WEEKLY MOTIVATIONAL PIECE!

“OPPORTUNITY TAKES JUST ONE CHANCE TO MAKE A LIFE. ONE WRONG CHOICE TO RUIN IT!” – Jim Loria

“It is our choices ... that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities” – stated by J.K. Rowling, British Novelist and author of the Harry Potter fantasy series

Greetings!

For the second week in a row, the sporting world was stunned by the news of another professional athlete taking the life of a human being while erasing (possibly) his own career in the blink of an eye.

Let’s look at the Dallas Cowboys’ football player – Josh Brent – who was charged with “intoxication manslaughter” in the aftermath of last Saturday’s devastating car accident that killed his teammate Jerry Brown. This life-changing incident took place just hours before Brent’s teammates were going to board a plane and fly out to Cincinnati to play the Bengals in a must-win game that had playoff implications on the line for the Cowboys’ franchise. 

Here was a player taken in the 7^th round of the 2010 NFL Draft. When he arrived in Dallas, Brent was not even allowed to drive a car because of a past DUI charge that occurred while in college (he served 60 days in jail). He played sparingly in his first three seasons for the Cowboys and just this year finally worked his way into the starting lineup due to injuries suffered on the defensive front line … finally reaching a childhood dream … only to now possibly throw away his entire career down the drain.

After a night out at a club, all Brent had to do was call the number from the ‘Safe Rides Solution’ program organized by the NFLPA that provides each player and team with a courtesy ride home when needed. Now his athletic career and freedom have been put into the hands of a judge that could sentence Brent up to 20 years in prison for the charges stated above.

Another incident I want to touch on, took place 26 years ago. During my lifetime, this may have been arguably the greatest tragedy in American sports history, when Len Bias passed away less than 40 hours after being selected No. 2 overall in the 1986 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics. This player was so dominant of a college basketball player that he drew comparisons to Michael Jordan.

At Maryland, he was twice the ACC Player-of-the-Year.  He was a true All-American – both as a person and in game action. Considered a neighborhood hero to so many kids. After flying to Boston hours after his  draft selection to meet the Celtics’ brass and media, Bias would return to Maryland at night to celebrate his newfound career with friends and then later with an unidentified group of people  at an off-campus gathering near the university. Within hours of this party, Bias died of cocaine intoxication.

The sports world is no different than society in which we all live and share our own hopes and dreams. It doesn’t play favorites with people that choose to do knucklehead things. For the athlete? Why does someone, who has put in so much blood, sweat and tears to accomplish their dream to  play in pro sports, somehow then decides it time to roll the dice and let their guard down. It only takes one mistake, small or large, to either stain a career and the person’s earning capacity or to end it all in a blink of an eye.

Every day, you get the opportunity to walk out on the field and make a new memory for thousands of faithful followers. To become that next hero. To live a charmed life because of your athletic skill. To bring a home a monthly paycheck that the largest body of the American population could never earn in a lifetime! Fellas, don’t be that next tragedy. Please do not ever screw up your opportunity!

MY BEST ALWAYS!

Jim Loria

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 “If a man has a talent and cannot use it, he has failed. If he has a talent and uses only half of it, he has partly failed. If he has a talent and learns somehow to use the whole of it, he has gloriously succeeded, and won a satisfaction and a triumph few men ever know” – stated by Thomas Wolfe, best-selling American author and journalist

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“To the question of your life - you are the Answer; and to the problems of your life - you are the Solution”  - authored by Joe Cordare, Author

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You must constantly ask yourself these questions: Who am I around? What are they doing to me? What have they got me saying? Where do they have me going? What do they have me thinking? And most important, what do they have me becoming? Then ask yourself the big question: Is that okay? Your life does not get better by chance, it gets better by change" - Jim Rohn, Author and Motivational Speaker

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“A difficult time can be more readily endured if we retain the conviction that our existence holds a purpose – a cause to pursue, a person to love, a goal to achieve” – stated by John Maxwell, Leadership Trainer

 

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Jim Loria
E-Mail: loria@sfstampede.com

WEEKLY MOTIVATIONAL PIECE!

Greetings!

I had another subject matter in my mind that was going to be my theme of this week but last Saturday’s senseless acts in which an NFL player murdered his girlfriend (the mother of his 3-month old child) and then committed suicide right before the eyes of his coaches and general manager on the grounds outside of his field of employment … made me switch gears.

