ABOUT THE AUTHOR

In addition to being a lifelong, avid sports fan, Christian Klemash is an actor who has appeared in major motion pictures such as Only the Strong and American Me as well as television shows like NYPD Blue.  He has penned several screenplays and has written and directed a national public service announcement for Partnership for a Drug Free America.  Christian lives in New Jersey with his wife, Jennifer, and two children.

Christian's Story

Hello, and thanks for visiting my site.  Here is a brief story of the events that led me to write this book.

By the time I reached my thirties, my drinking had gotten progressively out of control.  Over the course of about ten years I went from “normal” social drinking to the point where I was having blackouts almost every time I drank (which was about four to five times a week).  My coup de grace happened outside a Hollywood nightclub after a day-night doubleheader of steady boozing.  I did an unintentional somersault over a friend and landed on my face.  The sidewalk has no give at all (surprise, surprise), and I hurt myself badly, knocking out six of my front teeth, and searing hunks of skin off of my lips, cheek and chin (it was not the look I was going for).  The next morning I woke up with a grotesque hangover.  I looked frightening and felt worse.  For a long time I’d ignored the red flags (DUI, blackouts, etc.), but this couldn’t be shrugged off.  Every time I looked in the mirror (or tried to eat something) I was reminded of the severe problem I’d developed.  I didn’t know at the time, but it was one of the best things that ever happened to me.

Most of my story happened from 1988 until 2001, while I was living in Los Angeles and pursuing a career as an actor.  For the first couple of years, I was remarkably dedicated.  A friend used to jokingly call me the “hardest working man in Hollywood,” because I went to acting classes several nights a week, read the trade papers faithfully and submitted myself for auditions daily.  I was the teacher's assistant in one of my acting classes, was employed full-time as a waiter and worked part-time at a talent agency to keep track of what projects were being cast.  I regularly bluffed my way onto studio lots like Twentieth Century Fox and Universal in order to submit my head shot and resume for parts I thought I was right for (although casting directors often disagreed!).

My hard work paid off and I landed roles in films, television shows and commercials.  But as my acting work increased so did my drinking.  More time was devoted to partying and less to working and studying.  Slowly, gradually, it got worse and worse.  The acting career evaporated and the drinking career flourished, eventually culminating outside the nightclub.  Smashing your face is not the best thing for anyone’s career (particularly an aspiring actor).

A friend had quit drinking a couple of years earlier.  When I finally got up the courage to call him, he helped me realize what I was doing, stop, and regain control of my life.  I owe him a lot.

It took a while before I felt okay again.  My face and body healed in a few months.  A dentist put my mouth back together better than it looked before the fall.  The physical cuts and bruises faded.  But without booze I was a social basket case.  I felt like a nervous teenager again – especially around women.  It took a solid year to even begin to feel comfortable.  Then, my life began to repair itself and improve.

About a year and a half later, I came back east on Christmas vacation, ran into an old girlfriend and fell in love.  After thirteen years on the west coast, I moved back to my hometown of Philadelphia and we married later that year. 

When I first moved back, a friend got me a job at the local sports arena where the NBA’s 76ers and the NHL’s Flyers play.  At my job, I began to reflect on the values I grew up with compared to the glitzy symbols of success in Hollywood.  Considering my own experiences, and now watching wealthy young athletes in the spotlight on a nightly basis, I knew how easy it could be to get sidetracked.

How could a person avoid or overcome the hurdles I had tripped over (literally).  How do some people stay focused on their goals long term, and continue to strive toward their dreams?

Over the next few years, I was fortunate enough to interview 34 of America’s greatest sports coaches (from Bill Cowher to Joe Torre to John Wooden) about what it takes to make it in sports and life.  Through my conversations with these coaches, I gained a deeper understanding of success.  They reacquainted me with values like hard work, perseverance, honesty and compassion.  They shared with me their personal experiences in overcoming poverty, racism, injuries, weight control, and even the murder of a family member.  They also advised me to never give up, because success is measured over a lifetime.

Today, I apply their direction on a daily basis.  I’ve haven’t had a drink in more than seven years.  I’m happily married and surrounded by family and friends who truly care about me.  My experiences have shaped me and resulted in an ongoing climb in pursuit of my dreams.  I hope my story and book can inspire you to do the same!