Swinging For the Fence by William “Moon Lion”

Owen Marcus — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 03:45:46 +0000

Thank you Phil. I remember when I made the all star team in Pony League baseball. The first game I went 2 for 3 with a walk and 4 rbis. I hit a home run and got my name in the paper right next to an article about a Detroit Tiger star. The next game, the first time I stepped up to the plate, the catcher went out to the mound. Sure enough, the first pitch was a side arm deal that came right at my head. It missed, although I can imagine many of you have some doubts. As I dug in for the second pitch, I knew in my gut it was going to be a side arm fast ball down the middle of the plate, and I had a vision of hammering it over the center field fence.

Here it came, a side arm fast ball. What did I do? I jumped back like a little pussy and the umpire yelled STRIKE. I did not listen to my GUT. I did not swing for my DREAM. I was DEFEAT! I went hitless that day, my team lost, and we were out of the tournament.

Fifty (50) years later (count them) I can still see the seams on that fast

ball, in slow motion, as it floats belt high over the plate. STRIKE STRIKE

STRIKE god dam it, it still rings in my ears. I did not sacrifice my body to the fear of pain and the demon, regret, lives with me always.

A few days after that 14 year old young man recovered from his tears he made a commitment to himself. He would never again ignore his gut and let another balloon float over the plate for a strike. He would swing the bat for his dreams. To not swing is too painful. I have been swinging all my

bats ever since. I often miss the ball. I sometimes lose my grip and the

bat flies into the crowd where it could hurt somebody. I sometimes strike out and go 0 for 5. But I swing the bat and sometimes I knock the fucking ball out of the park. I am ALIVE. I may lose a game or two but I am never DEFEATED.

Men, go for your dreams. Ask for what you want. The cost of missed opportunity could be very large compared to what keeps you from getting what you want.

MOON LION ( growling in the night with my passion for life) going going gone!

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Swinging For the Fence by William “Moon Lion”