My family experienced, first hand, the grueling and exciting road to Yankee Stadium. Our Oklahoma nephew, Garrett, held a baseball bat in his hands, long before his strength caught up with his toddler-desire to swing. His strong male and first-string female support groups encouraged him to reach for the stadium stars. Along the winding road, trials and celebrations abounded: the family made some good and bad decisions and some good and bad college choices. And in spite of it all, Garrett caught the eye of a lot of influential people and scored some amazing victories. His oyster opened to that world of which he dreamed.However, throwing fast and hard with heart and soul often comes with a cost; slowly and intermittently, injuries plagued Garrett’s super-fast, pitching arm. Then, repeatedly returning to the game before his arm healed put the lefty at increasingly greater risks. Still, in between injuries, he clocked in with speeding bullet pitches at 99 mph that eventually won him a spot in the minor leagues of the New York Yankees.
Excitement fever pitched each week as new opportunities presented themselves, he worked his way up the league, and Garrett met the rich and famous: “Mom, guess who I just met? Derek Jeter!” “Dad, guess who came to see me pitch today?” "Reggie Jackson took us to lunch today!! He is a legend and he sounds like it when he talks baseball." "Brian Cashman just came up to me and said you looked really good today." And when he stood on Yankee turf the first time, he called his mother; they rejoiced, sharing tears of joy. Family members zigzagged across the country to watch the small-town boy, who hoped to honor the family name in the Baseball Hall of Fame. And no one doubted Garrett’s passion for the game.
We grieved at the downturns; we rejoiced at the successes with teary eyes, swelling with pride from spectator perches as if our investments directly affected him in some personal way, wondering if he were aware how personally they affected us.
I now project myself into Garrett’s shoes, as opportunities propelled him forward two steps and each trial set him back three, and I try to imagine the required patience and the feared hurts, both physical and emotional.
Whether athlete or not, each of us strives to succeed at our chosen fields. We start out loving our games, but soon discover, we “might could” make money at the very thing that we perform for free. “Do what you love,” they tell us, “and the money follows.”
And then someone says, “You should do that professionally!” Encouraged, we say, “Let the games begin.”
Promoters, partners, investors, practice, competition, self doubts, and injuries complicate our games. We players enter a confused zone, where money rules decisions. Fear fiercely grips and immobilizes; our loss of focus often forces us to lose our edge. Suddenly, our best effort is replaced by the newest rising star. Lost, we pursue a different dream.
A devastated Garrett has left the game: his injuries cost more time than the required healing allowed, leaving him an old player at a mere twenty-seven years of age—much too soon and before the young pitcher could fulfill his Yankee dream.
Finding a passion and pursuing a dream is special. But we can find a passion at any age. Sometimes, we play many games before we finally discover that which we love. Passion and age are not necessarily conducive or exclusive to how we play the game. But Garrett knows passion. He will find another game. Some people never do.
3-29-10
81 comments:
I enjoyed the post; Baseball is America's past time and sport. The story of the pursuit of a dream was uplifting, and while in the end thing change; it is very true that there are many more games ahead. Not to mention a 99 mph pitch would rocket past my best-day-ever pitch.
Baseball is one of my favorite sports. None of my boys ever really wanted to play :( My daughter is a softball fanatic. She is an awesome third base player and I take pride in watching her play. I hope for her to play in college. She has very good reflexes and a very strong arm. We go every summer to my mother's house and go with her to watch the Rangers. It is so much fun. Such an adreneline rush.
I loved the post. Very touching story.
I am not an American born so I don’t really know the importance of baseball in the American culture. However, I think it is as popular as soccer in my country. Children in my country all dream of being famous soccer players and dream of meeting their famous sport celebrities. You can see children play soccer everywhere and specially in the streets because we don’t have many places for children to play their favorite sport. Like any young boy in my country, my brother’s passion of being a famous soccer player was a push for him to learn the fundamental of this sport at very young age. He was training and practicing every day after school and every one in my family was encouraging him. His very hard work paid off and he was accepted in one of the famous soccer leagues. He was happy and proud of himself as were all of my family members. His passion for the game made my brother succeed in it and became a very good player. As he got older to play soccer, my brother changed his passion and instead of being a soccer player, he chose to a soccer trainer to help all the gifted children to realize their dreams of being soccer players. It is really very good to follow our heart and pursue our passion even though we might face some obstacles. At the end, we either will succeed or we will fail, but we will feel proud of ourselves because we did our best. This is life; we can’t get everything we want.
Baseball is of the many sports I love to watch and play. I played several sports growing up but never really actually played it in high school. But once I started to play I loved it. Yankees are only team I love to watch. Loved reading post I think its a great privilege to have played with the Yankees and to have a pitch like that. Even though the dream didnt last but it was great while it lasted. At least he got to play and be apart of it.
This was a great blog. It is deep and insightful. I agree that some people never get the chance to find a second game nor do some even search for one. It is hard to find another dream when yours is crushed, but it is what we were made for. Life will never be easy and it will always throw you curve balls, but it is our job to catch those curve balls or go and search for them in the springs knee high grass.
Natasha
I have never been a baseball fanatic. As a matter of fact I have never been a fanatic of any sport. I've tried playing basketball and realized that I wasn't a very good player. I didn't pursue it because it didn't become a passion of mine. The connection wasn’t there. It's amazing how a person can stick to something when it becomes a passion to them. That connection that grows between the person and that certain thing that practically becomes a person’s drug. Person’s passions usually describe the kind of a person that they are. Ever since I was younger I’ve said that I wanted to become a lawyer. To be able to get in that game of politics and law I will have to become able to analyze all types of situations, and become more persuasive. I will have to put myself in situations that most people won’t encounter in their life. If you play the game with all of your heart surly you will become the game.
Great blog. Sorry to hear about how Garret will never fulfill his dream growing old with the Yankees. It just tells me that his dream wasn't meant to be. Many times we choose our dream but God in return leads us into a different direction. His injuries happened for a reason. He lets us taste the glory for only a short while. Even though Garret is not a part of the team anymore, he can still say that he once was a part of something great.
