Rec Sports

MLB All-Star Tom Gordon has 10 pieces of advice for sports parents

Top-5 prospects to watch in 2025 MLB Draft The Southwest Times Record’s Jackson Fuller shares his top 5 MLB draft prospects who could hear their names called early. This is Part 3 of a three-part summer series visiting with three former major league All-Stars turned sports dads. They offer sports and life advice about how […]

Published

1 week ago

July 5, 2025

Your Sports Nation

This is Part 3 of a three-part summer series visiting with three former major league All-Stars turned sports dads. They offer sports and life advice about how to make our kids better players, but also how to get the most out of athletic experiences with them.

This week: Fulfilling professional dreams with Tom, Dee and Nick Gordon while enjoying the ride as fathers and sons.

New York Yankees fans learned a familiar pitching formula in 2004 and 2005. If their team had the lead, they would see Flash Gordon’s biting fastballs and sharp curveballs in the eighth inning, then Mariano Rivera’s lethal cutters in the ninth. A victory was virtually sealed.

The routine often started much earlier in the day, in the New Jersey suburbs where Gordon lived with his teenaged son.

“Daddy, I want to go to the ball field,” Dee Gordon would say as he woke up his dad.

The veteran relief pitcher, now in his mid-to-late 30s, found a personal revival in what came next.

They would go to a nearby diamond at 10:30 or 11 a.m. and get in their work: Father hitting son ground balls, the two talking baseball and soaking up the energy of the interactions he would replicate with similar sessions with another son, Nick.

He would rest for a couple hours, feeling laser focused when he headed to Yankee Stadium.

“That way of doing things took pressure off me,” Tom “Flash” Gordon tells USA TODAY Sports. “I had such a regimen with working with them, where it was taking stress off my mind. And then when it was time for me to get ready to go, I can ease back into it, and then I can go as hard as I can go. They helped me just as much as I helped them.”

It’s the way youth sports can work for parents and kids. Dee and Nick both reached the major leagues, which Flash credits to their determination to climb above their competitors, but also to a path to success his mother and father set him and his siblings along in Avon Park, Florida.

Gordon calls himself an ambassador of sorts these days as he coaches and scouts for Perfect Game, a youth baseball and softball platform.

“I tried to do the very best I could as a father but also I feel like my job is to pass on information that was given to me,” he says.

Gordon, 57, spoke with us about Rivera, Bo Jackson and George Brett, but also the wisdom of Tom and Annie Gordon that drives him, and how we can use it to guide our kids’ travel sports journeys. He offers 10 tips:

1. Approach sports as a love that can last a lifetime

When Flash’s father, also named Tom, took his son to the ballyard, they gassed up, packed sandwiches and headed up into Alabama, Georgia or South Carolina in a parade of cars. It was a real-life barnstorm.

Others came to watch, and the young boy developed an image of what it looked like to be a professional.

“I got to see not the actual Negro Leagues — the Grays and the Monarchs and teams like that — but these small teams and these small little towns that wanted to be like them,” Flash Gordon says. “It was a Negro league for them, and it was something that they needed.”

His father never graduated from high school, never came close to the opportunities his son had, but he embraced the life a game had given him.

“He never thought he’d be a major league baseball player,” Gordon says of his father. “He probably never thought that his son would and then grandsons, but what he did believe in is that he loved baseball so much to where you keep playing it, or play a sport or do something you love, until it’s out of you in regards to you don’t have the same drive to do it.

“And I was really proud of him because he could have easily said, ‘Son, I play every Sunday, and I work as hard as I could go, and I was hoping that maybe somebody would see me and like me as a player.’ (He was a good pitcher.) And they never did. But he never let that deter him from being our best supporter, our best parent, our best love, and a guy that always wanted to hear how our day went.”

2. It’s not your sports career, it’s your kids’: Parents’ job is to provide the experience

Late Yankees owner George Steinbrenner once offered advice that Flash continues to use when he’s at the Florida car dealerships he and his brothers own: It’s important to be here, but it’s more important for you to leave something behind.

