UM fan pursues dream in Tuscaloosa

Roll Damn Tide's big reveal. Oh well. Good luck!

Geaux Blue!

I always admire anyone who does so for the simple reason that I haven't figured out what my dream is yet, and I'm nearing 40.  So how long have you been out of baseball before trying to jump back in?

Much like a fellow poster, I am happy to hear another person pursue their dream, and I am still trying to figure out what my dream is.

The cliche goes something like "we don't usually regret the things we do - more often we regret the things we don't do" and like a lot of cliches there's a lot of truth in it.  Whether you succeed or not, it takes some serious cajones to try out.

Good luck!

Congrats, if you can pursue a dream that is cool. Just don't take it too personal if the dream doesn't work out as you hope. You will have the knowledge that you gave it a try. No shame, in that.

There should be more personal stories on this board.  Stuff like this is great and you don't see it here very often (whereas on Rivals it's a daily thing).  I wish this board was more conducive to having more threads / lower average posts per thread.  It seems like people are quick to get in an uproar if the subject is lacking depth to inspire 100 replies.  

Thanks everyone, I appreciate the kind words.  I've been out of baseball for about 6 years since college.  Just turned 29 in March.  But I've always been in good shape and athletic, and you don't forget how to play, it's more about getting back into baseball shape and working out some kinks.  Sometimes you have to hit rock bottom before you figure it out.  I hope none of you have to go through that, but if you do, just know that there is light at the end of the tunnel, just push yourself.  The only person in the way of achieving greatness is you!

If things don't work out in Alabama, stop by Comerica Park the next time you're in town.

We expect updates with pictures!

I am also chasing my dream of making it in media broadcasting. 

I have to say that sometimes I look back and wish I would have had the drive to further pursue my hockey career. After playing in the CHL and not getting drafted I decided to give on the pursuit of a professional career and went to university (played hockey there as well, but in Canada university hockey isn't what it is in the NCAA. 

I was told at the time I had a pretty good chance of getting picked up by a team as a free agent but they would have likely been looking at me to take on an "enforcer" role, which I didn't relish. I love the game too much to put in a role of simply being a fighter so I moved on with my life.

One of my good friends is still in the league today and is in the enforcer role for his team as well. He has played for 15 years and made a lot of money doing what he loves and many times when hanging out with him I start to wonder....what if? 

Good luck to you in your pursuit. I hope everything works out for the best for you, whether that is in baseball or something else.

Good luck.

out at a youngish age.

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain

Praying for you dude..good luck in that and whatever you end up doing!

YOLO. Best of luck to you.

I loved playing baseball more than any other sport.  I was a pitcher and threw nothing but offspeed junk (my fastball was in essence my change up).  When recruiting letters started rolling in more for football and problems with throwing arm starting to grow, halfway through junior year of baseball I stopped playing to focus on training more for football.  I may not have gone anywhere for baseball, but I regret it everyday, especially seeing as I scoffed at the actual football offers I did get.

What I'm saying is, congrats on growing a pair and trying to live out your dream.  I'm sure there are many of us on here who had aspirations of becoming something in their own respective sport(s), and we'll all live precariously through you.  Good luck, and no matter what, I respect you for no longer having to ever say "what if."

I'm surprised at the response to this.  I can't thank you all enough.  I will do my best to take some pictures and also give some sort of update following everything.  And I'm gad I shared this on the board, I though about not doing it but here's how I look at it.  

We're all here for one thing, a love for The greatest University in the world.  As fans, we are too Michigan Men, and therefore, brothers/sisters, family.  And there's no reason why we can't share things with our family that are important to us.  No matter what happens tomorrow morning I will hold my head high, and keep on keeping on as my Mom always tells me.  Thanks again to everyone. GO BLUE!!!!!!!!

Tuscaloosa is a great town.  If you can, check out the path the tornado cut, just a half-mile south of the stadium.  Craziness.  (T-Town, never down!)

Make sure to ask Alex Avila's patron saint to give you some of that good stuff he displayed in that stadium too!!

Good luck to you in Tuscaloosa! (That might be the only time I say that in this life, but this is a great post and kudos to you for having the dedication to do this)

Hopefully, you'll let us know how it goes in a follow-up!

Kudos and good luck to you, sir.

I've always wondered what if when it comes to baseball too. It's not my favorite sport, but I had a mean knuckleball - still do. I don't know if I can throw it 60'6" or not, but I've always wondered, if I had stuck with it and developed it, could I have been the next great knuckleballer?

Good luck with the dream!

Good luck in T-Town and honk/wave when you pass by us at the Huntsville exit..

Tim

make sure u represent Michigan with some Go Blue gear.
Good luck!

If you can throw fastballs for strikes as a lefty I think you'll get some attention. Not a lot more to it than that. At 29, I'm not so sure you'll make the majors, but ain't nothing wrong with spending the summer touring with an AA team somewhere, now is there? That'd offer some great stories, if nothing else!

Livin' the dream!  Good Luck!  As a Mom (mine are young, though) I agree with what your mom says.  You can totally do it.

Don't let ANYONE tell you that you can't do it. It IS possible. You can't achieve your dreams if you don't try. Good luck! I'm definately rooting for you. Live life to the fullest and Go Blue!

Go Blue!

If everyone were able to have and recognize a dream, let alone pursue it, the world would be a far happier place. Good luck!

Sincerely, wish you the best!  I'd recommend watching Kenny Powers for an example of how to conduct yourself.  : /

Good luck!!

Funny and sort of related story that my husband likes to tell. He and his brother grew up in Chicago as a Cubs and a White Sox fan, respectively. His brother, who was a year older, apparently had a pretty mean fast ball. So, when he was around 19 and heard that the Cubs were having open tryouts, he thought, why not? I'm sure this was more of a PR stunt than anything, but my brother-in-law went, thinking he was trying out for the Cubs. So he steps on to the mound and starts throwing - his best and fastest pitches. After about 10 of his best  throws ever, the guy from the Cubs organization says, "Ok, now let's see some pitches." Deflated, he threw a few more, and then went home. I always admired him for even showing up. 

Good luck to you! As Mick Jagger and Ketih Richards wrote, Lose your dreams, and you will lose your mind. 

I look forward to the Disney movie(or abc family at the least). Good luck!!!

Prayer sent your way.  Good luck, dude. No matter what, you are pursuing your dreams, so doubts will never cloud your mind. 

*hug* 

dream chases you!

But seriously, hope it works out for you.   My dream was always to create a wall of paperwork to protect pharmaceutical companies from the evils of the FDA and those stupid consumers.  I encouraged my little brother to be a artist, he's a very happy man.  I'm not complaining, my life is good.