Being a Tiger, Eating like Big Mac

Doug Glanville: Lessons from the Times

I know it is hard to see what has happened to some of our most famous athletes in the last couple of months. As if the drug investigation into baseball (Mitchell Report) didn’t expose enough about the greed, insecurity, and rampant drug culture in baseball, now we are looking at athletes that broke records or are knocking on record doors and wondering why their lives are such a mess.

Mark McGwire admitted to taking steroids at various times during his career, including the year that resulted in his breaking of the single-season homerun record. He genuinely seemed tormented by making this admission, one that most of us knew was eventually going to come, but even after hearing the news, all I thought was that this was another question mark about the legitimacy of baseball.

It goes back to the same idea. What are you willing to do to be the best? How far will you go to be a legend? Is it worth any price?

Well, I hope you have limits and boundaries that have been shaped by what you value in your life. Things that you will not compromise no matter what the promise. That is what it means to “stand for something.” This “something” is what you would never give up.

Yet everyone has different lines in the sand as to where to draw that wall. But no matter where your line is, once you give in to temptation and peer pressure to use steroids, it is hard to go back. Once you pop that first magic pill, it becomes part of you and you will now wonder who you would be without it. Now McGwire cannot separate the man on the juice and the man off the juice and that is a bad place to be.

Then we have Tiger Woods. Undoubtedly a force of nature and the greatest golfer on the circuit. He is dancing right up to legendary records set by Jack Nicklaus as a young man. So what happened? His “off the field” choices derailed him indefinitely. Is there lesson here?

There no doubt is a lesson. I still remember my days in high school and I understand how difficult it was to find your social life. You could be shy, you could be a late bloomer, you could be busy with other activities, you could just be scared. It is OK. I also remembered how nervous I was when I asked Christine Saunders to the prom. I barely could speak after she said yes. It is hard in high school.

So imagine you make it to the next level in baseball. Your confidence rises, you can now talk to all of those young ladies that used to scare you half to death. So you keep going, trying for a little cuter, trying to impress your teammates, trying to “one-up” yourself. But will you have the discipline to stop? Will you even want to stop as you keep going until you end up like Tiger Woods or many other pro athletes that have unlimited access to women all over the place. Maybe it sounds fun as a young man in high school. But it is important to pay attention to what has happened to Tiger Woods. It is important to separate ego from learning yourself and other people. Ego keeps score, measures conquests, compares to things that don’t really matter. Ego comes and goes, just like his career came and went in the blink of an eye. If you are rising in the world of baseball, congratulations, but make sure you keep a foot on the ground because there will be a lot of people telling you things and pumping you up, including in your new social circle, but they disappear when the music stops, leaving you solo. Just like Tiger is right now.

But there is always someone around in your life who is stable, who has your back, no matter what happens. Focus on them, listen to them, and stay close. It will help you when the attention gets addictive, the type of attention you may not have gotten in high school and are enjoying for the first time.

Opportunity will always be there socially, but the window for being a pro baseball players will not and even when you take advantage of it, it doesn’t last that long. I saw too many players fall apart from chasing the night life before they fulfilled the dream. The night life is just an illusion, people in that circle come and go, but will baseball be there?

McGwire, Woods, A-Rod, whoever. It matters how you do things on and off of the field. Treat people with respect no matter if you are hitting .400 or .200. Try and do an honest job, so you get honest results. Accept setbacks and struggles, it is how you grow. Have fun, but be smart about it. You can party from time to time and still get your rest.

Now that it is out, was it all worth it for McGwire and Tiger? Breaking a record by any means necessary or tallying up yet another woman is not a broken record at all, nor a score worth keeping. All you end up with is a broken soul and an empty scoreboard.



Doug Glanville joined the Baseball Factory as a Special Consultant at the end of 2007. Glanville attended and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in Systems Science and Engineering. Glanville was drafted 12th overall by the Chicago Cubs in the 1991 amateur draft. Glanville played nine seasons in the Majors, getting his break with the Cubs. He also spent six seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies and a portion of the 2003 season with the Texas Rangers. In 1999, Glanville batted .325 with 204 hits, 101 runs, six homeruns, 73 runs batted in and 34 stolen bases. He led the league in singles with 149 that year. To review other articles from Doug Glanville, including his New York Times column, please click here.

A Bit Twitterish

Jason Budden: Un-Common Sense?

