Garth Brooks once influenced a professional baseball player to alter his batting stance. Craig Counsell, the current manager of the Chicago Cubs, had a notable career as a successful hitter in the MLB from 1995 to 2007.
Counsell was famous for his unique and non-traditional batting stance where he held his bat high up in the air. The reason behind his stance remained a mystery as he never provided any explanation for it.
After Counsell was appointed as the manager of the Chicago Cubs, he took part in the 2024 Cubs Convention, during which an individual finally inquired about the reason behind his habit of holding the bat at a high position in the air.
He attributes the responsibility to Garth Brooks.
Counsell clarifies that he didn't possess excellent batting skills during his time with the Los Angeles Dodgers, specifically during spring training. He struggled to make any successful hits.
During spring training, I successfully hit a strong hit towards left field. I was filled with excitement as it was my first base hit. With my head focused on reaching first base, I swiftly started running. The crowd erupted in wild cheers, but when I looked up, I was astonished to see Garth Brooks making an incredible diving catch in left field, prolonging my streak of not getting a hit in four attempts.
The individuals attending the press conference found this narrative to be extremely amusing.
The following day, I was set free. I had a conversation with myself, questioning why I couldn't achieve any successful hits. As a result, I reached a point where I raised my hands high up in the air, and surprisingly, it made a positive impact.
"I hold Garth Brooks responsible for a terrible stance in baseball."
Brooks, who is known as one of the most influential figures in the music industry, also had a passion for sports during his childhood. He actively participated in baseball and track and field events. Although he had the opportunity to join the New York Mets on three separate occasions, he was ultimately unsuccessful in securing a spot on the team.
Evan Paul is a well-known radio host who presents Taste of Country Nights, a popular syndicated radio show that can be heard on over 120 country radio stations across the country. The show airs every evening from 7 PM to midnight and features the latest and greatest country music hits. Evan also has the opportunity to interview some of today's biggest country stars, including Luke Combs, Miranda Lambert, Dan + Shay, Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Chris Stapleton, Lady A, Morgan Wallen, and many more.
Take a glimpse into the stunning Malibu beach house owned by Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood with these exclusive photos. The gallery credit goes to Sterling Whitaker.
Images: Take a look inside the impressive Palm Beach townhouse owned by Sean Hannity. The gallery is credited to Sterling Whitaker.
The top 30 saddest country songs of all time, in order of their level of melancholy. Credit for the gallery goes to Care
Additional content from Taste of Country can be found here.
For more details and