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| None A five-tool player with even rarer wisdom March 10, 2011 12:14:33 PM Entry ID: 1871525 | SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Carlos Gonzalez regularly hits bullets at Rockies camp that have teammates in awe, he carries the potential to be the best all-around player in the league and he wears a smile at all times. He's only 25, yet he understands how good he is. And especially how he good he has it. A five-tool player with even rarer wisdom who led the National League with a .336 batting average, Gonzalez hit 36 home runs, stole 26 bases and won a Gold Glove in a breakout 2010 season. And he happily signed up for another seven years at $80 million this winter to remain with Colorado rather than wait for greater riches. He grew up in Maracaibo, Venezuela, and he understands how fortunate he is. He also has been through some very difficult times as a player, and as phenom who's already been traded twice and demoted, too, he understands that things aren't always greener elsewhere. He very likely would have made more money had he gone year-to-year with his contracts. But he looks around, and he feels content. He has no regrets. "I'm very happy with my decision,'' Gonzalez said. "I feel comfortable in Colorado. I feel comfortable with my teammates. I feel comfortable with the front office. This is the team that pushed me to be the best player I can be." That Gonzalez played it safe after finishing second in the NL with a .598 slugging percentage and took the deal offered doesn't mean he doesn't believe in himself, either. He believes he is lucky. 'I feel blessed to have the talent I have. I think it's a gift from God," he said. Beyond the five baseball tools he's been blessed with, Gonzalez also possesses humility and humor. He said he believed the Rockies were fair with him. His agent Scott Boras has semi-seriously lamented the fact that the Rockies were "too fair," meaning Gonzalez understandably felt he couldn't turn it down. Boras has made his greatest mark taking superstars to free agency, as he did twice with Alex Rodriguez and is about to do with Prince Fielder. But Gonzalez isn't one to go for the financial gusto. He took $150,000 as a gifted 16-year-old when others said he could possibly get $1 million. "Look at where I am now,'' he said to explain that call. He thought that early deal was fair. Same for this one. "I'm very happy with the numbers," Gonzalez, 25, said of his latest deal. "This is a great opportunity or me. This brings security for me and my family. Now my only worry is to play baseball. There are no other problems. It was very difficult or me to say no." |
| None "When I Look At The World" March 8, 2011 2:21:15 PM Entry ID: 1871142 | When you look at the world What is it that you see People find all kinds of things That bring them to their knees I see an expression So clear and so true That changes the atmosphere When you walk into the room So I try to be like you Try to feel it like you do But without you it's no use I can't see what you see When I look at the world When the night is someone else's And you're trying to get some sleep When your thoughts are too expensive To ever want to keep When there's all kinds of chaos And everyone is walking lame You don't even blink now, do you Or even look away So I try to be like you Try to feel it like you do But without you it's no use I can't see what you see When I look at the world I can't wait any longer I can't wait till I'm stronger I can't wait any longer To see what you see When I look at the world I'm in the waiting room Can't see for the smoke I think of you and your holy book While the rest of us choke Tell me, tell me, what do you see Tell me, tell me, what's wrong with me |
| None What Can Your Child Learn from a 104-Yr-Old Woman? March 7, 2011 12:44:34 PM Entry ID: 1870880 | Reporters interviewing a 104-year-old woman asked: "And what do you think is the best thing about being 104?" She simply replied, "No peer pressure." Peer pressure isn’t something a lot of 100+ year-olds worry about, but it should be a focus of dads who are raising pre-teens and teenagers. Talk to your kids about what to look for in friends, and communicate with your children that they can always come to you. What is the definition of friend? |
| None February 20, 2011 6:31:55 PM Entry ID: 1868020 | You come into this world with nothing so be prepared to leave with nothing. Enjoy life, your family your friends while you are on this earth, because what you’re left with when you leave will mean nothing.” |
| Josh Hamilton walked through a gutted-out room February 11, 2011 9:30:31 PM Entry ID: 1865734 | ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -- Josh Hamilton walked through a gutted-out room under construction near the Texas Rangers clubhouse. The AL MVP had just agreed to a two-year, $24 million contract. An incredible comeback for the former No. 1 overall draft pick whose career was derailed by well-documented cocaine and alcohol addictions after he got hurt in the minors. "I was sweeping places out like this seven years ago or whatever," he said. "This goes for anybody. It's awesome to think about what God can do in your life if you allow him to. ... It's just amazing." |
