WEEKLY MOTIVATIONAL PIECE

What you are about to read is a true life experience shared with me by a very dear friend - a 19-year-old college baseball player who spent the majority of this past summer working at an orphanage in Ethiopia. His name is Benton Moss. He is entering his sophomore year at the University of North Carolina. I consider Benton to be one of the most amazing, mature, dedicated and giving human beings I’ve ever known! Normally I try to inspire others through my writings. This week, I am proud to step aside for Benton and let you read his words …. Jim Loria

“For six-and-a-half weeks during the recent summer months, I was blessed to be able to serve as a volunteer in Ethiopia, working full time in an orphanage that consisted of 175 kids. The children – paired in eights – would each share and live in (what I would view to be) a tin shack for a home. They all go to school during the day (although it is not anything like the education system in America). Their big meal is a cultural dish called ‘injera’ and ‘wot’ (looks like sourdough bread and stew). They don’t have the luxury to eat beef or chicken because it is very rare in Ethiopia.

Traveling to Africa was the most life changing experience I have had in all of my 19 years. It has been a month since returning from the cradle of humanity, and I’ve had ample time to reflect on how different I am as a direct result of my experiences living in Ethiopia. It is no secret that this country is poverty-stricken and disease-riddled that features dilapidated living environments, homeless children and bad drinking water. It may as well be the antithesis of America: while America is the beacon of liberty and freedom and prosperity. We are not nearly as affected by these diseases as the third world countries. So, after viewing people suffering from a combination of these problems, I found myself angry, full of rage, and crying out daily to the One who crafted this universe to do something.

After a month or so of reverse cultural shock with my return to America, I felt guilty about eating certain things. I was angry at every material extravagance around me, and furious about the indifference of American’s in general to the problems faced by the rest of the world. The average American (myself included) consumes hundreds more than the average Ethiopian. People in the U.S. let 'things' control their lives, they pursue them, they hoard them, they're stingy with them, and then they throw them away... only to do it all over again.

Whereas, most of the orphans that I sweated with, got dirty with, and lived with, for a better part of each day wore the same pair of clothes day-in and day-out because it was an unstated fact that they had one simple outfit; here in the U.S., one might be thought of as a fashion idiot if he wears the wrong colors together. In Ethiopia, the small amount of material things they did have always came second to their relationships among one another. So, because of this strong sense of community inherent in the Ethiopian culture, whether it is kinship or friendship, the result is that each member of the community looks out for the next, sharing with those who have none, and helping those who are struggling. Honestly, it is really the poor helping the extremely poor because there are no real rich in Ethiopia.

I believe that this same sense of community was present at the very beginning of America during the Founding Fathers’ lives at the time of this great nation’s humble beginnings, and I believe that it has been replaced by a rugged materialistic individualism that exalts the individual pursuits above the common good. Often we stuff our lives full of possessions only to find that they drive away all the happiness we knew before we had them and replace it with an ambition for more and more. We attain material desires only to watch those desires multiply. Now, I’m an ambitious person, I’ll admit this. But I’m not merely talking about ambition. I’m talking specifically about life.

I found unconditional love in Ethiopia, and after returning to the U.S., I can see that America is truly the nation in need. Ethiopians may be poor in wealth but they are rich in relationships. It is my greatest prayer that in America, we would see our current circumstances changed: that our material blessings would be leveraged as investments in relationships, that they would be shared to increase the sense of community among fellow brethren and that they would not simply serve to increase our own happiness and personal satisfaction. If they are merely used for our satisfaction, their usefulness fades away after consumption. I left on this trip as a college student in search of something profound, and I found it in the simplicity of God’s unreserved love illustrated every day by the hospitality and community of the people in Ethiopia.”

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INSPIRATIONAL QUOTES …

“I shall pass through this life but once. Any good therefore that I can do, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it. For I shall never pass this way again” - stated by Etienne de Grellet, prominent French Quaker Missionary.

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“Humanity is the keystone that holds nations together. When that collapses, the whole structure crumbles. This is as true of baseball teams as any other pursuit in life” – stated by Connie Mack, Hall of Fame Baseball Manager

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“It's the most breathtakingly ironic things about living: the fact that we are all...alone. Singular. And yet what we seek - what saves us - is our connection to others” – stated by Wally Lamb, Author

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“I don't want to come to the end of my life and find that I have just lived the length of it. I want to have lived the width of it as well” – stated by Diane Ackerman, Author and Poet

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“Sometimes you need to realize that there are different experiences in the world, other than just playing your sport. There are different people who have different types of struggles. You just have to be a part of that, and it gives you a better understanding and appreciation, and makes you understand how lucky and blessed you really are” – stated by Chris Duhon, Duke Graduate and NBA player for the Orlando Magic

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Jim Loria
E-Mail: loria@sfstampede.com

WEEKLY MOTIVATIONAL PIECE

Greetings!

