1 00:00:03,840 --> 00:00:08,080 Speaker 1: My philosophy is that really young kids, they haven't They 2 00:00:08,080 --> 00:00:10,959 Speaker 1: have these dreams and they just don't have the long 3 00:00:11,080 --> 00:00:13,120 Speaker 1: term view of how to get there. So as long 4 00:00:13,160 --> 00:00:16,360 Speaker 1: as it's their dream, you can provide some guidance to them, saying, 5 00:00:16,360 --> 00:00:18,040 Speaker 1: you know, hey, all you gotta do is get a 6 00:00:18,040 --> 00:00:20,640 Speaker 1: little better every day. So improve a tiny bit every 7 00:00:20,720 --> 00:00:26,960 Speaker 1: day and someday it will add up. This is the 8 00:00:27,000 --> 00:00:30,440 Speaker 1: Reformed Sports Project, a podcast about restoring healthy balance and 9 00:00:30,480 --> 00:00:35,519 Speaker 1: perspective in all areas of sports through education and advocacy. Hi, 10 00:00:35,680 --> 00:00:39,000 Speaker 1: this is Nick Bonacourt from the Reformed Sports Project podcast. Today, 11 00:00:39,040 --> 00:00:43,040 Speaker 1: I'm speaking with Rob Friedman, a highly regarded baseball analyst, entrepreneur, 12 00:00:43,240 --> 00:00:46,200 Speaker 1: and social media guru, commonly referred to as the pitching 13 00:00:46,280 --> 00:00:49,000 Speaker 1: Ninja in the baseball community. Rob currently serves as an 14 00:00:49,000 --> 00:00:52,080 Speaker 1: analyst for Peacock TV M that will be nesson and 15 00:00:52,200 --> 00:00:55,400 Speaker 1: Fox Sports. As the CEO of both flat ground Pitching 16 00:00:55,480 --> 00:00:58,200 Speaker 1: and Flat ground Hitting, Rob helps removed barriers in the 17 00:00:58,280 --> 00:01:01,279 Speaker 1: sport by using social media get a showcase talent and 18 00:01:01,320 --> 00:01:04,040 Speaker 1: prevent players from slipping through the cracks. Rob and I 19 00:01:04,080 --> 00:01:07,160 Speaker 1: discussed the importance of having a growth mentality, the value 20 00:01:07,160 --> 00:01:09,760 Speaker 1: in teaching kids decision making skills from a young age, 21 00:01:09,920 --> 00:01:13,000 Speaker 1: and why he believes the key to sustain success requires 22 00:01:13,080 --> 00:01:17,080 Speaker 1: incremental growth every day. Let's go. I am freaking excited. 23 00:01:17,120 --> 00:01:19,520 Speaker 1: I got another awesome guest. He is, uh, someone a 24 00:01:19,560 --> 00:01:21,880 Speaker 1: lot of you will know. If you don't you need 25 00:01:21,920 --> 00:01:24,840 Speaker 1: to know, but someone I was able to connect with 26 00:01:24,920 --> 00:01:28,680 Speaker 1: a few years ago. He is Rob Freedman, but better 27 00:01:28,760 --> 00:01:31,920 Speaker 1: known as the pitching Ninja Rob. Thanks so much for 28 00:01:31,959 --> 00:01:35,320 Speaker 1: hopping on that pleasure to have you, dude, my pleasure man. 29 00:01:35,400 --> 00:01:38,119 Speaker 1: Going back a few years ago. I know we touched 30 00:01:38,120 --> 00:01:40,200 Speaker 1: on and we talked a lot about youth sports and 31 00:01:40,280 --> 00:01:42,800 Speaker 1: athletic development. Kind of your background there, and you know, 32 00:01:42,880 --> 00:01:44,760 Speaker 1: I know you wear a lot of hats, right, You've 33 00:01:44,840 --> 00:01:47,840 Speaker 1: coached obviously, you've got the pitching ninja thing, your entrepreneur, 34 00:01:47,960 --> 00:01:50,400 Speaker 1: you're an attorney. You've got so many darn things. What 35 00:01:50,520 --> 00:01:51,960 Speaker 1: I want to know is, you know, I kind of 36 00:01:52,040 --> 00:01:55,600 Speaker 1: talk a lot about, um, how sports opens up tons 37 00:01:55,600 --> 00:01:57,640 Speaker 1: of doors. Right, It's not just hey, let's get a 38 00:01:57,680 --> 00:02:00,880 Speaker 1: college scholarship, let's go to the pros. There's so many 39 00:02:00,960 --> 00:02:03,400 Speaker 1: things from youth sports that can open up. I just 40 00:02:03,440 --> 00:02:05,520 Speaker 1: want to know your background. How did you get to 41 00:02:05,560 --> 00:02:07,760 Speaker 1: the point now where you're you're the pigeon Ninja. I mean, 42 00:02:07,800 --> 00:02:10,520 Speaker 1: you're a YouTube guy all these different things. Dude, I 43 00:02:10,560 --> 00:02:12,560 Speaker 1: have no idea how I got here. I just wear 44 00:02:12,600 --> 00:02:13,880 Speaker 1: a lot of hats because I don't have a lot 45 00:02:13,880 --> 00:02:17,720 Speaker 1: of here. Um it's yeah, Like I just started out 46 00:02:17,800 --> 00:02:21,440 Speaker 1: coaching mostly like I wasn't as great stud player anything that. 47 00:02:21,560 --> 00:02:24,000 Speaker 1: I love baseball, but really, once I had a kid, 48 00:02:24,000 --> 00:02:26,160 Speaker 1: it was an opportunity to kind of learn the game 49 00:02:26,200 --> 00:02:28,840 Speaker 1: again because you never want like I didn't want to 50 00:02:28,880 --> 00:02:31,880 Speaker 1: pass down what I did because I knew everything had changed. 51 00:02:32,040 --> 00:02:34,840 Speaker 1: I went on a mission to learn everything I could 52 00:02:35,480 --> 00:02:37,480 Speaker 1: and to teach it to all the kids I was coaching. 53 00:02:38,080 --> 00:02:41,880 Speaker 1: And uh, it's a legal background is useful because it 54 00:02:42,200 --> 00:02:45,280 Speaker 1: lets you question things, like I have a good way 55 00:02:45,280 --> 00:02:47,720 Speaker 1: of questioning things and putting out content very short. So 56 00:02:47,840 --> 00:02:51,320 Speaker 1: my top legal writing and stuff. So that's what my 57 00:02:51,360 --> 00:02:54,440 Speaker 1: mind works is to kind of spot issues, to take 58 00:02:54,480 --> 00:02:56,760 Speaker 1: a part arguments, to look deeper into things. And that's 59 00:02:56,800 --> 00:02:58,920 Speaker 1: what I did with baseball. So I started passing that 60 00:02:58,960 --> 00:03:03,560 Speaker 1: down on social media after after teaching kids stuff and 61 00:03:03,600 --> 00:03:06,520 Speaker 1: realizing that it worked, asked a lot of questions and 62 00:03:06,600 --> 00:03:09,200 Speaker 1: I knew that someday I probably wasn't going to be coaching, 63 00:03:09,240 --> 00:03:12,320 Speaker 1: but I also didn't want others to not have I 64 00:03:12,320 --> 00:03:15,240 Speaker 1: wanted to reach as many people as I could, to 65 00:03:15,480 --> 00:03:18,720 Speaker 1: let them see kind of what I had learned along 66 00:03:18,760 --> 00:03:21,320 Speaker 1: the way, and to not let it go away. Like 67 00:03:21,440 --> 00:03:24,120 Speaker 1: I think, Um, there's a lot of people that that 68 00:03:24,200 --> 00:03:26,880 Speaker 1: can't afford great that all the time. They can't afford it, 69 00:03:26,919 --> 00:03:29,600 Speaker 1: they can't afford great lessons. And to me, I could 70 00:03:29,600 --> 00:03:31,880 