I Stay Sober
"Once I get behind the wheel I'm fine."
Ever hear a drunk guy say that? It can certainly seem true when you're the guy (so I'm told).
Pitching and hitting can both be like that, too. "I'm fine, let's go," says the spiraling player as he puts his body in position for the next pitch.
The potion that casts the spell?
Emotion.
(I've had some complaints that Tuesday went by without an update on my JCC Fighting Crusaders softball game Monday night, so I'll work that in here.)
I was committed to two things Monday night: having a lot of fun, and using a one-breath routine on each pitch.
One key for me to have fun is to open my mouth. When I get into a Yellow Light I get quiet. I get into my head.
So, powered by the leg exercise I taught the February Gym members (plus the Zumba classes I took last week), I had a spring in my step and was chattering away to my teammates as I toed the rubber.
Even before each warm-up pitch I took a breath and saw my pitch.
I was deadly.
Three times all night I got to 3 ball counts. Never walked a guy. Or a gal.
But as usual Charlie was in attendance (inside my head).
But my commitment to fun and my pre-pitch routine rendered him helpless. They became my force field, defending me from temptation, from the Dark Side. From the Red Light District.
A Charlie deodorant. Charlie-Be-Gone.
Except for twice. Twice I felt the desire to speed up, to hurry up and throw the next pitch because I was frustrated or anxious about the two balls I'd just thrown in a row, making the count 3-1 (we start 1-1).
I got emotionally tipsy.
"I don't need a breath, I'm fine once I put my foot on the rubber," Charlie said, impersonating me.
It's addictive, this emotion. It clouds your judgement. It is not easy to over come it, even in slow pitch softball.
But I did it.
Stepped off. Sobered up.
Since I was sober virtually all night (a designated driver), I was able to help teammates stay focused, even as our 15-8 lead going into the bottom of the last inning became a 15-14 lead with runners on first and second.
Teammates don't let teammates play drunk.
My new intention became "I'm going to make the next play."
There was no way I was going to let us lose. One out to go.
I was willing the next batter to hit me the ball.
I breathed. I pitched. He swung and hit it crisply on the ground to my left. The speeding ball was in slow motion. I was not. I sprang like a cat for a mouse, a lion for a newborn zebra. I was fully stretched out, parallel to the ground, like that photo of Pete Rose diving into third base. I reached my glove out for the ball.
And didn't get it.
It was too far out of my reach.
I landed with an ooof. Dirt flying. Glasses flying.
But I could look up and see well enough as Jeanie, our second basewoman, stopped the ball, picked it up, and flipped it to our SS for the last out.
I surprised myself with the guttural yell I spontaneously let out. I love to win.
I had a lot of fun that night. Playing sober is fun and it is what I want to share with others. Young men in particular, but also coaches and parents and children of all ages.
Like Bob Kapeller, 63. I got this email from him the other day...
Dear Tom: Some months ago, I purchased your "Mental Toughness Training" program. I am playing senior slow pitch softball the past six years, starting at AA skill level and the past two years at the Major level. While I have been blessed with good health and natural athletic abilities, I always felt I was falling short, somehow failing to realize the fullness of joy from the game. I now am committed to actions of proper pre-game preparation that has bolstered my game beyond my personal expectations. I played well enough to receive ALL TOURNAMENT recognition at the most recent tournament in Palm Springs, Ca. I'm a believer. It's never too late too..................... For the love of the game, I am Bob Kapeller
Attaboy, Bob. It is never too late.
And it is certainly never too soon to join my Baseball Confidence Gym. http://www.BaseballConfidence.com/Join.html.
Join the committed group of players, coaches and parents who are leaving the uninformed behind, who are arming their players with the tools they need to fight off their inner critics and play to their full potential.
To have fun!
And to arrive Home safely (parents don't let their sons emote negativity and play).
Tom
Dr. Tom Hanson
p.s. The March CD's are ready to go. Kick my tires for a month in the Gym and get my best-selling Confidence Conditioning program AND the manual Bob mentioned above for a $0 cost.
FYI, people are grabbing all the bonuses and signing on for a year 3x more than the monthly choice.
http://www.BaseballConfidence.com/Join.html
Ever hear a drunk guy say that? It can certainly seem true when you're the guy (so I'm told).
