The Arizona athletic department posted a video of UA legend Terry Francona addressing the Wildcats baseball last weekend before he was honored at halftime of a basketball game.
Francona, the 1980 college baseball player of the year and two-time World Series champion as manager of the Boston Red Sox, offered the following advice:
“Show up on time, respect your teammates, respect your coaches, respect the way the game is played, and never, ever back down from a challenge.”
There is also good stuff from Francona about managing Michael Jordan in Double-A Birmingham. The message: Even a superstar like Jordan was “respectful of the game,” as well as coachable and hard-working.
The university honored Francona last Saturday for last year’s induction into the College Baseball Hall of Fame.
Francona, speaking in a renovated Hi Corbett Field clubhouse, told the Wildcats, “There’s no reason why you can’t have a chance to win a national championship here.” Check out the video for more.
Francona will be working for ESPN as an analyst on Sunday Night Baseball this season, so he will remain one of the most visible Arizona alums in athletics. I’d put him in the mix with Steve Kerr, Tedy Bruschi and Jennie Finch.