“IF YOU WANT TO BECOME A BETTER ATHLETE, YOU MUST FIRST BECOME A BETTER PERSON.”
Posted September 13, 2012
on:This is an adaptation of a quote by the Zen master Suzuki. And it could well explain why, in Major League Baseball today, those teams with the biggest payrolls are not necessarily those who are winning. Regardless of what you are paying someone, if they are leading self-destructive personal lives, they will not perform anywhere near their skill levels on a consistent basis. Teams who do not have an internal system in place to help athletes identify and resolve personal problems, are destined to lose. Many General Managers view this approach as “sissy stuff” and believe that if you pay an athlete enough money, he will perform. Nothing could be further from the truth. Athletes are human beings. They have problems and issue just like us other mortal beings, and how they handle their problems will determine how successful they will be, not only in competition, but in their personal lives as well. That’s why I advocate frequent team meetings, creating a support group environment among team members. As athletes participate in these sessions they will being to feel better about themselves and the level of their performance will increase.
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