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Advice For Players & Parents
Greg Legg
The Bama Bomber
Hartselle, Alabama
The following "editorial" is the result of a very funny post and subsequent thread
about Bubba's Baseball Bashers Bonanza, LLC.
A Southern Recruiting & Showcase Service.
While most high school baseball talent showcases and their directors are honorable and
credible business people, there are those that are only out to make a quick buck.
The following comments are a "MUST READ" for all players, parents and high school coaches.
Bob
Well Bob, I think it's about
time to close this thread and stop this foolishness, but it's been fun. I did
this in jest, hoping to get many of you thinking a little bit. Many of you know
that I am a preacher and have my own financial advisory business. I have seen
more people taken advantage of in my lifetime than I desire to remember, simply
because they did not investigate. I challenge all of you to do your homework and
not send your hard earned money to all the shysters out there looking for
gullible prey. There is some type of recruiting service or showcase popping up
somewhere every week and good hearted moms/dads are throwing money to them with
dreams that this is where Little Johnny needs to be in order to make it to the
"Bigs."
I offer a few suggestions:
- Make sure that this is HIS dream and not YOURS. Dads (or moms) reliving
their glory days, or failures, create nightmares for their children. A sober
dose of reality is needed here. You need to examine whether you are trying to
build your own ego or help your child succeed in HIS DREAM. Get this matter in
proper perspective.
- Have a professional (professional scout / college coach)
evaluate and give you an HONEST opinion of your son's talent. Don't let someone
who looks to make a dollar off you give you his opinion, but one who truly knows
what coaches and scouts are looking for. And, don't be thinned skinned about it!
Leave your ego and pride at home. By doing so it may help you save several
thousands of dollars and spare your child some misery.
- Set realistic goals for your child. Don't put him in a situation where he
is destined to fail. Your ego trip might affect his entire life and mental
health. A little maturity and common sense on your part could save him a
lifetime of misery. Know what he is capable of and encourage him to seek to be
the best he can be at that level. Having a fun and successful career at a small
time school is far greater an experience, than living a life of failures and
disappointments, while looking for the big pie in the sky that will never come.
- Develop a plan to help him succeed at the level he is capable of playing.
There is little use in the small time player (a player who will not play at the
D1/Major D2/Professional level) wasting thousands of dollars at major showcases
and scouting combines to produce national exposure. A wiser decision would be to
send him to local college camps, local showcases designed to provide local
exposure and free local professional tryouts.
- Do your homework. Know what is needed and be well educated in the process.
This website is an excellent starting place and Bob is to be commended for his
hard work to help parents find the information they need to become educated
enough to make the decisions that must be made in your child's future. Don't take
the task lightly expecting someone else to do it for you (HS coach / guidance
counselor / or Bubba. To do so could mean
disaster and future heartache. Take control of the situation like a responsible
parent.
- Investigate. Investigate every showcase, recruiter, school, coach and
program that shows interest in your son. Help him make the right decisions based
on FACT and not fiction. Remember the woods are full of ticks and leeches
wanting to suck the life out of you. "Buyer beware!" Before sending your son to
a showcase ask a few college coaches if they will be in attendance and what they
think of the organization. Before considering a school spend some time speaking
to former players and parents about the coach, the program and their experiences
while there. It could save you some of that hard earned cash and a lot of
trauma.
- Research. Know the recruiting rules. Many of these "Fly-By-Night"
organizations are walking a tight-rope with NCAA recruiting rules. They can
easily be considered an "agent", thus disqualifying your child. The scum want
your money, not your respect! The person who promises to make tapes of your son,
develop a profile, take them to the coach or scout, recommend your son to them
as a qualified player, while taking money from you as payment for his services
has become his agent. BEWARE, there are "vermin" amongst the crowd of folks
watching your son play. They are looking for a one time score (taking your
money) and then could care less what happens to you or your child.
- Take a long-term approach to your decision making. Always look
at what is best for your child's future. A scout once told me, "Be
careful you might get what you are wishing for!" His point being that
your dream may not be in your ultimate best interest. The mature
individual is the one who knows what he/she wants down the road and
not just a passing fancy. Believe it or not, there have been quite
a few individuals who passed up a major league careers because it wasn't
the type of lifestyle they wanted for their family or themselves.
Many drop out of the minor leagues every year, not because they
couldn't make it as a player, but because the lifestyle of the
professional ball player is a rough road. Know what your child wants,
but more importantly what is best for them. Be a mind of reason and
sensibility to them amidst a world of glamour and insanity.
- Help your son prioritize his life. What are the things that are truly
important to him and to your family? Would you rather him win a World Series
ring or have his name be written in Heaven? Would you rather him win a College
World Series or be the Father Of The Year? I'm am constantly reminded of the
fact that most successful people have an abiding sense of the truly important
things in life. Take the opportunity to teach him to live to the important,
rather than the urgent. Baseball careers ALWAYS end, but life goes on into
eternity.
A few of my thoughts for your consideration. As always, In My Humble Opinion.
Consider them for what they are worth.
Greg Legg
The Bama Bomber
Bob Note:
Greg's son Jacob is a left-handed pitcher at the University of Alabama
-Birmingham. Greg is one of the many wonderful websters that have
"been there and done that", but are willing to
come back and share with our new friends. Those
just starting this journey.
Bob
The message board thread that started it all
Bubba's Baseball Bonanza Showcase
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