This was an awesome blog. It was very insightful, and touching. Just by you describing Garrett’s passion, I felt the hurt that you and your family might have felt when he had to leave the game. In fact, I have felt that hurt before. I experienced that same feeling when the same thing happened to my older brother. He was playing for the Minnesota Twins, and his injuries cost his most valuable thing in life, baseball. I have never known someone with so much passion. Sometimes, I don’t ever think I will find my true passion in life, but I just have to remind myself that I am still young. My brother’s and Garrett’s stories give me hope though. I think that their stories might happen so that it can give others hope that they will find their passions. Even if you find your true passion in life, and it doesn’t work out for you in the end, then maybe it just wasn’t meant to be what you do for the rest of your life. I always like to think that it is better to find true happiness once, than to have never found it at all. I hope that I can find my ‘game’ and use it to the best of my ability. I know that when I find it, I will hold onto it for dear life, and never take it for granted.
I am a complete believer of its how you play the game, not if you won or lose. Its all in how you look at it. If you give it your all despite the downfalls, it will mean a whole lot more in the end. Putting forth all of your time and effort into something you love to do is what matters. You can always look back and know deep down that you played your best. It was a great story.
I really like this blog. It’s really inspirational. The thing that I got out of it was that no matter what you can always try to achieve more, but there will always be some obstacles in the way that will keep you from reaching your goals. And even if those obstacles to stop you take another road and keep going. When I found out that I was going to be a young mom I thought to myself, ‘My life isn’t over but I’m going to have to try ten times harder to achieve the goals I had in mind.’
And that is exactly what I am doing. The pregnancy was my obstacle but I walked around it and kept going. So always play the game in a way that will be beneficial to you and your loved ones.
“What’s important is not the accolades and memories of success, but the way you respond when opportunities are denied.” This is a quote that I heard years and has stayed with me. I do not know the author of it, but I know that his words speak truth in the lives of everyday people. I think that one of the most painful thins in life is being told you can not do something because you are not good enough. On the other side, one of the most rewarding things is know that you worked your butt off and the hard work has paid off. I would say that know that you are good enough, but have been kept from doing the thing you love due to injury is also a very painful thing. Like many people, I am bound and determined to do something meaningful with my life. Not just for my own personal fulfillment, but so that I can give back to my family and my community. What makes me happy is ma being able to make other people happy. Fortunately there is a wide variety of fields I can chose from, but just being able to give people hope is what I love. One can not put a price on inspiration.
Baseball is America's past time and sport. The story of the pursuit of a dream was uplifting, and while in the end thing change; it is very true that there are many more games ahead. Not to mention a 99 mph pitch would rocket past my best-day-ever pitch.
What an interesting life experience even if only for a little time, to make it that far was quite an accomplishment, and something to remember forever, few people make it to Yankee Stadium.
It’s even hard if you just want to get a ticket an watch a ball-game.
Go Braves! (Sorry, you have to sport your home team)
Reading this blog made me think of my kids who love baseball. My two boys both play, Anakin is a pitcher and 2nd baseman, Anthony is 1st base and sometimes 2nd base. My daughter, Zoey, plays in the outfield, and is sometimes disappointed when she is not put in the infield. We tell her that no matter where she plays she should play with all that she has. We tell her that any position she plays is important. Then she had a downfall and didn’t play the rest of the softball season. However, she does hope to play this coming season.
I found this story about your nephew inspiring. The fact that something bigger and better will also come along is absolutely true, but this shouldn’t keep us from searching and doing what we love. I find myself discouraged many times, but when I sit down and give myself time to think, I realize that these hurtles, so to speak, that I face everyday will only make me jump higher the next time one shows up. The fact that some people will stop pursing their dreams after falling a couple times is really sad, and I wish more people were like Garrett, in the sense that he will continue on pursuing.
I really enjoyed this post. I particularly could understand the point you were making when you stated, “We start out loving our games, but soon discover we ‘might could’ make money at the very thing that we perform for free.” I have seen several cases of this in the short amount of time I have spent in the competitive world of gymnastics. Perhaps, not exactly the same case as your story, but similar, I have seen many talented girls waste away when their head-full of clouds-abruptly makes contact with reality. It seems that nearly all gymnasts start out as mere recreational athletes. They ogle with wide eyes as the advanced gymnasts practice and soon change their level of determination. They want to be like those girls. Years down the road the same girls are not so young and wide eyed. They are hungrily searching for the next competition. They no longer are involved in a sport but addicted. They are outcast in the real world because of the hours of dedicated time that they spend training but they are determined to make it all mean something. They want some tangible prize for all their hours of hard work and all the sacrifices they make. Caught up in rivalries with other athletes for the cash prizes that are at stake, they begin to slip away from their once innocent intentions. Slowly they are no longer in it for the love of the game. Their focus is no longer clear. They don’t know what they want anymore. Their vision is blurred with everything that shouldn’t matter. The little girl who sat and stared with wide eyes cannot be found.
I like the blog post. We all want to succeed at the games we like when we are kids. This story touches these strings in all of our hearts. The game we all pick up and play until we are dead is life. It is the most intricate game of them all. It has tons of rules and yet it has no rules. I play it by being honest. I play by letting other people play the game. I do not de very much. I let other people do the talking. I spend most of my time by myself doing whatever I want to do.
I really love the post. It gives the realistic feel that most people will never get the same opportunity. My son loves baseball and every year we take him to see a Texas Ranger game. We have been involved in the (NWLL)North West Little League ever since my son was of age to play. He tells us that we will be watching him on T.V. one of these days. As a mother I agree and encourage him to follow his dream. I pray my son can get the same opportunity but hope the money don't change his passion for the game.
Its Americas oldest game the game is fun to play not fun to watch, but it is a game where there is no height discrimination, since pitching zones are adjusted for each player. It is one of the few games where this happens. In addition, it is fun to play because it requires quick reflexes, strategy, and limited strength to throw a ball. Play it sometime and you will see. People play baseball to be competitive. Baseball is both a mental and a physical sport. It is also a team sport that has a high percentage of individual player action. Also, the rules of baseball are less than complex. It is also something that father's have been passing down to their sons for over 100 years. Tradition seems to have a large hand in all of the sports that we do and do not play. One of the hardest sports to play but not The hardest because some people find some sports harder than others. Its nerve racking when a hard hit ball is coming right to you and you can easily make an error. Also the 90+ pitches with the super slow change-up and curve is also hard to hit. You wouldn't know whether to swing early and fast for a fastball or wait a little to hit a change or curve but you have to remember baseball bats are big also has a huge outfield so outfielders have to be fast to cover up so much ground personally baseball is a much harder sport to play. So be proud to know if you play baseball.