Speaker 1: do all that because again I started my own business 71 00:03:31,919 --> 00:03:34,840 Speaker 1: and sold it did really well, so it was an 72 00:03:34,880 --> 00:03:37,560 Speaker 1: opportunity to give back and help grow the game. Basically, 73 00:03:38,080 --> 00:03:39,880 Speaker 1: you know, that's a great point that you get into 74 00:03:39,920 --> 00:03:44,560 Speaker 1: that and you know there is this whole you know, separation, 75 00:03:44,640 --> 00:03:46,840 Speaker 1: I would say, and you know coming up and you 76 00:03:46,960 --> 00:03:48,760 Speaker 1: I have six kids. I know we've talked about that 77 00:03:48,800 --> 00:03:51,200 Speaker 1: and you've been through it all. But youth sports is 78 00:03:51,360 --> 00:03:54,000 Speaker 1: very very expensive, right, A lot of kids don't in 79 00:03:54,080 --> 00:03:56,400 Speaker 1: baseball gets a bad rep in the sense that if 80 00:03:56,400 --> 00:03:59,280 Speaker 1: you don't have thousands of dollars to pay for exclusive 81 00:03:59,320 --> 00:04:01,720 Speaker 1: teams or private lessons, you can get left behind. But 82 00:04:02,000 --> 00:04:03,840 Speaker 1: you're one of the ones out there who are really 83 00:04:04,160 --> 00:04:06,600 Speaker 1: I want to say, you're providing I mean basically free 84 00:04:06,640 --> 00:04:09,440 Speaker 1: funds at that is invaluable. Is that what you're talking 85 00:04:09,440 --> 00:04:12,760 Speaker 1: about where you're trying to provide Oh, I think baseball 86 00:04:13,120 --> 00:04:15,360 Speaker 1: not only gets a bad rap, but it deserves it 87 00:04:15,400 --> 00:04:17,839 Speaker 1: a lot of times. And it's I understand how it 88 00:04:17,920 --> 00:04:22,000 Speaker 1: happened because every parent wants what's best for their kid, 89 00:04:22,240 --> 00:04:25,240 Speaker 1: and you know, you don't ever want your kid not 90 00:04:25,320 --> 00:04:27,520 Speaker 1: to make it or not be interested in sport because 91 00:04:27,800 --> 00:04:29,960 Speaker 1: you couldn't afford this team and you couldn't do that, 92 00:04:29,960 --> 00:04:32,360 Speaker 1: you couldn't afford the lessons. So it's almost like an 93 00:04:32,440 --> 00:04:35,080 Speaker 1: arms race. Parents are doing it a lot of times 94 00:04:35,080 --> 00:04:37,279 Speaker 1: for the right reasons. I don't think it's necessarily living 95 00:04:37,279 --> 00:04:39,720 Speaker 1: through their kids, but it's more trying to remove as 96 00:04:39,760 --> 00:04:42,640 Speaker 1: many obstacles they can for their kids. And in doing that, 97 00:04:42,960 --> 00:04:45,279 Speaker 1: they're spending a lot of money and it's driving other 98 00:04:45,320 --> 00:04:47,480 Speaker 1: people out of the sport that can't afford it. So 99 00:04:48,040 --> 00:04:51,920 Speaker 1: if I can't afford a five a glove and two 100 00:04:52,560 --> 00:04:55,040 Speaker 1: five thousand are travel team and all the expenses that 101 00:04:55,120 --> 00:04:57,800 Speaker 1: come along with it, then I'm gonna play another sport. 102 00:04:58,120 --> 00:05:02,080 Speaker 1: And to me, the way to increase popularity of baseball 103 00:05:02,160 --> 00:05:06,880 Speaker 1: among kids is to remove those barriers because nobody wants 104 00:05:06,880 --> 00:05:09,120 Speaker 1: to play with you. You show up on a team, 105 00:05:09,279 --> 00:05:11,240 Speaker 1: you may be the best athlete out there, but if 106 00:05:11,279 --> 00:05:14,279 Speaker 1: you have crappy you know, crappy glove, a crappy bat, 107 00:05:14,400 --> 00:05:17,080 Speaker 1: you don't want to always be barring your friends stuff. 108 00:05:17,120 --> 00:05:18,960 Speaker 1: You don't want to like be out of touch because 109 00:05:18,960 --> 00:05:21,680 Speaker 1: your friends had all these two an hour lessons and 110 00:05:21,720 --> 00:05:23,960 Speaker 1: stuff and you can't afford it. So you choose a 111 00:05:24,000 --> 00:05:26,839 Speaker 1: sport where that doesn't matter, and it's and it's a 112 00:05:26,839 --> 00:05:29,520 Speaker 1: little less expensive to play and it's more fun for you. 113 00:05:29,760 --> 00:05:32,600 Speaker 1: So yeah, I mean, my job, my job that I 114 00:05:32,640 --> 00:05:35,360 Speaker 1: took is basically to tear down those barriers to grow 115 00:05:35,400 --> 00:05:38,200 Speaker 1: the sport. And how have you found? And it's I know, 116 00:05:38,240 --> 00:05:41,039 Speaker 1: when I first started following you, Jason Howell shout out, 117 00:05:41,120 --> 00:05:43,800 Speaker 1: you know, assistant baseball coach. I think he's associate head 118 00:05:43,800 --> 00:05:45,479 Speaker 1: coach or one of them at U n C. But 119 00:05:45,520 --> 00:05:47,600 Speaker 1: I know he was at Georgia Tech. He's a former 120 00:05:47,640 --> 00:05:49,400 Speaker 1: teammate of mine and he you know him as well 121 00:05:49,400 --> 00:05:51,400 Speaker 1: as Seth AFFAIRT kind of told me and I started 122 00:05:51,440 --> 00:05:53,640 Speaker 1: following you know your Twitter feed. I think you only 123 00:05:53,720 --> 00:05:56,080 Speaker 1: had around I say, only you know around a hundred 124 00:05:56,080 --> 00:05:58,120 Speaker 1: thousand followers at the time. Since then it's like tripled 125 00:05:58,160 --> 00:06:02,279 Speaker 1: or quadruple UM. But how have you seen the reception 126 00:06:02,440 --> 00:06:06,800 Speaker 1: not just from you know, the fans that follow, but 127 00:06:06,880 --> 00:06:10,559 Speaker 1: also from now you're doing podcasts, you're you're you're putting 128 00:06:10,560 --> 00:06:13,960 Speaker 1: out just such elite level, really in depth content. Did 129 00:06:14,000 --> 00:06:15,480 Speaker 1: it take you a little while to kind of break 130 00:06:15,480 --> 00:06:17,840 Speaker 1: down that bear to get those athletes, those pictures or 131 00:06:17,880 --> 00:06:20,000 Speaker 1: whoever to come on board and won't be willing to 132 00:06:20,000 --> 00:06:23,400 Speaker 1: talk about things? Surprisingly not, And that is one of 133 00:06:23,440 --> 00:06:25,800 Speaker 1: the biggest things that I've been surprised at is one 134 00:06:25,839 --> 00:06:30,040 Speaker 1: of the early adopters to my content were major league 135 00:06:30,080 --> 00:06:33,120 Speaker 1: pictures because they hadn't thought about a lot of this stuff. 