← The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast
The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast
1KHO 587: The Family Team Is the Most Important Team | Tim Green, Rocket Arm
00:35:13
Loading summary
Transcript78 lines
- [00:00]
Podcast Host (Intro/Outro)
Hello, friends. Today I get to share with you an incredibly meaningful conversation with guest Tim Green. Tim Green is a former NFL player, lawyer, New York Times best selling author, devoted family man, and a voice of inspiration to countless kids and parents through both his books and his life story. This episode is going to sound a little different than usual, and I want to explain why. Several years ago, Tim was diagnosed with als, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. If you know anything about als, you know it is a devastating illness that slowly takes away a person's ability to move, speak, and even breathe on their own. But it cannot touch a person's mind, heart, or spirit. Tim's courage in the face of this disease is nothing short of extraordinary. Because of als, Tim now communicates using technology that tracks his eye movements. So before our conversation, I sent him a list of questions. Tim took the time to carefully type out his answers using only his eyes, and then he recorded them for this interview. That's why the pacing and sound may feel a little different than a live back and forth conversation. What you'll hear today is Tim's voice produced through adaptive technology. But make no mistake, the wisdom, humor, and perspective are entirely his. I think you'll find that this unique style actually adds depth. And every word you hear is intentional, every sentence is considered, and it's a reminder of just how much determination and perseverance Tim brings to every area of life. The very fact that he continues to write books, mentor young people, and show up for conversations like this one, all while facing als, is an inspiration in itself. In our talk, Tim shares about his NFL career, the culture of youth sports, the importance of reading, and why he believes books are weightlifting for your brain. He talks candidly about injuries, parenting, time management, and the values that outlast the game. And through it all, he gives us a glimpse of what it looks like to keep joy, faith, and focus, even in the hardest circumstances. My hope is that as you listen, you not only hear Tim's story, but also feel encouraged in your own Life can pro life can pull us in a thousand directions, but Tim reminds us to be present in the moment, to chase our dreams, and to keep faith and family at the center. So thank you for giving this episode your full attention. Thank you for leaning into a conversation that required courage and creativity to make possible. And most of all, thank you for joining me in honoring Tim Green, not only for what he has accomplished, but for the way he continues to live with purpose and resilience.
- [02:43]
Jenny Urich
When did making plans get this complicated? It's Time to streamline with WhatsApp, the secure messaging app that brings the whole group together. Use polls to settle dinner plans, send event invites and pin messages so no one forgets. Mom 60th and never miss a meme or milestone. All protected with end to end encryption. It's time for WhatsApp message privately with everyone. Learn more@WhatsApp.com welcome to the 1000 Hours Outside podcast. My name is Jenny Urich. I'm the founder of 1000 Hours Outside and I am so excited to bring to you today an incredibly accomplished guest, Tim Green. I just read his book, it's called Rocket Arm. He is a New York Times best selling author and I read it. It's a great one for kids. We're going to be talking a lot about the power of reading. But Tim, I'm so glad you're here and I was hoping to ask a bunch of questions and I hope we have enough time because I got a lot of them here. But I'm going to kick it off with this. I read your bio and I was reading a lot about you and just found that you're so remarkably accomplished. You have done so much with your life. You know, not only are you a New York Times best selling author, but you've written all sorts of books, different genres. You're the Rossman Scholar for Humanities, Syracuse Scholar, NCAA Top 6 Scholar, Phi Beta Kappa, co Valedictorian at Syracuse University. Also you're a lawyer. And also you played in the NFL for eight years for the Atlanta Falcons. This list just went on and on and, and some people in life, they just like go to work and watch tv, you know, that's all they do. And I don't necessarily think one is right or one is wrong, but if someone were listening and they were like, I would like to be as accomplished as Tim. What are the qualities that contribute that you would say would contribute to such expansive success? What advice would you give to someone who's like, I would love to be that accomplished.
