Who Are You: The Life Lessons of Sports

Ever heard of the Ralston Rule? Many have not, in fact, some call it an urban legend, but the rule is intact today due to what Dennis did? Do you agree with the action he took?

Dennis Ralston paid a high price for life as the U.S.’s No. 1-ranked tennis player three straight years in the ’60s. The expectations that nearly crushed him were the least of it. Dennis has won and lost at Wimbledon, has been Ranked in the Top 3 in the world and has had the success a tennis professional could only dream about.

However all of that put aside, Dennis is a legend, a legend who is able to communicate the successes and challenges of life on and off the court. Dennis Ralston had the first of 16 knee operations when he was 18. The last two, a replacement for each knee, were a half-century later. As if that weren’t enough, tennis also took his left leg just below the artificial knee. The physical cost came to 16 knee operations, the first when he was only 18. The last two, a replacement for each knee, were a half-century later. The irony is that his parents encouraged him not to play football due to potential knee injuries.

Ralston was one of the so-called “Handsome Eight” who changed the face of the sport, taking it from amateur to professional. One of the original bad boys of tennis. He went from “Dennis the Menace” to captain and coach of champion U.S. Davis Cup teams. A member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

The man who coached Chris Evert in the ’80s and Yannick Noah and Gabriela Sabatini in the ’90s and SMU for more than a decade. Ralston says he isn’t trying to prove anything by playing occasionally. He still hates losing. It annoys him that he can’t get to shots. But he’s glad he can play. He likes the notion that it might inspire the disabled.

He appreciates the opportunity to share his experiences and knwledge about his addiction, hoping that by opening up about his experience he can educate others. And he still loves tennis. Even after all it’s cost. As Dennis says, “I don’t ever want to retire. I couldn’t retire.”

Significant Credit to Kevin Sherrington, from SportsDayDFW and on Twitter @KSherringtonDMN for almost all of this story and biography. Well-written Kevin.

Robin and an entire bar full of people in New York City is held hostage in the scariest moment of her life.

Robin is a corporate lawyer turned Ambassador of Sweat, running coach, cycling instructor, and ultra marathoner.

SHUTUPANDRUN, her blog, is for athletes who think medals are the highest form of Bling. She believes in the mantra: We sweat with swagger on the streets of our cities; and we never sacrifice style for function. Fueled by the ethos that there is no finish line, Robin’s life's mission - redefine, reform, and rethink possibility through movement.

Robin is a former social media producer for Nike Women, coaching athletes is her passion. One time she ran 5 marathons in 5 days across Utah. Her to do list has one thing on it: do epic s*@t. 

Sweat is magic and transforms lives. When Robin not training for ultra marathons, she coaches endurance athletes of all levels at S10 Training and teaches indoor cycling at Revolve NYC, Peloton and Reebok. Prior to pursuing health and wellness, Robin graduated magna cum laude from New York University and Villanova University School of Law. The fine print: RRCA certified running coach, NASM certified personal trainer, and Schwinn spin instructor.

Hailing from Cuban and Puerto Rican parents, Robin believes the sun and booty shakes are good for the soul. 

Let's listen to her and then, as she say’s it best, “Let’s play!”

Thanks to Robin and the bio she shares on her website robinarzon.com for this information, much more well-written than I could have ever produced!

Andi Hardy discusses a "I am not going to be last" mentality with us as she describes her first Spartan Race experience.

Andi Hardy, the "Barbed Wire Queen of Green" runs some of the toughest races in the world. But it all came with a price. A Price of having to live through being teased as a young girl, a price of finding her way and not always feeling as though “she fit in”. However, sports and the camaraderie of sports have, in essence, blessed Andi with a 360-degree discovery of who she is and who she wants to be around. The only difference is this time it is by her own choosing. 

She has just started training again for Spartan Races, after a few months off for reflection. Andi uses her mantra of "How bad do you want this" to always push for that extra step, set or mile. She loves obstacle races so much that she even works for an obstacle race company, Spartan Race!

As a child Andi was shy and withdrawn but always pushed to the limit in sports. Andi also had knee problems that required multiple surgeries and lacked self-confidence in her younger years and found that if somebody told her she could not do something she would often believe them.It was not until her later life that she learned to defy the naysayers and push beyond what everyone, including herself, though she was capable of doing.

Listen in to Andi tell of breaking through that wall of pessimism in her first race and surpassing many of the other runners. Let her inspire you to go that extra distance by asking yourself "How bad do I want this?"

Want to know what really happens on Shark Tank. Listen as Julie takes you through her journey while pitching her brand, Slawsa to the Sharks!

Julie Busha was born in Cincinnati, OH but has also lived in Troy, MI and Sarasota, FL She graduated Academic All-American in cross-country and track at Winthrop University, with 3 departmental honors in health and a physical education degree and the Order of Omega.

Post graduation, Julie was recruited by the sport-marketing giant, IMG and then worked primarily in the NASCAR industry. In 2007, Spring Cup MASCAR Champion, Bobby Labonte asked Julie to leave their respective agencies and help build his sport marketing company, which she did and served as Director of Marketing until the end of 2010 when Julie left the industry to pursue a new life as an entrepreneur.

Fortunately, Julie had built many connections and called General Mills, a 9.5-year client while working in the NASCAR industry. A few phone calls and many hours, weeks and years of hard work later, Julie was off to the races. Thankfully Julie, from her experience playing sports as well as her calling to play with transformers over Barbie Dolls, learned how to manage and face the challenges and grit from her athletic experiences that would later help her perceiver in her new endeavor. Today Julie has launched and runs one of the fastest growing companies in the country. Perhaps you've heard of it: Slawsa! If not, you will soon.

Julie moved from NASCAR to being a guest on Television's hottest show, Shark Tank with a product that will make your mouth water. Now in almost 6000 stores nationwide, Slawsa is taking the country by storm. But the path, like sports, was not easy. Overcoming odds, miscommunication, under-performing teammates, being told no; all of this has paved the path to her success today.

Do not miss this story: sports, an underdog story and great food, what could be better?

What Did Red Sox Manager Terry Francona And Butch Share During The 2007 Red Sox World Series Run?

Butch Stearns is veteran media broadcaster and long time Boston sports personality. Behind the man on the camera or microphone, Butch is a sincere and caring individual who has dedicated his life to understand his role as well as to maintain a simplistic approach, passed down from his father, “to just think.” In his tenure as a Sports Broadcaster Butch has worked for affiliates for many major Television and Radio networks: ABC, NBC, CBS, ESPN and FOX as well as Sporting News Radio, Entercom and Clear Channel. He has covered 10 Super Bowls, 6 NBA Finals, 3 World Series and countless other major sporting events including when the Red Sox traveled to Tokyo. Currently, Butch is the Chief Customer Officer of The Pulse Network. The Pulse Network is a content marketing platform.