I know this is a heady subject matter. I know in this ever-changing universe where we are all continually bombarded with social media messages, national headlines, blogger commentaries and just everyday pressure to perform – both athletically in your world and on the job in mine – that we’re losing sight of reality and what’s most important - family, friends and your own personal well being. 

Through the aftermath of that personal tragedy, Brady Quinn, the quarterback of today for the Kansas City Chiefs, actually made the most sense and moved the needle with his post-game comments. He said: "We live in a society of social networks, with Twitter pages and Facebook, and that’s fine, but we have contact with our work associates, our family, our friends, and it seems like half the time we are more preoccupied with our phone and other things going on instead of the actual relationships that we have right in front of us. Hopefully, people can learn from this and try to actually help if someone is battling something deeper on the inside than what they are revealing on a day-to-day basis."

Quinn's message was applauded by people in all walks of life. Sherry Turkle, a psychologist and sociologist at MIT, had this to say: ”The technology that enables us to craft and share our identities is also undermining our ability to really know one another and ourselves. From social networks to sociable robots, we're designing technologies that will give us the illusion of companionship without the demands of friendship.  What I'm seeing is that people get so used to being short-changed out of real conversation, so used to getting by with less, that they've become almost willing to dispense with people altogether."

Fellas – as you continually develop your career, the inward pressure you feel will mount each year as you inch closer and closer to reaching your dreams to play in the Major Leagues. We all feel those same anxieties, even for us in our normal working world. Yet, no matter an individual’s chosen career path, we all share the same human traits – that is we are fueled by recognition and rewards. No matter what income or fame that is achieved, we all need a support system in our lives that needs to be in place in order to succeed. A real-life cheerleader! During the journey that awaits you my friend, please PROMISE ME that you will never DRIVE YOUR CAR in the game of life without a passenger to help you with encouragement, guidance and support! That can be family, teammates, coaches or friends from your own walk of life. 

Cheering for you every step of the way!

MY BEST!

Jim Loria

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21 SUGGESTIONS FOR SUCCESS!

Here is my magic formula to help you achieve true happiness in your everyday life!

1. When the time is right, Marry the right person. This one decision will determine 90% of your happiness or misery rather than what you do on the field.

2. Find a diversion outside of baseball that you enjoy and is worthy of your time and talent.
3. Give your teammates more than they expect.
4. Become the most positive and enthusiastic person you know.
5. Be forgiving of yourself, teammates and others.
6. Be generous with your time; become a community leader and make a difference with those less fortunate.
7. Have a grateful heart.
8. Persistence, persistence, persistence.
9. Discipline yourself to save money and invest wisely.
10 Treat everyone you meet like you want to be treated.
11. Commit yourself to constant improvement.
12. Commit yourself to quality in all aspects of your life.
13. Understand that happiness is not based on possessions, power or  prestige, but on relationships with people you love and respect.
14. Be loyal.
15. Be honest.
16. Be a self-starter.
17. Be decisive even if it means you'll sometimes be wrong.
18. Do not blame others. Take responsibility for every area of your life.
19. Be bold and courageous. When you look back on your life, you'll regret the things you didn't do more than the ones you did.
20. Take good care of those that brought you to the position you enjoy today.
21. Don't do anything that wouldn't make your Mom proud.

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

WEEKLY MOTIVATIONAL PIECE!

Greetings!

This week’s piece has two separate meanings. One, sports and life will always be about opportunity. How you face up to your situation tells the story. Some will prosper like, for example, Colin Kaepernick of the San Francisco 49ers, who, just a few weeks ago was called upon to fill in for the injured starter Alex Smith and performed brilliantly. Now there are debates whether he is the better player to lead the NFL club. Perhaps the most legendary sports story about opportunity occurred in the year 1925 when Wally Pipp of the New York Yankees excused himself from the lineup due to a headache and a young rookie by the name of Lou Gehrig was given the nod to play 1^st base … Gehrig never left the lineup thereafter and became one of the game’s greatest icons!