- [04:42]
Tim Green
First, I wanted to thank you for having me on today. I really do appreciate it. Unfortunately, my answer to your question is a bit boring. It's mostly the things that we all know. Hard work, dedication, and sacrifice. The only thing I would add on to that would be time management. My advice to anyone asking would be twofold. First, chase your dreams and chase them hard. The second would be more geared toward the time management aspect. Whatever you are doing, do that. What I mean by that is society pulls everyone in so many different directions today and it's so hard to focus. Even if it's family time, focus on that. Don't be on your phone or daydreaming. Try to be present in every moment. My son recently convinced me to start a podcast with him called Nothing Left Unsaid. When we do that, it forces us and our guests to tune out all of the distractions and have deep conversations like this one. That level of focus in a conversation appears to be a dying art today.
- [05:47]
Jenny Urich
Oh, wow. Nothing Left Unsaid. That's a really touching and deep podcast title. Wow. So people can listen to that, read your books, and then they can go listen to that. The time management piece is interesting because you look at all the things that you've accomplished him, and you think, okay, everybody has the same amount of time. The same amount of time. So if you're listening, especially if you're young, you might think, well, gosh, I would, you know, I'd like to be a lawyer and an author in all of these different things that you've done. And so if you use your time, you're not wasting it. It just gives you a lot of hope that you can go on and have a lot of accomplishments in your life. Okay, so you're. You're selected for the. In the first round of the 1986 NFL Draft. Now, I am not very athletic myself, but I do really like to watch sports. I like to watch football, and I like to watch basketball, but I'm not, like, super. I don't totally know all the different positions. So tell us what you're a linebacker. What does a linebacker do? And is that the same. Is that the same as a defensive end?
- [06:51]
Tim Green
Outside linebacker is not the exact same as the defensive line, but it's pretty close. Most of the time, it's about getting to the quarterback. I was 6 foot 2 and 250 pounds, which is small for a defensive end.
- [07:03]
Jenny Urich
Oh, interesting. So interesting. So you're with the same team for the eight these eight years. You often hear about players, like, switching from this team to that team or they get traded. Was it unusual to say with the same team for eight years? Did you notice any major changes or shifts during your eight years with the Falcons?
- [07:22]
Tim Green
Back in those days, no one really treated free agency like they do now. The old ownership of the Falcons really didn't have their heart in it, which hurt us as players. At one point, I went into the coach's office and asked to be traded. He said no, and I went back to practice. That was that. Back to work.
- [07:40]
Jenny Urich
It's so interesting how things Change over the decades. And you wouldn't know, you wouldn't know unless you talk to somebody who's done it. Was it difficult to juggle being a professional sports player with having a family?
- [07:52]
Tim Green
Yes and no. It was essentially a 9 to 5 job. Training camp was brutal back then though. I wasn't able to see my family for over a month. In the off seasons, I would get a lot of amazing time with my kids. During the season though, I didn't get to see my family as much because I was on the road a lot.
- [08:14]
Jenny Urich
So. Interesting. I will talk about this in a little bit. Well, actually right now. So this is what we're going to talk about is this new book that you have out and you've written a lot of books. A lot. A whole series of books that are for kids. And I'm a really big advocate for reading and especially for kids being off their screens and for reading books. So. And your kids, if they like sports, I mean, these are just fantastic books. The one I read is called Rocket army and in Rocket Arm, the main character is Zeno. And in this book his grandfather was a professional sports athlete. He was in the NBA, he played basketball. And it says he only played basketball for three years with the Hawks. And he. And he was on the bench for most of the time, you know, so he's not playing too much. But it seemed like a really special thing for Zeno. What specific advantages did being in the NFL give your kids and grandkids?
- [09:03]
Tim Green
Being in the NFL gave my family a lot of unique opportunities. The most obvious one would be money which paid for my kids education. Other than that, you meet some really remarkable people and end up with some pretty rare experiences like hunting with Brett Favre or facetiming coach Deion Sanders or visiting Goldberg at his ranch in the middle of the mountains near San Diego.
