Jim Loria / Sports Career Mentor

Greetings! This week I am recommending you watch the video link posted below in this piece that features Kobe Bryant  which was shot back in 2018 when he was visiting Shanghai, China. He offers a fascinating perspective on how he steered himself in a direction to help him achieve his life-long ambition! In this video, Kobe also speaks about his Five Pillars needed to succeed in sports or in life. They are… BE PASSIONATE… BE OBSESSIVE (about ‘Attention to Details’) … BE RELENTLESS … BE RESILIENT … BE FEARLESS . As you watch, Kobe will probe you with the following thoughts: * What do you value most? What’s important to you? * Are you making consistently good choices? * What would make you work harder and longer than everyone else? * Do you constantly source motivation in order to achieve your goals? * Are you confident in your ability, irrespective of other’s opinions? * How do you respond to setbacks? You’re at that stage of development now where you need to invest in your body, m...

Greetings! With this piece, I want to rattle off some small college names…. Mississippi Valley State , Jackson State , Metro Community College , Davidson College , Weber State University … each of these institutions won the Lottery many years ago when Scouts for the supposed Big Boy Schools decided these high school athletes didn’t have the makeup to gain a D-1 scholarship. Each player has either gained access to their sports league Hall of Fame or will be soon? This list includes the names of Jerry Rice , Walter Payton , Albert Pujols , Steph Curry and Damian Lillard . The emphasis of this piece is to remind you that your skill set is not dependent on having to play with a juggernaut type of program? All it takes is one ‘set of eyes’ to change the course of your destiny – during a game or at a practice session! This story will lend credence that rankings do not make a player? Four years ago, this high school basketball player couldn’t even get a scholarship offer? He was seen a...

Greetings! If you ever sat in a kitchen and watched someone put together the ingredients that make up a meal, chances are you might not find it as appealing as the finished product that comes out of an oven. Same holds true with us humans! Look at Dwayne Johnson as my example for this week. You may know him as "THE ROCK” from wrestling fame or for his acting in movies? I was most recently admiring his work when watching his 2017 hit movie JUMANJI “Welcome to the Jungle” for the first time. Dwayne's big wrestling moniker was always: "Can You Smell what THE ROCK’S been Cooking?" I want to now give you some of his ingredients that were somewhat nasty and very spicy but turned out to be a pretty big hit!   Dwayne was moved around continuously as a child because of his father’s work in pro wrestling. The family was living in Hawaii during his teenage years where his life was starting to spiral out of control. Between the ages of 13-17, Dwayne was arrested several ti...

  Greetings! I wanted this week to bring you a story just to make you think? What will your true purpose be one day beyond the days you put aside your uniform? This person is one of my heroes in life! He is Pat Tillman , a former MVP of his college football team. Defensive Player-of-the-Year in the NCAA Pac-12 Conference. Former Pro Bowl player for the NFL Arizona Cardinals where he set their record for most tackles in a season.  At the age of 25 back in 2001 and just entering the prime years of his life, Tillman became the enduring symbol of selfless patriotism. He stunned the sports world when he walked away from his NFL career, passed up a salary paying him (then almost) $4 Million a year to trade in uniforms and the fame, comfort and riches to become a soldier and enlist in the U.S. Army for three years. His starting base pay would be $1,290 dollars per month.  Right after America was attacked in 2001, Tillman started to think how unimportant playing football sudde...

Greetings! With Michael Jordan  capturing a lot of the news with his  ESPN Documentary (The Last Dance) that was released beginning in April, 2020, I wanted to educate you about the famed #23 from the Chicago Bulls in case you did not tune into any of ten-part award-winning series.  Back in the late 80’s and through the 90’s, Michael Jordan dominated magazine covers unlike any other athlete and television commercials too thanks to his work as NIKE’s top spokesperson. He was so synonymous with sports, with winning and was seen as perhaps the most famous person in our country, if not the world? Some saw Jordan as a five-tool killer on the court. For more than a decade he was the FACE of the NBA. In the history of sports, Jordan’s name would easily rank at or near the top of any list along with the likes of Muhammed Ali , Babe Ruth , Jim Brown , Jim Thorpe , Wayne Gretzky and Pele only as his competition. Through all of this, Jordan did not make his high school varsity tea...

