When Granderson struggles now, his father calls with gentle questions.
Here, Granderson provides six more insights for a life full of improvement.
Poor grades wouldn't cut it, so Granderson developed a knack for inquiry.
Go on to the next page for more of Granderson's words of wisdom.
But a work ethic like this is hard to rein in, and Granderson overanalyzes.
When he was a kid, Granderson says, his father,
Curtis Sr., a former gym teacher,"never bragged about me.
Traveling abroad is a reminder
of the importance of humility and perspective-- and, according to Granderson, a reminder to be grateful.
The day Curtis Granderson signed his 5-year deal with the Detroit Tigers, he splurged
on a double cheeseburger from McDonald's dollar menu.
Whether he's turning on a fastball or leaping at the wall, Curtis Granderson relies on a powerful core strengthened through grueling workouts.
Granderson shed the youthful urge to throw iron around in the weight room,
thanks to the Tigers' head strength and conditioning coordinator, Javair Gillett, C.S.C. S.
On the diamond, Granderson was caught stealing just once
in 27 attempts last season, and he's never been thrown out trying to stretch a double into a triple.
On his trips to Europe and Africa, Granderson enjoys the reality check of being a nobody in a place
where kids are barely aware of LeBron James and Derek Jeter.
Granderson is smart enough to know that his career
will be judged by his improvement over the next 5 to 10 years, though, and not by the outsize baby steps he's already taken in the bigs during his first two breakout seasons.