Former athletes give students team building exercise

Six former professional athletes came to Moorpark College to talk about athletic participation, as well as the effort and teamwork required to be an athlete at the professional level. 
 
The idea for this event, according to the organizer and Year of Service Co-Chair Katherine Adams, was to teach students about how you can use your abilities for constructive uses no matter what those abilities are.

"I was hoping they will see that people who they think of as living really selfish lives actually don't," said Adams. "If you could use your talents, no matter what those talents are you can apply them to a good purpose."

The players included former St. Louis Rams wide receiver Michael Young, Oakland Athletics’ relief pitcher Mike Magnante, Nick Theodorou, Los Angeles Dodgers minor league outfielder and 2004 Olympian for the Greek Team, MLB infielder and current manager of the Pawtucket Red Sox Torey Lovullo,  Oakland Athletics’ minor leaguer turned Los Angeles County Sheriff Deputy Bob Kazmirski and Dodgers Pitcher Tim Leary.

Kazmirski noted a major similarity between his baseball and his police work, stating communication is an important aspect in both.

"Communication is huge; if you don't have a communication level you are not going to be successful," said Kazmirski.

These players were brought together through their mutual college coach, Gary Adams, who for 30 years helmed UCLA's baseball program and stressed to his players the need for commitment in not only baseball, but also in life.

"Commitment is a big word to me," said Adams.  "You have to commit yourself, what is the best thing for the team."

This work ethic and commitment resonated with Young, who during his playing days in the NFL saw many talented players drop out, largely due to the intensity of training camp.

According to Young, many players who came to training camp in the NFL would have made it they had just toughed it out, but many of these players quit before the difficult practices.

Commitment was also seen inside the classroom as well.

 "Tim [Leary] and I were academic all-Americans our senior year," said Magnante, who is now a math teacher at Agoura High School.

One player, Nick Theodorou, competed for his ancestral home Greece in the 2004 Athens Olympics.

"It was such a surreal experience," said Theodorou. "I still can't even put it into words."

Many students were also impressed and inspired; including some on the baseball team, who came to see these former players. Tyler Weed, 23, a criminal justice major on the Moorpark College Raiders baseball team, was particularly affected.

"It was really inspirational actually," said Weed. "I felt like a could really take away a lot from it as a player and as a person."