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Sir Charles of Fairfield

Chris — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 03:21:04 +0000

It was Super Bowl Sunday and I was put in charge of getting the cold cuts for the big game. As I stood in front of the refrigerated case at Sorrento’s Italian Market on Main Street in Bridgeport, arguing with some rabid Jets fan about his obvious jealousy of Tom Brady, I couldn’t help but notice the image that stared down at me through a haze of dust and hanging sopressata. There, up on the wall, was an autographed action shot of the most famous athlete that I knew from boyhood — that famed Indians pitcher, Charles Nagy. And, despite the absurdity of the Super Bowl debate that I found myself in, my mind fixated on the local legacy of this professional athlete.

The October announcement that the Arizona Diamondbacks hired Charles Nagy as their pitching coach was met with enthusiasm, but not surprise here in his hometown of Fairfield, CT. Around here, Charlie Nagy is never far from the popular imagination. He has been a hometown legend since the 80’s and his stature did not diminish with his retirement as a professional baseball pitcher.

Understand, I am not a baseball analyst or an expert in all-things Nagy. His circle of high school friends are still close and have much better Nags stories than I. But, I do know a few things on the subject having been struck out by him as a little leaguer; And, having thrown the football to him when he was my slot receiver in high school.

Being a year my senior, Charlie trained me in the wonderful world of soft ice cream preparation when we worked at the notorious Carvel shop in the downtown traffic circle. The place doubled as THE teenage social hub – back when Facebook’s creator was in diapers.

Having stayed on in Fairfield as a teacher and coach, it is truly amazing to see how much Charles still exerts an influence on this town – even though he has long since departed for the Big Leagues.

Just walk into the lobby of Fairfield Ludlowe High School and you can still see his black and orange flying tigers uniform and (very ugly) matching trucker baseball cap carefully preserved in the school’s Hall of Fame showcase.

You might even bump into his cousin, Mike, a junior on the baseball and football teams. Another cousin, Tom, is two-blocks away, a slugger on the Fairfield University squad.

Get into an argument over a beer at the Horseshoe about youth sport specialization and inevitably, Charles name will pop up. “Back in the day, he played three.” He was a strong rebounder and proficient shooter on the hardcourt. He could play any position (and did) as a football star. I believe he was All-State in all three.

While his athletic exploits included an Olympic Gold Medal, a base hit in the MLB All-Star Game and World Series appearances, the locals in Fairfield know the best part about Charles — something that the Arizona Diamondback organization evidently have recognized as well. The thing that has transcended time and space and made Charles a true legend is his gracious demeanor. The guy is always even-keel. He is so humble and easy-going that people are put at ease – a trait that will serve “Sir Charles” well when dealing with the bullpen of Arizona.

Reader Challenge: What hometown hero do you know who has also remained true to his roots?

Authored by Chris Parisi, www.turfdawgusa.com, February 26, 2011

10 KEYS TO GAME CHANGING PERFORMANCE

Admin — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 12:59:49 +0000

1. Put your goals in writing. Reflect on your goals, both personal and professional. Write down the game plan, otherwise a goal is just a
dream if you don’t put it in writing. Be sure to make your goals SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic & Time bound)

2. Exercise your body. DAILY.
Every day I hear people say “I don’t have time to work out”. My experience has been that the time ”spent” working out is actually an investment
in my productivity later that day. I increase my energy reserves, my focus, improve my mood and create positive momentum in all I do by INVESTING
the time in exercising.

3. RE-Connect
Re-connect with someone you fell out of touch with. Either by phone, handwritten note, email or go knock on their door. Could be a former
co-worker, boss, client or maybe a personal friend or family member. It will remind them you do value them and will help re-expand your network.

4. Exercise your mind. DAILY.
Whether it is personal, professional or spiritual development you need to invest in yourself by reading daily. (Questions to be answered
internally….Name the last book you read? Now answer how long ago that was.) If you are answering in anything greater than hours, consume some
vitamins for your mind by reading daily, even if it is only half a chapter. It is a habit and putting positive messages in your mind will improve
your point of view.

5. Lifelong Learning:
Commit to developing a new skill, whether it is professional in nature (MBA courses), personal (skydiving) or both (golf or social media
training). In this economy, if you are standing still you’re moving backwards. Doing this is both the ultimate comfort zone stretcher and resume
builder. Think you don’t have enough time, the internet allows you to study virtually anything at virtually any hour from your home. Don’t believe
me? Choose the most “far out” concept you can and Google it.

6. Apply a coat of Finish:
Finish something; you can not underestimate the psychological impact of tying up loose ends. Complete a project you have been postponing or
procrastinating on. It is a mental health triple play: satisfying, liberating and energizing.

7. Have a plan, work your plan, have a backup plan.
Map out a game plan to better prepare for this week, this month, this quarter. A group calendar, checklists and quantifiable progress charts
displayed in a highly visible location will help your team move the ball closer to the end zone so to speak.

8. Give Back.
While exercise is good for fueling your body, giving back to the community and believing in the greater good nourishes your soul. What fuels your
passion in life outside the office? Find meaningful community service. Serving on the board of a non-profit cause you are passionate about or
helping to correct a social injustice will add a dimension of meaning to your life which may have been previously absent.

9. Practice Daily Gratitude
– We often get so caught up in the pressures and responsibilities of daily life that we forget one of the most simple and important acts we can
engage in as humans…..giving thanks. Whether it is verbally or in writing thank someone who has made an impact on your life, your family, your
company or your community on a daily basis.

10. Recharge your batteries:
We are more like our technology than we care to admit. Much like our cell phones become sluggish because they have too many apps running, our
personal batteries become drained from the multitude of tasks we both perform and have running through our hard drives. By taking the time to rest
and relax you are in fact adding bandwidth and improving the performance of your own CPU. Shut down all of your technology and invest time daily in
going to a technology free zone. Everyone’s tech free zone is different, some of my colleagues enjoy practicing yoga, some prayer, and others
prefer the lost art of the power nap. Whatever works best for you, go to that place in your mind and defragment your hard drive it will pay
dividends later.

John Brubaker is a performance consultant, speaker and author of the forthcoming book Overtime Victory.

Using a multidisciplinary approach, Brubaker helps teams & organizations develop their competitive edge. He is a 1992 graduate of Fairleigh
Dickinson University with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and he also earned a master’s degree in personnel psychology from FDU in 1993. Brubaker
has completed his doctoral coursework in Sport Psychology at Temple University.

www.CoachBru.com

john@coachbru.com

www.linkedin.com/in/coachbru

On Twitter @CoachBru

BARK LOUDLY.

Admin — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 07:00:07 +0000

How Loud Is Your Bark? We spent a lot of time developing that new tag line. But, what does it all mean? Let me explain: I hate anonymity. I find anonymous letters to the editor extremely cowardly and offensive. I feel that one of America’s greatest contributions has been Individuality and Freedom of Expression. It’s an old school ideal: Stand for what you mean. Be who you are. And, make no apologies. Barking loudly shows a spirit of independence and of confidence that can’t be attained by those caught up in the crowd. At Turf Dawg, we celebrate those rugged individualists who break new ground. This blog is dedicated to them. Use this blog to ROAR.