Determined Society with Shawn French | Adversity & Mindset - Unveiling the journey of a Baseball CHAMPION with Anthony Ranaudo

Episode Date: June 12, 2023

Anthony Ranaudo, former NCAA National Champion at LSU, major league pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox, and Texas Rangers. I have invested in several companies, such as marucci and diamond nation, and made successful exits. He Current owner of Cards and Culture and host of The Up and In Show. Anthony's take on fear... Its incredibly important to work to see your dreams realized. Fear never goes away but courage to chase your desires is a lot stronger than fear can be. Key Points: 2009 National Champion MLB Career Failure vs. Success Up and In Podcast Cards and Culture Competition in Entrepenuership Being a man that expresses himself Vulnerablitlity and authenticity as a man Controlling fear to drive your success Anthony's many business investments and exits Chasing ladies in Tiger Town Tiger Todd and fake news Meditation State of gratitude  And much more... Connect with Anthony: IG- https://instagram.com/cardsandculture?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== TikTok- https://www.tiktok.com/@cardsandculture?_t=8cqB9oR40H0&_r=1 Twitter- https://twitter.com/cardsandculture?s=21&t=VQqoRlC518FmMGkF2h5WHg Website- Cardsandculture.com Connect with Shawn: IG- https://www.instagram.com/theshawnfrench/?hl=en Twitter- https://twitter.com/theshawnmfrench?lang=en TikTok- https://www.tiktok.com/@theshawnfrench Website- https://theshawnfrench.com/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The inner athlete in us, I think. I like competition. I like doing different things. I like trying things. You know, failure is a great tool for, I think, success. You know, it's a measuring stick and things like that. So entrepreneurship is just kind of that next journey for me. I think after sports is going on.

What's going on, everybody? Welcome back to another show of the podcast and Determined Society. Today I have with me, Anthony Renato, a former NCAA champion at LSU. Yes, the alma mater, LSU Baseball, 2009. national champion. What an amazing run they had. He is a former Major League pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox and Texas Rangers. He's invested in several companies such as Marucci, which is a big one, people listening to the show that no baseball should know who Marucci is or hang up your cleats and don't ever watch baseball again. And Diamond Nation, and he's made several

successful exits. He is the current owner of Cards and Culture and the host of the Up and in show. Welcome to the, welcome to the show, buddy. How are you? I'm great, man. I'm happy to be here. Thank you so much for asking me to be on and I'm ready to chop it up. It's going to be good. Hell yeah, man. I wore my LSU Alam shirt today. You can't really see it, but you know, that's a like you're going. It's a good one. There we go. Yeah, Jay, Jay sent them out like two years ago. Nice. I love it. Yeah, for all the alumni. But yeah, man, Jack, to have you on the show.

And, man, dude, it's just always nice to cut up with the former Tiger brother. and, you know, see where this conversation leads us, dude. So you've got a lot of amazing things going on now, man. I'm loving it. Yeah, definitely have a lot of things going on. A lot of irons in the fire. But like we were talking on before we flipped on the record button, you know, that's the inner athlete in us, I think.

I like competition. I like doing different things. I like trying things. You know, failure is a great tool for, I think, success. You know, it's a measuring stick and things like that. So entrepreneurship is just kind of that next journey for me. I think after sports, it's been fun. Brew, I love it.

The word failure. Like, you know, people fear that so much. And in fact, you talk about this. Like, your dreams have to be so much bigger than that fear of failure. Talk to the audience a little bit about that because there's a lot of people stuck in what they're doing right now and will not use any type of, I guess, drive to try something they want because they don't want to fail. What do you have to say about that?

Well, first and foremost, I think I come from a place of grand. gratitude in saying that I think I'm fortunate enough at 33 years old to have done a career and already failed, you know? So technically, I mean, some people, you know, would look at my baseball career and call it a failure. I think it was a success for me in the way that my life turned out and I couldn't be more grateful. But technically, I was a first rounder. I was supposed to be still pitching in the major leagues right now. So I think by certain standards, I bet you the Boston Red Sox think that was a failure. But the things I've learned through that, the things I've grown through, the things that it's taught me in this next

venture of life and entrepreneurship just, I think is the thing that I got out of it the most. It's something that I encourage at my business and our culture that we're going to strip the fear of failure. We're going to fail. That's going to happen. I played a game of failure. Baseball was failure. And we're going to learn from our mistakes. And that's all that we're going to do. And we're going to get better because of them. So I think failure is a great tool for success. And I say that all the time because, you know, just like everything else in life, you have a choice and a perspective how to look at things. So when you fail, you can either, you know, get the dumps about it or get super down and have negative energy or you can look it as an opportunity and, and learn,

learn how to grow through it. Dude, I love it because, you know, you talk about, you know, your perspective of your career being a success. And it was because I look at your career. And, you know, I'm one of those fanatical, you know, former LSU baseball tigers, yelling at the TV, you know, and, you know, you guys, I mean, you do that now, right? I mean, we're just talking. we'll get to it but you know it's uh you know like so for me watching your career at lsu like amazing career 2009 national champion brought me a lot of joy i love seeing my boys win and then you know into first round pitching for the red socks white socks and the rangers like do that's that's you know for five years you're in the big leagues or something like that roughly like to me that's a success

you know but you know the boston red socks may say like hey like it didn't really work out for us. But dude, like, it is such an amazing thing because I can look at my career, right? Junior college, you know, high school, junior college and then to LSU. And I can literally look you flat and you're dead in your eyes and you won't convince me otherwise. Say I fail. Right. Because I got there. I got hurt. My mindset wasn't the right way. I played victim mentality. I probably alienated people because I was being a little bitch at times. But like, dude, But now, if I go back and look at that, it's like, man, what, what did you ruin, Sean? But other people that watched me grow up be like, dude, you're a success.

