Greetings!
HERE IS THIS WEEK’S SPECIAL PIECE …
A story that defies all odds! If you’re following the National Football League, one of the biggest storylines so far from the pre-season is the amazing play of Seattle rookie QB Russell Wilson. He was supposed to be coming to camp to basically battle it out for the third spot on the team’s depth chart.
He arrived as an unheralded third round draft pick – actually the 8th quarterback taken overall in the 2012 NFL Draft. With that, the Seahawks’ management would pay him a contract for $357,000 above the collective bargained rookie wage scale at $390K.
Upon reporting to camp, Wilson’s main competition to get out onto the field would be Matt Flynn, who only was the Seahawks’ prized free agent acquisition this past off-season. The same Matt Flynn who was Aaron Rodgers’ understudy in Green Bay for the last four years, who came to Seattle with a Super Bowl ring in hand, owner of the Packers’ all-time single game club record for most passing yards and someone whom Seattle rewarded to the tune of a fresh new $26-million dollar contract! Yet, Wilson’s play was so dominating in the exhibition games that the Seahawks’ coaching staff made a surprise choice to hand an unproven rookie the reigns as the team’s starting QB to open the season.
Those of you with me on Facebook for quite some time may recall that I wrote a piece on Wilson last November. I thought he was worthy of NFL stardom then and for sure Heisman Trophy merits, his talents were that obvious. Yet, the NFL Scouts, however, all labeled the Wisconsin QB as an undersized prospect at 5’-11” (for his position) and someone they saw as having accuracy issues.
Said Seahawks’ Coach Pete Carroll after watching Wilson’s play out on the field in recent weeks: “Russell’s height is not even a factor. What is a factor is that he is so elusive and shows great sense. I've watched our team respond to him and they've taken to his leadership style. He is so prepared. He doesn’t seem like a first-year player. He seems like he’s been around. He gets it. He doesn’t do anything but the right thing in all of his work.”
If you’re ever wondering about the power of the mind, the belief in one’s self and to be prepared for when you get that OPPORTUNITY to perform … let Russell Wilson be that example to follow! Here is a player that also had the skills to play professional baseball (while in college) for the Asheville Tourists, a development team of the Colorado Rockies. I assume most of you can attest to the incredible demands of playing a major D-1 sport (especially football with the abundance of practice and film time needed). On top of playing athletically, Wilson decided to tack on a heavy course load commitment in the process so he could graduate from North Carolina State in THREE YEARS! That alone shows me Wilson has the resolve, intelligence, discipline and dedication to thrive and excel in his athletic profession.
Don’t ever let a Scouting Report or a Draft Round hold you back fellas! Said Wilson after he defied all odds and literally stunned the NFL world: "I refuse to be average. I refuse to be good. All I want to do is work to excel every day."
Hope all is well for you! Keep believing in you and stay focused on your career dreams! Have fun and enjoy the weekend ahead!
My best always!
Jim Loria
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RUSSELL WILSON CREDITS MUCH OF HIS INSPIRATION TO GOSPEL MUSIC. One of his favorite motivational messages he takes to the field everyday comes from these lyrics performed in the song “I’m Going To Be Ready” (by Yolanda Adams).
“Sight beyond what I see,
You know what’s best for me,
Prepare my mind, prepare my heart,
For whatever comes, I’m gonna be ready.”
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“So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable, and then, when we summon the will, they soon become inevitable” - stated by an Unknown Author
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“Concentrate on the factors you have control over: Persistence, Self-Discipline, and Confidence. Far more failures are due to lack of WILL than lack of ability” – stated by Terry Bradshaw, NFL Hall of Famer, 4x Super Bowl Champion QB and NFL Fox TV Pre-Game Show Host.
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ALABAMA COLLEGE FOOTBALL COACH NICK SABAN ON WINS AND CHAMPIONSHIPS: “It’s the process that’s most important. Concentrate on the steps to success rather than worrying about the end result. Instead of thinking about the scoreboard, think about dominating the man on the opposite side of the line of scrimmage. Instead of thinking about a conference title, think about finishing a ninth rep in the weight room.”
