The Freedom To Exercise

It seems like we are constantly bombarded by people wanting to "exercise their freedoms." Right now I'd love to have the FREEDOM to EXERCISE!

I believe the toughest situation for most athletes to deal with is being injured. I speak here from first hand experience. Even for a "weekend warrior" like myself, being laid up with an injury is one of the most mentally challenging situations to deal with. This is simply because there's nothing you can do about it.

My most recent challenge, as shown in the photo, is recent surgery to repair my Achilles tendon. I thought I got off lucky when it first tore because it didn't hurt that bad. I'm in more pain after the surgery than before. But even though I'm an absolute baby when it comes to pain, the inability to do anything that requires use of my feet is driving me up the wall. I'm in a splint this week, then a cast for a couple of weeks, then hopefully rehab. I can't walk, can't drive, and can't even put my pants on without help. It's like a total loss of freedom here.

Now there are thousands of handicapped people in this country who cannot walk, drive, etc....permanently. So yes, I think God let's us experience being handicapped on a temporary basis sometimes, just to remind us how good we have it. But while I would not wish to trade places with a paraplegic, I sometimes think life is a little easier for them than for a healthy person, especially an athlete, who is suddenly handicapped temporarily. The paraplegic, even though they struggle on a daily basis, has at some point made a mental adjustment to their situation. But I'm sure it's one of the toughest adjustments to make in life.

To go from being the starting shortstop to sitting on the bench rooting for your team; from a starter on the basketball team to watching someone else do your job; from being a part of the action to watching the action. This is a tough adjustment. So what can we take from this situation that will help us get through it and to help our team.

1. Remember that you are a part of the team. You can be a "coach" that can not only help encourage the team, but also see things from a different viewpoint to help point out something to your replacement.
2. The fact that you are there, rooting for the team, trying to heal to be with the team, instead of quitting and giving up can be an inspiration to your teammates and an example for them should they be injured.

Injuries are a part of the game. They are a part of life. While some injuries may end an athletic career, they are not the end of life. They might change life as you know it. You may have to make some adjustments...perhaps permanently, but it is your choice to carry on and find your role and your value to YOUR team, wherever that may be.

And don't forget that while you are injured, you can still tune in and listen to Kidz n Sports with Coach Mike on the internet at www.AdrenalineRadio.com every Monday at 3:00 PM. Don't forget to check out the Kidz n Sports web site at www.KidznSports.com.

It's Your Responsiblity!

Today's subject on Kidz n Sports is Childhood Obesity. The reason we are discussing this subject on the show is because Kidz n Sports is one correct answer to this problem. I firmly believe that a lack of recreational activity such as sports is a much bigger culprit than than too many fast food hamburgers.

While every person has a different metabolism, it is widely held that children burn off calories at a much higher rate than adults. I grew up in Arizona. As a kid, I played outside when I was bored. We didn't have computers, Atari hadn't come out yet, it was stick ball and skateboarding. In high school, I lived with my aunt and uncle in Phoenix. My uncle would tell you I would eat them out of house and home. He made great Mexican food and I'm sure I got more than my share of calories. But I was never overweight.

Later, I worked in the soda business. Throwing 70 lb. cases of returnable bottles in 110 degree heat kept me in pretty good shape. I played softball and basketball in a couple of church leagues. I would jog occasionally. I never weighed over 180 pounds until I moved to California and got a soft job. As you get older, you discover that it is not so easy to get to the gym or go out and run a few miles. I quit playing slow pitch softball about 10 years ago as my hip was degenerating. Since then I've had a hip replacement.
Right now I'm sitting here with a torn Achilles, the result of demonstra....er trying to demonstrate a drill to my daughter's travel team. (on dirt, no cleats) Even with reduced calories the weight doesn't come off so easy.

So what does my story have to do with everyone else?