| None February 9, 2011 11:34:43 AM Entry ID: 1865195 | 'The Johns Family' Sending a gentle hug your way, to comfort you and to let you know that you're on our minds and in our hearts today. May God's Peace and unconditional love replace your heartache with warm and loving memories. The message today from Good Shepherd Pastor Thomas Spadaro was: 'Choose Life' that's what Ryan would want from all of us, more importantly the kids. |
| None Wake Forest Coach Donates Kidney to Player February 8, 2011 4:11:18 PM Entry ID: 1865075 | College coaches in all sports like to talk a lot about creating family atmospheres for their players, but it never really seems like that matters as much as winning and promoting their own careers on the backs of 19-year-olds. Tom Walter does things a little bit differently. He actually acts like a father in the hour of greatest need. The coach of Wake Forest's baseball team donated a kidney to freshman outfielder Kevin Jordan on Monday. Jordan got sick last year and his kidney function gradually got worse and worse until they were only functioning at 8 percent of their ability. No members of his actual family were compatible matches, but his coach was a good match, which led to what Walter called a "no-brainer decision." "I would do anything to help any one of my players or any of my family members-anything in my power to help them have a better quality of life is something that I want to do," Walter said. "Maybe it's something as little as helping mentor them in their academic pursuits, or helping them choose a major, or something of a greater magnitude like this. My No. 1 priorities in life are my family and my team and I'll do anything to help any one of those people." You hear words like that all the time. Rarely do you see people back them up so completely. The surgery was deemed a success and you can check out the full story at Baseball America for more from Walter, Jordan's father and others about this heartwarming gesture. Hopefully the scolds at the NCAA won't read the story because the Demon Deacons will probably wind up on probation for violating some arcane regulation. Just kidding, or so we hope. |
| None And who thought Greenbay would win it all? February 7, 2011 4:59:14 PM Entry ID: 1864875 | I bet Rogers believed, so they say he had some big shoes to fill with Brett? That's what happens to individuals who run around, it's all about them and in the end look what he accomplished. Damn, it doesn't matter what sport it is if you don't gel and play unselfishly you are doomed, you can have all the big name superstars that disrupt team chemistry it's all about them. Post 1/2/11 Championship teams evolve and come together ‘they get on a roll and take it all’, it may start with a game changing play, something significant that leads you to believe, which begins to arouse your faith, the interesting thing is when you begin to have faith your efforts change, your fundamentals take over and the team comes together and does the unthinkable, unbelievable they get on a roll they win. And Vince said: Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing. Nice job - Packers |
| Coach Our Future - What is Success? February 6, 2011 2:51:27 PM Entry ID: 1864688 | I attended a wake of a family/friend(49Yrs-Old) Friday night it appeared that he had it all together but unfortunately he over indulged in booze and did not take care of himself leaving a family of three without a husband and a father, Btw he hid it very well. Saturday evening I was informed about a kid over dosing Friday night (18 Year Old - know the family) his ‘FRIENDS’ thought he passed out after taking a mixed cocktail of blow, meth and zanax, only to try and wake him up after the 'PARTY' Saturday morning to find him dead. It really bothered me and my wife enough to ask WHY? what’s going on? Still to this moment disturbing. ‘ OUR FUTURE’ (KIDS) are losing the battle with addiction, it happens so innocently. Who are the role models that these kids are emulating? Kids observing adults having a good old time and over indulging. The kids can’t wait for the opportunity to experiment. Yes, Baseball and other sports may be at the top of your and your Child's list for the time being but in time, like all things that will change sooner than we think. Looking at the big picture, what is it that you really want Little Lenny to achieve in life? Friendships, Healthy Relationships, Positive Memories Good Education, Graduate High School, move on to College earn a College Degree and for some play College Ball and maybe a shot at the BIGS? Or simply be a productive part of society? -What Happened to being that