Greetings Nick!
With the MLB Draft coming up and high school and college programs winding down, this is a piece that will serve as a reminder that for all of the equity you’ll build up for the good deeds generated from the 2012 season and career, it’s that one ill-timed mistake that can derail your dreams in a split second, tarnish your name and ruin your financial earning capabilities?
During my own career working in sports, I’ve seen two players - minor league and NHL level – die in separate alcohol-related car crashes that stemmed from late night team parties that each took place the night of the final game after a season had come to a close.
When I worked with the Washington Capitals in the 1980s, Len Bias was an All-American basketball player with the University of Maryland. One of the truly great pro prospects ever seen! Bias was the 2nd overall pick in the 1986 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics. Two days after his selection, Bias flew to Boston to meet the Celtics’ media and sign one of the richest shoe endorsement contracts (at the time) with Reebok for a reported $3-Million.
Bias flew back home later that night and drove back to his college campus. He attended a dorm party to celebrate his new-found wealth. Reports say Bias took a dose of cocaine (which likely induced cardiac arrhythmia) and shockingly was pronounced dead at 8:55 AM.
Six days after his draft selection, millions on the way and a childhood dream now coming to fruition, Bias, instead was laid inside of a wooden casket and mourned by more than 11,000 people at his college basketball arena where he created his legend. I actually attended the Bias funeral. It was one of the saddest days ever witnessed. I will never forget the memory of (then Celtics’ captain) Larry Bird presenting the mother of Len Bias - who was crying profusely - with her son’s NBA Jersey that he would never wear (nor any other player in team history as it was immediately retired) all because of ONE MISTAKE.
Switching gears, this past week a national story about a football player name Brian Banks captured headlines everywhere. He was a former high school star linebacker in Long Beach, CA. In the summer of 2002, Banks was preparing for his senior year at age 17 and was among the nation’s best at his position. He was already awarded a scholarship from Pete Carroll and the USC Trojans when Banks was accused of rape and kidnapping -- falsely, as it turned out -- by a fellow student. Banks maintained his innocence, but faced up to 41 years in prison for the charges levied against him. Based on the advice of his legal counsel, he chose to plead guilty in exchange for a five-year sentence. Upon his release, he spent another five years on parole. He was required to register as a sex offender and wear a monitoring device. His life wasn't his own, all because of a conviction for a crime.
This week, through a remarkable turn of events. Banks’ accuser recanted her story that has led to the dismissal of his conviction, making him truly free. Exonerated. Banks, now 26, is working out with a trainer with the hopes that an NFL team will give him a tryout to possibly realize his childhood dream of playing pro football after surrendering the last ten years of his life and freedom.
Fellas, have fun, no question. You deserve it! But be very careful with the company you keep; the time of day and location. You are one cell phone picture away from a PR Nightmare that could cost you a career, a lifetime of wealth and fame after you busted your chops for so many years to get that one chance at the big leagues!
My best always my friend!
Jim Loria
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Words from a sign that hangs on display in the Tampa Bay Rays’ player clubhouse: "Integrity Doesn't Require Rules!"
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“The legacy of heroes is the memory of a great name and the inheritance of a great example” – stated by Benjamin Disraeli, British Prime Minister in the 1800s
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ALWAYS REMEMBER … “The reputation of a thousand years may be determined by the conduct of one hour” – Japanese Proverb
###
Jim Loria
E-Mail: loria@sfstampede.com
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Saturday, May 26, 2012
For Nick! RE: Weekly Motivational Piece - May 26, 2012
Greetings Nick!
With the MLB Draft coming up, many of you that are eligible in 2012 will have some tough decisions ahead to consider and make. I wanted to focus some of my helpful quotes this week on “decisions”. Hope some of these may serve as a stimulant for you! TO OTHERS, THAT HAVE MOVED PAST THE DRAFT OR ARE NON-ELIGIBLE THIS YEAR, YOU WILL STILL ENJOY THE QUOTES BELOW VERY MUCH!!
For those that have been receiving my weekly stories and took time to reshape and package yourself throughout 2011-12, this is where your body of work away from the field can definitely help elevate your final draft grade. I’ve been in the business side of marketing players for a number of years and have been in big league club war rooms many times on draft days. I can tell you wholeheartedly that MLB clubs pay heavy attention towards the evaluation of a player’s character, his maturity and the overall humanizing efforts of your work in the community. They can all serve as the "tie-breaker" when team's decide on which players to choose and how much they are willing to invest in a prospect!
