in the zone and other spoin-the-zone-and-other-sports-essaysrts essays
TRANSCRIPT
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In the Zone
And
Other Sports Essays
John A. Passaro
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In the Zone And Other Sports Essays
Copyright 2013 by John A. Passaro
Smashwords Edition
Any reprod!tion o" this materia# by any
means$
In who#e or in part$
%eeds e&pressed written !onsent o" its athor.
A## 'ights 'eser(ed
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Table of Contents
)hy *o +o )rest#e
,aybe
-he Psh
In the Zone
oo/ 'e(iews
Conta!t the Athor
Other oo/s by John A. Passaro
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Why Do You Wrestle?
+esterday whi#e I was on the side o" the mat
ne&t to some wrest#ers who were warming p
"or their ne&t mat!h$ I "ond myse#" standing
side by side ne&t to an e&traordinary wrest#er.
e was warming p and he had that #oo/ o"
desperation on his "a!e that wrest#ers get
when their mat!h is abot to start and their
!oa!h is a!ross the gym !oa!hing on another
mat$ in a mat!h that is a#ready in progress.
ey do yo ha(e a !oa!h. I as/ed him.
es not here right now. e 4iet#y answered
me ready to ta/e on the tas/ o" wrest#ing his
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opponent a#one.
)o#d yo mind i" I !oa!hed yo5
is "a!e ti#ted p at me with a s#ight smi#e and
said6 -hat wo#d be great.
-hrogh the sonds o" whist#es and ye##ing
"ans I heard him as/ me what my name was.
,y name is John. I rep#ied.
i John$ I am %ishan he said whi#e e&tending
his hand "or a handsha/e.
e pased "or a se!ond and then he said to
me6
John I am going to #ose this mat!h.
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e said that as i" he was preparing me so I
wo#dn7t get hrt when my !oa!hing s/i##s
didn7t wor/ magi! on him today.
I said6 %ishan 8 %o s!ore o" a mat!h wi## e(er
ma/e yo a winner. +o are a#ready a winner
by stepping onto that mat.
)ith that he 9st smi#ed and s#ow#y ran on to
the mat$ ready "or batt#e$ bt ha#" /nowing what
the probab#e ot!ome wo#d be.
)hen yo "irst see %ishan yo wi## noti!e that
his #egs are "rai# 8 (ery "rai#. So "rai# that theyha(e to be spported by !stom made$ "orm
"itted bra!es to he#p spport and straighten his
#imbs.
ra!es that I re!ogni:e a## to we##.
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Some wo#d say %ishan has a handi!ap.
I say that he has a gi"t.
-o me the word handi!ap is a word that
des!ribes what one !an7t do.
-hat doesn7t des!ribe %ishan.
%ishan is doing.
-he word gi"t is a word that des!ribes
something o" (a#e that yo gi(e to others.
And withot /nowing it$ %ishan is gi(ing s a##
a gi"t.
I be#ie(e %ishan7s gi"t is inspiration.
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-he abi#ity to #oo/ the odds in the eye and say6
+o don7t pertain to me.
-he abi#ity to /eep mo(ing "orward.
Perse(eran!e.
A )hate(er it ta/es attitde.
As he predi!ted$ the ot!ome o" his mat!h
wasn7t great. -hat is$ i" the on#y thing yo
9dge a wrest#ing mat!h by is the "ina# s!ore.
%ishan tried as hard as he !o#d$ bt he!o#dn7t o(er!ome the twenty8si& pond weight
di""eren!e that he was gi(ing p to his
opponent on this day in order to !ompete.
+o see$ %ishan weighs on#y ;0 ponds and
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the #owest weight !#ass in this tornament was
10
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wi## on#y be or minimm tomorrow.
)e wrest#e to measre where we started "rom$
to /now where we are now$ and to p#an on
getting where we want to be in the "tre.
)e wrest#e to #oo/ the seeming#y
insrmontab#e opponent right in the eye and
say6 ring it on. 8 I !an ta/e whate(er yo !an
dish ot.
Sometimes #i"e is yor opponent and 9st
showing p is a (i!tory.
+o dont need to s!ore more points than yor
opponent in order to a!!omp#ish that.
