Ep. 122 - Shea Avellino - Mental Toughness is Proving Them Wrong

[00:00:00] Welcome to Men sewing Toughness with Dr. Rob Bell. Each week, Dr. Rob sits down with athletes,

[00:00:15] executives and expert coaches to talk about mental toughness and their hinge moment.

[00:00:21] Here's your host, Dr. Rob.

[00:00:24] So, I tell people about whether you're a manager or player, who I won't even throughout season, but like all you around, it's like a blonde. Like a lot of like, you wake up, like even like the player isn't me, like as a manager, like you wake up, like a feminist perspective, like you wake up, you go and laugh, practice, go to study hall,

[00:00:54] to get some work done, you go to class, you may even come back to the gym at night, get some shots up, you're gonna watch film, like you have to prepare yourself day in and day out, a lot of that is mental toughness.

[00:01:07] Folks, when I finished my 100-mileer, I was happy to be done, but I wasn't finished. The reason why my legs weren't completely bonked for running was that I used PR lotion by Momentus.

[00:01:22] It's simply eliminated any lactic acid built up in my legs, and it's the best product I've ever used.

[00:01:30] Momentus is a leading nutrition and supplement company, which works with over 150 professional and collegiate sports teams.

[00:01:38] No other company has the accolades of being awarded 6 innovation contracts from the Department of Defense for Human Performance.

[00:01:47] Since I started using PR lotion, I now use their plant-based protein, collagen peptides, and recovery formula.

[00:01:55] Look, if performing is important to you, do yourself a favor, go to livemomentus.com.

[00:02:04] And for listening today, you get the best part, a discount. Intercode DRB20 for 20% off your order. That's DRB in the number 20.

[00:02:18] Livemomentus.com. Optimize, perform, and recover. Livemomentus.com

[00:02:30] Our guest today on the mental toughness podcast, I've known him for many years.

[00:02:35] In fact, this is going to be my first relative I ever had on the podcast.

[00:02:39] Try to stay avoid from nepotism when it comes to this podcast, but you're really going to love this guest.

[00:02:43] He's 22 years old. He just graduated from Temple University, a fellow temple owl with his Bachelor of Science,

[00:02:51] Sport Management. He was also a head manager for the last four years there at Temple Basketball.

[00:02:58] And our guest today is Shae Avalino. Shae, my man, thanks so much for joining us, buddy.

[00:03:02] Thanks for having me. I appreciate the opportunity.

[00:03:05] So you grew up and, I mean, you've had a lot of success with just Eagles fan like your whole life, haven't you?

[00:03:12] I have. I have. Yeah. I've been part of Eagles my entire life. My family's had season tickets for

[00:03:19] a very long time. So every year, I'll get down to the games, whether it's with my brothers or

[00:03:24] mom and dad. But we always try and get to as many games that we can every year.

[00:03:29] Yeah. So besides like this past season and then besides like when they won the championship,

[00:03:34] right? Like what's a memory for Eagles for you that stands out?

[00:03:39] So I always tell people my favorite game ever is when back it must have been at least 10 years ago.

[00:03:47] I went with my dad is when they played the Lions. It was a snow game and with Sean McCoy

[00:03:52] went off for like, I guess 220 yards and like three touchdowns.

[00:03:58] Oh, shady, huh? Yeah, that was that was probably one of my favorite games ever.

[00:04:03] Nice. Yeah, I was good. Well, who's your favorite Eagle of all time there?

[00:04:09] That's a good question. I mean, there's so many I can't I can't even think, but me, I maybe my

[00:04:17] blind west books up there. Yeah. I'm west books up there. But there's so many guys now that

[00:04:22] I just love them all. Like there's not one right answer that you can go with.

[00:04:28] So you and I both shared an affinity with the with the Phillies in terms of having a favorite

[00:04:33] players. He's still your favorite player of all time. You know who we're talking about?

[00:04:36] Shane Victorino. Shane Victorino, but flying by and man. Yeah, I actually went to the game

[00:04:41] with my family last night. And my brother went in my closet. He's like, why do you have so many

[00:04:45] Shane Victorino judges? I'm like, Hey, that's my favorite player. He's always have been in a

[00:04:50] whole he will be. Yeah, I love it, man. So obviously, I mean, we always connected, I think for our

[00:04:57] affinity of sports and your career has been in sports, it will be in sports as well,

[00:05:03] specifically basketball. You know, I introduced you as head manager of temple basketball, but

[00:05:08] your journey started like in in basketball specifically, like in middle school, walk us through that

[00:05:15] story about how you ended up even being a manager then in high school. So yeah, so I always knew

[00:05:22] I had a love for the game like baseball means always been my number one sport. I played that

[00:05:27] my entire life, but I always knew I had a love for the game of basketball as well.

[00:05:31] So I tried out for the team in seventh and eighth grade in middle school. And I didn't make the team.

