Suggestion to Bud Selig

By Joe

Just a quick thought today...

I recently heard David Wells suggest that players who fail a test for steroids in the MLB should be immediately banned from baseball, forever. I see what he's trying to accomplish here, although I think it's a little too extreme. While I do think it's an embarrassment to the game, and players should be punished severely, I don't believe that banning players for life is the answer. Nor do I think that owners, or the players union will ever agree to such a harsh and final punishment.

Here's my suggestion. Keep the punishments the way they are now, (I believe it's 50 games for a first offense, and increases every time after) but from now on, first time offenders are immediately ineligible to be on the ballot for the Hall of Fame.

I believe this gets to the root of the problem. Players don't respond to short term punishment, and owners won't allow their investments to be expelled from the game. So attack cheaters where it'll hurt them the most, their legacy. After all, that's why players really use steroids. They want to always be remembered as one of the best. Well, you can't be remembered as one of the best if your jersey's not in Cooperstown.

Another Lazy Summer? Try Again...

By Nick

Summer is here, and for athletes of all ages, it's typically a time to relax -- heading to the beach with friends, barbecuing, working on your tan -- just generally being lazy and enjoying the time off.

However, the most competitive athletes see the summer as an opportunity to gain an advantage on the rest of the competition. While many (if not most) are busy sleeping on the beach, the best athletes are training and preparing for their upcoming seasons.

Now, there are a variety of ways to stay in shape and improve in the off-season. Having a strict, steady workout routine is a great way to make sure that you are consistently building your strength and endurance, instead of leveling off or even declining. It's important to know that no matter how fast and strong you were last season, you can be faster and stronger.

Perhaps even more importantly, though, is to make sure you don't lose your game shape. Athletes know that when you've been away from game situations for too long, you can lose your edge. It's crucial to be actively participating in as many summer leagues and camps as possible. That way, not only will you be learning new moves and plays to use next season -- you also won't have to step on the field or court in the Fall and say "Wow, I haven't played in months. I am really out of game shape."

There are tons of summer leagues and camps around the country, for all sports. Overtime Media's own Reece Pacheco is a member of the New York Athletic Club's Lacrosse team, and had a game this past weekend which we caught a glimpse of, below (Reece is wearing #24):

Naturally, you're bound to notice that in these leagues and camps, some players are still doing only the bare-minimum to stay in shape and stay competitive during the lazy days of Summer. Mark my words, they will be exposed as "out-of-game-shape", when it comes time to start the season. It's your job to play at a higher level. You have to want it.

Reece knows that if he wants to stay at the top of his game, he needs to be on the lax field and working on his game as often as possible. And he's doing it. Are you going to let the summer breeze by? Or will you take the opportunity to gain that extra edge on everyone else?

Persistence

By Joe

While reading today, I came across this quote by author Napoleon Hill. It was one of those quotes that I read, and had to go back and read over a few times. It's about persistence.

"Persistence is the direct result of habit. The mind absorbs and becomes a part of the daily experience upon which it feeds. Fear, the worst of all enemies, can be effectively cured by forced repetition of acts of courage. Everyone who has seen active service in war knows this."

I think everyone can learn something from this. If you want to accomplish something, whether its losing weight, becoming a better free throw shooter, or even breaking a bad habit, persistence is the only way to achieve it. A few years ago, if someone told me to run first thing in the morning I would have laughed in their face. Now, I can't start my weekdays without it.

When I was younger, just starting to play lacrosse, my Dad would force me to use my left hand while having a catch with him. He would stick me in the lefty Attack spot for my PAL lacrosse team. The result, was that I became so comfortable with using my left hand, it became just as strong, if not stronger than my right. Almost 15 years later when I got to college, what was I most known for? The fact that no one knew if I was a lefty or a righty. If I remember correctly, Inside Lacrosse's quote on me as a rising senior out of high school was, "Joe Yevoli - Is he righty? Is he lefty? Yes!" I can even remember teams yelling out "He's all left!" (You idiots know who you are.)

The point is, persistence is the only way to improve yourself, or reach your goals. Read that quote again, and again if you have to. Read it until you fully understand what it means, because this much I'm sure of...

If you don't fully understand it, you will get beat by someone who does.

Got Goals? Make a list!

