Posted by: george stanley (saint_george13@yahoo.com) on Wed Oct 8 09:27:58 2008

reading the CHICAGO TRIBUNE today.. a story about RYAN HOWARD.. in it RYAB speaks of aout how his father marched with DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR in the 60's..but he also felt it VERY important to impress upon RYAN the lessons about the struggles, trials, & tribulations they went through as a family that made them what aer today..
here's the part applicable to ANY baseball player aspiring to MLB:

"they taught their 4 children that being good simply wasn't good enough. getting a "B" wan't sufficient as long as getting an "A" was attainable..going 3-for-4 wasn't sufficient as long as going 4-for-4
was possible.. SUCCESS WAS MEASURED BY COMMITMENT & DESIRE. TAKING WHATEVER IT IS THAT YOU'RE DONE..& TRYING TO STRETCH IT OUT KNOWING IT WAS ALWAYS ABOUT STRIVING TO BE BETTER."

this is for all you guys out there that rebut my analysis of MLB hitters with what i think are their weaknesses by saying they are all so wonderful & who ae you to criticize them, you're not qualified, these guys are gods walking among mere mortals & wee are fortunate to be in their company & blahblahblah.. here it is from a REAL MLB hitter
who gets it:
no matter what your your name or how big your paycheck.. EVERYONE CAN IMPROVE... only those that realize this WILL improve.. all others by the very fact they do not improve will slide backward..until they are out of the league.