- [09:27]
Jenny Urich
It's all about the people. Wow. So many cool experiences. I actually saw on your website because you raised money for als and it was like you could pick this person's team or that person's team. So it was really neat to see all these different professional athletes. Like, you know, if you give your money, you can join and then it's almost like a little bit of a competition. Everyone had these bar graphs. So what a great thing. I'd like to talk now a little bit more about sports culture. Sports culture is a big thing that we talk about, Tim, because, oh, sports take up a lot of kids time. And so, you know, there's gotta be that balance between play and I'm sure, you had that in your life growing up. Balance between play and sports, that's a little bit more adult directed. So in this book that's coming out called Rocket Arm, people can get for their kids to read. The main character is Zeno. So. And you learn a lot about sports culture today through Zeno's story. What was the sports culture like when you were growing up and how does it differ from sports culture today? What advice do you have for parents who are trying to navigate the culture of youth sports today?
- [10:31]
Tim Green
Youth sports are amazing when it's done right. Troy and I recently spoke with Linda Flanagan about this on our podcast, and she has written about the craziness that surrounds youth sports today. The culture when I was growing up was more recreational, but still very competitive. The money in professional and even college athletics now has grown so much that I understand where this new intensity is coming from. My advice would be to follow the lead of your child. If they're passionate about it, lean into it and have fun. But don't be the parent that's pushing their kid to the point where they aren't having fun. You will know if they love it.
- [11:11]
Jenny Urich
I love Linda Flanagan. I actually talk about Linda Flanagan all the time, Tim. And because she wrote this book, Take Back the Game, which I really love. But one of the things she talks about is how are we presenting adulthood? And actually, that little sentence changed my whole life because she says sometimes we present adulthood like it's a big bore and all we do is sit around on the sidelines. So she talks about just making sure you present adulthood as an exciting place to be. In Rocket Arm, Zeno, the main character, he plays football. That's his sport. Sport. Did you play just one sport growing up or did you play several? Do you think kids should play several sports or specialize in one?
- [11:50]
Tim Green
I played a lot of different sports. My kids like to make fun of me for telling them I was captain of the modified volleyball team. But I also won the New York state championship in high school wrestling and think that wrestling helped my football career as much as anything. I would play as many sports as you can until you were forced to pick one due to competing time slots.
- [12:14]
Jenny Urich
Wow. It's such good advice. I read this book by this man named Kim John Payne and Luis Fernando Yosa, and it's called Beyond Winning. They will. They might be good people to have on your podcast, but the book is talking about that. That how some of the best athletes in the world, they didn't specialize young and so they learned all of these different skills through all the different sports they played. So that's super interesting. Wrestling even.
- [12:39]
Announcer/Advertiser
Hey Annie F Downs here from the that Sounds Fun Network. You know what I love about fall? It's the perfect mix of cozy comfort meals and cheering on football with friends. Go dog Sick em. Weeknights we can get busy and dinner time calls for something quick but really good. That's why I love Omaha Steaks. Because whether it's a cozy dinner at home or burgers on the grill before the game, they've got me covered. Omaha Steaks delivers the world's best steak experience. From handcrafted steaks to comfort favorites. Their filet mignon is so tender, perfectly marbled and better than most steaks you can get out at a restaurant. The best part? It's all in the freezer, ready whenever you need it. I've been eyeing those Smash burgers and chicken wings. Perfect for game day. This is heartland quality food aged for maximum tenderness, hand cut by Master Butchers and shipped right to your door. They've been doing this since 1917. Five generations of uncompromising quality. And it's not just steaks. They've got juicy burgers, chicken, pork, seafood, even desserts. So get fired up for your fall grilling with omaha steaks. Visit omahasteaks.com and you're going to get 50% off site wide during their Red Hot Sale event. And for an extra $35 off, you can use the promo code FUN at checkout. Like that sounds fun. That's 50% off@omahasteaks.com and an extra $35 off with the promo code FUN F U N at checkout. See site for details.
