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I believe in animal rights, and high among them is the right to the gentle stroke of a human hand. – Robert Brault
Photo Credit: The one website I’m on at least 3 times a day, I Can Has Cheezburger.com – The only thing I’m on more than ICHC is caffeine.
After I hit a home run I had a habit of running the bases with my head down. I figured the pitcher already felt bad enough without me showing him up rounding the bases. – Mickey Mantle
If there’s a better illustration of character, than the quote above gives, I’d love to see it. In an era where most athletes love nothing more than gloating and showboating, Mickey Mantle could teach everyone a thing or two (or a gazillion) about what it really means to have character as well as talent. After all, the talent will fade eventually whereas character never has to go anywhere.
As we lead up to Baseball season (I’m as big a baseball fan as you’ll ever find – whether it’s my St. Louis Cardinals or any random team, if there’s a baseball game on tv or the radio, you’ll know where to find me), I thought it’d be fun to look at a different baseball player each week and learn a little more about them. I’ve pulled out some fantastic quotes and stories from some of these men and I know you’ll enjoy them, whether you’re a baseball fan or not. (If you aren’t a baseball fan, please don’t tell me. I… I… don’t want to see you like that.)
Mickey Mantle was born in 1931 in Spavinaw, Oklahoma – a small town put on the map by the baseball giant. Mickey’s parents were Elvin Charles Mantle and Lovell Mantle. Mickey’s dad, a huge baseball fan, named his son after Mickey Cochrane, a Hall of Fame catcher for the, then, Philadelphia Athletics.
Mickey Mantle always spoke very highly and lovingly of his father, calling him the bravest man he ever knew. “No boy ever loved his father more,” he said. Tragically, his father died of cancer in 1952 at the ridiculously young age of 39. To compound the tragedy, he died just as his son’s amazing career was just getting started.
“A team is where a boy can prove his courage on his own. A gang is where a coward goes to hide.” – Mickey Mantle
Mickey Mantle was called up to the majors on April 7, 1951. How’s this for high praise? – Joe DiMaggio, in his final season, called Mantle, “the greatest prospect I can remember.”
After a bit of a slump, Mantle was sent down to the Yankees’ top farm team, the Kansas City Blues. Possibly due to frustrations and putting too much pressure on himself, Mickey struggled and became so overwhelmed that he was ready to throw in the proverbial towel. He even called his father one day and told him, “I don’t think I can play baseball anymore.” Like any good father would, his dad drove up to Kansas City that very day. When he arrived, Mickey remembered that he said, “I thought I raised a man. I see I raised a coward instead. You can come back to Oklahoma and work the mines with me.”
The mines never saw the younger Mantle.
Mickey immediately broke out of his slump and after 40 games, he was called back to New York. For good.
The great number 7 was retired by the New York Yankees in Mickey Mantle’s honor and he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974, as soon as he was eligible.
“I hated to bat against (Don) Drysdale. After he hit you he’d come around, look at the bruise on your arm and say, ‘Do you want me to sign it?’” – Mickey Mantle
Unfortunately, even great baseball players have their demons and Mickey’s was alcoholism. He sought treatment and got the upper hand on the demon. Sportscaster Pat Summerall was one of the main people who urged him to go to The Betty Ford Clinic.
Mickey Mantle spoke with great, deep-seeded remorse and heartache about his alcoholism in a 1994 Sports Illustrated story. He said that he was telling the same old stories, and realizing how much of them involved himself and others being drunk, and he decided they weren’t funny anymore.
“It was all I lived for, to play baseball.” – Mickey Mantle
He acknowledged that alcohol had caused him to often be hurtful or neglectful to his family, friends, and fans, and that he wanted to make things right.
Mickey Mantle became a born-again Christian thanks, in part, to his former teammate Bobby Richardson, an ordained Baptist minister who shared his faith with him.
Mickey died in Dallas on August 13, 1995. During the first Yankee home game after his death, Eddie Layton played “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” on the organ because Mickey had once told him it was his favorite song.
In his eulogy, sportscaster Bob Costas described Mickey Mantle as “a fragile hero to whom we had an emotional attachment so strong and lasting that it defied logic.” He added: “In the last year of his life, Mickey Mantle, always so hard on himself, finally came to accept and appreciate the distinction between a role model and a hero. The first, he often was not. The second, he always will be. And, in the end, people got it.”
“Somebody once asked me if I ever went up to the plate trying to hit a home run. I said, ‘Sure, every time.’” – Mickey Mantle
See Also: Quotes by Mickey Mantle
Today is, of course, Columbus Day. A day to celebrate the fact that Christopher Columbus officially discovered America. I know, I know, fellow history buffs, how do you discover something that’s already there? Simple, you point it out to the rest of the world. For example, I can tell you that you can get killer Catfish and ridiculously delicious hush puppies at Willow Pond in Aurora, Kentucky – I didn’t discover the catfish restaurant, but I DID tell you about a restaurant you otherwise wouldn’t be aware of. Unless you’re familiar with Kentucky’s beautiful Land Between the Lakes, you might not even know about Aurora.