“The knowledge you have, just give that, leave it, because when you’re gone, it’s not yours to take with you,” Flash says.

He saw his parents’ dedication to not only their jobs, but their roles as parents. Annie was at all of her sons’ local games but also carefully sketched out activities for their sister, he says, “to create things in her life that kept her motivated and happy and excited about growing up as a kid in our household.”

“My mom was a stickler in staying on top of your grades,” he says. “Being the oldest, you wanted to make sure that the chores around the house were done. … I don’t think I would have made it to the major leagues, I don’t think I would have been the person that I’ve had an opportunity to become without the leadership of my parents. And I see it in my brothers, how they deal with people, respond to people. It’s almost like seeing my brothers be just like my mom in a lot of ways; they have that gentle smile before they make a decision.”

3. Scouts look at the full person, not just their ability

As he scowled from the mound, Flash thought he was tough. But he says he has plenty of his mom in him, too.

Annie has helped him understand, as he roves around to showcases and events, what constitutes the most elite players.

“You’re looking at social media and the stuff that they’re doing, it’s almost like they’re already gratified, they’re already at that point where, ‘Hey, I’ve shown a scout that I’m going to be great. I can hit home runs, shoot 3-pointers, I can hit a volleyball or whatever on videos and show ’em that I got a chance to be great,” Gordon says. “Well, guess what? The coach and the scout have not been around you long enough to see if you’re a quality enough of a person to make everybody around you better.

“It looks good when you do all these things on video, but now I need to come to your house and ask your parents whether or not you do your chores on time, do you look out for your brothers and sisters, or are you someone that they have to stay on and have to constantly be motivated to do something.”

4. Let your kids’ sports motivation come from within

Flash’s son, Dee Strange-Gordon, was drafted in the fourth round by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2008 and became a two-time All-Star. But his first sports love was basketball.

“All of a sudden, it was like, ‘Daddy, could you buy me a bat? Could you buy me a glove?’ Yes, yes!’ ” Flash says. “It’s only because they’re around it so much. … This game wasn’t pushed on them to where they had to play.

“Let it be about them and their career and just be more motivated to help them the best way you possibly can, reminding them, for the most part, and Nicholas had a tough time sometimes with this one: Nothing comes easy, son.”

5. Whether you are in the dugout or bleachers, allow your son or daughter to be coached

Before Nick Gordon was drafted in the first round in 2014 and would play 338 big-league games, Flash coached him in travel ball.

“I moved my son from shortstop to second base. Sometimes I played him at third,” Flash says. “He felt like, well, that’s the wrong decision to make. However, I have to make the decision best for the entire team, not just for the fact that you’re my son.

“Be willing to allow your coach to coach your child, and then sit back in the stands and observe and watch the process. … The toughest thing for a parent is when a coach changes your son’s position, and maybe you don’t think that’s the right way. However, you’re looking at it from a parent’s perspective outside, and he’s looking at it [from] the coach’s perspective on the ground, boots down.”

6. The most elite players have pregame routines

After Flash Gordon was drafted by Kansas City in the sixth round in 1986, he reported to the rookie-level Gulf Coast League in Sarasota, Florida. He was a hotshot high schooler who found himself up against another Kansas City Royals prospect named Linton Dyer. Dyer’s nickname was “Lightning.”

“Flash vs. Lightning,” another Royals prospect, Bo Jackson, observed, coining Gordon’s moniker.

Gordon was 20 when he reached the majors. He found out how much he didn’t know, when Brett called him over to his locker.

“I don’t see a routine, son,” the future Hall of Famer said.

Brett did the same thing every day. He arrived, put on his shorts, and headed off to hit and watch video.

“The routine as a parent at home, getting up, those things change sometimes,” Flash says, “but when you have a game that’s being played at 7 o’clock, it’s time for you to get a routine at 3 p.m. and have that routine ready to go and make sure that you capture those goals through that routine until game time.

“I really appreciated Mark Gubicza and Bret Saberhagen. Those guys had great routines and prepared, they paid attention in the meetings, and it just inspired me to want to try and see if I could do more of that and become that much of a better baseball player.”

