Maybe it's time to pay attention to Richard and Kathy Verlander, better
known as the parents of Detroit Tiger baseball star Justin Verlander.
Their new book offers intriguing advice and insights
from the winners of the George and Barbara Bush Little League Parents
of the Year Award.
"Rocks Across The Pond",
subtitled "Lessons Learned, Stories Told" (Dementi Milestone Publishing,
$29.95), is an enjoyable, easy-to-read book. It's full of useful ideas
along with many family photos and other images that showcase Justin's
amazing career.
As they note on the dust jacket, the Verlanders had
"little background or experience in any kind of organized sport". Their
lives were changed when a neighbor suggested that their six-year-old
son should sign up for Little League baseball.
The rest is history, but Richard and Kathy Verlander
describe their experiences in a down-to-earth manner. They smoothly
relate what they've learned from raising Justin and his brother Ben,
also a rising baseball player.
One of the subjects that they cover is the
importance of parenting and family involvement - paying attention to the
needs of the child and making sacrifices in the process.
They
note that it's a constant learning process and the development of a
child requires a lot of work and control. They also stress the
importance of setting a good example for the children.
In the chapter simply titled "Control", they explore
the importance of self-control. Items covered include: work ethic,
good grades, fitness, nutrition, rest, attitude, character, appearance
and demeanor. The Verlanders don't preach or go into long, boring
detailed analysis. They keep it simple, with mostly one-sentence
thought-provoking words of advice.
Richard Verlander became a Little League coach; in
1995 he was the coach of the Champion Phillies in the Tuckahoe Little
League. His son, Justin, starred at Goochland County VA High School and
later at Old Dominion University.
The rest is history, with Verlander becoming a
Detroit Tiger superstar and winning last year's Cy Young Award, Triple
Crown Award and AL Most Valuable Player Award.
Filled
with many gorgeous color photos as well as numerous Verlander family
images, "Rocks Across The Pond" is a great addition to the library of
any serious baseball fan or aspiring parent.
Ray Walsh, owner of East Lansing's Curious Book Shop,
is a Detroit Tiger fan who's reviewed books regularly since 1987.
This review was originally published by the Lansing State Journal
on Sunday, July 19, 2012.
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