CJ Gray

[The Real Mike Rowe @mikeroweworks]

Back in 2015, over a two week period, I appeared on Real Time with Bill Maher, and then, on The Glenn Beck Program.

The subject of my conversation with both men was identical. In fact, both men agreed across the board with everything I had to say about the widening skills gap, the obscene cost of a four-year degree, the importance of a skilled workforce, and the profound stupidity of pushing “college for all.” But the response to my appearance on these two programs was also identical, and very instructive. On this page, hundreds of center-right “friends” who claimed to like me very much and support my efforts, rushed to express their disappointment when I posted a clip of my appearance on Bill's show.

“Sorry,” they said. “But Bill Maher represents everything that’s wrong with this country. You’ve lost me forever. Goodbye.”

A week later, when I shared a clip of me with Glenn, my friends on the left reacted the same way.

“How could you”, they cried. "Why would you lower yourself? I expected so much more from you. I'm out of here!”

That’s when I realized that a lot of people who claimed to like me, only meant it if I associated with individuals they approved of. And sadly, the same thing was happening in real life. People I'd known for years were asking me why I would associate with the likes of ________.

This phenomenon has done nothing but metastasize over the years, and today, much of the country has determined that every person we associate with, and every decision we make – from wearing a mask to drinking a Bud Lite to going to a Taylor Swift concert - is a condition of friendship. This desire to weigh and measure every aspect of everyone around us, and then announce our disappointment to the world before cutting them out of our lives is nothing short of an epidemic that’s driving us further and further apart.

@KatTimpf has come to the same conclusion, and writes about it with great humor and thoughtfulness in her new book, “I Used to Like You Until…” I read the book and found myself nodding in agreement with every chapter. In fact, I thought about writing something similar after I left CNN to do a show for FOX, and saw another wave of disappointment ripple through my world. (How could you, Mike??) For Kat though, it isn’t “a ripple of disappointment,” it’s a daily flood, motivated by the simple fact that she works for a company that a lot of people don’t like.

Our entire conversation is here https://t.co/1ifqynfXeL, or on your favorite podcast app, and worth a listen.

The short clip explains why it’s often easier for Kat to tell people she’s an adult film star, than admit she appears on Fox News.

Perhaps I’ll follow her example...

[Matthew Pilewski @KingFish626]

The difference between What you are and what you could have been- is typically the work you didn’t do because of the discipline you didn’t have

[Bill Crawford @BCrawfordComedy]

I’m confused. What metrics are the voters using to determine the DPOY? The only thing Garrett does better than Watt is ripping a player’s helmet off and bashing him over the head with it.

[ESPN @espn]

Marc-Andre Fleury makes history, passing Patrick Roy for the second-most career goaltender wins in NHL history 👏

[Mark Madden @MarkMaddenX]

It is amazing that what used to be the greatest country in the world has to pick its president from b/w two absolute dip***ts.

[Pittsburgh Pirates @Pirates]

REPOST THIS for a chance to win this signed Andrew McCutchen baseball!

[Andrew McCutchen @TheCUTCH22]

@Pirates

[Rod Carew @RodCarew_29]

This man belongs in the HoF. I will not sleep until he is in. Let’s go

[Ben Brewster @TreadAthletics]

Hard throwers don't:
🚫Push off the rubber
🚫Triple extend
🚫Reach with their front hip/leg

Hard throwers do:
✅Hold tension into the back hip
✅Keep a stacked torso + pelvis
✅Maintain back foot connection
✅Hold pelvis closed during linear move

[ICE T @FINALLEVEL]

ICE COLD FACT 💎

[Todd Wolfson @CoachWolfson]

Stop running away from:

• tough coaches
• difficult teachers who challenge you
• a trainer that pushes you
• parents who don’t let you quit

RUN TOWARDS THEM.
The easy route is usually the one in which you don’t grow.

[Jon Beck @CoachJonBeck]

Great leaders separate themselves in the pre-season. Great leaders win conditioning. Great leaders finish every drill/rep/workout. Great leaders do it every single day even when they don’t feel like it. They lead by example & constantly prove themselves to their team & coaches!

[Coach Beede @CoachBeede]

Control the chin = controlling the eyes!

[Baseball Dudes Inc. 🇺🇸⚾️ @BaseballDudes48]

Things that WILL catch up to you:

• Laziness
• Complaining
• Excuse making
• Lying
• High walk rate as a pitcher.
• High strikeout rate as a hitter.
• Ignoring team fundamentals in practice.
• Ignoring weekly individual pitcher and catcher work in practice.
• Your actions not matching your words.
• Not practicing on your own time.
• Thinking you’ve got it all figured out.
• Fear
• Giving up when things aren’t easy.

To name a few…

[Coach the Coaches @WinningCoaches]

"I have nothing in common with lazy people who blame others for their lack of success.

Great things come from hard work and perseverance.

No excuses." (Kobe Bryant)

~ via @BallisPsych

[𝘼𝙡𝙚𝙭 𝙃𝙖𝙡𝙚 😎 @SwagnShades]

Fall Ball Players: Treat it like the Off-Season
Lift at least 3 times a week, do conditioning & sprint work during the week, get your swing/pitching mechanics ironed out.

IF you don't have a schedule from now until next season, it means you're planning to take steps backwards.

[Sports Psychology @SportPsychTips]

Don't hate the game. Hate your work ethic, attitude, and habits. If you want better results, do something about it!

[Pittsburgh Pirates @Pirates]

RETWEET THIS for a chance to win this autographed Andrew McCutchen Topps baseball card in honor of International Trading Card Day! #ToppsITCD

[FOX Sports: MLB @MLBONFOX]

Give Joey Votto his own show. The man is pure entertainment. 🤣👏

(via @MLBNetwork)