One of my past jobs in the National Hockey League (that I brought to my 17-20-year-old Major Junior players of today) was to teach our players how to SMILE, to speak and interview in a professional manner with our local media and how to effectively energize and communicate to our fan base! These are skills that can pay immediate and long-term dividends for you! It's very important to show the sports world that you CARE!
All the best once more Nick! Much success on the field this weekend my friend!
Jim Loria
---------------------------------------------------------------------
“Unfortunately many athletes are so focused on getting into professional sports that they never think beyond that. The goal isn’t to get to the pros, it’s to stay in the pros. Do you want to be a first-round pick, sign a rookie contract, and then be out of the League after a couple of seasons? Or is your goal to have a 10-year career and not care where you’re drafted” – stated by an unknown author
---------------------------------------------------------------------
“It’s not what’s happening to you now or what has happened in your past that determines who you become. Rather, it’s your decisions about what to focus on, what things mean to you, and what you’re going to do about them that will determine your ultimate destiny” – spoken by Anthony Robbins, American self-help author and success coach
----------------------------------------------------------------------
“High achievers spot opportunities swiftly, make big decisions quickly and move into action immediately. Follow these principles and you can make your dreams come true” – stated by Robert H. Schuller, Entrepreneur and Author, 1926
----------------------------------------------------------------------
“When your values are clear to you, making decisions becomes easier” – stated by Roy Disney, brother of Walt Disney
---------------------------------------------------------------------
“Develop an attitude of gratitude, and give thanks for everything that happens to you, knowing that every step forward is a step toward achieving something bigger and better than your current situation” – stated by Brian Tracy
---------------------------------------------------------------------
“A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way” – stated by John Maxwell
---------------------------------------------------------------------
“I don't believe you have to be better than everybody else. I believe you have to be better than you ever thought you could be” – stated by Ken Venturi, former Pro Golfer, Broadcaster and Sports Illustrated’s 1964 Sportsman-of-the-Year
---------------------------------------------------------------------
“There is no such thing as ‘great talent’ without ‘great will power’” – stated by Honore de Balzac, French novelist and playwright
###
Jim Loria
E-Mail: loria@sfstampede.com
With the MLB Draft coming up, many of you that are eligible in 2012 will have some tough decisions ahead to consider and make. I wanted to focus some of my helpful quotes this week on “decisions”. Hope some of these may serve as a stimulant for you! TO OTHERS, THAT HAVE MOVED PAST THE DRAFT OR ARE NON-ELIGIBLE THIS YEAR, YOU WILL STILL ENJOY THE QUOTES BELOW VERY MUCH!!
For those that have been receiving my weekly stories and took time to reshape and package yourself throughout 2011-12, this is where your body of work away from the field can definitely help elevate your final draft grade. I’ve been in the business side of marketing players for a number of years and have been in big league club war rooms many times on draft days. I can tell you wholeheartedly that MLB clubs pay heavy attention towards the evaluation of a player’s character, his maturity and the overall humanizing efforts of your work in the community. They can all serve as the "tie-breaker" when team's decide on which players to choose and how much they are willing to invest in a prospect!
One of my past jobs in the National Hockey League (that I brought to my 17-20-year-old Major Junior players of today) was to teach our players how to SMILE, to speak and interview in a professional manner with our local media and how to effectively energize and communicate to our fan base! These are skills that can pay immediate and long-term dividends for you! It's very important to show the sports world that you CARE!
All the best once more Nick! Much success on the field this weekend my friend!
