Bill LeSuer is quite possibly the best in the biz at what he does. Bill is a flexibility coach. His job is to keep athletes and non-athletes healthy. Bill, thanks for taking some time to answer a few questions.
Please tell us more about yourself.
I’m a native of Brooklyn, NY. I spent my career on the Angels and the Dodgers Major League Traveling Medical Staffs. I created the positions of Muscle Therapist and Flexibility Coach in a Major League Training room back in the mid-90s at a time when no teams recognized this type of work. I got my start with the Milwaukee Brewers Minor League Organization and also spent a couple of seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks Training Staff at the end of my career. I was the personal therapist to 3 times Gold Medal Olympian Gail Devers, and also was a member of the 1996 British Olympic Medical Staff. I’m the owner of FlexibilityPRO Studio in North Scottsdale, AZ.
What is Flexstrong?
FLEXSTRONG is my proprietary flexibility program that I devised in every training room throughout MLB over the years. It is a series of precise palpation techniques that actually releases muscle groups. This allows full extensibility of the tissue, allowing the athlete to achieve their fullest potential and performance. I now mentor therapists/practitioners/trainers in my program, in my studio in North Scottsdale, AZ.
Do you have favorite athletes you have worked with?
That’s a tough question Norm. Kind of like a parent picking out their favorite child. Off the top of my head Rickey Henderson stands out. Mo Vaughn too. These guys were consummate pros but also knew how to keep it light. Dodger pitcher Darren Dreifort has a close place in my heart also. He battled his injuries with courage and dignity and was an inspiration to everyone around him.
Freddie McGriff is one of the funniest, most genuine players I’ve ever worked with. When he was finishing his career with us and was 8 home runs shy of 500, he told me “don’t get hung up like everybody else, Frenchy. It’s just a number”. Larry Bowa is also a personal friend. He was our 3rd Base coach with the Angels. He was a tough guy who could make players better just by walking in the room.
What has been the highlight of your career?
Wow Norm, you really know how to ask the tough ones! There have been so many highlights I pretty much have no bucket list left. Number one would have to be playing catch with my then 8 year old son Will in center field of Yankee Stadium. As a kid I sat in those stands with my dad and brother in awe of the Yankees on the field. My first year with the Angels, I made sure my family was on that road trip. We got to the park early and just walking down the tunnel to the visiting dugout with my son was like an out of body experience. Playing catch with my boy in the same spot that “The Mick” played was very emotional for me. An overwhelming experience for the boy from Brooklyn. Glad I had my dark Oakleys on.
Also, I was blessed to have taken batting practice in every NL and AL park. Rod Carew threw to me when I was with the Angels and Manny Mota threw to me when I was with the Dodgers. Also, playing the D-Rays in Tampa, sitting in the clubhouse watching the game on TV because I was too lazy to sit in the dugout (too tired to dodge foul balls). A fellow walked up to me and said “hey, can I watch the game with you?” I said sure, have a seat. It was Sandy Koufax. We watched about 4 innings together until I had to get our relievers ready for the game. It was “pinch me” kind of stuff.
Can you share with us a few memorable moments?
Obviously my first day in the big leagues in 1997 comes to mind. I walked in our Spring Training facility in Tempe, AZ and it was kind of like walking through the cornfields in Field of Dreams. At one moment, I went from Bill the civilian, to the guy that was there to take care of the player’s injuries. I walked in an open door and had to step over Jim Leyritz stretching on the floor in front of me. I turned the corner and was prepared to ask the fellow in front of me how I could get to the training room. Turns out it was Eddie Murray taping his bat.
Shortly afterwards I was given my first MLB uniform. You just never forget those moments. Also, playing catch with Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam at the Kingdome in Seattle was pretty memorable. He laughed pretty hard when I asked him to sign the baseball we threw. He said “cool, I’m used to giving away guitar picks”.
You have worked with Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin. What was that like?
I got to his dressing room early. His tour manager said Robert would be in shortly. I sat there and realized after all of the Big Leaguers I’ve worked with that I was actually a bit nervous. This was different. This was Robert Plant, rock icon.
We hit it off really well, spent a lot of time laughing and he was really very interested about life in baseball. Even rock stars care about their structural health. Robert leads the healthy life now and at 64 years old, he’s in pretty good shape. I told my wife the only way I would ever go back on the road is when Led Zeppelin tours….. Hmmmm…. ’13? And well…the rest is history.
Thanks for taking time to chat. Please check out Bills website at http://www.flexibilitypro.com/Home.php