%o$ %ishan didn7t s!ore more points than anyo" his opponents on this day$ that wo#d ha(e
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been ni!e$ bt I don7t be#ie(e that was the
most important thing to %ishan. )ithot
/nowing "or sre 8 the most important thing to
him on this day was to wa#/ with pride #i/e a
wrest#er p to a thirty two "oot !ir!#e$ ha(e a##
eyes "rom the !rowd on him$ to wat!h him
!ompete one on one against his opponent$
gi(ing it a## that he had.
-hat is what !ompetition is a## abot.
,ost o" the times in wrest#ing yo are
!ompeting against yorse#".
%ishan is no di""erent.
-hey say ;0= o" #i"e is 9st showing p.
%ishan showed p today.
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e showed p when most o" s wo#d ha(e
stayed in the stands.
-oday a## o" %ishan7s opponents may ha(e
s!ored more points than him$ bt he
!ompeted.
e !ompeted against his opponents$ he
!ompeted against himse#" and he !ompeted
against #i"e.
And no matter what the s!ore may ha(e said
in any one o" his mat!hes 8 he won in e(ery!ase.
+o #earn #ater in #i"e how important the
dis!ip#ines o" wrest#ing are to yo in hand#ingrea# #i"e prob#ems$ espe!ia##y when "a!ing a
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seeming#y insrmontab#e opponent in a
disease or i##ness.
I" yo #i(e #ong enogh$ #i"e wi## throw yo to
yor ba!/.
And when it does 8 yo are m!h better o"" i"
yo ha(e had wrest#ed.
+o wi## /now how to "ight #i/e he## to get o"" o"
yor ba!/$ to get ba!/ on yor "eet and to
!ome ba!/ and win.
Chan!es are that I probab#y wi## ne(er see%ishan again.
-hat is 9st how #i"e wor/s.
)rest#ing brother 8 /eep mo(ing "orward.
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And than/ yo "or the gi"t.
+o are an inspiration.
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aybe
Introduction:
In 2009 Maverick Passaros sister lost oxygen to her
brain for 6 minutes and had to be ut in a medically
induced coma!
In 20"" #ick Mauriello contracted M$%& and 'as on
life suort!
In 20"2 they trained together to 'in a (ounty
(hamionshi in %uffolk (ounty) #* at "26 + ",2
ounds
,aybe it was that in the ba!/ o" their minds
#ast year they /new that they were going to be
pshed by a great "tre opponent.
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,aybe that "tre ine(itab#e !#ash dro(e them
both to prepare to their "##est !apabi#ities.
,aybe it was that no great !ompetitor wants to
see their e#ite !ompetition e(er get hrt or si!/
instead o" !ompeting against them.
,aybe it was the !hi##ing series o" e(ents that
pt %i!/ on #i"e spport in a medi!a##y ind!ed
!oma.
,aybe it was ,a(eri!/s "irst hand /now#edge
o" what someone in a medi!a##y ind!ed !oma
is going throgh.
,aybe they both /new what it meant to dri(edown %i!ho#s 'oad heading to Stony roo/
>ni(ersity and to ma/e a right hand trn into
the ospita# instead o" a #e"t hand trn into the
Sports Comp#e&.
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,aybe it was rea#i:ing that when yo prioriti:e
things in #i"e$ wrest#ing is not that important.
,aybe they /new that when yo prioriti:e
things$ wrest#ing is (ery important in #i"e.
,aybe they /new how m!h stress a medi!a#
i##ness !an ha(e on a "ami#y.
,aybe they /new how a medi!a# i##ness !o#d
bring a "ami#y !#oser together.
,aybe it was hearing that a strong growing
boy who on!e weighed one hndred and "orty
ponds was down to one hndred and twe#(e
ponds de to his i##ness.,aybe it was the "irst hand /now#edge o" what
that weight #oss #oo/s #i/e on someone yo
#o(e.
,aybe it was the hope o" the mira!#e re!o(ery.
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,aybe it was /nowing how m!h "o!s and
desire is ne!essary to be ab#e to ta/es #i"e7s
best !heap shot in the gt and /eep mo(ing
"orward.
,aybe it was ha(ing the opportnity o" being
%i!/7s wor/ot partner in the o"" season and
seeing a re!o(ery pro!ess ta/e shape$ day
a"ter day$ #itt#e by #itt#e$ in the wrest#ing room.
