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Life Lessons Life Lesson #30: Fun This Game is Fun From June 19 ? 26th, I participated in an international tournament in Paris. Teams from the US, France and Australia attended the tournament held at Paris? brand new Pershing Stadium. In an effort to secure the 2012 Olympic Games, Paris intended to show itself worthy and capable of hosting such events. Thus, the tournament was held with round robin play and a playoff round. Two teams from the US were invited: A national select team of collegiate all stars and a UCLA alumni team. Due to some unique connections, the UCLA name is strong with the French Baseball Committee and was therefore invited. I accepted an invitation to attend and play for the UCLA squad, and what a trip it was! My playing career ended in early 1999? more than 6 years ago. As a senior at UCLA, I had already endured a weightlifting injury, a 1.5 year rehabilitation and recovery, and had battled back to pitch in the weekend rotation once again. After a regular start versus the University of Arkansas, I awoke the following morning to a torn rotator cuff and frayed labrum. Injuries related to the previous ligament damage no doubt, which had been originally injured as a result of a slight shoulder separation. Six years later, this invitation game me an excuse to get in shape, and the opportunity to play? again. Teammates, bus rides, autographs, and most importantly baseball. What a joy! Never have I had such an experience. Before play even began, the smile on my face was so big, my teammates joked that being on the field was enough and maybe I should go home ? they were right? not about going home, but about being on the field. Putting on a baseball uniform and taking batting practice, I took ground balls at 2B in preparation for play. While the topics had changed from girls and classes to jobs and families, I could hear my teammates taking time to catch up and exchange stories. When play began, our UCLA squad knocked the dust off and got to work. Early on, the results were good with easy victories over a local Parisian team and Team Australia. Following losses to Team France and the USA Athletes, a seeded-playoff round began. In those playoffs, the UCLA Alumni worked through a second victory over Australia, before trouncing the French 13-3 in the final game. Personally, I was only able to play in the first 3 games due to the timing of the Lifeletics Summer Academies (poor scheduling!). I had 10 at-bats, going 6-7 with 3 walks. Defensively, I played second base for two games (zero errors) and started on the mound for another (4 innings giving up 1 unearned run). I couldn?t have dreamed of a better tournament, outside of being able to stay longer to enjoy more of the competition. And although my arm was not happy the following morning, I was able to pitch practically pain free for 60 pitches. The UCLA Alumni squad was full of great baseball minds, the majority of whom played professional baseball for the last 5-10 years or have coached for decades. I was disappointed to only share 3 games of competition with them. Here?s a list of coaches that attended the Paris Tournament: ? Gary Adams ? 30 Years Division 1 coaching experience (shared office with John Wooden) ? Tim Leary ? 13-year Major League career, UCLA asst coach 1997-2000, 2003) ? John Violette ? Minor League Career ? UCLA Coach 2001-2003 ? Glenn Mickens ? Major League Career (1953 Brooklyn Dodgers w/Jackie Robinson) ? UCLA Coach There were two main lessons that I picked up while having the opportunity to play in France. The first was competition related: The more baseball you see, the more the game comes down to fundamentals. I am humbled by execution, and its effect on the outcome of baseball games. As the level of competition increases, scoring opportunities consistently decrease. Due to diminishing walks and errors, as well as increasing defensive talent on the mound, teams simply don?t put up the numbers as when athletes are younger. During a game against the US collegiate athletes, I sat in the dugout watching the ?bad guys? run circles around us old farts with bunt and 1/3 plays. Coach Glenn Mickens, an amazing baseball mind that played with Jackie Robinson in Brooklyn and later coached for years at UCLA, leaned over and said just that: ?Dan, I don?t care what level you watch? this game comes down to the fundamentals.? The second and most important lesson was a reminder of how fun the game of baseball is to play? and just how much of a challenge it can be. Simple things make baseball both exciting and enjoyable: diving for a ground ball and coming up spitting dirt, rounding first aggressively after a base hit, slapping the plate with your hand as you slide home safely. But perhaps the biggest excitement is simply being part of a team. Whether sharing in the highs and lows of your teammates, exchanging heartfelt congratulations after a home run or picking up a teammate after a strikeout, there is something special with being a part of a team. To me, this is captured when riding the bus to a game, stretching and throwing with good friends, and experiencing new challenges each and every time on the field. Kids playing baseball today have a chance to go through those experiences. From Pony League to college ball, minor leagues to the big show, the game of baseball remains just that ? a game, and an enjoyable game at that! The psychological and developmental benefits of being a part of team can be discussed at length? I was simply reminded of how fun those benefits can be. One funny story to wrap up this month?s Life Lesson: Just before finishing off the French 13-3 in the Tournament Title game, the opposing third base coach asked our 3rd baseman who he played for and where. With a straight face and short delivery, our 3B answered: ?Smith Barney - San Francisco, corner office.? With a smirk and a confused laugh, the third base coach followed with: ?Well? when was the last time you played a game?? My 3B simply answered: ?1998.? To conclude, we must keep the game fun at all times. Competition, development, success ? all can be accomplished while the game is fun, especially at the youth level. As the popular NCAA commercials state: ?There are over 5,000 Division 1 collegiate athletes? and virtually all of them will be going pro in something else besides sports.? I?m honored to have been a part of a great collegiate program, and I?ve seen the wonderful things that playing a competitive sport has done in the lives of my peers and friends. Now, I sincerely hope to play a role in the development of the next generation of professionals ? dentists, accountants, chefs and baseball players! Some interesting links: Local Newspaper Article: Orange County Register: Community Section Tournament Website: Baseball Open De France |
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