On the flip side to opportunity, each of you is born with a tremendous gift. A calling, if I may say, to play a game and to make a nice living as a result. Never take your skill and gift for granted or fail to truly maximize your potential. Over the Thanksgiving holiday break, I was watching ESPN’s ‘The Sporting Life’ and saw the story on Jacob Rainey, a high school football player from Virginia.  A gifted quarterback with definite pro potential. He was already being recruited by many major colleges. At 6-3, 215 pounds and timed at 4.61 seconds in the 40-yard dash, Rainey was equally feared as a runner and passer who could throw bullets down the field and had scouts everywhere drooling in anticipation of his future development.

During his junior school season in 2011, he suffered a knee injury during practice that changed his life forever and without warning. Doctors soon discovered that Rainey had severed the main artery in his leg and developed a rare condition called compartment syndrome. This condition cut off the blood flow to part of his leg which led to the death of muscle tissue and nerves. It was this condition that left “amputation” of part of his leg as the only option left for this athlete to survive.

Facing the daunting task that his dream to play professional football is now over? Rainey refused to spend time thinking about what he has lost. Instead, he inspired his school and community by attempting to return to the playing field for his senior season. Where most amputees would be learning to walk comfortably and slowly gaining trust in their new prosthetic -- Rainey has been working with a strength coach, running sprints by June of 2012, and fighting his way back to a football field. That was his goal … to return to his high school team for his senior year and play quarterback.  He actually reached his goal and was on the field to throw one pass for five yards during his school’s season opener last Sept. 7^th.  For the entire season, he completed 7 of 9 passes –two for touchdowns and 75 overall yards.

Rainey’s comeback was viewed as logic-defying, heartwarming and mind-blowing by all observers and medical experts.  Despite his athletic dreams to ultimately play at the professional level were shattered, his courage, strength of mind and engaging personality, will more than likely take him so much further in life and be an inspiration to millions of those debilitated by injuries. . "He's the same but he's not the same. He lost a leg but he didn't lose the heart, or the arm, or the athleticism," said Jeff Johnson, Rainey’s high school football team trainer.

Fellas – value the opportunity bestowed upon you to play this great game of baseball! Continue to work hard so that the uniform never comes off!

MY BEST FOR YOU ALWAYS!

Jim Loria

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SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS NL MVP BUSTER POSEY COMMENTING ON WHAT HIS DEVASTATING LEG INJURY IN 2011 DID FOR HIS LOVE OF THE GAME? “It increased it, no doubt about it. I’ve always loved baseball. After my injury I saw how quickly this game can be gone. Hopefully that thought can be something I carry with me the rest of my career. I just have a better understanding of how privileged I am to play the game”. 

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“People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are.  I don't believe in circumstances.  The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can't find them, make them” – stated by G.B. Shaw, Irish Playwright, 1893

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LYRICS FROM THE ARTIST “PINK” AND HER SONG “TRY”

… Where there is desire

… There is gonna be a flame
… Where there is a flame
… Someone's bound to get burned
… But just because it burns
… Doesn't mean you're gonna die
… You've gotta get up and try try try

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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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 “Most people have no idea of the giant capacity we can immediately command when we focus all of our resources on mastering a single area of our lives” – stated by Anthony Robbins, American self-help motivational speaker

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Jim Loria, Career Planning Expert for Sports Professionals Email address: loria@sfstampede.com

WEEKLY MOTIVATIONAL PIECE!

Greetings!

With this the week to celebrate not only Thanksgiving, but also it is a time to give “thanks” to your Mom & Dad, your past coaches and those that have taken your hand and helped guide you through these early stages of life and let them all know how much you appreciate their love and support!

None of us are invincible! You – and I – will continually need a support system around us the rest of our lives! Value the gifts you have been blessed with and for the opportunity that awaits you in the near future!

Next, I want to share a very special quote on baseball’s next generation of stars – Bryce Harper and Mike Trout. If you recall, I wrote you a few weeks back that Major League Baseball is now tapping their younger prospects at a much earlier age than ever before and giving (you) them a chance to play regularly! Work so hard this off-season to be ready for next year’s challenge and the doors that can be opening up for you!

“The best part about Harper and Trout -- and we've seen signs from (Jurickson) Profar and (Manny) Machado in their short time in the Major Leagues -- is the way they play baseball. They represent the game well by making all-out hustle COOL, which has made older players accountable for not running hard or giving away at-bats. The former too-cool-for-school body language around baseball has been replaced by Harper and Trout running out bouncers back to the mound as if their pants were on fire. Those guys just have fun and play. Trout has never not run a ball out -- ever. He's four seconds flat to first base or lower every time" – stated by a MLB Scout.