###
Jim Loria
E-Mail: loria@sfstampede.com
Friday, August 31, 2012
Thursday, August 23, 2012
WEEKLY MOTIVATIONAL PIECE
Greetings My Friend!
This is a motivational piece that I strongly encourage you to take a few minutes to watch three specific YouTube video clips for me. They are of Bruce Springsteen, one of the greatest rock concert performers ever seen! These particular clips were taken from a 2009 concert show in London, England where Bruce drew an outdoor audience that was into the HUNDREDS of THOUSANDS of people!
What you will see is a performance by a (then) 60-year old musician that started out in the daylight afternoon hours and ended up going into the darkness of the evening! There were no intermission breaks. Every song seems like a marathon performance! You’ll see this man pour every ounce of his HEART, SOUL, GUTS, EMOTION, ENERGY and DETERMINATION into the song and how he relates to his audience and they to him. A Springsteen concert is equal to you almost playing out an entire doubleheader on the field but with Bruce taking every single at bat, making every pitch, fielding every play and is the game announcer too! There are no substitutions for this man!
Know that back in the 1980’s, I was working with the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League. Our club was just terrible on the ice back then and seem to play with no emotion or care. The Capitals’ owner (Abe Pollin) was furious with the players for being so non-competitive during those years. One night he ordered every single player and those of us that worked in the organization to attend a Springsteen concert that was going to be played in his hockey arena. The owner wanted the team and everyone to see up close the amazing amount of energy and effort put forth by Springsteen during his shows without interruption. On this night, Bruce performed for five straight hours at the pace of a maniac! I’ve never seen any performer like him and still haven’t!
Seriously, please take time to watch the three song links posted below on You Tube in their entirety! The second song shows you the sweat and exhaustion. The last one is pure determination and stamina unseen before! Show your teammates! May Bruce’s performance inspire you to play with extra effort and to reach for that extra burst of energy that you didn’t think existed when taking the field! Most importantly, when the game begins, you, too, be ready to clock in and give it everything you’ve got!
* Out In The Street Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band Live Hyde Park 2009
* The Promised Land Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band Live Hyde Park 2009
* American Land Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band Live Hyde Park 2009
(Remember the person you are watching perform is 60 years old!)
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COMEDIAN & DAILY SHOW CABLE TV HOST JON STEWART ON BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN: “Every time I’ve seen Bruce Springsteen perform, he emptied the tank! He empties that tank for his art and he empties the tank for his audience”
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"The battle that never ends is the battle of ‘Belief’ against ‘Unbelief.’ The most fearful Unbelief is Unbelief in Yourself" – stated by Thomas Carlyle, Scottish writer, historian and teacher, 1800s
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“Mind RULES; Body SERVES” – stated by an unknown author
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TONY DUNGY WHEN HE COACHED THE NFL TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS HAD JUST ONE SIGN POSTED IN THE LOCKER ROOM FOR HIS PLAYERS WHICH READ: “NO EXCUSES … NO EXPLANATION … BE A PRO!”
###
Jim Loria E-Mail: loria@sfstampede.com
This is a motivational piece that I strongly encourage you to take a few minutes to watch three specific YouTube video clips for me. They are of Bruce Springsteen, one of the greatest rock concert performers ever seen! These particular clips were taken from a 2009 concert show in London, England where Bruce drew an outdoor audience that was into the HUNDREDS of THOUSANDS of people!
What you will see is a performance by a (then) 60-year old musician that started out in the daylight afternoon hours and ended up going into the darkness of the evening! There were no intermission breaks. Every song seems like a marathon performance! You’ll see this man pour every ounce of his HEART, SOUL, GUTS, EMOTION, ENERGY and DETERMINATION into the song and how he relates to his audience and they to him. A Springsteen concert is equal to you almost playing out an entire doubleheader on the field but with Bruce taking every single at bat, making every pitch, fielding every play and is the game announcer too! There are no substitutions for this man!
Know that back in the 1980’s, I was working with the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League. Our club was just terrible on the ice back then and seem to play with no emotion or care. The Capitals’ owner (Abe Pollin) was furious with the players for being so non-competitive during those years. One night he ordered every single player and those of us that worked in the organization to attend a Springsteen concert that was going to be played in his hockey arena. The owner wanted the team and everyone to see up close the amazing amount of energy and effort put forth by Springsteen during his shows without interruption. On this night, Bruce performed for five straight hours at the pace of a maniac! I’ve never seen any performer like him and still haven’t!