Jim Loria
---------------------------------------------------------------------
“Unfortunately many athletes are so focused on getting into professional sports that they never think beyond that. The goal isn’t to get to the pros, it’s to stay in the pros. Do you want to be a first-round pick, sign a rookie contract, and then be out of the League after a couple of seasons? Or is your goal to have a 10-year career and not care where you’re drafted” – stated by an unknown author
---------------------------------------------------------------------
“It’s not what’s happening to you now or what has happened in your past that determines who you become. Rather, it’s your decisions about what to focus on, what things mean to you, and what you’re going to do about them that will determine your ultimate destiny” – spoken by Anthony Robbins, American self-help author and success coach
----------------------------------------------------------------------
“High achievers spot opportunities swiftly, make big decisions quickly and move into action immediately. Follow these principles and you can make your dreams come true” – stated by Robert H. Schuller, Entrepreneur and Author, 1926
----------------------------------------------------------------------
“When your values are clear to you, making decisions becomes easier” – stated by Roy Disney, brother of Walt Disney
---------------------------------------------------------------------
“Develop an attitude of gratitude, and give thanks for everything that happens to you, knowing that every step forward is a step toward achieving something bigger and better than your current situation” – stated by Brian Tracy
---------------------------------------------------------------------
“A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way” – stated by John Maxwell
---------------------------------------------------------------------
“I don't believe you have to be better than everybody else. I believe you have to be better than you ever thought you could be” – stated by Ken Venturi, former Pro Golfer, Broadcaster and Sports Illustrated’s 1964 Sportsman-of-the-Year
---------------------------------------------------------------------
“There is no such thing as ‘great talent’ without ‘great will power’” – stated by Honore de Balzac, French novelist and playwright
###
Jim Loria
E-Mail: loria@sfstampede.com
Friday, May 18, 2012
FOR: Nick RE: Weekly Motivational Piece - May 17, 2012
Greetings Nick!
Many times we have talked before about the word “confidence” and how much you need to exercise your “mindset” to the point where you are cleansed from any and all negative thoughts. When your Mind is fully in tune with your body down below, it is only then that your true skills on the field will be unleashed and or enhanced from perhaps a level you’ve never seen.
Take Matt Kemp of the Los Angeles Dodgers. We all know he just put together one of the greatest opening months in baseball history at the plate before an aggravated hamstring strain sidelined him last weekend. Looking back at his first five big league seasons, Kemp batted over .300 once and flirted with the triple digit plateau a few more times before he absolutely bottomed out in 2010 with a .249 mark and a career high 170 K’s.
Some blamed it on his Hollywood romance with singer Rihanna as a distraction. The man you may consider to be one of the two best players in the game today (with Josh Hamilton) was verbally beaten down by his own Dodgers’ organization. So much so that Kemp actually dreaded going to work to play the game. His mindset just wasn’t there. Evident to everyone. He was being labeled one of the biggest underachievers. His own coaches (Bob Schaefer and Larry Bowa) were very open in their disdain, thinking he cared more about the Hollywood scene than baseball. Manager Joe Torre benched him. GM Ned Colletti even called out Kemp in a radio interview.
"That was a bad year (2010)," Kemp says. "Everything was just so out of whack. It's hard to play well when you're not having fun or you're not happy. I wasn't happy at all that year, and it showed." He was gaining a label as a problem child. Motivation was questioned. Attitude was a concern. "I expect to have a good year every year, and if I don't, I'm disappointed, like (2010)," Kemp said. "But I looked at that year as a learning experience. The game is very humbling, and I was humbled. This game is based on failure, so you have to be mentally strong. I don't play this game to be mediocre. I don't want to be just all right. I play this game to be the best. That's not being cocky. That's just being confident."
How did Kemp rebuild his confidence and overcome the dark days of 2010 and even some years before when the game didn’t click in as it seems to now? He moved to Arizona in the winter following that slump-ridden season, re-dedicated himself and entered a rigorous six-day-a-week training program. Kemp worked out with a running coach at Arizona State to improve his base-stealing and with a personal hitting coach to eliminate the at-bats he felt he gave away in 2010. He hired a Chef to improve his diet after reading that NFL star Ray Lewis did it, lost 20 pounds but firmed up.
He came to the 2011 spring training focused and with a different mindset. Former major leaguer player Junior Spivey, a friend of Kemp’s, said: "He went back to what that got him there, and being the Matt Kemp that was so hungry. He's a fighter, and that dude does not like losing. He wants to win more than anyone."
Now, to maintain that confidence, Kemp wakes up every morning to study videos of the day's opposing pitcher. Shows up early to the stadium and puts in the work in order to be successful. "He's a monster, that's the bottom line," says Colorado Rockies’ manager Jim Tracy, who managed Kemp in the Dodgers’ farm system. "To see what his character has become, and his energy on the field … I didn't see that two years ago (2010) in him and even before.”