Most all of you that I communicate with are between the ages of 16-22. This is an exciting time for you because Major League Baseball teams, more than I can ever recall, are now allowing their younger prospects to jump right into the starting lineup at a much younger age!

Take for example: Mike Trout, who began this past season at age 20 and just might snatch the American League MVP Award after doing things on the field no one thought possible for his age (.326 AVG., 30 HR, 49 SB and a host of over-the-wall catches). Then there’s Bryce Harper in Washington, who helped spark his team to a first-ever ride to the playoffs. At age 19, he became only the second teenager in the history of MLB to hit more than 20 home runs in his rookie season (22).

Because of their success, Baltimore recalled two of their prized young prospects this season – 20-year-old Manny Machado (who’s now anchoring third base during the Orioles’ pressure-packed playoff run) and 19-year-old pitching star Dylan Bundy, who is the first player (not yet 20) to wear an Orioles’ uniform in the last 45 years!

The Texas Rangers also recalled their top prospect - 19-year-old infielder Jurickson Profar - towards the end of the 2012 season. Just last Friday, Profar was asked to pinch hit in the bottom of the ninth with two outs and two on during the Rangers-Orioles wild card playoff game. First pitch – he drilled a base hit to left field. With their season on the line, the Rangers gave their keys to the teenager! And with so much pressure riding, he came through!

Through all my years of following Major League Baseball, clubs rarely wavered in their development of players. You moved up the farm system ladder based on performance and landed in the big leagues after a successful stint in AAA ball usually by the age of 23-24.

Fellas – work hard this off-season because now your opportunity to rise up has no barriers! Focus on your mindset development more than ever! The keys to the player’s you have read above is obviously ability but it takes so much mental toughness and confidence to perform at the highest level in your profession but there is a certain swagger you have to possess to show everyone that you belong!

Speaking of Confidence … look at Baltimore closer Jim Johnson. He was called on Sunday night against New York and gives up five runs in one-third of an inning that allowed the Yankees to win 7-2 in Game #1 of their AL Playoff Series. Johnson comes right back to the mound Monday night and 1-2-3’s New York in a pressure-packed ninth inning and K’s A-Rod to end the game!

YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE IN YOU ALWAYS! SAME WITH YOUR MINDSET! NOTHING CAN CLUTTER YOUR BRAIN OR ALLOW WORRY TO TAKE OVER!

All the best my friend!

Jim Loria

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THIS QUOTE PLAYS INTO THE REBOUND SUCCESS AND PERFORMANCE BY BALTIMORE’S JIM JOHNSON … “Each point I play is the NOW MOMENT! The last point means nothing; the next point means nothing” – stated by Billie Jean King, Women’s Tennis Legend and Hall of Fame member

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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

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Don Baylor, Arizona Diamondbacks’ Hitting Coach, commenting on his talks with outfielder Justin Upton and his battle to become more consistent with his production at the plate: “I told him to clear his mind. He’s got to take all that junk out of the garage and clean it out” (which translated means – clean out all of the distractions from his mindset before his true talents will ever be unleashed).

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FELLAS – I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU WHAT I READ ABOUT MICHAEL PHELPS SWIMMING COACH (BOB BOWMAN) WHO ACTUALLY TRAINED HIS OLYMPIC CHAMPION TO DEAL WITH CHAOS AND DISTRACTIONS:

Before certain swimming meets, the coach would hide his goggles so that Phelps had to swim without them. He would deliberately arrange late pickups so that Phelps would miss meals and swim with hunger. He cracked his swim goggles so they would fill up with water and obstruct Phelps’ vision in the pool. In the early days of training, Bowman created uncertainties for Phelps in lower-risk situations so that when it really mattered he had familiarity with the unexpected and a mental adaptability that gave him the best shot at winning. His past dealings with water-filled goggles came in handy during the 2008 Olympics in Beijing in the 200-meter butterfly. He won despite the goggle mishap, adding to his record gold medal streak.

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Written by: Jim Loria
E-Mail Address: loria@sfstampede.com

WEEKLY MOTIVATIONAL PIECE!

Greetings!

Sometimes we can get caught up in wealth and material things and never consider the value of one’s legacy when your athletic career comes to an end. What did you leave behind? What was your impact – both on the field but even more importantly, away from the sidelines?

Like USC QB Matt Barkley, Notre Dame’s all-everything linebacker Manti Te’o, also turned away the riches of the NFL to return for his senior season in college football. Both are considered Heisman Trophy candidates in 2012. Each is embedded as one can get in their university culture and like the Olympic Torch, their “flame” will never dim in the eyes of their school’s legions of followers and alumni.

“The NFL is my goal, not my dream,” said Te’o. “My dream is to have an impact on people. I think I'm doing that, and I'm not finished yet. People all around need to see that there's more to life than dollar bills, there's more to life than just money signs. It's education, it's relationships with people, it's honoring people, honoring where you come from. That's what I hoped to portray with my decision to return to Notre Dame because those things are important to me."

