"The Only Thing We Have to Fear is Fear Itself"

2 years ago I wrote a blog about one of the most important skills/attribute any player can have CONFIDENCE!!!!!

http://softballinsider.blogspot.com/2007/04/sixth-tool.html

Confidence is as delicate as an egg for some people as it can be shattered at any time. The truly great players always have confidence.
They pop up, make an error, give up a homer and you can just see that it does not bother them. They exude confidence. They are fearless.

I can see it in certain players eyes :
Some want the ball hit to them (i.e. Micky Pekins/Eric Z/Hector/Cabezza),
Others want to hit in a big spot (i.e. Gilberto Gonzalez/Butchy),
Certain pitchers want the ball (i.e. Murphy, Lou Gonzalez/Fran).
Whatever the case, as Eminem says "success is their only motherfucking option, failure is not". Great players have confidence all the time, lesser ones have it sporadically.

The biggest factor that erodes Confidence is Fear. I'm not talking about being afraid of getting beat up, robbed, or laughed at, I'm talking about Fear of Failure. Fear of Failure can either push you to play/perform harder or burn you up alive and cause you to freeze, press, and get tight. Once the latter happens, its a wrap - you are done.

At times in the past, heck even now sometimes, I've been afraid to fail. I've seen it in many other players. It's only "natural", but it is a counter productive "natural" that must be conquered. What gets me is that people are afraid to admit they are afraid. It's a man ego thing. We always want to prove ourselves and never admit weakness.

In the end, it all comes down to what FDR said so eloquently at his 1st Inaugural address

"The Only Thing We Have to Fear is Fear Itself"

Believe that !!!!!!- ghetto ending but so true

The Wizard

Saturday Central Park Softball Commissioner Steve Jimenez, http://www.centralparksoftball.com/ has a new glove.

Top Ten Reasons Steve has the word Merlin on his new glove

10. Merlin was a magician

Steve considers himself a magician on the mound

Steve is an open pitcher (non-modified) and he has his days where he makes bats disappear, but he also has his days that you wish he would disappearl. Whether you agree with him or not he has softball love.

9. To make everyone happy, a commissioner will speak like a Wizard. That is, they speak in riddles and let people figure things out on their own

8. He Longs to emulate the true baseball wizard Ozzie Smith on the field

7. The Wizard of Oz was his favorite movie growing up

6. He finished 3rd in a Dungeons and Dragon Tournament in 1985 and is obsessed with wizards

5. It's all part of the master plan for Softball domination

4. If he ever loses his glove the person who finds it will have no problem locating him I mean everyone knows who Merlin is of course

3. Don't hate ... he's got style

2. There is no explaining the very personal intimate man-glove connection. Its a relationship that transcends words and takes years of trust. If Steve is freaky enough to give a glove a name, then will who am I to judge.

and the Number One Reasons Steve has the word Merlin on his new glove

1. ?????????

Thinks the Wicked Witch of the West got a raw deal in OZ a

Rubbing Elbow With Celebrities at CitiField

The Mets may still suck but at least we now have a beautiful new stadium ... CitiField !!!!!!!!!!! On my visit to the ballpark I was expecting to just watch a game but to my surprise I ran into the King of Pop Michael Jackson and the star of Con Air Nicholas Cage


AKA softball players Issac "Gubi" Delgado and Alex "Con Air" Goldman


Gubi's Michael Jackson jacket made him an instant celebrity Some people even thought he was Eddie Murphy doing his Delirious standup routine

and I was part of his entourage as groupies were loving us
(fyi - Astrid "Mrs. Top Ten" approved this picture for blog purposes)

Anyway, The King of Pop wanted the Mets to follow his advice and ....

but with the Met pitching being what is most loser Met fans like me were ready to jump off the center field bridge by the 5th inning



As for the stadium it is simply Awesome



The Jackie Robinson rotunda is very cool

The Score board is amazing and if your standing on the long lines waiting for food you can even watch the game

As you can see the King of Pop has no VIP privileges anymore as he had to wait on a long line to buy Blue Smoke barbecue (highly recommended).

Yankee Stadium is next on my list, even though I may have to miss a month's mortgage payment to go.

Holler!!!!!!!!!!