136 00:06:33,160 --> 00:06:35,800 Speaker 1: And I think the more I put out, the more 137 00:06:35,839 --> 00:06:38,880 Speaker 1: they're like, really, that's interesting. So getting d m s 138 00:06:38,920 --> 00:06:41,640 Speaker 1: and people just following me for a long long time, 139 00:06:41,920 --> 00:06:46,000 Speaker 1: and now it becomes almost like folks just want to 140 00:06:46,040 --> 00:06:48,279 Speaker 1: be on UM because they want to give back to 141 00:06:48,360 --> 00:06:50,120 Speaker 1: and they don't know how Like a lot of players, 142 00:06:51,160 --> 00:06:52,960 Speaker 1: they want to see the sport growth. They're not in 143 00:06:53,000 --> 00:06:55,880 Speaker 1: it just for themselves, but they don't really have an 144 00:06:56,000 --> 00:06:58,919 Speaker 1: avenue to do it. So if I can be that 145 00:06:59,040 --> 00:07:02,159 Speaker 1: avenue and share pitch grips and mental game stuff and 146 00:07:02,240 --> 00:07:06,040 Speaker 1: mechanics stuff. Um, they view that as much easier than 147 00:07:06,160 --> 00:07:09,280 Speaker 1: them having to put out their own content, which they 148 00:07:09,360 --> 00:07:11,040 Speaker 1: might not you know, they're not the time to do it. 149 00:07:11,320 --> 00:07:15,680 Speaker 1: So a lot of like it's been really really easier 150 00:07:15,720 --> 00:07:18,760 Speaker 1: than I thought in that. I think people now, you know, 151 00:07:18,840 --> 00:07:21,680 Speaker 1: they love coming on and sharing stuff and they're they're 152 00:07:21,680 --> 00:07:24,080 Speaker 1: almost like, wow, I'm talking to pitching Nina. I'm like, dude, 153 00:07:24,520 --> 00:07:27,000 Speaker 1: you're the famous dude, Like you're the guy playing baseball 154 00:07:27,040 --> 00:07:28,760 Speaker 1: for a living. I'm just the dude with the computer 155 00:07:28,920 --> 00:07:31,320 Speaker 1: to ask a lot of questions. I love it. Not 156 00:07:31,360 --> 00:07:33,240 Speaker 1: everyone's gonna get to the big bags and everyone's gonna 157 00:07:33,240 --> 00:07:35,960 Speaker 1: play college baseball. So it's like, what avenues can I 158 00:07:36,000 --> 00:07:40,000 Speaker 1: go down? What from your sport background propelled your interest 159 00:07:40,160 --> 00:07:42,440 Speaker 1: in athletics to want to kind of to push that, Like, 160 00:07:42,480 --> 00:07:44,880 Speaker 1: what was it from your playing experience at young gays 161 00:07:44,920 --> 00:07:46,640 Speaker 1: that make you rather you want to be involved in 162 00:07:46,680 --> 00:07:49,680 Speaker 1: athletics Or how can kids kind of use their love 163 00:07:49,680 --> 00:07:52,239 Speaker 1: of sport and maybe look at your experience and realize 164 00:07:52,280 --> 00:07:55,160 Speaker 1: there's more avenues other than just being on the field. Yeah, 165 00:07:55,200 --> 00:07:57,559 Speaker 1: I think the biggest thing is to like, it wasn't 166 00:07:57,560 --> 00:08:01,200 Speaker 1: particularly my ability, because lord knows that wasn't there. It 167 00:08:01,320 --> 00:08:03,600 Speaker 1: was more of the like the love of the game 168 00:08:03,760 --> 00:08:06,760 Speaker 1: and never stop learning. Like, I think that's the big 169 00:08:06,800 --> 00:08:08,440 Speaker 1: thing is a lot of people, and you'll see this 170 00:08:08,560 --> 00:08:10,720 Speaker 1: a lot of times with pro athletes, is you know 171 00:08:10,800 --> 00:08:15,960 Speaker 1: they're successful, but sometimes it's just they're naturally either gifted, Um, 172 00:08:16,000 --> 00:08:17,880 Speaker 1: they didn't have to work that hard, or they worked 173 00:08:17,880 --> 00:08:20,720 Speaker 1: hard and it worked for them, but they worked differently 174 00:08:21,000 --> 00:08:24,560 Speaker 1: and they may not be able to communicate to a player. 175 00:08:24,880 --> 00:08:27,720 Speaker 1: So to me, passing down a bunch of different ways 176 00:08:27,760 --> 00:08:31,360 Speaker 1: of doing things is really cool. So I think everybody 177 00:08:31,400 --> 00:08:34,440 Speaker 1: has something to add. Just because you didn't play doesn't 178 00:08:34,480 --> 00:08:37,679 Speaker 1: mean that your advice isn't valuable, um, as long as 179 00:08:37,720 --> 00:08:40,800 Speaker 1: you listen to Like, I think the key also is 180 00:08:40,960 --> 00:08:44,360 Speaker 1: not to just argue, not to just fight on social media, 181 00:08:44,880 --> 00:08:46,880 Speaker 1: but to use it as a way of learning and 182 00:08:46,960 --> 00:08:49,840 Speaker 1: constantly growing. Like I think you need a growth mentality 183 00:08:50,600 --> 00:08:53,200 Speaker 1: versus saying you know I can never do this or 184 00:08:53,280 --> 00:08:55,960 Speaker 1: you know this is the way it's done, and always 185 00:08:55,960 --> 00:08:57,760 Speaker 1: just keep learning. I think that's what you can get 186 00:08:57,760 --> 00:09:00,760 Speaker 1: through sports, like taking sports and bringing in the real world. 187 00:09:00,880 --> 00:09:06,080 Speaker 1: So competitiveness, work ethic, winning as a team helped you 188 00:09:06,120 --> 00:09:09,160 Speaker 1: in everything you do, and then vice versa. Taking what 189 00:09:09,200 --> 00:09:12,320 Speaker 1: you've learned and you're if you're not an athlete, take 190 00:09:12,400 --> 00:09:14,720 Speaker 1: what you've learned and try to apply it. Put yourself 191 00:09:14,720 --> 00:09:18,679 Speaker 1: in the athletes shoes and find similarities of what they 192 00:09:18,720 --> 00:09:21,520 Speaker 1: do to what you do and then figure it out, 193 00:09:21,840 --> 00:09:23,960 Speaker 1: like there's never a reason not to keep figuring out. 194 00:09:24,440 --> 00:09:27,160 Speaker 1: Talk about a life lesson to extract, right, Like, And 195 00:09:27,200 --> 00:09:29,360 Speaker 1: I've heard that because I've interviewed a ton of you know, 196 00:09:29,440 --> 00:09:31,360 Speaker 1: high level coaches and athletes as well. But is there 197 00:09:31,400 --> 00:09:34,199 Speaker 1: a direct correlation you've seen from you know, the athletes 198 00:09:34,240 --> 00:09:36,520 Speaker 1: you've spoken with, the pictures you've spoken with that they 199 00:09:36,520 --> 00:09:38,240 Speaker 1: have an open mind? Right, they don't feel like they 200 00:09:38,280 --> 00:09:40,800 Speaker 1: have all the answers? Do they remain coachable through their career? 201 00:09:40,920 --> 00:09:42,880 Speaker 1: You know, from Nolan Ryan all the way down to 202 00:09:43,120 --> 00:09:44,720 Speaker 1: you know, someone of the big leagues. Now, is that 203 00:09:44,840 --> 00:09:47,320 Speaker 1: is that a similarity you see with the elite level players? 204 00:09:47,840 --> 00:09:50,240 Speaker 1: I think that's some of it. Yeah, I think, Um, 205 00:09:50,280 --> 00:09:52,520 Speaker 1: you know, Nolan Ryan wasn't always Nolan Ryan. He was 206 00:09:52,559 --> 00:09:55,080 Speaker 1: a wild man who couldn't find the plate. But he 207 00:09:55,160 --> 00:09:58,680 Speaker 1: found Tom House and was willing to ask questions and learn. 