That's the name of a recently-released biography of Phillie center fielder Shane Victorino. Written by Alan Maimon, the book focuses on Victorino's childhood on the island of Maui and his rocky rise to professional fame in the city of Philadelphia.
At age five, the future All-Star was diagnosed with attention-deficit hyper-activity disorder (ADHD), when four teachers at his pre-school threatened to quit because of his uncontrollable behavior. But rural Maui turns out to be a place where the adage that 'it takes a village to raise a child' is a way of life. Blessed with a strong, nurturing family and community and good medical help, Victorino eventually got his ADHD under control. His family encouraged his athletic talents (soccer, track, football, and baseball) as a way to channel his energy, little thinking that their somewhat undersized (5'8") son would eventually be drafted by the L.A. Dodgers.
After some years of toiling in the Dodger system, Victorino was claimed in the Rule 5 draft by San Diego, then later offered back to the Dodgers. A couple of years later, the Phillies picked him up in another Rule 5 draft. When they later offered him back to the Dodgers, LA declined and Philadelphia sent him to its Triple-A team, then in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, where he ended up becoming the MVP of the International League---on a last-place team. Eventually he made it to the big leagues and the World Series. He still struggles with adult ADHD and now channels more of his energy into a variety of charity efforts in Philadelphia and Hawaii. The account of his first date with his now-wife is a startling, if hilarious, example of the competitive nature of a pro athlete.
This is an insightful baseball book that transcends sport. It's also a warm and wry account of an unusual young man. For all of his struggles with ADHD, Victorino's childhood in some ways sounds almost idyllic.