You were there. You know? And like for somebody who's competitive, it's like, yeah, bro, that's not the jam. Like, I was there. You know, I was in Omaha. We two in barbecued. I didn't get to contribute. But, you know, I earned that.

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Like, and people listening right now, they're like, what you mean you earned that? You didn't contribute? Like, bro, that's on me. Yeah. And you also worked your life for that too to get there. That's the thing that I think, you know, the perspective that I share with myself or at least that I can reflect on now is you're right. I think when I have that inner dialogue with myself, I expected myself to be still playing

right now. And, you know, I was expected to win 200 games in the big leagues. make a hundred million dollars, right? And they were going to rip my jersey off. And that was the way that, you know, and if it didn't go that way, it was a failure. But I think the things that I've learned from it and the things that I've pulled and when I can have perspective to say, you know what, I worked 28 years at something and I became pretty damn good and I got to a pretty high place. And if somebody was like, hey, talk to five-year-old Anthony and say, hey, you're going to go to LSU, you're going to win a national championship. You're going to pitch for the Boston Red Sox.

You're going to make your debut against the New York Yankees. You're going to get Derek Jeter out for your first out and strikeout. But then the rest of your career is going to be average or maybe you don't even play. Like, would you take that? Yeah. And you may walk away making $5 million. Like, what? Yes.

All day and twice on Sunday, bro. Like, come on, baby. Let's talk about it. Like, walk us through that 2009 year because it was a very, in my opinion, there was a lot of crazy things that happened that year. Dude, like, like the biggest one was Mineri throwing Chad Jones on the bomb. Yeah. Yes. Like, where did it come from? And then he's got like a curveball from God. It just so many moves, man. I think, I still say, I think when I got to pro ball, it was, you know, we were fresh and everybody remembered Chad. So they were always asking about Chad. And I tell everybody, I've never met an athlete like that dude. I mean, like, you know, just from playing baseball to to be on a football field and then just walk in and start throwing 92 with a hammer from hell. You're like, what are, what is like? I remember looking at Lewis Coleman. We were.

the two best on the team, you know, like, whatever, Friday, Saturday, pitchers. And we were getting ready to throw a bullpen. I looked at home like, this isn't fair, dude. I'm like, we work really hard at this every day. And this guy just came in here and did it, you know, so little things like that. But I think those are the things, like the wild stories that, you know, make the national champion, make those things happen to, so you win a national championship. I think another wild story, too, was DJ Lemayhew, was an all-American shortstop. And we moved him from shortstop to second base. and pulled a freshman named Austin Nola,

who's now catching in the big leagues to shortstop. So that was really interesting in the middle of the year while we were number one in the country, you know. So it was like little things like that that people don't really know, but wound up being huge for us down the stretch, you know, and things like that. And now we look back on it, DJs won two gold gloves

in the big leagues at second base. So it's like, oh, that's pretty cool. That needed to happen actually for us to win the championship, you know, and it just happened to happen that year. Dude, it's really funny you say that because something like that's going on right now with our boys at LSU. Guys, we're going to share something with you.

So the internet exploded on Friday night. Was it Friday? Jay Johnson decided to throw the best pitcher in the country. Arguably, sorry, dude, there's best pitcher in LSU history, right? There's not odd. I mean, dude, that guy. Oh, my God. Paul Skeins, they throw him against a 9 and 142 lane team.

And the internet exploded. and to the point where why are we throwing our number one in this and why do we need to waste them anybody will do in this game and we're going to win it handedly and it just goes to show you that coaches just like coach Menary and coach Bertman they push the buttons and damn it they're usually right we ended up winning that ball game like what six to two like something like most I don't know he had some jams too that he got out of and it's like Like, and then when, I mean, hindsight's always 2020, right? So you can look at Saturday and say, well, if you started Saturday,

you would have only got two innings out of him because of the rain too. So it was the right move. But I mean, I think he did it honestly because Tulane was so hot. They won their conference tournament. Baseball is weird like that. They come into the box. They're a Louisiana school. But yeah, I was so shocked, man.

I didn't know what to think. Yeah. But hey, that's what he does. And that's why we're sitting here and speculating. That's what we're sitting here like, you know, on a. what is it Tuesday evening having a virtual conversation but no but it's to your point though

like I didn't even really think about it you know you're right the game got postponed on to on Saturday like he wouldn't have pitched he would have been cooked yeah you know I mean maybe he might could have come back the next day but it would have been hard it would have been hard I mean that guy's max effort he was throwing what a hundred

on pitch 124 yeah that was wild how about him throwing 124 pitches too I was like I didn't see that one coming but hey he's get a strike record, it'll be good. Yeah, well, I think that's part of it too, man. You know, and again, like, to your point that, you know, this could be a controversial topic about, you know,

just going after the strike record. But I mean, the bottom, strikeout record, but the bottom line is like, dude, if you get, if you can get it, get it, right? The other thing is, is like, to your point, Tulane ran through the AAC. Yep. I mean, no one saw it coming. Like, nobody, who did they be in the championship?