healthy/positive role model that your kid needs, preparing him for the challenges ahead it’s hard to be their friend, and on the other hand being the parent and making the tough calls when needed, those decisions and tough times will make your kid and will earn you the respect that is needed. What’s wrong with an open and honest relationship with the kid? tell em like it is, no secrets in their face, no nonsense cut the BS and be honest?. It may not be easy at the time, but when all is said and done the tough decisions now that are uncomfortable and really challenging will play a big part and help him with choices he makes, setting rules and making them very CLEAR to the kid understanding the consequences, setting a foundation. ‘Refer To This As Tough Love” There are decisions in life that can be changed and there are decision that can’t be changed and life changing some will be with him forever. One thing for sure parents are not around much these days to busy trying to survive, and when they are some tend to look the other way and chose not to question little Lenny. There are tell tale signs that they ignore, who they are hanging out with? School grades? Money going through cash? Changed behaviors? Sleep habits attitude,losing interest, thelist goes on. What is it that I need to do? What do I do, that I do not want them to do? The Apples don’t fall to far from the tree. Could it be behaviors when they are around adults that are not healthy driving behaviors at times, over indulging, alcohol consumption drinking and driving, preaching to the kids never do it but yet it’s done how about occasional drug use? kids don’t miss much. Have you taken the time to think about it what really is important, when school is over? Think it’s competitive on the ball field? How about College? the working world? Corporate America is changing and it is getting tough. The boss says- Don’t like it? Leave there are a hundred waiting in line for your job. Kids need skills to compete and earn a living, as many a prospect on the ball field there is that many more in the real world, you need skills today whatever it is, bottom line little Lenny is going to need to earn a living. No training facilities as of today that you pay $5o bucks for a half hour session that are going to teach you how to survive in the real world. How about surrounding them with successful role models, men that have gone through it, played ball went to college and have graduated and are now working, hang with them pick their brain ask them about the lessons they learned going through the experience. I met a high school kid through a friend years ago that turned into being a very good friend of the family. He went onto to College earning his education while playing ball finishing up about four years ago, he spent countless hours working with many of the players through the years sharing knowledge. He even had a tryout and didn’t make it to the big’s but he had a good education and today is making a living, traveling the country met a lady plans on getting married in Sept, that kid taught me more than he could ever imagine, I can’t think of a finer young man / role model than Brian P, hats off to his mom and dad for a great job. So what is success? is it going to be considered failure if little Lenny doesn't make it big time? Or have we been successful when Lenny graduates high school and earns a college degree and pursues a career, one day marries? Has a family and is a productive part of society? Will that be success? |
| Pettite:I have lost the Hunger February 5, 2011 12:37:55 PM Entry ID: 1864522 | NEW YORK (AP) -- Andy Pettitte kept putting off a final decision, until his wife told him in late January that it was time. "I was starting to get a little irritable," he said. "And so she basically booted me and said, 'Go figure this out.'" So he drove four hours from his home in Deer Park, Texas, to his ranch near the Mexican border. "I'm going to play," he remembered thinking. "The fans, the Yankees need me to play. I'm going to play. My wife supports it. My kids support it." And then he thought some more. "When I digged deep down in and I did some soul-searching -- I don't even know how to explain," he said. "It wasn't there. It wasn't there like I wanted it to be there." He returned home, then took his family to the ranch, waiting to make sure there was no more wavering. On Tuesday night, he called Brian Cashman to give the general manager the verdict: One of the most accomplished pitching careers in Yankees history was over. Pettitte was retiring after 16 major league seasons, 13 in pinstripes and five of those ending with World Series titles. With his wife, Laura, sitting by his side in the Yankee Stadium press room, Pettitte spent nearly two hours Friday talking in his Texas twang about the pressure he felt to return, of a "tremendous obligation" he felt after Cliff Lee spurned the Yankees for Philadelphia. At 38, his hair around the temples is