Go, Garrett, Go! It’s people like that who are going to change the world. People, who never let their dreams die, people who never hold back. Too often we let fear hold us back. It takes a strong individual to continually get back after being knocked down. I truly hope he finds passion for something else. To me, being a professional athlete is all about taking chances. You never know what may happen to your body. It’s not like any other job where if you become ill, you can still work from home. The statement rings true. “Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.” -Lindsey Morrow
I used to play baseball when I was younger but I eventually gave up on the sport because I realized I was not very good at all. I have actually never really liked any sports. Although, I can relate to doing something you love no matter what the consequences are. I have always loved photography even though I have a number of excuses not to want to pursue a career in photography. I have always wanted to become great in photography. Your nephew, Garrett, was very brave to continue playing baseball and fighting through the injuries for as long as he could.
-Sarah Ferguson
So many people forget that winning is not everything. So many of the things we excel at is because we enjoy it. I have learned that it is not the attaining the goal that makes you feel good, it is the process. Your nephew learned so many things from his time in baseball and has grown from his experiences. That he was allowed to go as far as he did makes him truly blessed. I think of how many professional athletes come away from the game not having grown any direction except old. Or they forfeit continued success because they forget the reason they excelled, that is they enjoy what they were doing.
I feel this way, but not about any sport. I feel this passion for writing. I have written a full novel and am working on a second.
My friend discovered the site fanfiction.net and I am a member. I love to read people's stories they have created from books. I am a large fan of Harry Potter, and I believe J.K. Rowling is a genius. I have started a Harry Potter fan fiction novel and I spend every minute that I can write. It's addicting, but in a rewarding way. When I'm fifty years old I'll be able to show my children and possibly my grandchildren what I created and allow them to enjoy it.
Paige Sowder
I totally agreed with this blog, and most definitely enjoyed the opinions stated within it. It is true that games are not only literal sports, but they surround us throughout different parts of life. They are relevant to almost any part of the world and are all around us. I truly admire people who play the games with passion and therefore have passion for life. I believe that it is somewhat gutsy to take a chance and follow your dream. In this day in age, I would say that most people are sceptical to say the least, and think that people should do what is best for the time being instead of following their true passion.
I found this blog to be inspiring. Baseball is a game that is deeply inter-tangled with our family's traditions. My dad played baseball in college and was so ready for a son to share all his knowledge with. Ironically, he was instead blessed with three daughters. I think I was the last attempt at having a son. So, my father adapted and began learning about the game of softball. I began pitching in sixth grade. Like your family my family has shared tears and fears with me during my softball career. Getting older, and being faced with decisions has showed me that softball might not be my lifelong dream and aspiration, but it has taught me how to dream and how to achieve. The game has taught me countless lessons, many of which have nothing to do with winning or losing.
Nikki Box
Tiffany Rasco
I enjoyed this blog very much. I feel that it has lots of truth in it. If you enjoy something and are passionate about it then why not make that your job. People always say to do what you love, and if you truly did then why would anyone ever be unhappy with their own jobs. I believe that then only way that a person will love their job is if they are doing the one thing that they can not get enough of. I hope that when I choose my career I choose something that will not only make me happy but that I will be able to give my best at doing.
Hunter Bernal- WK 13
I really felt that I connected to this blog. Seeing as though recently I injured myself and I got put out of playing the sport that I love very much, softball. When this happened, I started going to physical therapy, a whole bunch to better myself again. During this time that I would go, I realized that physical therapy is something I would enjoy and would love doing as a life profession. Helping people would be incredible and the only way I realized this was when I injured myself. Things happen for a reason, and when things go wrong, you might find what you’re needing, if that makes any sense.
Ashlee Hamilton
Reading this blog reminds me how much I love to play softball. Last year I got injured pretty bad and had to sit out of the season a couple of weeks. I remember sitting in the doctor office when I first got there, and them rushing me to an x-ray to make sure my leg wasn’t broken. I was lucky that it wasn’t but then they told me if I ever got hit in the same leg and messed it up any worse I would have to give up the sport I love. I was determined to not have the game I love taken away from me. So I went and bought a lot of protective gear so to better protect my leg if I got hit again.
Madison McIntire
I enjoyed this blog very much. Passion is a very big part of our daily lives and even our jobs. During my volleyball season I got hurt and was out for a few weeks. My team and I had to handle adversity. I also had to persevere and not give up while I was out just sitting on the bench watching my team play without me. You must also have this trait in your everyday job. Sometimes there is something wrong within your job and you must persevere. I want to have a job that I have a passion for and love to go to everyday.
Kylee Smith:
Your blog was very interesting to me from many different aspects. One of strongest, is my love for sports! Sports capture the hearts of many, and they also know how to break your heart. Many times we get so caught up in a sport, nothing can go wrong or it is devastating! Personally, I know from experience that my love for basketball goes far beyond just a like, and almost not getting to play it again due to health was killing my emotions. You mentioned, “Do what you love, and the money will follow,” was very inspiring to me. I agree with you strongly, but unfortunately if you go with sports, it will usually end in an unwanted way out.
I loved reading this post because I love sports and its so easy to lose your dreams due to injuries when you play sports. When you decide to play you are putting yourself at risk to a possible injury. Its what makes people decide to play, their determination, dream, and a goal. I know that’s why I love playing. It’s the rush I get when walking on the track or basketball court. I just recently got a concussion and had to sit out for a few games and that killed me. My love for sports is so strong, but sometimes I forget I may not get to play forever. It’s better to have a dream to have after the time you get to play sports ends. I want to be one of those people who find another “game” to play.
Iris Risenhoover:
I loved reading this post because I love sports and its so easy to lose your dreams due to injuries when you play sports. When you decide to play you are putting yourself at risk to a possible injury. Its what makes people decide to play, their determination, dream, and a goal. I know that’s why I love playing. It’s the rush I get when walking on the track or basketball court. I just recently got a concussion and had to sit out for a few games and that killed me. My love for sports is so strong, but sometimes I forget I may not get to play forever. It’s better to have a dream to have after the time you get to play sports ends. I want to be one of those people who find another “game” to play.
