I kept this story in my pocket for a long time....
In Pittsburgh, September 15th is Roberto Clemente Day.
Every year the whole organization fans out across the city. It's like Christmas. Roberto's family is there, Vera and the boys.
My first year as manager was 2011. We celebrated. We shook hands and moved on.
We didn't win.
19 consecutive losing seasons.
2012 rolls around. Same day, same celebration. We had another losing season, our 20th consecutive.
After the ceremony, Roberto Jr. walked over.
"My mom wants to talk to you."
We went into the dugout. Me, Vera, and her three sons.
She spoke in Spanish. I played four years of winter ball so I understood enough. She wasn't angry, but she was passionate. And I kept hearing Roberto's number come up.
Roberto Jr. translated.
"My mother wants you to know that there cannot be a 21st losing season. That was Roberto's number. It would be a disgrace to his legacy."
She was staring right at me.
Before I could even think about what to say, words came out of my mouth:
"I promise you, Vera. That won't happen."
Roberto Jr. looked at me and said, "You made my mom a promise. I hope you can keep it."
I said, "I hope I can keep it too."
I didn't tell my coaches. I didn't tell the players. I told my wife. That was it.
The next year, 2013, we broke the consecutive seasons losing streak. Ended it at 20.
On Roberto Clemente Day that September, Vera came walking across that field.
And I probably got one of the most meaningful hugs I've ever received in my life.
The players did all the heavy lifting. I just got the hug.
Some promises are worth making before you know if you can keep them.
@Pirates
We're fully fledged into conference tournament season!
Your one stop place for all links to scores, video, and live stats are here:
https://t.co/eVpIV8ly6E
#D2Baseball
Not only does the 2026 @MLB season begin tonight, today is also #MedalOfHonorDay. No words can properly express the respect we have for you & the thanks we owe every #MedalOfHonor recipient.
During one of the worst losing streaks of my career, our team president walked into my office.
Keli McGregor. One of the best men I've ever known.
He could have come to vent. To question my decisions. To ask hard questions.
Instead, he said: "Cut to the chase, Clint. What's next?"
I looked him in the eye and gave him two words: "Shower well."
The Colorado Rockies were struggling badly that year.
Pregame preparation was solid. Scout meetings, early work, attention to detail. All of it was there.
But at game time, the tires were flat.
I told Keli: the game did everything it could to us today. We just couldn't meet its demands.
Now it was time to reset.
"Shower well" means exactly this:
• Watch the frustration circle down the drain
• Shampoo, rinse, repeat and get the grime of today completely off your mind
• Walk out clean, go home, and actually rest
Leave it at the ballpark. The game is over. There's nothing left to solve tonight.
Keli nodded. Asked if he could share it with the whole organization.
I said sure. And then it hit me. This isn't just for baseball.
Bad day at the office. Grumpy boss. Missed deadline. Traffic on the way home.
You can carry all of that through your front door.
Or you can shower well.
I've never seen a single problem get better because someone dragged it home with them.
The reset is a discipline. Same as preparation. Same as showing up.
Either we win. Or we learn.
The only real loss? When you don't take a single thing out of a hard day.
So tonight, whatever kind of day it was, shower well.
Tomorrow is a new at-bat.
What does your reset look like? I'd love to hear it.
Been at ESPN a long time - this one was an all timer. Before social media, it was as viral as a story can be. I watched it on a tape in the news room. I couldn’t stop watching his teammates.
“You got Pittsnogled”
Kevin Pittsnogle once starred at @WVUhoops and became a March Madness legend.
Now, he’s the principal of a middle school in his hometown of Martinsburg, West Virginia. @KPittsnogle
‼️‼️Nick Saban is spot on!!
For over 30 years I’ve been involved in some capacity with college athletics.
*Leadership development
*Character development
*Culture development
*Purpose development
Perseverance, loyalty, humility, etc….
All of these are about the future of the student-athlete.
In the last 5 years, transfer portal & NIL has shifted the focus from delayed gratification concepts to the “treasure” most immediately at hand —a quick fix, all about me, money mentality.
To do this with virtually no guidelines, the NCAA has proven themselves to be incredibly weak and irresponsible, to put it mildly. 👇👇👇👇