The Soft Pitch

I’m 60 years old June 12th, so someone, somewhere is losing a bet. I hate to debate the quote of Lou Gerhig, but really I’m the luckiest man on this earth. First due to my wife and son, parents, brother and family, friends , softball team mates and folks I have met in the business working for Molex, Cahners, Magnecraft and Avnet. Especially the talented people and vendors that I worked with and made me look awful good. To the Krehbiels, Vallee, Gardiner, and McDermott the men who hired me (when I had my own biz too) and my bosses who let me have more rope than deserved to see what I would do and were great mentors…u know who you are. Thanks

What a great time to live and with technology advancements which will be taken lightly by future generations. Just think since 1949: color TV (remember Bonaza?), internet, digital cameras, cell phones, electronic games, pda’s, laptop computers, copying machines, Wrigley Field with lights and on and on. Great moments from Shepard’s 1st take off, Apollo 13’s return, landing on the moon, “do you believe in miracles”, Da Bears Super Bowls, M.J., The Golden Jet, and Disneyland opens as do the dreams of children. Then tough moments like Martin, Bobby and John being gunned down.

We played with soldiers and used our imaginations, played outside and threw snowballs and “skitched” hung onto cars in the winter. I must admit boy scouts was ok until we went camping…I hate tents and hiking etc. Eventually went to the drive-in movies, not this HD 800,000 pixels 90” tv on your wall stuff.

Throughout it all I have always been attracted to teams. My starting point was Farnsworth grammar school on Chicago’s north side where we hung out and played non stop from swift pitch to softball to football on gravel. I hate when I see little league teams play on manicured fields with scoreboards…how dare they, earn it kid. And do not get me started about parents…we played 2 zillion games without help from a parent. We handled the umpiring and our own disputes. We picked sides with a bat. Uniforms? are you kidding. In the winter? Habetler Bowl was just fine. Today if we have not planned our kids week and been at their games, after taking them to a private coach…we have failed. Geez.

Starting in 1961 our gang was the Baggers. In the 60’-70’s if you saw one of us there were 6-12 more nearby. We played hard every sport, partied, and went back and played some more. We were in a few fights (which now sounds kind of cool, it was scary) and I was in quite a few alone, which usually started with my smart ass comments. Hurt both my thumbs in one. At 5’5” 145 ya think I would have toned it down. But that is when you know you have friends, when in a fight is anyone standing behind you for support. The Baggers did.

A game, party and dances were our goal every weekend. Our band (with Baggers in it) was the Blueberry December. They were good, attracted girls, which was key. IF we were allowed in anyone’s home for a party they made a huge mistake…let’s just say there never let us back for an encore The smart move was road trips to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Fun was always the goal and we had it.

We were very good at softball and football, which leads me back to this team thing. We watched the best softball teams like the Bobcats and Sobies practiced and would play anyone, tried hard and when we lost didn’t get uptight, went for a beer and laughed. We only wanted to know when was next chance to redeem ourselves. No fear.

Music? To name a few I have seen live; Elvis, Frank, Chubby and Bill Haley and his Comets, to Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Platters and Sonny and Cher. Then came the smoke era and saw Hendrix, Rolling Stones, Who, Rod, and eventually Barbara, and McCartney, Prince and the Jackson 5…do you really believe your going to be hearing some of the crap on the air now in 50 years? Hell the Stones will still be heard and probably still alive rockin the house. I do miss Ed Sullivan on Sunday nights.

Laughs are imporatnt and pleased to say we have seen Rodney, Seinfeld, Jay, yes even Johnny Carson and even Woody Allen live.

I laugh today about business and communications tactics and the way people interact. They say social media tactics like text, twitter, LinkedIn, games, internet, e-cards and 2nd Life etc are social…geez far from it. Get off your butt and go in the next room and talk to a live person. Call someone. How often do get a personal hand written note? As often as you get calls from your Governor. Use some damn personality.

As noted above we had each other to rely on, and our bond was our word and if need be the handshake was key, especially to make sure we showed up at the right time and place (yes with rotary phones). Most young people have no clue on street smarts or how to work as a team. The parents do too much for them now. In my day if you had a problem you handled on your own or went to Mr V explained it and he helped take care of it. Today parents gotta know and help with everything…let them figure it out.

Today kids expect to get great seats at ballgames…we snuck in a few times at Wrigley or sat in the bleachers for 60 cents.

Helping in the community…sounds great, it is great. But not then, spring break in the 50’s-60’s was our parents saying it was “clean up week” to help the community clean the house…party in Mexico and Florida? Right, there were no parties at 5544 Catalpa…escaping to go out was the vacation.

This is a blog not a book…so the oldie’s story ends here, just wanted to give u a little glimse into my little world…today I will take my wife and son, two friends from grammar school, my best man, and two great athletes I played with on the excellent Molex softball team to see the Cubbies…tomorrow the same with other great friends…then Sunday 50 folks will show for another wish; a 16” softball game. Then Disneyland. That is what I wanted to do. Celebrate with those who made my life fun, challenging and memorable. So far it’s been a great ride. Retire? No way baby…too much left to do.

