Chapters
Why They Really Play The Game
"There's nothing wrong with pursuing your dreams and goals."
- Dan Plesac"You're constantly learning what your weaknesses are and what your strengths are. It's a game of adjustments. Life is that way. You have to make adjustments. The quicker you make those adjustments, the faster you're going to be successful. It's really similar to life."
Gary Matthews Jr., San Francisco, California.
R-E-S-P-E-C-T. What Does It Mean?
"If you have to think about what's right or wrong, it's probably wrong."
- Trevor Hoffman
"Respect is knowledge and acknowledgment of the things people have done before us. To not be aware of it is a lace of respect."
Barry Larkin, Cincinnati, Ohio
Who Wants To Be On My Team?
"You need to look at what you can do to help your team win."
- Albert Pujols
"(Teammates) put the team first. They're responsible. They're conscientious. My mom and dad always told me to be responsible. It's like saying, 'Do the right thing'. The right thing isn't always the easy thing to do. It's not always the easiest path to take or the one that's going to make you the most popular. In the end, it's always the right way to go."
Craig Counsell, South Bend, Indiana.
I Don't Think I Smell, But They Tell Me I Stink!
"God, give me strength to get through this andnot act in a way like he's acting."
- Mike Sweeney
(Dealing with hecklers) can be tough. It's something you have to be able to block out. I continually make those mental efforts to stay in the game. 'What's the situation? What am I going to do when the ball is hit to me?' That'll help me get out of whatever it is (the fans) are saying. You don't have to turn and acknowledge them because that tends to spurn more of it. Sometimes you can laugh with them. Don't take yourself too seriously."
Tim Salmon, Long Beach, California.
Slaying the "Error Monster" And The "Slump Slug"!
"I don't reflect upon myself as a poor player, just a player that had a poor performance." - Greg Zaun
"The toughest part of the game is to learn how to deal with adversity. Simple things that are positive you can tell yourself are very, very important. Just change the negative for a positive thought. When it does happen and you talk to yourself in a positive way, you are ready for the next ground ball or the next at-bat. Whatever you are thinking will help you relax or make you tense."
Edgar Martinez, New York, New York. Success Secrets To The Game
"Focus on the things that create the result, not the result."
- Damion Easley
"Never give up no matter what other people say or think about you. If you really believe in yourself, you can accomplish a lot of things. In this game you have a lot of people telling you that you can't play - you are too small, you don't have a strong enough arm or you can't run. You have to forget about that and really push yourself and believe that you belong here."
Omar Vizquel, Caracas, Venezuela.
Signs Of A Champion
"You become a champion first, mentally,then the championship comes."
- Alex Rodriguez
"You don't have to have great stuff. I think if you have a big heart and if you're willing to put in the work, you can will your way to get stuff done."
Andy Pettitte, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
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