,aybe it was a sb!ons!ios#y !ommni!ated
pa!t that a##owed ,a(eri!/ to be part o" %i!/7s
re!o(ery pro!ess$ in e&!hange "or the abi#ity tobe ab#e to be#ie(e in the medi!a##y
impossib#e.
%o matter what.
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,aybe it was a## o" this.
,aybe it was none o" this.
)hate(er it was 8 it is ndeniab#e.
-here has been a #i"etime bond that has been
"ormed between ,a(eri!/ and %i!/.
%eed proo"5
A"ter winning the S""o#/ Conty -it#e #ast
night$ ,a(eri!/ !hose withot hesitation to "ind
%i!/ ,arie##o$ who was warming p$ ready to
ta/e the mat "or his own S""o#/ Conty tit#e$and do the one thing that is most sa!red to a
wrest#er 8 the 1st Ce#ebration hg.
,aybe$ 9st maybe$ withot /nowing it$ %i!/he#ped ,a(eri!/ more than he wi## e(er /now.
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The Push
It was a gre#ing pra!ti!e$ in a hot basement
wrest#ing room in the midd#e o" the smmer.
+o /now the p#a!e.
-he p#a!e where !hampions are made.
In this !ase$ the p#a!e where "orteen
dedi!ated 'a:or E#ite wrest#ers !ame to train
on this night$ to psh themse#(es and to psh
their partners to #e(e#s that they didn7t /now
e(er e&isted.
-hese "orteen wrest#ers do this re#igios#ytwi!e a wee/$ p and abo(e whate(er other
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wor/ots$ pri(ate #essons or weight training
they may be doing on the side to get better.
-hey ignore a## the reasons why they sho#dn7t
be wor/ing ot together6 -hey might be in the
same #eage$ -hey !o#d meet in the
!onties$ I don7t want anyone to get to /now
my sty#e.
-hey do it anyway$ /nowing they !an ne(er
get to where they want to be by training by
themse#(es.
-hey be#ie(e in a be#ie" system that says Iron
Sharpens Iron$ and -o be the best yo ha(eto wor/ ot with the best.
So they !ome down and they train.
-hey train to ma/e themse#(es better and to
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ma/e their wor/ot partners better.
-hey train hard.
I mean they go at it.
On a norma# night they go 100= a## ot$ a## the
time.
On this on parti!#ar night thogh$ there was
9st a #itt#e e&tra 9i!e in the air.
Pra!ti!e 9st seemed a #itt#e more intense.
-he throws 9st a #itt#e harder.
-he ta/edowns 9st a #itt#e more "ier!e.
-he brea/s 9st a #itt#e shorter.
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-he intensity was de"inite#y stepped p a
not!h. -here were bodies "#ying a!ross the
room$ hard wrest#ing being done e(erywhere
yo #oo/ed.
-here were wrest#ers wi##ing to pt their bodies
into wa##s be"ore gi(ing p a ta/edown.
Ea!h wrest#er pshing his partner to #imits that
neither thoght that he had.
%inety mintes o" intense #i(e go7s that wo#d
ha(e made Je"" Jordan prod.
A"ter pra!ti!e was !omp#ete 8 yo heard more
than one dad say$ ,an they went at it
tonight.%o one wo#d ha(e said a word i" a## o" the
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wrest#ers 9st wanted to go home and go to
bed.
t no 8 that7s not what ma/es !hampions.
)hat ma/es !hampions is being arond
others who ha(e the same !hampionship
menta#ity as yo do.
)rest#ers who ha(e the same goa#s that yo
ha(e.
)rest#ers who wi## psh yo to the "inish #ine.
E(en a"ter a hard wor/ot.Espe!ia##y a"ter a hard wor/ot.
-he psh !o#d !ome "rom anywhere.
On this day it !ame "rom ?th grader Ja/e
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Si#(erstein.
On this day Ja/e was the gy who set the bar.