- [14:05]
Podcast Host (Intro/Outro)
If you have ever opened your Bible and wondered what does this passage mean for me today? The new NIV Application Bible from Zondervan was designed with that exact question in mind. This Bible is packed with thousands of study notes drawn from the best selling NIV Application Commentary series. I love that it pairs original meaning notes, which helps you understand Scripture in its historical and cultural context, with application notes that show you how to live out those truths in your daily life. Right now in the modern world, every book of the Bible comes with introductions for perspective and application, character profiles that make the people of Scripture come alive, and even questions for growth that encourage reflection and deeper conversations. There are also full color pages and special articles that explore the very character of God Himself. It's like having a trusted guide walk with you through scripture, helping you see what God's word meant then in and what it means for your life today. Find out more@nivapplication bible.com that's nivapplicationbible.com finally.
- [15:07]
Jenny Urich
In your wellness era, then you know gut health is gut wealth.
- [15:11]
Podcast Host (Intro/Outro)
And with 20 years of science behind.
- [15:12]
Jenny Urich
It, Activia can help keep those good gut vibes going. Deliciously smooth and creamy Activia probiotic yogurts and dailies have billions of live and active probiotics and help support gut health While you go about your day. Your gut is where it all begins. So start with Activia. Enjoying Activia twice a day for two.
- [15:30]
Podcast Host (Intro/Outro)
Weeks as part of a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle can help reduce the frequency of minor digestive discomfort.
- [15:37]
Jenny Urich
Wow. Okay. So in Rocket Arm. This is so interesting, guys, I actually didn't know anything about this in Rocket Arm. This is the new book the tuition at this sports camp. So there's a sports camp, boarding school. It's a full year school, boarding school that a kid could go to young. You know, Zeno is 12 years old, so it's called IMG Sports Camp. Boarding school is going to go for the whole year, is $90,000 a year. And then they say they're offering discounts for $74,000 a year, you know, which is still so much. Do you think that boarding school at this level, you know, for 12 year olds at that cost is worth it? Is it needed?
- [16:17]
Tim Green
Need it? No. But again, I do understand where it's coming from with the money in today's sports. Yes. I don't think it's worth it for everyone, but there have been a lot of athletes recently from these types of schools that have gotten scholarships or made a significant amount of money in sports. Now the real question is, would those kids have made it at their local public school? The short answer is probably, but you really never know.
- [16:44]
Jenny Urich
Yeah, it's real tricky. It's a tricky time to be a parent because then you talk about in the book that these five high school quarterbacks who are making $2 million apiece, do you think that that is healthy for high schoolers?
- [16:57]
Tim Green
No, but it is amazing for them and their families. If they can manage it wisely, that's enough money to change the trajectory of their life. I am happy to see these high level athletes getting paid, but I think the amounts are outrageous.
- [17:12]
Jenny Urich
That's an interesting point, is if you use it well and then because you said earlier, you said you used yours for your kids college educations. And so to your point, I mean it could be worth it depending on, like you said, if it if it's managed well. So this is an interesting part and I think this is really current, especially given today's youth sports culture. And there's all of these different opportunities in racket arms. You know, his parents disagree with him, that they disagree with each other about Zeno attending the boarding school. So that I'm going to read a quote now, this is going to happen. This is what the dad says now this is going to happen. It's a chance we can't pass up. I'm going to call Coach Lamb back inside. Janice, I'm going to sign that piece of paper and you're going to sit there and smile and give them cake. So, you know, they're kind of disagreeing. And then, you know, she says she kind of disapproves because he's only 12 and he's leaving home to chase this what she called a wild dream. Is it common for parents to disagree on issues of sports and sports involvement? What is your advice for this?
- [18:12]
Tim Green
Unfortunately, it's very common. This is one of the downsides of the increased intensity in youth sports. My recommendation would be that people have to do what's best for their specific family. I don't know anyone's situation well enough to give any concrete advice, but if I had to offer something, it would be to make sure everyone is on the same page. At the end of the day, there's a lot more to life than any sport. As far as Zeno is concerned, I think it's just right. Although his dad's motives are selfish, it's.
