In one's lifetime, we rarely have those times that happiness brings a tear to your eye and goose-bumps throughout your body. Yesterday, I had one of those moments. For the last 9 years since finishing up college I have dedicated my career to helping people achieve some sort of fitness goal or assisting them with their respective athleticism. Yesterday, Friday May 30 I witnessed the greatest moment in my professional career. When I first starting training in Phoenix, fresh out of college I came across an opportunity to work with the Chicago Cubs Scout team, which was made up of the best high school baseball talent in the area. I can remember the first day at Fitch Park watching this tall, 6'6" 175 lb soaking wet short stop take a 85 mpg fastball over the let field fence and across Arizona Avenue hitting the house on the other side. To my estimation I would say the ball first hit the ground somewhere around 450ft away.. did I mention he was swinging a wood bat? I remember thinking, this kid is going to be a monster if someone can get a hold of him and pack on some weight. Funny how things happen; some years later I ended up coaching at his old high school where I developed a great relationship with his father and himself when he was around after his professional season.
Naturally, with the opening up of The BAR, I met with Joe and asked him to go through a pre-season regimen with me to get ready for Spring Training. Let me be the first to say the Joe is the hardest most dedicated athlete I have had the opportunity to work with. He doesn't drink, use tobacco or put junk into his body. Our first year of working out he put on 20lbs of muscle; he doesn't have any body fat at all so it all had to be pure good stuff. Needless to say he dominated at Double A that season and was called up to Triple A for the following.
Yesterday, I got the chance to watch one of my athletes that I've had the special chance to work with finally get his shot in the "Show." Joe made a diving catch that made the highlight real on ESPN and the positive comments that the commentators where making about Joe where nothing but the truth.
What Joe may not realize is that he is representing all of us that as a children wanted to become nothing more than a big leaguer. After his catch they did a close up on his face; a simple smile occurred, a slight glance to the stands and what looked to be "man" coming from his lips. His dream came true yesterday as well as mine and others that have had the chance to work with him.
In my business, I tend to live through the results of other people. More specifically, my athletes. There is nothing like helping a kid earn a scholarship or have a chance at pro ball. Yesterday, so far is the single greatest achievement in my professional career and I owe it all to a 6'6" skinny kid who gave me the chance help him achieve greatness and yes, I would say yesterday in St. Louis with the number 62 on his back he was just that, "great."
Naturally, with the opening up of The BAR, I met with Joe and asked him to go through a pre-season regimen with me to get ready for Spring Training. Let me be the first to say the Joe is the hardest most dedicated athlete I have had the opportunity to work with. He doesn't drink, use tobacco or put junk into his body. Our first year of working out he put on 20lbs of muscle; he doesn't have any body fat at all so it all had to be pure good stuff. Needless to say he dominated at Double A that season and was called up to Triple A for the following.
Yesterday, I got the chance to watch one of my athletes that I've had the special chance to work with finally get his shot in the "Show." Joe made a diving catch that made the highlight real on ESPN and the positive comments that the commentators where making about Joe where nothing but the truth.
What Joe may not realize is that he is representing all of us that as a children wanted to become nothing more than a big leaguer. After his catch they did a close up on his face; a simple smile occurred, a slight glance to the stands and what looked to be "man" coming from his lips. His dream came true yesterday as well as mine and others that have had the chance to work with him.
In my business, I tend to live through the results of other people. More specifically, my athletes. There is nothing like helping a kid earn a scholarship or have a chance at pro ball. Yesterday, so far is the single greatest achievement in my professional career and I owe it all to a 6'6" skinny kid who gave me the chance help him achieve greatness and yes, I would say yesterday in St. Louis with the number 62 on his back he was just that, "great."