I want to reprint the comment I posted last week from David Freese of the St. Louis Cardinals. In many ways he echoed what Matt Kemp stated: “You have to understand that the game of baseball isn’t going to run away from you. You have to attack the game, and ‘Confidence’ is a huge part of baseball or anything in life.”
Fellas - Rededicate yourself now to your craft. All successful people no matter what walk of life you choose have never found success by working 9-5. You have to put in the time and develop a plan just as Matt Kemp and the many others before him. It all started when Matt’s mind spoke to his body. That’s the key!
All the best this weekend! Keep believing in you always! Cheering for you my friend!
Jim Loria
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“Self-pity is our worst enemy and if we yield to it, we can never do anything wise in this world” – stated by Helen Keller, author and first person - deaf and blind – in history to earn a college degree
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“We must all suffer one of two things: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret or disappointment” – stated by Jim Rohn, self-help author
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“Always remember, you accomplish victory step-by-step, not by leaps and bounds” – stated by Lyn St. James, Indy Race Car Driver
###
Jim Loria
E-Mail: loria@sfstampede.com
Thursday, May 10, 2012
FOR NICK! RE: Weekly Motivational Piece - May 10, 2012
Greetings Nick!
This week, I thought I would provide you with some terrific quotes from players associated with Major League Baseball. Enjoy the feedback!
REMEMBER IT IS MOTHER’S DAY SUNDAY! Be sure to thank your Mom for giving you life, and for her year’s of love, guidance and teachings as well as a gene pool that brought you such an amazing gift – skills to possibly become a big league ballplayer one day!
All the best my friend! Continued success!
Jim Loria
------------------------------------------------------------
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS’ 2011 WORLD SERIES HERO DAVID FREESE ON BATTLING HIS WAY FROM THE BASEMENT LEVELS OF BASEBALL TO NEW-FOUND STARDOM: “You have to understand that the game of baseball isn’t going to run away from you. You have to attack the game, and confidence is a huge part of baseball or anything in life.”
------------------------------------------------------------
BASEBALL LEGEND JIM THOME ON HIS ADVICE TO YOUNGER PLAYERS … “Baseball is a basket. Every day you put something in it, but it takes a long time to fill. So just try to be consistent. Play the game. Try not to get too high or too low. Besides, when you think you’ve got it figured out, you don’t. I’ve experienced a lot of failure, but in the long run it’s helped me succeed.”
--------------------------------------------------------------
PITCHING ADVICE … Los Angeles Dodgers’ manager Don Mattingly on when he knew Clayton Kershaw arrived and became his team’s ace of the staff? ”We always knew what Clayton had, but he started to show it. It started with keeping his pitch count down. He used more of his pitches, got the early outs but still got a lot of strikeouts. He didn’t go 0-2 and then wait ‘til 3-2 to put a guy away. His attitude was, ‘Let’s get this over with!’”
---------------------------------------------------------------
“The most important part of a player's body is above his shoulders” - stated by baseball’s legendary Ty Cobb. REMEMBER FELLAS WHAT I’VE BEEN PREACHING FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS – EXERCISE YOUR MIND AS MUCH AS YOUR BODY! WHEN YOUR MIND IS 100% SOLD, CONFIDENT AND CLUTTER FREE, IT WILL UNLEASH YOUR SKILLS AND ALLOW THEM TO TRULY SHINE THROUGH!
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“A Full Mind is an Empty Bat” – stated by Branch Rickey, a former Major League Baseball executive who was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1967. He was best known for breaking Major League Baseball's color barrier by signing Jackie Robinson; for drafting the first Hispanic superstar (Roberto Clemente) and for creating the framework of today’s modern minor league farm system
-----------------------------------------------------------------
SPECIAL WORDS OF WISDOM …
Don't wait for time. Make it.
Don't wait for the path. Find it.
Don't wait for opportunity. Create it.
Don't go for less. Get the best.
Don't compare. Be unique.
Don't fight your misfortune. Transform it.
Don't avoid failure. Use it.
Don't dwell on mistake. Learn from it.
Don't back down. Go around.
Don't close your eyes. Open your mind.
Don't run for life. Embrace it.