- [18:45]
Jenny Urich
A lot to think through. And then there's also the. The sibling relationships to think through too. So Zeno's brother is Elfie and it says he misses his brother. So how can a family keep sports from interfering with sibling relationships?
- [19:00]
Tim Green
I would remind them that they're all on the same family team. As fun and enthralling as sports can be, the family team is always more important. It's great when they have similar interests and can play together if possible. But don't let your kids forget faith, family and fun come first.
- [19:22]
Jenny Urich
It's good advice coming from a dad of five. So that's good advice. Actually, our kids play some sports at a local Christian school and one of the parents that played at like Division one for a college around here, and she's got six kids and five of them have followed in the parents footsteps and then one doesn't play. And so it's like they allow the kids to be their own person and to play if they want to or not play if they don't want to. So that's really good advice. Then zeno, so he's 12 years old, you know, a middle schooler, he has to start dealing with the media. And the coach says to him, that's life in the fast lane. If you want to stand out in the crowd, you're going to be a target of haters. And the coach has to deal with it too. They're destroying this coach in the news and it's a juicy story, they say. So the coach says, if you're in the spotlight long enough, you will get burned. What is your advice for dealing with the negative press?
- [20:19]
Tim Green
The best advice is simply to not look at it. The press is almost always wrong about the details and is just trying to get more clicks. Just keep your head down and focus on living the right way. The people who matter know who you really are and those who don't can see your actions.
- [20:38]
Jenny Urich
That's really good advice. Not look at it because it's a juicy story. Like you said, with every interview, Zeno becomes more and more comfortable with the medium, with the media. And then it says his Instagram page blows up. This is actually a really interesting thing because we've got some kids that play sports and someone said recently like, oh, they should have their own Instagram page just for their sports. And a lot of kids are doing this. So he's. It says he soon has more than half a million followers. Do you think 12 year olds should have Instagram?
- [21:09]
Tim Green
I cannot be more clear about this. No. Some studies suggest social media is as addictive as hard drugs. There is no need for a 12 year old to be using it.
- [21:19]
Jenny Urich
There we go there. It's really tricky though. I mean, I can see the draw. You want your kid to be successful and part of that, they're saying kids should be on Instagram. How do you advise navigating sports politics? So there's two coaches in the story. Coach Lamb versus Coach Pants.
- [21:37]
Tim Green
Politics are unfortunately a part of sports all the way through from Little League to the NFL. It's always there. I don't know of any great way to deal with it. I always tell people that you have to be lucky in sports. The luck comes from not getting injured, timing and great coaches. This is one of those things you just have to get lucky on.
- [21:59]
Jenny Urich
There's politics everywhere. So lots to learn and lots to deal with. Okay, here's another one. This was interesting to me. I actually never considered this because like I said, I didn't really play too many sports. I played T ball and, like, for like, a year, and then I did swim team for a couple years, and that's about it. But there's a situation in Rocket Arm where Zeno's, like, best buddy and roommate. His name's Archie, and something happens where Archie can't be part of the game. And Zeno says he never considered playing without Archie. Who are some of your favorite teammates to play with over the years?
- [22:33]
Tim Green
I have had so many great teammates over the years. I feel bad to name a few without saying them all. But people like Mike Gantt, I feel so lucky to have shared the locker room with.
- [22:44]
Jenny Urich
Oh, what an incredible way to build relationships. I love that there's another. There's the whole premise of the story, and I don't want to give it away, is that Zeno is off adventuring, and so sometimes he's missing his sleep. So you have to read the story to know what's going on with that plot. But someone notices it. They say Zeno hasn't slept all week. What's your advice for taking care of the body during intense sports seasons?
- [23:11]
Tim Green
It's a crucial part of sports that I think people don't give enough credit to. You really need to be taking care of yourself. Regardless of the sport. It's important to get eight hours of sleep every night. Take cold showers after a heavy workout or practice. If you have a cold plunge, that's even better. You only get one body, and you want to keep it in the best shape possible.
