By Coach Ron Wolforth –
hu·mil·i·ty | hyo͞oˈmilədē |
noun
a modest or low view of one’s own importance; humbleness: he needs the humility to accept that their way may be better.
hu·bris | ˈ(h)yo͞obrəs |
noun
excessive pride or self-confidence: the self-assured hubris among economists was shaken in the late 1980s.
- (in Greek tragedy) excessive pride toward or defiance of the gods, leading to nemesis.
So often, we naively wish and yearn for “days gone by.” As Billy Joel wrote in his 1983 hit song “Keeping the Faith”: “You know the good ole days weren’t always good, and tomorrow ain’t as bad as it seems.”
Billy, of course, has a point.
However, in 2024, it has never been more difficult in human history to see clearly and make sound decisions, in my opinion. There is so much “noise” out there. Too many things today are being promoted as important, valuable, and consequential… Upon deeper review, they are frankly anything but important, valuable, or of consequence. Instead, much of it could be more aptly described as counterfeit, subterfuge, and posing.
Even more unfortunate, the sports world is more guilty of this behavior than any other sector short of the entertainment industry.
The picture above of the two four-star generals placed side by side highlights a powerful dichotomy and, I believe, encapsulates the challenges we face today.
One was truly a war hero and became the 34th President of the United States… What our young guns today would refer to as a true “GOAT.”
Indeed, he was.
The other, in my opinion, is someone who is exceptionally gifted at winning influence and promotion in a bureaucratic game.
However, when you look at their uniforms in their profile pictures—separated by ~70 years of a dynamic and ever-changing culture—you can see we have shifted emphasis on what is important.
My point in this blog post is to be careful not to be tainted or pulled in the wrong direction. There is always an unforeseen cost or a negative consequence when choosing imitation over the real and genuine. Keep reminding yourself of what is truly important, precious, treasured, and valuable. Never neglect those things for what is fashionable, chic, synthetic, and/or frivolous.
This applies not only to your training, but also to your relationships and daily decision-making processes as well.
Until next time,
Stay curious and keep fighting the good fight!
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Important TBR Updates
- Three dates remain for our Winter Elite Pitchers Bootcamps. Get your spot now for one of the upcoming dates! Please CLICK HERE to learn more and secure your spot.
Dates include:
Dec. 28-30 (Space Limited)
Jan. 18-20 (MLK weekend)
Feb. 15-17 (President’s Day weekend)
Have you been considering attending one of our 3-Day Elite Pitchers Bootcamp but are still on the fence? To help, we have a detailed mailing package entitled “What Makes This Boot Camp Different”. If you’d like to receive this package and start making plans for the winter, email Jill@TexasBaseballRanch.com and request a copy.
- ATTENTION CATCHERS – We have 4 spots remaining for our 6th Annual Elite Catchers Bootcamp Dec. 6-8 (ages 13 & up). For more information and to register go to www.TexasBaseballRanch.com/
catcher or call (936) 588-6762. This is a rare, once a year, opportunity to work with some of the best catching coaches in baseball and develop every aspect of your defensive skills.
- ATTENTION Ranch Alumni: Only one spot remains for the January Advanced/Alumni camp. To register CLICK HERE. For more information go to https://www.texasbaseballranch.com/events/alumni-pitchers-bootcamp/.
- Registration is now open for our December night classes which start Monday, Dec. 2nd. If you’re a local athlete and looking to make an impact for your team this Spring, this is your edge. For more information, call (936) 588-6762 or email AnnaDugger@TexasBaseballRanch.com. Space is limited!
- NEW VIDEO on our YouTube Channel: “5 Pitching Inefficiencies Killing Your Performance (And How to Fix Them) Pt 6”. Watch it at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcdGmqVGHwQ and share your opinion in the comments.
