Hello everyone.

I'm Rameca Vincent Leary, and welcome to this edition of Connecting the Community.

Have you ever heard of the three R's reading, writing and arithmetic?

Well, during their downtime, many youngsters unwind with sports.

In this episode, we'll explore some game changing youth sports, serve up some pickleball, and explore the momentum behind it.

Plus, if you're hankering for some baseball, we'll check in with former Major League Baseball player Adrian Chambers.

His swing champ, 56, a youth program, is a home run.

And we'll also explore his nonprofit organization.

But first, we'll take a deep dive into the realm of aquatics, highlighting services provided at Pensacola State College and the Greater Pensacola Aquatic Club.

I am so happy to welcome Kay Miller, aquatic coordinator at Pensacola State College.

She's joined by Greg Johnson, head coach and CEO of the Greater Pensacola Aquatic Club.

Plus, we have a prize swimmer, Logan Robinson.

Welcome to all of you.

Hi.

Thank you.

Listen, I'm excited about this deep dive case.

So let's start with you.

You have been with PSC for a few decades.

Why don't you tell us about that?

Well, about 20 years, yes.

But who's counting?

Well, of course I do manage the pool.

I'm aquatic coordinator, but I also taught them water exercise for quite a number of years.

And I did love it.

I'm sure you did.

Now we know that the pool is located in building three.

Right.

We have a heated pool.

Is that common?

That's right.

Is that something that occurs a lot these days?

Oh, well, yeah.

Well, but of course it comes and goes because of the heater that works there.

Yeah.

But we have a new heat.

A new heater that.

Will keep us temperature about 84.

Now, the interesting thing I know that you said water exercise classes.

You have adult and children swim lessons.

I think that is wonderful.

Yes, we do.

And how long have those been in play?

Oh, as long as I've been there.

Well, we did we did add 6 to 12 on Saturday, but that seems to be the real popular oh group that won't swim lessons.

It used to be the preschool, the 3 to 5, but now 6 to 12.

Expanding our horizons.

Now, now, Greg, I'm looking at you because you and Kay know each other, and there's a one in a full partnership between JPAC and Pensacola State College.

So as CEO of Greater Pensacola Aquatic Club, why don't you elaborate on that?

Well, beyond being the head coach on the pool deck with the athletes every day, we are a nonprofit organization.

a501c3 organization, and me, along with board of directors, run the run the Greater Pensacola Aquatic Club.

Now, some people may know now and they might not know it.

So JPAC has been serving northwest Florida since 1972.

1972.

In fact, we've got an incredible storied history with the partnership with PGC.

At the time, the parents of the team, along with the State College, agreed to start a swim team.

So yeah, we've been in existence since 1972, incorporated and again, a storied history.

That I saw you wanting to jump in.

Do you have a story you'd like to share?

There's been, like we say, we've been going on for partners for quite a while and they're here and they're there in the afternoons for 3 to 630 Monday through Friday.

Now, swim lessons.

I understand with JPAC.

Not only do you use the pool at Pensacola State College, but University of West Florida also partners with you.

Yes.

Yeah.

We have training groups, ages really 6 to 18 that practice at both locations.

So UW UWF is a very, very important partner with us as well.

Now, I'm going to say that y'all have a swim school, too.

Yes.

In the afternoons.

So they also teach.

And swim lessons.

So our swim school is at exclusively located at Pensacola State College.

Maureen, I know that you love that K, don't you?

Well, yes, I do.

But because of where just walked with swim lessons and so are y'all.

And I always when I can't service them, then I send them to Pat.

To to Pat.

Well, that's a good thing.

Now, Logan, I see the elation on your face.

When did you come to know Greg and become affiliated with JPAC?

There's a story behind that.

I know that there is.

Well, I tried out for Nine Mile Swim Club because that's the only one that my mom had heard of.

And they rejected me.

And so we went to JPAC, and coach Greg wasn't yet that coach, but he was working at VF.

I was actually your I was his primary coach when he was nine.

When I was still I was still working with the young kids at that time.

So my first eight years at JPAC were spent leading the what we call the age group program, which is the 14 and unders.

So he came in the door and started about nine about nine, ten.

Love that.

Now, Greg, were you the one that really helped nudge Logan into the swimming?

Is he the spark?

I think I. I think I displayed the tolerance for an excitable in 910 year old boy who, like all nine and ten boys who come in the program, you know, they want to have fun, they want to race, they want to swim fast.

And that's always kind of been his his deal.

And that's what he likes to do, I think.

All right, Logan, let's fast forward.

You just graduated from Booker T Washington High School.

And a little birdie told me you have a full ride scholarship to Florida State University.

Talk about signing day.

What was going through your mind?

I just thought that it was kind of unreal that I had actually made it through high school in the first place.

And then I actually was able to swim for a week for a school that I really, really liked.

I went to there.

I went to their swim camp whenever I was younger.

I don't quite remember it, but I met a lot of nice people there.

I went, there was one of my best friends and yeah, they taught me a lot.

Now, as Florida State University, your topic, is that really where you wanted to sign?

Wholeheartedly, Wholeheartedly.

Why?

Because the coach, the head coach, number one awesome guy and then a bunch of we actually have a a very sorry want to say we Jack Rolle, a former swimmer.

He's going their senior.

Year and you'll have a friend there as well.

Now we know that with athletes, well-rounded people.

Right.

So academics in sports now to obtain a full ride, that means that you are a well-rounded person overall.

Did you have a favorite subject at Booker T Washington High School?

