Courtesy of Phillips 66
Ozzie Smith smiles with a fan during the Flip Like Ozzie event at Ballpark Village.
“As a parent, it’s imperative that you find out what your kids are crazy about,” said Ozzie Smith, Cardinal legend and dad of three. "If they find that thing they’re passionate about, they’ll never work a day in their lives."
Ozzie was at Ballpark Village earlier this week to pose for photos with fans while promoting a special event that let ordinary people replicate his famous back flips digitally on a green screen.
SLM got a chance to hang out with The Wizard and ask him about getting kids into baseball. Of course, Ozzie's children are all grown now—but once a dad, always a dad.
He says that when his kids were young, he felt it was very important to support their talents—whatever they were. His oldest son Nikko took a path to music and landed on American Idol, while Dustin played a few years in the minors.
Courtesy of Phillips 66
Ozzie pointed out the dangers of trying to live vicariously through your children, especially if the parent was an athlete. "That’s added pressure. I don’t think that’s fair to your kid."
His best advice was very old fashioned: Play with your kids in the backyard.
"That’s where it starts," he says. "It starts with throwing the ball around, and seeing whether or not they have much interest."
He chuckled and wryly noted that every parent thinks their kid is talented enough to go pro. When asked if he thought getting young players into competitive travel teams could provide the boost to make it to the big leagues, he replied:
"The kids that are on those elite teams, that show a lot of promise, they have desire and determination. If they’re destined for greatness, well, you still gotta work hard and prove yourself."
"If that’s what they’re passionate about, it’ll work."
The Flip Like Ozzie event at Ballpark Village was sponsored by Phillips 66, who has partnered with the St. Louis Cardinals to offer baseball fans up to 50 percent off eligible game tickets.