[00:05:37] So I just thought, okay, like, let me go out, have fun with my friends, like play basketball,

[00:05:43] just like a week of like fun and learning. So I didn't make the teams. So I was like,

[00:05:48] I want to be involved some way somehow. So my mom knew a teacher at my high school. And he

[00:05:54] bought me and he's like, how well would you be interested in being a manager for the team.

[00:05:59] And I was like, that sounds cool. Like I could be connected, like hang out with the players and

[00:06:04] just enjoy it. So I did JV my freshman year in high school. And then I did Vosse from my next

[00:06:12] three years in high school as well. And that's where it just kind of just just took off from there

[00:06:17] and I've been doing it ever since. When did it hit you, man? Like even in high school, when did it hit

[00:06:23] you like, hey, this is like, I'm meant to do this job. I'm meant to do this role.

[00:06:29] So I would say going into my junior year, we bought a new coaching and we just instantly

[00:06:41] connected right away. Like I was working out doing the play workouts in the summertime,

[00:06:47] like on the track, on the football field, like in the gym, like ever since then,

[00:06:53] like we just created such a bond with the coach, with the coach back then and the players that

[00:06:58] I know is like, okay, this is what I want to do. Like I love it. I'm a part of the game.

[00:07:03] I can build so many connections, be around such great people. And yeah, ever since then,

[00:07:09] I just knew this is what I want to do. Yeah. And then when you got to temple,

[00:07:13] I mean, you already knew what you were going to be doing with coach Dumfry there when you got to

[00:07:19] to you, right? Yeah. So it's funny. So I came for a visit with my brother one day.

[00:07:26] And I never even I came to tour the campus and I never actually toured the campus that day.

[00:07:33] I went to the basketball practice and hung out with some of the coaches. And then I will watch

[00:07:39] the practice when the locker master and I met coach Dumfry after the practice. And he's like,

[00:07:43] if you come here, you can be a manager. So ever since then, I didn't even tour the campus.

[00:07:49] I knew, okay, mom and dad, I'm going to temple like set him still and I'm going.

[00:07:54] So then that summer, I didn't want to waste no time. I caught up there video coordinator in

[00:08:01] their director operations at the time. I was like, hey, like I'm coming in as a freshman like,

[00:08:05] is there any way I can get down there early and just be a part of team. So I came in,

[00:08:10] not even technically as a freshman, I came in that summer and was coming to work outs

[00:08:17] because I wanted to get a head start and learn the roles and learn the faces and names of everyone.

[00:08:22] It was that was the anti Christmas was he had on that team?

[00:08:28] No, I know I have a great relationship with the anti Christmas, but he was before me.

[00:08:34] Okay, I was trying to think my years get all messed up. And I didn't mean to mess that part

[00:08:38] up and interview because I was thinking that's got to be me finished with 2012. Something like

[00:08:43] that, right? It may have been. Yeah, maybe later. That time. Yeah, she's also white before me too.

[00:08:52] Okay. So you, you arrive at temple even early to start being a basketball manager. So, like,

[00:09:01] if you had to estimate how many times, and you did do the tour of the campus, right? I mean,

[00:09:04] you toward the most important part. I mean, the basketball. Yes. Yes. How many times do you think

[00:09:09] you've been to that gym in sense, since that first visit there? Almost every day, like, whether

[00:09:18] it's a practice, 30 or a lineup across the street, I'm in here. Basically, every day,

[00:09:26] like, I've gone comments before from the coaches, like, damn, like, do you sleep here? Like,

[00:09:32] you'll hear more than us. Like, they're like, you got to go home sometimes. Like, you're like,

[00:09:35] you're always here. And I'm like, it's just like, what I love to do, like, any chance I get,

[00:09:40] like, I come in, whether it's like by myself, like, with another man and do or with the players,

[00:09:46] like, any opportunity I can, I come in. This is what I enjoy.

[00:09:52] What would, what would, like, your routine be when you would, like, when you would show up?

[00:09:57] What would your normal routine look like? So, whether it's like, I'll go over, like,

[00:10:02] practice and game. So, like, all my duties consisted of, like, so, I would set up and break down

[00:10:09] practices and home games, which included, like, cleaning, laundry, filling water bottles,

[00:10:17] putting out, like, getting the boards ready, markers, making sure that the balls are pumped up.

[00:10:22] I would participate in practice drills and shoot arounds with aiding the coaching staff in

[00:10:30] on-court drills and tracking statistics. I did travel with the team junior and senior year

[00:10:37] with assisting in travel logistics, itinerary development, and game preparation.

[00:10:44] I assisted with developing a weekly practice and laundry schedule. So, each week, I would

[00:10:50] text the coaches, "Hey, do you have the schedule for the week?" And then, that way,

[00:10:56] I would send it out to the rest of managers. We kind of had a sign-up sheet for each day.