208 00:09:58,960 --> 00:10:01,400 Speaker 1: And I think that that's I became Nolan Ryan. I 209 00:10:01,400 --> 00:10:03,960 Speaker 1: think a lot of pictures, Um, a lot of successful 210 00:10:03,960 --> 00:10:05,880 Speaker 1: ones do it, and then some are great and they 211 00:10:05,920 --> 00:10:07,719 Speaker 1: don't know why they got there. They're just like I've 212 00:10:07,760 --> 00:10:10,400 Speaker 1: always done this, Like I don't think too much, And 213 00:10:10,480 --> 00:10:12,880 Speaker 1: you can get by with either one. But you know, 214 00:10:12,920 --> 00:10:16,480 Speaker 1: I really appreciate the guys who are constantly tinkering with stuff, 215 00:10:16,679 --> 00:10:19,360 Speaker 1: the u Darvishes of the world who have you know, 216 00:10:19,360 --> 00:10:21,400 Speaker 1: you're always looking to add a pitch or a little 217 00:10:21,400 --> 00:10:25,600 Speaker 1: wrinkle to stay ahead of competitors. Are always thinking, Um, 218 00:10:25,640 --> 00:10:27,920 Speaker 1: you know, that's a lot of fun to see. And 219 00:10:27,920 --> 00:10:30,520 Speaker 1: and I think even Show Hey today, like Show Hey 220 00:10:30,760 --> 00:10:33,560 Speaker 1: just teaches himself a sinker because he felt like he 221 00:10:33,640 --> 00:10:36,080 Speaker 1: needed to challenge himself and get better instead of saying, 222 00:10:36,640 --> 00:10:39,920 Speaker 1: you know, my strikeout, my my caper nine is already huge, 223 00:10:40,559 --> 00:10:43,000 Speaker 1: that's all I need. Instead, he's always adding something. So 224 00:10:43,080 --> 00:10:46,880 Speaker 1: I think always growing and challenging yourself is the key 225 00:10:46,920 --> 00:10:49,800 Speaker 1: to life in general. How did you find because you're 226 00:10:49,880 --> 00:10:51,600 Speaker 1: you're If I'm not mistaken, I know your son at 227 00:10:51,640 --> 00:10:53,360 Speaker 1: one time pitched to Georgia Tech. I mean here he 228 00:10:53,400 --> 00:10:55,880 Speaker 1: is up to power five. How did you manage as 229 00:10:55,920 --> 00:10:58,120 Speaker 1: a parent? Let's flip the script a little bit, you know, 230 00:10:58,200 --> 00:11:01,120 Speaker 1: going through the whole youth sport. You're down there, I 231 00:11:01,120 --> 00:11:03,680 Speaker 1: believe in You're in Atlanta area, you know East cob 232 00:11:03,800 --> 00:11:05,920 Speaker 1: Why one of the hotbeds of you know, baseball in 233 00:11:05,960 --> 00:11:08,360 Speaker 1: the in the United States. How did you manage it 234 00:11:08,440 --> 00:11:11,079 Speaker 1: from a sports parent? Were you more hands on? Did 235 00:11:11,080 --> 00:11:12,400 Speaker 1: you kind of let them go through this whole thing? 236 00:11:12,400 --> 00:11:14,959 Speaker 1: How did you do that? A little bit of both? Actually, 237 00:11:15,000 --> 00:11:17,800 Speaker 1: so I was very hands on, and that My philosophy 238 00:11:17,920 --> 00:11:21,280 Speaker 1: is that really young kids they have it. They have 239 00:11:21,360 --> 00:11:24,360 Speaker 1: these dreams and they just don't have the long term 240 00:11:24,400 --> 00:11:26,360 Speaker 1: view of how to get there. So as long as 241 00:11:26,400 --> 00:11:29,440 Speaker 1: it's their dream, you can provide some guidance to them, saying, 242 00:11:29,480 --> 00:11:31,160 Speaker 1: you know, hey, all you gotta do is get a 243 00:11:31,160 --> 00:11:33,760 Speaker 1: little better every day. So improve a tiny bit every 244 00:11:33,840 --> 00:11:36,680 Speaker 1: day and someday it will add up. Myself is always 245 00:11:36,720 --> 00:11:39,520 Speaker 1: a smaller kid, so it wasn't always that obvious that 246 00:11:39,520 --> 00:11:41,160 Speaker 1: that was going to happen. But I had faith in 247 00:11:41,160 --> 00:11:43,760 Speaker 1: the process, like just always doing a little bit every 248 00:11:43,800 --> 00:11:46,280 Speaker 1: day and just giving him that guidance, Like in life, 249 00:11:46,360 --> 00:11:49,040 Speaker 1: that worked for me and everything I've done. I'm not 250 00:11:49,120 --> 00:11:51,640 Speaker 1: the best tweeter in the world, but I do something 251 00:11:51,640 --> 00:11:54,640 Speaker 1: every day to get better. Um, which makes me eventually 252 00:11:54,679 --> 00:11:56,800 Speaker 1: really good at it, I think. But it's not like 253 00:11:56,840 --> 00:11:58,679 Speaker 1: I was born to do it. Um. In a a matter 254 00:11:58,720 --> 00:12:01,400 Speaker 1: of fact, the internet wasn't gonna on when I was born. Um. 255 00:12:01,520 --> 00:12:05,840 Speaker 1: So it's that process. But then also understanding that it's 256 00:12:05,840 --> 00:12:08,400 Speaker 1: not your like like, I don't care, I just want. 257 00:12:08,840 --> 00:12:10,800 Speaker 1: Most parents just want their kids be good at something, 258 00:12:11,360 --> 00:12:14,720 Speaker 1: and setting up that work ethic allows them to be good. 259 00:12:14,760 --> 00:12:17,760 Speaker 1: If you can use baseball as a metaphor for everything 260 00:12:18,240 --> 00:12:20,720 Speaker 1: you do, that you get better and better every day 261 00:12:20,800 --> 00:12:23,680 Speaker 1: at anything you do, and eventually you're you can be 262 00:12:23,960 --> 00:12:26,600 Speaker 1: a expert or at least really good at something. So 263 00:12:26,679 --> 00:12:29,800 Speaker 1: to me, that was always the overarching thing. But then 264 00:12:30,120 --> 00:12:31,960 Speaker 1: when he was like so, when I was coaching, it 265 00:12:32,000 --> 00:12:34,680 Speaker 1: was all about that. But at some age, eventually it 266 00:12:34,760 --> 00:12:37,079 Speaker 1: becomes the kid's choice and you've got to stay out 267 00:12:37,120 --> 00:12:40,600 Speaker 1: of it. Like once the kid can make decisions or 268 00:12:40,760 --> 00:12:43,560 Speaker 1: decide that they want to play the piano or do whatever, 269 00:12:44,040 --> 00:12:47,800 Speaker 1: that's their dream, that's their lives, and your job as 270 00:12:47,800 --> 00:12:50,679 Speaker 1: a parent is to help and stay out of the way. 271 00:12:50,880 --> 00:12:53,080 Speaker 1: I mean, I have my oldest is seventeen, my youngest 272 00:12:53,160 --> 00:12:55,199 Speaker 1: is four, and I got four in between there. So, like, 273 00:12:55,440 --> 00:12:57,520 Speaker 1: I know, I've had each kids different, but like, at 274 00:12:57,559 --> 00:12:59,920 Speaker 1: what age do you feel like, you know, we all 275 00:13:00,120 --> 00:13:01,960 Speaker 1: want to make sure the kids have a voice, and 276 00:13:02,160 --> 00:13:04,959 Speaker 1: but that, like you keep using that word guidance, what's 277 00:13:05,000 --> 00:13:07,360 Speaker 1: a healthy balancet of because listen, I have kids that 278 00:13:07,360 --> 00:13:09,160 Speaker 1: are highly motivated, and I have some that if I 279 00:13:09,240 --> 00:13:11,120 Speaker 1: let them left them to their own devices, they would 280 00:13:11,120 --> 00:13:13,080 Speaker 1: sit inside and play video games all day long, which 281 00:13:13,120 --> 00:13:15,960 Speaker 1: there's a time and place for for that, right, So 282 00:13:15,960 --> 00:13:18,040 Speaker 1: so how do I know or how did you manage? 