Seriously, please take time to watch the three song links posted below on You Tube in their entirety! The second song shows you the sweat and exhaustion. The last one is pure determination and stamina unseen before! Show your teammates! May Bruce’s performance inspire you to play with extra effort and to reach for that extra burst of energy that you didn’t think existed when taking the field! Most importantly, when the game begins, you, too, be ready to clock in and give it everything you’ve got!
* Out In The Street Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band Live Hyde Park 2009
* The Promised Land Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band Live Hyde Park 2009
* American Land Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band Live Hyde Park 2009
(Remember the person you are watching perform is 60 years old!)
--------------------------------------------------------------------
COMEDIAN & DAILY SHOW CABLE TV HOST JON STEWART ON BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN: “Every time I’ve seen Bruce Springsteen perform, he emptied the tank! He empties that tank for his art and he empties the tank for his audience”
--------------------------------------------------------------------
"The battle that never ends is the battle of ‘Belief’ against ‘Unbelief.’ The most fearful Unbelief is Unbelief in Yourself" – stated by Thomas Carlyle, Scottish writer, historian and teacher, 1800s
--------------------------------------------------------------------
“Mind RULES; Body SERVES” – stated by an unknown author
--------------------------------------------------------------------
TONY DUNGY WHEN HE COACHED THE NFL TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS HAD JUST ONE SIGN POSTED IN THE LOCKER ROOM FOR HIS PLAYERS WHICH READ: “NO EXCUSES … NO EXPLANATION … BE A PRO!”
###
Jim Loria E-Mail: loria@sfstampede.com
Friday, August 10, 2012
WEEKLY MOTIVATIONAL PIECE
Greetings!
ENJOY THIS WEEK'S SPECIAL MESSAGE ...
Like most of you, I’ve been captivated by the London Olympic Games. Enjoyed the big events from swimming, gymnastics and track & field for sure. As the games unfolded, I started delving into the storylines behind many of these unknown athletes who dedicated a lifetime to compete for Gold against truly the world’s best.
Many of these athletes faced constant economic difficulties, job and family dislocations, physical hardships, etc., while pursuing their dream. One story – that of Kayla Harrison – made my heart bleed. During these games, she became the first-ever American in Olympic history to win GOLD in the sport of Judo. En-route, she beat the Yankees-Angels-Rangers in her Judo competition - a formidable Russian opponent in her first match. A tough Hungarian in round two (that she had never beaten) and the No. 1 ranked female in the world from Brazil in the semis. To win Gold, Kayla had to face Great Britain’s hometown favorite - Gemma Gibbons - on her own turf. A heavyweight schedule of competition no doubt!
But it was the story away from athletics told by Kayla Harrison that is most gut-wrenching. This 22-year-old female fought one of the most courageous battles not only in her sport of Judo but in life. She had to endure an almost unimaginable betrayal, as her former coach in Ohio – much like the Jerry Sandusky Penn State scandal - preyed on their relationship, and her trust, and sexually abused Kayla starting when she was 12.
Kayla could have quit but the world caught a sneak preview of her tremendous courage, resiliency and resolve back then, when at the age of 16, she walked into a courtroom. She steeled herself to testify and looked her former coach in the eye and watched him plead guilty and receive a 10-year prison sentence. That alone was a heroic feat of Gold Medal standards!
Still in her teen years, next came the period of recover, rebuilding, recommitting and having the courage to return to the mat for Kayla. The everyday 4:30 in the morning workouts. Not only working to defeat an opponent but to defeat the demons that took over her mind as the year’s grew old.
“You’re talking about somebody who came from the lowest point of her life, who didn’t know if she wanted to go on any more, to now stepping on top of the Olympic podium, as an Olympic Champion, and the first American to ever do it in the sport of Judo, just says it all,” said Kayla’s current coach Jimmy Pedro.
Kayla Harrison walked away from the Olympics as a Champion in the record books but perhaps a medal of even higher standards …. the medal of HEROISM. She showed the world that Heroes don’t quit. That Heroes get off the mat. “This just proves that you’re only a victim if you allow yourself to be,” she said.