Simple! I'm the one responsible for my weight. Not McDonalds, not Taco Bell, not the State of California......ME! Parents are responsible for their children's welfare up until 18 legally. But they should be sending the message to the kids by the age of 14 if not sooner that they need to take charge of their lives, and their health. Just like we teach our young players that they, not their parents, need to talk to the coaches about their position on the team. They also need to learn to be responsible for other parts of their lives, including their weight.

I'm am quite sure that most of would agree, whether for work or play, we spend more time than we should staring at our computers. We spend more time and money than we need to for a better TV so we can see the latest movies in high definition. But what are we doing about the definition of our bodies. One of the biggest problems I see in today's society is that everybody wants to blame everybody else for what's wrong with their lives. I remember as a kid when you would point a finger at someone our parents would remind us that we have three pointing back at us. We need to remember that today.

Laziness is a disease that grows exponentially. The more lazy you are to more lazy you become. Day by day it gets harder and harder to get your butt up off the couch and get outdoors.
I can testify to this first hand. Parents take this blog to heart. Print it out and have your kids read it. Post it on the wall. It may add a few more years to your lives, or theirs. Better than any diet, surgery, or fitness guru. I'm going to give you the four most important steps to improve your lives you've ever read.

Get up; Get out; and Get moving!

Oh yes, the fourth. Take responsibility for your own success and failures.

Time Waits for No One!

#26 takes her last lap around the bases.

Thursday, May 1st: Santa Fe High School hosts Cal High in the Chiefs' final regular season home game. This also means Senior Day, a day to honor the seniors in their final home game. Before the game, parents get to throw the first pitch out to their daughters. After the game, each senior gets to take their final hit of a Coach Harvey Berg changeup (soft toss), and run a lap around the bases as the underclassmen form a tunnel down the third base line to congratulate their teammates.

The biggest Lesson from the Field to learn is that time waits for no one. The picture above says it all. My baby, my tato, my daughter Jessica who began playing softball in Downey at seven years old, is now a senior. As every parent has, my wife and I are now experiencing more than ever the fact that time waits for no one. I can write a book (and maybe I will) of our personal journey with Jessica. Her first days in rec ball, her entrance into travel ball at 12, the failed tryouts, the successful tryouts, realizing we forgot our cleats after driving 20 miles to a field, her first triple, the list goes on.

Time is a commodity, a gift from God. You get to use it once. That's it. One time. You don't know how much you have. When it runs out, you're done. Once used, it cannot be rewritten like a CD. What's done is done. We will all make mistakes. I have always tried to teach Jessica that the biggest mistake is not learning from your mistakes. If you make a mistake don't hang your head like you just struck out. Realize what the pitcher did to strike you out and start planning for your next at bat. But most of all, we need to realize that time, life, is a journey. It is meant to be enjoyed. I don't mean enjoyed like a 24 hour party. I mean enjoyed like taking it in, experiencing the details. Realizing that what you have just seen you may never see again. Cherishing each moment for what it really is.

It took me a while to write this blog. I too have gotten a little emotional at realizing the photo above represents Jessica's final season in the black and yellow. The successes and shortcomings of her years at Santa Fe will remain in black and yellow. Four years ago Mom or Dad had to drive her to school or to various functions. Now she can drive herself. Four years ago, it was hard to get her to feel confidence to take charge of a situation. Now she knows she must take charge of her life. She is the one to talk to the coach. She is the one responsible for her actions. She is the one who gets the W or the L next to her name in the paper.

Jessica got to take her final lap with a smile on her face. She had just successfully pitched her team to a win over probably their biggest rival in league. She did the job her coaches and her team asked her to do. With two more wins, games in which Jessica will surely have a major part, Santa Fe will assure themselves a playoff berth. But I know that the smile is not just because they won a game. The smile came from one of the biggest hearts I have ever known. It came from a girl who felt like she was part of a team. And from a girl who knows it was she that stepped up and completed what she set out to do four years ago.....Graduate.

Jessica hopes to play ball in college. Yeah, Dad was a little late in getting that ball rolling. But wherever Jessica is next year, whatever she is doing, that moment of her jogging her last stroll around the bases, will always be in my mind.

What are you doing with your time?