ECU, East Carolina. That was a good squad. Yeah. dude i mean that's not supposed to happen so yeah i mean and an interstate rival and for those you that don't know toulain and ls u've had some battles and toulain has beat us they beat us in a super regional they beat us in the super well they were better than lsu right for before the burmina era and all that stuff yeah yeah he he turned everything around man that story being in that squad room dude he still he showed us the paper all that you've probably

heard about the long paper all things that he wanted to do no i didn't i never heard that oh my gosh Dude, so he's a visionary. And, you know, who's one of the, like the first dudes that I heard talk about, you know, whatever you believe and visualize, you can actually, you know, make happen, right? And I don't know if that quote's still everywhere. If you, anything you ardently desire since it sincerely act upon, whatever, that's probably still in the squad room somewhere. And, you know, he pulls up and they pull around the mound and LSU was just the

placeholder between football seasons, man. Like, no one gave a shit. And he gets there. He comes from Miami and says, like, hey, here's what I see here. I says, this big grandstand. And I see all these bleachers on the out, like down the lines. I see a coaches committee. I see national championships.

And everybody's like looking at. I'm like, skip. So if you don't believe it, then you know the door. And hi, here we are, right? Right. And like, dude, like he made it happen with his mind. And I think so much of athletics, entrepreneurship, and anything in life, you know, if you can get your vision to be bigger than your fear, then you can do something. You know, you're going to have to check yourself at times, man, because it is hard.

You know, building your, building your card business, building your podcast. That, dude, that shit ain't easy. I mean, when I tell you, I can't, I can't tell you how many people questioned it, you know, like, what are you doing? And like, you're good. You got enough money. You're good. Just go chill. Like go relax.

Go play golf. Go do this, right? Like, yeah, people don't understand it. I think that's the thing, too. There's a lot of loneliness and entrepreneurship and the journey is, I think, again, it comes down to perspective. I feel very fortunate that you mentioned it earlier where you had the victims mentality, right? And I think I had that in the minor leagues. And then even when I got to the major leagues as well.

And I felt like I always needed to be in the big leagues. I needed to be the all-star tomorrow. I needed to be the $100 million guy yesterday, right? So I think now with entrepreneurship, it allows me to take it step by step and understand, I'm cool where I'm out right now. I'm good. I have a plan. I'm a visionary.

I'm getting there. I'm growing, but I don't need to be there yesterday. I don't need to be anxious and upset and create, you know, all these ideologies that, you know, I'm just basically making up in my head. And that perspective has really allowed me to stay present, but also push. through a lot of those fears that we talk about big picture-wise. So it's allowed me to take steps and do things that I might not have done, I think,

if I was too much in that, like, you know, that monkey mind of just continuously being in fear. Dude, I mean, I get it because there's still times where I have to fucking check myself, dude. Like, I have to be like, why isn't this podcast like high six figures yet? Like, I've had great guests, I've great conversations. The content's great. But I'm thinking like, dude, what's your rush, man? You have a successful medical sales career, right? Go make your money.

And when this thing pops, it'll pop, right? And it'll be on the right time. No sense in rushing. It don't need it to happen yesterday. But it's hard, man. I mean, again, like when you think of, you know, going back, because it's the classic cliche, if I knew then, what I know now?

What would you change? And I wish every day that I could go back and change my perspective at LSU. Do you struggle with that? that is 100% I think so people ask me all the time you miss baseball do you regret you know like retiring or because I retired at 27 I literally was like no I'm good and everybody's like wait wait you're just about to get good what are you talking about you know like so I think I think I struggle with that nowadays of like god damn if I just was patient if I just had this perspective I just had this approach this mindset right um but then instead of beating myself myself up over it I just say okay well you have an opportunity to do that an entrepreneurship and business and these relationships that you're cultivating with your employees and and coworkers and things like that, right? So I do struggle with it because it's the thing that pulls me towards, God damn, you could have just, if you just stuck it out and I watch the TV of all these guys, right, but it also allows me to also be present and then channel a lot of that

energy into what I'm doing now, which is kind of cool. That's a big word, being present, man. I mean, I think being present is a gift and there's not a whole lot of people that can channel that. I struggle with it. One of the best was Michael Jordan. right? How do you work every single day to stay present in what you're doing? I know it's going to sound cliche, but I learned about meditation about five years ago, and that was a big thing for me. I think I'm a kid from Jersey that was like fast, fast, fast, go, go, right? Like, we're in a rush doing everything. We need stuff to be done yesterday. I need to be here. Meditation allowed me to slow down and be in the moment a little bit and just

relax and understand my my surroundings, the moment, you know, and to absorb it. all. And I think when I was younger, I think I was actually better at it. Like, I enjoyed things and like loved it. It was like that time that like after LSU and then pro ball, I think I got this like anxious mentality of, um, and these expectations got to me. But, um, yeah, I think that just being present is something that I appreciate. And like you said, it's a gift. It's something that, you know, if you have it, it's great. But if not, I still think you can learn it and, and learn from others because I think that's the biggest thing that I've learned is watching other people be present and almost be like jealous of their energy, their ability that kind of stuff and be like,

I'm going to learn how to do that. And meditation was a big thing that kind of allowed me, breathwork, that kind of stuff, allowed me to be present. And in the stressful days of entrepreneurship, it really allows me to kind of like slow down and just be where my feet are at. That's funny because like my wife tells me all the time, like, she's like, dude, you need to meditate. you need to meditate. Holy shit, you are go, go, go.