Recently the NFL and NBA announced new rules that will oversee player and coach use of the social networking site, Twitter. Last year, Charlie Villanueva sent a tweet during halftime of one of his games with the Milwaukee Bucks. Kevin Love did him one better and announced the firing of his coach through a tweet. Prior to the NFL season getting started this year, Chad Ochocinco threatened to tweet during games.

The spread of social networking opportunities and a player’s ability to express himself outside of the standard media outlets initially caught the leagues off-guard. It used to be that the leagues had almost complete control over when and where a player spoke to the media. It was always during press conferences, in the locker room, or on the field after a game. Now, players could send a message to thousands of random followers at any time of day, even during games. They could talk about what they were eating, what they were doing, potential trades, their happiness or worse, unhappiness with their current team. It was unlimited, and this clearly has scared the NFL and NBA into action.

But is this action the right action? Aren’t these leagues built on the backs of their superstars? Why is self expression such a scary thing? True, you never know what Chad Ochocinco is going to say, but isn’t that what makes him such a polarizing figure, and don’t polarizing figures sell tickets, merchandise and ultimately television deals? These leagues need to deal with reality: this is the era of personalities in sports. The current growth of every major sport in America is due in part to the entertainment factor that surrounds sports. We love our characters, our personalities, our heroes and our villains. We care about more than just the score. The more we know about the players, the more we love (or hate) them. Twitter gives us a look into their day-to-day lives that provides more than just watching them play on the field. As insignificant as it is, we want to know what LeBron James is eating for lunch the day of Game 7 of the conference finals.

Overall, I think that both leagues have responded with policies that will limit team distractions while still encouraging the spread of their game through social networking. The rules don’t entirely discourage players from tweeting, but instead, they provide limitations. Don’t tweet during games, during practice, during any time when you are “working” for the team. Basically, you can tweet on your own time, just not on our dime. Initial player reaction has been pretty positive.

So where is Major League Baseball in this discussion? Nowhere to be found…yet. Some of that is because it is in the middle of the season. The NFL and NBA announced their policies prior to the start of a new season. I’d expect MLB to have a new policy come February 2010. But more importantly, this is one area where baseball has fallen behind the NFL and NBA. If you look at TV ratings, football dominates baseball and basketball is catching up. All of the top player story lines in baseball are focused on steroids. Alex Rodriguez, Manny Ramirez, Roger Clemens…the list goes on.

The league needs to get more players to tweet, just not during games, and not to the point that it interferes with the team. If you take a look at the MLB players that currently tweet, it’s a list of middle relievers and utility players. Seriously, are you getting excited about tweets from Seth McClung, Coco Crisp or Jason Grilli (although Grilli’s username is very clever - @GrillCheese49). CC Sabathia has an account, but hasn’t tweeted for 150 days. David Ortiz posted this week…promoting his restaurant.

Let’s go MLB players! Whereas the NFL and NBA have to cut back on the amount of tweets their players are sending, the MLB needs to get their players to join the 21st century. Get the players out there so that the fans can reconnect with their favorites. The MLB needs to put a new face on that promotes the young stars of the game; the players that aren’t using steroids (or so we hope). What is David Wright doing after the season? How excited is Albert Pujols for the playoffs? Does Justin Verlander really think the Tigers hold off the Twins?

There’s an opportunity here, if the players are ready and willing to take advantage of it. They can successfully express themselves and regain the support of a new generation of fans, one that needs something more to connect with than the negative press surrounding the steroid era. It’s time to usher in the Social Networking Era in baseball.

Jason Budden is the Vice President of Operations and Marketing at Baseball Factory. Jason joined the Baseball Factory in 1997 while still a junior in high school. After going through the Baseball Factory's college recruiting program he was placed at Johns Hopkins University where he played two years of college baseball before graduating with a degree in Economics. After working part-time at the Factory throughout college, Jason joined the team as a full-time employee in January 2002 when he was promoted to Director of Marketing. He currently oversees all marketing projects and sponsorship opportunities at Baseball Factory. He is also in charge of development and marketing for Baseball University, the leader in online baseball education and a division of Baseball Factory.

The Consequences of Cheating

Kelly Kulina: Your Link to the Colleges

Everyone has an opinion on steroids and the most famous users (just Google Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds or Alex Rodriguez). But, as Rob Naddelman pointed out in one of his previous posts, the focus should be on education and prevention in our college, high school and youth ranks. There are many illegal performance-enhancing substances out there, with wide-ranging long-term consequences. It’s important for players to know what steroid use can do not only to their career, but to their body and state of mind.

