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
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“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
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“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
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“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, June 7, 2012
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