I'm originally from the Bay Area in California. So, you know, I mean, talk about fast-paced living. But yeah, it's just something that when I've tried, you know, and I abandoned it pretty quickly is I can't stop thinking. Like, is this working? Am I meditating? What's going on? That's that sound. Right?

So it's, that's the high level ADHD, you know, that I have. But, dude, you mentioned something about expectations and, like, how you were present at LSU. It's funny because, you know, we were chatting a little bit. The games, you know, changed so much. They have the NIL stuff. And they're like, straight up celebrities now. Yeah. Like, like, it's not.

Yeah. Celebrities. Like, they're announcing, it cracks me up. I'm sorry. I got to call this dude out. I'm sorry. I don't know. I can't remember his name because I don't know who the fuck he is.

But it was an Ole Miss baseball player. And he entered the portal yesterday. I'm like, why the. fuck are you telling people like who who gives a shit like enter the portal shut up and go play like what have we come to i'm off on a tangent now you know no i mean it's our it's their generation it's the way that they communicate i mean i i feel like i'm pointing fingers now but i hear you that a younger generation was raised and you know born and communicates and it's like that's the way they communicate is i need to tell the world like you know like it's i need to announce everything about me you know it's

there is no more just go do your job anymore i love this place thank you for the opportunity with that being said, I'm entering the portal. With an autograph. Yeah, exactly. Where are you? Like, did you love it? Because if you love it. Did you love it?

Did you leave? Like, I don't know. You get your natty ring last year. And now you realize that you're not that good. Now you got to leave. Where are you going? But hey, I mean, come to LSU if you're good. That'd be great.

I appreciate it. We'll take you. We'll take you. Like, uh, you know, um, but no, like back then, you know, you said you were present. Did you realize the magnitude of what you were doing there? No, and I think that's why I was present because I didn't understand that, or I didn't really know. I think just being a kid from Jersey that wanted to win a starting job at an SEC school and win a national championship, you know, like was that simple mindset of I'll do anything I need to do to do that, you know. And I had a little chip on my shoulder every day and carried myself a little differently than other people, I think, because of that.

Um, that's why I think I say I'm present. Like, but I think also, uh, you in a, in a way, we were fortunate that we didn't have the polls that these kids have now. You know, there's attention everywhere and it's really easy to go get sucked into things. Um, and I didn't have that. It was like, it was real simple. It was either go out and drink and go to the bars and chase girls, you know, or baseball. And it was like, it was that was it.

There was no tiger bar baby. Tiger bar right there in Tiger land. Todd was my guy, you know. I love Todd. Hey, he comes into my shopping now and then. Dude, doesn't he really? Tell him French, he said, what's up, man? God dang.

I miss that place. He's sober. No way. He's like sober for him. Yeah, yeah, he looked great. Yeah, he sold the bars. He's out of the bar life now. Good for him.

Man, I'm going to tell you something to do. It was crazy one year. They did like a spoof in the revelry. You know, the on-campus newspaper. That Tiger Todd died in one of the Mardi Gras parades. He got trampled by a float. So I'm in there. I'm in tears, dude.

But I'm like, what's going on? I'm thinking, like, you know, and then I'm going out. And everybody's like, dude, did you see this? And it was a prank. Like, he didn't die. God, that's why. I went, you know, we're all ones at the Tiger Bar that night and walk in there. There's that motherfucker.

It's like, you dick. What's going on? Yeah, I was crying. It's funny. I was crying. I was like, what's going on? Like, I mean, it was a big part of our, our, you know, experience there. But, you know, it's funny because those days were so simple, man.

Like, if I lived my life right now, the way. I lived it then. Like, I remember we were out. Then, like, I can say this because I know smoking, listening to this fucking show. But,

like, we would be out until, like, 2 a.m. You know, on a, on a Wednesday night, and then we'd travel the next day.

And back then, I don't know how it was with y'all, but we rode these 18 wheelers because it was post 9-11. Oh, my God. So these things were tricked the fuck out, though, bro.

And they had, like, sleep and kids, no, it was sick. It was sick. You walk in. there's a TV where you play, you know, cards. And in the back was like an Xbox or whatever.

And then they had like three rows, like, you know, top, middle and bottom all the way back to sleep in. And pitchers and catches were in one, position players were in the other. I rolled up in there one morning, bro. And we were going to Georgia. We're going to Athens. And I fell asleep before we left the parking lot. And I woke up and we pulled out to the hotel. No way.

Fucking gone, bro. Gone. That was your night's sleep. I was there. Yeah, you just rolled right on to the ball. It was, it was fantastic. Rolled into the hotel, checked in, went to, went to practice. And it was, it was great.

But like, I couldn't pull that off now. Like, I have like four beers in the next day. I don't even want to be a parent. Exactly. Yeah, dude, I want to shut it down. I don't want to be a human. I'm like, I don't know how people drink and then go do stuff anymore. Oh, my God.

It's nuts, dude. But, you know, the thing is when, when we were there, right? That was the, the year that, the year that, we went to the college world series first year we got beat by two lane in the super and then rice and then we played bailer at home um that my final year and that was the year that you know we lost wally poniff right we he passed away and um to this day i swear to you that when that lefty i think it was duden or dujan or whatever it was from baler hit that ball to center field right towards wally's number where it used to be retired you know in the old box the the wind just held it up it was it was

the craziest thing you've ever seen you know but we lost a lot of pieces that year we lost him brian brian wilson went down the fear the beard went down with a with an injury then you know our starting catcher got hurt you know and somehow we find a way i think we were number one or number two national seed yeah we had no clue what that even meant like to the outside world i'm wondering did it mean what it does to us now, right? Because I look at them like five. You guys were the number one of the whole year. Like what the hell happened?