###
Jim Loria
E-Mail: loria@sfstampede.com
This week, I thought I would provide you with some terrific quotes from players associated with Major League Baseball. Enjoy the feedback!
REMEMBER IT IS MOTHER’S DAY SUNDAY! Be sure to thank your Mom for giving you life, and for her year’s of love, guidance and teachings as well as a gene pool that brought you such an amazing gift – skills to possibly become a big league ballplayer one day!
All the best my friend! Continued success!
Jim Loria
------------------------------------------------------------
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS’ 2011 WORLD SERIES HERO DAVID FREESE ON BATTLING HIS WAY FROM THE BASEMENT LEVELS OF BASEBALL TO NEW-FOUND STARDOM: “You have to understand that the game of baseball isn’t going to run away from you. You have to attack the game, and confidence is a huge part of baseball or anything in life.”
------------------------------------------------------------
BASEBALL LEGEND JIM THOME ON HIS ADVICE TO YOUNGER PLAYERS … “Baseball is a basket. Every day you put something in it, but it takes a long time to fill. So just try to be consistent. Play the game. Try not to get too high or too low. Besides, when you think you’ve got it figured out, you don’t. I’ve experienced a lot of failure, but in the long run it’s helped me succeed.”
--------------------------------------------------------------
PITCHING ADVICE … Los Angeles Dodgers’ manager Don Mattingly on when he knew Clayton Kershaw arrived and became his team’s ace of the staff? ”We always knew what Clayton had, but he started to show it. It started with keeping his pitch count down. He used more of his pitches, got the early outs but still got a lot of strikeouts. He didn’t go 0-2 and then wait ‘til 3-2 to put a guy away. His attitude was, ‘Let’s get this over with!’”
---------------------------------------------------------------
“The most important part of a player's body is above his shoulders” - stated by baseball’s legendary Ty Cobb. REMEMBER FELLAS WHAT I’VE BEEN PREACHING FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS – EXERCISE YOUR MIND AS MUCH AS YOUR BODY! WHEN YOUR MIND IS 100% SOLD, CONFIDENT AND CLUTTER FREE, IT WILL UNLEASH YOUR SKILLS AND ALLOW THEM TO TRULY SHINE THROUGH!
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“A Full Mind is an Empty Bat” – stated by Branch Rickey, a former Major League Baseball executive who was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1967. He was best known for breaking Major League Baseball's color barrier by signing Jackie Robinson; for drafting the first Hispanic superstar (Roberto Clemente) and for creating the framework of today’s modern minor league farm system
-----------------------------------------------------------------
SPECIAL WORDS OF WISDOM …
Don't wait for time. Make it.
Don't wait for the path. Find it.
Don't wait for opportunity. Create it.
Don't go for less. Get the best.
Don't compare. Be unique.
Don't fight your misfortune. Transform it.
Don't avoid failure. Use it.
Don't dwell on mistake. Learn from it.
Don't back down. Go around.
Don't close your eyes. Open your mind.
Don't run for life. Embrace it.
###
Jim Loria
E-Mail: loria@sfstampede.com
Thursday, May 3, 2012
FOR NICK: WEEKLY MOTIVATIONAL PIECE - MAY 3, 2012
“Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habits. Watch your habits; they become character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny” – stated by Frank Outlaw
Greetings Nick!
Many of you have heard me speak on character issues and how much that your very own body of work away from the field can truly make the difference. In today’s age, more and more, your character will serve as the eventual tie-breaker when pro personnel evaluators make decisions on drafting you as a prospect or when a MLB GM will offer you a contract and the dollar size of their commitment.
Last week, the NFL held its annual draft. In the last three months I was paying attention to the prospects I knew had first round material. I wanted to see who would “free fall” and blow away millions of dollars because they failed to develop their character and protect their reputation despite an ability to play at a higher level. Perfect example: Arizona State linebacker Vontaze Burfict. Many scouts were ready to anoint him as the next Ray Lewis from the Baltimore Ravens. Burfict was a player that would bulldoze another and lay them out on the field. For sure, he was a top five player at his position. A potential first-round pick in everyone’s pre-season draft lists. Then, how could he go completely UNDRAFTED by all 32 NFL teams?
