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Q. How did you approach contract negotiations last winter?

A. I never thought I'd be in this position because of the last two years [battling back from injuries]. I thought about retirement. Then all of a sudden [after the New York Yankees offered a contract of four years at $52 million], I had this amazing leverage. I realized it was God who got me to this point, and I had to be sure that I listened to Him.

What were your priorities?

It's been a desire of mine to stay with one organization. [Hank] Aaron. [Dale] Murphy [one-time Braves who finished their careers wearing someone else's uniform] did make this harder. And money was an issue. I truly think God intends for me to pitch some more because He intends for me to do some incredible things with the money. I want to honor Him in every way I can. … This Christian school [in North Metro Atlanta that I'm helping to build] is a big part of my life.

How did you make the decision?

It was the toughest thing I had to go through. It's a fun process, I guess, if you don't have any ideals and just want to go where there's the most money. I took my time, prayed, and tried to be open to whatever God intended. [After fasting for a day, I went back to the Braves' executives and laid out my heart to them.] When I was done with that, I was at peace. I knew that whatever the outcome was, it was meant to be. [The Braves responded with an offer of $30 million guaranteed for 3 years, which I accepted.]

John Smoltz, a pitcher for the Atlanta Braves, was interviewed by Sports Spectrum's Victor Lee.

Adapted from Sports Spectrum (3-4/02) by permission.

Copyright © 2002 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity magazine.
Click here for reprint information on Men of Integrity.

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Prayer for the Week

O Lord, work in my life so that I live by the values of Your kingdom rather than my society's consumer mentality.

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