Escaping the Drift with John Gafford
Major Leaguer to D1 Dad: David Riske's Journey of Success
07 Jan 2025
Former Major League Baseball relief pitcher Dave Riske joins us to share his incredible journey from the fields near Seattle to the bright lights of professional baseball. Without the advantage of early specialized training and facing skepticism from his own father, Dave's story is a testament to the power of perseverance and multifaceted athleticism. Against the odds, he turned disbelief into determination, reaching the major leagues at just 22. We explore how his upbringing and diverse sporting background shaped not only his career but also his approach to parenting two Division 1 athletes today. Listeners will find themselves on the edge of their seats as Dave recounts an unexpected encounter with the mob while working at Hooters, highlighting life's unpredictability and the necessity of staying calm under pressure. His narrative doesn't stop at thrilling tales; it extends into the often-overlooked financial side of a sports career. Dave shares candid insights into the challenges of navigating newfound wealth and the importance of wise financial management, offering lessons that go beyond the baseball diamond. As a father and coach, Dave offers invaluable advice on raising young athletes in today's competitive sports environment. He advocates for the benefits of playing multiple sports and emphasizes the importance of letting children enjoy their athletic journey at their own pace. From the intricacies of club sports and scholarship opportunities to the pressures of college selection, this episode covers a breadth of topics essential for aspiring athletes and their parents. Join us for an episode filled with wisdom, humor, and life lessons that resonate far beyond the world of sports. CHAPTERS (00:00) - Junior College Pitcher to Major Leaguer (10:00) - Road to the Majors (20:03) - Mafia Encounter and Baseball Stories (27:43) - Learning Financial Responsibility in Professional Sports (34:30) - Parenting Athletes (42:28) - Navigating Club Sports and Scholarships (50:19) - Teaching Kids Resilience and Financial Responsibility (54:30) - College Selection and Athletic Scholarships 💬 Did you enjoy this podcast episode? Tell us all about it in the comment section below! ☑️ If you liked this video, consider subscribing to Escaping The Drift with John Gafford ************* 💯 About John Gafford: After appearing on NBC's "The Apprentice", John relocated to the Las Vegas Valley and founded several successful companies in the real estate space. ➡️ The Gafford Group at Simply Vegas, top 1% of all REALTORS nationwide in terms of production. Simply Vegas, a 500 agent brokerage with billions in annual sales Clear Title, a 7-figure full-service title and escrow company. ➡️ Streamline Home Loans - An independent mortgage bank with more than 100 loan officers. The Simply Group, A national expansion vehicle partnering with large brokers across the country to vertically integrate their real estate brokerages. ************* ✅ Follow John Gafford on social media: Instagram ▶️ / thejohngafford Facebook ▶️ / gafford2 🎧 Stream The Escaping The Drift Podcast with John Gafford Episode here: Listen On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7cWN80gtZ4m4wl3DqQoJmK?si=2d60fd72329d44a9 Listen On Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/escaping-the-drift-with-john-gafford/id1582927283 ************* #escapingthedrift #majorleaguebaseball #davidriske #seattle #professionalbaseball #perseverance #multifacetedathletes #specializedtraining #division1athletes #parenting #financialmanagement #lifelessons #mobencounter #financialresponsibility #clubsports #scholarshipopportunities #collegeselection #athleticscholarships #resilience #generationaldifferences #prestigiousschools #hustleculture #networking
Full Episode
What number player were you? I was a 16th, 134th pick. Oh my God. In the 1996 draft.
Okay. So here's a, you may not even know this, but is there anybody that was picked after you that had any type of a career? And now, Escaping the Drift, the show designed to get you from where you are to where you want to be. I'm John Gafford, and I have a knack for getting extraordinary achievers to drop their secrets to help you on a path to greatness.
So stop drifting along, escape the drift, and it's time to start. Right now, back again, back again for another episode. Like it says in the opening, man, the podcast gets you from where you are to where you want to be. And today, man, it's not just about getting you where you want to be. Because I got a baller in the studio today. Literal terms, baller.
This is a dude, this is a cat, that spent 11 years in the major leagues. One of the best relief pitchers that was ever to do it. Had probably the best soul patch easily in the game from back in the day. And more importantly, I think the interesting part of a story now, and what I would want to hear as a parent, what I'm interested in, is this dude now has two kids now.
that are playing D1 level sports. And I want to talk about how you raise a champion, man, today, because this dude's got it cold. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the studio. This is Dave Riske. Dave.
How's it going? What's up, dude? How are you, man? I don't know about one of the best relievers, but I was up there.
Hey, man. No, no, but the soul patch was for sure. You had the best soul patch in baseball. I'm going to give you that one.
You know, my teammates called it the stinger. The stinger.
That's what they called it. It was a magical thing. You know, when you can pull off a soul patch, it was such a magical time, dude. It really was, just in life in general.
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