A humbled athlete who often can be seen in-and-around the Golden Dome, shaking hands and greeting strangers. Eating along in the dining hall, more than likely, Te’o is known to invite the person over to his table. If there’s a need for a player to visit sick children at the local pediatric hospital or with kids left homeless at a shelter, Te’o is as automatic as it gets to lend a hand and a smile.

On the field, Te’o has inspired his Fighting Irish teammates to lofty heights thus far with a 4-0 start and Top 10 ranking in the BCS Polls for the first time since 2006 – all this despite playing with a heavy heart that would rock the core for any person.

During the week leading up to Notre Dame’s showdown match with Michigan State on Sept. 15th, the senior captain received news from his family in Hawaii that his Grandmother had passed away. Six hours later while standing at his football locker, Te’o received word that his girlfriend from back home also died after battling a long fight with leukemia.

While he decided to play, over 80,000 fans piled into the Notre Dame stadium to pay tribute to their team and community leader and shower him with a level of adulation befit of a hero not seen in South Bend since the likes of Rudy Ruettiger (who’s story of courage and determination on the field at Notre Dame in the 1970’s inspired the award-winning movie RUDY). At this game, the thousands of fans each wore a Hawaiian Lei and promoted the Michigan State game as a “Wear a Lei for Manti” in honor of his heritage.

After the game as Te’o reflected back on the memories of those that he lost, he recalled one of his girlfriend’s favorite sayings: “Send roses while they can still smell them, tell people you love them while they can still hear!”

I’s not too late to start writing the first chapter of your own legacy! Always remember that baseball bats can break. Seams of a Baseball can rip. Wood will rot. Your life’s legacy that gets left behind will go on and on for always. Make sure your family and your own (future) family will have something to be Proud of when your name is written about”

MY BEST FOR YOU!

Jim Loria

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“If you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things better for people coming behind you and you don’t do that, you are wasting your time on this Earth” – stated by Roberto Clemente, the great humanitarian and legendary Hall of Fame Baseball player, who died in a plane crash while taking supplies to survivors of an earthquake in Nicaragua a year after leading the Pittsburgh Pirates to a World Series in 1971

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“WHEN I PASS AWAY, IF ALL I’M KNOWN FOR IS A ‘FOOTBALL PLAYER’, THEN I FAILED IN LIFE” – stated by Reggie White, an NFL Hall of Famer and one of the greatest pass rushers ever seen in pro football

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"It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly...who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who have never known neither victory nor defeat" – stated by Teddy Roosevelt, 26th U.S. President (1901)

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“Don't cheat the world of your contribution. Give it what you've got” – stated by Steven Pressfield, American Author of historical fiction

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Jim Loria
E-Mail Address: loria@sfstampede.com

WEEKLY MOTIVATIONAL PIECE!

Greetings My Friend!

This is an unusual story, one that caught my eye last weekend when I was watching the Clemson-Florida State college football game. There was talk about Daniel Rodriguez, a 24-year-old, that was a walk-on to the 2012 team at wide receiver but also the recipient of a “Purple Heart” and “Bronze Star” for bravery in combat during a year of battle he endured on foreign soil.
 
Rodriguez was once a high school football player dreaming of one day playing Division One ball. Back then, he admits to problems at school. He let his parents’ divorce while in school affect him. Then, his father died four days after Daniels graduated from school. He was looking for a way out and decided to enlist in the United States Army and served in Iraq for 15 months during the troop surge of 2007. On his second tour, he found himself in Afghanistan and in the line of fire during one of the war's bloodiest fights in October, 2009.

That day, more than 300 Taliban insurgents attacked his army base that housed 53 American soldiers. Roughly 300-plus yards or the distance of three football fields lay between Rodriguez and the machine gun he was supposed to man during such encounters. So Rodriguez ran as quickly as he could along an inclined dirt path while errant bullets kicked rocks at his ankles.

Rodriguez arrived back at his machine gun just as his best friend (Pfc. Kevin Thompson) was coming outside only to see him struck in the head by a bullet. He was dead before he hit the ground. Rodriguez spent the rest of the day defending himself against the Taliban insurgents while seven more of his fellow soldiers were killed. Though just 5-8/175 in stature, Daniel twice tried to drag Thompson (6-5 and close to 300 pounds) inside. Each time, he was struck by shrapnel from rocket-propelled grenades. The first time, it struck his right leg. The second time, it struck his neck. The metal shards were so hot that his wounds were instantly cauterized. Another soldier had to pull the shrapnel from Rodriguez's neck with pliers.

