Three

Name the professional athletes you respect the most and why.

Bobby Orr, Charles Barkley, and Thomas Saggese.

I was too young to fully appreciate Bobby Orr’s hockey career, or the contributions he made to the sport, but I knew there was something pretty special about him, even as a very small child, I felt his differentness. Years later I read his auto biography and was impressed by his humility and genuine down to earth way. Here was a very famous history changer, who never let fame go to his head.

Charles Barkley I only really know from his commentary position before and after basketball games. He seems genuinely nice. He’s funny and light and doesn’t appear star struck by his own fame. I feel like these two are at home in there own skin, they come across as regulated and easy going. Both were amazing at their sport, but neither seem big headed about it.

My best friend’s sweet son Thomas was just traded up to triple A. This is a big deal because (as I’m learning) baseball has a several tiered farm system where young hopeful athletes have to prove their skills and be scouted from B to A to double A etc before even being considered to play on a regular team.

Here’s our Thomas being called up twice in two months at the very end of the season and now he’s at the level that he is being looked at and considered for the MLB team. I’ve know him since the day he was born. (I was actually there). Never has he ever been big headed or taken with his talent or success. He is and always has been the nicest kid you’ll ever meet.

Thomas is one of the most regulated people I’ve ever known. He smiles easily, works hard, gives his all, gets discouraged when he’s not doing well, but always rights himself and presses on.

I’m biased for sure, but I really do appreciate when good calm confident regulated people are genuinely good at what they do.