  Greetings! For this piece, I want to bring you a story of Hope. We all need that four letter word in today’s unsettled world. This one doesn’t start off too well but shows what you can do when you truly focus on yourself and not let anyone clutter up your mind? This is about an athlete who once was the talk of college football. Considered the most dangerous player on the field no matter the position! A player that got so big, so fast, he once proclaimed himself to be "the President of Baton Rouge, Louisiana!”  Meet Tyrann Mathieu , a player chosen as the Best Defensive Back in his sport and a Heisman Trophy Finalist – all as a Sophomore back in 2011 at LSU . Then his world collapsed. Kicked off the football team. He was deemed out of control. Failing life as they would say. A player who simply lost his way? After his dismissal, he would enter a drug rehabilitation program in Houston, Texas. Once out, he was arrested on drug related charges. It took a year where the sport of ...

  Greetings! During these unsettling times, this particular piece is a story of inspiration. It is an important reminder to "Value the Life" you've been given. That every day is a Blessing no matter if you're bored because of possibly being sheltered inside for now or not? Take time to read this special piece OK?  --------- "I believe we all have opportunity. It’s always there but most people don’t see it until something happens” – stated by retired Army Sergeant Rick Yarosh My story takes place in Iraq on Sept, 1, 2006, a day that changed the life of Sgt. Yarosh entirely – both in physical appearance and emotionally.  It was on a day when he and two of his fellow servicemen were patrolling an area of Baghdad inside their army tank when a roadside bomb exploded. The fuel tank blew and quickly engulfed the tank into flames spreading all over Sgt. Yarosh's body. He was lucky to make his way out of the hatch and jumped blindly to the ground (it was a fall of ar...

Greetings! For this piece, I am going to talk to you about the ABC’s of Life --- they are the very beginnings of the Alphabet you first learned as a child and now these same letters formed into words will ultimately be what propels your career and helps you achieve your Dreams! Your ABC'S of today stand for ATTITUDE + BELIEF + CONFIDENCE! The ABC's are what sets you apart in any sport. Take my Baseball analogy as an example.  .... Batting first, it’s “Attitude” . The perfect leadoff hitter. The guy that will stand in there and take whatever pitch (life throws at him) and finds a way to get on base. Next up is “ Belief” . He’s the one that knows he might have a few shortcomings but what athlete doesn’t? He is the person that has never doubted his skills no matter the competition. He will not let anyone from the outside world define him (be it labeling from pro scouts or negative social media chatter) other than what he feeds to himself and that’s positive energy. Up third, t...

  Greetings! Here are some very motivating quotes. Enjoy and keep Investing in You always! My best! Jim ------------------------------------ I once saw this posted on a sports team locker room doorway. The sign said: Where you’ve been? NOT GOOD ENOUGH! Where You're Going? IT'S WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT! ------------------------------------ "It doesn't matter who you are, where you come from. The ability to triumph begins with YOU. Always!" – stated by Oprah Winfrey -------------------------------------- “Life is not easy for any of us. We must have perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted for something and that this thing, at whatever cost, must be attained!” – authored by Marie Curie , Polish born and first person ever honored with two Nobel Prizes. ------------------------------------ "The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. But i...

Greetings! This week's talk is my fatherly advice to file away when it comes to the day you are choosing your next level team to play for or when the time comes where you can move around to another sports team organization? First, you should always consider your personal strengths and how they will fit into the system of the new organization you plan to join? How about the coach or manager? Do you know much about this person’s personality? Is the human relationship important for you to be able to relate to this individual on a daily basis or does that not matter? Are you okay with a strict disciplinarian and someone that never smiles? Or a smart, teaching type of a coach who you can see cares about you as a person away from the game? How about understanding what the city’s fan base expectation is with their players? Some places demand your attention 24/7 and can suffocate your personal life? What about the stadium’s dimensions? Does your game translate better or worse at the new ho...