Prior to that battle, Rodriguez would tell Thompson of his dreams to pursue a missed chance at playing college football. Upon Thompson’s death, he made it an “oath” to complete the mission! He received an honorable discharge from the Army a year after the Afghan fight in 2010. He returned home to the U.S. listless, guilt-ridden and depressed.

In time, he found his therapy in training to return to the football field in the fall of 2011. As the intensity of his workouts increased, his appetite returned, as did his ability to sleep for solid durations. Subsequently, he re-engaged with friends and family. Clemson offered him a chance to live out his dreams and gave him three years of eligibility.

"I'm using the hardships, the horrors, the killing, the friends that I've lost as my fuel to (get) where I want to be," Daniel said. "So I think if you can turn and manipulate anything negative in your life and use it as something good, that's what I've taken into my life."

When Clemson opened the season. Rodriguez made his first college catch. It was a simple 4-yard reception against Ball State on Sept. 8th. A dream just came true for he and his friend! In so doing, the Clemson crowd gave Daniel one of the loudest ovations ever given to a player!

Summing up the difference between teammates on the athletic field to those in the military, Daniel said: "At war, in the military, you're training constantly, everybody collectively goes to a location, a base, so that bond is so much thicker because you're so secluded or taken or sucked away from what you know. And then when you deploy, that guy is all you've got. His bullet is going to save you!”

ALWAYS RESPECT THE GAME YOU PLAY FELLAS! THERE ARE LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF PROSPECTS OUT THERE DYING FOR THAT CHANCE TO TAKE YOUR SPOT ON THE DEPTH CHART! WORK SO HARD THAT YOUR UNIFORM NEVER COMES OFF!

All the best my friend and best regards!

Jim

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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, our country’s first deaf/blind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree

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“I can give you a six-word formula for success: ‘Think things through, then follow through’” – stated by Captain Edward V. Rickenbacker, American Fighter Pilot during World War I and later head of
Eastern Air Lines.

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“You’ve got to have the guts not to be afraid to screw up. The guys who Win are the ones who are not afraid to mess up. And that comes right from the heart” – stated by Fuzzy Zoeller, Masters Golf Champion

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WHY NOT YOU?

- Today, many will awaken with a fresh sense of inspiration. Why not you?

- Today, many will choose to leave the ghost of yesterday behind and seize the immeasurable power
of today. Why not you?

- Today, many will break through the barriers of the past by looking at the blessings of the present. Why not you?

- Today, many will rise above their believed limitations and make contact with their powerful innate strength. Why not you?

- Today, many will choose to free themselves from the personal imprisonment of their bad habits. Why not you?

- Today, many will decide to no longer sit back with a victim mentality, but to take charge of their lives and make positive changes. Why not you?

- Today, many will take the action necessary to make a difference. Why not you?

Author: Steve Maraboli

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WEEKLY MOTIVATIONAL PIECE!

Greetings My Friend!

Late last week, I was fortunate to be able to spend some time in Kansas City with one of my Facebook baseball players and watch him win one of the Royals’ farm system player-of-the-year awards. The big league organization did it up first class! Flew in the player’s families. Hosted them for 48 hours and kept the players busy with some community activities as well as an autograph session at the ballpark and an on-field ceremony viewed by some 40,000-plus fans.

During this two-day trip, each player spent considerable time meeting the General Manager, Assistant GM, the Farm System Director and Chief Scout. Even though this was a trip to reward on-field achievement, there’s no doubt that the Royals spent time sizing up each prospect and formulated an opinion that will stay with them forever.

Fellas – file this next paragraph away. If you’re in high school meeting Major League Baseball scouts for the first time; in college and meeting big league talent evaluators frequently; or in a MLB farm system today – FIRST IMPRESSION SELLS!! Never forget the human element and how much you can up your NET WORTH by a simple handshake? The way you SMILE? How you SPEAK? The CONFIDENCE in your Voice? It needs to say “I AM A BIG LEAGUER” at all times!

Your social skills are also put on display simply by how you represent YOU on Facebook and other networking sites. You are a BRAND IMAGE in this day and age just like a business whether you’re signed to a professional baseball organization or not. How you write, what you say, what photos you permit to be seen (and situations you’re seen in) on social media sites can UP your WORTH or have you FREE FALL like playing the game Chutes & Ladder. Yes -- MLB Organizations do view your social media sites and frequently! Trust Me!!

For the players not yet drafted and reading this … 50% of your Draft Value is determined in that FIRST HANDSHAKE and meeting with you and a MLB Scout. In his mindset that quickly, the Scout is thinking: “do I invest in this person or not?" So wipe off those sweaty hands. Make eye contact always. Dress appropriately. Smile. Be sincere. Be prepared.

If you want a Major League Baseball organization to turn the key to their "vault" for you so to speak, you’ve got to convince them that you are a BIG LEAGUE PERSON as much as a prospect on the field!

All the best my friend! Continued success!