A"ter pra!ti!e$ as e(eryone wiped down and
dried o""$ and then headed to the s!a#es to
weigh themse#(es$ there was this se(enty8
eight ponder in the !orner 4iet#y doing a "ew
e&tra sets o" pshps by himse#".
e didn7t say a word 8 he was 9st pmping ot
hard pshps 8 one a"ter another 8 doing ea!h
and e(ery one the right way 8 e#bows #o!/ed
on the way p$ !hest to the "#oor on the waydown$ head p.
-his went on "or a "ew mintes$ as the other
wrest#ers were pa!/ing p.
As ea!h 'a:or E#ite wrest#er dried o"" and
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weighed himse#"$ one by one ea!h o" them
!aght Ja/e ot o" the !orner o" their eye and
!ame ba!/ onto the mats to 9oin him.
-he bar was set.
ow many are yo doing5
200 was the answer.
And down went the high s!hoo# wrest#ers.
)ithot hesitation 200 e&tra pshps trned
into 2;00 in tota# as a## "orteen wrest#ers9oined in.
+o see a !hampion !an7t ignore the
!ha##enge o" a psh 8 that7s what ma/es him a
!hampion.
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On this day 8 Ja/e Si#(erstein was the gy who
set the bar.
In the ne&t pra!ti!e it wi## be someone e#se...
-hat is the reason yo srrond yorse#" with
as many !hampions as yo !an6
So yo wi## be pshed.
Espe!ia##y a"ter yo thoght yo had a#ready
pshed yorse#" to yor ma&.
Champions embra!e the !ha##enge o" the psh"rom another !hampion.
-hat is what ma/es them great.
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In the Zone
I ha(e o"ten wondered why I !oa!h baseba##.
)hy am I so obsessed abot the sport5
)hy do I spend and insane amont o" time
and money 9st to tea!h /ids how to p#ay a
game5
)hat is so spe!ia# abot baseba## that I
(irta##y ma/e it my "ami#y7s #i"e and mine "or
ten and a ha#" months throghot the year5
)hat dri(es me to want to dri(e yong
p#ayers$ to want to !ompete5
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Espe!ia##y at an ear#y age5
)e## yesterday I got as !#ose to answering
those 4estions as I e(er ha(e be"ore.
@ast night when the "ina# ot was re!orded in
the 12 aseba## ea(en Championship
game$ we were on the wrong side o" a 281
s!ore.
It was a (ery we## p#ayed game$ (ery we##
pit!hed by both teams.
It was a"ter this %on )in as I pre"er to !a## it$that I e&perien!ed my epiphany where a## o"
my inner 4estions seemed to be answered
sim#taneos#y$ by a sing#e e(ent.
One wo#d thin/ that one7s most memorab#e
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re(e#ation whi#e !oa!hing yoth baseba##
wo#d o!!r a"ter a !hampionship win$ and not
a"ter a heart wren!hing #oss.
-hat is the beaty o" baseba##.
It tea!hes yo how to dea# with not s!!eeding
and the importan!e o" drawing a positi(e ot o"
e(ery part o" the game.
I" yo a##ow it to$ the game wi## ma/e yo
better.
I !ame home a"ter that togh %on )inarond pm in the e(ening$ and no sooner
than I wa#/ed throgh the door I heard
,a(eri!/ p#ead6
*ad$ a"ter yo eat and sett#e in B !an we go
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hit5
I 4i!/#y derai#ed my initia# /nee 9er/ rea!tion.
-he one that reminded me that we 9st p#ayed
a game$ that it was pm and dar/ otside and
that we probab#y !o#d go hit tomorrow and we
wo#dn7t e(en miss a beat.
-han/"##y I ignored that rationa#e and #istened
to my insane inner (oi!e instead.
+o /now the one B the one that reminded me
that nothing e&traordinary wo#d happen by
doing ordinary things.
So I as/ed my son )hy do yo want to go hit
now5
-o whi!h ,a( rep#ied6
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*ad$ we ha(e Cooperstown in a wee/$ yo
said I ha(e to hit e(eryday to get ready "or that
tornament B we##$ #et7s start with today.
e added$ )e !an go down to the %orth
Street ie#d$ pt the #ights on by hopping the
"en!e to the !ontro# bo& and we !o#d hit
tonight. Can we go5
ow do yo say no to that5
Espe!ia##y a"ter I promised that we wo#d do
that ear#ier in the wee/$ bt instead I got st!/
at wor/ and didn7t get home nti# a"termidnight.
