Carlos Zambrano was known as a fiery pitcher for the Chicago Cubs during his career, which lasted from 2001-2012.
Zambrano, nicknamed "Big Z" by Dusty Baker, once punched his catcher Michael Barrett in the face. He was suspended after a start in Atlanta in 2011 by the Cubs, who later traded him to the Marlins.
The suspension, Zambrano told Chicago Tribune columnist Paul Sullivan, changed his life.
Zambrano, 36, is now a pastor in Florida.
"When I got suspended, people don't know this, but I went to Miami and my mom said, 'Hey, son, there's a [religious] youth conference in Venezuela, do you want to come and stay?' " he told Sullivan.
"I was frustrated. I said, 'I don't want to do nothing, Mom. I want to just relax.'
"I was hiding because I didn't want people to know I was there. The preacher started talking about baseball and told a story of a guy who is empty and said God would touch him today. There were 6,000 people there, but I knew he was [referring to] me, and I started crying and said 'God, forgive me, I need a new life.' "
Sullivan then asked Zambrano whether he could call him "Reverend Z" now.
"Call me whatever you want," he said. "I'll tell you what, I feel peace, something money and fame couldn't get [me]. When I was playing my career, I was so empty."
Shop saga
Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James contends the Alabama football program has lifted "ideas, concepts and format" from a program on Uninterrupted, the digital media platform the three-time NBA champion co-founded with business partner Maverick Carter.
Last year, Uninterrupted aired The Shop, a forum where James, Golden State forward Draymond Green, retired player Charles Oakley and others have conversations while getting their hair cut in a barbershop.
Alabama recently released a trailer on Twitter for Shop Talk, which shows Tide Coach Nick Saban and former Alabama star wide receiver Julio Jones in a barbershop setting. The video says the first episode is "coming soon."
On Monday, Uninterrupted sent a letter to Alabama, citing "exploitation" and concerns over copyright infringement and intellectual property.
In the letter, which was obtained by The Associated Press, Josh Tarnow, the head of business and legal affairs for Uninterrupted, tells Alabama he would prefer not getting into a "battle of legal letters" with the school and asks for a copy of the first Shop Talk episode to be sent for a review. Tarnow hopes the sides can "address Uninterrupted's concerns amicably."
A school spokesman told the AP that Alabama is "in the midst of reviewing this matter, which just came to our attention this morning."
Getting younger
The average age of a major league player on opening day dropped to 28.91 years from 29.13 at the start of last season, The Associated Press reported Monday.
The Philadelphia Phillies are the youngest team at 26.92, according to the commissioner's office. Other teams with young averages are Cincinnati (27.49), Miami (27.85), Pittsburgh (27.97), St. Louis (28.02) and the New York Yankees (28.04).
Toronto is the oldest team, averaging 31.01. Others averaging over 30 are the Los Angeles Angels (30.32), Seattle (30.17), San Francisco (30.15) and Cleveland (30.08).
The MLB average was 29.17 in 2015 and 29.04 in 2016.
Sports on 04/03/2018