Pitching and hitting can both be like that, too. "I'm fine, let's go," says the spiraling player as he puts his body in position for the next pitch.
The potion that casts the spell?
Emotion.
(I've had some complaints that Tuesday went by without an update on my JCC Fighting Crusaders softball game Monday night, so I'll work that in here.)
I was committed to two things Monday night: having a lot of fun, and using a one-breath routine on each pitch.
One key for me to have fun is to open my mouth. When I get into a Yellow Light I get quiet. I get into my head.
So, powered by the leg exercise I taught the February Gym members (plus the Zumba classes I took last week), I had a spring in my step and was chattering away to my teammates as I toed the rubber.
Even before each warm-up pitch I took a breath and saw my pitch.
I was deadly.
Three times all night I got to 3 ball counts. Never walked a guy. Or a gal.
But as usual Charlie was in attendance (inside my head).
But my commitment to fun and my pre-pitch routine rendered him helpless. They became my force field, defending me from temptation, from the Dark Side. From the Red Light District.
A Charlie deodorant. Charlie-Be-Gone.
Except for twice. Twice I felt the desire to speed up, to hurry up and throw the next pitch because I was frustrated or anxious about the two balls I'd just thrown in a row, making the count 3-1 (we start 1-1).
I got emotionally tipsy.
"I don't need a breath, I'm fine once I put my foot on the rubber," Charlie said, impersonating me.
It's addictive, this emotion. It clouds your judgement. It is not easy to over come it, even in slow pitch softball.
But I did it.
Stepped off. Sobered up.
Since I was sober virtually all night (a designated driver), I was able to help teammates stay focused, even as our 15-8 lead going into the bottom of the last inning became a 15-14 lead with runners on first and second.
Teammates don't let teammates play drunk.
My new intention became "I'm going to make the next play."
There was no way I was going to let us lose. One out to go.
I was willing the next batter to hit me the ball.
I breathed. I pitched. He swung and hit it crisply on the ground to my left. The speeding ball was in slow motion. I was not. I sprang like a cat for a mouse, a lion for a newborn zebra. I was fully stretched out, parallel to the ground, like that photo of Pete Rose diving into third base. I reached my glove out for the ball.
And didn't get it.
It was too far out of my reach.
I landed with an ooof. Dirt flying. Glasses flying.
But I could look up and see well enough as Jeanie, our second basewoman, stopped the ball, picked it up, and flipped it to our SS for the last out.
I surprised myself with the guttural yell I spontaneously let out. I love to win.
I had a lot of fun that night. Playing sober is fun and it is what I want to share with others. Young men in particular, but also coaches and parents and children of all ages.
Like Bob Kapeller, 63. I got this email from him the other day...
Dear Tom: Some months ago, I purchased your "Mental Toughness Training" program. I am playing senior slow pitch softball the past six years, starting at AA skill level and the past two years at the Major level. While I have been blessed with good health and natural athletic abilities, I always felt I was falling short, somehow failing to realize the fullness of joy from the game. I now am committed to actions of proper pre-game preparation that has bolstered my game beyond my personal expectations. I played well enough to receive ALL TOURNAMENT recognition at the most recent tournament in Palm Springs, Ca. I'm a believer. It's never too late too..................... For the love of the game, I am Bob Kapeller
Attaboy, Bob. It is never too late.
And it is certainly never too soon to join my Baseball Confidence Gym. http://www.BaseballConfidence.com/Join.html.
Join the committed group of players, coaches and parents who are leaving the uninformed behind, who are arming their players with the tools they need to fight off their inner critics and play to their full potential.
To have fun!
And to arrive Home safely (parents don't let their sons emote negativity and play).
Tom
Dr. Tom Hanson
p.s. The March CD's are ready to go. Kick my tires for a month in the Gym and get my best-selling Confidence Conditioning program AND the manual Bob mentioned above for a $0 cost.
FYI, people are grabbing all the bonuses and signing on for a year 3x more than the monthly choice.
http://www.BaseballConfidence.com/Join.html
posted by Tom Hanson at
4:21 AM
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