Sometimes playing the game after striking out several times is more than difficult. The person, who continues playing the game, even after making many mistakes, is the true winner when it is all said and done. Garrett is a strong person, because even though he was faced with difficulties, he continued to play the game he loved. These are the kind of people that I admire and look up to. Without people like these in our everyday lives, who would be our remodels? I want to be the kind of person who always follows my dreams, no matter what I’m faced with. I want to be like Garrett. Even though he was “too old” to play the game he so very much loved, he has the drive to find something else to be passionate about.
How “You” Play the Game reminds me of the recent successes of my dad and brother as they’ve pursued their dreams. I’m lucky to be a witness of their perseverance as I’ve watched them recently achieve their goals after years of hard work and dedication. My dad was promoted within his company and my brother will graduate from Texas Tech University next month. Their journeys have been long, and at times painful, but they’ve made it and I couldn’t be more proud of them. They’ve taught me that you have to work hard to achieve great things. Nothing that’s worth it comes easily.
Marissa Westbrook:
I can relate to this blog in many ways! I have a love for sports that is hard to express in words! I have played since I was very little, and that is a huge aspect of my life. I agree that many people do things because they want to make money. Why do we feel the need to do something that doesn’t necessarily make us happy, but we do it because it makes us money? Why would we choose to do something that doesn’t bring us joy? I know that one thing I’m very interested in pursuing in a career is coaching. The number of people that have continuously told me that I won’t make very much money doing that is countless! This frustrates me because I don’t understand the point in making a lot of money if I’m not happy doing it. Money isn’t everything, and it doesn’t make you happy. Another thing I thought about when I read, “How You Play the Game” was, am I doing everything that I want to be remember for? I’m a big believer in being remembered for positive things that I do. I do not like to disappoint people, and I think character is a big deal. I want to play the game of life in a dignified manner. I want people to look up to me. I want to know that I was the best person that I could be, and even though I messed up a ton I was a successful person. This blog really got me to thinking about the things I want to do in my life, and the priorities I have.
Jessica Lopez
I think this is a very inspiring story. It is very unfortunate that Garrett wasn’t able to play baseball anymore after his injuries, but he knew his passion and hopefully he will find another game to play. When you said, “finding a passion and pursuing a dream is special,” that is very true. It can be very unfortunate if people never find their passion, but when people do find their passion it can be life changing. Do what you love and the money follows. Getting paid doing what you love is something that some people may never get to experience. Depending on how you play the game, your dream can become reality.
I have enjoyed reading this post very much. When you wrote about how “we ‘might could’ make money at the very thing that we perform for free, it made me think about my own personal “game,” acting. Now I know that acting is probably one of the furthest things away from a sport, but it is just as strenuous and time consuming if not more so. Anyways, I use acting all the time in my everyday life for free, whether it be just to make a stupid impression of someone or to believably react to certain situations that would avoid conflict whereas if I responded how I wanted to, would most indefinitely cause conflict. I also do it for free for school plays. Receiving an acting award at contest is all the payment that I need for slaving constantly day and night to do a good job. However; if I continue to act beyond college and in the professional world, I “might could” make a few bucks off something that I normally do for free, like your nephew did. Whether this actually will actually happen, I do not know. I am just a small town boy and the chances of me making it big in the acting world are pretty much next to nothing. If that does happen, I am sure that I can find another passion. I have plenty of passions already, and if one fails, I can always just move on to the next. I will most definitely still pursue my “game” though, because no one knows what the future holds but the future.
I really enjoyed this post. I know that a passion for anything will make you do crazy things. I could feel the passion that Garret had for the game of baseball. Like you said even with his injury he still went in tried to play, and just wanted to be out there really. I love the game of softball, and I am the same way. I can definitely understand how so much passion for something can make you crazy. I also liked how you put that there are other aspects rather than just sports. Sometimes other events or callings are meant for you. Sometimes you just have to have faith in the Lord that he is leading you in the right direction. Maybe an even better passion is in His plan for us. We just have to have the courage to follow his ways.
-Sabrina Moralez
I tried baseball out as a child, and was never quite aware of how bad I was at it until I was a little older. It then occurred to me that coach never put me anywhere but the outfield (right field) and that I rarely, if at all, got to even see a baseball come near me while on the field. I was never any good at hitting, and was always last in the batting order. I later found that this was due to the fact that I am right handed, while being left eye dominant. This means that I use my right hand as my dominant hand, but that I see mainly out of my left eye. To put it another way, it would be like having a person who is right handed/right eye dominant shoot a bow while wearing an eye patch over their right eye. This can be, and is, an incredibly difficult handicap. Due to one terrible sports experience after another, I am a guy (we’re expected to at least try sports), I came to hate almost the whole of the sports world in its entirety. The only exception to this I think, is bowling which I am oddly good at. Also to add to the flames, because of my lack of skill whatsoever, the coaches that I played under tended to yell particularly loudly at me. This has led me to have a general distrust of coaches of any kind, with only one that I have genuinely cared for, and one that simply didn’t yell at me which puts him in with the former. Despite the years of failure, I have continued to search for something that I am skilled at, with a few successes along the road. I have discovered that I am good at/with computers, drawing, reading, and generally anything artistic. I spend a large amount of my time making iPod pictures http://xxtime2burnxx.deviantart.com/. I also thoroughly enjoy reading, with my two favorite sets of books being the Lord of the Rings, Hobbit included, and the Ranger’s Apprentice. I am thoroughly pleased with my resiliency despite past failures, and I have to remember to keep hanging on. So, it’s important to remember to keep playing, not whether you win or lose, THE GAME.
This boy completely knows what passion is because I have never met a person who would push through something that extreme whenever pain is involved. Most people give up right then and there, but he didn’t! He kept pushing forward as far as he could go, even when something else tried to push him back. The saying “Do what you love, and the money follows” is something I have been told many times in my life. I have always been urged to seek the perfect job by using my heart. No matter how great or how much money a job pays, a person will never be truly happy unless it is doing something that they love. For me, I want to be a Registered Nurse. I want to care for people and help make their lives that much better! That is where my heart is, and that is where it will stay. I believe that if I do my job as great as I think I can, the money will eventually be there.
Julie Fortner
This is a great post. This blog has a great life lesson to it. Sometimes the things we do well may not be the things we are meant to do for the rest of our lives. Also sometimes we do the things we are passionate about, but injuries and other complications get in the way of us achieving those goals. I am in awe of Garrett’s passion for baseball. The way he kept pushing through the pain of his injuries shows that he is a strong person who has a passion for a great sport. I am glad that you shared this inspiring blog with us.