[00:11:00] I assisted with communicating with players and coaches, which included rebounding,

[00:11:06] getting food and water whenever they needed it. I assisted, at the end of this year, with

[00:11:12] cutting film, doing games. And then, last year, I assisted the coaching staff with recruits,

[00:11:18] including scheduling food and workouts. There was a lot of it. There was also, I guess,

[00:11:26] little stuff, like, on a way trips. I would have to wait the players up in the morning,

[00:11:30] make sure they're down to breakfast and film at a certain time,

[00:11:37] make sure, packing for way trips, everyone has everything they need, whether it's shoes, uniforms,

[00:11:43] practice gear. But, there's a lot that goes into it. But, as the years went on, I got the hang of it

[00:11:50] pretty quickly and it just became easy, as I would say, as the years went off.

[00:12:05] Hey, good-looking. If you like this podcast and are already a badass,

[00:12:09] but it's all way too complicated, then visit our website, DrRobbel.com.

[00:12:15] Schedule call with us to help capture your very own hinge moment.

[00:12:20] You know, there was, um, Lou Holtz, when he was done coaching at Notre Dame.

[00:12:30] People that were managers for the football team, you know, would introduce themselves.

[00:12:36] And his next question, so they'd say, you know, a football manager for Notre Dame.

[00:12:40] And his next question would be, obviously, they were out.

[00:12:43] Next question would be, hey, what business do you own? So, that would be his thing. Like,

[00:12:50] why do you think, or how do you think that alone and everything that you did on day-by-day basis,

[00:12:57] how do you think that that has prepped you for your next stage in life?

[00:13:00] Oh, I mean, it's everything. Like, whether it's communication, time management, organization,

[00:13:07] like, even just like keeping a day-to-day schedule, like, it has helped me so much. Like,

[00:13:13] I tell people all the time, my freshman year, I just took advantage of every opportunity.

[00:13:21] And then year after year, that's how I worked my way up to being the head manager by myself

[00:13:26] and taking on the role that the coaches have trusted me with, like, the entire season. So,

[00:13:32] my freshman year, I was usually a great example, is we had a player in APLowie,

[00:13:37] who's now in the G-League for the Los Angeles Lakers. He's on the G-League team.

[00:13:41] And I would get in the gym with him and rebound for him at 6.30 a.m. almost every day,

[00:13:48] my freshman year. And then for the home games that I wasn't working,

[00:13:54] I would get asked, "Hey, could you do tickets?" So, not everyone likes to do tickets, because

[00:14:00] you're not, like, I guess a part of the game, like, you're back somewhere, like, in the other side of the

[00:14:06] they're winning, like not watching the game.

[00:14:09] But I just took advantage of every opportunity

[00:14:11] whether it's doing tickets, something else,

[00:14:13] coming in early, rebalancing.

[00:14:15] And from then on, it just was building and this year,

[00:14:20] I got to be the head manager by myself.

[00:14:23] The coach had trust me to go on a weight trip,

[00:14:26] to buy myself, packing.

[00:14:28] But so everything's just, I would say the hard work,

[00:14:32] the worth ethic, communication, responsibilities

[00:14:35] is a big one, trust thing, all that is just

[00:14:40] allowed me to go as a person and a manager

[00:14:44] in this sport and business to just continue on

[00:14:47] for my love of the game and helping reach my next point.

[00:14:53] - I mean, she has Austin mentioned you in a podcast.

[00:14:56] I mean, and then just listed down

[00:14:59] like what an integral part of just the entire program.

[00:15:03] What did that mean to you?

[00:15:04] When you kind of heard, you know,

[00:15:06] somebody like that talk about you.

[00:15:08] - Oh, I mean, that meant everything to me.

[00:15:10] As soon as I heard it, I texted him right after,

[00:15:13] but having someone like that who is a legend

[00:15:17] around this program really meant a lot to me

[00:15:21] because it just shows like my hard work has paid off

[00:15:25] and someone like that, like looks up to me

[00:15:28] as like a mentor and a role model, like, yeah,

[00:15:33] it means a lot 'cause it just shows

[00:15:35] like how much like my hard work is paying off

[00:15:38] and people just look up to me like that

[00:15:41] and I hope I can continue to be in the person I am

[00:15:44] and a role model for everyone else

[00:15:46] and help people in following direction to me,

[00:15:49] like help them succeed and set them up

[00:15:51] for what they wanna do as well.

[00:15:54] - Yeah, so more of like a mental question here

[00:15:58] in terms of you rebounding for so many different players.

[00:16:01] Like, what's an instance or what's a player

[00:16:04] that kind of stands out to you

[00:16:06] in terms of like their development throughout the years?

[00:16:10] - So one that I can think of that is always like,

[00:16:16] we've had such a great relationship.

[00:16:18] He was with me since the beginning of my first year

[00:16:22] was demeaned done.

[00:16:23] So he spent four years here, he just transferred out.

[00:16:29] He now goes to the University of Houston,

[00:16:32] but we would always get in the gym together.

[00:16:36] Every day, he would just put, he would get shots up

[00:16:42] and rebounding and his worth ethic and growth over the years.