7. We don’t ever want to tear kids down, but we can use constructive criticism to motivate them

Gordon learned in the majors that teammates wanted to know when they weren’t pulling their weight.

“Every now and then it’s OK to let them know you were not that good today,” he says. “Sometimes, as a leader, you have to be reminded that it ain’t just about the way you see things. It’s about team. We’re trying to promote winning. Sometimes players think about things a week down the road when we right now are in this struggle with this other team to beat them three out of four. In the major leagues, guys come there, they all think they’re ready to play, and everyone’s coming to watch them. I was there. I know what it feels like. But sometimes that criticism puts things back into perspective.”

8. Taking nothing for granted when you reach the upper levels of sports

Sometimes Flash will look at his phone, and see that it’s Bo Jackson calling, and say to himself: “What have I done now?”

Bo always gave it to Flash straight if he felt he was just going through the motions.

“Hey, you’re in the major leagues,” Jackson would tell the younger player. “Every day you take nothing for granted here. You go as hard as you can because you never know when that day that you can’t play again happens. You get hurt, you may not ever be able to play again. Things don’t go well, you may not find that way of being able to progress.”

Even when our kids reach high school sports, there is no guarantee they will play. Each game, each sliver of playing time within that game, presents an opportunity.

Gordon tells kids there are always three things they can control: Your preparation, your attitude and your emotions.

“If you do those things,” he says, “you make my job easier, and I can help you become a much better baseball player, a much better person.”

9. Find calm before you go into the storm

Gordon was in his 15th full major-league season when he got to the Yankees. When he walked into the clubhouse, he’d see Rivera two lockers away. Rivera’s routine was to sit there. Nothing, it seemed, could disrupt the guy who would become baseball’s all-time saves leader.

“We could have a bonfire in the middle of the clubhouse,” Gordon says.

He was putting himself in that space of mindfulness and focus where pitchers thrive. The practice kept him fresh and motivated, and it was one Gordon realized he liked himself.

10. Your No. 1 asset is being a good teammate

When Flash came up with the Royals, he had lived with Jackson and his wife, Linda. He was a part of the family to the point where Bo’s kids called him their brother.

Gordon had just been told by then-Arizona Diamondbacks manager A.J. Hinch he had been released after what would be his final major-league game in 2009, when he was reminded of that feeling. He walked out of Hinch’s office, and each of his teammates was there to hug him.

“There’s not a coach I’ve ever come across that’s not willing to give you great information to help make you better when you’re a good teammate,” he says.

He couldn’t stop crying and yet he was at peace, like he had felt in those days when he and Dee were on the field in New Jersey.

“With everything that we have today, technology and the Internet, and everything that’s out there, kids’ lives start to get overshadowed with them being athletes and other things that they’re doing,” he says. “Just stay at a place where you’re more of a listener than you are someone that’s giving advice. You don’t have o. Sometimes just watching gives you the best perspective. Just be there for their journey.”

Read Part I: ‘You’re not getting scouted at 12’: Youth sports tips from a LLWS hero

Read Part II: World Series champ shares how to maximize high school, college potential

Steve Borelli, aka Coach Steve, has been an editor and writer with USA TODAY since 1999. He spent 10 years coaching his two sons’ baseball and basketball teams. He and his wife, Colleen, are now sports parents for two high schoolers. His column is posted weekly. For his past columns, click here.

Got a question for Coach Steve you want answered in a column? Email him at sborelli@usatoday.com

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Rec Sports

Brockton pro soccer training center to cost $27 million. Opening when?

BROCKTON — The region’s new pro soccer team aims to start construction in August on a $27 million training facility in Brockton. In the first public comments about the plan by Boston Legacy Football Club, an expansion team in the National Women’s Soccer League, controlling owner Jennifer Epstein said their players deserve a training facility […]

Published

12 minutes ago

July 14, 2025

Your Sports Nation

BROCKTON — The region’s new pro soccer team aims to start construction in August on a $27 million training facility in Brockton.

