Garth Brooks, at one point, influenced an MLB hitter to alter his batting stance. Craig Counsell, the current manager of the Chicago Cubs, had a notable career as a successful baseball player in the major leagues for 12 years, starting from 1995 to 2007.
Counsell was famous for his unique and non-traditional way of holding the bat while batting. He would raise it high up in the air, puzzling everyone as to the reason behind his stance. Surprisingly, Counsell never provided any explanation for this peculiar batting
After being appointed as the manager for the Chicago Cubs, Counsell participated in the 2024 Cubs Convention, where he was finally questioned about the reason behind his previous practice of holding the bat at a high position in the air.
He attributes the responsibility to Garth Brooks.
According to Counsell, he was not skilled at hitting and this was during his time with the Los Angeles Dodgers when he was attending spring training. He struggled to make any successful hits during that period.
During spring training, I hit a powerful shot towards the left field. Excitedly, I thought to myself, "Finally, my first hit!" Determined, I kept my focus down and swiftly ran towards first base. The crowd erupted with overwhelming enthusiasm. However, as I glanced up, I was stunned to see Garth Brooks astonishingly making a diving catch in left field, which unfortunately prolonged my streak of not getting any hits in the game.
The people attending the press conference found this story to be very amusing.
The following day, I was set free. I had a conversation with myself, questioning why I couldn't achieve any successful hits. This self-reflection prompted me to raise my hands high up in the air, and surprisingly, it made a difference and improved my performance.
Garth Brooks is the one I hold responsible for my terrible batting stance.
Brooks, a renowned figure in the music industry, was also involved in sports during his youth, participating in baseball and track and field. Despite having three opportunities to join the New York Mets, he was ultimately unable to secure a spot on the team.
Evan Paul hosts a radio show called Taste of Country Nights, which is broadcasted on over 120 country radio stations across the country. The show airs every evening from 7PM to midnight and features the latest and greatest country music. Evan also conducts interviews with 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 more!
Take a peek into the Malibu beach house owned by Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood:
Gallery Credit: Sterling Whitaker
Images: Take a look inside the beautiful Palm Beach townhouse owned by Sean Hannity.
Credit for the photo gallery goes to Sterling Whitaker.
A compilation of the most melancholic country songs has been ranked by Carena Liptak.
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