[00:16:47] It's just been amazing and I know he's gonna continue

[00:16:50] to do great things with his career

[00:16:52] and succeed in a lot of ways.

[00:16:54] - What did you notice then throughout your development?

[00:16:59] About players and their mentality

[00:17:02] and then those would adjust well

[00:17:03] and what did you notice kind of about the mental toughness

[00:17:06] of players and hey, like this is a really

[00:17:11] important mental skill that I saw

[00:17:13] that like successful players would have.

[00:17:15] - So I tell people, like whether you're a manager

[00:17:20] or a player like but well, even throughout season

[00:17:23] but like all you around, like it's like a glint,

[00:17:26] like a lot of like you wake up.

[00:17:30] Like even for like the players and me like as a manager

[00:17:32] like you wake up for like from a player's perspective

[00:17:35] like you wake up, you go and lift, you have practice.

[00:17:39] You go to study hall to get some work done.

[00:17:42] You go to class, you may even come back

[00:17:45] to the gym at night, get some shots up,

[00:17:47] you got to watch film like you have

[00:17:50] to prepare yourself day in and day out

[00:17:52] and a lot of that is mental toughness.

[00:17:54] So it's just a lot of a lot of that goes

[00:17:57] with responsibilities so getting your work done

[00:18:00] on and off the court and a lot of patience.

[00:18:04] So you have to know like how to use your time well

[00:18:06] whether you get stressed out or you get down

[00:18:09] in yourself at time, whether something happens

[00:18:11] during the game or practice.

[00:18:13] So it all just goes in.

[00:18:15] Just be mentally like prepared day in and day

[00:18:18] because you never know what's gonna happen

[00:18:20] either whether it's doing practice a game

[00:18:22] like the next play or after practice or something

[00:18:26] like that so you always have to not have a backup plan

[00:18:29] but always be ready.

[00:18:31] I like to say always be ready so don't have to get ready.

[00:18:34] - Right, yeah, it's a good one, man.

[00:18:36] You were in the article about Cleat Battle

[00:18:44] in his, not only his injury but his rehab

[00:18:49] and then coming back, share with us that,

[00:18:51] that relationship with him.

[00:18:53] - Yeah, so that was awesome.

[00:18:56] So we've had a great relationship.

[00:18:59] So when he got hurt, he would always text me like,

[00:19:03] hey, can we get shots up and stuff like that?

[00:19:06] Like get in the gym, like, hey, what time can we go?

[00:19:09] And even like he had a scooter with him.

[00:19:11] Like even like on a scooter, he would wanna get shots up.

[00:19:16] So like that just attains their like his commitment,

[00:19:20] how you wanted to get better, like he didn't let

[00:19:22] his injury stop him.

[00:19:24] So there's actually some pictures that like we would always

[00:19:28] have fun without pushing him on his scooter after practice.

[00:19:32] Like we'd always like joke around so,

[00:19:34] but no, that just pertain to his commitment

[00:19:36] and wanting to get back from his injury

[00:19:40] 'cause he didn't let that stop him

[00:19:41] and he never put his head down.

[00:19:43] He just wanted to work and get back and get healthy

[00:19:46] and show people what he could do.

[00:19:50] - What's one of the memories that stand out for you

[00:19:52] being a manager kind of throughout the four years?

[00:19:55] - So my two favorite memories actually happened this year.

[00:19:59] One being when we beat Villanova

[00:20:02] 'cause that's always a big goal of mine.

[00:20:04] - Was that the first time in the four years you were there?

[00:20:07] - Yes, that was actually--

[00:20:08] - Oh, nice.

[00:20:09] - In like a long time, at least 10 years.

[00:20:12] So that was a big memory 'cause I always told people

[00:20:17] like if I go there I wanna beat no.

[00:20:19] 'Cause that hasn't happened in such a long time.

[00:20:21] And my parents were at the game too,

[00:20:23] so the experience that was amazing

[00:20:26] and having like the students cloud the quarter after

[00:20:31] and just everyone just piling up.

[00:20:35] But I would have to say my favorite memory I think by far

[00:20:39] is when I went to Houston this year

[00:20:42] and we knocked off the number one team in the country.

[00:20:44] That has to be my favorite memory

[00:20:46] 'cause that was so many people doubted us

[00:20:49] and no one thought we could do it,

[00:20:50] but we did it and that was truly special.

[00:20:55] - What stands out to you about

[00:20:57] just about the preparation in the night game itself?

[00:20:59] - The preparation of that game was, that was crazy.

[00:21:04] So everyone I just knew from the jump,

[00:21:06] like even me like preparing myself

[00:21:09] so that I was actually the only manager

[00:21:12] that went on that trip.

[00:21:13] And we had one Gladys listen too.

[00:21:15] So we didn't have as many, I would call it like hands on deck

[00:21:19] as we normally would.

[00:21:21] And for other trips we would have another GA,

[00:21:24] Gladys listen and another manager.

