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June 2, 2008 It’s just a matter of weeks until the Class of 2008 and all their greatness head off into the world of college and beyond. As they pursue their dreams they might want to consider the story of Travis Hafner. Hafner turns 31 this week and he’s in his 7th year with the Cleveland Indians. This season he’ll pass the $10 million dollar mark in career earnings. As a senior in High School, his counselor asked him to list his #1 career choice. “Major League baseball player!” he stated. “What is your 2nd choice?” the counselor asked, fearing he was setting himself up for disappointment. Once again Hafner said, “To make it to the Major Leagues!” And so it continues…every day in the world of sports, and life, somebody’s dream comes true. And that is really where the 2008 graduates are heading this week…into the world of dreams. The beauty of dreaming is simple…Much like enrolling in a frequent flyer program; it costs nothing but can yield potentially great rewards. After HS, Travis Hafner attended a Community College, and the following summer the Texas Rangers drafted him in the 31st round. The odds were against him, but Hafner was serious about his dream. After toiling for seven years in the Minor Leagues and overcoming many obstacles, he was called up to the Big Leagues but promptly traded to Cleveland because the Rangers decided he didn’t have much of a future. That was 2002, this is now. Hafner has been a key cog in Cleveland all these years and is a fan favorite. He never quit on his dream, and that’s the reason he found success. It’s an age old story. Walt Disney couldn’t get any investors to back his idea, they laughed at him. Elvis was told he couldn’t sing, and Colonel Harland Sanders faced 1,000 rejections before one restaurant down south was willing to give his ‘finger-lickin good’ recipe, ‘a try.’ The rest is history. One final note about Travis Hafner…Perhaps his High School counselor asked for his #2 career choice, because Hafner’s HS didn’t even have a baseball team! So, to the Novi graduates of 2008 that are serious about their future in sports and in life, there is only one thing left to say; …Sweet Dreams. (c) 2008 Novi
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