FOR NICK: WEEKLY MOTIVATIONAL PIECE - MAY 3, 2012

“Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habits. Watch your habits; they become character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny” – stated by Frank Outlaw



Greetings Nick!

Many of you have heard me speak on character issues and how much that your very own body of work away from the field can truly make the difference. In today’s age, more and more, your character will serve as the eventual tie-breaker when pro personnel evaluators make decisions on drafting you as a prospect or when a MLB GM will offer you a contract and the dollar size of their commitment.

Last week, the NFL held its annual draft. In the last three months I was paying attention to the prospects I knew had first round material. I wanted to see who would “free fall” and blow away millions of dollars because they failed to develop their character and protect their reputation despite an ability to play at a higher level. Perfect example: Arizona State linebacker Vontaze Burfict. Many scouts were ready to anoint him as the next Ray Lewis from the Baltimore Ravens. Burfict was a player that would bulldoze another and lay them out on the field. For sure, he was a top five player at his position. A potential first-round pick in everyone’s pre-season draft lists. Then, how could he go completely UNDRAFTED by all 32 NFL teams?

First, reputation. NFL team’s were concerned over Burfict’s lack of discipline with his play in 2012. He committed numerous personal fouls, a sign of possible anger issues to the scouts? He shows up at the NFL Draft Combine in Indianapolis in March and bombed. Not only did he have terrible workout times but he reportedly failed an NFL required drug test. If that didn’t set off alarm buttons, he was also unimpressive during his live interviews with NFL team coaches and executives.

Here’s where the TOTAL BODY OF WORK comes into play that I spoke of at the top of this piece. Burfict ran into New England Patriots’ Head Coach Bill Belichick in a hotel lobby at the NFL Combine. The coach asked a few questions to the player. His one moment to make an impression? He’s now 1-to-1 with possibly the most influential football coach or executive in the business and one that has great influence over the drafting of his players. A coach that would even gamble on a player with less than a stellar background? Yet, Burfict failed miserably once again. Apparently there was a severe lack of eye contact between player-to-coach. His voice lacked confidence. His spoken words were hardly heard? Burfict admits that his stomach was tied in knots and hands all sweated up. Word had it that Belichick had to strain himself to just hear the football player speak?

In days to follow, Burfict moves on from one NFL coach to another. He notices a pattern. Not one coach wanted to talk football with him… They all ask if he has anger problems? If he can adjust his temperament to the NFL? One coach wondered how Burfict would react if a sweeping offensive tackle were to hit him with a cheap shot: Would he pursue the ball or punch the lineman?

At the NFL Combine, Burfict admits he heard the whispers from the sidelines and sensed that the scouts’ heads were shaking. He was not wrong in his assumption as NOT ONE NFL TEAM DRAFTED HIM. Completely bypassed by 32 teams. His draft “free fall” not only cost Burfict millions but the only offer he could get was a training camp try-out with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Fellas – if you’ve never seen a TV Show called EXCUSED … take time to do so. It’s a dating show. The premise is that two females are inside a house. A group of men get a chance to date these women but each must first walk up to the front door of the house and in TEN SECONDS or less, SELL THEMSELVES!! Their presentation and first impressions are seen by the girls on a hidden TV camera. The ladies get to see the introductions and make a split second determination if the person is WORTH IT OR NOT and allowed inside to proceed with a date!

It’s no different with the Major League Baseball talent evaluators. They know your talent. You don’t have to sell that ever to them. It is the “YOU” part they want to unravel! Again, your character and reputation can/and will help to either inflate your “net worth” or “devalue” it! Don’t ever cheat your social development skills … work on speaking in front of children at schools. Try to get your local media people to help teach you how to interview and most importantly, get involved with charitable work. Humanize yourself – it will pay off for you in the long term!

All the best my friend! Have a great weekend on the field!

Jim Loria

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“You want to be perceived with ‘potential’ rather than ‘problems’, as possessing ‘strengths’ instead of ‘weaknesses’, as ‘unlimited’ rather than ‘dull and unresponsive’, then you’ll thrive and grow to your capabilities” – stated by Robert Conklin

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"The person who masters himself through self-control and discipline is truly undefeatable" – stated by an unknown author

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Longtime Major League Baseball GM Pat Gillick on what team’s today look for in a prospect: “We want players who are dependable. I don’t necessarily mean they give dependable performances. Performance varies, and some of that is beyond a player’s control. We want players who are dependable in the way they go about their lives. Players who treat the parking-lot attendant right, players who talk to their teammates, players who will go about their business in practices, in their video work, in their strength and conditioning work. Dependable. Players you can depend on.”

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Kansas City Chiefs NFL GM Scott Pioli on what it takes to succeed as a pro athlete. “These Four Simple Words: Reliability – Dependability - Accountability - Discipline.”



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Jim Loria
E-Mail: loria@sfstampede.com