283 00:13:18,120 --> 00:13:20,560 Speaker 1: Like what are ways that you can navigate, you know, 284 00:13:20,559 --> 00:13:23,280 Speaker 1: knowing when it's too much versus hey, this kid needs 285 00:13:23,320 --> 00:13:25,040 Speaker 1: a little I need to really kind of help push 286 00:13:25,080 --> 00:13:28,200 Speaker 1: them along here. So my original rules were you get 287 00:13:28,200 --> 00:13:31,000 Speaker 1: your schoolwork done first, homework everything, otherwise you can't do 288 00:13:31,040 --> 00:13:34,120 Speaker 1: anything like That's that's the first thing. The second thing 289 00:13:34,240 --> 00:13:38,200 Speaker 1: is practice whatever sport was in season or whatever, you know, 290 00:13:38,240 --> 00:13:39,760 Speaker 1: whatever you want to be good at. And I don't 291 00:13:39,760 --> 00:13:42,560 Speaker 1: have to be a sport, but spend some time getting better, 292 00:13:42,679 --> 00:13:45,480 Speaker 1: maybe you know, a half hour and hour sometimes I'll 293 00:13:45,480 --> 00:13:48,600 Speaker 1: be I'll do it. Sometimes I wouldn't and just say hey, 294 00:13:48,600 --> 00:13:51,000 Speaker 1: go downstairs and do whatever, you know, just do something 295 00:13:51,040 --> 00:13:53,839 Speaker 1: to get better, and then video games are totally cool. 296 00:13:53,880 --> 00:13:57,400 Speaker 1: Like I understand kids need downtime too. If they're always 297 00:13:57,440 --> 00:14:00,520 Speaker 1: on and when working, that kind of low is for 298 00:14:00,520 --> 00:14:02,280 Speaker 1: the kid. You want them to have fun. And video 299 00:14:02,280 --> 00:14:06,200 Speaker 1: games about socialization competitiveness too, So I mean, I think 300 00:14:06,800 --> 00:14:09,440 Speaker 1: saying that that doesn't have any value is kind of 301 00:14:09,600 --> 00:14:12,640 Speaker 1: apparent thing to say, but it really does have value, 302 00:14:12,679 --> 00:14:14,600 Speaker 1: So I have no problem with that. That's why a 303 00:14:14,600 --> 00:14:16,800 Speaker 1: lot of lot of athletes play video games because it's 304 00:14:16,800 --> 00:14:20,360 Speaker 1: competitive and it's social and it's fun. So and it's 305 00:14:20,360 --> 00:14:22,000 Speaker 1: a way to get away from your parents as well. 306 00:14:23,920 --> 00:14:26,080 Speaker 1: So I think it's a it's a sliding scale to me. 307 00:14:26,160 --> 00:14:30,040 Speaker 1: I think early on parents need to have more structure 308 00:14:30,440 --> 00:14:33,320 Speaker 1: because to provide the structure for the kid and maybe 309 00:14:33,320 --> 00:14:35,560 Speaker 1: be a little more involved, but still keep it fun 310 00:14:35,840 --> 00:14:37,520 Speaker 1: because if it's not fun, they're not gonna kids aren't 311 00:14:37,560 --> 00:14:39,600 Speaker 1: gonna do whatever, even if it's their dream, they're gonna 312 00:14:39,600 --> 00:14:44,640 Speaker 1: say ask um. But as they get older, maybe puberty 313 00:14:44,760 --> 00:14:47,800 Speaker 1: ish ap coaching, like it starts switching over that the 314 00:14:47,840 --> 00:14:49,720 Speaker 1: kid's going to decide what the kid wants to do, 315 00:14:50,280 --> 00:14:52,840 Speaker 1: and I think your job is to remind them but 316 00:14:52,960 --> 00:14:56,720 Speaker 1: also let them have those choices because the decision making 317 00:14:56,800 --> 00:15:01,040 Speaker 1: is another area of growth making the trade offs between 318 00:15:01,120 --> 00:15:04,280 Speaker 1: having fun with your friends and working at something getting 319 00:15:04,280 --> 00:15:06,960 Speaker 1: better and knowing that if I don't work, it's gonna 320 00:15:07,080 --> 00:15:09,800 Speaker 1: show in the future. It's a tradeoff. And that's that's 321 00:15:09,840 --> 00:15:13,400 Speaker 1: I think shows kids how to make those crucial decisions 322 00:15:13,440 --> 00:15:18,000 Speaker 1: in life. So that's another learning experience. Decision making. Man, 323 00:15:18,040 --> 00:15:20,120 Speaker 1: that is like, it's impowered to me that that's right, 324 00:15:20,160 --> 00:15:22,920 Speaker 1: that's that's empowering. You know, your son being a picture. 325 00:15:23,120 --> 00:15:25,840 Speaker 1: You know everyone, I think everyone who's listened here has 326 00:15:26,040 --> 00:15:28,640 Speaker 1: obviously been to their kids or been to youth sporting 327 00:15:28,680 --> 00:15:31,320 Speaker 1: events and one of the things and you talk about it. 328 00:15:31,360 --> 00:15:34,400 Speaker 1: I'm sure you know. Tom House talks about a lot um. 329 00:15:34,440 --> 00:15:36,880 Speaker 1: We talk about parents that will stand there and be 330 00:15:37,000 --> 00:15:39,160 Speaker 1: at the fence at the backstop, you know, while the 331 00:15:39,240 --> 00:15:41,160 Speaker 1: kids hitting and get your elbow up, you know, talking 332 00:15:41,160 --> 00:15:43,920 Speaker 1: to him in between every pitch or here's the best one, right, 333 00:15:43,960 --> 00:15:46,400 Speaker 1: your kids pitching it? Come on, just throw strikes, Like 334 00:15:46,440 --> 00:15:48,440 Speaker 1: what are you kidding me? Like like we're not trying 335 00:15:48,480 --> 00:15:50,960 Speaker 1: to throw strips. How did you as a father of 336 00:15:50,960 --> 00:15:53,240 Speaker 1: a picture. I don't know what you were like when 337 00:15:53,280 --> 00:15:55,000 Speaker 1: you were there not, but I'm sure you've seen it. 338 00:15:55,240 --> 00:15:58,200 Speaker 1: How do you navigate that energy? How do you resist 339 00:15:58,280 --> 00:16:01,960 Speaker 1: the urge to coach through the fense? Oh I I 340 00:16:02,080 --> 00:16:05,160 Speaker 1: just that was a natural inclination to not do it 341 00:16:05,200 --> 00:16:08,960 Speaker 1: because to me, um, the only voice your kid's gonna 342 00:16:09,000 --> 00:16:12,040 Speaker 1: hear is yours, and it's just gonna be the source 343 00:16:12,040 --> 00:16:14,880 Speaker 1: of drama. I know when I was coaching, you know, 344 00:16:14,920 --> 00:16:16,720 Speaker 1: I was in the dugout with my son in high 345 00:16:16,720 --> 00:16:19,680 Speaker 1: school whatever. I wouldn't talk to him at all. I'd 346 00:16:19,680 --> 00:16:22,960 Speaker 1: give him zero coaching because I knew every word, which 347 00:16:23,000 --> 00:16:25,840 Speaker 1: is getting his head too much. So I think I 348 00:16:25,880 --> 00:16:28,600 Speaker 1: remember one time ever even talking to him the dugout 349 00:16:28,880 --> 00:16:31,480 Speaker 1: because it was just this is his thing. I don't 350 00:16:31,480 --> 00:16:34,560 Speaker 1: want to be that dad, ever, so you have to 351 00:16:35,040 --> 00:16:37,640 Speaker 1: you have to take a step back, I think for 352 00:16:37,640 --> 00:16:39,520 Speaker 1: a lot of parents. But also I would just go 353 00:16:39,600 --> 00:16:42,720 Speaker 1: walk around because one thing you competing, the other thing 354 00:16:42,800 --> 00:16:45,440 Speaker 1: is your kid competing. It makes everybody nervous. I get it. 355 00:16:45,800 --> 00:16:47,800 Speaker 1: You want your kids. You've seen your kid at his 356 00:16:47,920 --> 00:16:50,680 Speaker 1: or her best. You know your kid can do it. 357 00:16:50,840 --> 00:16:53,600 Speaker 1: But you also you love your kid and don't ever 358 00:16:53,600 --> 00:16:56,320 Speaker 1: want to see your kid bail. And it's tough as 359 00:16:56,320 --> 00:16:59,520 Speaker 1: a parent a picture, especially when everyone's watching you. You 360 00:16:59,560 --> 00:17:02,120 Speaker 1: don't want your kid to to not show off like 361 00:17:02,160 --> 00:17:04,520 Speaker 1: you know they can, which is why even more so, 362 00:17:04,680 --> 00:17:07,800 Speaker 1: you should get the hell out of a way. Like 363 00:17:08,000 --> 00:17:10,520 Speaker 1: like to me, that's the biggest thing, because if one 364 00:17:10,520 --> 00:17:12,919 Speaker 1: thing is gonna make them not performed, well as you 365 00:17:13,040 --> 00:17:15,840 Speaker 1: keep talking to him. When we return, Rob and I 366 00:17:15,920 --> 00:17:18,320 Speaker 1: discussed why parents may want to stay away from being 367 00:17:18,320 --> 00:17:21,760 Speaker 1: their child's biggest critic and his philosophy that getting a 368 00:17:21,760 --> 00:17:24,879 Speaker 1: little better every day will eventually leave the long term success. 369 00:17:33,440 --> 00:17:35,880 Speaker 1: Welcome back where we left off. Rob and I were 370 00:17:35,920 --> 00:17:38,800 Speaker 1: about to talk about why kids should be their own critics. 371 00:17:41,840 --> 00:17:44,040 Speaker 1: You know, I had, I had rest in peace. My 372 00:17:44,080 --> 00:17:46,879 Speaker 1: father love him, was the best, Uh, but he was 373 00:17:46,920 --> 00:17:49,479 Speaker 1: a competitor. I love like all of us. And this 374 00:17:49,560 --> 00:17:51,560 Speaker 1: was obviously a time in the eighties and nineties, and 375 00:17:51,760 --> 00:17:54,399 Speaker 1: especially in college. I'd always i'd always always joke with 376 00:17:54,480 --> 00:17:57,040 Speaker 1: my dad. I'd say, Dad, I hated calling you like 377 00:17:57,080 --> 00:17:59,560 Speaker 1: you'd always know because I was in North Carolina playing 378 00:17:59,560 --> 00:18:02,879 Speaker 1: baseball and uh my parents were still in New England 379 00:18:02,920 --> 00:18:04,439 Speaker 1: at the time. And you know, my dad want to 380 00:18:04,440 --> 00:18:05,960 Speaker 1: know how I did after the game, how we did 381 00:18:06,280 --> 00:18:07,960 Speaker 1: and if I went over four I didn't get a 382 00:18:08,040 --> 00:18:09,800 Speaker 1: hit or something like that, I wouldn't call. I just 383 00:18:09,800 --> 00:18:11,920 Speaker 1: didn't want to hear. Oh, because he got said, uh, 384 00:18:12,040 --> 00:18:13,520 Speaker 1: would you know what happened to you? At least at 385 00:18:13,520 --> 00:18:15,000 Speaker 1: a ball hard? And I just didn't want to. I 386 00:18:15,080 --> 00:18:16,960 Speaker 1: didn't want to talk. So he learned like, if you 387 00:18:16,960 --> 00:18:18,600 Speaker 1: didn't hear from me, he figured give it a day 388 00:18:18,680 --> 00:18:21,080 Speaker 1: or whatever. But how do you manage that energy on 389 00:18:21,119 --> 00:18:23,480 Speaker 1: the car ride home? Hot button topic. It's a tough 390 00:18:23,520 --> 00:18:26,199 Speaker 1: place to be, tough space. But I hear often, you know, 391 00:18:26,240 --> 00:18:29,200 Speaker 1: people say that's where kids literally the longevity of their 392 00:18:29,240 --> 00:18:33,280 Speaker 1: youth or playing careers could be grown or shortened by 393 00:18:33,280 --> 00:18:35,720 Speaker 1: the car ride home. Yeah, and I think that this 394 00:18:36,480 --> 00:18:38,280 Speaker 1: try And I got to admit at first I was 395 00:18:38,320 --> 00:18:40,879 Speaker 1: not great about that either, because you're like, now that 396 00:18:40,920 --> 00:18:42,920 Speaker 1: I got you, it's after the game we can start 397 00:18:42,960 --> 00:18:45,600 Speaker 1: talking about something. And again, you want what's best for 398 00:18:45,640 --> 00:18:48,280 Speaker 1: your kids, so you're asking questions and if you don't 399 00:18:48,359 --> 00:18:51,040 Speaker 1: hit the right answer, it's gonna be like you're just 400 00:18:51,040 --> 00:18:53,480 Speaker 1: gonna get into that argument. You have to take a 401 00:18:53,560 --> 00:18:56,520 Speaker 1: step back and understand that that's not doing anybody any good. 402 00:18:56,560 --> 00:18:58,800 Speaker 1: You want your kid to be self critical, I mean 403 00:18:59,000 --> 00:19:02,120 Speaker 1: you want everybody you don't get good by not knowing 404 00:19:02,119 --> 00:19:04,719 Speaker 1: your weaknesses. You just don't like if you ignore your 405 00:19:04,720 --> 00:19:06,720 Speaker 1: weaknesses and don't try to make them your strengths. I 406 00:19:06,720 --> 00:19:08,720 Speaker 1: think you're at a disadvantage of Teaching your kid to 407 00:19:08,800 --> 00:19:13,440 Speaker 1: evaluate him or herself is really important, so that you know, 408 00:19:13,480 --> 00:19:15,880 Speaker 1: I'm going to look positively on some of the car 409 00:19:15,960 --> 00:19:17,960 Speaker 1: ride home things. I think if you're a parent trying 410 00:19:17,960 --> 00:19:23,439 Speaker 1: to do that, that's useful, but it's it's uh again, 411 00:19:23,520 --> 00:19:26,480 Speaker 1: it's tough because you're trying. If you're you're if you're 412 00:19:26,520 --> 00:19:30,280 Speaker 1: your kid's best critic or biggest critic, you may be 413 00:19:31,080 --> 00:19:36,239 Speaker 1: also your kid's biggest detractor in being successful because at 414 00:19:36,240 --> 00:19:38,680 Speaker 1: the end of the day, kids are gonna get better 415 00:19:38,760 --> 00:19:41,040 Speaker 1: because they want to do something, and if it makes 416 00:19:41,080 --> 00:19:45,399 Speaker 1: it drama filled after they've after they've competed, they're gonna 417 00:19:45,480 --> 00:19:47,600 Speaker 1: it's just not gonna be. It's not gonna be something 418 00:19:47,640 --> 00:19:49,360 Speaker 1: they're gonna want to do. So you're driving them out 419 00:19:49,359 --> 00:19:52,000 Speaker 1: of the sport that you wanted in the play, So 420 00:19:52,040 --> 00:19:54,600 Speaker 1: when you're when you're you know, being in the content 421 00:19:54,680 --> 00:19:56,760 Speaker 1: space right now and doing all the things that you're doing. 