  Greetings! For this piece, I want to share a very personal story that has a special motivational message. This how I proposed to my wife! When I was 26-years old, then in my second year working in the National Hockey League for the Washington Capitals , a young lady (Wendy) from Minneapolis, Minnesota, wrote a letter to our PR Department in August of 1981 addressed to no one in particular. She was seeking advice on how to get into sports journalism. I answered her letter and offered up feedback. That is how we were first introduced. She was 21, a senior in college. I was 26. Within a month after the first letter, we enjoyed one lengthy long distance (by pay phone) call followed by six months of everyday letter writing telling each other about ourselves and dreams until we would finally meet in person. Within a few weeks of our first meeting date on Feb. 13, 1982, we would go outside on the same night at the same time to make a Wish to the Stars and mailed it to each other. We agr...

Greetings! I was reading a magazine and the article spoke about LeBron James and the methods he's applied to his daily training regimen and personal life that I want to share with you below. 1) He spoke on the importance of developing Mental Mastery (aka your Mindset as we have spoken about many times in the past). 2) You have to prepare for success. It's not just based on one's talent. 3) You have to ensure athletic recovery every single day. Take care of your body. LeBron went on about the importance of keeping your focus. On the subject of Mental Mastery, he said: "Succumbing to Emotion takes you off of your game and blurs your sightline to the goals at hand. The more centered you are, the more focused you will remain." "Treat every day like it's a game that matters. You have to prepare your body and your mind. It’s about having a champion’s mindset and recognizing that to be successful, it's actually the preparation that matters in order to help ...

Greetings! This week I wanted to send you inspiring quotes below to continually emphasize the importance of Winning over your Mind! It is so needed to help you overcome the many doubts that can seep into your head during the playing season and sap your energy levels needed to battle through the daily grind. All the best! Jim ----------------------------------- “I believe the single most significant decision I can make on a day-to-day basis is my choice of attitude. It is more important than my past, my education, my bankroll, my successes or failures, fame or pain, what other people think of me or say about me, my circumstances, or my position. Attitude keeps me going or cripples my progress. It alone fuels my fire or assaults my hope. When my attitudes are right, there is no barrier too high, no valley too deep, no dream too extreme, no challenge too great for me” – stated by Charles Swindoll, a current day author and educator ------------------------------------- “Legends are forg...

  Greetings! This is a story that has two meanings. The first: It's not always about who gets the most playing time on your team. As I’ve said many times before, it’s what you do when you get the Call! This player I am introducing to you is Josh Jacobs , a running back in football. During his college career at Alabama as an example, he carried the ball just 85 times as a freshman, 46 times as a sophomore and 120 times as a Junior. I happened to watch every one of his games on TV. I am not a professional scout but if an NFL club called me, I would have said this player made every one of his rushes count. You could see effort, grit and ability. Many would have complained about their playing time. This player just gave his all when his number was called. Despite those few minutes, the Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders still chose him in the First Round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He went on to reward their belief in him by breaking the team’s rookie rushing record (1,316 yards). Now what makes ...

Greetings! With Russell Wilson in the news after helping his Seattle Seahawks advance to the 2019 NFL Playoff tournament, I wanted to share this true-life powerful message. It is a story on what inspired Wilson to choose the University of Wisconsin when he was cleared by the NCAA back in 2011 allowing him to transfer from North Carolina State where he had enough credits to graduate early but still had a year left of football eligibility.  At the time, what confirmed Wilson's decision to select Wisconsin, came on his recruiting trip where he was brought to a CEMETARY. This unique get-together was organized by Aaron Henry , the Badgers’ co-captain and starting defensive back. Henry had also brought along the team's other captains to share in this experience.  Henry found a certain tombstone in this cemetery and asked Wilson and his other team leaders one simple question as they all stood before the gravesite: “FELLAS, HOW DO WE WANT TO BE REMEMBERED FOR OUR CAREERS WHEN THAT...