Probably have to say my anatomy and physiology class.

And so more science like throughout the years, I've always gotten along with the teachers.

They seem to be the coolest.

But I love the teachers are all cool.

We'll get back to you shortly.

Now.

K I'm stepping back into your world because there is so much happening at Pensacola State College with our aquatics.

Now we know that we have the community recreational swimming that is available.

People can come, they don't need an instructor or a coach.

Do you think a lot of people know about that?

Well, yeah, I do.

I do.

They're they're coming in all the time, are calling me about it so or they hear about it.

Word of mouth, I guess.

And they can always visit our website to find out more details.

But an interesting thing I found out when I was perusing our website that there are lifeguard certification classes during the spring and summer.

So we need we have to have lifeguards.

So that's the way.

Yeah.

Why is it it's significant?

Because a lot of times we'll hear stories of somebody went to the pool or maybe went out to the beach.

They were unaware of maybe a rip tide or something else going on.

So.

With the training, how long does it take to complete a course?

Right now, they've shortened that class and those have the lifeguards have to study first one a week before and then go have the the class.

Well, the weekend.

All right.

So not so long at all.

Saturday.

No, Sunday.

Okay.

I love that.

Now, Greg, let's talk about a young person coming digipak.

What will they need?

Mommy and daddy need to buy a few things and swimsuit towel goggles.

Is there anything else?

No, really, that's about it.

You know, we certainly like to keep the door open and keep it accessible to everybody.

So certainly, you know, swimsuit, you know, we we recommend goggles because we want their face in the water.

We wanted to be comfortable with that.

But yeah, and, you know, a great attitude.

You told me something in the green room.

Now, this is a USA swimming year round, competitive swim team.

Yes, USA Swimming.

Please explain to our viewing audience the importance of this and what it really means.

Well, USA Swimming is the national governing body for youth, swimming for all swimming really in the country.

So, you know, we have a direct affiliation with the with the sports and at the levels that are going to put athletes at the the national, international or in collegiate level.

All of our coaches on staff are 100% certified.

And through USA Swimming we are three of us are full time professional swimming coaches.

This is our full time job and we have a staff of part time again certified professional coaches.

Now, and there are also seasonal programs, specialty groups and clinics.

So and I like the fact that there are special groups because people might just want to focus on a particular area, right?

Well, our auxiliary programs are really there and it's actually amazing to see how many people that aren't part of us all the time, year round.

So programs like our summer swim team detail clinics, stroke clinics that our coaches offer is just a way for us to get more kids in the door in the pool without having to feel obligated to join the year round swim team, but give them the skills that they need.

You know, Greg, I have to get some assistance from you because Logan over there, so modest, has won a lot of medals.

Let's talk about some of the championships, Logan.

Now I'm looking at March in CSA, Spring Championships, a bevy of medals that you won.

So we have the fly and we have the free.

What is the difference between those two for someone who may not understand what you did?

Freestyle is more of the front cross jerk.

It's what you see a lot of people swimming out on the beach, moving their way across the the waves and it's it's the most well known out of all of them.

And then butterfly.

It's the Michael Phelps stroke.

If you've ever seen if you've ever been on social media, you've.

Seen you've had images of.

You have to have seen them.

Video.

Southeastern SC Championships.

You were a five time champion.

And I'm looking at all the medals that you on the fly, the free.

What is the.

I am the I am is the year of the butterfly.

First your backstroke, second breaststroke third, and then freestyle last.

And it's honestly the ultimate challenge any swimmer could ever face.

It's the it's the it's the accumulation of all your swimming expertise into one event.

Oh, I love that.

I'm going to let you take a breath for a minute, okay.

Because I want to let everyone know how big our pool is at PSC.

25 yards long, six lanes wide.

Now, I'm thinking about the Olympics.

I don't know about you all.

Does that make you think about that as well?

Yeah.

Yeah.

So we dream big at PSC, don't we?

We do.

And we've got lots of people that come in to find out to enjoy it.

Let's talk about a success story that may come to mind for you, maybe someone that has come into the pool and maybe they were a little reluctant, didn't think they could learn to swim.

If you say.

Let's go to the swimming because we get there at 5:00 in the morning and they and people are waiting to go to get to the in the.

5 a.m..

So they're waiting at the door.

Yes.

And the Masters one was, oh, very good.

Actually.

They compete two and they well, if they compete, they belong to the U.S.. SMITH Which is the equivalent of four adults, 18 and over.

That is amazing.

Yeah.

Okay, Greg, let's talk about specific events and if there are any Olympic hopefuls.

Nudge, nudge.

Logan I'm thinking about you.

But yes, Do you have any youngsters that you believe are aspiring to do just that?

I'm sure there's a handful.

You know, we like to talk to our swimmers about their goals.

You know, we actually had three swimmers on the 1988 Olympic team from Pensacola.

So, you know, teenagers, students at Washington High School.

So in 1988, you know, the team had already put three kids on the Olympic team.

So, again, we have a storied history.

But, you know, we are leaving in a little over a week for Indianapolis.

The Olympic team trials that Logan's qualified for.

So, you know, right now he's the number nine ranked 18 under in the country.

And we're going to go to Indianapolis and they take the top two.

So we're going to race really hard and see what happens.

And, you know, I don't know.

We might be going to Paris.

Oh, hey, the sky's the limit.

I'd like to jump in.

Yes, we have a Olympic swimmer that swim doing recreations.

Well.

I just love these stories, Logan.