We only hope that by sharing her story at these Olympic Games, Kayla will become an inspiration to countless others around the world facing similar challenges.
ALL THE BEST!
Jim Loria
--------------------------------------------------------------
“Mental Will is a Muscle that needs exercise, just like muscles of the body” – stated by Lynn Jennings, World Champion Runner
---------------------------------------------------------------
“The Will to Win means nothing if you haven’t the Will to Prepare” – stated by Juma Ikangaa, the 1989 New York City Marathon Winner
---------------------------------------------------------------
“A top athlete has to combine three different factors: physical strength, tactics, and mental toughness. The golden rule is to never let any of those slip” – stated by Felicia Ballanger, 10-time Cycling Gold Medalist
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HERE’S A PORTION OF A POEM I WILL SHARE IN FULL LATER
… “Courage must come from the soul within … The man must furnish the will to win... So figure it out for yourself, my lad… You were born with all that the great have had… With your equipment they all began… Get hold of yourself and say: “I CAN!”
###
Jim Loria
E-Mail: loria@sfstampede.com
ENJOY THIS WEEK'S SPECIAL MESSAGE ...
Like most of you, I’ve been captivated by the London Olympic Games. Enjoyed the big events from swimming, gymnastics and track & field for sure. As the games unfolded, I started delving into the storylines behind many of these unknown athletes who dedicated a lifetime to compete for Gold against truly the world’s best.
Many of these athletes faced constant economic difficulties, job and family dislocations, physical hardships, etc., while pursuing their dream. One story – that of Kayla Harrison – made my heart bleed. During these games, she became the first-ever American in Olympic history to win GOLD in the sport of Judo. En-route, she beat the Yankees-Angels-Rangers in her Judo competition - a formidable Russian opponent in her first match. A tough Hungarian in round two (that she had never beaten) and the No. 1 ranked female in the world from Brazil in the semis. To win Gold, Kayla had to face Great Britain’s hometown favorite - Gemma Gibbons - on her own turf. A heavyweight schedule of competition no doubt!
But it was the story away from athletics told by Kayla Harrison that is most gut-wrenching. This 22-year-old female fought one of the most courageous battles not only in her sport of Judo but in life. She had to endure an almost unimaginable betrayal, as her former coach in Ohio – much like the Jerry Sandusky Penn State scandal - preyed on their relationship, and her trust, and sexually abused Kayla starting when she was 12.
Kayla could have quit but the world caught a sneak preview of her tremendous courage, resiliency and resolve back then, when at the age of 16, she walked into a courtroom. She steeled herself to testify and looked her former coach in the eye and watched him plead guilty and receive a 10-year prison sentence. That alone was a heroic feat of Gold Medal standards!
Still in her teen years, next came the period of recover, rebuilding, recommitting and having the courage to return to the mat for Kayla. The everyday 4:30 in the morning workouts. Not only working to defeat an opponent but to defeat the demons that took over her mind as the year’s grew old.
“You’re talking about somebody who came from the lowest point of her life, who didn’t know if she wanted to go on any more, to now stepping on top of the Olympic podium, as an Olympic Champion, and the first American to ever do it in the sport of Judo, just says it all,” said Kayla’s current coach Jimmy Pedro.
Kayla Harrison walked away from the Olympics as a Champion in the record books but perhaps a medal of even higher standards …. the medal of HEROISM. She showed the world that Heroes don’t quit. That Heroes get off the mat. “This just proves that you’re only a victim if you allow yourself to be,” she said.
We only hope that by sharing her story at these Olympic Games, Kayla will become an inspiration to countless others around the world facing similar challenges.
ALL THE BEST!