  Greetings! This is not going to be a glamour story about the newly-named College Football Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow . Rather, I am focusing for you about the GRIND it took for him to get where he is today… the No. 1 Draft selection by the NFL in 2020. Let’s go back in time. For the three years prior to Joe’s arrival at LSU , he pretty much sat on the bench at Ohio State . Burrow admits now that he was underprepared for quarterback play at a major college football program coming out of high school. “I wasn’t ready to play at all, and everybody knew it,” he says. “It was hard to realize that you’re not as good as you thought you were?"  Today, Burrow will tell you that those early years at Ohio State were “years of quiet development.” Initially he was told by his coaches that for him to be able to get on the field, he needed to re-work his entire throwing mechanics. Two areas of concern were quickness on releasing the ball and the velocity.  Every day after practi...

  Greetings! Below you will see three terrific quotes authored by some prominent football coaches that applies to every athlete regardless of sport. Jim --------------------------- "It doesn't matter how you get here in life. It matters when you do get here, do something about it" - stated by LSU Head Football Coach Ed Orgeron, who led the Tigers to the 2019 NCAA Division I Championship after a few disappointing seasons with other school programs -------------------------- “It's not what your capable of; It's what your willing to do. I know plenty of people that are capable; I know fewer that are willing" - stated by Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin ------------------------- Here's one of my favorite Quotes that I have never forgotten … "IT IS HOW YOU SHOW UP AT THE 'SHOWDOWN' THAT COUNTS," stated by Homer Norton , Head Football Coach at Texas A&M who led his team to an 11-0 record, Sugar Bowl Victory and National Ch...

Greetings! With this story, may it serve as your reminder why you SHOULD NEVER GIVE UP or STOP BELIEVING IN YOUR FUTURE when things do not go as promised or if you are battling through the setback of an injury or a personal issue? Look at the career and life of Frank Gore , a football player. He had to overcome numerous hardships in the first 24 years of his life. He grew up on welfare in a rough neighborhood in Miami, Florida. He was the son of a single mother who suffered from kidney disease and started dialysis during Gore’s junior year in high school while Frank struggled with dyslexia as a child. During his collegiate football career, he tore his right ACL after his freshman season at Miami (FL) and the left ACL during his sophomore season. Despite the skills that he showed out on the field at running back, Gore slid down to the third round in the 2005 NFL Draft. Determined to prove the draft experts wrong, he would rush for 2,300 yards in his first two NFL seasons in San Francis...

Greetings! I recently found one of my most cherished keepsakes - a Civilian Medallion (pictured above) - that was given to me many years ago from the United States Navy Seals after working on a special project with them through my sports team.  Once during my sports management career, I brought in some retired Navy Seal members to work with my (16-20-year-old) hockey players for a day. It was a fascinating experience. I want to share with you what they preached to my players: 1. THE ONLY EASY DAY WAS YESTERDAY. 2. GET COMFORTABLE BEING UNCOMFORTABLE.   (JIM: Yes, the more you embrace these words, the wider your comfort zone will become. It can boost your confidence and provide you the tools to face head on those tough “Big Game Moments!” I remember one of the Navy Seals told me that those who succeed to the fullest are the ones that "embrace the parts that suck!") I once shared the story with players that the swimming coach for Olympic Champion Michael Phelps, used to me...

Greetings! Before you are a few quotes below that will hopefully influence you to look at life differently as you progress up the ladder in your career other than just being known as an athlete?  Sending my best! Jim  ----‐------------------------- "If you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things better for people coming behind you and you don’t do that, you are wasting your time on this Earth” – stated by Roberto Clemente , the great humanitarian and legendary Hall of Fame Baseball player, who died in a plane crash while taking supplies to survivors of an earthquake in Nicaragua a year after leading the Pittsburgh Pirates to the World Series Championship in 1971 ----------------------------- “WHEN I PASS AWAY AND IF ALL I’M KNOWN FOR IS JUST BEING A ‘FOOTBALL PLAYER’, THEN I FAILED IN LIFE” – stated by Reggie White , an NFL Hall of Famer and one of the greatest pass rushers ever to play the game of football ----------------------------- "It is not the cri...

