Annual Spring Training trip to Florida.

There’s nothing like a week in the Tampa, Florida areas for baseball spring training and long workouts to clear your head and get you revitalized.  I make an annual pilgrimage to South Florida to see a number of baseball teams get ready for the new season.  In addition, a few days at the IMC Bollettieri Fitness Institute in Bradenton, Florida gets me fired up to come back home and get in better shape for the summer months.  Below is a video and photo journey of my trip.  Take a look.

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The Pittsburg Pirates mascot grabbed me for a photo just before the Pirates ook on the Philadelpha Phillies.  I told him to tell Phillie's manager Charlie Manuel that I'm ready to go in for a few innings, but they didn't take me up on the offer.

The first Hooter's Restaurant is located Clearwater, Florida, a few miles from the Pirates stadium.  It opened on April Fool's Day in 1983.  Wish I had a part ownership.  I sure didn't miss the chance to visit with a few of the Hooter's girls.

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I met Christian Harrison at Bollettieri last year, and found out he was from Shreveport.  I asked him if he was a ranked player and he said he was.  "What are your ranked Chris?" I asked.  Number one he told me.  "Number one, in the whole U.S.?"  He answered:"Number one in the world."  Keep an eye on Christian.

I usually find a workout partner durng workouts.   Kansas State wide receiver Jeron Mastrud teamed up with me for a while.  He hopes to be chosen in the coming NFL draft in a few weeks.

At spring training, you have to go see the Yankees play.  My hotel was less than a mile from the stadium and practice field and I jogged around the workout complex each morning. Below are some of the Yankee die hards who come down each hear from New York City.  Nonie Salter (third from left)is a long time friend married to a New York lawyer, Kevin, who taught me a great deal about international insurance.