Said Eddie Bane, now a Boston Red Sox Special Assistant to Player Personnel (who was with the Angels last summer) "It would be great if Harper, Profar and Trout set the tone for how the game is played."

MORE THAN ANYTHING, FELLAS, SHOW THE WORLD THAT YOU ENJOY PLAYING THE GAME! BE THAT SPARK FOR YOUR TEAMMATES!

“BE THE ENERGY GIVER … NOT THE ENERGY TAKER ON YOUR CLUB!” (Those words come from Urban Meyer, Head Football Coach at Ohio State!)

Happy Thanksgiving Holiday Wishes for you and family!  Big CHEER enclosed for you!

Jim Loria

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“The best day of your life is the one on which you decide your life is your own. No apologies or excuses. No one to lean on, rely on, or blame. The gift is yours – it is an amazing journey – and you alone are responsible for the quality of it. This is the day your life really begins” - stated by Bob Moawad 

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“To the question of your life - you are the Answer; and to the problems of your life - you are the Solution”  - authored by Joe Cordare

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“When nobody believes in you, believe in yourself. When nobody acknowledges your value, value yourself.  Instead of awaiting validation from others, listen to your Inner Guidance. Stand tall, oozing enough self-confidence to push yourself through seemingly insurmountable obstacles” – stated by Nea Justice

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 “The 3 C’s of Life --  Choices, Chances, Changes. You must make a Choice to take a Chance or your life will never Change” – stated by Unknown Author

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“Four short words sum up what has lifted most successful individuals above the crowd: a little bit more. They did all that was expected of them and a little bit more” – stated by  A. Lou Vickery

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“Whoever you may be, Whatever life leads you, You are always a Mom’s Child, a Dad’s Dream, a Family’s Future and Someone’s Life. Be the Best of It” – stated by an Unknown Author

 

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Jim Loria
E-Mail: loria@sfstampede.com

WEEKLY MOTIVATIONAL PIECE!

Greetings!

When I wrote last week’s piece that featured the inspirational pre-game speech given by San Francisco Giants’ outfielder Hunter Pence, he signaled out teammate Ryan Vogelsong. I was intrigued by that and wondered why? What was so important about this one teammate? So I dug deeper and looked into Ryan’s background and came away stunned and with so much admiration for this player and his wife as well! Vogelsong’s story could easily become a “best seller” someday!

His career has spanned 14 years, 14 teams and three continents; from the majors back down to the minors and even trips to Japan and Venezuela to find himself, which makes his story hard to believe that he would eventually become an everyday shut-down starter in Major League Baseball let alone make an All-Star Team and capture a World Series ring? And all of this came at the ages of 33 and 34! Amazing perseverance!

How many MLB clubs do you think would have given a player a shot when they found out that this prospect went six years in-between major-league wins and was in his early 30’s? Growing up from little league to high school ball, Vogelsong never made an all-star team; in college, he was a walk-on at a Division II school.  Yet he was drafted by San Francisco in 1998 and he got to the majors within two years and pitched for the Giants in a limited capacity. His story could have stopped right there and I would have tipped my cap to this person for achieving a Dream that many sometimes can’t see through?

He was then traded to Pittsburgh in 2001. In his second start with the Pirates, he blew out his arm, requiring Tommy John surgery. By 2006, Pittsburgh released him. With no nibbles from any MLB team’s, Vogelsong opted to go to Japan in 2007, where he spent three seasons before Philadelphia called to offer him a minor-league contract.

No more eating fish guts as he did to bond with his Japanese teammates.  Despite his struggles in Japan (posting an 11-14 W-L record), Vogelsong feels that his time spent in the Orient was extremely valuable. He said:  “I don’t think Japan had much to do with improving me baseball-wise. But what it did was make me grow up, made me mature a lot. Being away from home for that long and being in a different culture, it forces you to be a patient person, which is something I was never really good at. That part of Japan was a big part for me in my life.”

Returning to the states at the age of 32, his time spent with the Phillies’ AAA affiliate in Lehigh Valley came to an end in July of the 2010 season after he could only compile a 2-5 W-L record in 25 appearances.  He packed his gear and traveled west to Salt Lake City for another shot at recapturing his dreams to pitch in the Majors. Similar results: he went 1-3 in seven starts and was let go by the Los Angeles Angels’ organization.