  Greetings! This piece touches on some of sports Core Team Values that I believe will help shape your Mindset that plays such a key role in your game-day performance. Some of my favorites are as follows: * The Value of Individual Responsibility & Accountability * The Value of Unconditional Dedication to Excellence in your Training & Game Preparation * The Value of Ongoing Improvement * The Value of Honesty & Integrity * The Value of Being a Good Teammate ------------- “Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm” – stated by Winston Churchill, one of the greatest wartime leaders in the past century ------------ “It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves” – stated by Edmund Hillary, one of the world’s greatest explorers ------------ “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent” – stated by Eleanor Roosevelt, First Lady of the United States in 1933 ------------ “To achieve success, first you have to suppress negative emot...

  Greetings! I wanted to bring to your attention as a friendly reminder that in today's climate, an athlete can lose their ability to play just by using poor language or posting an inappropriate photo on their social media pages.  For example, a Junior Hockey League in Canada  suspended one of its players for the rest of the 2020 season over a Social Media Video using poor language.  Never forget the human element and how much you can either up your Value as a Prospect or possibly lose Millions and a Career altogether by one foolish post.  You are the CEO of your BRAND and IMAGE you wish to portray at this point in your career? How you write, what you say, what photos you permit to be seen (and situations you’re seen in) on social media sites can be viewed by the professional sports leagues and unfortunately many are showing their fan bases that they will not put up with any type of public outburst or defiance from a player.  In today's world, your Social M...

Greetings! Know that every day in this world, someone lets an Opportunity slip away through various reasons or missteps.  Below are simple reminders to help keep you focused on yourself and future.  Jim Loria  * Make Opportunities Count.  * Make your Future a Priority - Now.  * Make your Game Heard.  * Make a Change when you have too many Distractions.  * Make Peace with your Mind Every Day.  * Make sure to Live with No Regrets.  * Make sure you are Ready at All Times for the Unexpected! * Start Unknown. Finish Unforgettable! ###  

Greetings! For this piece, you will find some very uplifting messages to help keep you on your game! All the Best! Jim ------------------------------------------- "True success is one of our greatest needs. Success is not something you stumble onto or come to by accident. It is something you must sincerely prepare for. Take a good look at successes, and you’ll see the same consistent qualities all the time – qualities of one’s character that make one strive for a goal with a standard of unmatched excellence” – stated by Reggie Jackson , one of baseball’s all-time greats and Hall of Fame member ------------------------------------- “If I could get the ear of every young man but for one word, it would be this; make the most and best of yourself. There is no tragedy like a wasted life--a life failing of its true end” – stated by T.T. Munger , a Pioneering Research Scientist from the early 1900’s ------------------------------------ "Confidence is only born out of one thing – dem...

Greetings! After giving a speech at a local college business class about "Leadership", I wanted to share some of the key points we spoke about.  1. Keep Your Word. Don't make promises you can't keep. 2. Be Fair to All members of your Team or Work Place. 3. Be a Good Communicator. You don't need a commanding voice to be a good leader, but you must be willing to step out front. 4. Set The Example. Provide Inspiration. 5. Be Consistent. Nothing is more confusing than a Leader who is one way one moment and another way a short time later. 6. Be the person others choose to follow. 7. Make your Teammates or Staff Members feel important and appreciated. 8. Behave Ethically. 9.  Care and act with Compassion. 10. From the first U.S. President George Washington on his idea of leadership: "First you listen, then you learn, then you help, and only then can you lead." Jim Loria

Greetings! This is a reminder that regardless if you are or not getting a lot of playing time today (or file away for the future), that when you get the Call, You have to always be Ready! Know that Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers , arguably the two best players in the NFL today - and certain Hall of Famers when their careers come to an end - both had to sit on the sidelines before opportunity came calling. Brady waited two years in New England; Rodgers threw a total of 59 passes in his first three years in Green Bay. Each ultimately got their break and capitalized on it.  Perhaps sports’ greatest story of opportunity took place on June 2, 1925. It was the day the New York Yankees dressed a 22-year-old rookie by the name of Lou Gehrig and put him out on first base. At the time, he had only “38” official at bats on record in the Major Leagues. Wally Pipp , then the mainstay at first base for the Yankees, was in his 11th Big League season and batting near .300 when he decided to sit o...