Jennie Finch
I can't tell you how much I respect all the single parents out there doing it all solo.
I blame and credit my brothers for my competitive fire within me. Growing up, I lost at everything! My brothers are quite a bit older - 10 years and 5 years - so it was a challenge, but I have some of the most amazing memories with my big brothers.
From what I hear, it's a normal thing to feel guilty as a mother, especially when trying to fill the needs of a newborn along with maintaining what you had with your first child.
You can't always control the circumstances - only how you react to those circumstances; you can always control your attitude and your effort.Collection: Attitude
And my dad drilled it in my head, you know, 'If you want it bad enough, and you're willing to make the sacrifices, you can do it. But first you have to believe in yourself'.Collection: Softball
Never limit yourself, never be satisfied, and smile-it's free!Collection: Limits
It's a game of failure [softball]. Everybody would play, that was easy and everyone's not playing because it is so tough. But it's a matter of keep plugging away, keep working hard, believing in yourself and it is a team sport and there is nothing better than being out there, having a ball in your hand, playing the game that you love and ultimately that's what it comes down is having fun and enjoying it.Collection: Softball
To some Softball is a game; to others it's Life.Collection: Softball
Looking back, I've learned the most from the bad coaches, really, how not to act, how not to coach, how not to treat people. So I always say no matter what situations you're faced with, how bad it is, you can always walk away and learn. You can always rise above it.Collection: People
I may be wearing makeup, but I can throw a fastball by you at the same time.Collection: Inspiring
I don't want to be just a face. I want to go out there and prove something on the field.Collection: Want
My goal is to never lose. That may not be realistic, but I'm going to try.Collection: Goal
As a believer, I know that Jesus Christ has a plan and it's not going to be my plan. It's not always succeeding and looking back it's amazing looking back to see how God works in mysterious ways, not always good ways, rough ways but those rough times, those rough patches, and those swamps and all those things that I went through are looking back, were such an incredible life lessons for me not only to shape and build me as an athlete but most importantly, my character as a person.Collection: Jesus
When I'm in the game [softball], it's not so much mechanics. It's more of just trusting my teammates, trusting myself, trusting my preparation that we've put in to get there. When you're in the game, it's go-mode. There's going to be times when you're tweaking things but when you're in that game mode, you just want to think about that one next pitch.Collection: Softball
I think that when young players really see their game rise next level, it's when practices are like competition and there's no separation there. Of course, there are adrenaline and the butterflies; you don't have that so much in practice. You want to fake yourself out and try to get them there because you want to be as close to that game mentality as you can when you step on that field every single day whether it's practice or in your backyard or down the street with your dad.Collection: Dad
My life has been centered around sports. It is where I have met my closest friends and shaped the values that have made me a successful athlete, student and role model for young people.Collection: Sports
I do my job on the mound and then do what I can at the plate, always working on helping the team anyway I can.Collection: Jobs
I had female role models to look up to starting in middle school, athletes like Julie Foudy and Mia Hamm who made me realize that there was room in the world of sports for women. They ignited my dream of becoming an Olympic athlete.Collection: Sports
You're not going to get off the couch and be at some amazing fast pace or burn crazy amounts of calories, but you have to start somewhere Eventually, you'll get there.Collection: Crazy
You have been doing something that has brought you success, and you are in the playoffs because you have been doing some thing right.Collection: Playoffs
Seeing women on television was very important to me. It opened my eyes to the possibilities of women's sports. It showed me what I could do and who I could be.Collection: Sports
How's motherhood? It is absolutely wonderful. Oh, my gosh. It's truly indescribable and amazing.Collection: Motherhood
I'm living a dream. I hope in 10 years people will know me as a gold medalist.Collection: Dream
The attention I get has been great. It has opened so many doors for me. It's nice that people are accepting beautiful women as athletes. It's encouraging to girls that muscles don't mean you can't be beautiful.Collection: Beautiful
Have unconditional love to your children no matter what happens. Give them time even in the midst of this busy life - be one on one with them.Collection: Children
To keep children healty, it's important to keep them active. Of course you can control what goes into their mouths, but it's also about putting the active back into family activity. Go outside with them, live in the moment and encourage them. That'll help you find fulfillment in your life as well.Collection: Children
The whole sexiness thing-I don't know if I'm comfortable with that. But it has helped the sport grow. I think it changes how people see women's athletics.Collection: Sports
We're [Avocado League] trying to just urge people to add avocado into their diet. It's healthy and full of vitamins and minerals.Collection: Vitamins And Minerals
My family vacations were softball tournaments.Collection: Softball
For softball, we need the Olympics. For young girls dreaming of that Olympic dream, that's where it's at, and that's where it all started in '96 for our sport.Collection: Girl
I could have never dreamed what an amazing ride this has been.Collection: Softball
I had the vision of creating my own camp to make sure I was teaching the campers what I wanted. Plus I picked other players that were good on the field and off so we could be great role models for these girls to look up to. I hope to inspire others and encourage them to go after their dreams.Collection: Girl
A macho attitude is totally to my advantage. Guys try to hit it 400 feet out of the park, but in softball you have to use a short, quick swing. Big, huge swings equal big, huge strikeouts.Collection: Softball
I didn't really get into boys until my junior year of high school, when I had my first boyfriend. But for the most part I was always playing sports, so I was too busy for them!Collection: Sports
I've face more than 35 major leaguers, and only two have ever made contact against me.Collection: Softball
My parents were born and raised in Iowa and my two brothers were born in Iowa before my family moved to California where I was born so I still really feel like I have those Midwestern roots.Collection: Brother
The best compliment I've gotten was being compared to Randy Johnson. We're both hard-throwing.Collection: Compliment
Our sports [softball] is a game of failure already so my dad always says to parents who he is a pitching coach and he's been my pitching coach since I was 11 years old is if they can be the best kid on the team, let them experience that and then obviously the challenge has to come later on but you don't get that opportunity very often and confidence is such a huge part of this game and in life in general.Collection: Softball
Got any pitches? I got five pitches-rise-ball, curveball, screwball, drop-ball and changeup.Collection: Balls
The main thing is to win. You just try to keep your tunnel vision on to get the team the win.Collection: Team
I get has been great. It has opened so many doors for me.Collection: Doors
Playing USA Softball has been more to me than I ever imagined possible.Collection: Softball
Right now in my career, it’s like I’m having more fun than I’ve ever had, so it’s kind of like, ‘Man, I can’t stop now.’Collection: Fun