Jack Perconte's Blog: The Road to Success

Words I spoke to a ballplayer just yesterday after listening to them about their disgust with their coach’s moves – “Life is not always fair.”

That was easy to say because it’s something one of my coaches, Del Crandall, said to me many years ago. I was very down in the dumps when an organizational move didn’t go my way. It just didn’t seem fair.

At the time, I didn’t know I would spend the rest of my life working with young athletes, but now it all makes sense – life has a way of circling back. I’ve come to realize that situation happened to me for a reason. Along with that life lesson, another came with it – “Loyalty doesn’t extend very far.” No matter what one gives to benefit a situation, that can disappear quickly.

Besides my parents, the biggest influences in my early life were 3 of my sports coaches. Each shaped my life for the better, and none did it with earth-shaking actions but with simple words. Just as important, they all had the same way of inspiring – with just a look. They looked me in the eyes, and their eyes shouted, “I believe in you.” Knowing and feeling that someone believes in you as an athlete and as a person is a powerful experience.  Lesson learned? The look you give can be the best form of motivation possible.

I wish I could say my college education was beneficial for any future successes I’ve had, but the truth is my education mostly came from the ball diamond. The advantage of age allows me to recognize that the education I received on the playing fields was the key to success in life after my sports career.

When I look back, many lessons came in each phase of my career and are one’s I pass on to this day.

1.     As a youth player, I learned rules are rules after a coach snuck me in to play little league baseball as a nine-year-old when the age limit was 10 – 12 years old. Many parents, rightfully or not, believe their child should play with older kids, but it is probably not worth the “blowback.”

2.     As a teenage ballplayer, I learned success would have to be fought for when my rocket of an arm deserted me, never to return. Adversity comes for all, once one is unwilling to fight, it’s time to move on to another adventure.

3.     In high school, I learned what leaders do – empower others – when the most outstanding leader I’ve ever known, Gordie Gillespie, asked me, a high school athlete, for my advice by saying, “What do you think we should do here.” The “My Way or the Highway” approach is no way to go.

4.     In college, I learned, “Good was not good enough when better is possible and expected.” My coach, Johnny Reagan, would tell us he could go into any dorm on campus to find players who could do the ordinary. We, the team, can do much more if we apply ourselves. When mediocrity becomes acceptable, it’s another reason to move on to another endeavor.

Remember, The Success Trail is a long, winding path, but heeding the journey’s lessons makes finishing and enjoying it possible.

“Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio, our nation turns its lonely eyes to you.” That song keeps going through my mind this week.

The Texas tragedy, like others before, sucked the life out of me and has made it challenging to write. Also, there is no reason to listen to me. I’m just an ex-jock turned coach.

Wait a minute! The most intelligent man in the room is an ex-jock-turned coach. I’ve never felt so proud and empowered to be a coach after the words of Golden State Warrior coach Steve Kerr. No wonder the tragedy hits him so hard. He has been there before, having lived with sadness for years after his educator-father was killed years ago. He recognized how trivial sports seemed after such horror. Kerr walks the talk and is worth listening to as our supposed best and brightest that make our laws have little worthwhile to say. However, being an area out of my expertise, I won’t write on the politics of it all.

What I do know is youth sports. People have come to believe that youth sports are only about winning. The desire to win has led to unrealistic pressure on kids to the point where unsportsmanlike adults cause the burnout that follows on the sports fields. In society, power has become more important than the truth and good of the community. You might say that things have always been that way. Perhaps, but I would argue that being thought of as “right” has overtaken logic and a shared sense of purpose. It has gotten to the point where basic humanity and love have no part in our politics. Like many things, the same has filtered into our daily lives. Many of our values for living a purposeful life have gotten lost in the desire to be “The Winner” and famous at any cost.

I won’t keep rambling, but things have gone wrong, and we need to change before more explosions. As Steve Kerr said, the answers begin with demanding more from the powers that be. Along with that, we must search for and elect leaders who have the following.

We need leaders who have:

·       Unbiased views - those who believe in equality and justice for all. What is it about “All men are created equal” that people don’t understand?

·       Common sense – those who can look at things logically. Of course, that is subjective, but what is logical about suggesting more and more weapons lead to fewer dead? We are proving that is not the case or even possible. Ask the people of Ukraine if unsure.

