Former NFL Player Hosts "Crossing the Goal"

IRONDALE, Alabama, SEPT. 23, 2008 (Zenit.org).- If thinking about football during Mass and prayer time is becoming a problem, maybe former NFL all-pro wide receiver and coach Danny Abramowicz could help redirect that love of sports toward a love for God.

Abramowicz is the host of "Crossing the Goal," a new show airing on EWTN that caters to the sports-minded to communicate basic truths of the Catholic faith and to be a catalyst for change for those who watch it.

The former NFL football star co-hosts with Curtis Martin, founder of the Catholic campus group Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS), Peter Herbeck of Renewal Ministries, and Brian Patrick host of The Son Rise Morning Show on Cincinnati's Sacred Heart Radio.

"Men aren't always good at understanding the significance of people like Paul and Barnabas and how that might relate to them," Abramowicz told ZENIT. "We are going to help them to do that with technology and networking for conferences and events in wherever location the viewer may be watching.

"They want to better understand their Catholic faith and put it into practice and we want to help them accomplish that."

Crossing the Goal's segments -- aptly named Kick Off, Game Plan, Red Zone and End Zone -- look like ESPN Sports Center or pre-game segments as guests analyze various faith and family problems and solutions.

Searching

Abramowicz wasn't always so gung-ho about his faith. Similar to many ex-professional athletes, he wondered in the early 1970s what his life was going to be like after the crowds were gone and the paychecks stopped coming.

Sadly, his life was not where he wanted it to be; the enthusiasm he displayed on the football field was replaced with other challenges. Abramowicz has acknowledged that God made it clear to him that his love of alcohol was preventing him from being all he could be.

Yet instead of becoming the caricature of an aging ex-athlete, Abramowicz started to do something about it. He started asking questions about his faith. The answers to these questions led him to believe that there would be more to his faith life than just attending Mass on Sunday. He knew he needed to be a better family man.

As the 1980s marched on, Abramowicz grew in his faith and realized that God was planning something bigger for him.

In 1997, legendary football Coach Mike Ditka was named head coach of the New Orleans Saints. He left behind his retirement and his Super Bowl winning stint with the Chicago Bears to see if he could do the same for the Saints.

Ditka put Abramowicz in charge of the Saint's offense. Abramowicz knew even the vaunted position of offensive coordinator was not all God had in mind for him. Following in the steps of Ditka, Abramowicz retired from football in 1999.

Head coach

Faith moved front and center in the life of Danny Abramowicz. It was there for all to see as he gave talks and wrote books about the importance of living out your Catholic faith.

He used metaphors of Jesus Christ as the head coach, and his coaching staff, the apostles, aided by the personal trainer, the Holy Spirit.

Analogies like this helped Abramowicz connect with an audience that might not have connected as well with the usual approach. In his talks he reminds the faithful that fans expect football players to know the rulebook and playbook, and likewise the faithful must have a grasp of the Bible and the Catechism.

All of this personal growth convinced EWTN to launch a new show in which Abramowicz could use all of his tools as well as bring in some well-known Catholic men to discuss their faith and family lives.

Abramowicz mentioned the unique advantages the show would have in pushing men forward in their faith lives: "Men need to be challenged and we will give them the tools to meet the challenge through technology and alerting them to conferences and leadership seminars in their area.

"We want to help those watching to be better husbands and fathers. However, it doesn't stop there. Finances and personal responsibility will be emphasized; so many family problems revolve around those issues and we want to help.

"The show is just the start. We want to help those who watch it by improving their faith lives. We really want to help them to continue what was mentioned on Crossing the Goal."

He added, "I am really excited about the possibilities."

http://www.zenit.org/article-23698?l=english