Greetings!
HERE IS THIS WEEK'S MOTIVATIONAL PIECE ... ENJOY!
With the induction of Ron Santo into the Baseball Hall of Fame over the weekend, I hope you will read this story from start-to-finish. If there ever was a true baseball hero, Ron Santo gets my vote! Read on…
Ron’s career started off just like yours. He had the same dreams … to be a big league ballplayer. Like you, he played high school ball. Grew up in Seattle. He was considered the best baseball prospect in the state of Washington. He was a picture of great health.
Upon signing his first professional baseball contract in 1959, he underwent a routine physical. As he was packing his gear to go play for the Cubs' minor league affiliate in San Antonio, TX, he was told by his doctor that he had Diabetes. Then, Santo said he “couldn't accept that a disease would stop me from using my God-given gifts.” He hit .327 with 11 home runs during his debut pro season and was considered one of the stars of the Cubs’ farm system.
Shortly thereafter, Santo was told that his Pancreas pretty much stopped functioning heading into his second season (1960) and had to start taking daily insulin injections. He never disclosed his health issues to the Cubs for fear of being considered a medical liability and or released.
“I wanted my teammates and fans to think of me as a ballplayer—not as someone who needed their sympathy,” said Santo. His numbers, his defensive play, his accomplishments, were all done while quietly battling a disease that would ultimately ravage his body. Not until 1971 did the public even learn about Santo’s disease and medical problems.
Turning to Cubs radio broadcasting after his playing days, a position he held for 19 seasons despite continued health problems. He never whined about the road travel or the climb up the massive number of stadium stairs just to get to the broadcast booth at each game. He just loved his life as a Cubs’ Ambassador!
At the age of 60 and for his final decade of life, Santo underwent 15 more operations including issues with circulatory problems that necessitated the amputation of his right and left leg. He endured eye surgeries, heart attacks, a heart-bypass procedure and fought through bladder cancer. Santo died in 2010. A year later, as one of the 17,733 players to play Major League Baseball, Santo became just the 12th third baseman enshrined in the halls of Cooperstown.
Despite it all, Santo continued to be “Mr. Positive” and did his job every day despite the limitations his body imposed on him. He even found time to help raise more than $60-million dollars in Chicago for Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, of which he became a board member.
Said Ron, “Until adversity hits you, and I had open-heart surgery and lost both my legs, you think, I can’t get through it. But really, you do what you have to do. I say that to everybody. You have only one way to go, and that’s a positive way.”
Santo became the third Cubs player ever to have his playing jersey retired and has a statue of his likeness immortalized on the grounds of Wrigley Field. When he died, his former teammates draped Santo’s casket with the No. #10 Flag (his jersey number) that flew over the ballpark. Following the service, the procession headed north to Wrigley and ended right at third base where his cremated ashes were scattered on the field that became his home.
"I've often said that baseball must provide hope and faith. Ron Santo personified that spirit with an array of challenges that would test the courage of the bravest amongst us. Ron Santo never lost hope, he never lost faith in himself, in the city of Chicago, in his beloved Cubs and in the game of baseball" — stated by MLB Commissioner Bud Selig.
Fellas – as you begin to create your own legacy, make sure each and every day you live and play the game of baseball with the three P’S of life: PERSEVERANCE – PASSION – PURPOSE. Ron Santo exemplified these qualities each and every day of his life. He left this earth a Champion and a Hero to Millions of people! That’s the Legacy we all want and hope to leave behind!
All the best! Be sure to take care of those that love you and guided you throughout your career OK!
Jim Loria
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
SPECIAL QUOTES
“Many words and phrases come to mind when I think of Ron Santo. Let's start with Unique. Unforgettable. Amazing. Courageous. Inspirational. Natural. Genuine and Real. Generous, Charitable and Kind. Loyal, Strong, Tough, Optimistic, Iconic, Outrageous, Hilarious, Fun, the No. 1 Cubs fan ever, a Partner and a Friend. Ron Santo leaves behind multiple legacies of a loving family, a praiseworthy playing career, a memorable broadcast career, he was a champion of diabetes research and the other legacy would be the remarkable way he handled his physical adversity toward the end"
"Ron Santo got a lot of fan mail, mountains of fan mail. He would take it with us on the road. Before games I would be preparing for the broadcast, he would read these fan notes and then he would pick up the phone and he would call a complete stranger and he would say, 'Hi this is Ron Santo, could I please talk to Larry Smith?' There would be a pause and then Ronnie would kind of chuckle and say, 'No, this really is Ron Santo, I'm calling for Larry.' He did this all the time and they would talk for 10 or 15 minutes" — stated by Pat Hughes, Cubs Radio Broadcast partner with Ron Santo
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
“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
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
“What you have … give! Because what you save … you lose forever” – stated by Brant Ust, who played nine years in the minor leagues of pro baseball
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
“There are countless ways of achieving greatness, but any road to achieving one’s maximum potential must be built on a bedrock of respect for the individual, a commitment to excellence, and a rejection of mediocrity” – stated by Buck Rodgers, former Big League catcher and manager for the Milwaukee Brewers, Montreal Expos and California Angels.
###
Jim Loria
E-Mail: loria@sfstampede.com
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Thursday, July 19, 2012
WEEKLY MOTIVATIONAL PIECE - JULY 19, 2012
Greetings My Friend!
THIS WEEK'S MOTIVATIONAL PIECE... ENJOY!
Never in the history of sports has their been a player more valuable to his city and perhaps (arguably) to his team. This person is Drew Brees, the record-breaking All-Pro QB for the New Orleans Saints.
His name brand is so off the charts right now that Brees was just tabbed by our United Nations to serve as the U.S. National Ambassador “Against Hunger” for the World Food Program. AN AMAZING HONOR! In addition, out of the thousands of professional athletes around the country, Drew landed at the No. 1 spot in this year’s “Power 100” ranking compiled by a Georgia sports marketing firm that helps Corporation’s determine which athletes are worthy of being chosen for endorsement opportunities.
Yet, just six years ago, Drew Brees was a “broken player” in more ways than one. He was without a home. Despite being productive in San Diego (his original draft team) for a few years, the Chargers decided to acquire Philip Rivers as the 3rd overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft and invested tens of millions in their rookie QB. Obviously, management played their hand and showed Brees that his time in San Diego was now just a poor performance or an injury situation away from his time in California coming to an end. Going into his free agent contract season in 2006, Brees suffered an untimely – and one of the most horrific shoulder injuries to a quarterback.
As he rehabbed and shopped himself around, there were no NFL team takers. It was bad enough that Brees always had to fight off the label from pro personnel experts that he was too short for his position (6'0") and his already perceived lack of arm strength. Now he had to recover from a torn labrum. New Orleans, a desperate city trying to find traction after one of the worst natural disasters in U.S. history, was the only NFL club to gamble on a player no one gave hope he could ever play again. Brees would later say his landing in New Orleans was much more than just an athlete's change of venue, “It was a calling!'' he said. "We were brought here for a reason.''
Brees and his wife, Brittany, showed love for New Orleans upon arrival when the city – ravaged and ruined by Hurricane Katrina - felt abandoned by so many others. Not only did he spark the team’s play on the field – the franchise was coming off of a horrendous 3-13 record - but he also threw himself into helping the city recover, and its people to feel like they were not alone. Brees, who may go down as one of sports’ all-time greatest leaders, has since led the Saints to two division championships and a Super Bowl title while setting all-time offensive performance records for NFL quarterbacks. "He symbolizes the people of New Orleans in many, many ways,'' says NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.
Always remember that pro scouts cannot measure one’s “determination” nor the size of an athlete’s “will” and “heart” or his ability to perform under pressure. Brees picked himself up from the bottom barrel of his sport to now becoming the highest paid player in the history of the NFL!
