Welcome back to our open thread, let’s hop to it.

Mike:

Question on your grain free experiment. Will sweet potatoes be your main/only source of complex carbs? And will you be eating more than one today?

Also in regards to sweet potatoes with breakfast. I’m a big fan of cutting one open, stuffing with some sautéed veggies and throw some fried eggs over the top of it all.

Hey, Mike.

My grain free experiment has gone splendidly. I’ve been crushing sweet potatoes, my only starch, with nearly every meal. Persimmons have become a go to carb for me in recent days. I will be sampling your breakfast idea and reporting back. Feel free to shoot me a reminder if you don’t hear from me.

Kap

Brad:

Did you see the Sportscenter piece about Steve Weatherford the Giants punter? If not it was basically showing how he is one of the fittest guys in the league. Then toward the end they were in his kitchen and Weatherford showed the bottles of pills he takes. He said he takes 18 pills in the morning and 16 at night. I was wondering what your thoughts are on that? Seems a bit much to me. Congrats on the new job.

Brad,

I didn’t see the SC piece, but I can tell you I’m not a fan of supplements in general. Here’s what I wrote in January on the topic:

The supplement industry is estimated at a $30 billion per year. Because of their popularity in athletic circles, I’m asked which of these products I recommend more than any other question. My advice, as you might have come to expect, is to skip the manufactured, chemically enhanced, bottled and packaged substances in favor of real, whole foods.

Hope this helps,

Kap

Chris:

What are your thoughts on financial management? It’s wrong to assume that all former professional athletes are wealthy, but you appear to be comfortable so it seems that you managed what you earned well. Any advice?

Chris,

Thanks for this brave question. Professional athletes are a physically gifted, well-compensated extension of the general public. Just like that general public, their personalities vary greatly, as do their financial management styles. I played with cats who made hundreds of millions of dollars and now struggle and those who made little relative to their superstar counterparts who now work by choice rather than by necessity. They live a reasonable lifestyle and invested their cash rationally along the way. The financial risk tolerance of ballplayers, just like folks nationwide, is highly variable.

As for my personal situation, while I admire your forthrightness in asking, I’ll respectfully tell you to mind your business. I’m kidding and serious at the same time (smile).

Kap

The floor is yours.