[00:21:25] So we'd have more help.

[00:21:27] But for that trip, I was the only manager

[00:21:30] and we had one Gladys listen.

[00:21:33] So I just knew from there like, okay, coach trust me.

[00:21:35] We're gone, played number one team in the country.

[00:21:38] Like I have to be on my absolute best.

[00:21:42] But I didn't really feel any pressure

[00:21:44] 'cause I've been in that situation before.

[00:21:46] I just had to treat it as another trip, as another game.

[00:21:50] So-

[00:21:51] - So quick question, Shane, I don't mean interrupt man

[00:21:53] but when he's saying like,

[00:21:55] when you're telling yourself I need to be at my best

[00:21:57] like what does that mean like when it comes

[00:21:59] to what you were doing?

[00:22:00] - So making sure everything's packed,

[00:22:03] make sure everyone has what they need.

[00:22:05] Like don't leave anything behind

[00:22:06] 'cause if you leave anything behind

[00:22:08] like you're in a bad spot.

[00:22:10] So just make sure we have everything,

[00:22:13] make sure the players have everything.

[00:22:15] Make sure everyone's on time.

[00:22:17] So yeah, just making sure like kind of not,

[00:22:22] I guess messing up in a way.

[00:22:23] Like I had to be like on my absolute best

[00:22:26] that the coaches trust me and the players

[00:22:30] can trust themselves and be comfortable

[00:22:32] so that they can head into this game that we had

[00:22:36] with like with their minds, right?

[00:22:38] So that they didn't like no distractions,

[00:22:42] like stay off like social media.

[00:22:44] Like without telling you like,

[00:22:46] oh, you guys can't do this.

[00:22:47] Why are you like even like going into that game?

[00:22:49] Like you guys have no shot at winning.

[00:22:50] Like we knew like, okay, without population,

[00:22:54] our hard work going into that game throughout the week

[00:22:56] that we knew that if we stayed right,

[00:22:59] stayed mentally right and focused on the game plan

[00:23:02] that we could do it and we did.

[00:23:04] And then after that we went crazy in the locker mat

[00:23:07] afterwards it was, it was special.

[00:23:10] - No good feeling huh?

[00:23:11] - Yeah, it was, it was definitely one of the best feelings ever

[00:23:14] because when somebody tells you you can't do it

[00:23:18] then you eventually do it.

[00:23:19] When you prove them wrong it's, it's special.

[00:23:22] - No, I think I remember texting you probably after that,

[00:23:27] after that win.

[00:23:28] I'm sure you had a lot of people texting you man,

[00:23:29] but that was such a good one.

[00:23:30] - I came back to my phone before after we cleaned up

[00:23:34] and that thing and I got back to the plane

[00:23:36] and I had a whole bunch of text messages.

[00:23:40] - Yeah, after, I'm always fascinated man

[00:23:44] by like after the mountaintop moments, right?

[00:23:48] How did the team rebound even after that,

[00:23:51] that mountaintop moment and, you know,

[00:23:54] even the games after?

[00:23:55] - So we had, I would say tell people like,

[00:24:00] we had a little shaky over here.

[00:24:02] So like starting out we had with a very bad loss

[00:24:06] to a team, our first game in the season.

[00:24:11] And then we bounced back a little bit

[00:24:13] when we went to Connecticut in Brooklyn

[00:24:16] and then we ended up beating Nova

[00:24:19] and then we had a couple bad losses within that time.

[00:24:24] We lost a pen for the big 5 championship.

[00:24:27] - Oh yeah, I remember that man.

[00:24:29] - That, that hurt a lot

[00:24:30] 'cause we could have won that out light

[00:24:32] for the, why, why in a long time?

[00:24:37] But, I mean, we shared it.

[00:24:39] I think I always shared it with this year

[00:24:41] but we shared the title with someone.

[00:24:43] - And if people don't understand outside of that area,

[00:24:45] how big the big 5, you know basketball is, man.

[00:24:48] So. - Oh yeah.

[00:24:49] - I feel that.

[00:24:51] - Yeah, for Philadelphia, that means everyone

[00:24:54] in Philadelphia, just like the people that have come along

[00:24:58] like all the programs and like how Philadelphia basketball

[00:25:02] is like it just means a lot.

[00:25:05] Like even like if the team's like on as good one year,

[00:25:08] like whenever we play St. Joe like building over the style

[00:25:13] to XO Pan, like it just, it means a lot

[00:25:16] 'cause everyone that's been through the programs

[00:25:18] who's built these programs along the years,

[00:25:21] like you just get to showcase that

[00:25:23] and just compete against one another.

[00:25:25] But going back to your previous question,

[00:25:32] after we beat Houston, we were looking good.

[00:25:36] I think we were timed.

[00:25:39] I think going into the Houston game,

[00:25:40] we were tied for first in the conference.

[00:25:43] So we were, we were good.