SO NEVER DOUBT YOU AND HAVE FAITH NO MATTER WHAT LIFE’S CIRCUMSTANCES BRINGS YOUR WAY... OK!!
Faith = Fortitude … Attitude … Integrity … Trust … Humility.
All the best my friend! Keep Believing in your Mission and go Capture your Dreams!
Jim Loria
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
“When you look at an Athlete’s Body, you only see the tip of the iceberg. The 10 in the 110%! What you can’t see is what really matters. That’s the Will to Continue. The Fuel to Drive the Mind that pushes the body again and again. The Outside only shows the Final Chapter. But the Story gets told from Within!” – stated in ESPN The Magazine
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
“A man can be as great as he wants to be. If you believe in yourself and have the courage, the determination, the dedication, the competitive drive and if you are willing to sacrifice the little things in life and pay the price for the things that are worthwhile, it can be done” – stated by Vince Lombardi, legendary Hall of Fame NFL Coach
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
“An invincible determination can accomplish almost anything and in this lies the great distinction between great men and little men” – stated by Dr. Thomas Fuller, 1700s British Physician and Preacher
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
“JUST WIN THE DAY!” – an everyday quote authored by Chip Kelly, Head Football Coach at the University of Oregon
###
Jim Loria
E-Mail: loria@sfstampede.com
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Weekly Motivational Piece!
Greetings My Friend!
I will begin this story with no hints of whom I am focusing on. He is a baseball player. He played in Tuesday’s MLB All-Star Game. Just signed the richest contract in his team’s history which has produced multiples of Hall of Famers over time.
Yet when this player signed the dotted line for 85-Million Dollars last week, TONY GWYNN, a Hall of Famer, texted this player and said to him: “Congrats on the contract. Now see how great you can be!”
HANK AARON, the enduring all-time great MLB Hall of Famer and hero to the American sports fan, actually phoned this player and said to him: “I like the way you play the game!”
This player: Adam Jones of the Baltimore Orioles. And he’s still of the youthful age of 26. He was once traded away from Seattle years ago. Then considered unproven. Today he’s developed. Now ranks in the American League’s Top 10 in many of the key offensive categories.
Yet, this contract investment into the mega-millions was made by the Orioles in-season - which is surprising - but done so because Baltimore, the franchise, has BOUGHT INTO THE MAN! Yes, they bought into Jones’ offensive potential, impressive they may be. BUT THEY WEDDED THEMSELVES TO HIS CHARACTER!
“Adam is more than a fine player," said O’s VP/GM Dan Duquette. “To have a great team in Baltimore, we have to find and keep players like Adam, players that are willing to make the sacrifices for the team and do the little things that we all know helps teams win games. This commitment by the Orioles reflects the fact that Adam Jones is more than a fine player. He's a leader in our community and he's a winner. He has heart, and his work in the community makes clear that his heart is in the right place."
At his press conference to announce the new contract extension, true to his commitment to the community, Jones invited a group of youth baseball players that he supports to be present with him. Jones also announced that he will donate a portion of his yearly salary to the Orioles’ Charities and also continue to strive to make a positive impact on local youth.
"I definitely want to make my mark on the city of Baltimore, and be known as someone who went out there and played hard every day,” said Jones. “In the community, you gotta give 100 percent to try to make a difference. If I am able to help one kid get better in baseball, get better in school, get a job, something positive, I think I've succeeded.”
Through all of his efforts on-and-off the field, Jones is now seeing his Star Power rise. Prior to the MLB All-Star Game festivities, the producers of the David Letterman Show asked Jones to take part in voicing Dave’s popular TOP TEN list! ESPN produced a heart-warming feature segment on Jones that showcased his work in the community and how he was inspired by Jackie Robinson, and today is devoted to helping Robinson’s family work with the Boys & Girls Clubs throughout America.
As we’ve said many times before, fellas, your work in the community and the character you present to the public combined with your efforts on the field, can and will produce dividends for you! INVEST YOUR TIME NOW AND LET PEOPLE SEE YOU BECOME THAT NEXT LEADER … BE THE ‘MAN’ JUST LIKE ADAM JONES!
All the best and keep Believing in You Always OK!
Jim Loria
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
“Look up and not down; look forward and not back; look out and not in; and lend a hand” – stated by Edward Everett Hale, American Author and Clergyman
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
“It’s hard to beat a person that never gives up” - stated by the legendary Hall of Famer Babe Ruth
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
“Things turn out the best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out” – stated by John Wooden, one of sports all-time great coaches (NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball at UCLA)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Michigan College Football QB Denard Robinson on what he learned from spring practice drills while working with the Navy Seals in preparation for the 2012 season: “What stood out the most is that the team has to have one goal and one plan to reach its destination. We all want to be leaders, but sometimes you keep your mouth closed and follow orders. It‘s a lesson that I have to apply on the field because I want to be a QB that Michigan fans will remember the rest of their lives.”
###
Jim Loria
E-Mail: loria@sfstampede.com
I will begin this story with no hints of whom I am focusing on. He is a baseball player. He played in Tuesday’s MLB All-Star Game. Just signed the richest contract in his team’s history which has produced multiples of Hall of Famers over time.
Yet when this player signed the dotted line for 85-Million Dollars last week, TONY GWYNN, a Hall of Famer, texted this player and said to him: “Congrats on the contract. Now see how great you can be!”
HANK AARON, the enduring all-time great MLB Hall of Famer and hero to the American sports fan, actually phoned this player and said to him: “I like the way you play the game!”
This player: Adam Jones of the Baltimore Orioles. And he’s still of the youthful age of 26. He was once traded away from Seattle years ago. Then considered unproven. Today he’s developed. Now ranks in the American League’s Top 10 in many of the key offensive categories.
Yet, this contract investment into the mega-millions was made by the Orioles in-season - which is surprising - but done so because Baltimore, the franchise, has BOUGHT INTO THE MAN! Yes, they bought into Jones’ offensive potential, impressive they may be. BUT THEY WEDDED THEMSELVES TO HIS CHARACTER!
“Adam is more than a fine player," said O’s VP/GM Dan Duquette. “To have a great team in Baltimore, we have to find and keep players like Adam, players that are willing to make the sacrifices for the team and do the little things that we all know helps teams win games. This commitment by the Orioles reflects the fact that Adam Jones is more than a fine player. He's a leader in our community and he's a winner. He has heart, and his work in the community makes clear that his heart is in the right place."
At his press conference to announce the new contract extension, true to his commitment to the community, Jones invited a group of youth baseball players that he supports to be present with him. Jones also announced that he will donate a portion of his yearly salary to the Orioles’ Charities and also continue to strive to make a positive impact on local youth.
"I definitely want to make my mark on the city of Baltimore, and be known as someone who went out there and played hard every day,” said Jones. “In the community, you gotta give 100 percent to try to make a difference. If I am able to help one kid get better in baseball, get better in school, get a job, something positive, I think I've succeeded.”
Through all of his efforts on-and-off the field, Jones is now seeing his Star Power rise. Prior to the MLB All-Star Game festivities, the producers of the David Letterman Show asked Jones to take part in voicing Dave’s popular TOP TEN list! ESPN produced a heart-warming feature segment on Jones that showcased his work in the community and how he was inspired by Jackie Robinson, and today is devoted to helping Robinson’s family work with the Boys & Girls Clubs throughout America.
As we’ve said many times before, fellas, your work in the community and the character you present to the public combined with your efforts on the field, can and will produce dividends for you! INVEST YOUR TIME NOW AND LET PEOPLE SEE YOU BECOME THAT NEXT LEADER … BE THE ‘MAN’ JUST LIKE ADAM JONES!