gray and white. His back, elbow and groin ached during the season, but his 11-3 record was sufficient proof he could deal with it. The fire, however, to compete from April through October had vanished, a realization that grew on him during the two months he spent on the disabled list with a leg injury last summer. "I didn't want to come back and be bad," he said. Pettitte said he told Cashman on Jan. 9 that he would seriously consider one more season. But as the time neared when he would have to pack for spring training, Pettitte couldn't bring himself to leave. I just feel like that my heart is not fully, completely sold out to do this again, and to do what I feel like I need to do as a player on the New York Yankees," he said. "It just didn't feel right for me anymore, didn't have the hunger, the drive that I felt like I needed." |
| Your “Life Sentence” January 29, 2011 8:36:54 AM Entry ID: 1861312 | Your “Life Sentence” Posted: 28 Jan 2011 12:27 AM PST “Good people live right.” Eventually your life will be summarized in a single sentence. What will your “life sentence” be? If you live intentionally, people at your funeral won’t be left to wonder. Will you get it all exactly right? No. But, “Good people live right, and God blesses the children who follow their example.” Your life is your greatest legacy, and you’ve only got one, so make it count. Leave: (1) A legacy of excellence. In his book Leadership Gold, John Maxwell has a chapter entitled, “Don’t send your ducks to eagle school.” In it he writes, “Ducks are not supposed to be eagles—nor do they want to be. Who they are is who they should be. Ducks have their area of expertise, that’s where they excel.” (2) A legacy of encouragement. It’s said, “Some cause happiness wherever they go others cause happiness whenever they leave.” Are you the kind of person someone will call ten or twenty years from now and say, “Thanks, I couldn’t have made it without you?” (3) A legacy of purpose. We’re most energized when we’re investing our strengths and talents into a God-given purpose. So make your life about something bigger than yourself. You won’t live forever, but you can live on through the impact you make now. (4) A legacy of love. Jon Gordon says, “My Mom…passed away a few years ago…I don’t recall her faults and mistakes or the disagreements we had. After all, who’s perfect? What I remember…was her love. She gave me a legacy of love that’ll embrace generations to come.” |
| None January 22, 2011 11:04:59 PM Entry ID: 1860120 | Long you live and high you'll fly, and smiles you'll give and tears you'll cry and all you touch and all you see, is all your life will ever be..... We don't need no education We don't need no thought control No dark sarcasm in the classroom Teachers leave them kids alone Hey teacher leave them kids alone All in all it's just another brick in the wall ----Pink Floyd |
| FWIW January 2, 2011 5:13:51 PM Entry ID: 1855623 | On my way to work this morning, I was listening to 1050-ESPN. They were talking about the last weekend of football going into the playoffs. THERE WAS A MESSAGE- How do you play this week’s game, depending on whether you have a playoff bid or not? They went on to talk about how championship teams evolve and come together ‘they get on a roll and take it all’, it may start with a game changing play, something significant that leads you to believe, which begins to arouse your faith, the interesting thing is when you begin to have faith your efforts change, your fundamentals take over and the team comes together and does the unthinkable, unbelievable they get on a roll they win. • What are the basic fundamental activities that are performed on a repetitive basis each day that make or break your team’s ability to win or lose? They Mentioned Vince Lombardi - The famous Football coach said often ‘ Football is blocking and tackling, the rest is methodologies. Remember the championship game in the late ‘60’s between the Packers and the Cowboys? The played in frozen Green Bay. The outcome of the game came down to the end of the fourth quarter. The Packers had the ball on the Cowboys one foot line with very little time left and 4th down. Bart Starr, took the snap scoring on a quarterback sneak with no time left to win the game. This game was won not with a long pass or the fancy footwork of a runner. The game was won because one of the linemen created just enough space with a great block that Starr was able to push himself over the goal line. Thousands of hours of practice and training had paid off handsomely at the end of that game. That game was all about blocking and tackling. One of his most famous quotes "Winning isn't everything it's the only thing". Simple as a decision to be a player: Followed up with action, accountability, lastly taking pride in what we do making a difference. |
