{"product_id":"the-leftovers-baylor-betrayal-and-beyond-9781641238373","title":"The Leftovers: Baylor, Betrayal, and Beyond","description":"As a young boy, Matt Sayman dreamed of playing pro basketball. His family believed in his vision, even agreeing to move to Texas when one of Matt's favorite coaches left Pennsylvania for the Lone Star State. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eMatt eventually received a full athletic scholarship from Baylor University. He was only six-feet-four but what he lacked in height, he made up for in skill and positive attitude. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThen the summer before his senior year, the bottom fell out of Matt's world. A player went missing...and was found dead. A teammate was the murder suspect. A coach was accused of paying players under the table. Some players had received drug-free urine samples to pass off as their own. And through it all, Matt was supposed to be the glue who held the Baylor basketball team together. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIn \u003ci\u003eThe Leftovers: Baylor, Betrayal, and Beyond\u003c\/i\u003e, Matt shares his personal story of dealing with the fallout after tragedy and trouble nearly sank Baylor's program. Matt was senior co-captain, but with a short-manned team of leftover players, there was no way to have a winning season, no way some talent scout would take a chance on him. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eMatt's hope and faith were shaken because of the scandals that summer. His post-Baylor years included a DWI, a difficult divorce, and broken relationships. Matt struggled to find peace. On his thirtieth birthday, just a few days after a deep conversation with his pastor, Matt said goodbye to alcohol and surrendered his life to God. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThis book tells the story of Matt's personal redemption--but it is also a story of the redemption of Baylor University's men's basketball program. Matt's team with a young new head coach forged the Baylor team that won the 2021 NCAA men's basketball championship.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMatt Sayman received a full athletic scholarship to play basketball at Baylor University from 2000-2004. After remaining with the program following a shocking scandal in the off-season before his senior year, Matt broke the Baylor career record for games played (118). He then played professional basketball in Iceland, winning the Icelandic championship for Njardvik in 2005. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eMatt is currently the varsity basketball coach at Grapevine Faith Christian School in Texas, where he has led his team to the state semifinals the past two seasons. He enjoys inspiring young athletes with a message of \"no magic\"--just hard work, dedication, and a determination to work harder than the next guy. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eMatt also serves as director of events for MGBasketball camps, where he is known for his ability to connect and inspire young athletes to give their best and improve each day. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eHe hosts JAMODI (Just A Matter Of Doing It) podcast, in which he interviews coaches and leaders to explore the reasons behind their successes. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eMatt and his wife Jana live near Fort Worth, Texas, with their two sons. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e* * * \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eDavid L. Thomas is the author or cowriter of more than a dozen books. He collaborated on two\u003ci\u003e New York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestsellers: \u003ci\u003eWrestling for My Life\u003c\/i\u003e with Shawn Michaels and \u003ci\u003eFoxcatcher\u003c\/i\u003e with Mark Schultz. He also cowrote \u003ci\u003eAll In\u003c\/i\u003e with Gene Chizik, a \u003ci\u003eWall Street Journal \u003c\/i\u003enational bestseller, and \u003ci\u003eSEAL of God\u003c\/i\u003e with Chad Williams, with more than 100,000 books in print. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eDavid worked thirty years in sports journalism, beginning at age thirteen as a sportswriter. He spent more than twenty years combined in the national award-winning sports departments of the \u003ci\u003eFort Worth Star-Telegram\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eThe Dallas Morning News\u003c\/i\u003e, both of which were annually voted among the nation' top ten sports sections. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eA lifelong Texan and graduate of the University of Texas at Arlington, David lives near Fort Worth with his wife Sally. They have two children, Ashlin and Tyson.\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Whitaker House","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50485347221778,"sku":"9781641238373","price":13.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_e5b38a85-3cd4-4487-bf80-af580cd3b2c8.jpg?v=1730403459","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/the-leftovers-baylor-betrayal-and-beyond-9781641238373","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}