All the best and keep Believing in You Always OK!
Jim Loria
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
“Look up and not down; look forward and not back; look out and not in; and lend a hand” – stated by Edward Everett Hale, American Author and Clergyman
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
“It’s hard to beat a person that never gives up” - stated by the legendary Hall of Famer Babe Ruth
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
“Things turn out the best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out” – stated by John Wooden, one of sports all-time great coaches (NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball at UCLA)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Michigan College Football QB Denard Robinson on what he learned from spring practice drills while working with the Navy Seals in preparation for the 2012 season: “What stood out the most is that the team has to have one goal and one plan to reach its destination. We all want to be leaders, but sometimes you keep your mouth closed and follow orders. It‘s a lesson that I have to apply on the field because I want to be a QB that Michigan fans will remember the rest of their lives.”
###
Jim Loria
E-Mail: loria@sfstampede.com
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Weekly Motivational Piece!
Greetings Nick!
This week I wanted to share with you a special poem that I found that is so perfect for you as an athlete, as a player that aspires to play major league baseball and just because someday you will become that next leader as a father of your very own children and of your community that you lay roots somewhere!
DON’T EVER DOUBT YOUR ABILITIES AND YOUR DREAMS! BELIEVE IN YOU AND YOUR ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY THAT IS BEFORE YOU NOW!
All the best my friend! Happy 4th of July Holiday Wishes too!
Jim Loria
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
WHY NOT YOU? (Written by an Unknown Author)
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, for many the burden of self doubt and insecurity will be lifted by the security and confidence of empowerment. 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 live in such a manner that they will be a positive role model for their community and children. 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?
TODAY, many will make the commitment to be a better son, student, teacher, worker, brother & so much more. Why not you?
TODAY is a new day! Many will seize this day. Many will live it to the fullest.
Why Not You?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
“My competitors are not adversaries – they are helpers. They help me push past my limits” – stated by Victor Plata, Triathlon Athlete
----------------------------------------------------------------------
“Just the confidence that comes with chasing a dream and having it come through will make you feel you can do anything” – stated by Sarah Tueting, U.S. Olympic Women’s Hockey Goaltender
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
“Let your workings remain a mystery. Just show people the results” – stated by Lao Tzu, Chinese Philosopher
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
“Don’t go to the grave with life unused” – stated by former Florida State College Football Coach Bobby Bowden
###
Jim Loria
E-Mail: loria@sfstampede.com
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Hi Nick! RE: Weekly Motivational Piece - June 30, 2012
Greetings Nick!
MY INSPIRATIONAL STORY THIS WEEK: I love to watch how teams win. I am not always enamored with statistics. It’s more about resolve and how individual players can sacrifice for the better, lay it on the line and perform in the clutch. Doesn’t matter how much fame you have or dollars in the bank account. Let LeBron James serve as your poster boy from now on when I speak of developing your “mindset” and how everything above your neck all connects the dots with your lower body and has the final say with your ultimate performance on the field.
The NBA hasn't really seen a player with LeBron’s physical gifts? He’s rare in that James is at or near tops in his sport with the ability to score, dish out and even defend better than most. But there’s been this knock on his basketball resume that he couldn’t perform in the clutch, especially at the end of games. That was painfully obvious during the 2011 NBA Championship series when Dallas ran past the same Miami cast of players and James averaged a dismal three points in fourth quarters of those six games.
Things were so bad that this past year, an NBA player poll was conducted and James did not receive one single vote for the “player you would want to take the last shot in a game.”
The key for any athlete, no matter their sport, boils down to your STOMACH and STAMINA; WILL POWER and MINDSET that determines many an outcome! At the pro level, the player that can block out the thousands of voices creeping into your head daily will make the difference.
What changed it all this year for LeBron when suddenly he put up Hall of Fame numbers during the recently concluded NBA Playoffs – averaged 26 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds per game? “He was thinking too much” said Miami teammate Dwayne Wade.
LeBron realized that to manage expectation, to meet expectation, HE HAD TO REMOVE HIMSELF FROM THE EXPECTATION! Last year and in season’s past, LeBron was a tortured soul. Yes, he was hated for his decision to leave Cleveland and then to boast about the numerous championships he would win in Miami.
“The best thing that happened to me two years ago was us losing the Finals, you know, and me playing the way I played. It was the best thing to ever happen to me in my career because basically I got back to the basics. It humbled me. I knew what it was going to have to take, and I was going to have to change as a basketball player, and I was going to have to change as a person to ultimately get what I wanted. “
"It took me to go all the way to the top and then hit rock bottom, basically, to realize what I needed to do as a professional athlete and as a person," James said. “I had to get back to being myself."
Coming to grips with all of this has been one of the great challenges of LeBron’s life. Here’s a superior player. One of the world’s most recognizable faces and wealthiest athletes yet LeBron took it upon himself during the summer of 2011 to strip every part of his living being and face the “demons” head-on that occupied his mind for much too long. He was on a personal mission to reclaim his confidence and joy about playing basketball. He asked for the help of other professionals. He worked on his game and moves around the basket. He sought out other leaders in the sports profession to develop an understanding on what does it take to be a leader? He found out that it’s more than just scoring a lot of points and making a fiery speech before a big game. It took humility, self-evaluation and soul-searching to re-focus LeBron James.
"I was very immature two years ago," said James. "I played to prove people wrong instead of just playing my game, instead of just going out and having fun and playing a game that I grew up loving. One thing that I learned, and someone taught me this, the greatest teacher you can have in life is experience and then confidence to go out and perform in your sport."
The LeBron who'd been skewered with so much hatred for the past two years ... that wasn't him, he said. He absorbed the hate and tried to fight it -- tried to dish it right back, with every move he made. It didn't work -- in fact, it failed epically -- and he wouldn't have gotten his first NBA title without letting it all go and reshaping his mindset.
ALL THE BEST MY FRIEND!
Jim Loria
------------------------------------------------------------------
“You have got to Win in your Mind before you can Win in Life” – stated by an unknown author
------------------------------------------------------------------
“Our mistakes don’t make or break us. If we are lucky, they simply reveal who we really are, what we’re really made of. Challenges will come, but if you treat them simply as tests of who you are, you’ll come out of it not bitter and victimized, but smarter and stronger” – stated by Donn Moomaw, Pro Football Player
------------------------------------------------------------------
“We are all here for some special reason. Stop being a prisoner of your past. Become the architect of your future” – stated by Robin Sharma, Author
------------------------------------------------------------------
“No matter where you are in life right now, no matter who you are, no matter how old you are – it is never too late to be who you are meant to be” – stated by Esther & Jerry Hicks
-------------------------------------------------
“The first step toward success is taken when you refuse to be a captive of the environment in which you first find yourself” – stated by Mark Caine
###
Jim Loria
E-Mail: loria@sfstampede.com
MY INSPIRATIONAL STORY THIS WEEK: I love to watch how teams win. I am not always enamored with statistics. It’s more about resolve and how individual players can sacrifice for the better, lay it on the line and perform in the clutch. Doesn’t matter how much fame you have or dollars in the bank account. Let LeBron James serve as your poster boy from now on when I speak of developing your “mindset” and how everything above your neck all connects the dots with your lower body and has the final say with your ultimate performance on the field.
The NBA hasn't really seen a player with LeBron’s physical gifts? He’s rare in that James is at or near tops in his sport with the ability to score, dish out and even defend better than most. But there’s been this knock on his basketball resume that he couldn’t perform in the clutch, especially at the end of games. That was painfully obvious during the 2011 NBA Championship series when Dallas ran past the same Miami cast of players and James averaged a dismal three points in fourth quarters of those six games.
Things were so bad that this past year, an NBA player poll was conducted and James did not receive one single vote for the “player you would want to take the last shot in a game.”