There is so much truth in this blog. I have always loved running, but when the sense of wining over powered my love of the sport things started tumbling down. Everything happens for a reason. I finally realized that I was no longer running for the love of the sport but for the praise. I think this goes along with what you said about doing something you love and the money will fallow. Bottom line is if one spends there whole life doing something just for money or just for the praise of others there life doesn’t mean much at all, but when the decide to do something for the love if it things just fall into place
This blog was an inspiring read. Games do rule our lives, whether mental or physical. Both ways are usually never easy and involve several risky factors. I liked reading about Garrett's journey through his dreams. Being an athlete, it is easier for me to relate to sports related stories. I may be biased but I often enjoy reading them more than other stories. In sports, there are many "heros" to aspire after and dream to be. I know I am not alone in having dreamt of being a star at sports and going for the gold. But, thats just the thing. We are just dreaming of doing these things. Some of the brave souls venture out to try to achieve their dreams. It's a fifty-fifty chance. You either win or you lose. The fear of losing cripples most of us from even trying. Being let down, failure, and self defeat keep us safely behind the line of our dreams. If only there was a way to succeed in everything we did, to fulfill all of our dreams and always win. This fantasy world, however, does not exist on this earth. So, knowing this, we must continue to try for our dreams, go after our loves, and do whatever it takes to ensure our passions are fulfilled. It is easy for me to write this, a hypocrite in my own comfort zone, but the reality is there. Nothing is ever going to be worth it unless you try for it. You might fail, but when one door closes, another will always open.
Tyka Dipprey
This story was very inspiring. How Garrett didn't let injuries or any of his other obstacles get in the way of his dream should open people's eyes and let them know that nothing can stop them if they are determined enough. Although times do get hard, we all have to keep our eyes on the prize and push forward with all of our might and we just might achieve our goals.I've never been a big baseball fan, but I am a big fan of music. This has applied to my life because I have let obstacles stop me from achieving my goal of being a great guitar player. I have a very tight schedule, and sometimes I just feel too drained to pick up the guitar and play it. But, I was told by a very good musician that if I want to be a great guitar player I have to make the time. He told me not to let anything stop me from achieving my goals.
I really enjoyed reading this post! It made me think of my own life, and has a great life lesson. I was astonished by how passionate Garrett is about baseball. He really has a passion for a great sport. The fact that through all his injuries he kept following his dreams amazes me. I was happy to find out he didn’t let his complications get in the way of his dreams. This shows how strong of a person he is and the fact that he had family supporting him the entire time really helped him. This blog was really inspiring. Thank you for sharing it with us.
One of the most disappointing things that can happen to a person is loosing a dream. When you have something that you have worked for, fought for, shed sweat, blood, and tears for, and suddenly you loose it all to something you have no control over can crush the human spirit. I believe that when these freak occurrences happen, there is a divine purpose behind them. On more than one occasion I have not gotten or have lost something that I desperately wanted. I find out later that what I wanted would have clashed with something great God had for me. When bad things occur, like loosing your dream of major league baseball, I think the best thing to do is get back on the horse and keep on riding until you happen upon something even greater and more fulfilling.
I enjoyed the post a lot. I could tell there was a lot of thought and time put into it. It really made me think and question myself but it did it through an insightful personal experience. I believe this it what made it so touching. Everybody has a person experience or knows of someone who has. Not only did I like the ideas and thoughts in the blog but I also like how u presented them through a story of baseball. I am a big baseball fan and I think this is what made the story so interesting. Thank You for writing it.
This blog is connected and related to a lot of things I have going on in my life right now. To read it I was in awe about how spot on it fit my situation. I completely agree with wanting to follow your dream and do what you love while making money at the same time. But when you stand back and look at the reality of things it doesn't always go as planned. I love to sew and so does my aunt, and I have sat back and watched her make purses, diaper back, even children clothing but she never seemed to make enough off it. Now she has opened a fabric store and I have been able to see the process in that but from someone looking from the outside in I can see how her dream is fading because she will not be able to have it open very long. As much as I would love to do what my aunt did I know its just no something I would be able to do. I now have to study in something that catches my attention but at the same time will be able to support me and my son. Everyone keeps telling me I have so much going for me but the way I look at it, if i go for my dream I will be shot down. However I can do something I tolerate and be successful. It doesn't make sense the way the world works but then again I guess that's why the world goes around the way it does.
I found the blog very interesting. I have never been able to play baseball because of some physical problem but I can understand the passion for playing a sport. I personally play football and basketball, and I have a deep love for both sports. If I could get a scholarship to a small college to play ether sport I would be in heaven. I also know how it feels to be injured in a sport and not be able to keep on going automatically. During football I have at several times twisted and sprained my ankles to were I have to always weir an ankle brace every time I go to work out. Some times wearing the brace is not enough to keep it from rolling.
I enjoyed reading this post very much. I feel bad for what happened to Garrett, but something I always tell myself is that things happen for a reason. I believe that God had a greater plan for Garrett, and it wasn’t baseball. I understand how he would feel after letting go of the sport he loved the most. For me it’s basketball. It’s my passion, even though I know I will never make it big, I enjoy every day I play a basketball game. I do not know what I would do if I could never play basketball again. I love it too much to let go of it.
I really liked this reading. I can relate to it in different sports. I respect that he did things and overcame things most people wouldn't. It is hard to just get up brush yourself off and try again. That is what this guy did. It just made me look at my life and dreams, and the importance of never giving up.
Kaitlyn Reno
I know that a passion for anything will make you do crazy things. I could feel the passion that Garret had for the game of baseball. Like you said even with his injury he still went in tried to play, and just wanted to be out there really. I love the game of softball, and I am the same way. I can definitely understand how so much passion for something can make you crazy. I particularly could understand the point you were making when you stated, “We start out loving our games, but soon discover we ‘might could’ make money at the very thing that we perform for free.” I have seen several cases of this in the short amount of time I have spent in the competitive world of gymnastics. Perhaps, not exactly the same case as your story, but similar, I have seen many talented girls waste away when their head-full of clouds-abruptly makes contact with reality. We all want to succeed at the games we like when we are kids. This story touches these strings in all of our hearts. The game we all pick up and play until we are dead is life. It is the most intricate game of them all. Too often we let fear hold us back. It takes a strong individual to continually get back after being knocked down. I truly hope he finds passion for something else. To me, being a professional athlete is all about taking chances. You never know what may happen to your body. It’s not like any other job where if you become ill, you can still work from home.