Jim Loria

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CRITERIA NICK SABAN USES WHEN RECRUITING ALABAMA COLLEGE FOOTBALL PROSPECTS: Player’s Character, Attitude and Intelligence and then specific position related factors (height, weight, speed among others)

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"Confidence is only born out of one thing – demonstrated ability. It is not born of anything else. You cannot dream up confidence. You cannot fabricate it. You cannot wish it. You have to accompany it” – stated by Bill Parcells, Legendary NFL Coach and ESPN Commentator

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“The most important quality I look for in a player is accountability. You’ve got to be accountable for who you are” – stated by Lenny Wilkins, Hall of Fame NBA Basketball Coach

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“Learn how to be happy with what you have while you pursue all that you want” – stated by Jim Rohn, Author and Motivational Speaker

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Jim Loria
E-Mail address: loria@sfstampede.com

WEEKLY MOTIVATIONAL PIECE

Greetings My Friend!

This is a story about SALES. In everyday life … you and I are so much a like even though thousands of people someday will watch you perform your job and only one person typically will see mine.

No matter the number of eyeballs watching, we both have to bring the total package to work everyday. Why I hit on this topic, gang, is that the power of social media now has the ability to move the needle and sway sports franchises on how they conduct themselves and or choose whom they want to invest in.

Not to relate my job totally to a professional athlete but if my voice and mannerisms on the phone do not uplift the possible business partner I am trying to sell within seconds or if my appearance and ability to converse in person doesn’t connect with the individual sitting across the desk, I will have a hard time getting the client to invest in my product (which as you know is putting people in the seats to cheer you on!)

Same for you as one of today’s athletes. I was reading Sports Illustrated over the weekend which had a piece on the Boston Red Sox and their disastrous season. Some of the focus was put on All-Star Adrian Gonzalez, a high priced free agent just two years ago, and his quiet demeanor on the field and in the clubhouse. Was he a bad fit for the media-and-fan-crazed New England sports market? Same for Carl Crawford? 

One of my concerns, fellas, is that in this era of pro sports, where you can be invested into the hundreds of millions, you are selling yourself as a “brand” and that image of you can pay off like a lottery ticket someday! In this SI story, the writer actually indicates that the Boston ownership is now going to start looking at the personality mix of a player when they sign free agents. The article pointed out L.A. Angels’ pitcher Zack Greinke, for instance, that because of his introverted nature, he could possibly lose out in $$ opportunity from a major cash spending market team because of the fear this type of player might not be able to handle the intense media and fan attention which would affect his play on the field and the investment ownership put out. It’s a situation that the New York Yankees will watch closely I am sure when they pick and choose free agents to pursue in the future. There’s a saying that “it takes the right personality to play on the Big Stage in New York.”

In some of my writings to you in the past, I’ve stressed that you have to learn how to SMILE and translate that “boyhood enthusiasm for the game” to the everyday sports fan and the national media that will be watching you every step of the way. The likeability factor – as we head into a much more dominant social media world – is going to be the difference maker in who gets paid top dollar and who gets pushed back to a secondary role on the salary scale if your game cannot relate to the fans.

Every job in this world is about SELLING YOU! It happens when you are dating someone; selling your own coach; your parents; teacher, etc. Heck, I tuned into the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Show to watch one of the girls tryout that I help mentor. They had 300-400 girls on hand competing for maybe 20-30 positions.  What got you past GO on the very first day of training camp was not necessarily your dancing skill or beauty; rather the squad’s director was simply looking at each person's SMILE! They were looking for the girl that had personality and then the ability to transform excitement, fun and enjoyment from their performance to the fan sitting in the stadium seats or to the fan at home watching on television.

Fellas – be aware that Major League Baseball teams are all going to be taking a much more serious approach to the human elements of the individual when they determine who will get top dollar and not. It won’t all be based on statistics such as batting average, strikeouts or home runs like in years past but factors like personality, enthusiasm and zest for the game will now start to weigh in when owners sign off on their investments.

MY BEST FOR YOU!

Jim Loria

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 Colorado Rockies club philosophy on signing top tier players: “Before signing a player to a long-term deal, we have to be satisfied not with just the player’s skills but also with the content of his character. We found that talent that isn’t also accompanied by other qualities, such as humility, accountability and integrity, really doesn’t work for us” – stated by Dan O’Dowd, General Manager

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“You are the person who has to decide. Whether you'll do it or toss it aside; You are the person who makes up your mind. Whether you'll lead or will linger behind. Whether you'll try for the goal that's afar. Or just be contented to stay where you are” – stated by Edgar A. Guest, early 1900s American Poet

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“If we are to better the future we must disturb the present” – stated by Catherine Booth, wife of the founder of The Salvation Army, 1800s

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"Will you look back on life and say, ‘I wish I had,’ or ‘I'm glad I did?’” – stated by Zig Ziglar, American Author and Motivational Speaker

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“Always remember that the shell in you must break before the bird can fly” - stated by Alfred Tennyson, British Poet, 1800s

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Jim Loria

E-Mail: loria@sfstampede.com

THIS WEEK'S MOTIVATIONAL PIECE

Greetings!