The key for any athlete, no matter their sport, boils down to your STOMACH and STAMINA; WILL POWER and MINDSET that determines many an outcome! At the pro level, the player that can block out the thousands of voices creeping into your head daily will make the difference.
What changed it all this year for LeBron when suddenly he put up Hall of Fame numbers during the recently concluded NBA Playoffs – averaged 26 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds per game? “He was thinking too much” said Miami teammate Dwayne Wade.
LeBron realized that to manage expectation, to meet expectation, HE HAD TO REMOVE HIMSELF FROM THE EXPECTATION! Last year and in season’s past, LeBron was a tortured soul. Yes, he was hated for his decision to leave Cleveland and then to boast about the numerous championships he would win in Miami.
“The best thing that happened to me two years ago was us losing the Finals, you know, and me playing the way I played. It was the best thing to ever happen to me in my career because basically I got back to the basics. It humbled me. I knew what it was going to have to take, and I was going to have to change as a basketball player, and I was going to have to change as a person to ultimately get what I wanted. “
"It took me to go all the way to the top and then hit rock bottom, basically, to realize what I needed to do as a professional athlete and as a person," James said. “I had to get back to being myself."
Coming to grips with all of this has been one of the great challenges of LeBron’s life. Here’s a superior player. One of the world’s most recognizable faces and wealthiest athletes yet LeBron took it upon himself during the summer of 2011 to strip every part of his living being and face the “demons” head-on that occupied his mind for much too long. He was on a personal mission to reclaim his confidence and joy about playing basketball. He asked for the help of other professionals. He worked on his game and moves around the basket. He sought out other leaders in the sports profession to develop an understanding on what does it take to be a leader? He found out that it’s more than just scoring a lot of points and making a fiery speech before a big game. It took humility, self-evaluation and soul-searching to re-focus LeBron James.
"I was very immature two years ago," said James. "I played to prove people wrong instead of just playing my game, instead of just going out and having fun and playing a game that I grew up loving. One thing that I learned, and someone taught me this, the greatest teacher you can have in life is experience and then confidence to go out and perform in your sport."
The LeBron who'd been skewered with so much hatred for the past two years ... that wasn't him, he said. He absorbed the hate and tried to fight it -- tried to dish it right back, with every move he made. It didn't work -- in fact, it failed epically -- and he wouldn't have gotten his first NBA title without letting it all go and reshaping his mindset.
ALL THE BEST MY FRIEND!
Jim Loria
------------------------------------------------------------------
“You have got to Win in your Mind before you can Win in Life” – stated by an unknown author
------------------------------------------------------------------
“Our mistakes don’t make or break us. If we are lucky, they simply reveal who we really are, what we’re really made of. Challenges will come, but if you treat them simply as tests of who you are, you’ll come out of it not bitter and victimized, but smarter and stronger” – stated by Donn Moomaw, Pro Football Player
------------------------------------------------------------------
“We are all here for some special reason. Stop being a prisoner of your past. Become the architect of your future” – stated by Robin Sharma, Author
------------------------------------------------------------------
“No matter where you are in life right now, no matter who you are, no matter how old you are – it is never too late to be who you are meant to be” – stated by Esther & Jerry Hicks
-------------------------------------------------
“The first step toward success is taken when you refuse to be a captive of the environment in which you first find yourself” – stated by Mark Caine
###
Jim Loria
E-Mail: loria@sfstampede.com
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Hi Nick! RE: Weekly Motivational Piece - Dated: June 24, 2012
Greetings Nick!
This player is all but 23-years of age. At 19, he was the consensus National College Basketball Player-of-the-Year. The NBA Rookie-of-the-Year at 20. The youngest player ever to win an NBA scoring title at 21. Today, he is now known as a 3-time NBA scoring champion.
Meet Kevin Durant. Like Drew Brees, QB of the NFL New Orleans Saints, Durant is one of those rare athletes that carries the weight of his sports team franchise and perhaps an entire city on his back. He is one of those rare breeds found in sports. He is a living BRAND who is worshipped by the entire population of Oklahoma City. Yet he is as genuine as they come! He gives as much to the tenth man coming off the bench as he does to the starters. He never travels with a posse or security guards like most NBA superstars. He drives a plain everyday conversion van to-and-from the arena.
The local OKC fans took to Durant from the very beginning. It started off with the little things… people saw him attending local church each week. They saw him slap five to every child sitting courtside. They saw him hug his mom before each tipoff. They saw him sign autographs. They saw him pay homage at the Oklahoma City National Memorial (that honored the 168 citizens killed in the bombing of the 1995 Federal Building). They saw him give every custodial worker inside the Oklahoma City Arena the same respect – much like Peyton Manning during his days with the Indy Colts – as he gives his teammates and family.
“I like to see people smiling,” says Durant. “So I do whatever it takes. The fans make time for us as players. They don't have to go out of their way to drive to the game. They don't have to go out of their way to buy our jerseys, buy tickets, come scream and support us every game. They can save their money. But they choose to come watch us play. So that's the least I can do, just showing them that I appreciate them.”
At a young age Durant's parents instilled a sense of humility and often told their son that “IT DIDN’T HAVE TO BE YOU” when they realized Kevin was developing an athletic gift. Says Durant: “That's as simple as it can get! My parents taught me with those words that it could be the guy living across the street that's in my shoes. I was blessed to be a guy that's been chosen to do something. I've been put on this earth to do something that I love and I can't take that for granted.”
One of the things that impresses me so much about Kevin Durant is how he GETS IT! He’s making tens of millions. Actually turned down ten$ more! Doesn’t need the big city lights like Miami or L.A. to make him famous. He loves being tucked away in Oklahoma City. When asked why he didn’t bolt the Thunder franchise for more riches as a 22-year-old free agent and league scoring champion, Durant said: “OKC fits my personality very well. It's laid back and calm, and that's the kind of person I am. The people are tremendous. And I love the organization and what we have in store. We're big on family and that's what we have in Oklahoma City.”
That is such a key fellas. Finding a school (college) and or pro organization that you feel comfortable. That you have a trust. That your skills and beliefs match up with the program or organization. No matter how much money you may be paid someday, establishing that comfort zone and daily routine is one of the keys to helping you perform and reach the excellence you have come to expect. No matter how much we're all compensated in life, every human being has to feel loved and feel that inner happiness in order to succeed!
ALL THE BEST MY FRIEND! KEEP BELIEVING IN YOU ALWAYS AND GO CAPTURE YOUR DREAMS!
Jim Loria
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
“Once a man has made a commitment to a way of life, he puts the greatest strength in the world behind him. It’s something we call heart power. Once a man has made this commitment, nothing will stop him short of success” - stated by Vince Lombardi, the legendary NFL Hall of Fame Coach
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
"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 Unknown Author
------------------------------------------------------------------------
“Confidence imparts a wonderful inspiration to its possessor” – stated by John Milton, English Poet
------------------------------------------------------------------------
“Confidence is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony” – stated by Mahatma Gandhi, the leader of India during the early 1900s
###
Jim Loria
E-Mail: loria@sfstampede.com
This player is all but 23-years of age. At 19, he was the consensus National College Basketball Player-of-the-Year. The NBA Rookie-of-the-Year at 20. The youngest player ever to win an NBA scoring title at 21. Today, he is now known as a 3-time NBA scoring champion.
Meet Kevin Durant. Like Drew Brees, QB of the NFL New Orleans Saints, Durant is one of those rare athletes that carries the weight of his sports team franchise and perhaps an entire city on his back. He is one of those rare breeds found in sports. He is a living BRAND who is worshipped by the entire population of Oklahoma City. Yet he is as genuine as they come! He gives as much to the tenth man coming off the bench as he does to the starters. He never travels with a posse or security guards like most NBA superstars. He drives a plain everyday conversion van to-and-from the arena.