- [23:33]
Jenny Urich
It's good advice. So there's another thing that gets brought up, and I would imagine that this might. It kind of just happens a lot in life, but certainly in sports because it's really competitive and there can be bullying situations. So in Rocket Arm, one of the coaches says 99% of bullies were bullied themselves. What is your advice for dealing with bullies on and off the sports field?
- [23:57]
Tim Green
The best thing to do is try to avoid people like this. Sometimes that bully can be someone you think of as a teammate or friend. But you really should try to get some distance. If you're in a situation where you have to be around them, it's different. Off the sports field. I would say talk to a trusted adult, whether that's a parent, teacher, or coach. A lot of times that can diffuse the situation on the field. Go after them. Nothing cheap or dirty. Just go right at them with the best you have. Most of the time, bullies run away from someone who stands up for themselves. And a controlled sports environment is a great place to do just that. That's good.
- [24:44]
Jenny Urich
That's really good advice. That actually wasn't what I was expecting, but that's good. All right. It is. It's a controlled sports environment. So that's what you're supposed to do. Go have at it. Okay. In Rocket Arm. And this is a big thing about sports, actually. It's a big thing in life. Our kids, we do piano, so that's kind of opposite of sports, Tim. So we do piano, and the kids have this piano teacher. She's wonderful. And her sister, the piano teacher's sister is a professor at the University of Miami, Ohio. And she fell and broke her wrists. And so I think in any situation in life, the thing that you love to do, there's potential that something could happen. So in Rocket Arms, Zino gets injured. I know this happens so much in sports. And I've talked to other athletes. You know, they have to get surgeries and different things like that. And so it says in the book, injuries happen. It's football, then you're out of the game. So how does a player emotionally deal with the setbacks of injuries?
- [25:44]
Tim Green
This separates a lot of good players from great players. Being able to focus and treat rehab like you're preparing for a game is essential. On the mental side, I would encourage parents to help check in on their kids emotionally and not just physically. It's also a perfect time to show them some other great hobbies, like reading.
- [26:05]
Jenny Urich
I agree. Oh, that's great advice. That's great advice. If you're listening in and you're dealing with an injury, then you now is your time to pick up Rocket Arm or any of the other ones. There's so many other books as well.
- [26:20]
Tim Green
Lowe's knows how to help make your home holiday ready for less. Get select style Selections vinyl flooring for just $1.99 per square foot and have it installed before the festivities begin. Our team can help you every step of the way. See a Lowe's Red Vest associate or visit lowe's.comholidayinstall to get started. Lowe's we help you save basic install only Date restrictions apply. Subject to a availability installed by independent contractors. See associate for details. Contiguous us only.
- [26:51]
Podcast Host (Intro/Outro)
And Doug Limu and I always tell.
- [26:52]
Jenny Urich
You to customize your car insurance and save hundreds with Liberty Mutual. But now we want you to feel it. Cue the emu music. Limu. Save yourself money today. Increase your wealth. Customize and save. We say that may have been too much feeling.
- [27:11]
Tim Green
Only pay for what you need@liberty mutual.com.
- [27:13]
Jenny Urich
Liberty Liberty Liberty Liberty Savings, very unwritten.
- [27:16]
Tim Green
By Liberty Mutual Insurance Company affiliates. Excludes Massachusetts for a limited time at.
- [27:20]
Jenny Urich
McDonald's, get a Big Mac Extra Value meal for $8.
- [27:23]
Announcer/Advertiser
That means two all beef patties, special.
- [27:25]
Jenny Urich
Sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun, and medium fries and a drink.
- [27:31]
Tim Green
We may need to change that jingle. Prices and participation may vary.
- [27:35]
Jenny Urich
This was an interesting one. You talked some about concussions and actually I found this on your website. You say you don't even know how many concussions you have had. You stop counting after 10. They weren't all in the NFL. You've had a lot of concussions. You even talked about how for a time period people weren't wearing helmets. So this is one reason sometimes where people keep their kids out of sports or they're a little bit more nervous about it. Can you talk about concussion protocols and why they're so important?
