Garth Brooks, the famous country singer, had a significant impact on the batting stance of an MLB player in the past. Craig Counsell, the current manager of the Chicago Cubs, had a successful career as a professional baseball player for over a decade, starting from 1995 until 2007.
Counsell was famous for his unique way of holding the bat while batting. He would raise it high up in the air, leaving everyone curious about the reasons behind this unconventional stance. Surprisingly, Counsell never provided any explanation for his batting style.
After being appointed as the manager of the Chicago Cubs, Counsell participated in the 2024 Cubs Convention. During the event, someone finally inquired about the reason behind his previous habit of holding the bat at a high position in the air.
He attributes the responsibility to Garth Brooks.
Counsell shares that during his time with the Los Angeles Dodgers at spring training, he struggled as a hitter and couldn't manage to get any hits.
During spring training, I confidently struck the baseball towards the left field. Excitedly, I thought to myself, "Finally! My first hit!" Without wasting any time, I immediately started sprinting towards first base. The crowd erupted with sheer enthusiasm, their cheers filling the air. However, as I glanced up, I was astonished to see that Garth Brooks had made a remarkable diving catch in left field, thus prolonging my unfortunate streak of not getting any hits in the game.
The individuals present at the press conference were highly amused by this story.
The following day, I was set free. I had a conversation with myself, asking, "Why am I unable to achieve any successes?" This internal dialogue prompted me to raise my hands high up in the air, and surprisingly, it proved to be beneficial.
Garth Brooks is the one I hold responsible for my terrible batting stance.
Brooks, who is widely recognized as one of the most prominent figures in the music industry, also had a passion for sports during his youth. He actively participated in baseball and track and field events. Despite having three opportunities to join the New York Mets, he unfortunately did not succeed in securing a spot on the team.
Evan Paul is the presenter of Taste of Country Nights, a radio program that is broadcasted on over 120 country radio stations across the country. The show airs every night from 7PM to midnight and features the latest and greatest country music. Evan also conducts interviews with popular artists in the industry such as Luke Combs, Miranda Lambert, Dan + Shay, Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Chris Stapleton, Lady A, Morgan Wallen, and many others.
Take a peek into the Malibu Beach House owned by Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood:
Photo credits belong to Sterling Whitaker.
Photos: Take a look inside the beautiful Palm Beach townhouse owned by Sean Hannity.
Gallery Credit: Sterling Whitaker
The ranking of the 30 most melancholic country songs ever, determining their level of sadness. The credit for the accompanying gallery goes to Care
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