MOTIVATIONAL PIECE APRIL 13 2012

Greetings Nick!

TAKE TIME TO READ THIS ENTIRE STORY. MAY THIS PIECE ONE DAY INSPIRE YOU TO BE A “DIFFERENCE MAKER” IN YOUR COMMUNITY AND TO TOUCH THE LIVES OF MANY CHILDREN WHO WILL VIEW YOU AS THEIR HERO! ALL THE BEST ALWAYS!

Jim Loria

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What would you do? That is the essence of this piece! Read on… Let me know if you would have made the same choice?

At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves children with learning disabilities, the father (David Frey) of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, the Dad offered a question: “When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does, is done with perfection. Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do. Where is the natural order of things in my son?”

The audience was stilled by the words just spoken. The father continued. “I believe that when a child like Shay, who was mentally and physically disabled, comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way how other people treat that child.”

Then he told the following story: 'My son and I had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, “Do you think they'll let me play?” I knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but as a father, I also understood that if my son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.

I approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much) if Shay could play. This particular boy looked around for guidance and said, “We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning.”

Shay struggled over to the team's bench and, with a broad smile, put on a team shirt. I watched with a small tear in my eye and warmth in my heart. The boys on this team saw my joy at my son being accepted. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three. In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as I waved to him from the stands.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again. Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat. At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game? Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball.

However, as Shay stepped up to plate, the pitcher, recognizing that the other team was putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least make contact. The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay. As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher.

The game would now be over. The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game. Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman's head, out of reach of all teammates. Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, “Shay, run to first! Run to first!”

Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base. He tried to hustle down the baseline, wide-eyed and so startled that he made a connection with the baseball. Everyone again yelled, “Run to second, run to second!”
Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, smiling so much yet struggling to make it to the base. By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball. The smallest guy on their team who now had his first chance to be the hero for his team. He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman's head. Shay ran toward third base with all of his body’s will power could afford as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home. All were screaming, “Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay!”

Shay reached third base because the opposing shortstop ran to help him by turning him the direction of third base, and shouted, “Run to third! Shay, run to third!” As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet screaming, “Shay, run home! Run home!” Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the Hero who hit the grand slam and won the game for his team!'

“That day”, said his Dad softly (with tears now rolling down his face), “the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world. My son didn't make it to another summer. He died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making me so happy, and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!”

FELLAS: Embrace your community. Embrace the Gift you are Blessed with and be a Leader amongst the next generation of professional athletes. If you ever need help with developing your profile in the community, don’t hesitate to call me OK! My Best once again!! Jim

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“Success is always temporary. When all is said and done, the only thing you’ll have left is your Character” – stated by Vince Gill, Musician

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”Teachers, Coaches and Athletes affect all eternity. As those who are taught, teach others, the teacher’s legacy grows” – stated by Henry Adams, U.S. Author and Historian

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CHRIS DUHON, DUKE GRAD AND ORLANDO MAGIC NBA GUARD, ON HOW HE SEES THE ROLE OF A PRO ATHLETE … “Sometimes you need to realize that there are different experiences in the world, other than just playing your sport. There are different people who have different types of struggles. You just have to be a part of that, and it gives you a better understanding and appreciation, and makes you understand how lucky and blessed you really are!”

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Jim Loria
E-Mail: loria@sfstampede.com