| None December 21, 2010 8:47:24 PM Entry ID: 1853694 | When one door closes another door opens. People are too often attached to the past, to what they are familiar with, and therefore miss opportunities that stand right in front of them. Doors may close, but there are always unlimited numbers of doors – new opportunities. The world is full of opportunities, if we could only see them. The Infinite Power is infinite, and so the possibilities are without number. Not every plan works out, there are losses and failures, there are problems in relationships, loss of money or job, sometimes unpleasant things happen. We don’t always have control over these happenings, but we can exercise control over our attention and attitude. When one of these things happens and we focus our attention on the loss – the closed door, we see only a closed door with the resultant frustration and unhappiness, but if we could only move our sight and attention away from the closed door, we might be surprised to discover a row of open new doors. It might not be so easy to move our eyes elsewhere due various reasons, such as attachment to the old and familiar, and fear of the new and the unknown. Many find it difficult to stop their stream of controlled thoughts, and consequently their mind keep focusing on the loss, failure, and frustration – the door that has closed. Will these thoughts help in anything, except of creating suffering and preventing any change and improvement? You might agree with what is being said here, but how can you free yourself past attachments and see new opportunities? How can you bring yourself to realize, see look and enter the new doors that open for you? |
| Times are Changing Long Island December 15, 2010 7:43:09 AM Entry ID: 1852497 | Sometimes dissatisfaction is called for. A state of discomfort may lead to growth. We can't always see that our short-term discomfort may be for our long-term gain. When eagles have offspring, they are hatched into a nest lined with soft feathers. The nest is very comfortable for them and they grow up in that safe, warm environment. When the time comes for them to leave the nest and take flight, they are often unwilling to leave the comfort and safety of the only 'home' they have ever known. In order for the parent eagles to get their young to leave the nest, they must make the nest uncomfortable. They systematically remove the soft feathers and other material until all that remains are sharp and uncomfortable twigs. Eventually the eaglet becomes very dissatisfied and uncomfortable and it is this state that prods it into taking the next step...and into flight. |
| Delusional - VS - Reality WOW December 9, 2010 10:37:34 PM Entry ID: 1851646 | Academics, Education, Athletics, four years of College earn your degree, find a career, make a living, raise a family. Live, Love, Laugh, in the end everything else is bullshit. |
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FWIW - 'A good Read'
Parents invest more time, hope and money in youth December 6, 2010 12:46:52 PM Entry ID: 1850680 | http://www.houmatoday.com/article/20101002/ARTICLES/100929204?p=1&tc=pg Something changed over the past generation or so with the games kids play, and the expectations parents have for what was once leisure time. The games became sports, professionalized and organized and codified and monetized. As parents have become more integrated in their kids’ leisure time, a social transformation that extends beyond athletics, their investment in youth sports has risen exponentially. In time. In dollars. In the future. Then there are parents who look at these sports-related expenditures as an investment in the future — namely a college scholarship that, given spiraling tuition costs, could pay off handsomely. But for most that last reasoning is a fool’s chase: On average, 2 percent of high school athletes receive athletic scholarships. And if you’re looking at a professional career for your kid, the odds in most sports are equally long for making the transition from college to the pros. Dream, it's great to have dreams and believe, but be realistic, there is always an exception... |
| Hamilton wins AL MVP award November 26, 2010 12:46:53 PM Entry ID: 1848829 | "I do reflect. If I didn't reflect, 'I' might start sneaking in there, a little ego might start sneaking in there, and that's one thing I don't want to happen," Hamilton said. "So I do reflect and I think about where I was at my lowest time." Teammate say his story motivates them. "It's awesome, everybody makes mistakes in their lives and everybody deserves a second chance," Rangers teammate David Murphy said before voting was announced. "A lot of people don't take advantage of that second chance. But he took it and he ran with it." |