By now, most players would have given retirement a serious thought especially one with Vogelsong’s resume? Add into the fact that Vogelsong’s wife, Nicole, just gave birth to the couple’s first child, a son name Ryder. “It's been hard on her. I mainly dragged her across the world," said Vogelsong. "She's the optimist and I'm the realist. I was ready to talk about (quitting). She wasn't. When we went to Japan, our biggest fights were because she thought I was selling myself short."

With the help and inspirational push from his wife, Vogelsong traveled to Venezuela in 2010 to play Winter Ball to possibly find that spark. He wanted to prove to the baseball world that he could still pitch. It was there that San Francisco Giants’ hitting coach, Hensley Meulens, saw him while coaching another team. “I’m not a scout,” said Meulens, “But I can tell when someone is pitching different than they used to. Ryan’s matured and learned how to pitch. He’s worked hard and figured it out.”

In 2011, the Giants’ baseball brass decided to invite Vogelsong to their spring training camp despite an age many considered past prime for a non proven player. Now 33, Ryan performed well at camp but was assigned to San Francisco’s AAA affiliate in Fresno, CA. Vogelsong, with a renewed sense of confidence from his Winter Ball play, dominated the PCL hitters in his first two starts – striking out 17 in 11 innings and winning both games.   

His sizzling start with Fresno combined with an injury to Giants’ veteran pitcher Barry Zito led to his call-up to the Big Leagues. His wife cried! Her husband’s Dreams and Prayers were finally answered!  Giants’ Manager Bruce Bochy gave Vogelsong the ball and after several wins back-to-back-to-back, he eventually locked in a rotation spot and was seen now as a solid, reliable performer. He went on to compile an impressive 13-7 W-L record and 2.71 ERA spread out over 28 starts.  His amazing performance led him to being selected to the 2011 National League All-Star Team! Who wants to be the author of the Ryan Vogelsong book now? Maybe scriptwriter for a movie?

Coming back in 2012 at age 34, Vogelsong added to the legend by remaining a mainstay in the Giants’ starting rotation. He compiled a 14-9 W-L record and 3.37 ERA in 31 outings. But it was his control and dependability during the recently concluded playoffs and World Series that just makes this a true Hollywood story. He won his two starts in the NLCS playoff series against St. Louis with a 1.29 ERA (13 K’s in 14 innings) and then pitched over five innings of shutout ball against Detroit during the Giants’ 2-0 win in Game #3 of the World Series. During the 2012 post-season, Vogelsong did not allow more than “one run” in any of his four starts for the Giants!

Who would have seen this all happening? Ryan Vogelsong recording a 27-16 W-L record in the last two years with almost 300 strikeouts in 368 innings to go with a World Series Ring and a Major League Baseball All-Star selection? To think, this all came after 2,412 consecutive days on a journey around the world to find someone to believe in him – other than his wife - and give him a chance to throw a baseball once more in the Big Leagues!

"When you're growing up and you envision you want to be a major league player, you imagine it one way, that you're having success. It's as simple as don't ever give up," Vogelsong said when reflecting back on his career ups and downs. "I came into this game and people told me that you don't stop playing until they kick you out and take your uniform. That's what I was going to do, and now here I sit."

Never give up on You no matter what lies ahead in your career! Perseverance with Belief with a Positive Mindset can take you anywhere in this world! Continue to pursue and capture your Dreams!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY WISHES TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!

All the best my friend!

Jim Loria

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RYAN VOGELSONG’S FAVORITE MESSAGE GIVEN TO HIM BY HIS FATHER, HAROLD,  WHILE GROWING UP: "Don't fail because you didn't work at it. Never think it's because you didn't work hard enough."

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"Your living is determined not so much by what life brings you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens" – stated by Lewis L. Dunnington

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“The good Lord gave you a body that can stand most anything. It's your mind you have to convince” – stated by legendary NFL Hall of Fame coach Vince Lombardi

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“If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change” – stated by Dr Wayne Dyer

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“The highest reward for a person's toil is not what they get for it, but what they become by it” - stated by John Ruskin

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“When I wake up in the morning, I have to decide to either be an example or an excuse" – stated by an unknown author

 

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Jim Loria
E-Mail: loria@sfstampede.com

WEEKLY MOTIVATIONAL PIECE!