So withot eating dinner or sett#ing in$ I re8
#a!ed my snea/ers$ as/ed my son to grab hisyonger brother to !ome hit with s B and o""
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we were at 630 pm to ta/e some e&tra batting
pra!ti!e.
)hi#e we were dri(ing to the "ie#d I thoght to
myse#" how di""i!#t it is to hit a baseba## and
that there are rare o!!asions when hitters tr#y
"ee# #i/e they are in the :one.
It a#so dawned on me that ,a(eri!/$ in his new
Co#mbs Stan!e was "ee#ing In the Zone
and he wanted to ta/e "## ad(antage o" that
"ee#ing.
,a(eri!/s !on"iden!e was rising$ and he wasseeing more and more s!!ess with e(ery at
bat.
On this night he 9st wanted to bene"it asm!h as he !o#d "rom being in the :one.
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Can yo b#ame him5
It is not e(eryday that yo are in the :one.
)hen the :one !a##s yo mst #isten.
+o ne(er /now how #ong being in the :one
#asts.
It is a !ardina# r#e B *ou must take advantage
of every second that you are in the -one!
E(en i" the :one !a##s at 630 pm on a pit!h8
b#a!/ night a"ter a %on )in in the!hampionship game when it wo#d be saner to
be wat!hing baseba## on Sports Center than to
be p#aying it.
Sanity has nothing to do with being in the
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:one.
,a( interrpted my thoght pro!ess with a
4estion and sdden rea#i:ation6
*ad did yo rea#i:e that was the #ast game
that we wo#d p#ay on the sma## "ie#ds at
aseba## ea(en5
@i/e a ro!/et$ that is how "ast the #ast "ew
years went.
+ea$ I /now ,a(. I answered him as the #ast
"i(e years o" games "#ashed be"ore my eyes.
*ad$ I !an7t be#ie(e my #ast at bat on the sma##
"ie#ds was a bntD
+ea$ a #itt#e bit more to the #e"t and yo wo#d
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ha(e threaded the need#e. I say.
+ea$ bt isn7t it a shame that as soon as I am
ab#e to hit it ot$ that they mo(e the "en!es
ba!/ 100 "eet5
-here is more to baseba## than hitting
homerns. I added.
+ea$ I /now B it is a#most #i/e starting o(er.
thogh.
-here was an e&tended period o" si#en!e$ and
he "ina##y said$ I !an7t wait.
%o sooner that he said$ I !an7t wait we p##ed
into the par/ing #ot o" the %orth Street "ie#d.
oth ,a(eri!/ and -ra(is 9mped ot o" the
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tr!/$ ran towards the !ontro# bo&$ !#imbed the
"en!e and an&ios#y "#ipped the swit!h "or the
#e"t and right "ie#d #ights$ ha#" ho#ding their
breathes nti# they heard the b:: o" the
e#e!tri!ity rn throgh the #ines.
+o see we ha(e done this be"ore where
sometimes the #ights didn7t go on.
)ithin ten se!onds the in"ie#d started to g#ow
with a s#ight "og rising "rom the grond.
It was at that moment that I /new that it was
going to be a spe!ia# night.
A## three o" s 9st stared at the "ie#d whi!h
was i##minated 9st enogh to see a baseba##
on this e(ening and not too m!h whi!h wo#dma/e the neighboring homes !a## the po#i!e.
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A## three o" s !o#dn7t wait to get in between
those #ines.
At that moment nothing e#se mattered.
-hat is where we wanted to be.
etween the #ines wor/ing on hitting$ and
trying to stay in the :one "or as #ong as
possib#e.
It was a s!ene ot o" baseba##7s (ersion o"
riday %ight @ights.
%e(er had the sight o" an empty "ie#d seemed
more meaning"#.
1?1 "eet down the #ines$ 1; "eet into the gaps$and 1< "eet to dead !enter.
-
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A 12 year o#d hitter7s paradise.
I pro!eeded to throw batting pra!ti!e to both o"
my sons "or ninety mintes.
I" I was ab#e to high#ight 100 o" my son7s best
swings in his #i"etime$ a## 100 o!!rred on this
night.
-o thin/ that I !o#d ha(e said %o to !oming
down this e(ening sent a shi(er down my
spine.
