NORTH PALM BEACH, Fla., June 3, 2024 – Updated by Dr. John F. Murray – When sports psychologist John F. Murray decided to auction the idea of “Confidence” on eBay he had no idea how much interest this auction would draw. Top athletes and film stars use mental coaches and sports psychology, but he didn’t know whether the general public would pay for what might be called nothing more than an idea. Bidding opened at $10 and after fifteen bids this idea sold for $250, representing perhaps the first time an “idea” has been sold in an auction. The winner was a recreational tennis player in New York ..read more

Palm Beach Daily News – Updated on June 3,2024 by John F Murray – John Nelander – When their tennis skills are tumbling, or their slice is careening out of control on the golf course, most people think of three solutions: practice, practice and more practice. But there’s a mental aspect to all sports, whether you’re a professional athlete or just a weekend duffer. Some people who are serious about improving their performance are looking to sports psychologists for help. A sports psychologist won’t turn you from a 100-shot, 18-hole hack into a par golfer. But a fresh mental approach to your spo ..read more

Cincinnati Enquirer – Updated by John F Murray – June 3, 2024 – John Eckberg – Crosstown Shootout highlight is when underdog wins prize – Mike Zilliox turned his XU hat around backward, then ambled out onto the floor at halftime at the Crosstown Shootout basketball game between University of Cincinnati and Xavier in January. He was one of three picked from the Cintas Center crowd to attempt the improbable: a lay-up, a foul shot, a three-pointer and a half-court shot – and to make all the shots within 24 seconds. The winner was promised a two-year lease on a new Chevrolet Tahoe. Keep in mind th ..read more

December 31, 2019 Miami, FL – December 31, 2019 – America’s most quoted sports psychologist Dr. John F. Murray dubbed “The Freud of Football” by the Washington Post and “The Football Shrink” by the Arizona Republic and South Florida Sun Sentinel, is the 2019 champion of the World Series of Handicapping, posting a winning record of 70-45-4 (61%) in picking sides and totals against a published line. He wins a cash prize plus the champions ring.   Murray’s book, “The Mental Performance Index: Ranking the Best Teams in Super Bowl History” about his newly created statistic and the Super Bowl w ..read more

By Suzanne Raga – September 1, 2017 – Sports psychologists help athletes of all kinds achieve optimal results on the court, field, or track. Whether they counsel individual athletes or work with teams, coaches, or managers, they focus on how mental and emotional factors influence athletic performance. But there’s more to their profession than teaching visualization techniques and positive thinking. We spoke to a few sports psychologists to learn about their job, from the extensive education and training it requires to their mastery of mindfulness. 1. IT TAKES YEARS OF TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE ..read more

This will be the final post for this Healthy Wage Weight Loss Challence series because I won! The challenge began a little over 6 months ago when I decided to wager $75 a month for 6 months, so a total payment of $450, in order to have a chance to win $962. To win this one I had to drop 50 pounds and I did it! I weighed in successfully on August 19 at 50.50 pounds less than when I began on February 22, and so I am now $512 pounds richer and feel so much better too. How did I accomplish this? It was not easy. The company provided terrific support and the graphic showing you every day where you ..read more

I’m back at the blog station because I am still scared, but still in a healthy way. My eating this week has been better than usual, but still far from perfect. But since I have not blown it with excess, and since I have fasted 2 or 3 meals, I feel that if I have a strong finish this weekend, I will lose weight and get this overall progress back in line with the 6 month 50 lbs. healthy wage challenge. It is now Saturday morning. For breakfast, I had oatmeal and raisons, orange juice, a power breakfast sandwich from Dunkin Donuts and a small yogurt with granola. Note that I emphasized the grain ..read more

Motivation in anything including weight loss is a combination of desire for good and fear of bad. In my case, after two months of the Healthy Wage Weight Loss Challenge in which I bet to lose 50 pounds in 6 months, that fear has become an important asset. I started pretty strong and lost a total of 17 pounds with only 33 to go about two weeks ago, but then I gained one pound the following week, and now after a trip to Disney and taking my eye big off the ball, I don’t even want to go near that scale! In short, I am afraid. And that is a good thing for me. One week ago, I was sitting pretty at ..read more

Guess it’s time for a new blog on my weight loss mission. After a great week in which I found myself already 13 pounds down, and only 37 to go to reach that magical 50 pound weight loss which will make me almost $1000 richer, I admittedly got a little lazy and a little over-confident. I ate too much, did not watch the quality of my intake, and basically treaded water for a week. Milk toast. Kissing your sister. All mediocre! Yet one thing that has worked is occasionally skipping meals. I just had a nice solid breakfast, but I plan on skipping lunch and dinner now in anticipation of the big Mon ..read more

As I enter my third week of 6 months in the healthy weight loss challenge at Healthy Wage dot com, I am right on track to reach my goal of 50 pounds lost by August. When I achieve that goal, I will recieve a check for $962, but this success does not come easy. It is hard work to lose 50 lbs! So part of this blog will always be devoted to sharing with you an idea or tip to help you with your own weight loss or other goals based on what I have learned and also based on psychological reality. One such concept is the need to be open or conspicuous about your mission. The very writing of this blog ..read more