Recently, I interviewed David Clyde, a former baseball phenom, whose path to success was delayed and altered, but never abandoned.  Clyde’s pro career never quite flourished, but he is enjoying success while helping others succeed.

In 1973, at the age of 18, Clyde won his major league debut.  Clyde was poised to become a star, mere months after a stellar high school pitching career.  The Texas Rangers, who had made him the No. 1 draft pick, planned to use this star for success in the standings and in attendance.

Unfortunately, plans don’t always work out.  Clyde encountered some arm trouble and poor management within the Rangers organization.  There were accusations and questions. Surprisingly (and very refreshingly), Clyde doesn’t really care about negative questions, but he is by no means a Pollyanna.

“You can’t change the past, but you can learn from it and move forward,” explains Clyde.

Clyde hasn’t just moved forward, he is paying it forward, too.  Clyde retired from baseball in 1981, at the age of 26.  After years in the lumber business, Clyde settled in as a coach at the Miracles Baseball Academy in Houston.

He views his job as not only teaching the kids but protecting them as well.  He tries “to give them every opportunity for success, while [Clyde is] absorbing all of the pressure.”  Clyde knows about pressure.  Having jumped from high school to the big leagues, he felt his “talent had to make that jump also.”  He tries to teach his pupils to stay within themselves and not overdo it. This is merely one of the lessons Clyde passes on to his students.

“My goal is to steer kids in the right direction, give them the proper fundamental base, and hopefully they can enjoy the game better,” Clyde professes.

While Clyde doesn’t blame anyone for the path his career took, he does acknowledge that a better infrastructure within baseball would have helped.  Whenever a very young player is rushed to the professional level of any sport, people often bring up Clyde’s name, and he is happy about that.  Clyde hopes they realize they screwed up with him and that they will watch out for the new youngsters better.

Clyde is very committed to his students.  He knows they rely on him, and he is happy to be there for them.  He does all he can to prepare them for whatever the future holds.

What does David Clyde want for his future?  “Good health, a happy life, and I hope to continue passing on to kids what I have been passing on,” he says (although he does admit he wouldn’t mind being 20 years younger and making $23 million per year).

While Clyde won’t be signing that contract anytime soon, he will be adding “Hall of Fame” to his signature.  Tonight, at the Marriott on the Magnificent Mile in Chicago, Clyde will be inducted into the National High School Hall of Fame.  Clyde’s career will not be immortalized in bronze at Cooperstown, but his imprint is left on every student he teaches.

–John Wroblewski, distribution specialist

A couple weeks ago, Laurie and I had a wonderful evening in Rosemont, IL (a neighbor of Chicago to the near west).  The evening started with a great meal, continued with a lively show and ended with a canine caper.

We started the evening with a meal at Rosewood, one of the premier O’Hare-area steakhouses.  Laurie had filet, I had mahi mahi, and we added a few side dishes.  The food was awesome but proved to be so plentiful, we needed to take a doggy bag (which really would become a true doggy bag, but more on that later).

After dinner, we went to see 1964 The Tribute at the Rosemont Theatre.  This tribute band has been recreating the experience of early Beatles‘ shows since 1982.  The band strives for authenticity and does a great job.  The subtle mannerisms were uncanny.  Mark Benson (as John Lennon) did an exceptional job leading the show and the band.  Benson imitated Lennon’s quick wit throughout.

As we were driving home, we planned on having some snacks, wine and Coca-Cola by a small fire in the backyard.  It was a nice night and that would be a perfect end to the evening.  Unfortunately (and fortunately), plans got derailed.

As we were close to home, Laurie spotted a small dog bounding down the busy street.  I know Laurie well enough to know our backyard plans would be delayed. I spun the car around as quickly as possible and Laurie jumped out, trying to befriend the pooch.  She caught up to the dog at a gas station.  As I pulled into the station, Laurie called for the leftovers.  The schnauzer seemed to enjoy the food as much as we had hours earlier. I read Butch’s tag and Laurie called his owner.  We bought a few packs of beef jerky at the station and (with a blanket from my car) had ourselves a little picnic right there in the gas station — at one of the busiest intersections on the north side of Chicago.  That had to be quite a sight. The owner quickly showed up, and Butch was safely on his way home.  I have to say Butch seemed happier with us.

I was perfectly happy with a perfectly enjoyable evening before we saw the dog.  After Butch, I was somehow even happier.

–John Wroblewski, distribution specialist

As a publication distributor, I have seen Chicago at every conceivable hour of the day. My favorite time is always very early in the day, around 4 a.m. The city is so silent, so clean, so peaceful. I have unobstructed views of everything I want to see. The city is beautiful and majestic.

I like to watch as the city awakens. You slowly start to see more cars or public transportation. Then you start to see more pedestrian traffic. Soon after, buildings become flooded with office lights. Lastly, the majority of the retail businesses open their doors.

By that time, I am already long gone. Like most people, I abhor the congestion and traffic. It’s a small window, generally about 45 minutes, when the city goes from a serene wonderland to a hustling, bustling metropolis. Just as a point of debate, the reverse isn’t nearly as awe-inspiring. Watching the city slowly shut down isn’t a sight to behold.

A couple weeks ago, I arrived in New York very early for the GT wine survey. We arrived in the city around 5:15 a.m., slightly later than optimal time, but still pretty good for city-watching. New York, just like Chicago, came alive right before my eyes.

