CJ Wilson

CJ Wilson doing what he loves (http://articles.latimes.com/2013/jun/30/sports/la- ())

Christopher John Wilson is a positive role model who inspires people both on and off the baseball field. Born in 1980, CJ Wilson has lived his whole life with respect and dedication. CJ Wilson is a lefty starting pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. I have grown up watching CJ Wilson play baseball and have always been a fan. I am fascinated by CJ because of his unique personality. He is man of various hobbies which fit into his outgoing lifestyle. One of my goals in life is to become a professional baseball pitcher. Right now I am a closing pitcher for the freshman high school team, the Capistrano Cougars in Mission Viejo, California. I strive to work hard and master the mechanics of pitching so I have a better chance of achieving my goal. Baseball is a competitive sport, but also the only sport that allows you to fail seven out of ten times and still be considered a hero. Many players cannot take the stress of failing over and over again, but CJ Wilson always holds his head high no matter his situation and that earns my respect.

Major League Baseball has existed for over a century. The sport is divided into two main leagues, the National League and the American League. There are thirty total teams that make up the MLB. Major League Baseball not only controls the major leagues, but also the minor leagues. There are four leagues that are considered professional baseball. These leagues are A ball, AA ball, AAA ball, and then the major leagues. Most athletes in the major leagues had to make their way up through the minor leagues to prove that they were talented enough to play with the best. Playing professional baseball does not require any specific schooling. It is important to go to college though because it gives you an education to fall back on if your dream of being a baseball player is not successful. Playing baseball in college is another reason why college is important because it is a great way to prepare for the more advanced levels of baseball. Many young athletes focus on the money they could make if they reach their predicted potential. These athletes often not make it very far and end up quitting baseball because the idea of making a lot of money took over their life. According to For The Win, a sports website of USA Today, "the average MLB salary will break $4 million mark for the first time in 2015." In comparison to the big leagues, players who are stuck down in AAA ball are only making $2,150 a month, six months out of the year. Being a professional athlete can be very rewarding, but the amount of dedication and natural talent it requires limits the amount of people to a very small number.

CJ Wilson is an outgoing and inspiring human being. Many people just know him for his incredible pitching ability, but there is a lot more to him than just his arm. CJ Wilson grew up in Newport Beach, California where he learned to love the game of baseball through his local little league. He attended Santa Ana Junior College where he won MVP and 2000 California Junior College co-player of the year. The in 2001, he was then drafted by the Texas Rangers. According to the Orange County Register article, "C.J. Wilson: Most interesting man in baseball?" CJ Wilson makes $15.5 million dollars a year. This amount of money is towards the higher end for major league pitchers, but for a multi-year All-Star it is money well spent. His talent carried him all the way through school and into the major leagues to make millions. When CJ is not playing baseball he is driving cars, studying Eastern philosophy, practicing art, creating music, and investing a lot of his time in photography. With an already amazing life, CJ somehow made his life even better by marrying the Brazilian model Lisalla Montenegro in 2013. Today, CJ Wilson lives in Beverly Hills where he pitches for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. He continues to inspire millions with his unique personality and ongoing determination to improve.

CJ standing with his car (http://sportscar365.com/imsa/ctscc/cj-wilson-racin ())

Not many people can balance the type of lifestyle CJ Wilson chooses to live. One thing that surprised me was I discovered that on top of everything the incredible lefty pitcher does, Wilson makes sure he gives back to society. The Orange County Register article "C.J. Wilson: Most interesting man in baseball?" states that CJ Wilson founded Wilson's Children's Charities in 2007. He donates large portions of his salary to help children who are disabled, sick, or stuck in financial crises. The CJWCC not only supports children, but also teenagers and young adults. A main thing CJ Wilson encourages is learning how to support charities. Even though CJ Wilson is a wealthy man, he does not have enough money to be as generous as he would like to be. Many if not all of Wilson's professional baseball sponsors agreed to donate to his charity as well. The idea of founding his own charity came only after he had been traveling around the country to different charities to make kid's dreams come true. His personality has and will continue to inspire many people to follow their own dreams. As moving and as caring Wilson is off the field, he is just as good a person on the field. CJ Wilson is a dedicated, helpful, and brilliant player who will do his best to keep the people around him happy. Mike Scioscia, the head manager of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, describes CJ Wilson as "the most interesting man in the world," according to the website, Brainy Quote. CJ Wilson's main contribution to society, besides his own charity, is entertaining millions of baseball fans. His attitude and love of the game is what gets people to cheer for him. He enjoys meeting his fans and making sure he plays his best for them. From baseball to photography CJ Wilson always brings excitement and originality to whatever he touches.

My goal has always been to play baseball for as long as I possibly can. I am obsessed with the sport and would be lost without it. For me to continue with this goal, I have to keep working harder than my teammates and competitors and focus on only the important things. The biggest thing I have learned from CJ Wilson is to pursue what I love and not just what I love the most, but anything I love. CJ Wilson played little league just like me and continued on to high school baseball. Right now I play on the freshman team for Capistrano Valley, and I plan on going to a college with a talented baseball program so I can continue getting better. Wilson was strong enough to be picked up by the Texas Rangers right out of junior college. I want to get at least my bachelor's degree before I try to pursue my baseball career because I want an education to fall back on. I admire CJ Wilson's openness about his personal beliefs. He practices Taoism and follows the Straight Edge way of life. This means he keeps himself from alcohol, drugs, and promiscuous sex to maintain good health. He has a tattoo that says Straight Edge on his torso, and a tattoo that says Poison Free on his shoulder. CJ Wilson is a very positive role model who is always trying to get the best out of himself. His pure, Straight Edge lifestyle is very hard to commit to, but it does not surprise me that he is able to. I would like to be as smart in my future decisions, especially those affecting my health.