I believe 60 is the new 50…because of all the excitment around me and technology that makes life fun and interesting. I’m falling apart but a lot still in the tank.  I have tried to be with people who will take a risk, passionate about team play and laugh. The folks who have and continue to help us with the Toy Foundation and 16″ Softball Hall of Fame. Alot of kids to help and positive things to do in the community and Avnet to kick butt. Time to pay back some of the good stuff. The bucket list gets smaller, we have seen the world. I’m ready for another great ride with my Avnet teammates…wish they were in Chicago for the game too.  Love and Thanks to everyone who has made an impact on my life…really. I’m sooo lucky.

PS Please Cubs win a world series.

Our 3rd annual outing in the spring was enjoyed by approx 300 employees at Avnet Day at Ho Ho Kam stadium with 14,000 other Cub and Angel fans. The highlight was when one of our lead warehouse guys threw out the first ball (low and outside one bounce), while new EM president in Americas Ed Smith was helping out on the sideline. We could have sold more but we had a early deadline. Anytime Avnet’s name was mentioned it drew a nice cheer from our faithful, not bad when biz is slow…the moral of this story is morale and team.

Our folks invested most of their own money to be there…so no one made them come. Warehouse staff, lead executives, middle managerss, sales people, HR, and admin, came from both groups and Inc. Nice folks enjoying great AZ weather and the rights of spring…when everyone feels their team has a chance to win it all. Right now we are trying to win it all too and it feels like spring training again. A year ago is when biz starting going south and biz is still tough, but my gut feel is we are performing well aganist the competition.

The basics which are taught at spring training seem to be the key here too…employee engagement, great customer service and the needed supplier products. One advantage we have right now is our financial strenth helping customers get through these dark days. It’s like having a great clean up hitter who knocks in the runs.

Again these venues are great for morale. In tough biz conditions morale is even more important. It is an investment we still make…like prudent marketing. We are here for people who need our support.  And like spring training we are playing in front of smaller crowds but the season will begin soon…and our lineup looks damn good and we feel good too.

O…my Cubbies lost…because it spring training I do not get upset…I’m saving my blood pressure pills for the season.

If you follow my blog you know I’m a huge Cub fan, where have I been? With no comments so far with spring training starting, I assume a few of you thought I was in debtors prison or dead. I think it was the Cardinals in the super bowl that threw me off.

The PHX valley weather is awesome here…tomorrow I’m going to the Cubs vs the hated cross town rival White Sox game in Mesa…All Cub fans for generations have looked down on Sox fan because they are blue collar, don’t have cell phones, they buy used cars, and worst of all from the southside. Obama, his replacement and Daley are Sox fans, sad.  WE hate them because of they won the series a few years ago when they had no clue what was happening and got lucky.  They wear black. We wear a very nice shade of blue.  We have passports to travel.  Travel to Sox fans is going to Wisconsin.  My parents (God rest their souls) were huge Sox fans, so was the whole family but me…the debates were legendary…I was easily the bad seed.  The first time I ever said the F word in front of my 80 year old Mom and Dad was when some idiot Sox fan got me going for no reason at a crosstown classic (before the games counted) at Wrigley Field. My wife was holding me back and my Mom grabbing her heart like Red Foxx’s girlfriend…I’m getting jazzed already…hot dog, beer, hot dog, beer and peanuts….bring it on baby!!!!

So what does this have to do with Avnet…nothing. I’m going to kickback and enjoy some friends and not even think about the grueling 162 game schedule and playoffs my body and brain pain I will need to go through again this season. Another season of hope and enthusiasm…time to enjoy the moment.

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First the Cubs made the NL playoffs with the best record…now 11 wins in October…that is what counts…I’m in Taiwan right now and I almost checked my luck at a temple by doing a ritual that helps in these areas, but then I’m Catholic so I figured I better just ask at my church, but I have not been there in awhile so GOD will know I’m there just to pray for Cub wins…I’m so confused and do not want to screw up any mojo or vibes we have going. Next week on the spot reports from Wrigley Field.

OK, what’s new…I was so impressed that our COO Rick Hamada was asked to be on a Thunderbird University dais on the business subject of integrity last week….I’m so proud that integrity is one of key attributes what our company is known and we are being asked to be public programs…we hear the word trust alot from customers and suppliers. Avnet folks if your reading this be proud and keep it up baby!

Last example, on Monday we were one of the sponsors of a special luncheon honoring Jerry Colangelo who was the lead organizer of Team USA that won the basketball “gold medal” in China. We rarely support these events but it was easy when asked…in fact a 3 point shot supporting this man…he has been THE leader in the Phoenix community for decades, he LEAD BY EXAMPLE using INTEGRITY and TEAMWORK to make this team special representing to the world how we can change and still win. Not just the fact he could get our best players to win a tournament. Last all our funds for that luncheon went to Special Olympics…

Bottomline it is cool to win but there are alot of ways to do it…Rickand Jerry two prime examples of people who do it right.