HERE IS THIS WEEK’S SPECIAL PIECE …

A story that defies all odds! If you’re following the National Football League, one of the biggest storylines so far from the pre-season is the amazing play of Seattle rookie QB Russell Wilson. He was supposed to be coming to camp to basically battle it out for the third spot on the team’s depth chart.

He arrived as an unheralded third round draft pick – actually the 8th quarterback taken overall in the 2012 NFL Draft. With that, the Seahawks’ management would pay him a contract for $357,000 above the collective bargained rookie wage scale at $390K.

Upon reporting to camp, Wilson’s main competition to get out onto the field would be Matt Flynn, who only was the Seahawks’ prized free agent acquisition this past off-season. The same Matt Flynn who was Aaron Rodgers’ understudy in Green Bay for the last four years, who came to Seattle with a Super Bowl ring in hand, owner of the Packers’ all-time single game club record for most passing yards and someone whom Seattle rewarded to the tune of a fresh new $26-million dollar contract! Yet, Wilson’s play was so dominating in the exhibition games that the Seahawks’ coaching staff made a surprise choice to hand an unproven rookie the reigns as the team’s starting QB to open the season.

Those of you with me on Facebook for quite some time may recall that I wrote a piece on Wilson last November. I thought he was worthy of NFL stardom then and for sure Heisman Trophy merits, his talents were that obvious. Yet, the NFL Scouts, however, all labeled the Wisconsin QB as an undersized prospect at 5’-11” (for his position) and someone they saw as having accuracy issues.

Said Seahawks’ Coach Pete Carroll after watching Wilson’s play out on the field in recent weeks: “Russell’s height is not even a factor. What is a factor is that he is so elusive and shows great sense. I've watched our team respond to him and they've taken to his leadership style. He is so prepared. He doesn’t seem like a first-year player. He seems like he’s been around. He gets it. He doesn’t do anything but the right thing in all of his work.”

If you’re ever wondering about the power of the mind, the belief in one’s self and to be prepared for when you get that OPPORTUNITY to perform … let Russell Wilson be that example to follow! Here is a player that also had the skills to play professional baseball (while in college) for the Asheville Tourists, a development team of the Colorado Rockies. I assume most of you can attest to the incredible demands of playing a major D-1 sport (especially football with the abundance of practice and film time needed). On top of playing athletically, Wilson decided to tack on a heavy course load commitment in the process so he could graduate from North Carolina State in THREE YEARS! That alone shows me Wilson has the resolve, intelligence, discipline and dedication to thrive and excel in his athletic profession.

Don’t ever let a Scouting Report or a Draft Round hold you back fellas! Said Wilson after he defied all odds and literally stunned the NFL world: "I refuse to be average. I refuse to be good. All I want to do is work to excel every day."

Hope all is well for you! Keep believing in you and stay focused on your career dreams! Have fun and enjoy the weekend ahead!

My best always!

Jim Loria

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RUSSELL WILSON CREDITS MUCH OF HIS INSPIRATION TO GOSPEL MUSIC. One of his favorite motivational messages he takes to the field everyday comes from these lyrics performed in the song “I’m Going To Be Ready” (by Yolanda Adams).

“Sight beyond what I see,
You know what’s best for me,
Prepare my mind, prepare my heart,
For whatever comes, I’m gonna be ready.”

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“So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable, and then, when we summon the will, they soon become inevitable” - stated by an Unknown Author

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“Concentrate on the factors you have control over: Persistence, Self-Discipline, and Confidence. Far more failures are due to lack of WILL than lack of ability” – stated by Terry Bradshaw, NFL Hall of Famer, 4x Super Bowl Champion QB and NFL Fox TV Pre-Game Show Host.

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ALABAMA COLLEGE FOOTBALL COACH NICK SABAN ON WINS AND CHAMPIONSHIPS: “It’s the process that’s most important. Concentrate on the steps to success rather than worrying about the end result. Instead of thinking about the scoreboard, think about dominating the man on the opposite side of the line of scrimmage. Instead of thinking about a conference title, think about finishing a ninth rep in the weight room.”

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Jim Loria
E-Mail: loria@sfstampede.com

WEEKLY MOTIVATIONAL PIECE

Greetings My Friend!


This is a motivational piece that I strongly encourage you to take a few minutes to watch three specific YouTube video clips for me. They are of Bruce Springsteen, one of the greatest rock concert performers ever seen! These particular clips were taken from a 2009 concert show in London, England where Bruce drew an outdoor audience that was into the HUNDREDS of THOUSANDS of people!