RIP, 1040 and SB

It's April 16th, one day after the Tax deadline. I'm writing this blog one day too late, but I hope you got your taxes in on time or Uncle Sam

will be knocking on your door wanting his money!!!! "Bitch Betta have my Money!!!!!!!!!! They say that Death and Taxes are the only sure in life, but I disagree I think Softball should be grouped in there as well.

Top Ten Reasons/Factors that prove Softball should be grouped in as a Sure thing along with Death and Taxes

10. Inevitability Factor - all are subject to deadlines

Death - Unless your the immortal superhero Thor everyone has their time , without exception

Taxes - To live in a "free country" you better pay up by April 15th
Softball - After Winter, must come spring and with spring "hope springs eternal" for all softball players

However, an actual softball game has one huge advantage over Death and Taxes in that time is irrelevant. You have to get 21 outs. If it takes you 3 hours or 45 minutes, you have to get those outs. Except in a Mercy of course. If your league has a game time limit then the commissioner should be killed and/or fined like in death and taxes.

9. Bottom Line Factor
Death - When it happens it's a wrap homie so enjoy your time now
Taxes - Pay what you owe or give the country an interest free loan and ask your accountant "How much you getting Back" at the end of the year
Softball - Your judged by your wins and losses



8. Comeback Factor
Death - many people believe in an after life
Taxes - File an extension and you can pay later
Softball - "It ain't over till it's over"


7. Signature factor
Death - Someone signs a Death Certificate
Taxes - You sign your tax return
Softball - You sign a contract, insurance form, roster, and if Mr Johnson is the umpire you will probably sign your score sheet so that a protest can be reviewed but never approved



6. Cheater Factor
Death - everyone tries to cheat death



Plastic surgery, Cryogenics, special diets, drugs. In my favorite TV show Lost they always say that the universe has a way of course correcting itself. I guess it goes back to the depressing inevitable thing again.
Taxes - Lots of people "Cheat" on their taxes so as to maximize their $$$
Softball - Wringers, bribes, paying players, and manipulating officials is no holds bar in softball.


5. Peace Factor
Death - everyone always talks about finding peace before they die.
Taxes - Your happy this shit is over with and you find peace in it.
Softball - Peace in softball is difficult to find b/c of the stress factor. At the very minimum try an find joy in playing and competing otherwise you'll never find peace and it will not be worth it.


4. Dishonor Factor
Death - Death before Dishonor is any true warriors motto
Taxes - If you get caught by the IRS they will drag you through the mud
Softball - Better to lose on the field , than win by forfeit


3. Unpredictability Factor
Death - you don't know exactly when your gong to kick the bucket
Taxes - Until you sit down and fill out your tax form you don't know how much you owe.
Softball - is like Disney World, Anything can happen and it usually does


2. Complication/Age Factor
Death - people associate advanced age with Death. It is only natural
Taxes - the older you get the more complicated filing you return gets
Softball - Unless your a late bloomer, the older you get the most likely your skills erode. Also, as you get older you get more responsibility and complications like work and family make softball tough to squeeze in.


and the Number Reason/Factor that proves Softball should be grouped in as a Sure thing along with Death and Taxes


1 Heartache factor
Death - no explanation necessary
Taxes - No one likes to pay the Man. No one.
Softball - Walk off losses stick in your craw forever

Clinton Park - 54st Fields UPDATE

written by SBI investigator - Juan "blondie" Moreiras

Believe or not, the Clinton field renovation seems to be close to completion. Converting this park to to turf was a much needed evil. Of course grass is better, but this field was horrible and downright dangerous. We know the Parks Dept doesn't care about any grass outside of Central Park, so turf was the right choice. I think this is going to revitalize the leagues and we should see some better competition this year.

The layout is pretty similar, 2 softball fields and one baseball field. However, there is only one field with dirt cut-outs around the bases. This is the field closets to 54th and tenth. Not sure why they did this - you'd figure the Baseball field should have some dirt? The other notable difference you'll note is that this field has been moved out (away from the dugouts) about 10 ft. They also installed a "misting" pole near right field (wtf?). I guess its so the RFielder can keep cool between innings. The dugouts are new and look great.


There is some bad news for the Yorkiville umpires - these fields are properly MEASURED! Yes, the party is over for those umps who used to make home to 1B 90ft so game would go faster. For years we argued about the base distance and they always ignored us. No mas!

Unfortunately, all the parking along 54st has been replaced by bus parking

Hopefully the park will be ready "Spring 2009" as the sign says...