Great encounter.

Okay.

She swam in Mexico City, so she's older now, but she still swims.

And I think I interviewed her a few years back on another show.

So any words of encouragement for youngsters out there?

Logan As we round out this segment, what would you like to tell someone out there who is aspiring to maybe learn how to swim, possibly become an Olympian?

The sky's the limit, right?

Well, just as anything, you take your losses as a lesson and use it to drive yourself forward, you're not going to win everything off the bat.

I love those words of wisdom, so powerful.

And many thanks to all of you for joining me in this segment.

Now, folks, we just dove into the realm of aquatics.

But hold on.

We have so much more to explore with game changing youth sports right after this.

Hello, everyone.

During this segment, we're exploring one of the hottest sports that has taken the world by storm.

Pickleball.

The momentum is growing every day.

And in Pensacola, it's no different.

I'm excited to welcome Cameron Jones, tennis pickleball pro at the Pensacola Athletic Center.

He's joined by Dale Moore, a USA pickleball ambassador.

Now Cameron, let's start with you.

Many people out there are wondering what is the difference between tennis and pickleball?

Why don't you get us started?

Well, the biggest difference I in a tennis court is 78 feet long and then the pickleball core is only 44 feet long.

You got a 36 wide tennis court and then the pickleball is 20.

And like in pickleball.

You have that sort of paddle paddle.

And so this is how we're always taught tennis.

I've taught tennis for 30 years and and pickleball for the last two years.

But I didn't start doing it until my wife bought me this for Christmas one year.

Okay.

And so I'll give pickleball a chance to fell in love with that too.

So that was pretty cool.

And I notice that it seems like it's pretty light and is.

Very light and and just it's just pretty much it's pretty like with a tennis ball.

Yes.

It's really tough.

This is my first tennis racket.

Okay.

It's tougher to really feel to hit a ball with that compared if you're hitting it with this.

It's more like it when the palm of your hand.

So is the same court used for tennis and pickleball.

It's same surface, same surface.

But the dimensions is a little different.

But it's on.

Pickleball has to be used on a hard surface.

On a hard surface.

We can't you can't play pickleball courts.

Oh, you know, we haven't tried that attack yet.

We do have six clay court is not.

But bounce.

Well, it.

Doesn't bounce well now Cameron So there are four pickleball courts at Pensacola Athletic Center.

Lessons are available, as we know now.

Some people like to play during the day and yet others prefer the evening.

We have four lighted courts at park and we're available.

You can play pickleball.

We're open from office hours or 8 to 730 at night.

So open play is always available during that time.

And we have a new pickleball alley that starts Monday nights at six.

So anybody out there wants to join our pickleball league.

We start this coming Monday.

The sky's the limit now.

Dale, how did you and Cameron meet?

Because she's actually too blessed.

I'm actually took lessons.

Pickleball lessons from Cameron.

He's very good, by the way.

Oh, I never talk about it.

He's got.

He's got really good racket skills and he's fast.

You know, I've seen some video of him on the court.

I wouldn't want to get in the crossfire at all.

I wanted to get better at a two handed backing, which I didn't grow up.

I played all tennis growing up, but I never used it to end backhand.

And he told me he was he could work with me on that.

And he really helped me a lot.

Very good, coach.

Now let's talk about the youngsters.

You mentioned something to me earlier that was very important.

Young people with any sport, they need to ease into it.

Right.

So tell us why it's so important for a youngster to approach pickleball pickleball rather the what the right way as far as the learning curve is concerned.

With USA Pickleball, they have designed different programs to teach kids.

Matter of fact, Cameron is very familiar with this, probably more so than I am.

But they've learned to teach him games like throw in a little round, circle out of the thing and in to the kids standing and try hitting the ball on to the circle instead of trying to go out and have four children on a pickleball court trying to teach them to play baseline the baseline or, you know, kitchen land or kitchen land, it's difficult, but if you teach them to use the paddle and the ball with different little names, you can get them excited.

We've done some insult in service and teaching P.E.

Teachers with usa football teaching pe teachers both middle school and high school.

We've done this several times where we've had as many as 60 teachers in there and just teaching them how to do these little games with kids, to inspire them to get off the couch and get out.

And I love that.

I'm curious, what is the youngest age of a quote, pickleball recruit I'm going to call the youngsters, Right.

Well, I want to say and I told you this a little while ago in the green room, but the number one pro female pro in the world just turned 17 years old.

She was a pro at 13 and Lily Waters.

So, yes, I mean, this sport is growing The average age of a pickleball player in the United States right now is 34.5 years old.

I think if you just looked at it ten years ago, it may have doubled.

It may have been twice that high.

But it is really growing in children.

And yes, we see them at home.

Hey, I started playing over a street right there at Armstrong Park.

I'm out there and the kids are all over there playing on the playground equipment and all of a sudden they come stampeding in there.

You know, I had balls all out there and I had like four rackets with me.

We had them and just working with them, playing, they had never played pickleball.

Their mothers had never seen pickleball.

It was great.

So I have been everywhere.

I like them.

So Cameron, would you say it's easier for the youngsters to catch on with the tennis versus pickleball?

Have you seen a learning curve that's either greater for one or the other?

I think the pickleball is easier to learn than tennis just because it's a small paddle.

And with tennis we do have smaller tennis rackets.

We have we have balls that are just squishy balls.

It slows the ball down.

And if you have smaller equipment, we use smaller nets too.

So that way we're able it makes it closer to what pickleball is with tennis, kind of with that.