Columbus sort of re-tweeted what the Native Americans were doing and, since he had more followers, news spread like wildfire.
We were meant to give our lives away. Spend more time living your legacy instead of worrying about leaving it. – Lee J. Colan
At any rate, I didn’t set out to necessarily post about Christopher Columbus OR to give myself a wicked craving for hush puppies. I was simply thinking about legacies today. When I was on Twitter this morning – enjoying the afterglow of the Denver Bronco’s stellar win – I noticed that two of the “hot topics” this morning were Christopher Columbus and Michael Jackson. The two names made me think about legacies… for better or worse.
Legacies.
When we walk along a wet beach, we leave our footprints behind us. In the same way, we leave our legacies behind us when we leave this world. However, there’s no tide to come and take away these impressions. We earn our reputations and we earn our legacy.
When we think of others, we think of things they stand for and issues that are important to them. We think of things they like, things they love, and things they detest. In the span of a few minutes, we can conjure up a pretty good impression of them. Depending upon the individual, the following words may come into play:
Usually, the impression we have of someone acts as a mirror – reflecting the impressions they leave behind… like footprints in the sand.
Have you given much thought to the legacy your building? Do you realize that you form your legacy each and every single day? Overwhelming, I know!
The good news is this: If you fear that your legacy comes up short of your expectations – as long as you still have breath in your body, you can do something about it! The only time it’s too late is when the breath is gone. Be absolutely still for a minute – are you breathing? Excellent, your legacy is still a work in progress!!!
Here’s an illustration: I love baseball. However, a few sensational players have been “stained” by wrongdoings. Think of Pete Rose and Barry Bonds. Incredible players who loved the game and had (have) absolutely countless fans. I loved to watch Barry Bonds at bat! Each had his own particular “misstep” along their walk…. come on, as we all do. But the thing, in my opinion, that most people absolutely cannot accept is when an individual doesn’t own up to their mistake. When they try to shift blame, act dumb, or keep saying, “I refuse to answer that question…” – our give a dang exceeds its limits and we no longer even give half a dang.
Their “sins” end up owning them in the end and they seal their legacy. However, if they would, sincerely, acknowledge their wrongs and apologize to their fans – their legacy would include the word “gut” rather than “guilty” as a sincere apology all but erases the i, the l, and the y.
He that visits the sick in hopes of a legacy, but is never so friendly in all other cases, I look upon him as being no better than a raven that watches a weak sheep only to peck out its eyes. – Seneca
What does this mean for the rest of us? Plenty. If you suspect that your legacy would include the word “hothead,” lighten the heck up! If you aren’t sure that you’d be remembered for your generosity, become more generous (but don’t become the sort of giver that resents the giving or gives just to receive pats on the back… you’re missing the boat and the legacy will be just out of reach).
Explorers, athletes, and entertainers who are no longer with us leave behind a legacy that will never leave. So will I. And so will you. Begin, today, crafting one you’ll be proud of. Most importantly, remember the quote by Seneca (above) – don’t focus on leaving your legacy, focus on living your legacy.
Our days are numbered. One of the primary goals in our lives should be to prepare for our last day. The legacy we leave is not just in our possessions, but in the quality of our lives. What preparations should we be making now? The greatest waste in all of our earth, which cannot be recycled or reclaimed, is our waste of the time that God has given us each day. – Billy Graham
If you’ve read Self Help Daily or Out of Bounds for very long, you know I’m a huge fan of older writings. I often publish articles from the distant past and never fail to marvel at their relevance. When I was rounding up my favorite motivational quotes about perseverance for this post, I wasn’t totally surprised to find that one of the best showed up to the meeting straight from 1893. The first quote you’ll find below is from an 1893 play, Mrs. Warren’s Profession, written by George Bernard Shaw.
People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don’t believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can’t find them, make them. – George Bernard Shaw, Mrs. Warren’s Profession, 1893
There is no telling how many miles you will have to run while chasing a dream. – Author Unknown
Perseverance is the hard work you do after you get tired of doing the hard work you already did. – Newt Gingrich
Nobody trips over mountains. It is the small pebble that causes you to stumble. Pass all the pebbles in your path and you will find you have crossed the mountain. – Author Unknown
When the truly great people discover that they have been deceived by the signposts along the road of life, they just shift gears and keep going. – Nido Qubein
Never give up, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn. – Harriet Beecher Stowe
Once you learn to quit, it becomes a habit. – Vince Lombardi
Don’t be afraid to give your best to what seemingly are small jobs. Every time you conquer one it makes you that much stronger. If you do the little jobs well, the big ones will tend to take care of themselves. – Dale Carnegie
Focus: Concentration is the secret of strength.