·       Empathy – whatever happened to people who have the desire and flexibility to put themselves in another’s shoes?

·       Compassion – similarly, where has concern for those less fortunate gone?

·       Integrity – what happened to the honest, authentic, and trustworthy leaders? Do those mean anything anymore?

·       Conscientiousness – what happened to those who take pride in doing the right thing?

I am not usually one to rant and choose to look at the bright side of things, but like Steve Kerr, I am “fed up.” We should all be the same. Our pride as human beings and, specifically, Americans is at stake.

I pray for the victims’ families and the answers to come soon, knowing another similar incident is on the horizon.  

At least at this stage of my life, my definition of success is simple – being my best self today, tomorrow, and each day. It has little to do with beating the competition and wealth—a story for another day. To be my best self, I try to win each day; I adhere to my Fab Five character traits.

Maybe it's my age, in that I pay more attention to events that are outside my small world. And perhaps I've become too sensitive, and my expectations are too high. But the values I believed in my whole life are being challenged as I've never witnessed.

Undoubtedly, the past couple of years have been unprecedented, something you already know. The Covid pandemic has created times and tests I would say none of us have ever experienced. But, even with the inclination to blame everything on the horrible plague, of equal concern, the present political and interpersonal conditions. So many things I read and watch on the news put me in a sad state. One solution is to stop watching and reading the state of the world, but that isn’t easy in the internet age, and that maneuver would be a cop-out.

The reality is life has always been trying with various issues of the times. Keeping a healthy mindset is challenging. Being a lifelong athlete, I know it does no good to dwell on the negative and fail to improve upon the circumstances, so I write.

My baseball career taught me that when one struggles, the key to getting out of it is to go back to the basics. That is what I do now to keep moving each day. The following are my Fab Five - the character traits I believe in and try to exhibit each day to stay optimistic about the future.

·       Humility - the self-awareness that life is not only about me and using that knowledge to make a positive difference in others' lives.

·       Graciousness – to be thankful for what I have, knowing many have not been as fortunate as me.

·       Goodwill – treating others with respect through kindness and a generous spirit.

·       Humanity – knowing there is good in people and situations, looking for it, and realizing it’s better to give than get.

·       Teamwork – Being dependable and accountable to my support system.

If I added a sixth, it would be prayer – praying I live up to the above. Happy Trails!

A famous quote says, “Sports do not build character. They reveal it.” OK, perhaps, but that play on words is far from the truth in my eyes. The sports field is a fabulous teacher, and it’s up to the athletes to learn from it. I know much of my education came from them.

We also often hear the phrase, “It’s just a game.” Sure, but it’s more than a game. It’s the environment so many youngsters learn about achievement for life after the games end.

In my quest to discover what goes into success, I look to my career to find more answers. The following are just some of the lessons I learned that helped me beyond the game and are critical messages for all athletes.

·       Improvement, if not success, is only possible with some sacrifice. I could have been doing something else that required less sweat when I was young, but I chose to pass on family vacations and rise before dawn to play. Later in my career, many all-night bus rides and late-night and daybreak flights tested my resolve. Lesson learned — days will come when I don’t want to do something and prefer to join the party, but I know I can prevent self-disappointment by sacrificing now for the reward later. Making the dedication to your goal deep in your heart, so the sacrifice doesn’t seem as severe, is the key.

·       Achievement comes from focusing on the controllable — the preparation, the concentration, and the effort. Consistent hard work can eliminate self-doubt and bring elusive self-assurance.  Lesson learned — staying focused on daily work ethic and giving it one hundred percent is the road to confidence, or at the least, self-satisfaction.

·       The daily grind is decisive to qualify for more meaningful moments. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to play in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization. The team and front office's talent provided many chances to play postseason games. But “nothing is a given,” and we had to earn it on the field. Lesson learned — slacking will lead to the inability to finish. When one takes shortcuts in the process, it shows up as a failure when it counts most.

·       You know you are only as good as your last game. Success depends on a short memory after bad games and not becoming complacent after good ones. “Forget about it” and “Stay hungry” must be the thought process. Lesson learned — keep the focus on incremental advancement without dwelling on the negatives. Living on the past is for losers; it’s all about what you can bring tomorrow.