Greetings!

In the last few weeks, I think I’ve heard perhaps some of the best known SPEECHES ever in the history of sports. Lou Gehrig’s “Luckiest Man on Earth” message will never be topped but I will give props to Indianapolis NFL Head Coach Chuck Pagano, who’s post-game talk to his Colts’ players last Sunday was picked up by all national networks and was so moving and genuine. Pagano has been hospitalized for the past month undergoing chemo treatments for his battle against leukemia!

By now, most of you may be aware of the “speech” that helped spark the San Francisco Giants to their amazing comeback series win over Cincinnati in the opening round of the 2012 MLB Playoffs? After dropping their first two home games in the best-of-five series, Hunter Pence, a six-year big league veteran and newly acquired (in late July) from Philadelphia, delivered the surprising pep talk to his Giants’ teammates. Many players now say that it served as the spark that re-energized, re-focused and re-booted the mindsets of each – then and throughout the rest of their post-season run to the title!

After a typical manager’s speak to the players, Pence (out of nowhere) just stood up in front of Giants’ skipper Bruce Bochy and with such incredible emotion and passion, started yelling these words out to his teammates: 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    "Get "In here, everyone get in here . . . look into each other’s eyes . . . now! Look into each other’s eyes! I want one more day with you! This is the most fun and the best team I have ever been on and no matter what happens, we must not give in. We owe it to each other, to play for each other. I need one more day with you guys! I need to see what [Ryan] Theriot will wear tomorrow. I want to play defense behind [Ryan] Vogelsong because he's never been to the

playoffs . . . play for each other not yourself!”

When asked about the speech following the World Series Championship, Vogelsong said: “It really touched home. It wasn’t what Hunter said, it was the intensity of it. The truth of it.”

Fellas, keep in mind that spoken words can serve as motivation and be so uplifting when said at the right moment. Doesn’t matter by whom as you now see. You don’t have to be the leadoff man in the lineup or the top hitter. However, words can demoralize a team and even a fan base just as easy based on your body language and timing of such statement especially when everything is being shown and replayed millions of times on various television and social media sites all over. NFL players like Cam Newton, Michael Vick and Mark Sanchez – speaking in recent weeks - are perfect examples of interviewing styles not to imitate when a microphone is put before you.

Always remember that it’s WE when speaking vs. SELF. Take time after a game to allow the raw emotion you are feeling to settle down somewhat before speaking or for what you are about to author to the Twitter/Facebook world! 

All the best my friend!

Jim Loria

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“The words ‘I Am’ … are potent words; be careful what you hitch them to. The thing you’re claiming has a way of reaching back and claiming you” – stated by A.L. Kitselman, Author

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“The strength of the team is each individual member; the strength of each member is the team” – stated by NBA Hall of Fame Coach Phil Jackson

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"A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. He does not set out to be a leader, but becomes one by the quality of his actions and the integrity of his intent" – stated by Mike Jones

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A GREAT POEM THAT PLAY’S INTO TODAY’S MESSAGE ….

Before you speak, listen.

Before you write, think.

Before you spend, earn.

Before you invest, investigate.

Before you criticize, wait.

Before you quit, try.

Before you retire, save.

Before you die, give.

By: William Arthur Ward

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Jim Loria
E-Mail: loria@sfstampede.com

WEEKLY MOTIVATIONAL PIECE

Greetings!

How rare is it for an athlete – who is statistically considered one of the best at his position so early in his career – and already viewed as an iconic figure in the Bay Area, that he would be banished from his starting rotation spot in a World Series of all times? A difficult time for many with such a demotion so publicly written or spoken about in every traditional media and social media outlet across America. Yes, Tim Lincecum sucked up his pride, ego and proved to be the difference maker for his teammates, shutting down Detroit during Games #1 and #3 last week.

Who would have predicted that Lincecum would become more valuable to San Francisco in middle relief than as a possible starter? How flawless was Lincecum during those two appearances? He now ranks right up there with Hall of Famer Goose Gossage and (soon-to-be-one in) Mariano Rivera, as one of the few pitchers to ever compile an ERA with a “O” before the first decimal point in World Series relief – 0.69 ERA in 13 innings with 17 K’s.

