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 John has a master’s degree in exercise science/human performance and doctoral studies in applied physiology. He’s formerly certified by the American College of Sports Medicine as a Rehabilitative Program Director and Health Fitness Director. He’s authored a college level text for fitness, wellness and conditioning classes. He’s a former baseball coach and all conference collegiate player. He can be reached jrutig@att.net |
| OK. The Giants and Jets are toast. We’re tracking the Islanders. The Knicks, Nets and Rangers are busy. So what next? AH – spring training for baseball is around the corner. YES – let’s think baseball. The Mets are looking to return to the World Series and banking on their solid pitching rotation. The question of whether the big bats will come alive and put runs on the board is debatable. Everyone has their opinions. The Yankees – they’ve put together a good bullpen combination for middle and closing reliefs and if they stay healthy should have a good starting rotation – so they say. However the aging and health concerns for their million dollars offensive stars are the question marks. They will be heroes if they connect and put up the numbers or bums if they sit to rehabilitate. Imagine getting paid 10 million/year ($61,728.40 per game) and not being able to work. Check that with your employer! So what’s next – your kids playing the game we love. Let’s get the kids ready to play and excel. Who’s the next Stephen Matz to sign a contract from a Long Island High School? If you are interested to learn more about the science of excelling in athletic performance and some baseball facets in particular, then the book – “The Sports Gene’ Inside the Science of Extraordinary Athletic Performance by David Epstein is a must read and…study. His writing and reporting on some qualities like innate physical abilities that elite athletes are supposedly born with (like reaction time, for example) have done little to explain expert performance in sports. He says ‘The reaction times of elite athletes always hovered around one fifth of a second, the same reaction time when random people were tested.” The 10,000 hours rule or as it’s known “magic number of greatness” is reviewed and discussed. The idea that skills are predicated on a person’s innate gifts (have you heard it – boy is he/she a gifted athlete) are often nothing more than the manifestations of thousands of hours of quality practice. So what does it all mean – who really knows? The answer – let the kids have a great experience playing baseball. Give them as much repetition as possible and if possible, they need some quality coaching to work on their skills. Like Cal Ripken says – it’s not practice that makes perfect rather it’s PERFECT PRACTICE THAT MAKES PERFECT. As your family may experience a similar situation, I’m anxious for my left handed 8 years old nephew Jeremy to be a pro player. He loves the game and the players and most importantly practices all the time. My mantra – GO JEREMY GO AND LOG YOUR PRACTICE HOURS!! |
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20 lucky winners will win $500 each in prizes totaling $10,000. 