Finally, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that no magic solution exists for achievement — it takes a step-by-step journey. The key is to get moving on your goals, you will not regret it, and it may be the life-changer you’ve desired. Just remember that more danger lies in spending too much time on the couch than getting out the door.

Last week’s blog mentioned my severely disappointing, disastrous 1982 season with the Cleveland Indians. Confidence flew out the door early in the season and never reappeared. That was a tricky path to navigate, and my road back to the big leagues was hanging by a thread and a prayer.

The prayer came through by an offseason trade to the Seattle Mariners, highly influenced by my former manager and then Mariner manager, Del Crandall. Fixing the thread was on me, though. I sewed the seed for success with an improved mental game, along with some mechanical hitting adjustments and confidence from Crandall, who believed in me.

In the aftermath of my time in Cleveland, I discovered the unbelievable power of concentration. It has the ability to overpower nerves and self-doubts. It is not easy because it requires one-hundred percent attentiveness to the “now.” If one has less than total focus, the full potential will be compromised. I had an intense focus for nine innings the following two seasons, with an even heightened awareness when up to bat. It was a borderline obsession with seeing the ball as if one was watching an alien exiting a spacecraft. It was exhausting, but it worked to stay in every moment.

It is the thing I fall back on when running a marathon, and every ounce of me wants to stop before the end. There is no chance of finishing if I can’t get my mind off the pain and the number of miles left.

The door to that concentration level is only available through loving what one does. The opposite, disinterest, causes inefficiency and derailment of the mental game, if not the physical one too.

The nitty-gritty of performing a task to one’s standards comes down to keeping the mind in the present. An often-used phrase in competition is “in the zone.” It involves blocking out the noise and performing instinctively. Those who achieve that state of mind have the best chance of reaching their objective.

The things I learned that turned it all around:

1.   It’s critical to see things the way you want them before they even start. The more efficient I became at visualizing solid play, the more it happened. The more one finds the zone, the better the chance of finishing.

2. When I learned to calm my mind, everything slowed down. When things get most daunting, those who can slow things down when all around is flying are the ones who come out ahead.

3. Success comes from doing the little things down to the minutest details. Neglecting the basics because of the pressure is the recipe of the also-rans.

4. Rising to the occasion one time brings the confidence to do it again. One moment can change everything for the better.

5. When I learned not to beat myself up after an error or strikeout, I felt free to focus on what I could control – today’s game and the next play! Ultimately, the ability to focus comes from “freeing” oneself from the past and living in the now.

Finally, I learned from baseball that the path would be bumpy, but staying in the rhythm of each step helped me persevere for 26.2 miles.

I’m talking of sports disappointment here, although life and sports despair are intertwined, as evidenced by some recent tragic deaths of college athletes. I pray for their families and friends. I don’t pretend to know answers on that scale, but here are some things I’ve learned from my youth sports involvement for over thirty years. Perhaps something here will help adults better handle the pressures exerted on youth in sport.

I guess this is timely with the above in mind. Recently I had a ballplayer who had lost all confidence at the plate and was mentally beating themself up for not being better no matter how hard they worked. The player’s parent asked me for advice. I know that they asked the right guy because I had been in that mental state many times in my career.

Cody Bellinger was a rookie of the year, a two-time MLB all-star, a world series champion, an NL MVP, an NLCS MVP, and a gold glove and Silver Slugger award winner. In 2021, the same Cody Bellinger hit .165 in over 300 at-bats. How does that happen? Most importantly, how does he come back from such a disastrous season?

I don’t know why Cody had such a rough 2021 campaign, and I would guess several things, but I do know what it’s like to have to battle back from such a disappointing, embarrassing experience.

I was never close to any of the success and awards Cody received. My success came mainly at the Triple-A level, and the only common denominator was it was also in the Los Angeles Dodger organization. Jack Perconte, third person, was the worst player in major league baseball in 1982. Just fact, I know the truth even if the stats say otherwise, but I know, and if my teammates tell the truth, they will back me up. Anyway, that’s a story for another day.

I also know that, at the time, it felt like a fight for my being. That may seem overly dramatic as it wasn’t like my life was on the line, but when every ounce of you seems dependent on your expectations and  lifetime dream, it’s not something one can laugh off with, “It’s only a game.”

The message I would like athletes to know is that things change in sports. What seems unending is just a soon-to-be memory. It’s another life challenge to try and conquer with the results not as important as the effort to overcome it.