In the first public comments about the plan by Boston Legacy Football Club, an expansion team in the National Women’s Soccer League, controlling owner Jennifer Epstein said their players deserve a training facility that enables them to be at their best.

“We are proud to continue investing in not just our club, but in the overall growth of women’s sports, while also bringing further development to our community,” Epstein said. “We’re grateful to the city of Brockton and local elected officials for their partnership as we finalize this project.”

A different developer, Mark Roukous, has for years had a written agreement with the city to build a youth sports complex off Howard Street on the north side. He never did.

A tight timeline

The soccer team will have to move fast. The 2026 season begins March 13, 2026. The club hopes to finish construction by Jan. 1, 2026, said Brockton lawyer James Burke, who represents the team. The Legacy are buying about 24 acres from Roukous. Kim Miner, chief of staff and chief legal officer for the Legacy, said on July 8 she expects the sale to be finalized within days.

What community benefits will team offer?

Brocktonians have already seen the proposal: Six soccer fields, a 30,000 square foot main building and a support building for youth soccer. The plan includes a domed field, which the city lacks, and a heated field. The team will be working out an agreement for public use of the fields. Miner said details are still being worked out, but there would likely be a range of costs. For instance, the club would likely offer soccer clinics for youth for free. An adult recreation league, though, might have to pay to rent a field.

The club will have a special emphasis on supporting access for young girls, she said. “For soccer to be accessible for people, it needs to be affordable,” Miner said.

Heated field, bubble dome and more

In a July 14 announcement, the club confirmed the main building would house spaces for workouts, sports medicine, film room, kitchen, hydrotherapy and staff offices. For the fields, the club aims to have two grass fields (at least one of them heated), plus the bubble dome. There would be three artificial turf fields on the east side of the performance center near the Brookfield School.

The fields would be lit with 80-foot-tall lights, the club told Brockton’s planning board in a July 1 meeting. At that session, the board unanimously approved the project. The Legacy are due to return to the planning board to finalize the stormwater runoff plan.

City Hall is all in

Brockton City Hall has been in favor of the proposal. “I have supported this complex from day one because it’s a true win-win for Brockton,” said Brockton Mayor Robert F. Sullivan. “It honors our rich sports legacy as the ‘City of Champions’ while creating new opportunities for our young soccer players with high-quality playing fields and inspiration for the future. I am deeply grateful to the Boston Legacy Football Club and Boston Unity Soccer Partners for their proposed investment in our community.”

Who’s paying for the project?

The $27 million project is privately funded, the club said.

Key parcel not offered for sale

Interestingly, the soccer team was not offered the land parcel just to the west of their proposed facility, according to Kevin Grady of Grady Consulting. Roukous would retain ownership of 10 acres where he has been grinding and crushing rocks and fill. Asked if dust and noise from that activity concerned the club, Minor said no. Her expectation is that by the time they’re building their facility, they will have resolved any issues.

As for a written agreement on community benefits, like youth teams using fields, Minor said the team still has a lot of listening to do. “We plan to hear a lot more from the community,” she said, adding that the team doesn’t want to make assumptions about what residents want or need.

The planning board’s approval included a stipulation that a “social package” acceptable to the mayor be worked out.

Send your news tips to reporter Chris Helms by email at CHelms@enterprisenews.com or connect on X at @HelmsNews.

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Rec Sports

Olive Orange Bronco captures win over Santa Ana, secures berth in super regional –

Brayden Davis of Olive touches home plate after a three-run home run Sunday. (PHOTOS: Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone). Olive Orange Pony Bronco 12-and-under baseball all-stars are headed to the super regional beginning Friday in Corona. The Orange squad clinched a berth in the super regional with a 12-1 victory over Santa Ana Sunday in […]

Published

31 minutes ago

July 14, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Brayden Davis of Olive touches home plate after a three-run home run Sunday. (PHOTOS: Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone).

Olive Orange Pony Bronco 12-and-under baseball all-stars are headed to the super regional beginning Friday in Corona.