Like what the shit? But like in the whole, you know, society or like the, you know, the people that love college baseball so invested in it. I wonder if it was that way when we're playing, man. Yeah. I don't know. It's like when you're in it, you never know, right? And that's where it's like even to me now playing ball, like looking at the major,

like going to a major league game. and being like, man, did I know what I had and like that these people, you know, like just being a fan. It's just a different perspective now. It's just like, and I don't think we did. It was just normal to us. I don't know, at least for me. And that's where I was saying earlier, like, it was nice almost to a point that we didn't

have these camera phones, that we didn't have all this stuff. It was just you and the boys. It was like, yo, it's baseball. That's like, how do you become the best baseball player? And then if you got lucky enough, you would go out every now and then, go find some girls, like whatever, right? Yeah. They weren't hard to find there, dude.

Yeah, no, it was easy. It was a simple head nod at the bar. Hey, go to Bogies and take the fraternity boys, girls. That was always fun. Oh, yeah, that was always the best. But hey, were you guys with Bogies? How about this? During my time for like three to five years, there was no, we never went to Bogies.

It was crazy. Really? Yeah, but then like right after our time, Bogies was the spot again. And like I went there all the time. But when I was in college, I never went there. Like, I wasn't a big bar person anyway and I was never 21. So I didn't, and I was very, very straight edge when I was in college. so I didn't drink but I would go out every now and then and we never went to bogeys.

Never went to boge. Interesting. Yeah, we would switch it up a little bit. We would go, you know, Tiger Todd's. Yep. And then I think it was called Stadium when I got there. No, it was Tiger Bar, Tiger Bar. Yeah, Tiger Bar.

They didn't change it to stadium or something like that. And then sometimes we go to sports and Freds, but yeah, dude, that was never, that was never a good scene. But every now and again, we would, we would mix. it up and we would go to the sorority bar and uh and fraternity bar well yeah i mean that's what bogeys was back then yeah that was like the greek bar like oh yeah yeah and you walk in they knew you're an athlete and they hated you oh yeah they hated you it was fun it was fun it was fun it was nice when all the girls wanted it was just natural it was a fun time i can tell you that much but you're like you know it's it's funny that you mentioned like you know when you were in the big leagues it was just normal to you

Right. It was just normal. You're there to do a job. Were you able to soak any of it in? I think when I made my debut, I did. I think I was fortunate enough. I was a Jersey kid that grew up a Yankee fan and was pitching against the Yankees at Fenway on a Friday night. Like it was like that's nuts. It was it was you can't make that up. And so I remember walking out the dugout and just being like, yep, this is it. Like this is cool. And I remember I got out there a couple minutes early. And I just like, I just like, I just like. like did my routine a little differently, you know, just to absorb it and enjoy it and shit like that. So, um, but then after that, honestly, after I got traded and I was like, and I realized real quick how baseball is just a business, just like anything else. I think I got a little bit numb to the aura of it and all that stuff. It was just like, man, I'm just a piece of saying shit. You know, like it was just. Yeah. Fuck. Yeah. The dangerous mindset to go into, man.

You know. That's where you become the victim mentality a little bit. You find all the negatives and everything and everything that was enjoyable becomes a chore, you know? And it was, um, yeah, that was when things changed for me a lot. Dude, it's really funny because what changed for me when I got to LSU when I was in California, you know, I'm like, you know, big fish and a little pond, right? Juko, I'm doing well, you know, and not really worried about my skills, but the moment I stepped at onto campus at LSU, it was like, I turned into like this kid that didn't think he belonged there, man. And it was just, that's a, that's a, It was so dangerous.

And I've never said this on air before. Like this is, this is powerful stuff, dude. And, you know, damn you for bringing it out into me. But it's just one of those things like people that are listening and that may, you know, played with me then.

Now you know what's up. Like, now you know, I felt. It was just, you know, there was so many amazing ballplayers before me. Like that year was,

you know, before Brad Cressy, Brad Hop. I'm like, these dudes, man. Like, they were freaking dudes, man,

you know, terrio and fontno and all those guys. And, you know, you roll in. there and it was just like I had that weird kind of like I'm a fan of these people mindset instead of like what's up bro like I'm here to do the same thing that you just did you know and and you know and eventually I did ease back into that but it was too late right it was just a very hard thing to

overcome I you know it's really funny that you bring that up I had a conversation I had lunch with somebody today an older guy that I've been becoming friends with through the shop and we're were just BS in a little bit. And I was like, and he was asking me some questions about my dating life and where I was at and stuff because I'm on and off again with this girl. And so we were talking. And I was like, you know, it's funny man is like what I've kind of realized at 33 years old is how insecure I was at 23, 24 years old. And much a fronted, you know, all this stuff to try to exude this masculinity or whatever, right? Or this whatever. But I was hell of insecure. And I think even when I kept getting. certain levels up, I realized that my stuff was actually declining a little bit, you know,

and I think that really fucked me up a little where I was like, do I belong? And am I the guy that everybody thought I was when they drafted me? So I relate to that a lot, man. I think a lot of people go through that. I was going to say men, but I think a lot of people in general just go through it, you know, but I think it's harder for men to talk about that shit because we're just supposed to grind through it and provide. And right, like, that's our, that's been our professional role. And so yeah. So it's been,

