The Sports ReKap is starting a new series where we catch up with a former or current professional athlete to give you a glimpse into their life. I sat down recently with former White Sox outfielder Michael Huff.
After going
to school in what is technically deemed the North Shore, the northwest suburbs of Chicago,
I struggle to imagine many people coming from the area and making an impact in
the professional sporting world. There are an immense number of players who
come and live in the fancy residences the North Shore provides, but few home
grown individuals make a name for themselves in sports. Former major league baseball
player Michael Huff is the exception.
Huff, who attended New Trier East and
Northwestern University in Evanston, came from these parts and has had a
lasting impact on the sports scene in the Chicagoland area, even after the end of his career.
Michael Huff may not be a household for most of the readers of
this blog. In his three years with the White Sox, Huff played in one hundred
and fifty four games while striving as a defensive replacement as well as a
pinch hitter and runner. He was a part of the 1993 American League West
Champion White Sox as a key asset coming off the bench.
While his
contributions on the field may be overlooked, his work since retirement stands
out. Huff, the Vice President of Sports for the Bulls-White Sox Academy, takes
pride in teaching kids, no matter their talent level, to be active instead of
just playing video games. Just like any former ball player who teaches kids, Huff preaches that “the fundamentals, especially balance” is key.
The number of responsibilities Huff has would take up an entire business card.
He oversees the fast pitch, baseball, and basketball department as well as the
planning of special events, to just name a few.
Along with his work at the
Academy, Huff fills in for White Sox broadcasts from time to time. After
sitting down with Huff, two observations stood out to me: he knows what he is
talking about and being a professional athlete has not affected who he is as a
person.
As a baseball nerd, I jump at
any opportunity to talk about the game with someone, especially a former major
league baseball player. Huff quickly
pointed out to me that the White Sox struggles so far this year can be
attributed to the “offense in general” and the defense. In a way that made it
seem like I was listening to him give his analysis during a game, Huff
commented on how the Sox meager defense “puts an extra strain on pitchers.”
Our
conversation quickly shifted to his time in the majors as he described his
first plate appearance against Tom Glavine which resulted in a base hit. Huff, who also played for the Dodgers, Indians, and Blue Jays, has countless stories to tell about his time in the big leagues. The former ballplayer spoke about his favorite teammates including “John Olerud, Chuck Nagy, and
Robin Ventura.” He also describes the excitement of being a part of the 1993 postseason
chase.
I am taken aback by the stories Huff has about his time living out most young boys' dreams. While Huff could have puffed his chest out
and acted as if I was sitting in the presence of greatness, his down to earth
personality was welcoming.
We discussed the famous New Trier-Loyola rivalry and
how, after he scored a touchdown in a football game between the schools, lifted
the football over his head in a celebratory fashion. Just like most individuals
who attended either school, he enjoyed the rivalry and wanted to perform to his
highest capability during the match-ups.
As I searched for the source of his
humbleness, I discovered it when Huff began talking about his family and his
time at Northwestern University. Huff preached the importance of having not a
lot of “unused time and surrounding yourself with the right people.” Preaching
this message, which teenagers now a day hear embedded in rap lyrics, Huff has
the view on life needed to teach those that are the future of America.
He never
expected that he could make the majors when he was at Northwestern playing with
the great Joe Girardi , but he worked hard both on the baseball field and in
the classroom (he received a degree in computer science and industrial
engineering). Through events out of his control (his sister was diagnosed with
leukemia and his own personal injuries) he faced hardship but was able to have
a seven year MLB career playing with the likes of Frank Thomas and Carlton
Fisk. Huff shows that people from the North Shore can make an impact in
professional sports by possessing the right mindset and caring about more than
just oneself.
To find out more about Michael Huff and the Bulls-Sox
Academy please visit their website http://www.bullssoxacademy.com/
Follow Nick on Twitter @KapN93
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