422 00:19:56,800 --> 00:19:59,600 Speaker 1: I mean, you're you're a brand. Uh, You've built an 423 00:19:59,600 --> 00:20:03,840 Speaker 1: incredible brand, and it's it's freaking awesome, is what it is. 424 00:20:04,119 --> 00:20:06,600 Speaker 1: It's awesome. And what I want to talk about is 425 00:20:07,400 --> 00:20:10,000 Speaker 1: for these kids out there who and then and their parents, 426 00:20:10,160 --> 00:20:12,520 Speaker 1: it's like, hey, you can look to Rob Freeman, you 427 00:20:12,520 --> 00:20:14,600 Speaker 1: can look to Pitch and Ninja and say, hey, there's 428 00:20:14,680 --> 00:20:17,360 Speaker 1: doors that you can cause to open up for yourself 429 00:20:17,440 --> 00:20:19,879 Speaker 1: right follow your passion. Because let's face it, I know 430 00:20:19,920 --> 00:20:22,119 Speaker 1: the feeling because when I started Reform Sports Project, man, 431 00:20:22,160 --> 00:20:24,840 Speaker 1: it was uncomfortable putting myself out there, putting my words 432 00:20:24,840 --> 00:20:27,560 Speaker 1: out there and dealing with people having backlash. And then 433 00:20:27,560 --> 00:20:29,240 Speaker 1: you feel like you need to respond to everyone. And 434 00:20:29,520 --> 00:20:31,280 Speaker 1: this is in the very beginning, and then you realize, 435 00:20:31,280 --> 00:20:33,639 Speaker 1: you're that's the waste of time. You can't respond everyone 436 00:20:33,680 --> 00:20:35,520 Speaker 1: and you're always gonna have And then I realized, like, 437 00:20:35,680 --> 00:20:38,320 Speaker 1: you can't have growth without having some criticism. You gotta 438 00:20:38,359 --> 00:20:41,119 Speaker 1: and then I gotta evaluate that. But how would you 439 00:20:41,359 --> 00:20:43,080 Speaker 1: for those kids out there who are like, hey, I 440 00:20:43,119 --> 00:20:45,359 Speaker 1: really want to get into the content space, Like I wanna. 441 00:20:45,600 --> 00:20:47,080 Speaker 1: I want to put things out there. I want to 442 00:20:47,080 --> 00:20:49,320 Speaker 1: make a difference. I wanna you know, I want to 443 00:20:49,440 --> 00:20:52,320 Speaker 1: create a YouTube channel and and and find value in that. 444 00:20:52,640 --> 00:20:55,040 Speaker 1: How did they go about doing that? And and I 445 00:20:55,040 --> 00:20:57,840 Speaker 1: guess how are ways that you found your passion? What 446 00:20:57,880 --> 00:21:01,040 Speaker 1: are ways from from an entrepreneurial stamp point that kids 447 00:21:01,080 --> 00:21:03,760 Speaker 1: can harness, you know, their love for sport to help 448 00:21:03,840 --> 00:21:07,760 Speaker 1: create content and eventually, I guess, build a business for themselves. Yeah. 449 00:21:07,840 --> 00:21:10,919 Speaker 1: So it's interesting because I think some people think that 450 00:21:10,960 --> 00:21:13,280 Speaker 1: it's a lot easier than it is, or some people 451 00:21:13,320 --> 00:21:16,879 Speaker 1: think it's too difficult. To me, most people that want 452 00:21:16,920 --> 00:21:19,280 Speaker 1: to get into content space, they think it's a quick 453 00:21:19,280 --> 00:21:21,480 Speaker 1: way of doing something, and when they don't see success 454 00:21:21,560 --> 00:21:23,840 Speaker 1: right away, they just stop and do something else. And 455 00:21:23,920 --> 00:21:26,400 Speaker 1: to me, number one, I never set out to be 456 00:21:26,760 --> 00:21:28,760 Speaker 1: like to do what I do. I just never did 457 00:21:28,800 --> 00:21:31,040 Speaker 1: it was It's still some days I wake up and 458 00:21:31,040 --> 00:21:34,600 Speaker 1: going I'm doing what Like I'm a lawyer. I started 459 00:21:34,600 --> 00:21:36,920 Speaker 1: my own business and sold it and now I'm doing 460 00:21:37,080 --> 00:21:40,040 Speaker 1: a baseball thing, Like I'm on TV doing baseball stuff 461 00:21:40,080 --> 00:21:43,000 Speaker 1: like that doesn't make any sense? Um, Like I just 462 00:21:43,000 --> 00:21:45,840 Speaker 1: wake up. You know, everybody goes through imposter syndrome. You 463 00:21:45,880 --> 00:21:48,480 Speaker 1: go through like why am I doing this? Like of 464 00:21:48,520 --> 00:21:51,040 Speaker 1: all the people, why is it me? And then uh, 465 00:21:51,240 --> 00:21:55,280 Speaker 1: like so I think my biggest my my biggest advice 466 00:21:55,920 --> 00:21:58,680 Speaker 1: is to work really hard at it and to do 467 00:21:58,840 --> 00:22:01,840 Speaker 1: something every day to get better. Just like being an athlete, 468 00:22:02,520 --> 00:22:06,280 Speaker 1: as a content creator, it's putting stuff out there, listening 469 00:22:06,320 --> 00:22:09,359 Speaker 1: to see, you know, what's being successful, what's not, what 470 00:22:09,520 --> 00:22:12,679 Speaker 1: you like, to do your interesting take on something. But 471 00:22:12,840 --> 00:22:15,359 Speaker 1: it takes a lot of freaking time. Like it is 472 00:22:15,440 --> 00:22:18,560 Speaker 1: not for the faint of heart. Um as far as 473 00:22:18,600 --> 00:22:22,800 Speaker 1: ours like I do. I am constantly doing baseball stuff 474 00:22:22,880 --> 00:22:25,879 Speaker 1: during the season because I love it, but also because 475 00:22:26,080 --> 00:22:27,840 Speaker 1: if I'm going to put my voice, I am going 476 00:22:27,920 --> 00:22:30,359 Speaker 1: to live the life of doing it. Like I watch 477 00:22:30,440 --> 00:22:33,679 Speaker 1: all the games, I break stuff down. I have my 478 00:22:33,720 --> 00:22:36,280 Speaker 1: own take on it, but I also listen to see, 479 00:22:36,760 --> 00:22:39,640 Speaker 1: you know, to still every day I'll read my notifications 480 00:22:39,640 --> 00:22:42,520 Speaker 1: and see comments and try to make my stuff better 481 00:22:42,600 --> 00:22:46,199 Speaker 1: in some ways. So it's hard. It's hard work. It 482 00:22:46,320 --> 00:22:48,880 Speaker 1: is not a quick there's no get rich quick thing. 