My message to the parent was several things, too, none easy to explain. First, sports and specifically hitting is hard; there is no way around that. But, no one wants to hear that when they have had success in the past.

I went on to say there is good and bad news. For the good news, their ballplayer cared so much and should be proud of all the work over their whole career. It’s hard to handle failure because caring and effort are positives and what we want from our kids.

As for the bad news, the player cared so much. Yes, the good and bad are the same. I said that the player would have a better chance of turning things around when they stopped caring so much. OK, I know that is impossible, but it has some merit. When we stop caring about being the best and having to win,  success often follows. The more we want something, the harder it is to come by. I told the parent to emphasize “The pure enjoyment of the game and their teammates as when they were just starting to play the sport.”

I recall an interview with pro golfer Harold Varner. He mentioned what he learned from Tiger Woods. He told Tiger he wanted to win so bad. Tiger replied, “Quit trying to win.” Wow, that seems odd from the most outstanding winner of all time. The point was valid. Results are out of one’s control, and focusing on that is not a good use of time and effort. Tiger intimated the key was to focus on the moment, each shot, and let the results fall as they may. One will be surprised how their chances of winning improve when staying focused on the task.

The following lessons are apparent to me now, but for whatever reason, at the time, they were elusive. These are only the tip of the iceberg as I have written two books to help adults keep the pressures to a minimum and the fun in the games. But it’s a start.

Messages for adults to Ease The Pressure

1.     Your world is not your child’s world. Do not make the athlete’s sporting events the whole focus of your day, week, month, and year. It’s OK to miss some of their games. That may lead to more discussion, too, because you were not there to see it.
 

2.     Talk to them about your work struggles from time to time and mention you look forward to making things better. They may act like they could care less but knowing you have annoying co-workers and other demanding issues is good for them to know.

3.     Friends, friends, friends. Emphasize their friendships are more important than grades and sports performance. Not all agree with this, but building a solid foundation of peers will pay off when you are not the only one they listen to.
 

4.     Along those lines, remind them that being a supportive teammate is as impressive as any good results they have. Tell them that if a choice between being a great player or a great teammate, the latter is best.

Messages for Youth Athletes from Adults to Ease the Pressure

I realize many of these are just words, but in time, they will resonate with players when adults’ actions mimic their words.  

1       “All that matters to me is that you do not give up on yourself.”

2.     “You don’t have to be great, and certainly not with everything you do.”

3.     “Look in the mirror daily, smile, and say I am a unique person.  The world needs more unique people than another sports’ star.”

4.     “Don’t dwell on the negatives. I see improvement and like what you did in other parts of your play.”   

5.     “You are not defined by what you do on the playing fields. This game is only a small part of your life.”

6.     “You are not defined by how you perform. The thing I care about is you try and care.”

7.     “Be grateful for the opportunity to play. Have fun and celebrate any success, no matter how small.

8.     “Setbacks come and go in sports. You don’t have to prove anything to yourself or others; just play to improve.”

9.     “I’m so proud of your work.”

10.  “Hard work usually pays off, but know that you have already won because of it.”

Finally, once aging, these lessons are apparent to me now, but for whatever reason, at the time, they weren’t. That’s part of being young and why parents and coaches must pass them on.

Some people look at a daunting opportunity and say, “That’s not for me.” Others consider it and say, “Bring it on.” I will do the latter and give my all, but that may not be enough. I may need a Beamonesque!

A Glimmer of Hope

“So you’re telling me there’s a chance?” The memorable line from the movie Dumb and Dumber didn’t allude to sports ambition, but it certainly applies. I think of it often when it comes to my marathon running dreams.

Let me start at the beginning. I have heard this dreaded question too often and for too many years to count, "Have you run the Boston Marathon?" It’s the one event that even non-runners have heard of, so it’s a question I receive from about everyone when they know I’m a runner.

My answer has been truthful, “No,” with a drooping face. You see, Boston is the gold standard when it comes to marathons. Its' the world's oldest annual marathon, going back to 1897, the year after the first Olympic Games. It took the recent global pandemic to halt the race from being held, as it occurred during both World Wars.

Here's the thing. If you can't say yes to that query, one's marathon's credibility is in short supply, and that is where I sit. But, perhaps no more? I have a plan! I mean a dream which has the same odds as the woman in Dumb and Dumber gave Jim Carrey, “More like one out of a million.” Being an optimist, I will take it.