Although I do not play sports, I find this post every true. It's really funny how if we play something for long enough it gets tiring and boring. A good example is in the Book, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer; where Tom convinces everyone to paint the fence because it is a lifetime opportunity. However, I have talked to many people who say their job is not boring and they love it. I am currently studying for being a psychiatrist which I think will keep me going for the rest of my life. I just hope the idea of making money with my job will not go to my head.
I enjoyed your blog. I was very interested in what was going to come out of the story, and was very pleased at the end. I am not into sports very much so it is quite hard for me to put myself in the place of an athlete. I have searched for a guy that filled my heart and some I really thought they would fulfill my dreams. After break up or him being a jerk and not treating me right, I came to find that my true soul mate and dream was my best friend right there in front of me.
I have heard the saying, It’s not if you win or lose, it’s how you play the game” all throughout my life. This saying can either pertain to a game or it can pertain to life in general. We are told as children to play fair, share the spotlight, or work as a team. This not only applies on the playing field of sports, but also on the playing field of life. Work happens. It is inevitable. We all have to do it. It is how you play that “game” at work and in life that matters. We all have to choose the way we will play, either fair, sharing the spotlight or as a team.
Finding the “game” you love is very exciting but scary at the same time. When you finally find what you really want to do there are so many questions left unanswered. What if it is too hard? What if you are not good enough? These questions haunt you and try to hold you back from pursuing what you really want. That is what I have found my biggest setback to be: the unanswered questions. I’m terrified that when I get my questions answered, it will not be the answer I am wanting. When it comes down to it, I think you just have to learn to roll with the punches.
I just posted this anonymous so I'm reposting with my name.
Finding the “game” you love is very exciting but scary at the same time. When you finally find what you really want to do there are so many questions left unanswered. What if it is too hard? What if you are not good enough? These questions haunt you and try to hold you back from pursuing what you really want. That is what I have found my biggest setback to be: the unanswered questions. I’m terrified that when I get my questions answered, it will not be the answer I am wanting. When it comes down to it, I think you just have to learn to roll with the punches.
I enjoyed reading this blog of yours. I can relate because I enjoy playing baseball my self. I am not a pitcher or anything but I have an arm that’s why I play center field. Baseball With out a doubt is America’s favorite pastime sport. I think only because football is too much wear and tear on the body. When that boy grew up and made the major leagues and came from a small town I know the whole town would have been proud. I bet just because rarely will a kid from a small town make it big just because of the resources that smalls towns do not have unlike big towns.
While it is tragic that Garrett had his dream crushed, it is uplifting that even the small town kid was able to pursue his dream to that extent. I, for one, know that it would be a great experience to be able to live out my dream for at least a small length of time. It just goes to show you that through hard work and a great deal of effort, even the small town kid can get somewhere. Garrett's determination is admirable, as he did not let several of his injuries hinder him in his pursuit of his goal.
While it is tragic that Garrett had his dream crushed, it is uplifting that even the small town kid was able to pursue his dream to that extent. I, for one, know that it would be a great experience to be able to live out my dream for at least a small length of time. It just goes to show you that through hard work and a great deal of effort, even the small town kid can get somewhere. Garrett's determination is admirable, as he did not let several of his injuries hinder him in his pursuit of his goal.
Life is not always easy, but you have to work for the things that you want. If you could just snap your fingers and get whatever you wanted; it wouldn’t mean anything. When you wrote about your nephew, it was a perfect example. He worked to get where he was, and then had to work to say there. I can tell that he is a very driven person. I have a lot that I would like to accomplish in the next few years. My first year of on campus college will be very challenging, because I tend to put off things more than I should. I plan on taking about 36 hours my first year. I know that this will be a very challenging schedule, but I know that if I work at it; it will not be too bad. I plan on majoring in Psychology, but I am not sure what I am going to specialize in yet. I hope that after a get a feel for it in my first few years it will make it easier to decide. I have many uncertain things in my life right now, but only time will tell if I can get all of this done. Who know I might end up doing something totally different. I just have to take each day as it comes and hope for the best and prepare for the worst.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this blog post. I play softball so baseball is definitely one of my favorite sports to watch and to read about as well. Although I don’t have personal experience with season ending injuries, I have witnessed how it can affect not only the individual, but the entire team. In baseball and softball alike, injuries often take a toll on how your season comes to an end. Last year, after our team beat the odds by winning not only our district, but our area as well, we took a season-ending blow that none of us expected. During our regional quarter-final game, our starting pitcher took a line drive to the face. It was a one in a million hit, but one is all it took. She was taken out of the game and to the local hospital for x-rays. Our team fell apart to say the least. Little by little they chipped away at our crumbling defense. Everyone seemed to have given up. Not only did our pitchers injury affect her, but it greatly affected us as well. Injuries in the games of baseball and softball can be season ending for everyone. I can say, though, that all of the hard times have done nothing but brought us closer together. We have a sort of respect for each other. That playoff game made us realize what a vital part of the team every single player is. A good baseball or softball team is comparable to the human body: the loss of one vital organ could mean failure for the entire body. Although I doubt the New York Yankees felt the blow of Garret’s injury, he and his family undoubtedly did. In a sense, I feel his pain. Oh, and by the way, GO RED SOX. Just thought I’d throw that in there.
