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Along with his supernormal ability to hit a baseball at a high clip, what avid fans of the game remember most about Ty Cobb was the aberrant way he went about his business. Often described as a genetic talent with a brute mindset, it’s possible Cobb’s ruthless desire to perform at an exceptional level on the ballfield outweighed his uncanny hitting skills. Which, for someone who has the highest batting average (.366) in Major League Baseball (MLB) history, is saying something. To get a feel for how bad he wanted to be a star in the big leagues, in the opening chapter of his professional baseball, Cobb spent some time competing in the semipro Tennessee-Alabama League, for a ballclub known as the Anniston Steelers.  As a member of the Steelers, during his moments away from the ballfield, Cobb, in an effort to market his knacks to those with influence, would rave about his play on postcards, and mail the self-promoting letters to Grantland Rice, a renowned sportswriter. To avoid looking like a self-conceited man, Cobb would write under aliases before sending off his notes. After receiving countless messages in the mail from the anonymous Cobb, all about Cobb, Rice eventually gave the young ballplayer a shoutout in the Atlanta Journal, publishing that, “a young fellow named Cobb seems to be showing an unusual lot of talent.” As the world would soon find out, the man behind the pseudonyms, though cryptic with his proclamations, told no lies when it came to his baseball game. However, once he shined under the bright lights, those invested in the product, while heavy admirers of his offensive proficiency at the dish, had much more to discuss than his wonderous hitting. In particular, his savage-like approach to fulfilling his desire to dominate the profession.

Continue reading “Baseball Icons: Ty Cobb”

Sauntering on the streets at the crack of dawn, dinner pail in one hand, and a pick in the other. In the absence of shoes or stockings, a young boy of German descent, Johannes Peter “Honus” Wagner, heads to the coal mines for work. While other kids his age were off at school, Wagner, to help his family keep the wolf from the door, was compelled to discontinue his formal education at the age of 12, and operate alongside his father, Peter, a coal miner. While fast-tracking his way on the path to becoming a subterranean toiler, it has been said that the long, grueling hours took a serious toll on the boy. Yet, to play his part, Wagner stuck with it for quite some time.

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Albeit from the nosebleeds, in 2021, at the Premier Theater, a vast performance hall located inside of the Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut, I checked “See my favorite rapper in concert” off my king-sized bucket list. While the bulk of the audience spluttered with joy, and sang along to the intricate lyrics, I spent my time in a zen-like headspace, locked-in on the performance, hoping to pick up a thing or two from witnessing a master at his craft.

Right before Nas took the stage, all the lights went out. While the place was pitch back, the ‘Take it in Blood’ beat began to echo throughout the area. Right off the bat, I had chills. Seconds later, the illuminants returned, and the legendary hip hop figure arrived on the set. Donning his iconic “QB’ chain, in honor of his Queensbridge roots, Nas began rapping along to the song. He would go on to perform more songs of his platinum selling record, It Was Written, while also mixing in all the classics off of Illmatic. Hearing songs like “The Message”, “I Gave You Power”, “N.Y. State of Mind” and “The World Is Yours”, in person was nothin short of spectacular. As a big fan of his output, I had been listening to these songs for years.  Whether it be in the car, at the gym, or in my bedroom, Nas’ catalog has always brought me immense joy so to get see him perform live was just awesome.

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As an active author, my sole objective with every subsequent story is to create captivating content that is of immense benefit to the consumer. Last year, while pondering over potential new material, and with the aforementioned aim roaming around my mind like a graceful gazelle in a hot, dry desert, I decided that my next literary product would be centered around an activity that I adore. One that, if routinely focused on, can do wonders for your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Continue reading “Functional Training For The Mind”