"It's not surprising at all," said Giants’ teammate Ryan Vogelsong. “But what sticks out the most to me - when the lights come on in the biggest stage, is that Tim showed everybody what he's truly about. And you've got to tip your hat to him, because he could have been upset about going to the bullpen, and not one second did you ever see that from him. He just went down there and came out firing BBs, and he's been really impressive."

No one could have seen this coming. A pitcher that has started 188 of his 189 Major League game appearances. If you judge this on salary? The Giants’ front office took an $18-million dollar roster spot out of the dugout and switched him to the bullpen. He went from the most dominant pitcher in the big leagues (2008-2010) by the age of 26 to back-to-back disappointing seasons (23-29 W-L record) in the last two years.  This past season, Lincecum was battered around for over five runs a game on average in his 33 starts for San Francisco.

If there was ever a modern-day athlete who is largely unencumbered by introspection and self-doubt, it would be Lincecum. He was recently chosen by the men’s GQ Magazine as one of the “Coolest Athletes of All Time!” He is a pitcher that welcomes his teammates to chat with him on game days he starts (says Tim: ”Most pitchers on game days are like, ‘Leave me alone, let me do my thing,’ but I’m like, ‘Guys, you can talk to me, we can listen to music. I mean, it’s supposed to be fun, right?’”) Yet, the 2012 season had even Lincecum wondering if he lost his mojo? “I never lost five games in a month, not at any level,” he said. “I started questioning my own self and what got me here?”

When August rolled into the dog days of last summer, it was evident that Lincecum was no longer himself when he lost his third start in a row. “He was losing for the first time in his life, and he was doing it on a national stage,” said Giants’ pitching coach Dave Righetti. As one disappointing outing led to another, Lincecum started to search for a solution. He started wearing his socks higher to change his delivery. He started running stadium steps to strengthen his leg muscles. More than anything, Lincecum had to come to terms with the fact he was struggling. “It’s about accepting it,” said Tim. “That’s hard to tell people, just because they’re like, ‘What the hell? He’s accepting that he sucks?’ No, it’s like, ‘I can’t do anything about the past. I’m going to get better from here, stop trying to reinvent myself, trust my stuff and move on.’ ”

Lincecum breezed through his early years in the Major Leagues. Dominating hitters. Winning multiple Cy Young Awards. He made a career of proving doubters wrong mostly because of his diminutive size (5-8, 130 pounds as a high school junior) and unorthodox mechanics. Now he was feeling a different kind of pressure to perform for the first time. “The fact that people were like, ‘Is he ever going to be the same Tim Lincecum?’ or whatever they were saying — it all crept up into my head. I started thinking about every aspect of my delivery as opposed to just doing it and trusting it.”

Fellas – the last quote above are words to remember. It’s why each week we keep discussing the importance of working on your mindset. You need to feed your mind with positive energy each day so that when the messages are translated to the body below, your true talents can be unleashed and allow you to perform at peak levels for a consistently longer period of time. If you waver on your thoughts, you can now see how quickly your talents can break down. Just use Tim Lincecum as your new template!

ALL THE BEST MY FRIEND!

Jim

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TIM LINCECUM COMMENTING ON GIANTS PITCHER BARRY ZITO, WHO ALSO BATTLED BACK FROM DISAPPOINTING SEASONS IN RECENT YEARS AND FROM BEING TAKEN OFF THE TEAM’S WORLD SERIES ROSTER IN 2010 TO BECOMING A KEY PLAYER IN THEIR 2012 TITLE RUN: “What can you say about a guy who’s gone about it the way he has professionally and still found a way to be positive about it. I mean, there’s so many ways to become negative after all those things — just from the experience I’m going through, just battling those negative thoughts — but Barry’s found a way to become confident and positive again. Obviously, that’s admirable for him to do that, and I look up to him. I look up to him like a big brother.”

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LINCECUM ON WHEN BEING TOLD BY THE GIANTS’ BRASS OF HIS NEW ROLE AS A RELIEF PITCHER FOR THE WORLD SERIES: “If it means being a good teammate or being in the 'pen, I don't care, I just want to win."

