Garth Brooks, a country music star, once had an influence on a professional baseball player's batting stance. Craig Counsell, who is now the manager of the Chicago Cubs, had a successful career as a baseball player in the major leagues from 1995 to 2007.
Counsell was famous for his unique and nontraditional way of holding his bat while batting. He would lift it high up in the air, and the reason behind this stance remained a mystery to everyone. Moreover, Counsell never provided any explanation for his unconventional technique.
After Counsell became the manager for the Chicago Cubs, he participated in the 2024 Cubs Convention, where he was finally questioned about the reason behind his practice of holding the bat at a high position in the air.
He attributes the cause to Garth Brooks.
Counsell explains that during his time with the Los Angeles Dodgers at spring training, he struggled as a hitter and was unable to achieve any successful hits.
During a spring training game, I successfully hit a powerful ball towards the left field. I felt a surge of excitement as it marked my first hit of the game. With my head lowered, I swiftly made my way towards first base. The crowd erupted with enthusiasm, cheering wildly for my achievement. However, when I glanced up, I was taken aback to see Garth Brooks, the renowned musician, unexpectedly diving to catch the ball in left field. This impressive move extended my streak of being unsuccessful in my previous four attempts.
The people present at the press conference found this story extremely funny.
The following day, I was set free. I had a conversation with myself, questioning why I was unable to achieve any successes. This introspection led me to raise my hands high in the air. Surprisingly, it had a positive impact on my performance.
I attribute a terrible batting stance to Garth Brooks.
Brooks, who is considered one of the most prominent figures in the music industry, 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 was unable to secure a spot on the team.
Evan Paul is the person in charge of Taste of Country Nights, a radio show 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 has the opportunity to interview some of the biggest names 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 look at the interior of Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood's beach house in Malibu. These photos are credited to Sterling Whitaker.
Images: Take a peek inside the exquisite Palm Beach townhouse owned by Sean Hannity. Photo credit goes to Sterling Whitaker.
The 30 saddest country songs of all time, listed in order of their impact. Credit for the gallery goes to Carena Lipt
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