Since September 1986, the NCAA has had a mandatory drug testing program in place for all sports and has maintained testing throughout the academic year. Players sign a consent form at the first team meeting and are pulled from practice and competition without notice and administered tests throughout the fall, regular season and even the postseason. In fact, players on my teams were sometimes pulled right out of the dugout by an envelope-carrying compliance officer.

Over the years, punishments for positive results have increased in severity. When I was coaching, the penalty for “street drugs” (marijuana, cocaine) or any other NCAA banned substance ranged from counseling to being banned from competition. Today, a lot of college athletic departments have a “zero-tolerance” stance towards steroids, and the penalty is severe: immediate suspension for one year, with a second offense resulting in a permanent loss of eligibility. In addition, if a student-athlete transfers to another NCAA institution while disqualified due to a positive test, their ineligibility will follow them to the new school.

Far and above a player’s eligibility is his health, and unfortunately, many young athletes are putting supplements into their bodies without knowing the short and long-term effects of this use. On one end of the “performance-enhancing spectrum,” you have protein shakes, power bars or even Red Bull. On the other, you have your more common steroids, such as HGH and testosterone. Unfortunately, there’s a lot of gray area to cover between these two extremes. Some of these supplements are under the NCAA’s list of banned substances and you wouldn’t even know it! Players simply must know what they’re putting into their bodies, and what the side effects can be, even if bought over-the-counter.

When we go to the pharmacy to get a prescription drug, we are given information such as what the medication is for and what side effects it may cause. In addition, we are advised to call the doctor if we encounter any side effects while taking this prescribed medicine. Athletes who take performance-enhancing drugs usually have NO idea what they’re taking, let alone the side effects or problems that can occur. On top of that, they’re not going to be comfortable talking to anyone about the side effects or problems they’re having because of the obvious repercussions it will have on their reputations. If you haven’t already heard of the Taylor Hooton Foundation, I’d suggest taking some time to read up on the sobering story of this young man. Deciding to take anabolic steroids in order to compete at the high school level, Taylor was eventually caught and consequently removed from his drug regiment. Sadly, a side effect of his use was a withdrawal-related depression, and on July 15, 2003, Taylor took his own life.

The bottom line is that you can be successful by taking care of yourself, working hard and making good decisions. As you continue to move up the ladder in athletics and life, there are always going to be people who are bigger, stronger, faster and smarter. However, there is something to be said for doing things the right way and there is NO substitute for hard work and dedication. After all, when it’s all said and done, it’s not our trophies, accomplishments or money we earned that matter most, but our integrity and satisfaction in knowing that we played the game the right way.


Kelly Kulina is the Senior Vice President of College Recruiting at Baseball Factory. Kulina is a former Associate Head Coach and recruiting coordinator with the University of Maryland. As a former recruiting coordinator for ten years in the ACC, Kulina has vast contacts and is widely respected throughout the nation. From 1989 to 2000, Kulina coached 46 players who were selected in the MLB draft.

Parents Can Help Kids “Just Say No”

Rob Naddelman: Through a Parent’s Eyes

It seems like everyone has an opinion about New York Yankee Alex Rodriguez and his recent admission that he used steroids between 2001 and 2003. I have heard lots of commentary and opinions about A-Rod’s apology, how sincere it was, how truthful it was, or how disingenuous it was. What I haven’t heard enough talk about is how we can help prevent more young baseball players from making the same mistakes. With the fierce competition of Major League Baseball and the high stakes of salaries and signing bonuses for those that achieve success, how do we as a society work to reduce and eventually eliminate drug use in young athletes that are looking for competitive advantages? I personally think parents can help play a large role.

I have never used illegal drugs of any kind. A big reason why is based upon talks I had with my parents and what they instilled in me as a young man. I remember speaking to my dad about the dangers of drugs as a high school student and his advice was right on the money. Here are a few key bullet points of what he stressed to me:

1. They are illegal so stay away from them.
2. The best thing to do is never start, and if you don’t start, you will never have to worry about quitting.
3. You work your whole life to build a solid reputation for how you are perceived. It only takes one bad decision to have that reputation come tumbling down.
4. If you can say that you gave 100% and you did the best you could, that will always be good enough and you don’t have to cheat to gain an edge.
5. Even if you don’t get caught, you will always have to live with yourself, and in those quiet moments you will have a tough time being at peace with your soul.