The local OKC fans took to Durant from the very beginning. It started off with the little things… people saw him attending local church each week. They saw him slap five to every child sitting courtside. They saw him hug his mom before each tipoff. They saw him sign autographs. They saw him pay homage at the Oklahoma City National Memorial (that honored the 168 citizens killed in the bombing of the 1995 Federal Building). They saw him give every custodial worker inside the Oklahoma City Arena the same respect – much like Peyton Manning during his days with the Indy Colts – as he gives his teammates and family.
“I like to see people smiling,” says Durant. “So I do whatever it takes. The fans make time for us as players. They don't have to go out of their way to drive to the game. They don't have to go out of their way to buy our jerseys, buy tickets, come scream and support us every game. They can save their money. But they choose to come watch us play. So that's the least I can do, just showing them that I appreciate them.”
At a young age Durant's parents instilled a sense of humility and often told their son that “IT DIDN’T HAVE TO BE YOU” when they realized Kevin was developing an athletic gift. Says Durant: “That's as simple as it can get! My parents taught me with those words that it could be the guy living across the street that's in my shoes. I was blessed to be a guy that's been chosen to do something. I've been put on this earth to do something that I love and I can't take that for granted.”
One of the things that impresses me so much about Kevin Durant is how he GETS IT! He’s making tens of millions. Actually turned down ten$ more! Doesn’t need the big city lights like Miami or L.A. to make him famous. He loves being tucked away in Oklahoma City. When asked why he didn’t bolt the Thunder franchise for more riches as a 22-year-old free agent and league scoring champion, Durant said: “OKC fits my personality very well. It's laid back and calm, and that's the kind of person I am. The people are tremendous. And I love the organization and what we have in store. We're big on family and that's what we have in Oklahoma City.”
That is such a key fellas. Finding a school (college) and or pro organization that you feel comfortable. That you have a trust. That your skills and beliefs match up with the program or organization. No matter how much money you may be paid someday, establishing that comfort zone and daily routine is one of the keys to helping you perform and reach the excellence you have come to expect. No matter how much we're all compensated in life, every human being has to feel loved and feel that inner happiness in order to succeed!
ALL THE BEST MY FRIEND! KEEP BELIEVING IN YOU ALWAYS AND GO CAPTURE YOUR DREAMS!
Jim Loria
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
“Once a man has made a commitment to a way of life, he puts the greatest strength in the world behind him. It’s something we call heart power. Once a man has made this commitment, nothing will stop him short of success” - stated by Vince Lombardi, the legendary NFL Hall of Fame Coach
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
"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 Unknown Author
------------------------------------------------------------------------
“Confidence imparts a wonderful inspiration to its possessor” – stated by John Milton, English Poet
------------------------------------------------------------------------
“Confidence is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony” – stated by Mahatma Gandhi, the leader of India during the early 1900s
###
Jim Loria
E-Mail: loria@sfstampede.com
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Hi Nick! RE: Weekly Motivational Piece - June 14, 2012
Greetings Nick!
Once again, I am staying on the same theme for those who were recently drafted and to those working their way up in the minor pros. To the highers schoolers and next year's draft prospects - this will serve as a great remidner for the next 12 months!
Regardless of status, a great big landscape awaits all of you! When you took that pen and carved out your signature on the Major League Baseball contract, you left the amateur ranks to now become a “businessman in spikes!” You have to punch in the clock every single day! Fear no one! Be in awe of no one. From Babe Ruth to YOU, thousands of players have walked the same steps you are now taking and those that pursued their dreams with desire, dedication and discipline, took care of their body away from the field, perfected their craft and made adjustments, never caved in to the daily baseball politics and distractions … advanced to the SHOW! It's all there for you to make your goal in life come true! Leave no regrets behind!
Now that you are wearing the insignia of a MLB team on your cap, be very careful, too, on how far you want to go when promoting your own Image? In a blink of an eye, you can derail those dreams you've killed for and ruin your financial wealth! To succeed at the big league level, you might as well refer to yourself today as a Corporation. You are a BRAND IMAGE and it needs to be cultivated! A successful and well liked image can lead to THOUSANDS or perhaps MILLIONS of endorsement dollars in the future when you combine your IMAGE with SUCCESS on the FIELD!
Whether it’s Facebook, Twitter or other forms of social media, you control the Image you want your Big League Club (and others) to see! Showing a very immature portrait of yourself, be it from photographs, Tweets or a wall posts, can be a very dangerous warning sign to your future MLB team and the financial value they will place on you as one of their investments.
AWAYS REMEMBER THIS QUOTE NICK: “Today I Will Give All I Have .. For This Moment Will Never Come Again!" So True! Enjoy the other terrific quotes below that I wanted to share with you!
All the best!
Jim Loria
----------------------------------------------------------------
“Some opportunities only come once. Seize them. Go out and start creating. Live your Dream and Wear your Passion” – stated by an unknown author
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“I never wanted to be one of those people who looks back and says, ‘I wonder if …‘. If I have a goal, I’ll go out and set forth to achieve it. When something is your passion, it becomes everything. You put everything into it without hesitation. No questions. No doubts. Nothing to stop you” – stated by Kim Fitchen, Cross Country Runner and member of three U.S. World Cup Relay Teams
------------------------------------------------------------------
Develop an attitude of gratitude, and give thanks for everything that happens to you, knowing that every step forward is a step toward achieving something bigger and better than your current situation” – stated by Brian Tracy, Best Selling Author and Success Expert
------------------------------------------------------------------
“Unfortunately many athletes are so focused on getting into professional sports that they never think beyond that. The goal isn’t to get to the pros, it’s to STAY in the Pros! Do you want to be a first-round pick, sign a rookie contract, and then be out of the League after a couple of seasons in the minors? Or is your goal to have a 10-year career in the Big Leagues and not care where you’re drafted” – stated by an unknown author
----------------------------------------------------------------------
“It’s not what’s happening to you now or what has happened in your past that determines who you become. Rather, it’s your decisions about what to focus on, what things mean to you, and what you’re going to do about them that will determine your ultimate destiny” – spoken by Anthony Robbins, American Self-Help Author and Success Expert
###
Jim Loria
E-Mail Address: loria@sfstampede.com
Once again, I am staying on the same theme for those who were recently drafted and to those working their way up in the minor pros. To the highers schoolers and next year's draft prospects - this will serve as a great remidner for the next 12 months!
Regardless of status, a great big landscape awaits all of you! When you took that pen and carved out your signature on the Major League Baseball contract, you left the amateur ranks to now become a “businessman in spikes!” You have to punch in the clock every single day! Fear no one! Be in awe of no one. From Babe Ruth to YOU, thousands of players have walked the same steps you are now taking and those that pursued their dreams with desire, dedication and discipline, took care of their body away from the field, perfected their craft and made adjustments, never caved in to the daily baseball politics and distractions … advanced to the SHOW! It's all there for you to make your goal in life come true! Leave no regrets behind!
Now that you are wearing the insignia of a MLB team on your cap, be very careful, too, on how far you want to go when promoting your own Image? In a blink of an eye, you can derail those dreams you've killed for and ruin your financial wealth! To succeed at the big league level, you might as well refer to yourself today as a Corporation. You are a BRAND IMAGE and it needs to be cultivated! A successful and well liked image can lead to THOUSANDS or perhaps MILLIONS of endorsement dollars in the future when you combine your IMAGE with SUCCESS on the FIELD!
Whether it’s Facebook, Twitter or other forms of social media, you control the Image you want your Big League Club (and others) to see! Showing a very immature portrait of yourself, be it from photographs, Tweets or a wall posts, can be a very dangerous warning sign to your future MLB team and the financial value they will place on you as one of their investments.
