Toledo Blade
1/28
Article published Saturday, January 28, 2006
Football great Carter seeks to inspire youths
Minister, a former Ohio State and NFL standout, says his 'call in life' is to help young people
DAVID YONKE
BLADE RELIGION EDITOR
<center></center>
Cris Carter's sure hands and fast feet earned him awards as a star player at Ohio State University and great fame as an All-Pro receiver in the National Football League.
<center></center> But the retired athlete is now working out in a different field - the pulpit.<center></center> The Rev. Carter will give a free talk Wednesday night at St. James Church "The Armory," sharing his faith and offering youths a message of hope and encouragement.<center></center> In a phone interview this week from a Florida airport, Mr. Carter said he wants to use his fame as a sports celebrity to encourage youngsters to overcome obstacles in their life. He will be in the area next week to cover Super Bowl XL in Detroit for HBO.<center></center> "My call in life, my commission in life, is to try to help young people," he said. "It is a responsibility, and it is also a tremendous opportunity that is given. These kids need to know that there will be a winner and a loser on Sunday night, but through faith in God we can all be winners."<center></center> Mr. Carter, 40, a native of Troy, Ohio, started for the Buckeyes from 1984-86. In his final season, he put together one of the greatest individual years in OSU history with 69 receptions for 1,127 yards. He finished his college career with 164 passes caught for 2,725 yards and 27 TDs.<center></center> Drafted in the fourth round by the Philadelphia Eagles, Mr. Carter's first NFL catch was a 22-yard touchdown pass.<center></center> But Mr. Carter had troubles off the field, including an attitude problem and alcohol abuse, he has said in other interviews. He was cut by Eagles coach Buddy Ryan during the 1990 preseason, leading to a famous quote by ESPN sportscaster Chris Berman: "All he does is catch touchdowns."<center></center> Mr. Carter said this week that he was immature in those days.<center></center> "Every person goes through certain periods and they, as people, have to mature. There's really no timetable on that," he said. "Fortunately, I had good people around me that really helped the overall process to get my life turned around."<center></center> He credited Eagles teammates Reggie White and Keith Byars as being instrumental in leading him to a spiritual change, although it didn't happen overnight.<center></center> "I was still holding onto the world. It took me a while to realize that giving your life to Christ and being fully committed to him are two different things," he said.<center></center> His off-the-field turnaround happened about the same time as his professional career picked up, he said. "The two were very, very close."<center></center> Mr. Carter was picked up by the Minnesota Vikings before the 1990 season and starred with the Vikings through 2001, making the All Pro team eight straight years. He retired in 2002 after one year with the Miami Dolphins.<center></center> Mr. Carter was ordained in 1996 as minister at a nondenominational Florida church.<center></center> In the pulpit, he said, he uses sports metaphors about maximizing one's ability to get one's life turned around.<center></center> "There are a lot of similarities, not only as far as setting goals and overcoming obstacles, which a lot of young people have to do, but it becomes very, very important that they understand the role they play in society in general."<center></center> Mr. Carter and his wife, Melanie, have two children, Duron, 15, and Monterae, 12.<center></center> The usual speaker's fee for Mr. Carter ranges from $20,000 to $30,000, according to the booking agency All American Talent, but he is appearing for free in Toledo because of his commitment to helping youth, according to the Rev. Hazel Templeton, associate pastor of St. James.<center></center> Cris Carter will be the guest speaker at the 7 p.m. service Wednesday at St. James Church "The Armory," 3319 Nebraska Ave. His talk is presented by St. James, CedarCreek Church, and the YMCA of Greater Toledo. Admission is free. Information: 419-537-9736.<center></center> Contact David Yonke at:
[email protected]
or 419-724-6154
1/28
Article published Saturday, January 28, 2006
Football great Carter seeks to inspire youths
Minister, a former Ohio State and NFL standout, says his 'call in life' is to help young people
DAVID YONKE
BLADE RELIGION EDITOR
<center></center>
Cris Carter's sure hands and fast feet earned him awards as a star player at Ohio State University and great fame as an All-Pro receiver in the National Football League.
<center></center> But the retired athlete is now working out in a different field - the pulpit.<center></center> The Rev. Carter will give a free talk Wednesday night at St. James Church "The Armory," sharing his faith and offering youths a message of hope and encouragement.<center></center> In a phone interview this week from a Florida airport, Mr. Carter said he wants to use his fame as a sports celebrity to encourage youngsters to overcome obstacles in their life. He will be in the area next week to cover Super Bowl XL in Detroit for HBO.<center></center> "My call in life, my commission in life, is to try to help young people," he said. "It is a responsibility, and it is also a tremendous opportunity that is given. These kids need to know that there will be a winner and a loser on Sunday night, but through faith in God we can all be winners."<center></center> Mr. Carter, 40, a native of Troy, Ohio, started for the Buckeyes from 1984-86. In his final season, he put together one of the greatest individual years in OSU history with 69 receptions for 1,127 yards. He finished his college career with 164 passes caught for 2,725 yards and 27 TDs.<center></center> Drafted in the fourth round by the Philadelphia Eagles, Mr. Carter's first NFL catch was a 22-yard touchdown pass.<center></center> But Mr. Carter had troubles off the field, including an attitude problem and alcohol abuse, he has said in other interviews. He was cut by Eagles coach Buddy Ryan during the 1990 preseason, leading to a famous quote by ESPN sportscaster Chris Berman: "All he does is catch touchdowns."<center></center> Mr. Carter said this week that he was immature in those days.<center></center> "Every person goes through certain periods and they, as people, have to mature. There's really no timetable on that," he said. "Fortunately, I had good people around me that really helped the overall process to get my life turned around."<center></center> He credited Eagles teammates Reggie White and Keith Byars as being instrumental in leading him to a spiritual change, although it didn't happen overnight.<center></center> "I was still holding onto the world. It took me a while to realize that giving your life to Christ and being fully committed to him are two different things," he said.<center></center> His off-the-field turnaround happened about the same time as his professional career picked up, he said. "The two were very, very close."<center></center> Mr. Carter was picked up by the Minnesota Vikings before the 1990 season and starred with the Vikings through 2001, making the All Pro team eight straight years. He retired in 2002 after one year with the Miami Dolphins.<center></center> Mr. Carter was ordained in 1996 as minister at a nondenominational Florida church.<center></center> In the pulpit, he said, he uses sports metaphors about maximizing one's ability to get one's life turned around.<center></center> "There are a lot of similarities, not only as far as setting goals and overcoming obstacles, which a lot of young people have to do, but it becomes very, very important that they understand the role they play in society in general."<center></center> Mr. Carter and his wife, Melanie, have two children, Duron, 15, and Monterae, 12.<center></center> The usual speaker's fee for Mr. Carter ranges from $20,000 to $30,000, according to the booking agency All American Talent, but he is appearing for free in Toledo because of his commitment to helping youth, according to the Rev. Hazel Templeton, associate pastor of St. James.<center></center> Cris Carter will be the guest speaker at the 7 p.m. service Wednesday at St. James Church "The Armory," 3319 Nebraska Ave. His talk is presented by St. James, CedarCreek Church, and the YMCA of Greater Toledo. Admission is free. Information: 419-537-9736.<center></center> Contact David Yonke at:
[email protected]
or 419-724-6154