Imagine that.
I" I was ordinary$ this night may not ha(e e(er
o!!rred.
-
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a## a"ter ba##$ #ine dri(e a"ter #ine dri(e$ the
e(ening pro!eeded.
On#y o!!asiona##y did it brie"#y stop$ a"ter I too/
a shot o"" o" a body part and needed time to
hea# "or a "ew se!onds.
On#y the rea# hard shots o"" o" !ertain body
parts stopped s "or an e&tended period o"
time$ as I tried to regain !ons!iosness so I
!o#d throw again.
I am getting sed to the rea#i:ation that the
boys are growing p and getting stronger$ andI am getting o#der and my arm is getting
wea/er$ whi!h ma/es me ha(e to dangeros#y
throw "rom shorter distan!es.
In a prod "ather#y sadomasi!isti!#y way$ I am
-
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thri##ed when I get hit. As e(ery deep prp#e
brise on my body represents a per"e!t swing.
I" I were to #i"e my shirt at any time there wo#d
be F8? brises on my body. -he #atest brise
was a dire!t hit nder my armpit whi!h
o!!rred when I pt my hands p to shie#d my
"a!e as the ba## 9mped o"" o" my son7s bat.
-hat one re4ired a s#ight#y #onger
re!peration time.
As soon as I was ab#e to$ I threw again "rom
the same distan!e and too/ another shot.
A##$ 9st to stay in the :one.
*ad$ I "ee# more !on"ident hitting #e"ty than I
do righty. -ra(is said. I don7t /now why$ bt
it 9st /ind o" happened tonight.
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Imagine that$ we may not ha(e e(en been
here tonight i" I 9st #istened to that other (oi!e.
-he on#y thing better "or a dad that wor/s with
his /ids than ha(ing one son in the :one$ is
ha(ing two son7s in the :one at the same time.
@i"e !o#d not be better.
)hi#e we were at the "ie#d hitting$ nothing e#se
seemed to matter.
Jst a "ather and his two sons wor/ing on the
game at 10630 pm at night to get ready "or thene&t !ha##enge.
-wo brothers "ina##y rooting "or ea!h other.
-rai(is Oooohed as his o#der brothers shots!#eared the "en!e and Aaahhed as some hit
-
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the ye##ow part o" the top o" the "en!e and "e##
ba!/ into the "ie#d.
)hi#e ,a(eri!/ "ina##y handed ot a heart"e#t
!omp#iment$ that has been #ong awaited to be
re!ei(ed by his yonger brother.
@ine dri(e a"ter #ine dri(e #e"t the in"ie#d$ an
inordinate amont o" ba##s #e"t the yard.
@i"e is good.
-here is something spe!ia# abot baseba## that
goes "ar deeper than being a game. It is the"ather8son re#ationship that is bi#t$ the #i"e
#essons that are taght in the pro!ess o"
p#aying a game and the abi#ity to o(er!ome not
s!!eeding a## o" the time and sti## !onsideringyorse#" as a s!!ess.
-
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It is the abi#ity to re!ogni:e !hange when it is
!oming and not to rn "rom it$ bt rather to
embra!e it.
It is #earning to hone the best hman 4a#ity B
to stay in the :one B no matter what yor :one
may be.
-here are moments in time that are so
(a#ab#e that I wo#d not se## or trade them "or
anything.
-his night at %orth Street was one o" thosetimes.
-hat is the reason that I !oa!h.
-
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!oo" #e$%e&s
-here is nothing more rewarding "or an athor
than to see a reader ta/e the time and #ea(e a
boo/ re(iew.
I wo#d as/ yo to p#ease ta/e the time to
#ea(e a boo/ re(iew on Ama:on.
It wo#d be sin!ere#y appre!iated.
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Conta't and Author Info
)ebpage and b#og6 www.JohnApassaro.!om
-witter 8G9ohnapassaro
Emai# B9ohnpassaroGi!#od.!om
http://www.johnapassaro.com/mailto:[email protected]://www.johnapassaro.com/mailto:[email protected] -
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Other !oo"s by John A. Passaro
< ,intes )rest#ing )ith @i"e
Again B Se4e# to H< ,intes )rest#ing )ith
@i"e
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