AWAYS REMEMBER THIS QUOTE NICK: “Today I Will Give All I Have .. For This Moment Will Never Come Again!" So True! Enjoy the other terrific quotes below that I wanted to share with you!
All the best!
Jim Loria
----------------------------------------------------------------
“Some opportunities only come once. Seize them. Go out and start creating. Live your Dream and Wear your Passion” – stated by an unknown author
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“I never wanted to be one of those people who looks back and says, ‘I wonder if …‘. If I have a goal, I’ll go out and set forth to achieve it. When something is your passion, it becomes everything. You put everything into it without hesitation. No questions. No doubts. Nothing to stop you” – stated by Kim Fitchen, Cross Country Runner and member of three U.S. World Cup Relay Teams
------------------------------------------------------------------
Develop an attitude of gratitude, and give thanks for everything that happens to you, knowing that every step forward is a step toward achieving something bigger and better than your current situation” – stated by Brian Tracy, Best Selling Author and Success Expert
------------------------------------------------------------------
“Unfortunately many athletes are so focused on getting into professional sports that they never think beyond that. The goal isn’t to get to the pros, it’s to STAY in the Pros! Do you want to be a first-round pick, sign a rookie contract, and then be out of the League after a couple of seasons in the minors? Or is your goal to have a 10-year career in the Big Leagues and not care where you’re drafted” – stated by an unknown author
----------------------------------------------------------------------
“It’s not what’s happening to you now or what has happened in your past that determines who you become. Rather, it’s your decisions about what to focus on, what things mean to you, and what you’re going to do about them that will determine your ultimate destiny” – spoken by Anthony Robbins, American Self-Help Author and Success Expert
###
Jim Loria
E-Mail Address: loria@sfstampede.com
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Hi Nick! RE: Weekly Motivational Piece - June 7, 2012
Greetings Nick!
To the many of you that were drafted this past week by Major League Baseball – CONGRATULATIONS! To the many who continue to climb the ladder in Minor League Baseball, keep pushing onwards to reach your Dreams! To those in High School and or underclassmen in college, you now know exactly what you’re working for … to hear that MLB team call out your name next year!
For everyone, it doesn’t matter what uniform you wear or dollar you are paid, you all can have this “Dream” of yours stripped away or kicked to the curb in a matter of seconds all because of a knucklehead moment.
As many of you will be celebrating this week for reasons of accomplishment, know that another player in your sports fraternity – Justin Blackmon, is now having his life torn apart by national media, millions of football fans all over the country, the city of Jacksonville, Florida, and toss in one angry man known as NFL Commissioner Rodger Gottlieb who will rule on this young man’s ability to step on the football field this September and pursue his Dreams like yours.
WHY: Blackmon, an incredibly talented wide receiver from Oklahoma State University and a top “5” pick in the recent 2012 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars, was charged with one count of aggravated DUI on Monday. The player’s blood-alcohol level registered a POINT-26, which is over three times the legal limit (.08). He was arrested at 3:00 AM in the morning!
Here’s a player that was willing to put at risk the biggest football Lotto ticket he might ever cash, and do it for an alcohol high especially when he just sabotaged his own contract negotiations with Jacksonville! Still unsigned, Blackmon was easily going to get a deal for $20-Million not to mention the offers that were coming in from Corporate America because this player had a gift to SMILE and ENERGIZE people around him! He was expected to join Cam Newton from the Carolina Panthers as another charismatic megawatt star! I’m sure you’ve seen the many national television commercial spots that are popping up everywhere featuring the former Auburn QB and Heisman Trophy winner!
Well, now Blackmon is one big question mark? Jacksonville was ready to open up the vault and pay this player handsomely while splashing his face on every highway billboard in Northeast Florida. The NFL club and the player are both in a difficult PR position on how severe of a financial repercussion will he be penalized for his first pro contract? If not enough, there will be the moral outrage from the Jacksonville community raining down on the player as well as the franchise (this is Blackmon’s second DUI arrest in two years). Blackmon’s story has been even much more magnified because of the fact that there’s been 11 other Jaguars’ players arrested in recent years.
Now, one drunken night has turned his entire world around for Justin Blackmon. Gang, this is another lesson to take to heart! Have fun away from the field but you have to be careful. Most of you are now professional businessmen playing a kid’s game. Unfortunately your name is also now a BRAND and your IMAGE is connected with a Major League Baseball franchise, also a business.
Don’t play the CHUTES & LADDERS game in real life. Justin Blackmon did. He was on the verge of taking his game piece all the way to the top of the game board but chose to roll the dice one more time. Picked up the wrong card and now has been sent back down to the bottom of the game board to start all over.
One other thing: As a high profile athlete. You never walk into a courtroom to a face a judge who is in control of your life’s freedom wearing a long sleeve button-up polo. Another PR blunder for this player of which his every move is now being scrutinized more than ever before.
I care about you guys and don’t want to see you lose out on your Dreams and the consequences of forfeiting millions in earnings because of one poor choice in life. Be smart!
MY BEST ALWAYS!
Jim Loria
--------------------------------------------------------------
“True success is one of our greatest needs. Success is not something you stumble onto or come to by accident. It is something you must sincerely prepare for. Take a good look at successes, and you’ll see the same consistent qualities all the time – qualities of one’s character that make one strive for a goal with a standard of unmatched excellence” – stated by Reggie Jackson, one of baseball’s all-time greats and Hall of Fame member
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“Be responsible for your actions but emotionally as well. You have created something special, a one of a kind, never to be repeated again person; don’t miss the wonder of it” – stated by unknown author
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“If I could get the ear of every young man but for one word, it would be this; make the most and best of yourself. There is no tragedy like a wasted life--a life failing of its true end, and turned to a false end” – stated by T.T. Munger, a Pioneering Research Scientist from the early 1900’s
Jim Loria
E-Mail: loria@sfstampede.com
To the many of you that were drafted this past week by Major League Baseball – CONGRATULATIONS! To the many who continue to climb the ladder in Minor League Baseball, keep pushing onwards to reach your Dreams! To those in High School and or underclassmen in college, you now know exactly what you’re working for … to hear that MLB team call out your name next year!
For everyone, it doesn’t matter what uniform you wear or dollar you are paid, you all can have this “Dream” of yours stripped away or kicked to the curb in a matter of seconds all because of a knucklehead moment.
As many of you will be celebrating this week for reasons of accomplishment, know that another player in your sports fraternity – Justin Blackmon, is now having his life torn apart by national media, millions of football fans all over the country, the city of Jacksonville, Florida, and toss in one angry man known as NFL Commissioner Rodger Gottlieb who will rule on this young man’s ability to step on the football field this September and pursue his Dreams like yours.
WHY: Blackmon, an incredibly talented wide receiver from Oklahoma State University and a top “5” pick in the recent 2012 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars, was charged with one count of aggravated DUI on Monday. The player’s blood-alcohol level registered a POINT-26, which is over three times the legal limit (.08). He was arrested at 3:00 AM in the morning!
Here’s a player that was willing to put at risk the biggest football Lotto ticket he might ever cash, and do it for an alcohol high especially when he just sabotaged his own contract negotiations with Jacksonville! Still unsigned, Blackmon was easily going to get a deal for $20-Million not to mention the offers that were coming in from Corporate America because this player had a gift to SMILE and ENERGIZE people around him! He was expected to join Cam Newton from the Carolina Panthers as another charismatic megawatt star! I’m sure you’ve seen the many national television commercial spots that are popping up everywhere featuring the former Auburn QB and Heisman Trophy winner!