What you will see is a performance by a (then) 60-year old musician that started out in the daylight afternoon hours and ended up going into the darkness of the evening! There were no intermission breaks. Every song seems like a marathon performance! You’ll see this man pour every ounce of his HEART, SOUL, GUTS, EMOTION, ENERGY and DETERMINATION into the song and how he relates to his audience and they to him. A Springsteen concert is equal to you almost playing out an entire doubleheader on the field but with Bruce taking every single at bat, making every pitch, fielding every play and is the game announcer too! There are no substitutions for this man!

Know that back in the 1980’s, I was working with the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League. Our club was just terrible on the ice back then and seem to play with no emotion or care. The Capitals’ owner (Abe Pollin) was furious with the players for being so non-competitive during those years. One night he ordered every single player and those of us that worked in the organization to attend a Springsteen concert that was going to be played in his hockey arena. The owner wanted the team and everyone to see up close the amazing amount of energy and effort put forth by Springsteen during his shows without interruption. On this night, Bruce performed for five straight hours at the pace of a maniac! I’ve never seen any performer like him and still haven’t!

Seriously, please take time to watch the three song links posted below on You Tube in their entirety! The second song shows you the sweat and exhaustion. The last one is pure determination and stamina unseen before! Show your teammates! May Bruce’s performance inspire you to play with extra effort and to reach for that extra burst of energy that you didn’t think existed when taking the field! Most importantly, when the game begins, you, too, be ready to clock in and give it everything you’ve got!

* Out In The Street Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band Live Hyde Park 2009

* The Promised Land Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band Live Hyde Park 2009

* American Land Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band Live Hyde Park 2009

(Remember the person you are watching perform is 60 years old!)

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COMEDIAN & DAILY SHOW CABLE TV HOST JON STEWART ON BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN: “Every time I’ve seen Bruce Springsteen perform, he emptied the tank! He empties that tank for his art and he empties the tank for his audience”

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"The battle that never ends is the battle of ‘Belief’ against ‘Unbelief.’ The most fearful Unbelief is Unbelief in Yourself" – stated by Thomas Carlyle, Scottish writer, historian and teacher, 1800s

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“Mind RULES; Body SERVES” – stated by an unknown author

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TONY DUNGY WHEN HE COACHED THE NFL TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS HAD JUST ONE SIGN POSTED IN THE LOCKER ROOM FOR HIS PLAYERS WHICH READ: “NO EXCUSES … NO EXPLANATION … BE A PRO!”

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Jim Loria E-Mail: loria@sfstampede.com

WEEKLY MOTIVATIONAL PIECE

Greetings!


ENJOY THIS WEEK'S SPECIAL MESSAGE ...

Like most of you, I’ve been captivated by the London Olympic Games. Enjoyed the big events from swimming, gymnastics and track & field for sure. As the games unfolded, I started delving into the storylines behind many of these unknown athletes who dedicated a lifetime to compete for Gold against truly the world’s best.

Many of these athletes faced constant economic difficulties, job and family dislocations, physical hardships, etc., while pursuing their dream. One story – that of Kayla Harrison – made my heart bleed. During these games, she became the first-ever American in Olympic history to win GOLD in the sport of Judo. En-route, she beat the Yankees-Angels-Rangers in her Judo competition - a formidable Russian opponent in her first match. A tough Hungarian in round two (that she had never beaten) and the No. 1 ranked female in the world from Brazil in the semis. To win Gold, Kayla had to face Great Britain’s hometown favorite - Gemma Gibbons - on her own turf. A heavyweight schedule of competition no doubt!

But it was the story away from athletics told by Kayla Harrison that is most gut-wrenching. This 22-year-old female fought one of the most courageous battles not only in her sport of Judo but in life. She had to endure an almost unimaginable betrayal, as her former coach in Ohio – much like the Jerry Sandusky Penn State scandal - preyed on their relationship, and her trust, and sexually abused Kayla starting when she was 12.

Kayla could have quit but the world caught a sneak preview of her tremendous courage, resiliency and resolve back then, when at the age of 16, she walked into a courtroom. She steeled herself to testify and looked her former coach in the eye and watched him plead guilty and receive a 10-year prison sentence. That alone was a heroic feat of Gold Medal standards!

Still in her teen years, next came the period of recover, rebuilding, recommitting and having the courage to return to the mat for Kayla. The everyday 4:30 in the morning workouts. Not only working to defeat an opponent but to defeat the demons that took over her mind as the year’s grew old.

“You’re talking about somebody who came from the lowest point of her life, who didn’t know if she wanted to go on any more, to now stepping on top of the Olympic podium, as an Olympic Champion, and the first American to ever do it in the sport of Judo, just says it all,” said Kayla’s current coach Jimmy Pedro.

Kayla Harrison walked away from the Olympics as a Champion in the record books but perhaps a medal of even higher standards …. the medal of HEROISM. She showed the world that Heroes don’t quit. That Heroes get off the mat. “This just proves that you’re only a victim if you allow yourself to be,” she said.