And here’s a little more background. What makes Boston so distinguished is that not anyone can enter the race like most marathons. One must qualify for the Boston Marathon by being under a specific time in a previous race. It takes a time of 4 hours and 5 minutes for those aged 65 – 69 to qualify for Boston. Even my best time of 15 marathons has been a half-hour slower than that.

I have two options available as I see it. One, find at least a half-hour of speed, which is a terrifying thought at my age. Two, I could wait and hope to stay healthy because when I get to seventy years old, the time increases to qualify to four hours and twenty minutes. That second plan presents a serious “IF” and challenge. What to do? I will go for it and work to shave many minutes off my previous best, even with Father Time breathing down my neck. But it gets me to my thoughts of Bob Beamon and why I remain ever hopeful.

I know I’m dating myself with this one, so here goes for those who don’t know Bob Beamon. Although favored to win the gold in the 1968 Olympic long jump, Beamon broke the world record by an astonishing two feet. Up to that time, the record was broken by a few inches at a time. With a jump of 29.5 feet, he set a record that took 23 years to break and is still the Olympic record, 53 years and counting. The jump, which came out of nowhere, is still the second-longest wind-legal jump in history. Known as “The Perfect Jump,” it was written he was “The man who saw lightning.” Sports Illustrated named it one of the five greatest sports moments of the last century.

Beamonesque was used after Beamon’s record-breaking jump to describe spectacular feats. So, my mission, and I choose to accept it, is to pull off a Perconteesque and qualify for the Boston Marathon. Here’s the thing, the opportunity is there, and I must chase it down by following the opportunity trail.

Gratefulness

I have two months until official training for the Marine Corps Marathon, so along with some workouts, mental preparation is critical. It’s time to build up the excitement and dedication to give my all. That preparation begins with a quote by Chicago Bear great Mike Singletary, “Do you know what my favorite part of the game is? The opportunity to play.” That is a good line because I never want to take it for granted that I have been fortunate to stay healthy enough to be in the game. Every time I lace up the shoes, I give thanks.

Effort

Even with opportunity, Thomas Edison addresses a problem. He said, “Most people miss opportunity because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” Ah, no escaping the toil and tribulation that comes with reaching beyond the point one ever thought they could go. The road is never easy, but finding a way and giving what you got makes it all worth it.

Resilience  

And when Albert Einstein says something, it’s worth listening to, “In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” With any worthwhile endeavor, tough times will come. How one approaches them will determine the outcome. One can choose to look at something as impossible and never try to do it, or believe in a Bob Beamon moment and jump over the moon.   

Finally, race driver Bobby Unser knew the street where victory lives, “Success is where preparation and opportunity meet.” And I might add, help from the lightning never hurts.

Happy Trails!

This is worth mentioning on this day, and it gives me enormous bragging rights. As a further tease - only a handful of MLB players can say this?

I was one of the fortunate few who got to wear number “42” in the Show. Yes, I was given forty-two for my short stint with the Chicago White Sox. That memory is right up there with my few accomplishments on the big-league stage, and with each passing year, I consider it my proudest achievement.

Of course, I had little to do with being given the number, but it is remarkable, just the same. As most baseball people know, Jackie Robinson’s number 42 was retired for all major league teams years ago. I can’t wait to see every player wearing it today, knowing that was me many years ago. And a side note, another fact that few, if any, MLB players can say? For my first night with the White Sox, along with the number 42 on my jersey, was the name Preconte. I played with a misspelled last name for an entire game. That is how sports go; the low is never far behind every high. Ha.

Other personal connections to the great Jackie Robinson exist. As a kid and to many relatives to this day, I’m known as Jackie. And, I roamed 2nd base for a little while as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers, as Robinson did. Today, Jackie Robinson Day, is a highlight day for me, indeed!

As a warning, there will be a lot of questions in today’s success-themed article.

How do you know if you have a competitor’s mindset? That’s easy in a sense. After having a fantastic day on or off the field is your first self query, “What could I have done better?”