Well, now Blackmon is one big question mark? Jacksonville was ready to open up the vault and pay this player handsomely while splashing his face on every highway billboard in Northeast Florida. The NFL club and the player are both in a difficult PR position on how severe of a financial repercussion will he be penalized for his first pro contract? If not enough, there will be the moral outrage from the Jacksonville community raining down on the player as well as the franchise (this is Blackmon’s second DUI arrest in two years). Blackmon’s story has been even much more magnified because of the fact that there’s been 11 other Jaguars’ players arrested in recent years.
Now, one drunken night has turned his entire world around for Justin Blackmon. Gang, this is another lesson to take to heart! Have fun away from the field but you have to be careful. Most of you are now professional businessmen playing a kid’s game. Unfortunately your name is also now a BRAND and your IMAGE is connected with a Major League Baseball franchise, also a business.
Don’t play the CHUTES & LADDERS game in real life. Justin Blackmon did. He was on the verge of taking his game piece all the way to the top of the game board but chose to roll the dice one more time. Picked up the wrong card and now has been sent back down to the bottom of the game board to start all over.
One other thing: As a high profile athlete. You never walk into a courtroom to a face a judge who is in control of your life’s freedom wearing a long sleeve button-up polo. Another PR blunder for this player of which his every move is now being scrutinized more than ever before.
I care about you guys and don’t want to see you lose out on your Dreams and the consequences of forfeiting millions in earnings because of one poor choice in life. Be smart!
MY BEST ALWAYS!
Jim Loria
--------------------------------------------------------------
“True success is one of our greatest needs. Success is not something you stumble onto or come to by accident. It is something you must sincerely prepare for. Take a good look at successes, and you’ll see the same consistent qualities all the time – qualities of one’s character that make one strive for a goal with a standard of unmatched excellence” – stated by Reggie Jackson, one of baseball’s all-time greats and Hall of Fame member
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“Be responsible for your actions but emotionally as well. You have created something special, a one of a kind, never to be repeated again person; don’t miss the wonder of it” – stated by unknown author
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“If I could get the ear of every young man but for one word, it would be this; make the most and best of yourself. There is no tragedy like a wasted life--a life failing of its true end, and turned to a false end” – stated by T.T. Munger, a Pioneering Research Scientist from the early 1900’s
Jim Loria
E-Mail: loria@sfstampede.com
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Hi Nick! RE: Weekly Motivational Piece - May 31, 2012
Greetings Nick!
With the MLB Draft coming up and high school and college programs winding down, this is a piece that will serve as a reminder that for all of the equity you’ll build up for the good deeds generated from the 2012 season and career, it’s that one ill-timed mistake that can derail your dreams in a split second, tarnish your name and ruin your financial earning capabilities?
During my own career working in sports, I’ve seen two players - minor league and NHL level – die in separate alcohol-related car crashes that stemmed from late night team parties that each took place the night of the final game after a season had come to a close.
When I worked with the Washington Capitals in the 1980s, Len Bias was an All-American basketball player with the University of Maryland. One of the truly great pro prospects ever seen! Bias was the 2nd overall pick in the 1986 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics. Two days after his selection, Bias flew to Boston to meet the Celtics’ media and sign one of the richest shoe endorsement contracts (at the time) with Reebok for a reported $3-Million.
Bias flew back home later that night and drove back to his college campus. He attended a dorm party to celebrate his new-found wealth. Reports say Bias took a dose of cocaine (which likely induced cardiac arrhythmia) and shockingly was pronounced dead at 8:55 AM.
Six days after his draft selection, millions on the way and a childhood dream now coming to fruition, Bias, instead was laid inside of a wooden casket and mourned by more than 11,000 people at his college basketball arena where he created his legend. I actually attended the Bias funeral. It was one of the saddest days ever witnessed. I will never forget the memory of (then Celtics’ captain) Larry Bird presenting the mother of Len Bias - who was crying profusely - with her son’s NBA Jersey that he would never wear (nor any other player in team history as it was immediately retired) all because of ONE MISTAKE.
Switching gears, this past week a national story about a football player name Brian Banks captured headlines everywhere. He was a former high school star linebacker in Long Beach, CA. In the summer of 2002, Banks was preparing for his senior year at age 17 and was among the nation’s best at his position. He was already awarded a scholarship from Pete Carroll and the USC Trojans when Banks was accused of rape and kidnapping -- falsely, as it turned out -- by a fellow student. Banks maintained his innocence, but faced up to 41 years in prison for the charges levied against him. Based on the advice of his legal counsel, he chose to plead guilty in exchange for a five-year sentence. Upon his release, he spent another five years on parole. He was required to register as a sex offender and wear a monitoring device. His life wasn't his own, all because of a conviction for a crime.
This week, through a remarkable turn of events. Banks’ accuser recanted her story that has led to the dismissal of his conviction, making him truly free. Exonerated. Banks, now 26, is working out with a trainer with the hopes that an NFL team will give him a tryout to possibly realize his childhood dream of playing pro football after surrendering the last ten years of his life and freedom.
Fellas, have fun, no question. You deserve it! But be very careful with the company you keep; the time of day and location. You are one cell phone picture away from a PR Nightmare that could cost you a career, a lifetime of wealth and fame after you busted your chops for so many years to get that one chance at the big leagues!
My best always my friend!
Jim Loria
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Words from a sign that hangs on display in the Tampa Bay Rays’ player clubhouse: "Integrity Doesn't Require Rules!"
----------------------------------------------------------------------
“The legacy of heroes is the memory of a great name and the inheritance of a great example” – stated by Benjamin Disraeli, British Prime Minister in the 1800s
----------------------------------------------------------------------
ALWAYS REMEMBER … “The reputation of a thousand years may be determined by the conduct of one hour” – Japanese Proverb
###
Jim Loria
E-Mail: loria@sfstampede.com
With the MLB Draft coming up and high school and college programs winding down, this is a piece that will serve as a reminder that for all of the equity you’ll build up for the good deeds generated from the 2012 season and career, it’s that one ill-timed mistake that can derail your dreams in a split second, tarnish your name and ruin your financial earning capabilities?
During my own career working in sports, I’ve seen two players - minor league and NHL level – die in separate alcohol-related car crashes that stemmed from late night team parties that each took place the night of the final game after a season had come to a close.
When I worked with the Washington Capitals in the 1980s, Len Bias was an All-American basketball player with the University of Maryland. One of the truly great pro prospects ever seen! Bias was the 2nd overall pick in the 1986 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics. Two days after his selection, Bias flew to Boston to meet the Celtics’ media and sign one of the richest shoe endorsement contracts (at the time) with Reebok for a reported $3-Million.
Bias flew back home later that night and drove back to his college campus. He attended a dorm party to celebrate his new-found wealth. Reports say Bias took a dose of cocaine (which likely induced cardiac arrhythmia) and shockingly was pronounced dead at 8:55 AM.
Six days after his draft selection, millions on the way and a childhood dream now coming to fruition, Bias, instead was laid inside of a wooden casket and mourned by more than 11,000 people at his college basketball arena where he created his legend. I actually attended the Bias funeral. It was one of the saddest days ever witnessed. I will never forget the memory of (then Celtics’ captain) Larry Bird presenting the mother of Len Bias - who was crying profusely - with her son’s NBA Jersey that he would never wear (nor any other player in team history as it was immediately retired) all because of ONE MISTAKE.
Switching gears, this past week a national story about a football player name Brian Banks captured headlines everywhere. He was a former high school star linebacker in Long Beach, CA. In the summer of 2002, Banks was preparing for his senior year at age 17 and was among the nation’s best at his position. He was already awarded a scholarship from Pete Carroll and the USC Trojans when Banks was accused of rape and kidnapping -- falsely, as it turned out -- by a fellow student. Banks maintained his innocence, but faced up to 41 years in prison for the charges levied against him. Based on the advice of his legal counsel, he chose to plead guilty in exchange for a five-year sentence. Upon his release, he spent another five years on parole. He was required to register as a sex offender and wear a monitoring device. His life wasn't his own, all because of a conviction for a crime.
