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Sunday, August 14, 2011

Cohn: Pirates manager Hurdle is guided by history

But before trying to reinvent the Pirates, Hurdle had to reinvent himself.

“I’ve gone through an obstacle course and come out the other side bigger, stronger and better,” he said. “I’ve learned and lived, on and off the field.

“Usually behind leadership you hope to have good judgment,” Hurdle said, sitting at his desk inside PNC Park. “And good judgment’s needed in times of adversity. How do you get good judgment? Through experience. And how do you get the experience? Through bad judgment.”

Hurdle would know. A recovering alcoholic, he helped sabotage his promising career on the field and lived less than responsibly off it. In many ways, life began at 40.

“There were challenges that were presented to me,” said Hurdle, 54, “and some I manufactured on my own.”

Repoz Posted: August 14, 2011 at 03:11 PM | 3 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: history, pirates

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1. Mash Wilson Posted: August 15, 2011 at 02:11 AM (#3900027)

Actually it's remarkable how little experience has to do with how good your judgment is.

2. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: August 15, 2011 at 03:02 AM (#3900044)

Here's some history - the Pirates have sucked for almost twenty years, and will continue to suck in the future. Until they don't suck anymore.

3. scotto Posted: August 15, 2011 at 02:27 PM (#3900195)

Thanks for posting this, Repoz. It's a refreshing change of pace from the hot political topic threads, the daily Chass-bash, the anti-Sabe straw dogs, and another Yankee/Sox article threads.

I guess I wasn't following baseball too closely when Hurdle was supposed to be the next phenom because I only remember him from the James books and his managing positions. Hurdle's sense of perspective on himself and the game are not something that you read about every day, and I admire it. It's not every man who can admit that he screwed up and turn himself around but Hurdle seems to be one of them. So thanks for posting it.

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Sunday, August 14, 2011

Cohn: Pirates manager Hurdle is guided by history

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