Here’s another story in my segment of how everthing-always-points-back-to-Ashland.
I was reading a new sports tell-all book, “A-Rod,” which was recently loaned to me from a good friend who keeps me up with the sports books coming and going.
“A-Rod” was written by former Sports Illustrated columnist Selena Roberts, and it apparently hasn’t been wildly received nationally. An AP story the other day talked about the book’s woeful sales. Maybe A-Rod isn’t the household name they thought it would be.
It was Roberts who first broke the steroid scandal with Alex Rodriquez, the star Yankee third baseman. I’ve read better books, but thought it was interesting.
About 80 pages in, it got more interesting.
Which brings us to how Ashland somehow intersects with all points everywhere, again.
Jim Fannin, a 1967 graduate of Ashland and a former standout tennis player here, became A-Rod’s sports guru motivational mentalist, for lack of a better word, when he broke into the major leagues.
Fannin has A-Rod visualize three goals and he achieves them, including making the All-Star team, winning a batting title and meeting one of his heroes, Cal Ripken Jr..
Fannin believes in the power of visualization and has used it with several high-profile athletes, but none any bigger than A-Rod.
In the book, the mental coach talked about being raised poor in Appalachia, where his home had plywood sheets covering the floors because termites had attacked the floorboards.
He also talked about meeting, at the age of 12, “an eighty-three-year-old Afrcian-American man, and he showed me some things about energy that were life-changing. He taught me how to visualize success.”
I’m sure Fannin was referring to Professor R.W. Ross, who worked as a custodian at the Central Park tennis courts. Ross was a mentor to many in the tennis community.
Fannin went on to play college tennis at East Tennessee State and majored in marketing and psychology. After graduating, he began working with tennis players as a life coach and later developed a S.C.O.R.E. System, which plays heavily on the power of positive thinking.
Anyway, right in the middle of this book about the many lives of A-Rod, was the story about Fannin’s connection to him.
Joey Cora, who was a teammate of Alex’s in Seattle, introduced Fannin and A-Rod and Rodriguez seeks Fannin’s counsel many times throughout the book. He has Fannin’s cell number on speed dial. The book said that Alex would either talk with, text or e-mail Fannin before every game. The results were life-changing for A-Rod, who calls Fannin “my sounding board, guide, advisor, mentor, therapist, baseball strategist, life coach and Zone coach. And my friend.”
Fannin tries to put athletes in “the zone,” which he describes as the perfect state of mind for performance.
A-Rod’s first full season in the majors was more of a struggle, but Fannin’s system allowed him to relax. It seemed to have a good affect on him.
Fannin has made a nice living out of motivational coaching with the stars the past 35 years. He’s a well-known and respected commodity in professional circles.
He’s coached 24 baseball All-Stars, four former Cy Young Award winners (Orel Hershiser, Roger McDowell, Barry Zito and Randy Johnson), three MVPs (Mo Vaughn, Frank Thomas, A-Rod), two home run champions, NFL All-Pros, NBA players, pro golfers, tennis players, actors, authors. Pretty much you name it, he’s coached them.
Fannin’s name pops up in the “A-Rod” book on several other occasions as he helps the superstar deal with the pressures of being one of the biggest’s attractions in baseball. A-Rod is always quick to call Fannin when good things are happening, too. They obviously have an interesting relationship.
Fannin, as it turns out, is going to be here this summer as part of the Elks Sports Day festivities honoring Bobby Lynch. Fannin went to school with Lynch’s brother, Billy, and will be the guest speaker for the night.
I’m sure he’ll have some A-Rod stories to tell us, not to mention some of the other high-profile athletes and people he has been around during his life.
Fannin will be one of the more interesting speakers the Sports Day has had in recent years. It should be a lot of fun. The Saturday night banquet is scheduled for July 18.
MARK MAYNARD can be reached at mmaynard@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2648.