For example, after a 162-game season or after running a Marathon, one would think I would want to get far away from thoughts about them. Yes, for sure, but is that possible? No way. Once again, the competitor is in a constant state of analysis and immediately wonders why. Why didn’t I do this or that? When something is in your heart and soul, you cannot just drop all thoughts of it. I call it the curse of the competitor - no matter how tired one is or how successful one has been, complete satisfaction never comes. Immediate analysis occurs whether one wants it or not, and an initial plan for the next attempt formulates right away. A quick breakdown is an unavoidable outcome for the true competitor.   

The good news is that one’s analysis of an experience determines the success factor and that evaluation is under one’s control. I feel like I won each time I finished a marathon, despite slow times in each of over four hours and thirty minutes. The marathon winners complete it in under half that time. Similarly, despite being a mediocre major league baseball player, with only about 20,000 players ever playing in the major leagues, I view that as a significant success. Most importantly, I know I have won by passing on my knowledge in books and articles, even though they are not best sellers.  I believe those outcomes give me some insight into what brings success. And as mentioned many times in this blog, winning often comes without being the best or having the highest score.

The competitor’s analysis comes in the form of questions. Following are the ones I ask myself, knowing that answering them will allow one to move on and free the mind to get the eye of the tiger back.  

1.     What takeaways can I feel good about? Hopefully, there are more positives than negatives, but that is not always the case.

2.     Did I give what I had each day? Never as easy as it sounds.

3.     What were the significant inhibitors to accomplishments? These will include the physical and mental aspects.

4.     Did I make those around me better? Like above, that’s a goal but never that easy.

5.     What did I learn? This answer should fill a book.

6.     What can I do to be better the next time? Like above, plenty to point to.

7.     Where do I find the knowledge to improve? One should never rely entirely on themselves.  

And the most important questions of all.

8.     Did I enjoy the process, at least most of the time? Hard times are hard to like, but the competitor knows they come with the territory.

9.     Do I still have the same love as I used to? Pray that this answer is “yes.”

As long as one can answer yes to these last two, it’s worth giving it another try knowing the will to prepare again will be there.

Finally, check an MLB game out today and remind the kids of its significance.

Happy Trails!

No one said being a leader was easy. So, what does it take?

When I look back at the best coaches in my life, men like MLB manager Del Crandall, Murray State’s Johnny Reagan, and Joliet Catholic’s Gordie Gillespie, I realize I would run through the proverbial brick wall for them. FOr some unmentionables, I wanted no part of following. The mentioned brought out the best in everyone. The others brought out the opposite. Win or lose following a natural leader led to holding our heads high. However, playing for a jerk didn’t feel as fulfilling as expected, even when winning.

Of course, there are false leaders too. They lead in the present, but history proves they were what they were – only out for themselves or for a few, not for the masses. It bears to be careful who we follow – a story for another time.

Once again, I want to express that winning isn’t the scoreboard. Instead, it’s bringing out the best in oneself and others, no matter the result. After exploring the difference between the leaders and the not so much, I drew the following conclusions.  

Leaders:

1.     Are themselves in all situations. They understand they cannot be perfect, but they do not break, even when they must bend.

2.     Make things about others as much as themselves, walk the talk, and teach life lessons.   

3.     Show they care others have success, not just themselves, and never expect things they wouldn’t do.

4.     Are organized and prepared daily. Putting everyone in a position to succeed takes work and caring.

Use encouragement, not ridicule, for motivation. They look people in the eye with an expression, “I believe in you.”

Dispense expertise without self-importance and negativity, behaviors that do not inspire.

Get everyone to accept their roles with talk of trust and teamwork, which is not a simple task when dealing with many egos.

8.     Create environments with little fear of making mistakes by setting realistic expectations each day and spending the day trying to outdo them.

9.     Give concrete reasons for decisions, knowing “just because I said so” is no answer. They never believe they know it all or are unwilling to change.

10.  Finally, leaders do their best never to be the reason someone fails.  

Happy Trails!

I’ve been a coach for 34 years now. I make this point to let you know that role carries over into my writing. I have little to say if it weren’t for suggestions to help others improve. That is what coaches do; they offer their knowledge to open opportunities for improvement in the hopes of winning. I wish I had more answers, but every day presents a chance to find more of them, and as I find them, I pass them on. 

In the two eBooks I have coming out soon, I try to formulate “epic,” inspirational quotes like some of the iconic ones we’ve all heard in the past. Without further ado, here are some of my favorite sports quotes with a short analysis and MLB players that come to mind with the selection. 

