I’ve been looking forward this week to learning from my guest blogger, Theo Hassan. He recently joined our L.E.A.D. Center For Youth staff as a Program Coordinator and has quickly made an impact.
I used his pregame stretches this morning before I headed to the gym.
But enough about last week. Here’s our latest chat with Theo.
What’s your favorite quote and how does it help you win at the game of life?
Former professional player Sam Ewing once said, “It’s not the hours you put in that counts; it’s what you put in the hours.” This quote helps me win at the game of life because we cannot be successful if we are in the business of wasting time.
What was your best childhood memory as a teenage baseball player? On the collegiate level?
My favorite memory as a teenage baseball player was getting selected to play for the all-star team in a tournament in Jupiter, Florida. It was an amazing experience. As a collegiate player, winning the SWAC Championship game with Jackson State University as a freshman and sophomore. Two rings are definitely better than one.
What was a typical daily schedule for you as a college student-athlete?
Being in the band at Jackson State University and on the baseball team, my schedule was hectic. My day started at 4 a.m. for band camp/conditioning until 6 a.m. From 6 a.m.-8 a.m., I had baseball conditioning across campus in the weight room. I attended a full 18-credit hour class schedule from 8 a.m.-2 p.m., followed by baseball practice from 2 p.m.-6 p.m.
My day ended after band practice from 6 p.m. -whenever we perfected the drill, which would be around 1 a.m. or 2 a.m.
What’s your definition of a slump and how does a hitter or pitcher get out of it?
My definition of a slump can be summed up in one word: complacency. It goes back to my favorite quote by Sam Ewing, which I mentioned earlier. You don’t have to train for hundreds of hours, just train efficiently.
What’s your go-to hitting drill for the hitters that you coach that are experiencing a slump?
A drill I use to help with hitters experiencing a slump is a simple corner to corner angle toss. This drill trains the batters eyes to recognize and track the pitch all the way to the point of contact.
To help keep your skills sharp, we have introduced a new type of Skill Build—our Virtual Skill Build—where I can help you develop hitting skills anytime, anywhere using anything.
Remember: Intelligence tops being smart.
