Before Dustin Padroia became a multi-time World Series Champion and Red Sox Hall of Famer, he was a motivated kid stuck in a five foot nine, hundred and forty-five foot body. Plus, when the roster says he’s five foot nine, you can take it to the bank that the guy is more like five foot seven.
This man had an audacity that made him great.
That’s why when the assistant coach at Arizona State University reported to then head coach, Pat Murphy, that he’d found their future starting shortstop, had to promise not to laugh when he met Padroia.
Padroia later visited ASU, who was offering him a 30% scholarship opportunity and ran into Coach Murphy who didn’t recognize the boyish figure in front of him. Confused, Coach Murphy asked how he could help the young man.
“I’m your future shortstop,” Pedroia snapped back.
“What makes you think that?” coach asked.
Pedroia’s response was quick. “What makes you think you guys can offer me 30%, when all these schools that beat your ass last year are offering me a full ride?”
“If you can pay half as good as you can talk,” Murphy replied. “You’ll do just fine here.”
The rest is history.
If you ever saw Pedroia play you know that he played well beyond his talents. His audacity to be great made him so. If I ever need evidence that how you think matters, I watch Pedroia.
The key isn’t just to have belief. It’s to back it up.
6/19/24 WOD
DEUCE Athletics GPP
Complete 4 rounds of the following:
8 Front Squat
8 DB Front Foot Elevated Split Squats (ea)
:45 Hollow Hold
Complete the following for time:
6th St Hill Run
Then,
24 Sandbag Ground to Shoulder (150/100)
Then,
7th St Hill Run
– Every 6 Ground to Shoulder, 10 burpees –
DEUCE Garage GPP
Find a Heavy Push Jerk
Then, complete 5 rounds for time of:
15 DB Shoulder-to-Overhead (45/25)
30 Double Unders