Been an athlete since grade school. Started with dodgeball as a child, which inadvertently gave me a very strong arm. Because of this coaches always played me at right field or third base. Played all sorts of sports on the street in NYC, and developed athleticism. Won athlete of the year award in 1985 in Visitation Day camp and things began taking off. Obsessed over baseball during those years, and obsessed over my swing and batting. Learned from listening to great players like Don Mattingly and Wade Boggs. Learned from great coaches like Jim Durling, who had a baseball camp. Pushed hard all through high school to play baseball at a high level and was very successful, including striking out only once during the entire regular season. Was offered a scholarship to Fordham University in June of 1989. On June 1, 1989 I was leading the batting title with a 636 average in the Hudson Valley High school Division 1 baseball, but finished .590 after got chicken pox.

Easy! Was Ralph and Bobby from my little league team when I was 12, in 1983. They were very encouraging, and knew the game. They gave us words of affirmation when we did well, and correction when we did poorly. They always spoke things like "Hustle" always "hustle" and I never forgot that. I won my first baseball championship as a player that season. Wonderful experience that I will never forget.

I love helping others improve their game, but also their lives. God gave us many special gifts here, sports being one of them.

Some little league coaching experience from 90s, men's baseball coach in the 90s, men's hockey captain/coach in the late 2000s. Absolutely loved being coach/captain of my men's hockey team in St Cloud FL. I was asked to be captain, and I asked the players if they wanted to win. We instituted a defensive system that I learned from Al Arbour, and to their credit, the players embraced it, executed it flawlessly, and we went from last to first, and won 3 out of the next 4 championships. Most fun I ever had in sports.

There is so much involved. But if the player is dedicated to improving, and has the time to put into it, improvements are very possible. Nutrition, preparation, practice, dedication, desire, all play a part. I can encourage and lead the way in avenues that other coaches don't understand. Also, mentally the player must enjoy the game and have fun, otherwise it doesn't work.

Depends on what is needed. If the player is out of shape, we must run, and talk about nutrition. If the player is in shape but is hitting or fielding poorly, we can go over philosophies of hitting, mental approach, situational hitting, fielding, etc. If the player wants higher average, we can talk about how to accomplish this. If he wants more power, there are things that must be done to increase power, etc.