First, reputation. NFL team’s were concerned over Burfict’s lack of discipline with his play in 2012. He committed numerous personal fouls, a sign of possible anger issues to the scouts? He shows up at the NFL Draft Combine in Indianapolis in March and bombed. Not only did he have terrible workout times but he reportedly failed an NFL required drug test. If that didn’t set off alarm buttons, he was also unimpressive during his live interviews with NFL team coaches and executives.
Here’s where the TOTAL BODY OF WORK comes into play that I spoke of at the top of this piece. Burfict ran into New England Patriots’ Head Coach Bill Belichick in a hotel lobby at the NFL Combine. The coach asked a few questions to the player. His one moment to make an impression? He’s now 1-to-1 with possibly the most influential football coach or executive in the business and one that has great influence over the drafting of his players. A coach that would even gamble on a player with less than a stellar background? Yet, Burfict failed miserably once again. Apparently there was a severe lack of eye contact between player-to-coach. His voice lacked confidence. His spoken words were hardly heard? Burfict admits that his stomach was tied in knots and hands all sweated up. Word had it that Belichick had to strain himself to just hear the football player speak?
In days to follow, Burfict moves on from one NFL coach to another. He notices a pattern. Not one coach wanted to talk football with him… They all ask if he has anger problems? If he can adjust his temperament to the NFL? One coach wondered how Burfict would react if a sweeping offensive tackle were to hit him with a cheap shot: Would he pursue the ball or punch the lineman?
At the NFL Combine, Burfict admits he heard the whispers from the sidelines and sensed that the scouts’ heads were shaking. He was not wrong in his assumption as NOT ONE NFL TEAM DRAFTED HIM. Completely bypassed by 32 teams. His draft “free fall” not only cost Burfict millions but the only offer he could get was a training camp try-out with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Fellas – if you’ve never seen a TV Show called EXCUSED … take time to do so. It’s a dating show. The premise is that two females are inside a house. A group of men get a chance to date these women but each must first walk up to the front door of the house and in TEN SECONDS or less, SELL THEMSELVES!! Their presentation and first impressions are seen by the girls on a hidden TV camera. The ladies get to see the introductions and make a split second determination if the person is WORTH IT OR NOT and allowed inside to proceed with a date!
It’s no different with the Major League Baseball talent evaluators. They know your talent. You don’t have to sell that ever to them. It is the “YOU” part they want to unravel! Again, your character and reputation can/and will help to either inflate your “net worth” or “devalue” it! Don’t ever cheat your social development skills … work on speaking in front of children at schools. Try to get your local media people to help teach you how to interview and most importantly, get involved with charitable work. Humanize yourself – it will pay off for you in the long term!
All the best my friend! Have a great weekend on the field!
Jim Loria
----------------------------------------------------------------------
“You want to be perceived with ‘potential’ rather than ‘problems’, as possessing ‘strengths’ instead of ‘weaknesses’, as ‘unlimited’ rather than ‘dull and unresponsive’, then you’ll thrive and grow to your capabilities” – stated by Robert Conklin
----------------------------------------------------------------------
"The person who masters himself through self-control and discipline is truly undefeatable" – stated by an unknown author
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Longtime Major League Baseball GM Pat Gillick on what team’s today look for in a prospect: “We want players who are dependable. I don’t necessarily mean they give dependable performances. Performance varies, and some of that is beyond a player’s control. We want players who are dependable in the way they go about their lives. Players who treat the parking-lot attendant right, players who talk to their teammates, players who will go about their business in practices, in their video work, in their strength and conditioning work. Dependable. Players you can depend on.”
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kansas City Chiefs NFL GM Scott Pioli on what it takes to succeed as a pro athlete. “These Four Simple Words: Reliability – Dependability - Accountability - Discipline.”
###
Jim Loria
E-Mail: loria@sfstampede.com
Greetings Nick!
Many of you have heard me speak on character issues and how much that your very own body of work away from the field can truly make the difference. In today’s age, more and more, your character will serve as the eventual tie-breaker when pro personnel evaluators make decisions on drafting you as a prospect or when a MLB GM will offer you a contract and the dollar size of their commitment.
