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


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“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


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“It’s hard to beat a person that never gives up” - stated by the legendary Hall of Famer Babe Ruth


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“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)


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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.”


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Jim Loria
E-Mail: loria@sfstampede.com