I feel you on that, man. I appreciate you sharing that because I know, um, it's been hard for me to come to grips with in my life, you know, and certain things. But I think it's also taught me a lot and allows me to deal with

insecurities that, that, that still arise at 33, you know. Yeah, man, it's funny. The word insecurities,

you know, insecure like whatever. I mean, you look, I look back at it. I think all of us were like that. We were hiding behind, you know,

two colors. purple and gold right in who in who we were right and it was almost like it was a free pass to act and do whatever whatever you wanted and people that people that haven't played there they don't realize the amount of power that came with that yeah you know it was like you you had everything i i mean we'd walk in on a game day and there was a ton of food there there was everything you walk out you're signing shit, you know, like there might be a blonde sitting in the bullpen because that's usually where I live my freaking life. And then it was all over. Yeah. I'm telling you. And then when you when I got to pro bowl, it was almost like you take steps back too. Like yeah, it was in the same life as

LSU. So like there's like three people here. It's like it's like, and you talk to other guys around college baseball that just didn't have that experience, you know? And it's like, damn, you don't realize what you had at LSU and how much people care. And that's why I think. you know a lot of people ask me too like why did you start a business in baton Rouge louisiana i'm like because these motherfuckers love us like they're awesome like the people are great here like they care about baseball like um like my championship matters to them you know so it's kind of cool to enjoy that with them at this age you know the last one like there hasn't been one sense it matters like you know your name is appreciated there it means more it just means more and it is a

target rich environment to start a business in. So, you know, you were actually a genius to do so, you know, have you lived back in Baton Rouge all this time since you retired or how's, yeah? Yeah. So I, so I started, I became a resident in 2011. I bought a house here for the off seasons and stuff, you know, just like a nice home that was where I lived for the three or four months. My dog stayed there.

I had like a home base, you know, all that shit. Yeah. And when I was done playing ball, that was my rental house. And then I was like kind of indecisive and I was dating a girl from Baton Rouge. So I actually built a house out here and everything. And like we wound up breaking up. But I still love it here.

I live here, have businesses here and everything. So yeah, now I've been here since 16 years, 17 years in Jersey, 16 years in Louisiana. It's almost half a half. Bro, you're almost a full on Louisiana, bro. I'm mixing in you all a lot.

My mom is saying I got a southern accent. I'm like, oh, I say it constantly. And it's funny because when I'm talking to people, you know, if it's, you know, DMs are setting up a show. I'm like, I mean, like, wait a second. Where's this person from? Right. Like, you know, because I mean, I got to y'all from Louisiana. And now I'm in Florida.

I'm in Southwest Florida. So that flies here, right? You know, it used to be you guys. Now you can't even probably say that anymore because people get offended. It's like, I have pronoun. I don't even think about that. You're right. It's like, I'm always like, do I want to be.

You all just safe now. I'm going with that now. Hi. Yeah. How are they? What's going on? Everyone. Hey, everyone.

Is that cool to say? But no, man, like, I think, I think it's really important to really, you know, dive into certain things that bother us as men because I didn't even think we're going to go down this road today. But it's important because, you know, you're a man, you're an athlete. You're supposed to be strong. You're not supposed to, you know, talk about your feelings. I mean, shit, dude. I cry watching sports. movies all the time when something good happens.

Yeah, bro. You too? I thought it was because I never won an Addy or something. Like, I'm crying. I'm telling you, I'm like, I'll be sitting there. I'll be like, why is this getting me right now? And I'm like, it's just like the great moment. I'm like, I want to clap and be like, I don't know.

It's the outside of me, like the underdogs. I don't know. It gets me every time. What's the one movie that that chokes you up the most? That's a baseball movie. All right. For love of the game, for sure for me. Oh, dude.

That, that destroys me, dude. That, that movie destroys me. me gets me every time so yeah no that one there's a couple scenes in that one that get me every time yeah i'm gonna try to think of some other ones too i don't know that one that one i'm trying to think of some other ones that dude the brother rookie the rookie just yeah that's me i interviewed him he was on my show wow back man he's a great dude man he's a great dude yeah i mean like that when when his family comes, you know, and they're like all the, all in all the kids from the baseball team, they all come. They bus in there.

They shut the whole damn town down. That gets me. When he goes to the bullpen, he comes out. I got goosebumps right now. But the thing that destroys me is the conversation with his dad. Oof. Like I lose it. Like I like in that movie like that point because my dad and I, we don't speak.

Right. And so it was like that's that it just, it pulls on these hard. heartstrings, man. And so that's what's the great thing about movies and emotions is, right? Like, um, and it relates to people differently. That's the beauty of it. And that's, I, I love the rookie. I don't remember that specific scene, but I know that the rookie got me too. I just, yeah, I think anything of triumph and tribulations, things like that, overcoming obstacles and adversity. Um, yeah, all that really does. Like, to me, that's, and it's, and it's not even like, uh, it's just like, it's a raw emotion for me. I'm just like, I can't believe this is happening.

Like my, it's like, yeah. So. Yeah. It's like I'll cry in any sport movie, dude. Like it'll, it'll just get me to a point like, I had this visceral response. It's just like, gosh. Like, it just hits you. And it's because you talk about overcoming adversity. That's something we can all relate to, right? And as athletes, you want to be at the, you know, at that mountain top.

