Where Did Respect Go?

If any of my former coaches ever read this article I bet you they would chuckle and say "wow the kids come a long way." What I'm talking about is the lack of respect that young athletes have towards their peers. I remember in Nevada where I grew up and played ball since I was 4 years old I used to show up to the ball park and do what I thought I was supposed to do.. play ball.
I never thought one bit about hustle or "busting my butt." I used to think that I did all those things.

It wasn't until my senior year at Carson High School when I was being recruited by the University of Nevada Reno. This was a huge opportunity for myself and my family. Everyone from my area wanted to play for Reno but very few ever got the chance. Most players went to junior colleges in California from my area. Anyway, we were playing our first night game ever at our park and the opponent was McQueen High School who was our biggest oponent at the time.

The UNR coaches called my dad and told him that they would be at the game and to sit with them if he liked. I was extremely excited to say the least. This is where it all went wrong. We were down by a run in the bottom of the fourth inning. I was up to the plate with a guy at second. I think I had walked my first two at bats, but looking back it really isn't relevant. Anyway, down by a run and I'm up, swinging from the left side of the plate. The pitcher through me a fastball down the middle and I hit a lazy fly ball to right field. I knew it would be caught and I slowly jogged down to first base.

It was something that I more than likely had done before but this time I had guys watching me. Well, the coaches got up and left right then. My dad looked at them and they said, "we don't want a player that isn't going to hustle for us!"

That was it. My one chance at a scholarship at UNR... GONE!

To say the least, my dad ripped my butt when I got home and my coaches ripped my butt prior to that when I got in the dugout.

I never argued with my coach about it and from that day forward, I hustled for every ball and every play that I could be involved in. (I'll finish the rest tomorrow.. I've got more... tune in tomorrow to read the rest of the story..)