I used to think he was "the man".  How I enjoyed watching him at the plate!  Over the course of his career he averaged about 1 home run in every 10 at bats and was selected for the all-star team 12 times.  He was a 3-time silver slugger, and won the home run derby once.  He wasn't caught using a corked bat.  He overcame some injuries.  He was a part of the home run slugfest in the late 1990s.  Seeing him hug his son on the field, with sincere happiness and joy in his eyes, was such a sight.

Then came the allegations of steriod use which ran rampant through MLB.  There was Jose Canseco's book,....

there were a lot of media articles and stories, and finally Mark McGwire's statement when testified in front of Congress.  He technically dodged the question.  And although he did admit it until many months later, we all knew he took steroids.  Why didn't he come clean then?  Did he not respect us - the fans who supported him for so many years - to tell the truth?  Maybe he thought we're idiots?

Now, his home run record has an asterisk next to it.  For 4 years in a row, he has failed to gain election into the Baseball Hall of Fame.  Yet only now, when he wants a job, he tearfully admits he used steroids.

My response - too little, too late.  Sad really.  He was a hero to so many.  Now, well, he's just another athlete - Marion Jones, Pete Rose, Tiger Woods - who has broken our hearts.

This year's SmartTalk series started in Cincinnati last night, and Valerie Bertinelli was the speaker.  You know, One Day At A Time, ex-wife of Eddie Van Halen, and now Jenny Craig spokesperson.

When any of the featured speakers start talking, you never know what it's going to be about.  And frankly, some are more enjoyable than others.  She was likeable and down-to-earth.  She chose to share her journey of losing weight.  But it wasn't focused on what she did or didn't eat or how her exercise programs were structured.  Instead it centered on why she let herself become a hermit, lose touch with friends, and gain so much weight.  She was unhappy for 20 years.  20 years?!!  Can you imagine?  .....

I freely admit that Jack LaLanne isn’t the typical 95 year old. But why couldn’t he be? What can we learn from him?

Let's see...he has won many awards – most recently recognized by Club Industry (an organization for fitness business professionals) with their Lifetime Achievement Award, honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, inducted into the California Hall of Fame, became a famous bodybuilder and accomplished swimmer, opened successful health clubs, invented the Smith Machine (a weight training piece of equipment), holds the record for the longest running health and fitness show - 34 years, authored numerous books, filmed many fitness videos, and created the well-known Power Juicer. But I ask again, what can we learn from him?

The answer is simple....

Find your passion and embrace it. Health and fitness is his passion and he wants to share them with everyone.

Since he was 15, exercise and diet have been the driving force behind his lifestyle. He lives and breathes it, literally. This has driven his creativity and desire to help others. For instance, he has been encouraging women to lift weights for many years - a message we are still trying to communicate. He says what he believes and does what he says. Oh, and to add to his long list of accomplishments, he recently underwent heart valve surgery and is expected to make a full recovery.

Will we all be like him?  No.  But we can learn from him.  What is your passion?  What do you believe in?  How can you share it with others?  Who can help you do this?  The answers to these questions could open many doors for you.  What are you waiting for?  Start now!