Originally Posted by
RedlegJake
You're on shaky ground Chip. Trust me on that. The ADD you see in teens and younger students is NOT the same as Adult ADD, its not some spastic kid unable to remember from moment to moment or hyperactive and unable to sit still. Most people with adult ADHD are highly creative, sensitive and intelligent. They are often found in creative type jobs, and in research sciences, where their rapid fire minds are an asset. There are definitely downsides, such as being very disorganized, seeming "spacey" or "absent minded" even though their mind IS working - at hyper speed. The mental health community has only become really aware of AADHD in the last 10 years or so. Before that adults with this dosorder were simply considered disorganized but bright in the best cases and "dreamers, irresponsible or flakes" in the worst cases. The concern over the ability to concentrate on the game at hand is so silly I almost had to laugh - none of you obviously have ADHD. One of the very curious, contradictory elements of an AAHD person is the ability to concentrate so extremely well that ohers feel they have "gone away". Reading, for instance, I become so exclusively concentrated on what I am reading I wouldn't hear you talking if you were standing right next to me - you'd have to nudge me or shake the paper in my hand to get my attention. It can ruin lives - and has, especially before it was better understand and clinician's began to study ways to help. Severe cases can require medications like Welbutrin on up to Ritalin etc. but most ADHD can greatly enrich their lives by simply earning about the disorder and making necessary adjustments. A secretary may take over the minute details of a salesman's day so that he can simply go out and sell, a field where ADHD adults also excel - many ADHD are very gregarious. In fact we tend to talk TOO much - as our brains race along. I've learned to listen for the sound of my own voice and now know when I'm beginning to talk too fast. Much of the problems associated with ADHD are controllable by the awareness of it and a concentrated effort to reign it in. It's often gentic and there are different tendencies among ADHD. Some are inward, the "loners" among us and others, like me, and probably Sam LeClure are outward - often too open with people for our own good. He needed an advisor who knew something about ADHD, but yes, with hundreds of students, it may have been difficult but seeing how much universities do for student athletes who DON'T have a clue and who don't have ADHD - like, as someone suggested, enrolling them in "golf 101" I find it incredulous Texas U didn't have people familiar with the needs of an ADHD student. As for his pitching ability - I GUARANTEE it won't affect his ability on the field. And yes, he better have coaches who keep on him about where to be, when to be there, etc. It's off the field LeClure will be frustrated and need help. I bit my tongue, or keyboard, if you will, throughout this discussion about LeClure but I can;t keep it in any longer. ADHD made my early life, in the twenties and thirties a shambles. I take full responsiblity for not learning how to handle it better then but I now really enjoy life and have become reasonably successful at controlling the negative things about ADHD (okay I may talk your ear off if you ever met me). The positives, empathy for others, ability to deeply concentrate on things I enjoy (btw, a person with ADHD's ability to hyper-concentrate is highly dependent on their enjoyment of what they are involved in, for instance I can;t suddenly begin concentrating on higher math or something like that because I don't enjoy it much - makes my mind begin to go all over the place). In terms of Sam LeCure and baseball I think his greatest trouble may come when he has several rough outings - ADHD also tend toward depression, some have cycles of highs and lows. This is usually when a drug like Welbutrin is prescribed - a mood controlling substance as opposed to the more powerful drugs used to dampen the overall activity of the brain. I see no reason really, with the knowledge about AADHD available to LeCure and the Reds, why it shouldn't actually be an enhancement to his abilities on the field.
Sorry for the rant. I live in LeCure's world.