Game and just marveling at one of the
players - Josh Hamilton.
For those of you who don't know Josh's
story, about 10 years ago he was the first
player drafted in baseball's amateur draft.
He was as good a bet to be a superstar as
had come along during my lifetime.
He seemed to be too good to be true. He'd
never drank, was incredibly polite and had
incredible talent.
One of my former players was a teammate
of Josh's during his second year of pro ball
and I went to watch them play. What I saw
made me think that I was getting an early
glance at the guy who would become the
Michael Jordan or Tiger Woods of baseball.
After the game my player introduced me to
Josh and his parents (they traveled to all his
games - he was 19) and they were the most
down to earth and polite folks you'd ever meet.
Well, the following year Josh & his family were
in a car accident. Josh injured his back and
for the first time was not busy with baseball.
He fell into a bad crowd and before long he
was heavily involved in drugs.
He was suspended from baseball and entered
rehab several times - all unsuccessful.
Things got so bad that he dropped 60 pounds
and many times thought he was on the verge
of death.
After battling with drug addiction for 6 years
he got clean and was reinstated into professional
baseball. He even played about 10 games at the
lowest level of the minor leagues at the end of
the 2006 season.
Last year Josh was picked up by the
Cincinnati Reds and placed on the major league
roster. Jumping from the lowest level of pro
ball to the major leagues is about the equivalent
of jumping from 7th grade to grad school - not
to mention the fact that he'd played about
10 games in 6 years - so virtually everyone
expected Josh to fail miserably.
Who knew how much damage he'd done to his
body (and extraordinary talent) over the
past 6 years?
Well, he proved the critics wrong. He played
great for the Reds - though he did suffer a few
injuries through the course of the season. Most
likely his body rebelling to the increased demands
he was placing on it.
In the winter Josh was traded to the Texas
Rangers and this season he's been arguably the
best player in baseball. In last night's Home Run
Derby he did things no one has ever done in the
history of the event.
He's been the best comeback story I think I've
ever witnessed.
I had the good fortune to chat with Josh for a
few minutes last year and we talked about
meeting so many years ago. He said it had been
a long, tough road - but his story would
hopefully help many other people who needed
to overcome their addictions.
What does this have to do with me & you?
Too often we think failure is forever.
Josh was on the verge of death and came back
to be the best among the best in the world
at playing baseball.
Makes me think the hurdles that I might have
had to overcome seem kinda small;)
So don't let challenges and bumps in the road
get you down...ride them our and overcome
them.
Then make your dreams happen.
OK - back to watching baseball and watching
Josh Hamilton make his happen.
Talk to you tomorrow.
Pat
P.S. - If you want to follow in the footsteps
of 17 fitness pros that made their dreams a
reality, Fitness Riches is your guide.
http://www.fitness-riches-book.com
Fitness Consulting Group
PO Box 1539
Elizabethtown, KY
42702-1539
US
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