We only hope that by sharing her story at these Olympic Games, Kayla will become an inspiration to countless others around the world facing similar challenges.

ALL THE BEST!

Jim Loria

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“Mental Will is a Muscle that needs exercise, just like muscles of the body” – stated by Lynn Jennings, World Champion Runner

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“The Will to Win means nothing if you haven’t the Will to Prepare” – stated by Juma Ikangaa, the 1989 New York City Marathon Winner

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“A top athlete has to combine three different factors: physical strength, tactics, and mental toughness. The golden rule is to never let any of those slip” – stated by Felicia Ballanger, 10-time Cycling Gold Medalist

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HERE’S A PORTION OF A POEM I WILL SHARE IN FULL LATER

… “Courage must come from the soul within … The man must furnish the will to win... So figure it out for yourself, my lad… You were born with all that the great have had… With your equipment they all began… Get hold of yourself and say: “I CAN!”

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Jim Loria
E-Mail: loria@sfstampede.com

WEEKLY MOTIVATIONAL PIECE

Greetings!


HERE IS THIS WEEK’S SPECIAL PIECE …


I think you all know me well enough by now that I am a proponent of player’s getting involved in their community, leaving a proud legacy behind and punching in the clock on the field each and every day. I am also one that wants to see a player benefit financially and to maximize their fame by developing brand image marketing programs, one that will carry them to the end of their lifetime.


On the flip side, I am mystified when I see an athlete literally blow up their career for elements not related to the playing field? Yesterday, as I was going to work and tuned my car radio to ESPN, the on-air host was speaking about some major league athletes and what it must be like to be 60 or 70+ in age and still be adored by the sporting public where they’re willing to pay to just shake your hand and thank you for a well done career … all because they STILL LIKE YOU?


Now take the case of Josh Beckett of the Boston Red Sox. Here’s a pitcher who had created a career to be proud of by pitching one of the most masterful World Series games ever when he shut down the New York Yankees right in the Bronx to lead Florida to the 2003 World Series Championship. He then did it again with Boston when he led them to their glorious World Series title in 2007. That’s enough to get you bronzed with a statue somewhere. Guarantee you with a lifetime of fame and adulation. Right?

Turn the calendar over to 2012 and read the following comment that appears on a website of a Boston-area radio station about Josh Beckett:


“I do not expect him to pitch again for the Red Sox, not because of injury, but because he is a dishonorable person, and he contributed materially to the Red Sox collapse in 2011. He needs to be shunned by all of baseball. What a waste of talent in having such a disgraceful attitude. May he fail at everything else he tries in the future. He is an absolute disgrace” – Jan, Boston, MA

For the past year – and into today - Beckett has being hammered by the Red Sox fans and the people of New England verbally on websites, by newspaper writers and with harsh (venom laced) booing on the field not so much for his win-loss record the past two seasons but because of his (alleged) perception as a clubhouse-destroying malcontent that eventually led the Red Sox management to clear out Terry Francona as their field leader for running a loose ship. Adding further fuel to the fire, Beckett was seen playing golf on an off day this year just after he missed his turn on the mound due to an injury.

In Boston, Beckett possibly now ranks right there with Manny Ramirez as perhaps the two most despised players to ever play for the Red Sox. As I said, I just can’t figure out why a player would mortgage their “baseball brand name and image?” There is the after-life of an athlete in which you hope there’s another 50 years of fame and glory with every step you take during your travels into retirement and beyond. I have this feeling that Beckett will be shunned by the Red Sox fans and all of New England and perhaps the baseball world when he caps off his career. Sad.

Always remember fellas that you live in a technology world where your slightest wrongdoing can now be broadcast to millions of people around the world in a split second thanks to Twitter and other social media sites. Protect your investment, your good name and work for your post-career as well as your today!


MY BEST ALWAYS!


Jim Loria

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“How you spend your minutes are what matters … all tomorrow’s come from yesterday's” – lyrics by Jon Bon Jovi, singer/songwriter and owner of the Philadelphia Soul, Professional Indoor Football Team

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“A leader is one who see more than others see, who sees farther than others see, and who sees before others see” – stated by Leroy Eims, former Director of U.S. Ministries

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“Success on any major scale requires you to accept responsibility… in the final analysis, the one quality that all successful people have… is the ability to take on responsibility” – stated by Michael Korda, Writer & Novelist

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“The content of your character is your choice. Day-by-day, what you choose, what you think and what you do is who you become” – stated by Unknown Author

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WORDS FROM A SIGN DISPLAYED IN THE TAMPA BAY RAYS CLUBHOUSE: "Integrity Doesn't Require Rules!"

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“The legacy of a hero 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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Jim Loria E-Mail: loria@sfstampede.com