The Orange squad clinched a berth in the super regional with a 12-1 victory over Santa Ana Sunday in the regional tournament at Placentia Champions Sports Complex. Olive missed a chance to advance to the regional championship when it lost to Torrance 13-12 later Sunday.

Undefeated Placentia faces Torrance Monday, July 14 at 5 p.m. in the championship game.

“We get to move on from there,” said Manager Shea Shandra after Sunday’s win over Santa Ana. “We have goals for these tournaments and definitely getting to move on to the super regions is a big day for us.

“We actually got to take district, so that let us skip section tournament and now we know we get to move on.”

To see more photos, click on the first picture:

Orange starter Victor Ayala gets ready to throw a pitch vs. Santa Ana.

Santa Ana’s Gilbert Ortiz heads to the plate.

Alexander Velasco of Olive scores a run Sunday.

Players from Olive and Santa Ana exchange handshakes after Sunday’s game.

Orange Olive also defeated South Bay 8-0 before losing to Placentia 12-7 on Saturday. Olive stayed alive with an 11-1 victory over John Mendez from Wilmington on Saturday.

In Sunday’s game vs. Santa Ana, Victor Ayala pitched a five inning no-hitter, striking out six and walking three. Gilbert Ortiz drove in the only run for Santa Ana with a groundout in the first inning.

“A no-hitter for Victor, he’s had another one, he’s our workhorse,” Shandra said.

Ayala also had a three-run home run for Olive during a four-run first inning. Jake Schierberi also had an RBI single in the inning.

Ayala was not aware he had pitched a no-hitter until after the game.

“I’m proud of myself, I didn’t think I could do it against that team knowing that they had a lot of good hitters especially the very top half, they could all hit really well,” he said.

“It’s really nice to see my team go on, maybe we can go past to zone’s like last year, maybe we can go more games in zone if we make it.”

Olive moved ahead 8-1 with four more runs in the second inning. Enrique Triana and Ben Hirsch had RBI singles and Brayden Davis had a sacrifice fly.

Davis put the game out of reach with a three-run home run in the third inning. Davis was 2 for 2 with four RBI and two runs scored.

Leadoff hitter Ethan De La Palma had a double, walked two times and scored three runs; Alexander Velasco had an RBI single and scored a run; Hirsch had two hits and an RBI;Matthew Dayton had a single and scored two runs and Triana had two hits and an RBI.

Santa Ana opened the tournament with a 15-4 victory over Olive Green Wednesday, then defeated East Long Beach 6-5 on Thursday. Santa Ana lost to Torrance 9-5 but stayed alive in the double elimination tournament with a 10-5 victory over East Long Beach Saturday.

Placentia and Torrance will also be moving on to the super regional in Corona.

—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com

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Rec Sports

Registration for Ramstein and Vogelweh fall youth sports opens this week

Registration for fall soccer, football, cheerleading and volleyball is opening this week for children ages 5-14 through the Ramstein and Vogelweh youth sports program. (Areca Bell/U.S. Air Force) Registration for fall cheerleading, football, soccer and volleyball is now open for children ages 5-6 through the youth sports program serving Ramstein Air Base and Vogelweh Housing […]

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1 hour ago

July 14, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Registration for fall soccer, football, cheerleading and volleyball is opening this week for children ages 5-14 through the Ramstein and Vogelweh youth sports program. (Areca Bell/U.S. Air Force)

Registration for fall cheerleading, football, soccer and volleyball is now open for children ages 5-6 through the youth sports program serving Ramstein Air Base and Vogelweh Housing Area.

Registration for ages 7-8 begins Tuesday, followed by ages 9-10 on Wednesday and ages 11-14 on Thursday. Sign-ups close for all age groups at 5 p.m. July 25.

An active account with the Air Force’s child and youth program business modernization system and current sports physical are required. Homeschooled children must also provide an immunization record.

Registration costs $80 and space is limited. More information is available on the Ramstein and Vogelweh youth sports program website.