By Joe

Since starting a company I've found many ways to become more efficient during the day. It's a strange thing because when I was younger, starting my own business always made me think of doing what I wanted to do, when I wanted to do it, and how I wanted to do it. That's not exactly how I'd say my day to day is. You don't realize how much work you actually have to do just to get your business off the ground. When you stand back at look at everything you have to do, its extremely overwhelming.

What I've come to learn over the past year of working at Overtime Media, is the power of making a list. It seems simple, and too small a thing to make a difference. However, I can say first hand, it's an incredibly powerful thing to do.

You can't do everything in a day, nor should you be expected to. So instead of letting all your goals pile up on you, do what I do. For 10 minutes every night before you go to bed, sit down and write 5 things you want to make sure you get done the next day. Throughout the day, cross your goals off the list as you get them done. By the end of the day, when all your goals are crossed off the list, you'll feel a lot better about your day. Plus, you'll know that you got things done.

This can work for anyone, an athlete, a coach, or an entrepeneur. I promise it will make your days more productive, and even more manageable. For example, I just crossed "write a blog post" off my list.

Focus, 24/7

By Joe

If any of you enjoy boxing as much as I do, I am sure that you have at least heard of HBO's show, 24/7. It is a real life documentary of sorts, that follows two boxers as they prepare to fight each other for whatever belt may be on the line.

The most recent 24/7 showcased two fighters from different parts of the world. The challenger from the UK, Ricky Hatton. And the Champion Manny Pacquiao, from the Philippines. I'm writing about this fight not because it was a great one. Anyone who saw it, knows that it lasted just under two rounds. However, it ended with one of the most perfect knockouts I've ever seen. Nor am I writing to provide stellar boxing insight about the in's and out's of the short lived fight. I have never boxed anyone in my life, so I couldn't provide you with anything of the sort. I am writing to discuss something that became very apparent to me while watching the past 4 episodes of 24/7. Something that was extremely prevalent in one fighters regimen, and almost nonexistent in the other. Focus.

Focus is something any athlete can't live without. While watching scenes of Ricky Hatton train, I noticed that in between swinging at the heavy bag, punching the speed bag, or jumping rope, Ricky was constantly making jokes. Stopping what seemed to be a furious workout, to say a dirty limerick, pull his pants down, or discuss things about his favorite soccer club. His trainer, Floyd Mayweather, would constantly show up late to workouts. Rationalizing his tardiness, with the fact that he will punish Ricky even more to compensate. And in between his workouts, there was never any review of his opponent. No mention of Pacquiao's tendencies, or habits in the ring. Overall, the whole training camp lacked focus.

In contrast, the training camp of Manny Pacquiao was totally different. On very rare occasions did I ever see him smiling, or joking around while in the gym. When his sparring sessions became too popular, his trainer Freddy Roach closed off the gym to anyone who wasn't specifically involved in the training process. Even members of Pacqiuao's "entourage" were asked to leave the gym if they weren't helping train the champion. His "off" moments were spent in prayer, or recuperating from the days workout. And his trainers spent the down time reviewing tape of the challenger.

And what was the outcome? A round 2 knockout by Pacquiao, which sent chills down the spine of anyone watching. With just a few seconds left in the second round, Manny connected with a right hand hook to Hattons jaw that, if I can be permitted to quote Rocky Balboa, must have "rattled his ancestors."

The fight was a complete joke. Pacquiao embarrassed Hatton. In the first round alone, Manny knocked Hatton down two times. When it was all said and done, the more focused fighter walked away without a mark on his face. While the unfocused one walked away with his jaw aligned two inches to the right.

I'm not saying you can't have fun while you prepare for your opponent. After all, if you're not having fun, what are you doing playing in the first place? However, you have to realize you have one goal, and one goal only. Destroy your opponent. Learn his every move. Study his every weakness. Leave no question that you are working harder then he is. I heard an athlete saying this on TV the other day. "If you and I get on a treadmill, I'm focused on one of two outcomes. Either you're gonna get off first, or I'm gonna die trying to out run you. I'm not afraid to die trying." As intense as that may sound, I think its something that is missing in many athletes today. Focus on one thing, and one thing only. Doing everything you can to beat your opponent. Be the one with your hands held high in the air at the end of day. Not the one with your teeth in the 3rd row. You won't always walk away without a mark on your face, but hey, ask our CTO Dan Spinosa... chicks dig scars.