I think a large key to the hopes of stopping illegal drug use in young athletes is for parents to help ingrain a strong moral compass within their souls. Young adults that are secure in their decision making, feel trusted by their parents, and truly believe in themselves, tend to make well grounded decisions as adults. It is the combination of building strong moral fiber and educating on the dangers of drugs that will go a long way towards curtailing drug use in the future. I personally think we are better off spending our time and energy on this initiative instead of conducting witch hunts and public trials of Major League players.

As parents, continue to speak with your children about these issues and help them make the smart choice when it comes to drugs. “Just Say No” is a slogan that has been around for decades and it may be more appropriate in these times than ever.


Rob Naddelman is the President of Baseball Factory. Naddelman is a former two-time All Ivy League Third Baseman at the University of Pennsylvania, where he competed in a College World Series Regional. He has served as the President of Baseball Factory for the past 13 years, and also is the Executive Director of Baseball Factory's charitable arm The B.A.S.E. - H.I.T. Foundation. Naddelman and Steve Sclafani (CEO) have been featured in Business Week and CNN for their work in building Baseball Factory into the nation's leader in player development and college placement.

Mixed Emotions

Jason Budden: Un-Common Sense?

As things have unfolded regarding Alex Rodriguez’s admitted use of steroids, I’ve had a hard time forming a solid opinion on the situation. There are so many different aspects involved and my thoughts have been pouring out:

• First off, it frustrates me that spring training is right around the corner and this is the only story we are going to hear about for the next four weeks (maybe even the next four months or years).

• How did this leak? The players were assured by Major League Baseball and the Player’s Association that this was an anonymous test, never to be shared with the public, or anyone for that matter. It was to be completed as a survey, to find out just how bad steroids really were in the game of baseball. In a lot of ways, this test led to many positives in regards to a new testing policy, stricter punishment and overall accountability within baseball. Do you think players would have been willing to be tested, if they knew the results could be made public?

• Now that the information has leaked, why just A-Rod? Why not the other 103 players on that list? As a nation, we love to build up our superstars, but we enjoy pulling them back down even more.

• Will the players ever trust the union again? Will they ever trust the owners again? Who can they trust but themselves? The next time a labor dispute comes around, how can we expect an agreement to be reached? Can anyone in baseball truly be taken at their word?

• I can’t decide if I like the nickname A-Fraud or A-Roid better. I think I’m leaning towards A-Roid.

• Former teammate of A-Rod with the Texas Rangers and current Baseball Factory Consultant, Doug Glanville may have written the best point of view I’ve seen so far on this topic.

• Part of me is proud of A-Rod for owning up and admitting that he let down the game of baseball. He isn’t hiding like Mark McGwire. He isn’t shifting the blame like Roger Clemens or pointing his finger adamantly like Rafael Palmeiro. He didn’t admit to something, while really admitting to nothing like Jason Giambi. He isn’t going to purge himself in court and have to fight it out like Barry Bonds. He apologized. He took all of the blame. Does that free him from guilt? Absolutely not, but it does make him more human, and it does make America more likely to forgive him.

• Was Barry Bonds somehow behind this information leaking? It sure takes a lot of the press and overall pressure off of his trial. He is now story number two in the steroid world that is baseball. (I don’t think this is a possibility, but it is fun to imagine Barry sitting in a dark room, masking his voice as he makes an anonymous call to Selena Roberts)

• Where does the league go from here? If McGwire, Clemens and Bonds weren’t the rock bottom points of the Steroid Era, then this has to be, so there’s only one way to go.

I’m sure that there will be more that will come out of this story. It wouldn’t surprise me if the names of the 103 other players on that list were released. As much as I wish it would just go away, I hope that there is some good that can come from this and that baseball can move forward on a clean path that properly represents that game.

Only time will tell.


Jason Budden is the Vice President of Operations and Marketing at Baseball Factory. Jason joined the Baseball Factory in 1997 while still a junior in high school. After going through the Baseball Factory's college recruiting program he was placed at Johns Hopkins University where he played two years of college baseball before graduating with a degree in Economics. After working part-time at the Factory throughout college, Jason joined the team as a full-time employee in January 2002 when he was promoted to Director of Marketing. He currently oversees all marketing projects and sponsorship opportunities at Baseball Factory. He is also in charge of development and marketing for Baseball University, the leader in online baseball education and a division of Baseball Factory.