Excellence is in the details. Give attention to the details and excellence will come. – Perry Paxton
Our life always expresses the result of our dominant thoughts. – Soren Kierkegaard
When you focus on being a blessing, God makes sure that you are always blessed in abundance. – Joel Osteen
I think the one lesson I have learned is that there is no substitute for paying attention. – Diane Sawyer
I never see what has been done; I only see what remains to be done. – Marie Curie
All that we are is the result of what we have thought. – Buddha
Focus on where you want to go, not on what you fear. – Anthony Robbins
Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life – think of it, dream of it, live on that idea. Let the brain, muscles, nerves, every part of your body, be full of that idea, and just leave every other idea alone. This is the way to success, that is way great spiritual giants are produced. – Swami Vivekananda
We can always choose to perceive things differently. You can focus on what’s wrong in your life, or you can focus on what’s right. – Marianne Williamson
Focus on your potential instead of your limitations. – Alan Loy McGinnis
I just try to concentrate on concentrating. – Martina Navratilova
I never did anything by accident, nor did any of my inventions come by accident; they came by work. – Thomas Edison
More Quotes About Focus!
* The breathtakingly beautiful art print at the top of the post is by Brian Horisk. It features one of the most gorgeous, threatened, and misunderstood animals on earth, the wolf.
You can buy the Art Print at AllPosters.com. What a beauty!
Duke Ellington, as far as I’m concerned, is the reason Jazz exists. I wouldn’t want to take anything whatsoever away from the other early jazz greats, but come on…. he was the Duke. Duke Ellington won 13 Grammy’s and wrote over 3,000 songs. He was responsible for one of the most legendary lines to ever come from a song, “It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing.”
Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington was recently honored in a huge and very deserving manner. He will be the firstt African-American to appear on an American coin – he’ll be featured on the District of Columbia’s coin in the line of state coins.
An intelligent, colorful, and stylish man, Duke Ellington left his mark on his country, and the world, with his music, style, and passion for his art. He also left behind some very profound words of wisdom for us, as you’re about to see.
Spend a few minutes with each quote and let it set in. See how each relates to your own personal life.
“Critics have their purposes, and they’re supposed to do what they do, but sometimes they get a little carried away with what they think someone should have done, rather than concerning themselves with what they did.”
“A problem is a chance for you to do your best.”
“Gray skies are just clouds passing over.”
“I merely took the energy it takes to pout and wrote some blues.”
“My attitude is never to be satisfied, never enough, never.”
“People do not retire. They are retired by others.”
“On becoming more acquainted with the word of the Bible, I began to understand so much more of what I had been taught, and of what I had learned about life and about the people in mine.”
“The wise musicians are those who play what they can master.”
“There are two kinds of worries – those you can do something about and those you can’t. Don’t spend any time on the latter.”
And this one may not have much self improvement wind beneath its wings, but I thought it was really cute: “Playing ‘bop’ is like playing Scrabble with all the vowels missing.”
Duke Ellington passed away at the age of 75 in 1974.
Turn your volume up and visit Duke Ellington’s Official Website to learn more about this great man and the impact he had on the world of music. Let the song play all the way through – you won’t regret one tiny second of it. I have the website minimized here on my laptop and his beautiful music and voice are filling my dining room. You haven’t blogged until you’ve blogged while bopping your head and swinging in your seat.
My cat thinks I’ve finally lost it. Wait’ll she sees me sashay over to the coffee pot for a refill.
The postcard at the top of the post (making it a post postcard?) is available in the store of his official website. There are also t-shirts, stamps, a tie, a keychain, and a coffee mug that I must, must have. Click HERE for the postcard. I just get excited about keeping the memory and magic of great people alive. In a way, when we do that, we’re keeping them alive.
When nobody around you seems to measure up, it’s time to check your yardstick. – Bill Lemley
That which we call sin in others is experiment in us. – Ralph Waldo Emerson
We all have weaknesses. But I have figured that others have put up with mine so tolerantly that I would be less than fair not to make a reasonable discount for theirs. – William Allen White
If you judge people, you have no time to love them. – Mother Teresa of Calcutta
Speak not against anyone whose burden you have not weighed yourself. – Marion Bradley
Only God is in a position to look down on anyone. – Sarah Brown
Rare is the person who can weigh the faults of others without putting his thumb on the scales. – Byron J. Langenfield
What we all tend to complain about most in other people are those things we don’t like about ourselves. – William Wharton
How much easier it is to be critical than to be correct. – Benjamin Disraeli
Other people’s faults are like bees – if we don’t see them, they don’t harm us. – Luis Vigil
The less secure a man is, the more likely he is to have extreme prejudices. – Clint Eastwood
Every bigot was once a child free of prejudice. – Sister Mary De Lourdes
Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Matthew 7: 1-3
For more motivational quotes, click the link!
“Whenever you do a thing, act as if all the world were watching.” – Thomas Jefferson
More Motivational Quotes!
Miserable are the persons who do not have something beyond themselves to search for. – Charles L. Allen