This blog post relates strongly to my freshmen volleyball and cross country season. Just coming into high school, I was not sure how my abilities in sports would measure up to the other girls, but I soon found out I was better off than I thought. Before school even started I made the JV volleyball team, with a starting position as the defensive specialist, or libero. I was so excited about my first volleyball season that was actually going to matter towards my, possible, college career. When school started it wasn’t long before we were deciding teams for cross country. I made my first, ever, varsity team. I was so excited to start the year and play my two favorite sports. However, I was also playing basketball, which I don’t favor in the slightest, and that stuck me with practicing basketball ALL year round in athletics. Tuesday, October 7, 2008 was our first home game for volleyball. That afternoon I was in athletics practicing basketball. We were running a play called FLEX, and I was cutting through the lane. When I got the block I turned around to retrieve the ball and “pop” something horrible happened to my knee. After all of the mess of pain, and finally getting the results of my MRI, I discovered that I had torn my ACL. This took me out of volleyball, cross country, and most of track. I am thankful I was able to make a full recovery and return to the sports that I love. I have a very strong sympathy for anyone that gets critically hurt while playing a sport, especially when they have to sit out for months. The worst thing is watching someone else play the sport you love. But, I also strongly believe everything happens for a reason. As you said, maybe we should find a new game. I can’t wait to find mine. :)
This story really reminded me of my sport related injury. I was a junior in high school and I was on the varsity football team. We had come a long way that year. We hadn’t been in the playoffs in six years. On that year though, we won enough games to get us into the playoffs yet again. The team was overly excited and we we’re ready for this amazing experience. Sadly though, our first playoff game in six years would be my last. About seven minutes into the first quarter, we lined up for a kickoff return, the opposing team kicked off the ball and it was coming strait at me. I caught the ball at around the two yard line and took off as fast as I could push myself, running and weaving my way through full-speed tacklers I ran right over the first guy, kind of lost my balance but I re-gained control and kept on running. Almost to about the thirty-yard line, another would-be-tackler got right in my path, I gripped the ball tighter with my right arm and with my left arm, stuck it out and stiffened it up tightly stiff arming yet another potential tackler, I was still running. I got to about the forty-yard line when out of no where I felt my self being dragged down from behind, I managed to shake off yet another tackler, but the price I paid for that was tragic. As I shook off the last guy I had already started to lose my balance, falling forward I tucked the ball into both arms tightly and braced for a fall. But this was no regular fall. I was flying full speed and with the whiplash, which I got from being dragged and swung around, came an even faster fall to the turf. I lowered my left shoulder first to absorb the impact, and then for some reason I really can’t remember, I managed to shift my body weight oppositely and ended up falling on my right shoulder. Need less to say, which was a terrible move. I heard and felt the worst cracking noise ever. I knew I had broken it. I didn’t say anything because I wanted to finish that once in a lifetime game. I played the remaining three quarters that night, but it would be the last time I’d step on a football field as a varsity player. My injury was so bad, that my post surgery healing process took nine months. I was just released in September of 2010. I missed my entire senior season of football. All I have now are the cherished memories.
This story also reminded me of a past time sports injury. I was a freshman in high school, and I did foolish things that day that made me pay for the rest of the season. During Powerlifting practice an upperclassman was doing deadlift and me being me I had to try to out lift the upperclassman and o more than he was doing.So I added more weight onto the bar got set and began to lift the weight from off the ground. While lift the weight off the ground I heard a pop in my lower back as soon as I heard it pop I dropped the weight and fell to the ground. All I remember saying was that I felt my back pop and that I couldn't get up from off the floor. So someone helped me up slowly and when I went to the doctor the told me that I was out for the rest of the season and to not lift anything heavy. I learned that day that not warming up before lifting heavy weight can be a very dangerous thing to do.
My heart empathizes for Garrett! To have such a passion for baseball, only to be done at a mere age of 27 is unfortunate. Please excuse my directness when I say I feel as if I read this blog at the perfect time. After being sick for seven years, I feel as if I’m about to throw in the towel when it comes to the long “game” I’ve been playing. No not game, battle I’ve been fighting is more like it. Like Garrett, I had such a passion for the things I’ve took part in. School was at that top of this list. Now I find myself missing whole semesters. I wish to see the faces of my friends and peers. I long for the lectures given by teachers. Most importantly, my heart aches for knowledge I used to acquire there. For 10 years, I had 8 points between me and the next person in ranking. Now I am no longer capable of being Valedictorian. I have lost my battle. I’m not sure what game I am to play next. I honestly don’t know if I want another game. I want the one that I had Garrett’s passion for. His prize was being on the pitcher’s mound; my prize was giving THE speech of the night on my graduation. I’m heartbroken I’ll never get to reach that stage. So what happens to Garrett and me? Though I can’t speak for him, I’d like to think I will rekindle that passion in a different game. However, I fear that the passion I had for school died with my dream of being Valedictorian. I also fear I shall never find another game. I’m scared I’m all out lives to play any games. I’m scared with my disease I’ll never make it or want to make it to play another game…
Sayre Collom
Toni Garcia:
Your blog is very strong, and while I was reading it I noticed how it caught all of my attention. I’m a ball player myself, except I play softball because I’m a lady. To me softball is everything and I understand where Garret was coming from. He did everything for the game because he simply loved it, and I do the exact same. It doesn’t matter what the score is or anything; I’m a very good player so I play with heart. Yet, I hardly ever think about the after math. We never think about getting injured or what sports do to our body until it happens, and sometimes you take it for granted.
Toni Garcia says.....Your blog is very strong, and while I was reading it I noticed how it caught all of my attention. I’m a ball player myself, except I play softball because I’m a lady. To me softball is everything and I understand where Garret was coming from. He did everything for the game because he simply loved it, and I do the exact same. It doesn’t matter what the score is or anything; I’m a very good player so I play with heart. Yet, I hardly ever think about the after math. We never think about getting injured or what sports do to our body until it happens, and sometimes you take it for granted.
Sports have never played a big part of my life. I have just never found enjoyment in any of the sports I have tried. I guess it was just never really me, and I have accepted it and moved on. The one thing I can define as my passion is video games. It doesn't seem like much, but whenever I put a controller in my hands I become very different than what I normally am. It's like a change in me and I love the feeling it gives, almost like a drug. Maybe this will be my calling later in life. As long as I can find an enjoyment in it, I will chase after it.
I liked reading your post, I identify a lot with it. I’ve always been active in sports, whether it be from little league all the way to high school. Sports has taught me a lot of life lessons and how to come back and battle them. Most importantly I was always taught never give up and never back down from a challenge. No matter what you can always face what comes before you, just be strong and whether the storms. Isn’t that what life is about though? Weathering the storms that give you trying times? Then when you come out with that storm you’re a stronger person and I can thank sports for that, for teaching me these aspects that I can apply to my life.
Bobbi Florez
This blog has really hit home for me. In this world I have began to understand the pain and the excitement that comes with having a dream. When I first entered into high school, I fell in love. Since then I have had one dream and one dream only, yet it seems that I may never get to fully appreciate it. Art. I am totally and completely rapped around the idea of expressing myself through art. I love to sit for hours and paint. Whether the paintings come out the way I planned or not. But in this field I have realized that I cannot go to college and become a successful artist, or at least not in this life. My family has never had a lot of money so I have also made myself a dream of having more money to support my family when I get old enough. This has been why my dream of artistry has gone down the drain. In art, you either make it big time or not at all. So I completely understand why having your dream taken from you can be so hard.