[00:25:44] We may have been eight and one in the conference

[00:25:47] at that point and we had, we were feeling good

[00:25:51] and then we lost the Houston.

[00:25:53] Oh no, we beat Houston.

[00:25:55] And then we lost our team right after.

[00:25:57] So we were then we were eight and two.

[00:26:00] And after that, we just, we had a couple of bad losses

[00:26:03] and we kind of fell apart.

[00:26:05] Like the best way to play is we didn't have

[00:26:10] like the best culture, I wanna say.

[00:26:12] Like everyone was going their own way,

[00:26:16] like doing their own thing on and off the court.

[00:26:19] So I'd say like, we weren't like a, like a brotherhood

[00:26:22] as people like to call it basketball.

[00:26:24] So which it hurt like we lost by a lot.

[00:26:28] The last game to see it and we lost like 30

[00:26:31] in the conference tournament, the Cincinnati in Texas.

[00:26:35] And after that everyone, everyone was hurting after that.

[00:26:39] And then everything after that went downhill,

[00:26:42] like the coaching staff got fired afterwards.

[00:26:46] And now that's led to the new coaching staff that's here.

[00:26:50] But we had a lot of ups and downs start the season,

[00:26:53] but I think it couldn't have went better.

[00:26:56] - Yeah, go ahead. - Yeah.

[00:26:58] - You know, one of the reasons why I wanted you

[00:27:02] on this show was you've overcome a lot

[00:27:06] like yourself growing up.

[00:27:07] I mean, you were a twin, but when you were born,

[00:27:11] I mean, you had a lot of significant health issues.

[00:27:13] - Yes. - I mean, 10 weeks in the NICU,

[00:27:18] I mean, you had extreme reflux kind of as a baby,

[00:27:20] hard for you to keep any kind of nutrients down.

[00:27:24] I mean, you were having physical therapy from,

[00:27:26] you know, really, from like the time you were born, right?

[00:27:28] I mean, you had to do yourself,

[00:27:30] you gave yourself hormone shots.

[00:27:34] - Yeah. - Walk us through, man.

[00:27:37] Like some of, and then again, I mean,

[00:27:39] I know it's tough to remember like when you're a baby,

[00:27:41] but what are some of the things you kind of remember

[00:27:43] growing up and what were struggles for you?

[00:27:45] - So, I mean, just even at a very young age,

[00:27:49] just like, I mean, right when I was born,

[00:27:52] like I had solo juis, I had broken bones

[00:27:55] so like, even just like learning,

[00:27:57] like always being like smaller than everyone else.

[00:28:00] So just like, even at like a young age,

[00:28:02] just like learning how to walk and stuff like that.

[00:28:05] So I remember like, even back like when I was young,

[00:28:09] I had a lot of the like, I guess learning disabilities.

[00:28:12] So like people like doctors or say like oh, we don't know like if you can do this on his own

[00:28:18] Or we don't know how he's gonna be when he goes older like he might not be doing

[00:28:23] What a normal kid does like let's say like playing sports and stuff like that. So

[00:28:29] um, I

[00:28:31] Mean as I've gotten older like I've always like told like my parents and my brother like for me like it's always special like I

[00:28:39] Guess

[00:28:40] Like when I prove people on like people doubt me or like say I couldn't do this so

[00:28:46] but something like the biggest like issues or

[00:28:51] Surgers the palms that I've had that I can remember

[00:28:53] is I forget what great? I was in I made I know as an

[00:28:58] Elementary school and I got out the shower one night

[00:29:01] And I saw us like a lump on my stomach and I looked down and I was like, Mom, like what is this and

[00:29:08] I was taking the hospital and it was a hernia

[00:29:11] So I know that was one of my surgeries

[00:29:14] I've had some little surgeries, but I've had wisdom teeth out

[00:29:19] I've had my tonsis andading words out

[00:29:23] But one night two more I do remember a lot is I went for regular

[00:29:31] I exam in I think it was my freshman year of high school felt fine that day felt great

[00:29:38] We're looking forward. Okay getting back to school and whatnot, but I was sitting in the chair

[00:29:43] and

[00:29:45] They looked at my mom. They're like, yeah, we just looked in the back of his eyes and he's

[00:29:51] Papar diemma like his optic nerve is enlarged

[00:29:54] And I was like, okay like what does that mean?

[00:29:57] They're like, yeah, we have to you guys have to go upstairs and we have to admit you guys like you have we have to do surgery

[00:30:03] so

[00:30:05] I just remember they're sitting in the doctor's office. Um, and I was like I was scared and I was like

[00:30:11] What does this mean like like what happened cuz I felt fine?