- [28:03]
Tim Green
I'm happy that football's taking concussions more seriously. Personally, I don't really know how many I've had. I stopped counting after 10. They weren't all in the NFL. I honestly don't know how many I had in the NFL. I had a lot at a lot of different times and I don't think with any of them I ever missed any time. Even the ones where I was blacked out or a couple of them that caused amnesia. I remember one in college and one in the NFL where I just had no idea what happened. I remember watching the game film the next day and seeing the replay of what happened, but not remembering that or most of the rest of the game. And there were other ones where I was knocked out. And you come to and they are helping you off the field. When your head clears and your wits are about you. They ask, how do you feel? And you say, I'm great. I'm fine. They ask how many fingers they are holding up and you say three. All right, he's good to go. Go back in the game now. People cringe. They wouldn't do that now, but that's how I ended up in this chair. So these new protocols are essential.
- [29:12]
Jenny Urich
Wow, that's really powerful. They're very essential. So interesting. Definitely something to think about for sure. We're going to switch gears to academics and reading. And I just want to mention that you have so many books that people can grab. This one actually just came out two days ago. Rocket arm. So it's book launch week for you. I always love talking with authors during book launch week. It's. It's like an exciting week. So huge congrats. This is book launch week. Do you have a whole series of these books that are related to kids in sports? So there's final season, perfect season, unstoppable, the big time, the big game, Touchdown kid, deep zone, football champ, lost boy. This is the best, Tim. When you find an author that you like, especially one that your kids like, and then you can just keep getting like, get the next one, get the next one. So one of the things you talk about a lot is reading. You call reading weightlifting for your brain. You say if you want to be a great athlete, you have to lift weights. And if you want to be the best student you can be, you need to be a reader. Students who read are also more compassionate. You urge kids to put school before sports. You visit elementary schools with NFL players and encourage kids to read for 20 minutes a day. Why is it so important that kids read? What would you recommend they read?
- [30:23]
Tim Green
Reading makes kids smarter, nicer, and more empathetic. I think every kid should try to read at least 20 minutes a day. I like to say that everyone likes to read. Anyone who says otherwise just hasn't found the right book yet. If you don't like it in the first couple of chapters, don't force your way through it. Find a story that grabs you.
- [30:45]
Jenny Urich
It's such great advice. And you have written so many books for kids, which is such a blessing. You know, I think it's as a parent, it's hard to find books for kids. And if you can find a series that you like and you can just keep getting the next one, it's such the perfect fit. In Rocket Arm. Zeno likes math. It says he enjoyed the math test. The harder the better. What are your thoughts on balancing academics, sports, and free play?
- [31:09]
Tim Green
To me, academics have to come first. If you're lucky, you'll play sports through high school and maybe even college, but your education will stay with you for the rest of your life. No matter how good you are, sports will end one day.
- [31:23]
Jenny Urich
It's a good point.
- [31:24]
Podcast Host (Intro/Outro)
It's true.
- [31:25]
Jenny Urich
My mom would always talk about that. You know, she talk about playing soccer. Will you see people golfing till they're older? You know, and you see people often doing music till they're older, but not necessarily the more full contact sports. So that's good to think long term about your academics and how you're moving your body. Okay, what are your thoughts? Because this came up just a little bit in the book. What are your thoughts on using AI in school work? Can AI help with sports? What About AI in the medical field.
- [31:54]
Tim Green
AI is very problematic with school. I'm not sure how they are going to solve that. And I'm glad I'm not the one who has to figure it out. I think the power of AI will make a huge impact to sports with coaching and the medical field, with all different kinds of treatments. To me, AI is a tool. And the usefulness of a tool is only as good as the person wielding it. We need to stay intellectually curious and not solely rely on AI.
