the game and turned to preaching, eventually becoming one of the most influential evangelists of his time.

Drawing on his background as an athlete and his dynamic speaking style, Sunday delivered sermons that drew massive crowds and resonated with everyday Americans. Robert J. Morgan, author of 100 Bible Verses Everyone Should Know by Heart, shares the story of how Billy Sunday’s message spread across the nation and why it had such a powerful impact.

Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)

On this episode of Our American Stories, before he became evangelist Billy Sunday, William Ashley Sunday played professional baseball in the major leagues, known for his speed and energy on the field. In the 1890s, at the height of his athletic career, he walked away from the game and turned to preaching, eventually becoming one of the most influential evangelists of his time. Drawing on his background as an athlete and his dynamic speaking style, Sunday delivered sermons that drew massive crowds and resonated with everyday Americans. Robert J. Morgan, author of&nbsp;<a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FBible-Verses-Everyone-Should-Heart%2Fdp%2F0805446826&amp;data=05%7C02%7CUraelBlackshear%40iheartmedia.com%7C2a51272f6fe144917c3e08dea5462067%7C122a527e5b714eba878d9810b495b9e3%7C0%7C0%7C639129917838190314%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=N0kP7x2z5P7V2jE0z4488eNbC1J1Jn79YO8JtGTlkgg%3D&amp;reserved=0" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="3">100 Bible Verses Everyone Should Know by Heart</a>, shares the story of how Billy Sunday&rsquo;s message spread across the nation and why it had such a powerful impact.
Support the show (<a href="https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)">https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)</a>

Before Billy Graham, There Was Billy Sunday

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/53b5fabf-5708-4c95-81f2-b43a0138e7c6/transcript

On this episode of Our American Stories, on April 18, 1775, a Boston silversmith set out on horseback with a warning that would travel from town to town in the dark. The ride itself was real, but the version most Americans remember came later, shaped by a poem that gave it a place in the national memory.

In this dramatic reading, American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow immortalizes Old North Church and Paul Revere in American folklore.

Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)

On this episode of Our American Stories, on April 18, 1775, a Boston silversmith set out on horseback with a warning that would travel from town to town in the dark. The ride itself was real, but the version most Americans remember came later, shaped by a poem that gave it a place in the national memory. In this dramatic reading, American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow immortalizes Old North Church and Paul Revere in American folklore.
Support the show (<a href="https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)">https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)</a>

Paul Revere’s Ride: The Poem That Made a Legend

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/1b9dafa7-648f-4e02-b458-b43a0138e7c7/transcript

The Origins of Basketball: The Christian Gift for Everyone

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