It really is a thing of beauty. It’s a sight you don’t ordinarily see, especially in other cities. I wouldn’t necessarily suggest it on a vacation, but I think it is a great experience to have, at least once, in your home city.

–John Wroblewski, distribution specialist

Chris Chelios played for the Montreal Canadiens from 1983-1990, when he was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks. While in Chicago, Chelios twice won the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s best defenseman. The fans loved Chelios, and he loved playing in his hometown.

Unfortunately, midway through the 1998-99 season, the Hawks traded the 37-year-old Chelios to the Detroit Red Wings. This was a sad day for Hawks fans, who believed and wanted Chelios to finish his career in Chicago.

Now, ten years later, Chelios is still playing, and his Red Wings are on the verge of knocking the Blackhawks out of the playoffs. Mama Chelios is famous for her dual jersey (half Hawks/half Wings), but most of the Hawks fans are more decisive in their fandom.

Many Hawks fans boo Chelios, calling him a traitor. Years earlier, Chelios stated in an interview that he would never play for the Red Wings. This statement has not been forgotten.

I find this all fascinating. Chelios was born in Chicago, went to college in Wisconsin, was drafted by Montreal and was traded to Detroit, aside from his years playing with the Hawks. Yet it is the years as a Blackhawk by which Chicago fans deem to define him. Having talked to many sports fans on my recent trip to Detroit, I assure you that Detroit fans view Chelios as one of their own, too.

Why wasn’t Chelios a traitor when he went north of the Illinois border to the UW-M? Why wasn’t Chelios a traitor when he was with Les Habitants across the Canadian border?

Of course, the questions are rhetorical and silly. Chelios is not a traitor. He never wanted to leave Chicago. The management of the Blackhawks then was very frugal and short-sighted. They did not want to pay too much for a player they felt was near the end.

Chelios isn’t a traitor. David Letterman wasn’t a traitor when he left Indianapolis and found success in Los Angeles and then New York. The Beatles weren’t traitors when they came to America and found success. Fran Gallagher wasn’t a traitor when he left Philadelphia for Chicago and then New York years ago (although he did return to his Philly roots).

In the regular business world, it is not uncommon to switch companies and cities several times during a career. In business it is called career advancement (and it very seldom gets booed).

Why are athletes viewed so differently? We all know sports is a big business now. In every other aspect, it is treated as a business, yet when a player leaves a town (even if not by choice) he is often booed.

If the Red Wings end up winning the title, Chelios will once again raise Lord Stanley’s Cup, and Chicago fans will once again boo him. It probably isn’t going to be of much comfort to Chicagoans, but I do promise that distribution specialist and blog writer John Wroblewski will always be in Chicago.

-John Wroblewski, distribution specialist

Last weekend, I was in Novi, MI, primarily for the Motor City Comic Con, although, technically, I was working. It is hard to call it work when it is as much fun as this event.

First, I made the rounds, distributing Global Traveler to all of the hotels near the Rock Financial Showplace. As always, the hotels were very happy to receive the copies.

The MCCC is a three-day event, featuring dealers, artists and celebrities. Over 15,000 fans attended this year. Carrie Fisher (of Star Wars fame) was the biggest and most popular celebrity, but the other 20 celebrities were also kept pretty busy by long lines of fans.

I laughed with the Honky Tonk Man, a pro wrestler who was disappointed that he was not the first person to tell me that I look like Jay Leno. I semi-saved actress Joyce DeWitt from a well-meaning but lingering, talkative fan. I joked with actor Gil Gerard, who somehow was stuck holding a fan’s purse while she showed him a small photo album. I talked business travel with Christy Hemme and Kevin Nash.

I met a new friend, Jack Odanovich, who was representing the Star Wars Society of San Antonio (SWSSA). The SWSSA was just one of many groups from all over the country. At the MCCC, Odanovich (in full Anakin Skywalker garb) attracted almost as many people as some of the celebrities. Odanovich is somewhat used to this, though, as the SWSSA has also been to hospitals to cheer up young patients.

The MCCC is a true success story. The former little comic book show has grown to be the best convention I have attended. I have never heard one complaint from anyone. It is smoothly run and somehow every celebrity seems to be in a great mood all of the time.

The hotels deserve special mention. The Doubletree is the host hotel, but all of the hotels welcome this convention. Despite the fact that they would all probably sell out anyway, each hotel goes above and beyond.

On Saturday evening, GT route manager JayHawk Evans and I trekked (just keeping with the sci-fi theme) over to Detroit to watch the Tigers thump the Oakland As, 9-1. Comerica Park is a beautiful baseball park. The park, which opened in 2000, is one of the biggest reasons for the revitalization of the downtown Detroit area.

On Sunday morning, I took a long and refreshing run. From my hotel, the Hilton Garden Inn, I ran past Twelve Oaks Mall, where I saw all of the new development. I continued running past Ella Mae Power Park, where I resisted the urge to beg into one of the softball games. I finished the six or so mile run in decent time, but I’d have a lot of work to do to be ready for the Detroit Marathon in October.

I always enjoy this trip to Novi/Detroit. Unfortunately, the weekend ended on a sour note. I drove back to Chicago in time to catch the Chicago Blackhawks being defeated by the Detroit Red Wings in the first game of their series. I could have done without that little piece of the Motor City.

-John Wroblewski, distribution specialist