Farewell, Kevin Youkilis

Note: Here is a post from a sports blog that myself and my two younger brothers run called When Larry Met Magic. The post is about Kevin Youkilis and his departure from the Red Sox yesterday. I thought it was relevant to A4IA because Youkilis was and is the type of player that any coach would love to have and that any player should try to emulate on a day-to-day basis.

Although necessary, the departure of Kevin Youkilis from his home in Boston is certain to take an emotional toll on Red Sox Nation. A baseball player that all should emulate for his “Dirt Dog”-leave-it-all-out-there-go-hard attitude, Youuuuukkkkk surely has had one of the most storied and successful careers of anyone to don a Sox uniform.

He began his ride with the Red Sox back in 2004 and (kind of) helped vanquish the ghosts of 1918 and the Great Bambino. He was around for the Red Sox second Sox World Series title of the century in 2007, one in which he played a more prominent roll for the World Champs. The following three years (2008-2010) will be regarded as Youk’s best when he hit .308/.404/.560 with 75 home runs. 2010 was a different story, however, when injuries took their toll on the “Greek God of Walks,” as Billy Beane nicknamed Youk back in his college days, and Youkilis mustered only a .258 average with 17 home runs. 2012 will more of less become a story of the emergence of rookie sensation Will Middlebrooks rather than the continued decline of Youk. The contrast between the two could not have been more black and white: “Middlebrooks, it was noted by the Elias Sports Bureau, had put up numbers in his first 40 games -- .331 average, 9 home runs, 33 RBIs -- last accomplished, among players in their first 40, by one Albert Pujols.” Simply, it was only a matter of time before the third base torch was passed to the kid – yet, it happened well ahead of Youkilis’s schedule.

Time will tell if Youk’s steady decline as a Red Sox hitter was due to an accumulation of injuries, advanced age, or simply putting too much pressure on himself. Nevertheless, that should not matter. Like all others of Red Sox lore who have come and gone, leaving with them an undeniably extraordinary mark on Boston Red Sox history and the Green Monster, Kevin Youkilis should not be remembered for his lesser statistics over the past year and a half. Rather, he should be celebrated for his triumphs in a Boston uniform: two-time world champion, two top-ten MVP finishes, a gold glove, 3 All-Star game appearances, and countless more unforgettable moments. I can vividly remember the New York Yankees repeatedly throwing at Youkilis out of hatred, but more out of respect. Rick Porcello of the Detroit Tigers will certainly never forget when, after a bean ball, Youk broke out into a full sprint towards Porcello, hurled his helmet at him, and attempted a takedown. “Take every at bat as if it was your last,” is something that coaches consistently harp on to their players. Teammates, coaches, and fans alike know that Kevin Youkilis took that saying to another level. A fan of professional baseball can’t ask for anything more than that.  

There should be no “smear campaign” for Youk as we saw with Nomar, Mo Vaughn, and Terry Francona. No, Youk’s career in Boston did not end harmoniously, but there is no need to sweep under the rug all his accomplishments. A simple thank you and a tip of the cap in acknowledgement is all Youk would want from Red Sox Nation.

The Red Sox organization will move have moved on as quickly as the time it took Youkilis swiftly hustle out of Fenway Park in the seventh inning of yesterday’s game in Boston during a heartfelt farewell standing ovation. Don’t let him fade away that quickly, Red Sox Nation; he doesn’t deserve to. Here’s to one of the last “Dirt Dogs,” Kevin Youkilis. Thank you. 

Scroll to 2:30 for Youkilis's imitation... Comedic gold. 

Feel free to check out the blog When Larry Met Magic if you are a fan of sports and humor.

The True Values of Athletics

Hello Advocates for Injured Athletes readers. My name is Joe Reilly and thanks to my Aunt and founder of A4IA, Beth Mallon, I have recently decided to begin blogging for A4IA.

Athletics has always been a foundation in my life. From a very young age I was hooked on participating in, watching, and discussing sports – part of this is due to the fact that I grew up with two younger brothers to whom I never wanted to lose (similar to the Mallon boys). Baseball was the sport I was drawn to and I was blessed to be able to compete until I graduated from college in May of 2011 from Sewanee: The University of the South in Tennessee. Although I no longer am able to participate I have found an antidote that is nearly as fulfilling: coaching. After graduating college I accepted a position at the Wesleyan School in Norcross, GA as a Middle School history teacher, and cross country and baseball coach.

Life as a coach is much more than statistics. It is certainly much more than wins and losses, which is something that many coaches lose sight of from time to time. Coaches have the rare opportunity to be a leader, coach, and teacher at the same time. Yes, a coach needs to help his or her athletes improve their physical abilities. Yes, a coach needs to strive for success on the field of play. These are both valid goals of a coach that are included in many job descriptions. However, the true goal of every coach should be something that is not explicitly stated in the job description: the teaching of life lessons. Being able to impart the qualities and values of honor, integrity, humility, courage, grace, and resilience upon your athletes is of the utmost importance as a coach regardless of the level. As an athlete failure is inevitable. How an athlete reacts to this failure is a way in which a coach can measure success. If athletes can make the above qualities a part of their everyday lives on and off the field then a coach has achieved perfection.

Advocates for Injured Athletes mission, values, and goals fall directly in line with this. Our mission states: “To promote sports safety and to provide essential support, education, and resources to help keep athletes safe.” Thus, if that means risking success in the win column by removing an injured player from the field of competition then so be it. “Win with humility and lose with grace,” is the common quote many coaches ingrain into their athletes heads. In order to truly fulfill this quote both coaches and athletes alike must have the ability to make safety and the promotion of life lessons the true goal in athletics. A young man or woman’s general health is more important than one run, one touchdown, one basket, or one win. Thus, the education of safety also becomes a life lesson for all. If maintaining the safety of one’s players’ means losing, then coaches and athletes alike should be able to end the game with their heads held high and know that they stuck to the true values of athletic competition.