Jim Loria
--------------------------------------------------------------
“Mental Will is a Muscle that needs exercise, just like muscles of the body” – stated by Lynn Jennings, World Champion Runner
---------------------------------------------------------------
“The Will to Win means nothing if you haven’t the Will to Prepare” – stated by Juma Ikangaa, the 1989 New York City Marathon Winner
---------------------------------------------------------------
“A top athlete has to combine three different factors: physical strength, tactics, and mental toughness. The golden rule is to never let any of those slip” – stated by Felicia Ballanger, 10-time Cycling Gold Medalist
-----------------------------------------------------------------
HERE’S A PORTION OF A POEM I WILL SHARE IN FULL LATER
… “Courage must come from the soul within … The man must furnish the will to win... So figure it out for yourself, my lad… You were born with all that the great have had… With your equipment they all began… Get hold of yourself and say: “I CAN!”
###
Jim Loria
E-Mail: loria@sfstampede.com
Sunday, August 5, 2012
WEEKLY MOTIVATIONAL PIECE
Greetings!
HERE IS THIS WEEK’S SPECIAL PIECE …
I think you all know me well enough by now that I am a proponent of player’s getting involved in their community, leaving a proud legacy behind and punching in the clock on the field each and every day. I am also one that wants to see a player benefit financially and to maximize their fame by developing brand image marketing programs, one that will carry them to the end of their lifetime.
On the flip side, I am mystified when I see an athlete literally blow up their career for elements not related to the playing field? Yesterday, as I was going to work and tuned my car radio to ESPN, the on-air host was speaking about some major league athletes and what it must be like to be 60 or 70+ in age and still be adored by the sporting public where they’re willing to pay to just shake your hand and thank you for a well done career … all because they STILL LIKE YOU?
Now take the case of Josh Beckett of the Boston Red Sox. Here’s a pitcher who had created a career to be proud of by pitching one of the most masterful World Series games ever when he shut down the New York Yankees right in the Bronx to lead Florida to the 2003 World Series Championship. He then did it again with Boston when he led them to their glorious World Series title in 2007. That’s enough to get you bronzed with a statue somewhere. Guarantee you with a lifetime of fame and adulation. Right?
Turn the calendar over to 2012 and read the following comment that appears on a website of a Boston-area radio station about Josh Beckett:
“I do not expect him to pitch again for the Red Sox, not because of injury, but because he is a dishonorable person, and he contributed materially to the Red Sox collapse in 2011. He needs to be shunned by all of baseball. What a waste of talent in having such a disgraceful attitude. May he fail at everything else he tries in the future. He is an absolute disgrace” – Jan, Boston, MA
For the past year – and into today - Beckett has being hammered by the Red Sox fans and the people of New England verbally on websites, by newspaper writers and with harsh (venom laced) booing on the field not so much for his win-loss record the past two seasons but because of his (alleged) perception as a clubhouse-destroying malcontent that eventually led the Red Sox management to clear out Terry Francona as their field leader for running a loose ship. Adding further fuel to the fire, Beckett was seen playing golf on an off day this year just after he missed his turn on the mound due to an injury.
In Boston, Beckett possibly now ranks right there with Manny Ramirez as perhaps the two most despised players to ever play for the Red Sox. As I said, I just can’t figure out why a player would mortgage their “baseball brand name and image?” There is the after-life of an athlete in which you hope there’s another 50 years of fame and glory with every step you take during your travels into retirement and beyond. I have this feeling that Beckett will be shunned by the Red Sox fans and all of New England and perhaps the baseball world when he caps off his career. Sad.
Always remember fellas that you live in a technology world where your slightest wrongdoing can now be broadcast to millions of people around the world in a split second thanks to Twitter and other social media sites. Protect your investment, your good name and work for your post-career as well as your today!
MY BEST ALWAYS!
Jim Loria
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“How you spend your minutes are what matters … all tomorrow’s come from yesterday's” – lyrics by Jon Bon Jovi, singer/songwriter and owner of the Philadelphia Soul, Professional Indoor Football Team
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“A leader is one who see more than others see, who sees farther than others see, and who sees before others see” – stated by Leroy Eims, former Director of U.S. Ministries
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“Success on any major scale requires you to accept responsibility… in the final analysis, the one quality that all successful people have… is the ability to take on responsibility” – stated by Michael Korda, Writer & Novelist
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“The content of your character is your choice. Day-by-day, what you choose, what you think and what you do is who you become” – stated by Unknown Author
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WORDS FROM A SIGN DISPLAYED IN THE TAMPA BAY RAYS CLUBHOUSE: "Integrity Doesn't Require Rules!"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“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
###
Jim Loria E-Mail: loria@sfstampede.com
HERE IS THIS WEEK’S SPECIAL PIECE …
I think you all know me well enough by now that I am a proponent of player’s getting involved in their community, leaving a proud legacy behind and punching in the clock on the field each and every day. I am also one that wants to see a player benefit financially and to maximize their fame by developing brand image marketing programs, one that will carry them to the end of their lifetime.