So there are many options.

Daily, Monthly.

The fact that you're around so much on the pickleball court and then transitioning the tennis back and forth, do you have a lot of youngsters come through who are proficient in both.

Yeah.

That embrace them Yeah.

Heartedly of.

I mean the biggest thing to do when you get children out on a tennis court, the number one thing we do is we always just have fun.

You get it, you get a chance to have fun and then come back and see again.

You might not be the best best to teach them a forehand.

A third, a volley, whatever it is, pickleball or tennis.

But as long as you have fun and come back, they want to be able to play.

Yeah.

So, Dale, I'm proposing this scenario.

We have a mom and a dad who are interested in pickleball, and then they have a toddler.

One of the things that I really like about the Pensacola Athletic Center is there are child care options available so families can come out and enjoy the goodness.

Yes, I think that's wonderful.

They also don't mean to steal away from pack.

Yeah, the why has that Also, there's a lot of places that you can go play your work out and have child care, which is helpful to a lot of people.

It really is because there are a lot of parents that work the 9 to 5 and they want to be active and they say this sounds like a great opportunity.

Will I ever have the time in this creates yet another opening.

So let's talk about aspirations.

Cameron, Do you have any youngsters who are already talking about their next steps?

They say, I love pickleball.

Tennis is great to learn, but I see these people, whether it's the French Open, the US Open, an Australian Open or others, they're thinking about the next move and they're still young, right?

But their, their dreams are there.

Well yeah, they, I mean I have several, several young kids.

They're just, they're striving to make it to a high school team.

And right now in pickleball, we don't have, you know, high school teams and stuff like that.

Something that we need to try to incorporate into the system.

And we don't have college either.

As far as the college teams with pickleball, according to the Dale.

So Bethany, college.

Teams, we know we've got some intramural college, but we've not got an official team.

Mm hmm.

Another area of curiosity, how long has pickleball been in existence now?

I was born in 65.

We talked about that to Washington State, where I was born, ironically.

So 1965.

Birthplace of pickleball.

What do you think has sparked this huge craze?

Some people say all of a sudden, but it's one of those things that people are talking more about it.

And just let me give.

Me an example.

My wife and I used to play tennis.

As I said earlier, my wife and I were at the Y.

We were both working out.

She went around to get some water.

So all three friends of ours playing pickleball.

Three people don't play well together.

No need for.

Okay.

She comes in, they ask her to play.

She goes, No, let me get deal.

So I walk.

And so what is pickleball?

So it was being played on a gym floor with a temporary net with landmarked off on it.

I guarantee you start playing.

That was two years ago.

Let me tell you something.

I am a full blown addicted.

I mean, it took one time to play pickleball because it's a sport that you have to cover less ground.

As he said, you can put three, sometimes four pickleball courts on one tennis court.

So think about that amount of space that my wife and I, we're in our sixties, okay?

We're not covering that great big court.

We're not having to run that whole.

That's true.

And think about senior citizens.

Yes.

Those that want to have some ability out there.

Let's talk about the scoring.

We know how the scoring is for tennis.

Is it much easier with pickleball?

You might want to talk to me.

Okay, we'll talk to give the score.

You talked him tennis?

I don't know pickleball.

Yeah.

You start off you you call out your serve first.

You know, let's say I'm the first server.

People get confused with it.

I'm going to call out.

Must score first 020.

And I'm the first server.

Okay, Let's say I serve it into the net and the person beside me starts serving.

They would say zero two, zero.

Number two.

Okay.

And that's really what everybody gets messed up on.

They don't understand the zero zero in a different number.

All right.

But it's only going to be, you know, might be, you know, 10 to 8 first server, ten to a second server.

Okay.

Not that difficult.

And that's the beauty of it all.

What motivates now you're a spitfire.

You got you are so motivated.

But I'm just asking, working with the young people, what makes you just do it over and over again?

Wake up in the morning, you could be playing pickleball.

You're working with the youth through those smiles and those hard.

Hey, I love kids.

I'm telling you, if you could have only seen that afternoon out there when I was more worried about my mom paddles getting destroyed because these kids had never hit a ball before.

And I'm telling you, they were lined up and it was just me.

I had gone after this practice serving by myself, and all of a sudden I literally had 15 little children this big and some of them this big.

But it was a blast.

You could have seen the smile on their faces.

And from a safety perspective, I like the ball.

It's it's so light.

It's not heavy.

And it's what we used to call a wiffle ball or.

A wiffle ball.

Yeah.

The original first first thing was a wolf, a ball like you'd play with when we were kids with baseball and a ping pong paddle.

And it kept breaking the ping pong paddle.

And that's where they come up with or they came up with a now they've got all kinds of new fancy stuff.

I wouldn't be surprised if somewhere down the line this became an Olympic sport.

I think.

I think it's headed that way right now.

In course, you know, we have professional pickleball.

Yes.

You know, I watch it every night.

I believe you.

Okay, Cameron, there's so much more happening at the Pensacola Athletic Center.

We have to highlight some of the other services as well.

We talked about basketball.

Well, for first of all, I'm so excited to be the tennis pro and the pickleball pro, the pack and everybody there.

It's like it's like a family.

I believe you just that's how the how the facility is.

It's a 24 hour gym.

You have your childcare here.

And I just I just love it up there.

Just great feel.

And you mentioned 24 hours.

I like that because there are a lot of people that work in the graveyard shift and they're trying to get that exercise in or what have you.

