The fall of 1997, I met a man that started out as my coach, but would later become a mentor and close friend. He would teach me things through the game of baseball that would help shape me into the man I am today. This man was Bo Porter. I learned quickly that baseball was a passion of Bo’s, but philanthropy was equally as important. Bo was able to draw so many parallels from the sport of baseball to everyday life. Many lessons that I still carry with me to this day like, “Life is like a bank account, you get out of it what you put into it. So if you come up short there is only one person to point the finger at, and that is you.” Bo’s tutelage has taught me that there is a formula to success. It is, hours of hard work, tons of sacrifice, diligence, and you have to have a strong foundation of family and faith. With that blueprint I have been able to go from that little scrawny and raw overlooked kid, to a college graduate, a 2004 sixth round selection of the LA Angels of Anaheim, obtain my MBA, and now a financial coach and a mentor to the youth in my community. Thank you Bo for allowing me to see what you saw in me all those years ago. You have left an imprint on me that has helped me achieve feats that I never thought were possible. Your intellect and altruism are a huge part of the reason why I am who I am today.