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Culture and Celebration for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games

Since its launch, Dakar en Jeux has brought together thousands of people across Dakar, Diamniadio and Saly, celebrating sport and Senegalese culture through concerts, art and sports demonstrations. Past editions have featured highlights such as slam poetry battles, a 300-metre mural by African graffiti artists, and the introduction of the Brevet Olympique Civique et Sportif, […]

Published

2 hours ago

July 14, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Since its launch, Dakar en Jeux has brought together thousands of people across Dakar, Diamniadio and Saly, celebrating sport and Senegalese culture through concerts, art and sports demonstrations. Past editions have featured highlights such as slam poetry battles, a 300-metre mural by African graffiti artists, and the introduction of the Brevet Olympique Civique et Sportif, an Olympic values-based education programme for schoolchildren.

The third edition in 2024 saw attendance grow to 20,000 people, with sporting highlights including Senegal’s victory in the boys’ 3×3 basketball tournament. It also featured the launch of Impact Spark, a new initiative by Dakar 2026 and the Lausanne-based SPARK/innov-action association, supported by the Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) in Switzerland, aimed at promoting health and well-being through physical activity in a fun and inclusive environment to combat lifestyle-related diseases.

Looking ahead, the fourth and final edition in November 2025 will set the scene for Dakar 2026, continuing to inspire youth engagement and community celebration.

Dakar en Jeux is delivered by the Dakar 2026 Organising Committee (YOGOC) in partnership with the Senegalese Olympic Committee (CNOSS), the Senegalese government, the International Olympic Committee, and the local authorities in the three host cities.

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Rec Sports

UPMC Lititz to Offer Free Youth Sports Physicals

UPMC Orthopaedic Care – Lititz is offering free sports physicals to local youth athletes participating in sports during the 2025-2026 school year. The event will take place on July 28, 2025 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the UPMC Orthopaedic Care office at 1555 Highlands Dr., Suite 190, Lititz, PA 17543. It is estimated that […]

Published

2 hours ago

July 14, 2025

Your Sports Nation

UPMC Orthopaedic Care – Lititz is offering free sports physicals to local youth athletes participating in sports during the 2025-2026 school year.

The event will take place on July 28, 2025 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the UPMC Orthopaedic Care office at 1555 Highlands Dr., Suite 190, Lititz, PA 17543.

It is estimated that hundreds of students in the Lancaster area participate in more than 20 different sports each year. Annual physicals can provide parents, children, and coaches with reassurance that an athlete is ready to participate in sports.

Parents can fill out this form or call 717-291-8345 to register for a physical.

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Rec Sports

Voter-approved measure gives millions to Arizona youth, amateur sports every year

Hotel and rental car taxes that pay for the Cardinals’ stadium in Glendale, spring training baseball parks and promote Arizona tourism also fund youth and amateur sports. This year, $6.3 million is being shared by dozens of groups, including one with plans to make physical movement part of grief support. One service offered by Billy’s […]

Published

3 hours ago

July 14, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Hotel and rental car taxes that pay for the Cardinals’ stadium in Glendale, spring training baseball parks and promote Arizona tourism also fund youth and amateur sports.

This year, $6.3 million is being shared by dozens of groups, including one with plans to make physical movement part of grief support.

One service offered by Billy’s Place in the northwest Valley is peer-support groups for children with a parent, sibling or loved one who has died.

But frustration born out of trauma can keep kids from getting the most out of sessions.

So with grant money from the Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority, Billy’s Place will turn an old bathroom in the nonprofit’s future headquarters into a space for blowing off steam.

“It’ll have padded walls. It’ll have a punching bag. A space for kids to let go of those big emotions,” said Kris Friedman, the organization’s executive director.

Grant money will also pay to outfit an outdoor play area at the new Billy’s Place, a feature that does not exist at the current location.

“And this grant is going to turn it into our dream space with stuff for them to climb on a firepit for the parents to sit around,” said Madelyn Vincent, associate executive director.

Voter-approved hotel and bed taxes that fund projects like this one are scheduled to sunset in 2031.

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