Bumps And Bruises: Whats Your Excuse?

In 1988 I was a ten year old boy fascinated with the game of baseball and the larger than life figures in the game from past and present. That year the World Series featured the Oakland A’s and the Los Angeles Dodgers. Oakland was by far the most powerful team in the American League with sluggers like McGwire and Canseco and a staff of pitchers, one seemingly tougher than the next. Los Angeles was a team grounded in defense, pitching and their charismatic leader, Tommy Lasorda.

The A’s were heavily favored in the series and the Dodgers entered the series with their only position player to make the all-star team, Kirk Gibson, sidelined with injuries. From here the story becomes more familiar. With Game 1 of the series on the line the Dodgers entered the bottom of the ninth down 4-3. Dennis Eckersley, the most dominant closer in baseball at the time, was on the mound for the A’s and disposed of the first two batters of the inning easily. He was not able to sit down the meager hitting Mike Davis and allowed a walk, putting the tying run on the base paths.

I can  clearly remember the call from the iconic voice of Vince Scully, “and look how’s coming up!”. Gibson stepped out of the dugout took a few cuts in the on deck circle and made his way to the batters box on two bad legs to face the dominant reliever.

Quickly Gibson was in the hole with the count going to 0-2 and it seemed like the game was all but over, Eckersley was too much for the battered Gibson. With his resolve intact Gibson worked the count full and created the story that has been reenacted in every kids sandlot baseball dream. World Series, bottom of the ninth, two outs and the winning run at the plate. Gibson completed the story by promptly turning on a 3-2 slider and sending it sailing over the 360’ mark in right field to win the game! A scene sending goosebumps down every baseball fans side. Gibson pumping his arm after rounding first and the Dodgers storming the field to greet him at the plate, the crowd was in a frenzy.

Can you imagine if when Gibson got the nod to go to the plate he declined saying, “I don’t think so today coach I’m feeling a little banged up.”? This heroic feat would still just be a story tale told by ten year olds nationwide.

When it comes to training for performance bumps and bruises are going to be part of the process. You will be sore, you will ache, you will feel like you should sit one out. Be diligent in taking care of your body during this period but don’t let fatigue make a coward out of you. In the spirit of Muhammad Ali, “Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.”