Biasiotto: Nothing is impossible

Published 9:39 pm Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Dr. Judd Biasiotto gave a simple message to the crowd at the Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Fillies fundraiser Saturday at ABAC’s Donaldson Dining Hall.

“I’m here to tell you there’s nothing impossible in life,” he said. “You can do anything in life.”

Biasiotto should know. The Albany State University professor has accomplished more than most. He has been a sports psychologist for professional sports teams, a corporate executive and an award-winning sports writer. He has also authored 24 books.

“The fact of the matter is, I don’t look like a world-class athlete,” he said.

And he doesn’t. Weighing in at about 130 pounds and standing far shorter than six feet tall, few would guess that the professor is one of the world’s most accomplished weightlifters. But he is.

He shared one of his most impressive feats with the crowd gathered to support the ABAC women’s basketball and soccer teams. He said that the experts said there was no way someone 132 pounds could ever squat 600 pounds. When Biasiotto set out to prove the world wrong, the record squat for his weight was 535 pounds. By squatting 603 pounds, Biasiotto shattered the world record and many people’s perceptions about human limits. It was those same perceptions that he tried to demolish Saturday.

Not all of his examples of human perseverance were based on athletics. He gave an example of how “stupid” he was as a youth. He said that in high school, he had his IQ tested and received an 81, which is far below average. Years later, after graduating the University of Georgia, he was tested again and scored 157.

“Supposedly, I’m a genius,” he said. “I don’t buy that.”

The point of the story was to illustrate his subject of overcoming the impossible.

“They tell you it’s impossible to improve IQ,” he said. “I nearly doubled it.”

He continued by giving further examples of people who have overcome many obstacles and doubters to become, not only good, but among the best in their fields.

One example he gave was Michael Jordan, arguably the greatest player to ever play basketball, who could not make his high school team early in his career. Another example was George Foreman, who made a comeback to boxing in his 40s and proved that he was still one of the best boxers in the world. Another example was Jim Abbott, who was born without a right arm but later became one of the best pitchers in baseball in the 1990s.

One of the most personal examples was the story of one of his first students, Elaine. Biasiotto said that Elaine was highly motivated to learn when she entered college, but she was also functionally illiterate. The professor worked with her for years, even passed her when she would have failed otherwise, until she graduated.

“I think people are more important than grades — especially people who matter,” Biasiotto said.

When she graduated, Elaine finished among the top 5 to 10 percent on tests for her chosen field — teaching.

“Nothing is impossible in life you’re willing to work,” Biasiotto said.

He also gave a personal example of a cautionary tale. He became friends with an Olympic-level runner who trained so enthusiastically that she became one of the best runners in the world. However, when faced with the chance to earn a spot in the Olympics at the Olympic trials, she was too scared to compete.

“If you don’t take chances… you won’t ever be anything great in life,” Biasiotto said.

The professor’s speech also touched on the spiritual nature of life. He said that he thought the world was too “suspicious” and people should be more caring and willing to reach out, love and even hug each other.

“God intended for us to reach out and care and risk and love,” he said. “When you give love, you know what you get? You get love in return.”

He said that if you are not willing to take a chance with yourself or with other people, you will never be satisfied. He encouraged everyone to pursue their dreams.

He ended his speech by saying:

“If you see anybody without a smile in the next couple of days, give them one of yours.”

Also during the fundraiser, guests were entered into a reverse-raffle to win $1,000 and a silent auction was held for many items. The fundraiser was held to provide travel and other expense money for the ABAC soccer and women’s basketball teams.