This week, through a remarkable turn of events. Banks’ accuser recanted her story that has led to the dismissal of his conviction, making him truly free. Exonerated. Banks, now 26, is working out with a trainer with the hopes that an NFL team will give him a tryout to possibly realize his childhood dream of playing pro football after surrendering the last ten years of his life and freedom.
Fellas, have fun, no question. You deserve it! But be very careful with the company you keep; the time of day and location. You are one cell phone picture away from a PR Nightmare that could cost you a career, a lifetime of wealth and fame after you busted your chops for so many years to get that one chance at the big leagues!
My best always my friend!
Jim Loria
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Words from a sign that hangs on display in the Tampa Bay Rays’ player clubhouse: "Integrity Doesn't Require Rules!"
----------------------------------------------------------------------
“The legacy of heroes is the memory of a great name and the inheritance of a great example” – stated by Benjamin Disraeli, British Prime Minister in the 1800s
----------------------------------------------------------------------
ALWAYS REMEMBER … “The reputation of a thousand years may be determined by the conduct of one hour” – Japanese Proverb
###
Jim Loria
E-Mail: loria@sfstampede.com
Saturday, May 26, 2012
For Nick! RE: Weekly Motivational Piece - May 26, 2012
Greetings Nick!
With the MLB Draft coming up, many of you that are eligible in 2012 will have some tough decisions ahead to consider and make. I wanted to focus some of my helpful quotes this week on “decisions”. Hope some of these may serve as a stimulant for you! TO OTHERS, THAT HAVE MOVED PAST THE DRAFT OR ARE NON-ELIGIBLE THIS YEAR, YOU WILL STILL ENJOY THE QUOTES BELOW VERY MUCH!!
For those that have been receiving my weekly stories and took time to reshape and package yourself throughout 2011-12, this is where your body of work away from the field can definitely help elevate your final draft grade. I’ve been in the business side of marketing players for a number of years and have been in big league club war rooms many times on draft days. I can tell you wholeheartedly that MLB clubs pay heavy attention towards the evaluation of a player’s character, his maturity and the overall humanizing efforts of your work in the community. They can all serve as the "tie-breaker" when team's decide on which players to choose and how much they are willing to invest in a prospect!
One of my past jobs in the National Hockey League (that I brought to my 17-20-year-old Major Junior players of today) was to teach our players how to SMILE, to speak and interview in a professional manner with our local media and how to effectively energize and communicate to our fan base! These are skills that can pay immediate and long-term dividends for you! It's very important to show the sports world that you CARE!
All the best once more Nick! Much success on the field this weekend my friend!
Jim Loria
---------------------------------------------------------------------
“Unfortunately many athletes are so focused on getting into professional sports that they never think beyond that. The goal isn’t to get to the pros, it’s to stay in the pros. Do you want to be a first-round pick, sign a rookie contract, and then be out of the League after a couple of seasons? Or is your goal to have a 10-year career and not care where you’re drafted” – stated by an unknown author
---------------------------------------------------------------------
“It’s not what’s happening to you now or what has happened in your past that determines who you become. Rather, it’s your decisions about what to focus on, what things mean to you, and what you’re going to do about them that will determine your ultimate destiny” – spoken by Anthony Robbins, American self-help author and success coach
----------------------------------------------------------------------
“High achievers spot opportunities swiftly, make big decisions quickly and move into action immediately. Follow these principles and you can make your dreams come true” – stated by Robert H. Schuller, Entrepreneur and Author, 1926
----------------------------------------------------------------------
“When your values are clear to you, making decisions becomes easier” – stated by Roy Disney, brother of Walt Disney
---------------------------------------------------------------------
“Develop an attitude of gratitude, and give thanks for everything that happens to you, knowing that every step forward is a step toward achieving something bigger and better than your current situation” – stated by Brian Tracy
---------------------------------------------------------------------
“A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way” – stated by John Maxwell
---------------------------------------------------------------------
“I don't believe you have to be better than everybody else. I believe you have to be better than you ever thought you could be” – stated by Ken Venturi, former Pro Golfer, Broadcaster and Sports Illustrated’s 1964 Sportsman-of-the-Year
---------------------------------------------------------------------
“There is no such thing as ‘great talent’ without ‘great will power’” – stated by Honore de Balzac, French novelist and playwright
###
Jim Loria
E-Mail: loria@sfstampede.com
With the MLB Draft coming up, many of you that are eligible in 2012 will have some tough decisions ahead to consider and make. I wanted to focus some of my helpful quotes this week on “decisions”. Hope some of these may serve as a stimulant for you! TO OTHERS, THAT HAVE MOVED PAST THE DRAFT OR ARE NON-ELIGIBLE THIS YEAR, YOU WILL STILL ENJOY THE QUOTES BELOW VERY MUCH!!
For those that have been receiving my weekly stories and took time to reshape and package yourself throughout 2011-12, this is where your body of work away from the field can definitely help elevate your final draft grade. I’ve been in the business side of marketing players for a number of years and have been in big league club war rooms many times on draft days. I can tell you wholeheartedly that MLB clubs pay heavy attention towards the evaluation of a player’s character, his maturity and the overall humanizing efforts of your work in the community. They can all serve as the "tie-breaker" when team's decide on which players to choose and how much they are willing to invest in a prospect!
One of my past jobs in the National Hockey League (that I brought to my 17-20-year-old Major Junior players of today) was to teach our players how to SMILE, to speak and interview in a professional manner with our local media and how to effectively energize and communicate to our fan base! These are skills that can pay immediate and long-term dividends for you! It's very important to show the sports world that you CARE!
All the best once more Nick! Much success on the field this weekend my friend!
Jim Loria
---------------------------------------------------------------------
“Unfortunately many athletes are so focused on getting into professional sports that they never think beyond that. The goal isn’t to get to the pros, it’s to stay in the pros. Do you want to be a first-round pick, sign a rookie contract, and then be out of the League after a couple of seasons? Or is your goal to have a 10-year career and not care where you’re drafted” – stated by an unknown author
---------------------------------------------------------------------
“It’s not what’s happening to you now or what has happened in your past that determines who you become. Rather, it’s your decisions about what to focus on, what things mean to you, and what you’re going to do about them that will determine your ultimate destiny” – spoken by Anthony Robbins, American self-help author and success coach
----------------------------------------------------------------------
“High achievers spot opportunities swiftly, make big decisions quickly and move into action immediately. Follow these principles and you can make your dreams come true” – stated by Robert H. Schuller, Entrepreneur and Author, 1926
----------------------------------------------------------------------
“When your values are clear to you, making decisions becomes easier” – stated by Roy Disney, brother of Walt Disney
---------------------------------------------------------------------
“Develop an attitude of gratitude, and give thanks for everything that happens to you, knowing that every step forward is a step toward achieving something bigger and better than your current situation” – stated by Brian Tracy
---------------------------------------------------------------------
“A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way” – stated by John Maxwell
---------------------------------------------------------------------
“I don't believe you have to be better than everybody else. I believe you have to be better than you ever thought you could be” – stated by Ken Venturi, former Pro Golfer, Broadcaster and Sports Illustrated’s 1964 Sportsman-of-the-Year
---------------------------------------------------------------------
“There is no such thing as ‘great talent’ without ‘great will power’” – stated by Honore de Balzac, French novelist and playwright
###
Jim Loria
E-Mail: loria@sfstampede.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