And you know you have to overcome in an ornament amount of adversity in order to get there. And so you see it happen on screen. And then you picture, I think subconsciously go through every. that you that you've been through in your sports career and it just hits you a little bit different, right? Um, you know, I mean, I, I, I don't cry during many movies, but like sports movies get me, man. You know what's so funny is I'm, I watched a movie the other day and it's unfortunate that you don't speak with your father, but there was a moment, the movie is called my father.

And I, there were scenes in that movie that just got me where I was like, I was sitting with a girl with a, with a girl and I was like, I can't. I can't believe how much I'm crying right now. This is like it was like I'm like I'm trying to like change positions to like kind of like move my eyes and not let the like two down. Yeah. Is it pop- Is it an allergy season up here? Yeah.

Oh man. It was like yeah. Emotion to me. I'm I'm more of an emotional person. I'm you can see the mannerisms. I'm just that kind of person. So I think for a while too that was what a lot of my insecurities were, you know, like I just didn't want to show emotion, whether was excitement, whether it was fear, whether it was anger, whether it was sadness, you know,

like I didn't want to show those, but I got a lot more comfortable communicating those things, finding people in safe spaces to, you know, be able to share that shit. Because at the end of the day, we're all humans and we all go through things and we all manage things differently. So, yeah. I think it's a really good point. That's a really good point, bro, because, you know, people can look at you or, you know, look at the things that we're doing now and say, like these people, they got all their shit together. They're fine.

I mean, you were out there winning a national championship and you had insecurities. You know, you're one of the best pitchers in the country. Hell, you went the first round. So it's like, for people listening and watching, like, you, you don't know what everybody's going through. Like, you literally don't know what people battle on a day-to-day basis. You may think they have it all together. You may think they're strong, but they are battling demons. You know, I battle them every day, man.

Everybody's got demons, man. to me I'm big on mental health because I'm six, seven, you know, like again, like exactly what you said. I think a lot of people look at me. I know it because I've heard it. I've just heard people say, you know, like, oh, nothing, you're all happy all the time. You're rich. You have this. You have the blah, blah, blah. And I'm like, but that comes with a set of problems itself, right? Everything has its own different things or people care about things differently, right? So you know what I'm saying? You don't know what stresses me or what doesn't stress me and things like that. So I'm fortunate enough that through those experiences now I can share empathy for other people and be like, yeah, I don't care.

Like, I don't know what you're going through. So it doesn't matter what you know what I'm saying. Like I'm here. I'm listening. This is a safe place. Like whatever. Like, you know, like all that stuff because it matters, man. And like I've seen the manliest of men fucking fail and do some crazy ass shit and cry.

And you're like, oh, fuck. Like that's, that's wild, you know. Yeah. That shit's fucking raw. Yeah. It's nuts. And that's why I love, I mean, I love this. because like you and I haven't really connected before and here we are you know first time actually

speaking and it's like dude I feel like I gained a new friend right and I know I have but it's like you know you come we come from the same mold we were in that we were in that journey together we are part of that tradition and you know at the same time though like when you don't know somebody you have an opinion of them or it's not about you and I but it's just a about, you know, what we were talking about before. Like, he's six, seven, he's strong. He's got money. He's been to the big leagues.

He's an entrepreneur. He's got this cool podcast. Him and Mikey do these cool things on the, on the show, you know, on a Mikey show. And they got it all together, man. Like, everybody goes through it. Everybody has their fucking story, man. You know, we're, you know, it'd be different if we're all sitting there at the All-Star game, you know, on, you know, third base side, watching home run derby together.

I'd be like, yeah, this is fucking cool. Like we did this. But that's not where we're at. You know, you're at your place right now. I'm in my place in the den, you know, and all we're doing is competing every single day to show, for me is to show my kids that they can do something really fucking cool, man. Yeah. I love that. It's important, dude.

Yeah. And I'm seriously, I want to share a story with you, too. It's funny that you say, like, you make your mind up or you have your opinion. of people, right? Like when you see them from a distance and stuff and this world of social media phones, all this stuff, online dating, everything's a facade, right? 2014. So I've never gotten big into the Instagram crushes or like the, so back in the day, I don't know if remember they used to do like women crush Wednesdays and things like that. And like when internet stuff was trending. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

And then celebrities and be like, you know, like, oh, I love this woman crush Wednesday, hashtag, right, all this shit. I never did that shit ever and I never really like valued it. And then I saw this one girl that captured me right on the phone and I was like, this girl is it. And again, there goes everything, right? I made up all these assumptions from a picture of this girl would be the best wife. She's amazing. She's the coolest girl. She's so fine. This is in 2014. So I play throughout my career. I follow her and have no interaction with her. She got millions of followers, right? All this stuff. and I'm just admiring her from a distance for five years. 2019 rolls around.

A friend of a friend knows her and comments something like, hey, I know that girl. You want me to put in a word or something? I was like, yeah, absolutely. Blah, blah, blah. Yeah, boy, you're waiting five fucking years. Yeah, exactly. You're like, what kind of fucking question is that?

Have you been, motherfucker? Shit. Long story short, meet the girl, flies out to Baton Rouge, all this stuff. And I'm like, I was jaw open of how different this woman was, right? Like, this is nothing that I expected.

And then I was like, it just immediately clicked for me of like, oh, this is what the fucking internet is nowadays. Like nothing is real. You're creating your own assumptions and real and judgment and all this shit, right, about all these strangers and their lives. And they're doing the same to you. So just have some perspective about it and just understand it. And that like really put things in for me.