And they they have a place to go, right, With so many options.

As I peruse the website, I saw the group exercise classes.

There's a swimming pool there as well.

A nice swimming pool.

We'll get a good part of what we're doing this summer where we have our summer kids camp.

That's Monday through Friday.

From noon to noon, we're starting off with tennis, doing our tennis, I mean, doing our pickleball and and basketball.

And then we get to finish in the pool and on Fridays we're offering pizza for the kids.

So.

Oh, I'm sure they enjoy that.

Last summer I played in a league out there and a Cameron was not there at that time, but I played a pickleball league.

We were playing our pickleball.

They were having basketball going on.

They were in the pool, swimming and inside working out.

I mean, there is in tennis in the back, they have everything about it.

Everything is going on.

Do you ever have any youngsters come back in?

Volunteer is someone said, I want to help Dale.

I love his energy, but let me add a few more notches to that.

So we have worked with different groups.

For example, Sheila, help me out with the name of that group with the of they have a body function issue.

I can't remember the name of it.

I'll say it in a minute anyway, but they're and we've worked with them.

It's amazing what they've been able to accomplish.

And I know she cannot say it now.

I believe you.

Parkinson's, Parkinson's, Parkinson's.

We work with the group at The Wire with those people.

And it's amazing the energy and the smiles.

Not necessarily kids, because I really have not other than working with the kids over on transport.

And that is not a regular thing.

I can tell you about a young man that I met two years ago that wasn't really motivated to do anything.

Two years.

He's, I think, just getting out of the seventh grade.

I have watched him grow from what I call a little boy to an advanced player and can kick most people's booty.

And he started playing pickleball two years ago and he is playing with all the adults and he is wearing them out very good.

With the video that I saw of you.

Cameron.

I'm sure you're wearing them out now.

You are as well.

So with the energy and excitement that you have for anyone who's considering learning pickleball, what would you tell them?

You just go come out and come out and see us.

Have fun.

I mean, we're going to we're going to run around a lot.

We're going to wear and get great exercise.

We're Ilana, Laura, Sport of a lifetime and going to meet a lot of good people.

And I mean, number one thing is around great.

So they need to just come out and do it right.

And thank you all so much.

I'm energized.

If there's one thing I can tell you, if you pick up one of these panels, it's so easy to play.

I mean, I don't care what your age, what your athletic ability is, it is so easy to pick up.

Remember Wiffle ball that we used to play in the yard?

It's fun and it's easy and very inexpensive.

All right.

So I'm convinced now, folks, we are going to keep that momentum flowing with more game changing youth sports right after this.

Hello, everyone.

We're extending a resounding batter up as we transition to baseball.

It's a sheer pleasure to have the one and only Adrian Chambers, former Major League Baseball player, on set.

Now it's been two years since we chatted and we have a lot of catching up to do.

He's joined by Tim Ekelund, a coach for Adrian Swing Champ 56, Baseball program.

And we also have Tim's son, Brody Ekelund, who is a player to round out this segment.

It's a pleasure to welcome Elijah Alexander, videographer for Adrian's nonprofit organization.

We Connect Reconnect.

Now, this is an amazing moment having you back in the house after two years.

Thank you so much for having me.

What a blessing.

Now we've got to take the viewers back a little bit, don't we, Adrian?

So let's go back to your days as a child.

You always had an affinity for baseball.

What was it about the sport that just made you shine?

I mean, again, like I said, thank you.

And it's such a blessing to be able to have you.

Really.

Thank you so much.

You're welcome.

And the support that you gave me and what I got going on in community.

So I thank you.

You really.

But it really it was it was my family.

My brothers played sports.

My uncle was the president of the park that I played at.

My my cousins were always there.

The part I mean, it was the family thing.

You know, everything that we did was with sports, whether it was baseball, the football.

We always had sports in our in our family.

Now, here's an interesting thing, viewers.

So we're transitioning to high school, right, Adrian?

Now, you were Pensacola High School quarterback.

So how did you transition from.

Right, Right.

From the baseball to football?

Because that was big for.

You, no doubt.

Baseball was my first sport, right?

My my mother, she really didn't want me to play football.

I remember Coach Mike Hall, who was probably my favorite coach of all time, and he passed away.

But he asked my mom, could I come play football?

And my brother actually was like the motivator towards that.

He kind of enticed, I guess you could say that to allow him to allow her to let me play.

But in transition was, was, was nothing because all of my friends were doing it, you know, I mean, most of my friends played football, you know, they didn't play baseball.

So being able to have my friends do it was it was easy for me to make that decision.

But baseball most definitely was one of those sports that was in my heart and something that I love to do, you know, I mean, and all of my coaches were telling me they would tell me when I was young that and I'm still young.

Oh, yes.

So they would say, you know, you're playing the wrong sport when I was playing football.

But, you know, going into high school football was that sport that I really, really wanted to do.

And and because I was a quarterback, I thought it was an important me to to kind of focus more in on football than it was baseball.

But baseball was definitely with that sport that I that I enjoyed as well.

But this is a testament to how great you are able you are is a man because you transitioned to Mississippi State University on a football scholarship.

That's right.

But then something happened, right?

Revelations of then Pensacola Junior College.

Why don't you tell us what happened next?

Well, the biggest thing is when it came to and I like saying the big is because these were all moments that really highlighted my transition to going and playing baseball or just switching over to sports anyway.

Bill Hamilton, Bill Hamilton, who was the the head coach or manager of our team.

Exactly.

And Doug Martin, who is our man?

