An inteview with Alan Tanner

Alan Tanner

GoSoftball.com Player Page

Who are you playing with in 2012?
I haven't committed to playing with anyone yet for the 2012 season.  This will be my first season back since taking time off to compete in the Ironman.

Why do you like the game of softball?
I have always enjoyed the relationships and the competitiveness in the game.  A team that works together and gets along together have always been a source of great satisfaction to me.
 
Who is the best softball player you have ever seen play?
I have been fortunate to be in the game for a long time and to be able to play with and against some of the best players to ever play slow pitch softball.  My softball career allowed me to see some of the greats from yesteryear, the greats of the 90's-2000's and even some of todays players.  My criteria for picking the best player includes someone with all the skills…playing incredible defense, hitting for power and average, the ability to hit to all fields, the ability to hit on softball fields or baseball stadiums, speed on the bases and in the field, a strong and accurate arm, a great attitude, a fierce competitor, a winner, and just as important a TRUE team player. When you consider all these things, the best player I have ever seen play the game is Doug Roberson.

Who is the best up and coming player in softball and why?
I may not be the best person to answer this question since I have been away from the game for several years and am just coming back to it.  I will say that I have had an opportunity to hit locally here in Florida with Adam Rockoff in the past few weeks.  He is definitely a gifted hitter who hits the ball both down and hard and hits the ball.  Remember, chicks still dig the long ball!

What is your nickname in softball?
I really didn't have too many nicknames over the years except for occasionally I was called "The hitman"

What is your height and weight?
Right now I am 6 feet and around 195 pounds.  I am slowly getting back to playing weight after losing close to 25 pounds while competing on the Ironman Triathlon circuit for several years.

Where do you call home?
I live in Nort Palm Beach, Florida.  I have been in South Florida since 1981 and I have always loved it here.  It allows me to train all year long whether it be for triathlons or for playing softball.

What's your favorite way to spend an off weekend?
I am not sure what you are calling an "off" weekend?!  For the past 7 years most of my weekends have been dedicated to training and racing all over the country on the triathlon circuit.  If I am not racing, my usual Saturday routine is a run of anywhere from 12-22 miles and a bike ride of 25-45 miles and an afternoon weight workout.  Sunday is usually a longer ride of anywhere from 60-115 miles immediately followed by and 5-10 mile run.  Since I am back on the softball field, I have been hitting on Saturdays after the run.

What do you do for a living?
I am self employed and have a few small companies in the contracting and landscaping fields.  I have a log home business and a development of around 100 acres in North Carolina (www.ridgelineloghomes.com) My main focus for the past 10 years has been as a sports fitness consultant.  I help train people to excel at their sport through proper workouts, nutrition, and planning.  I work with endurance athletes as well as other athletes from novices to elites. That will be my main focus in years to come.

Did you play sports in High School / College / Pro?
I played a little football in High School but that was about it.  I started playing softball at the age of 17 and continued on through a majority of my life with the exception of the past few years while I was concentrating on the Ironman.  I also was fortunate to be signed out of major Softball in 1994 by the Cincinnati Reds during the strike season as a replacement player.  I was starting in right field and batting second after two days in camp.  It was both an exciting and a extremely nerve wracking situation.

How did you get your start in softball and how did you get to the upper level?
I actually started playing softball for my church when I was 16 or 17 years old.  We had a good team so we played in open leagues and local tournaments in Virginia and my second year we qualified for church Nationals which we played in in Texas.  Back then you really had to qualify for those tournaments so it was a big thing for me at 17 years of age.  I continued playing and then moved to Florida the next year where I started to play and lift weights all year around.  I began to move up in classification each year or so as I got chances to play with better teams and was able to win some National titles along the way.  Eventually, I was recruited by a local major team, Instant Landscape and that was the start of my years at the Major level.  We had a great team that competed well at the major level even though most of our players were from here in Florida.

What was the best advice you were ever given?
I actaully came up with a good line after spending time studying sports and individual psycology and speaking with knowledgeable people on human tendencies.  It simply says, "If you want to change something, YOU have to CHANGE something."  Plug that saying in to anything, relationship, a personal goal, or just a situation where you aren't satisfied with where you are at.  If you want to change it for the better, YOU have to change what you are doing to get there.

What advice can you give a young player trying to break into the upper level?
I think the one thing that has kept me in the game and in the sport of triathlon for so long is the fact that I have always made a point of taking care of myself by eating well, consistently staying in the gym, and staying at all times within a few pounds of my optimal weight.  These things allows you to perform at your  best level at the sport of your choice and also keeps you in good overall health.  Consistecy in working out and nutrition is the key. Make that a part of your everyday life and you will look better, perform better, and live in a higher quality of life.

What position do you play?
I play primarily in the outfield although I used to pitch a lot and play in the infield as well.  I love to run now so the outfield is my favorite.

What batting grip do you use?
I let two fingers drop off the end of the bat and overlap the two fingers above that.  My top hand is a more conventional grip and occasionally I will slighly overlap the pinky of my top hand.  Its a little different than most but its what I became comfortable with.

What ounce bat do you use?
Wow!  I started out with a Howards Western Steer 35 oz then down to a 32 ounce, 31 ounce and for about 15 years settled in on a 29 ounce bat.  With these new bats that are out now I am finding the 28 ounce seems to work best at the moment.

What do you do in the offseason to prepare for the next softball season?
I really don't have an off season.  Since I live here in Florida I train all year around and work at whatever sport I am focusing on throughout the year. Right now I have changed my gym workouts to allow me to gain a few pounds back while preparing to play softball this season.  I have been hitting 3 or more days each week as well.  I enjoy working out all year long and have always loved just getting 2 or 3 guys out to the field to build up your swing and track down some fly balls.

What is your favorite sports team?
Miami Dolphins

What is your favorite sport other than softball?
To participate in Triathlon.  To watch, football.

Do you have any superstitions and if so, what are they?
Not too many but I used to never shave the morning on a game day and I usually avoid stepping on the baselines while running on and off the field.  Also, NEVER put a pair of shoes on a bed.

What is your most memorable softball moment?
That is really difficult.  There have been so many great moments over the years.  One that immediately leaps to mind is the first National Championship that I won with Prestige Realty in Lubbock, Texas.  Luckily, I was on teams that won another 5 or 6 national titles but that one was very memorable. Winning a Major National and making All-American there was a great thing too.

What would be your "at bat" music selection?
I love lots of different music.  Some old school Bon Jovi is always motivational and also Eminems One Shot is great too.

What is the best improvement upper level softball could make?
I have been away for the game for a bit and since I am back at it I hear alot of negativity about bats and upper level softball.  I think all the associations would be good to reclassify their ratings of team classifications to bring some parity to all the levels.  Make a major division a true major division.  If you have more than 5 "major" players on your team that is what you are.  If you have less you can play at the "A" level or whatever you choose to call it.  And then further on down the classification line.  ANYONE that plays in any class of tournament softball should be required to have their bats checked and approved before every tournament.  Every player and team should be subject to the same process in testing.

What is your favorite non-World tournament?
no question, The Smoky

What is the best softball field you have played at and why?
I think I would have to say again, The Smokies.  The fields themselves are not the greatest but the atmosphere there is fantastic.  Great players and great teams have played there for years and I think that makes it the most special place there is to play upper level softball.

Where is the best place to eat on the road after a game?
Now that is a tough one.  How many players havent eaten at Waffle House at 1 am after being on the field in the losers bracket all day?  And how many of us have sworn its the best food we ever ate?!  LOL !  Even me the healthy one!