Adam Wainwright

St. Louis Cardinals' starting pitcher Adam Wainwright was recently diagnosed with a torn ligament in his pitching elbow that will require surgery and end his season days after it started.

I was fortunate to never sustain a major injury that would require surgery. It has to be devastating.

The sad part is that Wainwright didn't make his last scheduled start of the 2010 season because of discomfort in the elbow. The Cardinals had it checked out and there wasn't any problems detected. But, according to a St. Louis Dispatch article, he was apparently worried that something wasn't right and was scared to pitch.

I feel bad for him because I know who much time goes into to preparing for a long baseball season. Parts of almost every day of the off-season are spent getting ready for the long grind - especially of being a starting pitcher.

And to have your season cut short just a week after it started has to be a hard pill to swallow.

But I'm sure Adam Wainwright will resurface. You don't get to become a Cy Young Award candidate without hard work and discipline.

Visit our complete online resource for instructional baseball videos and our free eBook at www.ToTheTopPerformance.com.

Rafael Furcal

In anther story that is flying under the radar when it shouldn't, apparently when Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Rafael Furcal re-signed with the team before the 2009, the Dodgers included a unique perk.

The Dodgers included a clause that would provide Furcal's hometown of Loma de Cabrera in the Dominican Republic with a fire truck.

In a Yahoo! Sports interview, Furcal says "A lot of poor people get killed in my hometown because they don’t have a fire truck. We’re doing something for this little town.”

After an L.A. truck was recently retired, the still-serviceable truck was donated and repainted. The Dodgers will pay to have it transported to Loma de Cabrera as well as have firemen travel there to train the local volunteers.

In a sports world where there are contract arguments over private jets, luxury boxes and massage therapists, it is nice to see both the Dodgers and Rafael Furcal agree to something honorable. 

Visit our complete online resource for instructional baseball videos and our free eBook at www.ToTheTopPerformance.com.

Shannon Sharpe

In staying with the recent Hall of Fame selection theme, Shannon Sharpe redefined the tight end position into what we know it today. Shannon was the first of the new-age tight ends that seem to be too quick to be guarded by a linebacker, but too big to be guarded by defensive backs.

Shannon Sharpe's career spanned 14 season, all but two with the Denver Broncos. When he retired in 2003, he held several records for tight ends, including receptions (815) and yards (10,060), which have since been broken by Tony Gonzalez.

To reach the highest level as Shannon Sharpe did or any professional does in their respective career, you have to be motivated.

Shannon Sharpe said in this interview that he was motivated by two things - cold oatmeal and getting wet when it rained.

Shannon said that when he was growing up, he lived with his Grandmother, who worked at a nursing home. They weren't wealthy and, many times, dinner consisted of cold oatmeal. The home he grew up in had an old tin roof and when it rained, the water leaked inside.

Sometimes, you don't have to be motivated to be the best. I would argue that, although the drive to succeed is powerful, trying to escape real life situations can be more moving. And when you factor in the drive to not only help yourself escape, but the love ones who make sacrifices for you, that may be all you need.

Shannon Sharpe was motivated to become a professional football player so he could to move his family to a home with a stable roof over their head and warm food on the table.

What motivates you?

Visit our complete online resource for instructional baseball videos and our free eBook at www.ToTheTopPerformance.com.