Brittanie Petmecky
I loved your blog, and I can relate to a lot of what you are saying. I myself favored girls powerlifting more than I did softball. Although our sports differ I can understand the passion for something you love. I did powerlifting for two years never thinking of how it could hurt me, or the chances of getting hurt. My parents worried a lot about me doing this sport, because I never stopped to think about the downfalls that it could cause. My passion for the sport made me push even harder, and just enjoy the success when I would go up in weights. I feel that when someone is passionate about something whether its sports, video games or just about anything they love that nothing can stop them. We never stop to think about what might happen or what serious injury may come from it. We just go on having a good time.
Michelle Hillstrom
My dreams have changed many times throughout my life. I have wanted to be an actress, a dancer, and a writer. The only one of these that I still actively pursue is writing. Junior high introduced me to the stage and my career was short lived. Since, I never received a major role in any of the junior high school plays or musicals I assumed that I wasn’t good enough to continue in high school. Junior high also introduced me to dancing. I was a natural. I made dance teams and pom squad and continued dancing until high school graduation. Many of my friends tried out for the college dance teams, but again I stopped myself because I was afraid of being told that I wasn’t good enough. Anytime I hear of someone like your nephew who doesn’t let fear hold them back from their dreams, I feel inspired.
I liked this story a lot. I think he is lucky to have been able to find something he liked at an early. If he would have discovered his love for baseball later in life, he would not have gotten as much playing time. Most people are not so lucky. It takes some people all their lives to find something they love to do. A lot of people just give up, and end up doing something they really don’t like because it pays the bills. Give up on finding that one thing that would make their life that much better.
Sonya says...
What a great story! I, too, have supported my kids in their ventures in life, including sports. My daughter excelled at volleyball and softball in high school, and my son was a terrific basketball player. Oh how I loved to watch their games and cheer them on! There were trials and tribulations, occasional tears with defeats, but they thoroughly enjoyed their years of playing sports from about 5 years of age with Little Dribblers and Little League all the way through high school, and they both still enjoy the occasional recreational game. Their life ventures are now more focused on education and jobs, and I continue to cheer them on and support their choices.
Life, like baseball, is unpredictable. On paper, they're both simple. Player hits the ball. Another player retrieves it and tries to catch the first player before he arrives at a base. A human is born. A human does many things in life. A human dies.
But it's not quite so straightforward, is it? The ball can bounce. One of the players can drop a ball. A human never knows what's ahead, similar to a game of baseball.
In the end, the baseball game will end, and both parties will leave. But the fact that they left isn't what people talk about. What matters is what happened between when the teams arrived and when they left. A human will die, yes. But people won't remember their death. People will remember their relationships. Their achievements. Their legacy.
And during the baseball game, some players will strike out. Some will hit home runs. Some might not play entirely fairly. (We all know what they're on... steroids!)
Also, the crowd. They don't come for the players. Sure, they shout for Babe Ruth and A-Rod, but they don't shout FOR the players. They shout for the game. They come for the show. Sure, at the end of the day someone wins and someone loses. But the crowd loves the game, and comes back forever.
What matters in life is what you do. The friendships you make. The bridges you burn. The games you play. The games don't matter. The winner doesn't matter. The fact that you played is good enough.
Eden Davidson:
I really enjoyed reading this blog. I think we all can relate to having a big dream that seems just out of reach. But when we get the chance to experience that dream, we get a glimpse of what we actually can achieve. I played volleyball growing up and know all too well the reality of sports injuries. I never wanted to make a career out of the sport, but I knew several who did. Many team members of mine had dreams of getting scholarships or playing for traveling teams across Texas. Regardless of the type of dream, we all had them and we all played the game a little differently to get them. Garrett is a lot like the rest of us when he finally made it to Yankee stadium.
How "You" Play the Game
I have to say this definantley caught me and pulled me in i do not play baseball or softball for that matter but anyone can relate to what this blog is about. I think everyone at some point in time has gotten to this point in life where you know you have a goal but somewhere along the way something happens that sets you back but you have to keep pushing because if you dont you will never achieve anything if you just give up. Sometimes its the bad things in life that make you ralize what really matters in your life and thats when you get tired and push your self to suceed. I also agree some people just give up and stop trying they never try and figure out what it is that they are destend to do.
Karena Bolton
I absolutely loved this blog. America prides them on baseball. It emphasizes our culture as Americans by sharing one of our favorite pastimes. Everyone gets a chance to choose their dreams and which path they take. In the story, he chooses to pursue his dream in baseball. It is kind of sad he never got to pursue his goal fully because of injuries. This goes to show that in life no matter what our dreams are, something can come along and alter them. That is why it is important to have a backup plan just in case so you can have something else to fall back on.
Karena Bolton
I absolutely loved this blog. America prides them on baseball. It emphasizes our culture as Americans by sharing one of our favorite pastimes. Everyone gets a chance to choose their dreams and which path they take. In the story, he chooses to pursue his dream in baseball. It is kind of sad he never got to pursue his goal fully because of injuries. This goes to show that in life no matter what our dreams are, something can come along and alter them. That is why it is important to have a backup plan just in case so you can have something else to fall back on.
Karena Bolton
I absolutely loved this blog. America prides them on baseball. It emphasizes our culture as Americans by sharing one of our favorite pastimes. Everyone gets a chance to choose their dreams and which path they take. In the story, he chooses to pursue his dream in baseball. It is kind of sad he never got to pursue his goal fully because of injuries. This goes to show that in life no matter what our dreams are, something can come along and alter them. That is why it is important to have a backup plan just in case so you can have something else to fall back on.
I enjoyed reading this week’s blog. It’s funny how most can all relate to this story. We all have dreams and goals that we would like to reach, but sometimes we face obstacles that makes us doubt them or just flat out give up. When it comes to facing those obstacles, most of start thinking that we’re not good enough or it happened therefore it must be a sign that we’re not good enough. Then we start thinking well why try, when I’m never going to succeed. We face obstacles to help prove to ourselves that we are good enough, and that no matter what happens as long as we put our body, mind and soul into the game we will succeed. It is so possible we just need to keep our heads up and have faith, because with GOD all things are possible.
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