[00:30:15] So I remember that was that was tough because when I got home. I

[00:30:21] wanted to go to the low-maring game and

[00:30:24] I remember I was in my going up to my room with my mom

[00:30:29] And I went to pull a little marriage shirt out of my closet and that was the last thing I remembered because I was

[00:30:36] I had a seizure

[00:30:37] So I just remember like my mom told me after was a like, yeah, like you had a seizure going in front of me

[00:30:43] I was screaming a dad

[00:30:45] Condon one one, corner I'm in one and then I went to the hospital

[00:30:48] I was fine after that, but I remember I watched the women game in my in the hospital that that night and

[00:30:56] then

[00:30:59] another one that I remember

[00:31:01] was

[00:31:02] My sophomore year high school. I had

[00:31:05] a head problem

[00:31:09] That sort of the flare up ultimately was inflammation and I had to do physical therapy for three to four weeks

[00:31:16] Which it settled down, but going into my senior year of high school

[00:31:22] it started back up again that summer and I've always kind of had like

[00:31:28] bad hips

[00:31:30] But it got to the point was like it was really bad like the pain level on like a good day was like in eight

[00:31:37] So I remember going I told my mom I think mom like I don't know what to do at this point

[00:31:44] Like we have to call a doctor

[00:31:46] so

[00:31:48] We tried physical therapy again because maybe we thought hey like it's like maybe it's inflammation again

[00:31:55] so we tried that in it and

[00:31:58] And that did not work so we tried that for about three fours and I was like yeah this is not working out

[00:32:03] so then we tried to do steroid injections in my hips and then in my joints and

[00:32:09] I can tell you those were very painful, but those did not work either

[00:32:14] So then I went back to doctors and like yeah, we have no choice

[00:32:18] But to do surgery at this point and this was both hips, but the left was always worse than the right

[00:32:25] so I remember

[00:32:27] Right before my birthday for senior year

[00:32:30] um, I did manage football that fall and then I got my surgery who's like October

[00:32:37] 21st I had my left hip done

[00:32:41] Where she was like chip bone and plates and screws

[00:32:44] So then I hadn't do it in a I was in a wheelchair for six weeks

[00:32:49] I

[00:32:49] Had to do PT

[00:32:51] Just enough to get it a little bit strengthened so that they could go back and do the right hip

[00:32:57] So they did the right hip in January

[00:32:59] I was back in the wheelchair for six weeks

[00:33:02] And then I did physical therapy after that for about

[00:33:06] seven eight months

[00:33:09] But I was like to tell people is I managed football that year. I still manage basketball that year and

[00:33:15] pitched two school listings on senior day that year you pitched two squirrels in is there oh

[00:33:21] on senior day and I go but with with all that happening

[00:33:26] so, I mean that was probably definitely the hardest year of my life like going last year of high school like

[00:33:33] Trying to have fun with your friends and it just all comes down to that

[00:33:37] But I mean I try to make the best out of it

[00:33:40] But yeah, I would say that was probably definitely the hardest use in my life

[00:33:44] And throughout that process like what did you?

[00:33:47] What did you learn about yourself?

[00:33:50] Cheers to toughness like I know that

[00:33:53] Anything now like I know nothing's gonna get to me or stop me or break me down. Like I know like I can overcome

[00:34:01] any obstacle that

[00:34:04] I face from now even like from now or in the future. I know like with my like

[00:34:10] determination my perseverance

[00:34:13] My work ethic that I know I can overcome anything that I face in the future because

[00:34:20] that taught me that like no matter what you go through like there's always going to be

[00:34:25] a bite like a bright light on the other side like the tunnel that people say like you'll get through it and

[00:34:32] Like better days are coming

[00:34:36] How do you think that impacted

[00:34:39] You're coaching and relationship like with players and coaches themselves you going through those struggles

[00:34:45] so I mean I just think it's so like

[00:34:49] Like almost like anything is possible like no one thought I was gonna be able to manage basketball that year or like

[00:34:55] Or even pitch on senior day like no one thought I was gonna be able to come back not saying I was a hundred percent

[00:35:01] I was not nearly a hundred percent when I pictured that I would say maybe

[00:35:05] We'll send the range of like 60 to 70 percent like but I mean I just think it's so that other people like

[00:35:12] Okay, like if you can do it then like I can do it like as long as I have

[00:35:18] Domination and perseverance and I pushed through it and I know like nothing's gonna get my way that like I

[00:35:24] Think people can do it like just like people say like just don't give up like it will all work itself out

[00:35:30] But you just got to push through it and like keep your mental like keeping mental like I think a big part of it is mental

[00:35:36] Like not like anyone tell you like you can't do this you can't do that

[00:35:41] But just you just got to stay true to yourself and just work for it and you know

[00:35:46] You'll get through it. Want to listen to your favorite music

[00:35:50] But you're sick of all the commercial interruptions and negative news today tune in to Cucko radio.com music for your mindset

[00:35:57] We're a commercial free online radio station play nothing but hits are free iOS and Android apps are available for download at

[00:36:07] Cucko radio

[00:36:08] Dot-com. What part do you think was was mental?