483 00:22:49,160 --> 00:22:52,200 Speaker 1: There's no good quick thing in baseball or in life. 484 00:22:52,440 --> 00:22:55,199 Speaker 1: Everybody looks for it. There's no magic answer. It's a 485 00:22:55,240 --> 00:22:58,200 Speaker 1: lot of work and a lot of incremental growth every day. 486 00:22:58,520 --> 00:23:00,440 Speaker 1: It sounds to me as you were talking, I'm thinking 487 00:23:00,480 --> 00:23:02,360 Speaker 1: all I can think of is like, you know, just 488 00:23:02,400 --> 00:23:05,320 Speaker 1: like in athletics, just like in anything, if you want 489 00:23:05,320 --> 00:23:08,040 Speaker 1: to be successful, you gotta be all in. You know, 490 00:23:08,080 --> 00:23:10,000 Speaker 1: you gotta be all in And you said it, you know, 491 00:23:10,000 --> 00:23:12,119 Speaker 1: you gotta live the life. You know, you're gonna have 492 00:23:12,160 --> 00:23:15,080 Speaker 1: a lot of would be or you know, aspiring pictures 493 00:23:15,119 --> 00:23:17,080 Speaker 1: baseball players, but not just that, You're gonna have a 494 00:23:17,119 --> 00:23:19,520 Speaker 1: lot of aspiring student athletes in all different sports who 495 00:23:19,560 --> 00:23:21,520 Speaker 1: are gonna listen to you from your experience as a 496 00:23:21,520 --> 00:23:24,200 Speaker 1: sports parient and content creator and just the success that 497 00:23:24,280 --> 00:23:26,480 Speaker 1: you are what would be the best. But also you 498 00:23:26,520 --> 00:23:28,520 Speaker 1: have flat ground app you have you know, the flat 499 00:23:28,520 --> 00:23:31,399 Speaker 1: ground hitting. So you're helping kids get exposure, you know, 500 00:23:31,440 --> 00:23:34,760 Speaker 1: which is a critical element. What are the best ways 501 00:23:34,920 --> 00:23:37,359 Speaker 1: for you that you would give advice to these kids 502 00:23:37,480 --> 00:23:39,960 Speaker 1: to get exposure, to get looks and to be seen 503 00:23:40,040 --> 00:23:42,600 Speaker 1: to help them in the recruiting process. Yeah, so the 504 00:23:43,000 --> 00:23:45,399 Speaker 1: one easiest thing, and it's totally free, and people that 505 00:23:45,480 --> 00:23:48,480 Speaker 1: don't take advantage of it are doing themselves a huge disservice. 506 00:23:48,720 --> 00:23:51,400 Speaker 1: But if you tweet at flat ground app or at 507 00:23:51,400 --> 00:23:55,320 Speaker 1: flat ground Bats, you will get seen college coaches across 508 00:23:55,320 --> 00:23:59,040 Speaker 1: the country follow it. Um travel teams follow it. Coaches 509 00:23:59,119 --> 00:24:01,760 Speaker 1: follow it, and they'll give free advice like the idea 510 00:24:01,760 --> 00:24:03,920 Speaker 1: of not doing that and putting your best foot out 511 00:24:03,960 --> 00:24:06,160 Speaker 1: there with a lot of information about what you're looking 512 00:24:06,200 --> 00:24:09,520 Speaker 1: for about yourself. If you're not doing that, you're just 513 00:24:09,680 --> 00:24:11,960 Speaker 1: cheating yourself out of a career. And you you know, 514 00:24:12,880 --> 00:24:15,040 Speaker 1: the showcase and all that stuff are great, but this 515 00:24:15,160 --> 00:24:17,880 Speaker 1: is free and you're saving your parents money. You're also 516 00:24:17,920 --> 00:24:20,040 Speaker 1: showing that you're into it, Like if you're writing your 517 00:24:20,040 --> 00:24:23,880 Speaker 1: own tweets and trying to learn yourself, that shows you're 518 00:24:23,920 --> 00:24:26,720 Speaker 1: really bought into this and you're right. The key to 519 00:24:26,800 --> 00:24:29,760 Speaker 1: everything is to own it. Like I don't care if 520 00:24:29,760 --> 00:24:32,560 Speaker 1: you want to be a social media person, if you 521 00:24:32,600 --> 00:24:34,320 Speaker 1: want to be an athlete, if you want to be 522 00:24:34,359 --> 00:24:38,800 Speaker 1: an entrepreneur. It's deep learning doing it yourself, being self 523 00:24:39,080 --> 00:24:42,520 Speaker 1: valuating yourself, seeing where you come short, being honest, but 524 00:24:42,600 --> 00:24:46,919 Speaker 1: also not getting discouraged because everybody started somewhere, and if 525 00:24:47,000 --> 00:24:49,720 Speaker 1: you constantly do that, if you have this loop of 526 00:24:50,280 --> 00:24:52,399 Speaker 1: this is where I want to go, these are steps 527 00:24:52,400 --> 00:24:54,399 Speaker 1: that that I think I need to do to get there, 528 00:24:54,440 --> 00:24:56,919 Speaker 1: trying to do it every day, and then being honest 529 00:24:56,960 --> 00:25:00,199 Speaker 1: with yourself when you fall short, but also put in 530 00:25:00,240 --> 00:25:02,960 Speaker 1: the effort for going some stuff that may be fun 531 00:25:03,040 --> 00:25:05,720 Speaker 1: for you if you have a different goal, and people 532 00:25:05,720 --> 00:25:07,800 Speaker 1: have a really hard time with that. Everybody wants to 533 00:25:07,800 --> 00:25:10,160 Speaker 1: get rich quick, nobody wants to put in the work. 534 00:25:10,280 --> 00:25:13,000 Speaker 1: I will tell you from being an entrepreneur, I lived 535 00:25:13,200 --> 00:25:17,760 Speaker 1: every single day trying to outdo my competitors, every day, 536 00:25:17,920 --> 00:25:20,440 Speaker 1: putting myself in their shoes what they would do out 537 00:25:20,480 --> 00:25:24,080 Speaker 1: thinking about working them, and it matters. So whether you 538 00:25:24,119 --> 00:25:27,080 Speaker 1: want to be an entrepreneur or an athlete, it's the 539 00:25:27,119 --> 00:25:31,000 Speaker 1: same thing. I love it. Rob Freeman Pitching Ninja, flat 540 00:25:31,040 --> 00:25:33,680 Speaker 1: Ground app Flat Ground Hitting, Where else could we find you? 541 00:25:33,720 --> 00:25:36,880 Speaker 1: Got the podcast, the YouTube channel, just Pitching Ninja on YouTube, 542 00:25:37,000 --> 00:25:40,280 Speaker 1: Get Pitching Ninja videos on YouTube, Pitching Ninja on everything else, 543 00:25:40,320 --> 00:25:44,560 Speaker 1: including TikTok um, and then you know whatever, Like I mean, 544 00:25:44,560 --> 00:25:47,960 Speaker 1: I think I'm everywhere. I don't understand it, Like I'm 545 00:25:47,960 --> 00:25:50,399 Speaker 1: tired of myself. I love it. Well, You're about the 546 00:25:50,440 --> 00:25:52,639 Speaker 1: only one man, because I can't stop following you. I 547 00:25:52,760 --> 00:25:54,359 Speaker 1: love to know all the kids do man, I just 548 00:25:54,440 --> 00:25:57,000 Speaker 1: can't thank you enough for your time. Rob, I appreciate 549 00:25:57,040 --> 00:26:00,560 Speaker 1: your brother. Thanks for having me. That's Rob free in Pitching, 550 00:26:00,640 --> 00:26:04,800 Speaker 1: Ninja baseball analyst and entrepreneur. Thanks for listening to The 551 00:26:04,840 --> 00:26:08,120 Speaker 1: Reform Sports Project podcast dom Nick Boncourt and Our goal 552 00:26:08,160 --> 00:26:10,800 Speaker 1: is to restore a healthy balance and perspective in all 553 00:26:10,920 --> 00:26:14,520 Speaker 1: areas of sports through education and advocacy. For updates, please 554 00:26:14,560 --> 00:26:17,679 Speaker 1: follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or check out 555 00:26:17,720 --> 00:26:20,400 Speaker 1: our website by searching for the Reform Sports Project