- [32:25]
Jenny Urich
It's interesting. It's interesting how many things that it could affect. I didn't really think about it in terms of sports until I read your book. Then I was thinking about Xeno using it for school. And then I was thinking, yeah, goodness. You know, you always see the coaches and they've got those papers, you know, Tim, they're like behind their paper whispering their stuff.
- [32:41]
Tim Green
Stuff.
- [32:42]
Jenny Urich
They're like, gosh, yeah, you could have an AI thing in your ear knowing all these different plays. It would know all the different things that the players do. Gosh, it's so interesting to think about the implications and how that might change the game. Okay, I want to hit a couple of general questions. I didn't really know about this. I guess some people talk about red shirting and sometimes I've heard that in different areas of the country. Like, they try and time when the baby is born so that they're like the biggest in their class for sports. But there's this thing called reclassing. Reclassing is when you stay back a grade or two so you can have more of an edge on the field. What is your opinion on reclassing?
- [33:20]
Tim Green
I think it can be good for kids who are developmentally behind. I think I could have done it with my two older sons who both matured late. Of course, this is being abused now for sports purposes.
- [33:34]
Jenny Urich
Yeah, interesting. It happened in the book and then one of the kids was a little bit bigger maybe than some of the other ones. So that's really interesting. I would imagine it's probably pretty nuanced to figure out, like, well, then if the kids are different sizes, how safe is it? And things like that. You had a quote in here. The game of love is a lot like the game of football. How so?
- [33:56]
Tim Green
There are ups and downs, bumps and bruises, wins and losses, practice and patience. But in the end, it's all worth it.
- [34:03]
Jenny Urich
It's good. All right. So in the book, you would, I think, I don't know if you dedicated it. It's somewhere I saw a List of grandkids names. And it was like a really long list of grandkids. I don't know. There were so many grandkids. You have so many of them. What is your advice for all the grandparents that are listening in?
- [34:20]
Tim Green
I always love being outside in nature, exploring, hearing the birds, playing in the water. Nature is the closest thing we can get to God. Leave your phones inside and just go explore the outdoors with no agenda.
- [34:35]
Jenny Urich
It's so good, Tim. I talked to this grandpa the other day. His name's Ted Page. He wrote a book called Good Grandpa, and he was talking about how a grandparent is like a line of defense for kids and screens. Like, they really can help kids to lessen their screen time. And like you talk about getting out in nature. That would really help them. So I just want to read a couple of these books. You have football genius novels. You have baseball great novels. So if you've got a kid that's interested in baseball, so there's best of the best home run, and then there's a whole other list of books like New Kid, which I think will probably, you know, everybody relates to being the new person or first team. All of these different books. So it's such an honor. New York Times bestselling author, plus a million other accomplishments, accomplishments, lawyer, and all these other things. So I really appreciate you being here today and it was a pleasure to read your book. And I just so agree with you that reading is really important and it's amazing that you're contributing to that field of works of fiction, works of stories for kids to read. So it's such an honor to get to meet you. We always end our show with the same question. And the question is, what's a favorite memory from your childhood that was outside?
- [35:48]
Tim Green
I always loved being outside in nature, Exploring, hearing the birds, playing in the water. Nature is the closest thing we can get to God. Leave your phones inside and just go explore the outdoors with no agenda.
- [36:04]
Jenny Urich
Oh, I like that. Actually was for the last two. Is there a different one for the grandparents or is that the same? That might. Maybe they got. Maybe they got swapped.
- [36:14]
Tim Green
I always love. I hope grandparents, let's all have a mental high five. We finally get to be the fun parent. We don't have to worry about all of the hard stuff. Have as much fun as you can with your grandkids and tell your kids, have some time to themselves or with their spouse. My grandkids call me Pop and say Pop never says no. It's amazing.
- [36:39]
Jenny Urich
I love that. Well, Tim, huge congrats on your new book. It launched this week, so if you're listening to this podcast right now, it is available and there are a whole score of books that you can get by Tim and so much to be inspired by. Thanks so much for being here.