Because like when I tell you like how strong the feelings were before and then in person, that was just like, oh, this is just a fake. I watched her, like, do these fake videos at my house, you know, and like act and stuff. And I'm like, oh, my God. And I'm like, how many other men are like me in the world just thinking this about, you know, all these people and like women. And same thing, you know, celebrities and shit. So it's like that really put things in perspective for me about mental health and like understanding these phones and social media and shit. It's super important.

And my wife and I always talk about, you know, our kids, we don't want our kids having social media until they're like, 18 because it is some fucked up shit, man. It is fucked up. It has caused school shootings. They have, I mean, like, it's caused, you know, kids to pull the trigger on their life. I mean, it is completely fucked up. But the one thing that I'll have to say to you is, and I can tell by watching your content and then speaking with you now. It's something that I take great pride in.

I'm as authentic as it gets on the camera. Like, you are not going to get a different motherfucker on a reel, on a podcast. and if you show up up my fucking doorstep, you're not going to find a different dude. You're going to find the same guy. And if I don't feel like, if I feel like I have a message to put out

and I flip the camera around, I start recording it, and I can't get it right, I don't fake it. I don't do it. I'm not anybody's fucking show pony. Yep. I couldn't agree more, dude.

And that's, I think in a world full of these cameras and things, like authenticity wins because eventually that shit's going to get sniffed out. Like there's just no way that, because, I mean,

I guess the only way you would lie about shit is to try to blow yourself up, right, and get clout and all this stuff and followers. And eventually, the bigger that you get, like, somebody's going to dig and find out shit and you're going to get fucking caught, you know? So it's like, authenticity wins. It's a long game. Just be real. Be honest, too. I think that's the thing is like, I think people put out there. I'm this millionaire.

I got these cars. I got this. And it's real easy to fucking put that out there. But then you're living this fake life to yourself and all these other things. So I'd rather be like, yo, I'm struggling right now. Like, just to let you all know. I know you think I might not be or maybe you do, but I am.

Like that's just where I am. It's just being real. There's a lot of people out there. And by the way, just quick rewind. I'm so glad they didn't have internet dating. I'm so glad they did not have Tinder when I was in college. That would have been a fucking nightmare.

That would have been a nightmare for me and my boys. It would have been bad. But to your point, man, like, it's like. But also at the same time, I don't know. There's a skill set of in person and going and

you know what I'm saying and like being able to talk to people I love it so like I don't know maybe maybe you guys were better at that shit because I'm like maybe it was a different era because I always say that too I'm like man if I had it but then I'm like I do have it now and I hate it I'm like I'd rather just go I'd rather be alone tonight you know what I'm saying then do this random internet we were magicians we were magicians back then the one that always worked us hey my buddy over there wants to know if you think I'm cute

worked every time worked every time it's cheesy as fuck but hey man Listen, it was 2000. It was your 2000. You know, maybe girls weren't as smart as they are now. No, definitely not. That's what we needed. That was it. Yeah, exactly.

Like, they warned them about people like us once we left. Like, hey, see the picture of this guy? This is the shit these types of people say. Like, just run away. Run away. Oh, man, it's great. No, I mean, being authentic, I think is something super important because, like you said, like you can say that you've got all this money and you can say,

say you have all these cars and you can rent them and put them in front of your house or you know jump out of one to do an ad which i fucking hate you can tell that it's not their car and people are going to find out you know that's why i'm always super up front like hey here's where i'm at like i don't have all figure out like hey i do have my dream car though i'm not i'm not i drive a rand huh congrats i ram t rx have you have you seen those bad boys it's fucking so. 702 horsepower, bro. The TRX is our mean.

They're mean. They're great. They're discontinued. So that would be Dodge's version of like the Raptor or whatever. Yeah, I guess we can call it that. Yeah. I mean, come on.

Hey, hey, hey, hey. Yeah, but no, absolutely. Absolutely. Yeah, no. No, but it's,

but I mean, that's the thing though. But I worked my ass off for it. But I'm not, you know, posting it everywhere. I'm not fucking, you know,

proud of it. But it should be, man. You know, I'm, up man i i hope uh i get out the baton rouge soon and you and i do some it and uh i want to see your your card place hey real quick how much is a king grief your junior rookie card upper deck uh graded at 10 right now like 1200 so yeah it just depends on if it's in good condition or i think i have one in the box there you go yeah get it graded bring it here we'll have some fun with it i might have to i

might have to we can auction it off dude but look man i i i really enjoyed um conversation today. You're a great dude. I respect you. I'm proud of everything you accomplished in college professionally and now as entrepreneur and most importantly as a person because I can tell you got a great big heart man. And I just, I loved having you on the show today, dude. This was a really great conversation. This 50 minutes flew by, man. I'm excited. Hopefully I get to get a chance to have you on my show and we'll continue this conversation for sure. I'm telling you, man, I'll make the flight out. I'll talk about I'll make a flight out. We'll get it will get it organized maybe in July or August, whatever the schedule permits, but we'll get

that shit done. That'll be cool, man. All right, man. Well, listen, dude, I appreciate you and hang tight real quick after I hit stop. But listen, ladies and gentlemen, I want you guys to look in the show notes, look up Anthony, follow his social media, support his show, support his business, because he's a great dude. And watch out for everything he does because he's going to do it from the heart. And until next time, guys, you take it easy.

Peace.