Josh Hamilton: Star Power

On the surface, Josh Hamilton looks like anything but a role-model.  A former alchoholic with tattoo sleeves is not exactly the type of guy moms want their sons hanging posters of, but the Rangers outfielder is the definition of what a sports hero should be.

Last night, Hamilton blasted a Major League record-tying four two-run home runs against a hot Orioles ballclub.  He is the best player on the best team in baseball.  But, it's not Hamilton's arm or bat that separates him from other modern day "superstar" athletes, it's his ability to battle through setbacks.

Off-field stories are usually not a good sign for pro athletes.  Mug shots, infidelity, and over-the-top spending seem more apart of sports culture today than what happens on gameday.  Athletes are celebrities.  The best are groomed to be in the spotlight at an early age.

Josh Hamilton is no different.  His story is well documented.  He was an all-world prospect who flamed out early in his career because of drug and alcohol addictions.  He then turned his life around becoming an annual MVP candidate and leading the Texas Rangers to back-to-back World Series appearances.

But, over the past year, Hamilton's life had a pair of turning points that could have derailed his recovery.  The first came on a perfectly sunny afternoon at the ballpark when he was trying to make a young fan's day by flipping him a ball.  The boy's dad went to grab it, flipped over the rail, and fell to his death.   Hamilton is in no way to blame for the tragedy, but it no doubt weighed on him heavily.

Then, during the off-season just months after his team essentially gave away a world championship, Hamilton relapsed and had a few drinks at a bar.

What he did following that setback was the most impressive showing by an athlete I've seen in quite some time.  He sat in front of the media and took the heat.  He made a mistake and talked openly about it in a press conference.  He didn't try to hide his problem or blame others for his lapse in judgement.  Hamilton stood in there just as tough as he does in the batters box and met the critiscism and concern head on.

Hamilton was voice for millions of others who are dealing with their own form of addiction.  He is a monster athlete who showed he too can be torn down by something bigger.  But, committing to overcome that problem, and doing so somewhat publicly, proved Hamilton is more than just a strong man, he is a role-model.

That was months ago and his demons, I imagine, still haunt him daily.  But, at least on the field Hamilton has cast those aside and is putting together another remarkable season.

He leads all of baseball, both the American and National Leagues, in batting average (.406), home runs (14), and runs batted in (36).

Sports is in an era where its stars are babied and pampered.  Excuses are made more frequently than clutch performances.  Stars tell us how great they are and then often are just the opposite.

Josh Hamilton is different. He talks openly about his flaws and struggles.  He knows his star sometimes flickers, but he is an example of how good can prevail if you accept that life is a constant battle to get better.

Hamilton will go through slumps on and off the field again, that is almost guaranteed.  But, how he has handled all of his setbacks proves in the end he will still be standing and unfortunately for Major League Baseball pitchers, standing tall and strong in the batters box continuing to belt homers near the stars like he did Tuesday night.  That's appropriate, considering Hamilton is as bright of a star as there is today.

Running Through Pain

Pain is temporary.

For the past four months, I have pounded this mantra through my mind, legs, and feet.  I am running my first marathon this weekend and the concept of pain being temporary runs, pardon the pun, deeper than just the physical and emotional investment it's taken to get ready for the race.  

I wanted to feel pain.  I wanted to feel the pain of waking up before the sun on winter mornings and bundling up to get in a few miles. I wanted to feel the pain of feeling my legs gradually give out midway through my longest training run.  I embraced this pain not because I am some kind of masochist, but because I wanted to prove to myself that there is no pain too crippling to overcome.  And, I wanted to be able to use the physical challenges of running a marathon to pass this message along to my little brother, Jayden.

Jayden and me

Jayden is the reason I am running the marathon.  He and I aren't brothers by blood, but I don't know if that would make us any closer.  He and I were matched as part of the Big Brothers Big Sisters program in August 2010.  A year-and-a-half later, he has become one of my greatest motivators.

To say Jayden's life has been difficult would be an understatement.  I won't detail his hardships, but his almost 15 years on this earth have been anything but easy.  He has experienced plenty of pain, pain no run of 26.2 miles can duplicate.

But, all pain is temporary and even though it doesn't last forever, the lessons learned from it can.

Throughout my training I reflected on some of my life's most painful moments.  It's amazing how running can jog your memory.  What I found most unbelievable is that I often thought about the toughest times during the most challenging runs.  When the pain hit its apex, my mind went to a memory that hurt the most.

I thought of my grandfather who passed away last year.  I thought about my biological father leaving my mom three weeks after I was born. I thought about Rasheed Wallace not defending Robert Horry on the inbounds pass in 2005, essentially costing the Pistons back-to-back NBA titles.  I thought about buying an engagement ring weeks before finding out my girlfriend at the time was cheating on me.  And, most of all, I thought about my cousin, Zack.

Sam and Zack

Like Jayden and I, Zack and I were as close as brothers could be.  We did everything as a pair as kids.  We went to camps together, fought, played sports, gawked at girls, and simply talked about life.   Zack was the greatest friend and brother I could imagine.

He passed away when he was just 19 years young.  Saturday's marathon will mark, to the day, the six year anniversary of his funeral.

The pain from that day will forever haunt me and the rest of my family.  I remember the sounds and smoke created by the 21 gun salute honoring him.  I remember watching a procession of Zack's friends and family line up to say goodbye as the Beatles' "Let It Be" played.  I remember watching my aunt nearly collapse as the casket of her eldest son was brought into the church.  I remember watching my other cousin, Zack's brother, attempt to fight back tears because his big brother always told him to be tough.  That was painful.

But, the pain of that day inspired others to be better.  Zack died of a drug overdose while on leave from the Marines.  Zack isn't a martyr, but his story has been used to save lives of others.  Whether it be through the discussion forums held by my uncle, Zack's dad, to encourage other teens to choose a different path or the closer bonds formed within the family after his passing, Zack's legacy remains.  He always wanted to make those around him happy while on earth, but could never exactly figure out how.  Through his death, Zack has opened eyes and hearts and turned pain into positives.

Memories of Zack and the others still sting. But, and I noticed this more than ever while training, I always came out of these painful situations stronger.  During those moments, the pain was unbearable, but learning to grow from those setbacks and not let them deter my progress toward life's finish line makes me appreciate each experience. 

Pain is temporary.

My greatest fear is Jayden not being able to find positives out of his pains.  He is exceptionally talented and unbelievably intelligent.  And, I don't just say this as a proud older brother.  Anyone who meets him feeds off his personality.   This is a personality that needs to shine.  It is one of which hardships should not be able to hold down.

I decided to run the marathon as a way to raise money for a college savings account I started for Jayden.  In three years when he is walking across the podium to accept his high school diploma, officially making him a college freshman, I don't want there to be any financial pains waiting for him.  To even get to that point he will have already had to overcome plenty of hurdles.

I will put my body through probably its most painful experience, Saturday.  In fact, I type this while downing several gallons of bottled water in preparation.  But, once I cross the finish line, I know the pain will be worth it.  Because the experience has made me better and will make Jayden's path to college a little easier and hopefully serve as a vivid example for him that no matter what the obstacle, he can overcome and succeed.

Pain is temporary.  At the end of pain is success.  Success is divine.