On the flip side, I am mystified when I see an athlete literally blow up their career for elements not related to the playing field? Yesterday, as I was going to work and tuned my car radio to ESPN, the on-air host was speaking about some major league athletes and what it must be like to be 60 or 70+ in age and still be adored by the sporting public where they’re willing to pay to just shake your hand and thank you for a well done career … all because they STILL LIKE YOU?
Now take the case of Josh Beckett of the Boston Red Sox. Here’s a pitcher who had created a career to be proud of by pitching one of the most masterful World Series games ever when he shut down the New York Yankees right in the Bronx to lead Florida to the 2003 World Series Championship. He then did it again with Boston when he led them to their glorious World Series title in 2007. That’s enough to get you bronzed with a statue somewhere. Guarantee you with a lifetime of fame and adulation. Right?
Turn the calendar over to 2012 and read the following comment that appears on a website of a Boston-area radio station about Josh Beckett:
“I do not expect him to pitch again for the Red Sox, not because of injury, but because he is a dishonorable person, and he contributed materially to the Red Sox collapse in 2011. He needs to be shunned by all of baseball. What a waste of talent in having such a disgraceful attitude. May he fail at everything else he tries in the future. He is an absolute disgrace” – Jan, Boston, MA
For the past year – and into today - Beckett has being hammered by the Red Sox fans and the people of New England verbally on websites, by newspaper writers and with harsh (venom laced) booing on the field not so much for his win-loss record the past two seasons but because of his (alleged) perception as a clubhouse-destroying malcontent that eventually led the Red Sox management to clear out Terry Francona as their field leader for running a loose ship. Adding further fuel to the fire, Beckett was seen playing golf on an off day this year just after he missed his turn on the mound due to an injury.
In Boston, Beckett possibly now ranks right there with Manny Ramirez as perhaps the two most despised players to ever play for the Red Sox. As I said, I just can’t figure out why a player would mortgage their “baseball brand name and image?” There is the after-life of an athlete in which you hope there’s another 50 years of fame and glory with every step you take during your travels into retirement and beyond. I have this feeling that Beckett will be shunned by the Red Sox fans and all of New England and perhaps the baseball world when he caps off his career. Sad.
Always remember fellas that you live in a technology world where your slightest wrongdoing can now be broadcast to millions of people around the world in a split second thanks to Twitter and other social media sites. Protect your investment, your good name and work for your post-career as well as your today!
MY BEST ALWAYS!
Jim Loria
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“How you spend your minutes are what matters … all tomorrow’s come from yesterday's” – lyrics by Jon Bon Jovi, singer/songwriter and owner of the Philadelphia Soul, Professional Indoor Football Team
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“A leader is one who see more than others see, who sees farther than others see, and who sees before others see” – stated by Leroy Eims, former Director of U.S. Ministries
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“Success on any major scale requires you to accept responsibility… in the final analysis, the one quality that all successful people have… is the ability to take on responsibility” – stated by Michael Korda, Writer & Novelist
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“The content of your character is your choice. Day-by-day, what you choose, what you think and what you do is who you become” – stated by Unknown Author
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WORDS FROM A SIGN DISPLAYED IN THE TAMPA BAY RAYS CLUBHOUSE: "Integrity Doesn't Require Rules!"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“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
###
Jim Loria E-Mail: loria@sfstampede.com
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Weekly Motivational Piece -- July 26, 2012
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
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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
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“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
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
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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 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
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“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
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“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
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“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
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“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
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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?
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“My competitors are not adversaries – they are helpers. They help me push past my limits” – stated by Victor Plata, Triathlon Athlete
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“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
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“Let your workings remain a mystery. Just show people the results” – stated by Lao Tzu, Chinese Philosopher
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“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
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