Doug, going to get on me for not knowing the school he's at right now.

But they both came to my house and they asked my mom, you know, in high school I was a pitcher, I played an outfielder.

And they were like, listen, we would love for you to come out here and play baseball for us.

And they allowed me to come out for a tryout, went to to try out.

I did very well.

And I became a parent, you know what I mean?

And that's where I really my baseball.

Exactly.

Before my baseball, the real professional career started.

It started here in PJC.

Paul.

PJC then now.

Right now is CSC.

But hold that thought because we're going to transition to your Major League endeavors a little bit later, but we're going to fast forward over into Tim's world because you are a coach right now.

Present day with Adrian Swing Champ 56 Baseball program and 56 a famous number four Adrian Major League Baseball player World Series.

But what sparked your interest in becoming a partner with Adrian?

Be honest.

Yeah.

Well, you know, I think it's nowadays it's with social media and influence of so many things out there.

I think it's really hard to find someone that is humble, that's caring, honest, and that can really connect with kids because it seems like in the coaching, well, especially younger kids, it's a lot of a lot of dads that just want their kids to play.

And so having someone of his, you know, his success.

Demeanor as well.

Oh, yeah, totally.

And, you know, half the time I forget he's actually an adult because he's, you know, I don't think I don't think as men really get you know, we don't really mature, right?

We just get older as well.

But so I think just being part of what he has is is phenomenal, especially what he's doing for the community.

You know, we're every it seems like every couple of weeks we're having a new baseball team come and scrimmage with us and they get to experience, you know what my mission is?

Tell us what that is.

So mission is a a tournament kind of travel ball team that we started a couple of years ago.

Chase Rosen's our manager owner and we started that team for to allow kids our home field is at Terry Wayne Park off Jackson and Lake Street.

And it's it gives kids an opportunity to to play baseball without spending, you know, $5,000 on tournament ball, you know, because you either have rec ball or now you're doing some tournaments.

And the great thing is we're doing tournaments, but we're not traveling all over the country where we're staying pretty local.

You know, this year we're we're actually going to go play in Athens, Alabama.

That will be the farthest we've ever gone.

But it's fun to see these kids develop.

And we've been we've been all together for, I think, since we were about four years old.

Coaching.

And was it since Brody, your son here was four years old?

Yes, ma'am.

All right, Brody, I'm looking at you right now.

Wonderful smile that you have now.

Dad is working so hard with Adrian Chambers.

Let's talk about you a little bit.

What grade are you in?

Fourth grade.

About to go into fifth grade.

Good deal.

Now, what is your favorite subject in school?

Probably math.

Math?

You're a numbers guy.

I like this scoring.

Batter up and run, run, run.

And so do you like hitting home runs?

Yes.

Well, you really do.

Which position do you play?

A pitcher.

But I have a feeling that I don't know, Tim.

I feel that maybe at some point he could be a multifaceted pitcher.

Right now.

He is probably the one player that we have on our team that can play every position on the field.

Now, maybe put him in center field, catcher first base, third base.

Exactly.

And as a to have a baseball team, you always want to have a player like that to be able to fill in spaces where you know we might be lacking.

So Brody is most definitely a great not just athlete for that, but he also has a great dad to follow behind that too.

So yeah.

You are setting such a great example to him for your young Brody Well, spoke.

I don't know.

I will say that all the time.

Okay.

My wife.

Well, I beg to differ a little bit sometimes, but.

I mean, we love what you do it.

Hey, we all have bad days.

We like that.

But we.

We persevere no matter what.

No doubt.

Now, Elijah, there's a lot happening with Adrian.

Last time I spoke him, we.

We highlighted Swing Champ 56 baseball program.

But now there is a nonprofit organization we connect reconnect.

I like the name of it.

Adrian.

You know, it just reminds me of unity and.

Love.

Those great things.

So with your role as videographer, tell us the extended version of your title.

So the extended version of my title is basically chief technology officer and basically for Adrian.

And we connect reconnect.

I handle like all the marketing and the backend marketing, the technical backend website, making sure certain things on social media and just for marketing in general, look 100% before they actually go out into the world.

Listen, that is so important.

Now, how did you come to know Adrian?

Is there a family connection?

No, actually Well, you could say sort of a family connection.

We know a lot of mutual people, but I'm actually met Adrian through a yoga as well.

Like fit.

We must stay fit, literally.

Absolutely.

Yeah.

I would say it's about like seven or eight years ago, I just started going to yoga.

My mom started going to yoga.

We ended up becoming vegan, right?

We really just learned, like I learned as a young adult.

And at the time I was in my teens from Adrian, like just through yoga and his journey to basically kind of learn how to learn life, develop skills, learn certain skills.

That kind of developed me as a young adult.

All right.

Mind, body and soul.

Adrian, back to you.

We are transitioning now.

So Pensacola Junior College, great things.

Tell us about your foray into Major League Baseball now.

It wasn't immediate.

You know, you had to you had to work very hard.

Exactly.

So tell us what you did.

And the beautiful thing about that experience was I had great teammates around me that other major League teams were looking at guys like the Mark is Ingram.

The Cardinals were actually there to go watch him play and I was in the batting cages and Steve Turco, who was a scout for the Cardinals back then, came over to the cage and he see me hidden and he told me he would stay and watch me.

I think that game I hit two doubles in a home run, three to home run to so many.

He asked me to come to Memphis, Tennessee for a tryout, and that's really where I didn't even think about playing pro baseball.

