I wrote recently about how we should be careful who our kids look up to as there are a lot of “Losers” out there; here is a post about a good one. Don’t ask me how, or why, but I have grown up a New York Mets fan. I am not old enough to remember the rookie days of Strawberry or Doc Gooden, but somehow I have been a die hard. I think it’s because my only male cousin (I had no brothers) and someone I looked up to (and still do) , was a fan and of course I just followed along.
I DO remember however the terrible period of time when one of their pitchers, Anthony Young, lost 27 straight decisions (starting and relieving). Usually these days, this type of story ends with the athlete disappearing into oblivion and falling into a black hole of depression and addiction.
Luckily this one has a good ending. Through a recent twitter conversation with a fellow Dad Blogger (Great Dad Society), I read a great article about what Anthony is doing for his community and the kids in his neighbourhood. At the time the article was written Young was working at a chemical plant (9-5) and coaching a number of kids baseball teams:
Young, who will be 43 later this month, had a 9-5 job at a chemical plant for eight years after his playing career ended in 1996. But he wanted to coach and now runs five different teams of kids from 9-13 years old in Houston, his hometown. He also gives private pitching lessons as part of his own company, AY Enterprise.
Here’s a man that one could argue was a “loser” playing professional baseball (finished with a career record in the majors of 15-48), yet still moved forward helping out the community.
Now don’t get me wrong, I am sure there are plenty of ex-pro athletes that have fizzled out and gone back home and played a significant role in their community. BUT here is a man that set a record for the most loses in a row, on one of the biggest stages in the professional sports – New York City and still was able to pick himself up and move on with life.
Having the fortitude to able to head back home, pick up your pride, work a regular 9-5er and coach 5 kids baseball teams is truly amazing. That’s the kind of self-respect I want to teach B. I don’t think I will be able to do it in the same way (in fact I know I won’t)…but I will figure it out. This is a man that everyone can learn from about having self respect and picking yourself up and moving on when things go wrong. If Anthony Young is a “Loser” I am all for losing…