North Carolina State University Athletics
Meeting Baseball's Iron Man (11/25/08)
11/25/2008 12:00:00 AM | Pack Athletics
One of the best experiences I have had since arriving at NC State earlier this fall was the opportunity to meet the most determined and dedicated baseball player of all time, Cal Ripken Jr.
I will always be grateful for the amount of time he spent with me and my teammates prior to his appearance at the seventh-annual Gen. Hugh Shelton Leadership Forum and the lasting impression he made on my life.
He talked with us about the importance of perseverance and trust. I have met and been around professional athletes a lot in my lifetime, such as my cousin who played for the Chicago White Sox, but this was somehow different. Cal talked with us as if he had known us for years, was passionate about everything he said and took the time to answer many of our questions. His passion for the game of baseball was evident - and that's after toiling through thousands of professional games. I am willing to bet, if he didn't have to catch a flight back home, he would have spoken with us for hours.
Like many others, I have worked through hardships and setbacks during my baseball career, such as the two surgeries that took me away from the game for nearly two years. It's invaluable to me to hear from a player who has reached the height of his profession, something I would love to one day achieve. His message of perseverance and overcoming challenges will make me a better person and ballplayer.
Cal talked to us about leadership and trust and being able to count on his teammates and them being able to count on him throughout his career. There were many times he considered taking himself out of the lineup due to the negative media attention he was receiving. He often talked to his teammates about this, and they always convinced him he should not take himself out of the lineup because his leadership on the field was too valuable for their team. His teammates trusted him, even when he struggled, and because of them, his streak of consecutive games played continued until it reached a remarkable 2,632 straight games.
I paid attention last season as the Wolfpack got within one game of going to the College World Series in Omaha, Neb. Watching my future teammates play on ESPN gave me chills and made me so excited to arrive here on campus in the fall. After going through fall practice, I believe we have the ability, the perseverance and trust we need as a team to get there.
Cal Ripken's visit had a strong impact on me and my teammates, and many of us went out immediately to buy his new book, "Get in the Game." In it, he shares the secrets of his success and the eight elements of perseverance he lives by. I highly recommend "Get in the Game" to anyone looking for inspiration, whether you are involved in sports or not.
Kyle Wilson
NC State baseball