You know, this was all about, you know, Bill Hamilton and and Doug Martin just giving me that chance to come play.

You know, after seeing Turco come over, it really opened eyes up and I would see different scouts come in the parish, the coach, they would come in and just to come scout us, come look at us.

But it really wasn't set in until Steve came on, came over, and then I took that bus.

I took a bus to Memphis, Tennessee.

I was late for the trial and they still allow me to go out and exactly still allow me to go out there.

And it was crazy.

It was about 100 kids out there and or young athletes.

And I knew that I had to make an impression I had to find something that was going I needed to stand out now.

Exactly.

I was out there and I remember being out in outfield and I asked everybody that was behind me.

I said to John, Move out the way just a little bit.

Let me go chase these baseballs.

They were hitting batting practice.

So I started diving and making plays and next thing you know, the coach was asking me to come in and hit.

I had a great band practice and, you know, right then and near the corners, you know, they offered me $50,000, right?

Didn't ask me, did I want to be a Saint Louis Cardinals.

And that's kind of a small story, you know.

I mean, I had to talk about that book that I got coming out to, you know, let you know how it is now.

We're going to get we're going to get to that.

And let's fast forward a few years to 2011, no.

Doubt.

World Series championship.

Give us what was going through your mind that day before the game.

Okay.

Oh, wow.

You know, if I could, I got to go all the way back to the first day that I even got to St Louis.

I remember being getting the call up from Hammer, who was our manager at the time, and seen him crying more than I think my dad would have been crying for me getting that chance because of the hard work that I had to put in.

But I tell my ten year old team, I tell guys like Brody, man, about what it takes to be a major League Baseball player.

And a lot of times they look at the stats or they look at the home runs and things like that.

What it was more so being able to create the relationships and the discipline.

You know, I'm saying being able to do things when you didn't want to do it and being able to have him there and seeing the way he expressed himself when I when I got the call up, really just let me know that, okay, I'm not just going to the major leagues.

I'm going to because I can play at this level.

So that's where it kind of started for me.

And then once I got there, it was it was just like, I'm going to do whatever it takes to be recognized again.

I want to be a major league ball, but I belong here.

And guys like Albert Pujols, Yadier Molina, you know, Tony La Russa, Mark McGuire, all these guys were there and they let me know that I did belong and me working and practices and, you know, being able to be a part of that team, you know, I tell everybody, David Freese hit the home run to win the games, but I most definitely was a part of that.

And it was because of that, that discipline, you know, I mean, of being able to understand that, you know, is more than just the home runs.

You know, it's about how you treat your teammates.

And I read that you motivated your team even before.

The.

World Series championship game and people just loved they were drawn to you and you have that type of personality infectious, no doubt.

And we're going to talk about the book in your nonprofit a little bit more in just a little bit.

But Tim, I have to come back to you so a day in the life of training now, young Brody can probably smile and nod in agreement.

So wake up early in the morning.

What happened, swing champ 56 Mission.

There's a lot going on.

As a coach, why don't you give us the game plan just one day in the life?

Well, I think, you know, it depends on at at age levels.

You know, I think, you know, there's a lot a lot of studies going on right now with your youth sports and kids being overworked.

And then these kids get burnout by the time they even get to high school.

So we try not to, you know, really push these kids to where they won't even don't even want to play in a couple of years.

So we still want them to be kids, you know, So even when we're at practice, you know, we we do some core stuff, we do some training.

We and we we and luckily for him, he's bringing a lot of little, little technical skills and knowledge to the game, you know, because that way when you when you love something more, you're going to appreciate it and you're going to work harder.

And so just having that understanding for these kids on a daily basis of, you know, no matter if it's hustling, eating right, you know, when we're out at the field and we have three games that we're going be playing, you know, understanding what that day is like, you know, and working hard and, you know, well, it's not just about, you know, practicing.

It's about really honing in and practicing at that perfect level.

Right?

So practice perfect practice makes perfect.

And that's a tongue twister, right?

Exactly.

Now, Brody, you just listen to your dad as a young man.

When you go to sleep at night, you wake up in the morning and it's time to prepare yourself.

Is there anything special that you do individually to get in that mindset?

Um, well, I was, um, up I say in my mind, I got a game, got to get like, get my phone on the way there.

I just listen to, like, music and, and then condition your mind.

Yeah.

And then once we get there as good, I hope my team up.

I love that.

And then yeah.

You're a mover motivate later like hey, drop dad and oh my goodness.

Most definitely one of the guys on our team that that our players rely on, you know is Brody is okay the team is okay.

Most definitely.

I love that.

Now, Elijah, you're out there, You're doing a lot.

You're here.

They're everywhere.

And so with the videographer, I know you're getting those golden moments out on the field.

Have you ever had a time out there on the field where you just got choked up in a good way?

You're looking at the practice and you're saying, Oh, my goodness, they're really doing it.

And no complaining, right?

I mean, we have our ups and downs, but tell me what you see when you're out there that inspires you to stay with a Adrian.

And also the big part that you have with this nonprofit.

I say, is more of a discipline.

You know, like I mentioned earlier, uh, when I first met Adrian, he kind of helped me instill, like, life skills, whether it was, you know, doing certain things or when you don't want to do the right development relationships and also just staying true to your your hustle or your goal, whatever your end goal is.

And we haven't had the same end goal.

You know, that's why he brought me on.

With that we can reconnect.

And, um, yeah, so it's really just this.

Is that was a wise decision.

Right now we've got to talk.