[00:36:12] I would say like the mental part just like the note like I

[00:36:19] guess working through it not giving up but also like

[00:36:23] like the background noise like people telling you like people tell me like

[00:36:27] You might not be able to pitch or like you might not be healthy enough or like just people telling you you can't do it

[00:36:35] Like that's a big mental part of it like just staying

[00:36:39] In trench her being being told that did that ultimately help you though

[00:36:46] I mean that gave you oh sure that

[00:36:49] That much more fuel like that just that pushed me that much more like okay

[00:36:54] You're gonna tell me know but when I do it and I prove you wrong like

[00:36:57] Don't say like like you can say congratulations and i think but like that you're sure like you didn't believe in me

[00:37:05] Like I proved you wrong and that was my goal long that just pushed me that much more

[00:37:09] To prove you wrong and say okay. I can do it in you are wrong

[00:37:14] Mm-hmm. I mean that's why I got like Boston Scott's who much right?

[00:37:19] yeah, I

[00:37:21] Mean I'm a Washington fan, but I love Boston Scott man

[00:37:24] Yeah Boston Scott is he's good. Mm-hmm

[00:37:29] But you talk about somebody's been told his whole life

[00:37:33] Like you're not good enough. Exactly. I mean Louisiana Tech. Come on man

[00:37:37] Yeah, he's he's a good example

[00:37:41] Talk to us about man. We're

[00:37:44] Where's the future here for a chavalin?

[00:37:47] Oh, I mean I know we don't know the path right but you have a pretty sound idea of what is that you want to do?

[00:37:52] What's that look like man?

[00:37:54] So ultimately right now. I'm trying to be the glad assistant

[00:37:58] Someone next year at a D1 school and go to grad school and get my mashes

[00:38:03] and then after that

[00:38:05] In sports that you ought to do I guess a lot of jobs work your way up

[00:38:09] So whether that is video coordinator director of operations after that, but ultimately one day

[00:38:15] I'd like to coach college basketball

[00:38:18] Love it my man

[00:38:21] Thank you. Yeah, your dog buddy

[00:38:24] Appreciate it. Yeah, you know that man. We've always connected I think to our love of sport and

[00:38:29] Absolutely

[00:38:31] And I think you know one of the parts about you is you know, you I think people are better

[00:38:37] Often life when they get to experience chavalin. So a chavelino gets to come and you know

[00:38:42] When you get in people's lives, I think their lives are just ultimately better because you were a part of it

[00:38:48] Thank you. I appreciate that. Yeah, don't you agree. That man? Oh for sure. Yeah, definitely. I think I

[00:38:54] Have a great impact and on people like just like I've always been a very social person

[00:39:01] and outgoing and

[00:39:03] Energetic so I think just that alone and just like my worth ethic like building off of people

[00:39:10] I think it's just made me like that much like a better person other people and my relationships and connections and

[00:39:18] But yeah, it's it's truly amazing. I mean if you had a tail, don't you think it'd be wagging all the time?

[00:39:26] We can say that you would right. Yeah, definitely. Yeah, that's awesome

[00:39:31] Shane my man

[00:39:33] Last question for you. What's one question. I should be asking you that that I just haven't asked

[00:39:38] Oh

[00:39:42] That's a great question

[00:39:44] I'm in the spot

[00:39:55] What's one question you haven't asked me

[00:39:58] I don't know you hit on I think you're hitting on everything on the hat and I think you pretty much hit on everything

[00:40:16] Well, I mean this is your mic drop moment man. Like what is it that you want to share?

[00:40:20] I'm just like with other people just

[00:40:24] I guess just being

[00:40:27] Just grow

[00:40:31] With yourself and just network and take advantage of every opportunity that you can and

[00:40:37] Just push yourself because you never know

[00:40:40] who someone might know or what?

[00:40:43] They could lead to like open up a new door and a new opportunity for you. So just take advantage of every opportunity

[00:40:50] meet and connect with as many people as you can and if you ever just go and do something like a tough obstacle and

[00:40:57] Feel stressed out. Just don't give up like talk to someone else like that's very advice

[00:41:03] Like it doesn't hurt that answer advice. I have a little advice

[00:41:06] Do my four years here like a lot like that's okay. Just push yourself

[00:41:13] Don't give up and just right doing just be successful and be your own person. Don't let anyone tell you you can't do it

[00:41:20] I

[00:41:22] Shave my man. Thanks so much for joining us, but I really appreciate it

[00:41:26] Thank you. I appreciate the opportunity for you having me in good conversation. Thank you

[00:41:31] Thanks for listening to mental toughness with Dr. Rob Bell

[00:41:42] To find out more about dr. Rob visit his website at drrobbell.com

[00:41:48] Or follow him on Twitter at dr. Rob Bell and subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast platform to get the next episode of

[00:41:56] Mental toughness as soon as it's available. Thanks for listening and we'll see you next time

[00:42:01] You

[00:42:03] You

[00:42:05] (upbeat music)

[00:42:08] (upbeat music)

[00:42:10] (upbeat music)

[00:42:14] (upbeat music)

[00:42:16] [BLANK_AUDIO]