Cory Hahn (and Eric LeGrand) continues to defy the odds

Both are very inspirational stories demonstrating the incredible strength of the human spirit as well as how much we can accomplish even when it appears that our life challenges or circumstances are hopelessly stacked against us.

I have heard that Eric LeGrand's rehabilitation goal is to be able to go back to the spot on the field where he was hurt and get back up and walk off the field under his own power.

Let's hope that he finds the strength to do just that.

Maybe we need to appreciate the heroism of ordinary athletes more than what passes for and is accepted as "heroism" on the part of some of our more highly decorated sports heroes.


from foxsportswest.com:
Cory Hahn continues to defy the odds:

SANTA ANA, Calif. — When you tell Mater Dei alum Cory Hahn he can't do something, there's a charge that goes through his mind. A charge so strong it borders defiance.

It fuels him.

So after being told he would never function normally again after suffering a freak injury on the baseball field two years ago, it only added fuel to his fire.

Hahn, who played on the United States' first gold-winning 18U team alongside Bryce Harper of the Nationals and Manny Machado of the Orioles, was selected in the 26th round of the 2010 MLB Draft by the San Diego Padres. After already signing his Letter of Intent with Arizona State, he decided to honor his pledge to the Sun Devils.

Fresh off leading Mater Dei High School to a CIF title in 2010 and being named an All-American and Orange County's 2010 Player of the Year, Hahn was ready for the next level.

In just his third game at Arizona State, he was at first base when a double steal was called. It was the first steal attempt of his college career. 

The throw was off-line as Hahn slid head first into second base. His head went into the leg of the player covering, fracturing his C-5 vertebrae.

He was left on the field motionless, paralyzed from the chest down.

'via Blog this'

from abcnews.com
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2012/05/02/paralyzed-athlete-eric-legrand-inspires-signs-on-as-sportscaster-with-bucs/

“No one does inspiration better than Eric,” said Peter Wilderotter, president and CEO of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, which supports research and advocacy efforts.

“Its significance is huge,” he said. “Chris [Reeve] used to say, ‘It’s what you do after the accident that matters.’  In the 18 months since his injury, it’s been a natural culmination. He wanted a career in broadcasting and wanted to stay involved in football. What a great message for those living with spinal cord injuries and for their families and employers.”

LeGrand’s former coach Greg Schiano has supported the player since he was injured.

“This  coach demonstrated that coaching doesn’t end when football season is over,” Wilderotter said of Schiano.

The Giants hope for the future

The Giants made decent strides towards a return to respectability, even playoff contention in 2009. Now the hard part, maintaining that plus .500 level of competitiveness that gets a team into the playoffs once every few years.

Other than a banger like Matt Holliday, I'm not sure the help comes from the outside. Signing Juan Uribe to a one year deal makes sense, anything more makes him fat and lazy, ask the Pale Hose. If they are looking at Mark DeRosa seriously I would say, PLEASE NO!! Not DeRosa and Uribe. One or the other. DeRosa would just be a younger version of Rich Aurilia--a roster clogging, aging veteran that Sabean seems to love.

The real help will come from the John-Barr-Fred Stanley drafting and development of future Giants stars. And they are in the pipeline. Hopefully they mature before the big decisions on Lincecum and Matt Cain come due.

As things stand right now the Giants farm system is looking at the following harvest:

2010 Contributors
We should begin to see LHP Madison Bumgarner show the flashes of a top of the rotation starting pitcher. C Buster Posey needs to grab the catcher position by the throat and stake his claim to be one of the face of the franchise for the next ten years or more. 3B Conor Gillaspie needs to show the hitting form that should make him a solid .300 plus hitter. OF Roger Kieschnick needs to demonstrate the near five-tool potential and take hold of one of the corner OF spots.

LHP Joe Patterson could be this years Dan Runzler and jet through the organization and make a contribution. Dan Runzler needs to demonstrate that last years meteoric rise through the organization was not a fluke. Other potential set-up/closer candidates like Jose Casilla and Waldis Joaquin need to show more than Henry Sosa has so far.

The 25 and ups like LHP Craig Clark, RHP Danny Otero, RHP Kyle Nicholson and RHP Henry Sosa along with Runzler need to make solid contributions. They are too old to play in the sandbox of the minor leagues. If that's their fate, they move from prospects to suspects. RHP Daniel Turpen has one more year of grace. Most of these guys (exception is Sosa) were collegiate pitchers so we may be faced with a few cases of WYSIWYG. No higher ceiling to elevate to.

2011 Contributors
2B Nick Noonan, OF Thomas Neal, SS Brandon Crawford, OF Francisco Peguera and SS Ehire Adrianza have shown enough flashes of potential to whet the appetite but some red flags as well. All have to prove their abilities at the AA level or above, hopefully this year in order to pave the way for an impact in 2011.

Moving from prospect to suspect rapidly
LHP Clayton Tanner, LHP Aaron King, SS-2B Charlie Culberson and OF Wendell Fairley. All have shown flashes of potential, just not enough of it.

Rookies and Teens to Watch
The 2010 draftees RHP Zach Wheeler, C Tommy Joseph and 3B Chris Dominguez signed late and did not play at any level where their statistics could be properly evaluated.

The teen squad includes RHP Luis Mateo, OF Rafael Rodriguez and C Hector Sanchez have not played higher than the Rookie / Short Season level, but the early returns on Rodriguez and Sanchez are pretty good so far. Mateo's statistics are off the radar screen.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

HOPE - May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. - Romans 15:13