Last week, the NFL held its annual draft. In the last three months I was paying attention to the prospects I knew had first round material. I wanted to see who would “free fall” and blow away millions of dollars because they failed to develop their character and protect their reputation despite an ability to play at a higher level. Perfect example: Arizona State linebacker Vontaze Burfict. Many scouts were ready to anoint him as the next Ray Lewis from the Baltimore Ravens. Burfict was a player that would bulldoze another and lay them out on the field. For sure, he was a top five player at his position. A potential first-round pick in everyone’s pre-season draft lists. Then, how could he go completely UNDRAFTED by all 32 NFL teams?
First, reputation. NFL team’s were concerned over Burfict’s lack of discipline with his play in 2012. He committed numerous personal fouls, a sign of possible anger issues to the scouts? He shows up at the NFL Draft Combine in Indianapolis in March and bombed. Not only did he have terrible workout times but he reportedly failed an NFL required drug test. If that didn’t set off alarm buttons, he was also unimpressive during his live interviews with NFL team coaches and executives.
Here’s where the TOTAL BODY OF WORK comes into play that I spoke of at the top of this piece. Burfict ran into New England Patriots’ Head Coach Bill Belichick in a hotel lobby at the NFL Combine. The coach asked a few questions to the player. His one moment to make an impression? He’s now 1-to-1 with possibly the most influential football coach or executive in the business and one that has great influence over the drafting of his players. A coach that would even gamble on a player with less than a stellar background? Yet, Burfict failed miserably once again. Apparently there was a severe lack of eye contact between player-to-coach. His voice lacked confidence. His spoken words were hardly heard? Burfict admits that his stomach was tied in knots and hands all sweated up. Word had it that Belichick had to strain himself to just hear the football player speak?
In days to follow, Burfict moves on from one NFL coach to another. He notices a pattern. Not one coach wanted to talk football with him… They all ask if he has anger problems? If he can adjust his temperament to the NFL? One coach wondered how Burfict would react if a sweeping offensive tackle were to hit him with a cheap shot: Would he pursue the ball or punch the lineman?
At the NFL Combine, Burfict admits he heard the whispers from the sidelines and sensed that the scouts’ heads were shaking. He was not wrong in his assumption as NOT ONE NFL TEAM DRAFTED HIM. Completely bypassed by 32 teams. His draft “free fall” not only cost Burfict millions but the only offer he could get was a training camp try-out with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Fellas – if you’ve never seen a TV Show called EXCUSED … take time to do so. It’s a dating show. The premise is that two females are inside a house. A group of men get a chance to date these women but each must first walk up to the front door of the house and in TEN SECONDS or less, SELL THEMSELVES!! Their presentation and first impressions are seen by the girls on a hidden TV camera. The ladies get to see the introductions and make a split second determination if the person is WORTH IT OR NOT and allowed inside to proceed with a date!
It’s no different with the Major League Baseball talent evaluators. They know your talent. You don’t have to sell that ever to them. It is the “YOU” part they want to unravel! Again, your character and reputation can/and will help to either inflate your “net worth” or “devalue” it! Don’t ever cheat your social development skills … work on speaking in front of children at schools. Try to get your local media people to help teach you how to interview and most importantly, get involved with charitable work. Humanize yourself – it will pay off for you in the long term!
All the best my friend! Have a great weekend on the field!
Jim Loria
----------------------------------------------------------------------
“You want to be perceived with ‘potential’ rather than ‘problems’, as possessing ‘strengths’ instead of ‘weaknesses’, as ‘unlimited’ rather than ‘dull and unresponsive’, then you’ll thrive and grow to your capabilities” – stated by Robert Conklin
----------------------------------------------------------------------
"The person who masters himself through self-control and discipline is truly undefeatable" – stated by an unknown author
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Longtime Major League Baseball GM Pat Gillick on what team’s today look for in a prospect: “We want players who are dependable. I don’t necessarily mean they give dependable performances. Performance varies, and some of that is beyond a player’s control. We want players who are dependable in the way they go about their lives. Players who treat the parking-lot attendant right, players who talk to their teammates, players who will go about their business in practices, in their video work, in their strength and conditioning work. Dependable. Players you can depend on.”
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kansas City Chiefs NFL GM Scott Pioli on what it takes to succeed as a pro athlete. “These Four Simple Words: Reliability – Dependability - Accountability - Discipline.”
###
Jim Loria
E-Mail: loria@sfstampede.com
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