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“All winning teams are goal oriented. Teams like these win consistently because everyone connected with them concentrates on specific objectives. They go about their business with blinders on; nothing will distract them from achieving their aims” – stated by Lou Holtz, Hall of Fame College Football Coach and ESPN TV Analyst

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“Repeated actions are stored as habits. If the repeated actions aren’t fundamentally sound, then what comes out in a game can’t be sound. What comes out will be bad habits” – stated by Chuck Knox, former NFL Head Coach

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Jim Loria
E-Mail: loria@sfstampede.com

WEEKLY MOTIVATIONAL PIECE

Greetings!

“Your existence has many doors, and each serves a purpose that ultimately helps define who you are. Sometimes it is hard to open these doors. Often you would think it just won’t work. It takes patience and perseverance, but you must believe that you already have every key for each door you encounter” – stated by an unknown author.

Take Marco Scutaro as another example for perseverance. Here is a player that was tucked away in the minor leagues for seven years searching for a break and wondering if it will ever come. He’s been traded three times during his 11-year Major League Baseball career and shuffled around between the Mets, A’s, Red Sox, Blue Jays, Rockies and Giants. Every step of the way he’s always been a serviceable player. Versatile and scrappy. Someone who knows his role in the game and the reputation he brought with him to each city was one of being a ‘great teammate!’

He played in 95 games for Colorado earlier in this 2012 season and was batting a respectable .271 before being dealt to the Giants at the trading deadline. For all the years pent up in him playing the role of a utility man, Scutaro went on an immediate offensive tear in San Francisco that continued through the end of the season and into the playoffs. He batted a Tony Gwynn-like .362 in 61 games and became the team’s inspirational sparkplug on-and-off the field! To think, that the Rockies actually paid (cash in the deal to have) the Giants take Scutaro off their hands!

Scutaro’s baseball portfolio rose to even greater heights during the current post-season. He just tied a MLB Playoff League Championship Series record (against St. Louis) by pounding out 14 hits and captured the NLCS MVP Award all the while surviving one of the most talked about collisions in baseball memory (when Matt Holliday of St. Louis barreled over Scutaro at second base in a double play attempt back in the first inning of Game #2). Suffering a strained left hip, Scutaro showed his true grit and perseverance by never missing an at bat and put together an impressive 9-for-19 run at the plate following the incident. The 36-year-old Venezuela-born Scutaro has finally found a place where fans in San Francisco and elsewhere around the baseball world will now know his name for years to come!

Giants’ pitcher Sergio Romo said it best on what effect Marco Scutaro had on the team and the locker room: "That was the blockbuster trade we made to get that guy. He's been the bridge between the English and Spanish teammates, let alone an unbelievable leader by example on the field. Without him, we definitely wouldn't be in this position, and he's up there for team MVP, right beside Buster (Posey)."

Fellas – as we’ve said many times in past readings, it doesn’t matter where you’re drafted, how old you are, your place in the batting lineup or status in the pitching rotation, you have to be mentally ready when opportunity comes knocking! You have to believe that you can be the difference maker when the call comes to take the mound or step up to the plate!  Just check out the names of Cody Ross, David Freese … and now Marco Scutaro. Heroes and Careers are born every year and they come in all ages and sizes!

All the best my friend!

Jim Loria

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“The only thing that counts is your dedication to the game. You run on your own fuel; it comes from, within you” – stated by Paul Brown, Hall of Fame NFL Coach

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Speaking of up and down times on the field, Arizona Diamondbacks’ Manager Kirk Gibson was very frank in a recent interview about his own career. Said he battled through countless slumps during his 17-year playing career. He would lash out at the media and lost his temper in front of the public as a result.  After a terrible year at the plate with Detroit in 1983 (4th year in the AL and batted .227), he decided to enroll at the corporate mind-building Pacific Institute in Seattle, where he learned to think positively, work on his mindset and visualize himself in successful situations. “I had to do that stuff because I was a lunatic.”

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MLB Baseball Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson’s favorite saying: “Get Out of Your Own Way! Don’t Get in the Way of Your Ability!”

ON HIS SUCCESS IN THE BIG MOMENTS, JACKSON SAYS: “I had a Relaxed sense of Calmness at the Plate in that Moment!”

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FELLAS ALWAYS REMEMBER … “The reputation of a thousand years may be determined by the conduct of one hour” – Japanese Proverb

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Jim Loria
E-Mail: loria@sfstampede.com