“Yogi Berra always satisfied my need for WTF quotes before WTF was an acronym.”
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The world has lot a great ball player, a possibly greater philosopher. Yogi Berra has left our physical plane, and the tributes are equally balanced between those reminiscing about his days with the Yankees and the “Yogi-isms” that have become part of our urban vernacular.
We have endless options in life, but we can’t do everything. So pick a direction and don’t succumb to paralysis by analysis.
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Yankee’s owner Hal Steinbrenner was quoted as saying that Yogi’s “legacy transcends baseball.” And indeed, it does. In a conversation among some of The Good Men Project’s writers it became clear that his words had made their mark with us.
“Yogi Berra always satisfied my need for WTF quotes before WTF was an acronym,” was the comment from Executive Editor Wilhelm Cortez. And inteed, the SMH moment we all associate with WTF was probably invented during Yogi’s first interview.
Weekly contributor, Kent Sanders, had to wonder how much credibility he would have remarking on the words of a sports legend, considering the position he takes in today’s post. But he says that “When you come to a fork in the road, take it,” has been meaningful to him. He added that for him, this quote reminds us that we can’t let indecision stop us. We have endless options in life, but we can’t do everything. So pick a direction and don’t succumb to paralysis by analysis. (After which Wilhelm quipped, “Plus, a man needs to eat, so don’t look a gift fork in the mouth.” Those writers! Always got a smart remark.)
Managing Editor, Dixie Gillaspie, cited“You can observe a lot by watching,” as a favorite reminder to be present, to pay attention, to hear what isn’t being said and see what people are hoping you’ll understand rather than only hearing and seeing what is on the surface.
… because no one he’d flock with would ever fit among the masses.
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Quentin Lucas pointed out that Yogi was weird or, at the very least, an outlier in his thinking. And if it’s true that birds of a feather do flock together then he made perfect sense when he said, “No one goes there nowadays, it’s too crowded,” because no one he’d flock with would ever fit among the masses.
“The future ain’t what it used to be,” was a favorite for Lisa Blacker. For her this quote says that “the vision for the future I held years ago is not the same as my current vision of the future. Our experiences help us grow beyond what we previously considered possible. Sometimes the vision is simply refined and better-focused, and sometimes it is grander and more colorful! Either way, the future is not what it was.”
I don’t make ‘em up. I don’t even know when I say it. They’re the truth. And it is the truth. I don’t know.
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As a Little League coach, Michael Kasdan had to go with “Little League baseball is a very good thing because it keeps the parents off the streets.” And Tom Gillaspie says he’s always had to laugh at the wisdom of “Hit ’em where they ain’t,” Which Lisa felt was a good reminder for business folks who worry about competition. She says, “From a marketing perspective, it makes me think of differentiating one’s own business service from the competition, so there really is no competition.”
And Arianna Jeret reminded us that at the heart of Yogi’s philosophy was a simple truth. “A lot of guys go,’Hey, Yog, say a Yogi-ism.’ I tell ‘em, ‘I don’t know any.’ They want me to make one up. I don’t make ‘em up. I don’t even know when I say it. They’re the truth. And it is the truth. I don’t know.”
Arianna added, “I am a firm believer that when we learn to live in and speak our truth, there is truly nothing in life to fear and only respect to be gained. Those who speak to be remembered rather than because they are asked a question and respond with a truth are the ones you have to watch out for.”
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Photo: Getty Images
“Hit’ em where they aint” was a quote actually attributed to ‘Wee Willie’ Keeler, a rather small of stature singles hitter who starred around the turn of the 20th century, but then again, one of Yogi’s quotes was “I never said half the things I said.”
Sorry, that should read “I never actually said half the things I said.”