Nerves of Steel

 “I sure do. When I stop getting nervous, I won’t be here.”  

Arnold Palmer

I love this comment because no one would expect it from an athlete that looked like he was having so much fun all the time. It’s comforting to know that nerves are even part of the best athletes. I feel connected to the great Arnold Palmer; I never played a game when I was not nervous, at any level.  The concept is something I pass on to kids - nerves are OK and natural. It is good if players feel tension because that gets the adrenaline going and heightens the senses.

I’m reminded of a few players I played against back in the day – Eddie Murray, George Brett, and Robin Yount. You would swear they were out at the beach just hanging with their buds with how relaxed they were on the field. I don’t know if they had nerves like me, but I know looks were deceiving as they were stone, cold competitors when it came to beating you, especially when the game was on the line. To play that relaxed and yet so fiercely was not something I could do.

Excuses, Not Him

“If you want to do something, you will find a way. If you don’t, you’ll find an excuse.”
Jim Rohn

Motivation speaker Jim Rohn’s insight is on target. Those, who focus on their goals until they are satisfied with their effort, get ahead. Those who look for shortcuts along the way never seem to succeed and wonder why. The second group has regrets someday. I am sure we all have some life regrets, but knowing we control giving our best minimizes them.

The MLB player who comes to mind is Kirk Gibson. He would have had a great excuse if he never pinch-hit in the first game of the 1988 World Series – he could barely walk. But instead of using the excuse, he hobbled up to the plate, grimaced with every swing, and then hit one of the most memorable home runs in history. He found a way, indeed.

Pressure Unpacked

MLB manager Joe Maddon nailed it when he said,

“Don’t ever permit the pressure to exceed the pleasure.”

This statement is ever more significant in today’s world. Many people have developed emotional issues because of the pressures of having to be the best and feeling that anything less makes them a failure. No matter its source, stress can alter our behavior; ask actor Will Smith, I joke. It is easier said than done to minimize self and outside pressure, but when winning and being the best isn’t the only goal, one can find pleasure in everything.  The striving to reach one’s potential is paramount to happiness, not the outcome.

One of the bests I recall handling pressure was Derek Jeter, one of the all-time great postseason players. I can only surmise how he did it but here goes. I believe he treated all games the same, whether in season or the post-season. That way, focus and playing hard came naturally, no matter the stakes. Second, he never tried to do more than he could by staying within his plan and limits. And, after all, he was the captain for a reason – he led by example.

Work Ethic, Bar None

“Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.”

Tim Notke – H.S. basketball coach

This one is so accurate as many talented people fall by the wayside only to see others with less talent progress to higher levels. Developing the gifts one has, whether they are strong or not, is the way to contentment.

I could easily name many less talented players who worked themselves into major league players. But when you have that talented player who outworks everyone else, you get a superstar and Hall of Famer. Such is the case with the great Carlton Fisk. Having had the pleasure of playing on the same team, I saw firsthand the work ethic of one of the greats. I often remember reporters and others wishing to talk to him after games, only to find out he was in the weight room working to be better. As if being at the park for eight hours already wasn’t enough, Carlton showed how champions do it - they combine their gifts with outworking all others. 

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The Sun Will Come out Tomorrow

“A smile is an inexpensive way to change your looks.”

Charles Gordy

Of course, this is not just a sports suggestion but a life one. Many athletes and people, in general, are perfectionists and never appear satisfied. It’s important to realize there will be ups and downs, but looking at the bright side can shape not only one’s attitude but others and even the results. Looking at losing and adversity as the nature of life and sport’s process keeps depression away.

One athlete comes to mind here, a former teammate who has left us way too soon. His unbreakable spirit led to of the most clutch home runs in Boston Red Sox history. Dave Henderson, “Hendu,” brought a smile to everything he did. I’m sure he dealt with many pressures from being a five-tool player with high expectations. However, you would never know it from the joyful expression on his face and bounce to his step. Thank you, Hendu; you are forever remembered.  

And another line that rings true.
“You’re never as good as everyone tells you when you win, and you’re never as bad as they say when you lose.” Lou Holtz

So true, and why we see teams go from last to first and vice versa.

Finally, it’s critical to give thanks for every new day as it offers the chance to prove ourselves to ourselves. Happy Trails!