We have to unpack this book.

Now, viewers, Adrian has a book coming out and it's going to be spectacular.

I just feel it.

So let's talk about what's happening with your book.

Well, the book is the title of the book is From Pensacola to the World Series, as we all know, especially you.

So many people, Roy Jones, you know, Justin Gatlin, Don Sutton.

I mean, the list goes on and on and on with the athletes that have come out of Pensacola and not only, you know, made it to the major leagues or the NFL or whatever you want to call it.

They've done great things at a high level, you know, And everywhere I go, especially Saint Louis, people, they love to hear my story, you know, I mean, because I like I said, I was the one that was able to get a seat just like everybody that was watching.

But it was an interesting see, I was in a locker room.

I was able to, you know, talk to Albert Pujols when he hit his three home runs in Texas.

You know what I mean?

So being able to have that type of access, I wanted to give readers or people that love to read a chance to be able to hear it from my point of view.

So that's why I wrote the book.

And man, it is probably the best decision when it comes to my professional career that I've ever done.

I've never written a book before.

It took me a long time to finish this.

How long?

Oh, man, about four years, to be honest with you.

Be inspired because, listen, you can do anybody out there can do it.

You have dreams, no doubt.

No doubt.

And and that was a part of it.

You know, it was the dreams.

You know, I was telling Brody before we came out here on the show is you know, I wanted to be an NFL player, you know, I mean, I didn't even care to play baseball, but the dream was always there.

I wanted to be something bigger, you know, be something more.

And because of that, a lot of times God just aligns the right people in your life, you know what I mean?

And yes, to golf, you know what I mean?

And I'm so grateful and thankful.

And to this day, I told you before we started, just being with this ten year group has opened my eyes up to that, too, is the blessing that they're able to give me.

You understand what I'm saying?

And I think as coaches, as adults, you know what I mean?

We're able if we do pay attention to them, I think we start we realize that they they're giving us more than what we were giving.

You know, what I've.

Learned from each.

Other.

And that's where we connect.

We connect.

I mean, that's where it came from is because I wanted to connect the community and the youth back together.

You know?

I mean, I remember my uncle owns a park, you know, right up the street from my house, and he would, you know, bring donuts and juices and all this.

He would always be a it was a community.

He loved the community.

He loved the youth.

And that that's me mean I guess I got it from him.

And I just want to be able to do that same thing to.

Well, can I just say and that's been kind of one of the cool things about even where our park is right about our community.

I mean, that park was pretty much just a homeless camp.

That's right.

You know, so, you know, Chase has been able to bring in dirt, you know, fencing.

You know, we have a little concession stand with a fridge that we were, you know, bringing some some life to that that area where there isn't been any life at that park for a long time.

You you know, I mean, it's it's awesome.

You'll be amazed at the people that in the community they will be walking by and they will just be clapping and smile and I'm hanging out and they would just love just watching us and they would tell us their stories.

Like, yeah, I remember playing back here.

I remember doing this like.

Just even kids, kids walking by, Hey, can we, can we.

Come and play?

Right?

You know, and that's what it's about to me, being able to do it authentic, you know what I mean?

Being able to organically, you know, have you want to put it like I want you to be able to just just come.

We got gloves.

You know, we've got enough people that can buy you whatever you need.

Just come and show that you're disciplined enough that you really want to be out here.

And I think because of guys like Brody, a young athlete like Brody, they show us that they want to do it.

So we need to be able to give them that opportunity, you know?

BRODY I'm listening to what Adrian and your dad are saying.

It's giving me chills up my spine because I feel the energy and the sincerity behind it all.

You are such an accomplished young man, and there are plenty more young people out there that would love to be a part of what you're doing.

What words of encouragement can you tell somebody out there that's thinking about it but hasn't done it yet?

Never give up?

I mean, I came from Coach Pitch, didn't do that.

Well, now I'm with him and I've gotten way better know.

I've worked with them for the past three years, even I've had baseball every day practices and I've had like practices with him and just gotten way better.

So just never give up.

I love that.

Now, Elijah, you like I said, you're wearing a lot of hats.

We connect, reconnect, But seeing what these fine men have done in your involvement with the nonprofit and even Swing Champ 56 as a whole, what would you say is the biggest joy in your life when you see them on the field?

Off the field, because it's a continuum.

The biggest joy is really just seeing them help young people change their lives and kind of help them develop themselves and to eventually young adults.

I enjoy just seeing people progress and grow in life.

Now, Adrian, we're going to end with you.

Add to that.

You add to that definitely.

Elijah was he's like a little brother to me, right?

And he told you how he kind of got to me.

It was amazing to be able to see like, see here, he's doing real estate, He's a man, he's on billboards all pace floored.

I mean, he's done amazing things, you know what I mean?

So it's like being able to see his growth.

This is why I mean, I just got a chance to go see my babies this past week, and it was like some this was telling me that, you know, is so much more that we can do.

You know, I was with Emmett last week.

I was with Roy Jones last week, and I was whispering this and it is too of like, I know we're athletes and we've done these great things, but it's so much more that we can do.

These kids are not necessarily athletes.

I'm sorry.

They're not just looking to be able to, you know, be professionals.

They just want to be able to have somebody that can believe in them.

And that's what we want to be able to provide.

Well said, all of you, thank you so much.

Now, folks, I'd like to thank all of our guests for joining us.

I'm Rameca Vincent Leary.

Remember to keep it locked in right here on WSRE, PBS for the Gulf Coast.