Get into the Game of Life!

Baltimore Oriole Manager, Earl Weaver

Farewell Earl....
You are still in the Big Game!

As a kid, I did my homework on the counter in my parent's bathroom---and listened to the Baltimore Orioles and heroics of skipper Earl Weaver.  Last week, he died at age 82 while on a baseball theme cruise!  Mark these words.  Weaver always found his way into the game that he loved.  Can the same be said of us?

For years, Weaver tried and tried again to play big league ball but quit in 1960.  He hung around the game, made his connections and he was hired by Baltimore in 1968. He won 3 American League pennants and a world series.  The big deal for Earl is that he found where he could contribute and boy did he contribute.  Where do we do the same?

Earl was a fiesty competitor.  How about the time in the minor leagues when he charged the opposing dugout, lost his footing and separated his shoulder?  He argue in the most polite ways while kicking dirt on the umps' feet.  The real spirit was his love of the game -- and nobody ever doubted that he put his all into everything.

One thing about Earl that made him stand out.  This was long before Moneyball.  He played the averages. Statisticians kept records on everything.  He made decisions based on the odds.  He went by the numbers.  However, there were bold times when he won big games because he just went with his gut.  He knew the game that well.

Earl said that his epitaph should read:  "Here lies the sorest loser!"  One announcer said--"I will never look at an oriole and know that a feather is missing."  We should say--"Earl, if only we knew what we wanted out of life as much as you and had the passion to go after it."  

"Let each of you look to where you can make your 

greatest contribution and go do it."  

Master of Trinity from Chariots of Fire