| None October 15, 2010 11:13:04 AM Entry ID: 1836041 | (CNN) -- Baseball's League Championship Series' start Friday with the New York Yankees taking on the Texas Rangers for the American League title. The winner will go to the World Series against the victor in the National League Championship series between the Philadelphia Phillies and San Francisco Giants. The Phillies-Giants series starts Saturday and will be televised on Fox. TBS analyst Ron Darling spoke to CNN about compelling people and stories that will interest even the most casual fans and about how the baseball we'll be watching is radically different than the game we saw just a few years ago. This is an edited transcript: CNN: Has this been an extraordinary post-season for pitching, or does it always improve in the playoffs? Ron Darling: I think what has been extraordinary is that all the pitchers, whether they came through trades (Phillies with Roy Halladay and Roy Oswalt Texas with Cliff Lee) or up through the farm system like the San Francisco Giants, or a free agent like CC Sabathia in New York, the great thing about it is they all deliver. CNN: What were your thoughts on the Texas Rangers celebrating their division series win over Tampa Bay with ginger ale instead of champagne because their star, Josh Hamilton, is recovering from drug and alcohol abuse? Darling: I thought it was one of the special moments of the post-season. There are a lot of people affected by alcoholism and drug addiction in this country, and a lot of people feel alone in their battle against those two addictions. And to see an entire ball club get behind their player's problem and have empathy and sympathy for his problems was just one of the special things. |
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Coach
Long Island Ny - 'Team Express' September 10, 2010 7:23:45 PM Entry ID: 1825550 | Just a few dads having fun, living life, living the dream, making a difference, when it's all said and done we will have no regrets, life is good! To have this once in a lifetime opportunity to volunteer our time and coach/teach this team of talented young men and accomplish all that we have is beyond our wildest dreams. Thank God an education allowed us to be the professionals we are and make an honest living. Thank the good lord, we have been surrounded with winning dads that share the same passion that we do and chose to be part of a winning team. Soon, soon it will all be a memory, and a darn good one.... Thanks |
| Express Baseball 2010 WWBA 2013 Grads or 15u National Championship August 6, 2010 8:25:45 PM Entry ID: 1813621 | Congratulations to the LI Express 15u Players, Coaches and families for a job well done representing Long Island NY playing in the 2010 WWBA 2013 Grads or 15u National Championship East Cobb Georgia the week of 7/20/2010 - 7/25/2010. 07/20/2010 33 2:00 PM US Athletic Nationals 5 Long Island Express 10 Centennial HS 07/21/2010 65 9:00 AM Long Island Express 2 Dulin Dodgers 14u 6 Marietta HS 07/22/2010 130 11:30 AM Long Island Express 4 Team Georgia 15U 2 East Cobb Complex 07/23/2010 182 9:00 AM Long Island Express 11 Columbus Cobras 15U 6 Pope HS 07/23/2010 228 4:30 PM Long Island Express 2 Indiana Prospects 7 Pope HS |
| Coach Long Island June 13, 2010 10:41:51 PM Entry ID: 1799668 | Nicely done 15U team playing 16u BBH Summer Classic tourney this past weekend a well played Championship game - 27 - and counting. We are who we are, not to high not to low, a business like attitude, good work ethic come to play team. It's about winning, but not at all cost or at the risk of an injury to a player. You live and die by one swing of the bat. Hats off to all players and families, this past weekend was another great weekend of baseball. Tic Toc...................... |
| Coach Long Island June 3, 2010 2:32:45 PM Entry ID: 1796418 | You want real history? You want genuine history? Take a 28-year-old journeyman pitcher with a 20-18 lifetime record. Have him throw a perfect game, then have that perfect game taken away on a literal last-breath call. Watch him accept the umpire's apology afterward with class and heart watch him hug the man as he cries in his arms watch him earn the respect of a nation eternally longing for heroes. Watch him become a singular beacon of righteousness. That's Armando Galarraga. That's a hero. That's historic. |
| Coach 2010 May 16, 2010 1:12:56 PM Entry ID: 1790863 | A milestone passed, new things begun, dreams as shining as the sun, a goal achieved, a victory won! That's Graduation! ~Unknown |
| Coach Long Island April 19, 2010 4:24:48 PM Entry ID: 1782299 | Dream it, Vision it, Plan it, Communicate it, Live it, Surround yourself with winners, Work your butt off, Be a team player, Enjoy the rewards. No need to waste anymore time, life is flying by and today is almost over. Do I want to be part of the problem or part of the solution? It's only a decision. On the baseball diamond many dreams can come true. Whatever they may be respect, courage, team spirit or just playing ball, we are trying to help our players fulfill theirs. "Some people make things happen, some people watch what happens and some people wonder what happened. We try to surround ourselves with people who can achieve the former." "We believe in work, work is how you get better." |
