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DEL.ICIO.USMurphy writes prescription that could heal pro athletics
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Furman Bisher
Not that it should come as such a surprise that Dale Murphy has surfaced as an author, but it seems that his text has, apparently, been somewhat misinterpreted. “The Scouting Report” is the title, directed mainly at professional athletes and those athletes who have their eyes aimed at playing professionally.
“It’s not about being a team leader. That’s just not my personality. It’s aimed at things that I wish I had known when I became a professional player,” Muphy said from his home in Utah. “In athletics terms, this is a scouting report for your career, balancing your career, your marriage and your family.”
There’s a shortage of that among professional athletes, not to mention several of those on the college level, judging by police dockets across the country. What Murphy projects is a recipe for setting your course on the straight and narrow and keeping it there. His is the written word, composed mainly for athletes, not the reading public. He’s not aiming for the New York Times best seller list.
“I lived many years in professional sports and came out in one piece,” he wrote to his audience of athletes, “still happily married, the father of eight great kids. When the time comes and you are standing in my shoes — retired — I want you to feel the same contentment.”
That’s the theme, not training clubhouse spokesmen. I’m not sure that such unsolicited advice delivered to teammates is always warmly received. Henry Aaron never logged a lot of hours on the clubhouse podium. That was not his style. He lived a long and successful career as a teammate, but going his own way, not directing traffic.
When Murphy was a developing Brave, he recalls, the players he looked up to were Phil Niekro, Gary Mathews, and during one spring training, Tom Paciorek, the outfielder now heard in our area broadcasting Braves games. When Murphy needed to locate an agent, it was Niekro he turned to, but other than that, it wasn’t often that he sought advice in the clubhouse.
Murphy didn’t grow up a Mormon. He was converted, mainly through his relationship with another Braves minor league teammate, Barry Bonnell, later a Braves contemporary. That faith became the backbone of his life, even to the point that after his career as a player was done, he served as the head of a mission in Massachusetts. You’ll be impressed by the cast of stars that recommend his point of view as expressed in the book, Bobby Bowden, Cal Ripken, Steve Young, Jason Kidd among them.
One athlete that Murphy holds high in his heart and esteem is Pat Tillman, the Arizona Cardinal who turned his back on a big contract to join the Army Rangers, then lost his life in Afghanistan. “No fanfare, no one patting him on the back, a noble man who who slipped away in virtual anonymity.”
There are so few.
“The Scouting Report,” is full of a lot of good old earthy sayings, and familiar cliches, all appropriately applied. Nancy Murphy was particularly active in producing the text, Dale will hastily tell you. It is she who was the centerpiece of the household and was often called upon to perform both parental roles.
“I’d be gone to the ballpark by the time the kids got home from school. They’d be in bed when I got home from the game. They’d be gone to school by the time I got up the next morning,” Murphy said. “It was Nancy who was my anchor. No matter how I excelled on the field, she was the real hero.”
It’s a wise man who puts his wife on a pedestal.
Success didn’t come like a genie out of a bottle to Murphy. His first season in Little League he made only one hit. He stumbled twice with the Braves, as a catcher and first baseman, before Bobby Cox directed him to center field.
“Now my career has come and gone. I retired in 1993. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done,” he wrote. “I believe that we are given experiences to share, taught lessons so we will teach others. That is the reason for this book.”
And the reason for this column.
Permalink | Comments (7) | Categories: Braves / MLB, Furman Bisher
Comments
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By Reggie
September 24, 2005 04:46 PM | Link to this
Bisher and Murph. As someone once said, “They may not be totally in a class by themselves, but it sure doesn’t take long to call the roll”.
By He Has 2 MVP's
September 24, 2005 09:50 PM | Link to this
2 MVP’s WHY IS THIS MAN NOT IN THE HALL OF FAME????? And Yes I’m Yelling!!!!
By Ted
September 25, 2005 04:45 PM | Link to this
The one regret about Dale Murphy is that he isn’t in the Hall of Fame. If there is a role model in sports, he’s the ideal. I hope this will be resolved and see him voted in. Yes, there are other deserving retired players who aren’t in it but Murph was such a class act that he didn’t stay around just to make sure he hit 400 homers to insure getting into the HOF, he retired with 398. He has honored baseball and decency, let baseball honor him.
By GT
September 25, 2005 06:07 PM | Link to this
If baseball really wanted to make a positive statement about character they would put Murphy in the hall. Until they do they are just talking thru their collective hats keeping Rose out. Furman, if you are taking any drugs that induce good writing please don’t stop you are wonderful.
By Jim
September 25, 2005 08:55 PM | Link to this
Baseball has shown what they think of guys like Dale Murphy…. and the idea that they would “fill his prescription” is of course wishfull thinking.
This is the era of “me” and not “team” and all these guys care about by and large is how much they can squeeze out of their teams and the public… if they think that taking drugs makes them perform more many will persist in it.
When “renegotiating one’s contract” becomes the norm because of a player’s greed what can one expect?
When “desparate housewives” is the rage, does anyone wonder if it is good for their real wives to be so focused on it?
All one has to do is watch a week’s worth of tv and visit a few movies to understand that guys that stand for morals, commitment, God, his word, integrity and being a role model are a rarity… like Dale.
Furman the times they have changed… and not for the good…all the masses worship today is self and money…
By steve southwick
September 27, 2005 12:08 AM | Link to this
I heard Vin Scully last week during a dodger game in colorado mention that Dale Murphy was in the stadium. Scully says he has known a lot of people in his baseball career…but Dale Murphy is in a class by himself. A real tribute from one of the greatest who has known most of the best in the game.
By Garry
September 30, 2005 09:26 PM | Link to this
I am proud to say that my first hero, other than my Dad, was Dale Murphy. When I played little league ball, I wore #3. Even now, when I walk out onto the church league softball field, I still wear #3 in his honor. He’ll always be in my Hall of Fame. And you know, I didn’t understand why she pointed it out then, but I remember my Mom always telling me that after a big Home Run, Dale Murphy celebrates after the game with a glass of milk!