Nails on the Numbers

Try Jim Cramer's Action Alerts PLUS
CLICK HERE NOW

Dykstra: How to Keep This Rally Alive

09/13/05 - 07:03 AM EDT

Lenny Dykstra

The Business of Sports

September is synonymous with the baseball pennant races, the start of football season, and the U.S. Open tennis championships at Flushing Meadows, N.Y.

Special Open moments, including the pugnacious Jimmy Connors' incredible comeback against Aaron Krickstein at age 39, the colorful wizardry of John McEnroe, a severely dehydrated Pete Sampras -- vomiting between points, yet somehow holding on to win -- are indelibly etched in the collective minds of the sports world. This year's Open had several poignant story lines, particularly the personal triumphs of Mary Pierce, Kim Clijsters and James Blake. Moreover, the fluid elegance and consistency of Roger Federer are wonderful to behold.

However, the feel-good story for me in this tournament is Andre Agassi, the onetime brash, "Image is Everything" poster boy, who has graciously developed a humility which parallels his maturation as a husband and a father. By the way, I would highly recommend purchasing futures on his children as he is married to Steffi Graff, who won 22 women's grand-slam championships. But seriously, Agassi's match with James Blake epitomizes my strategy with the market.

Despite losing the first two sets, Agassi did not panic, nor wilt away. On the contrary, he continued to chip away at Blake with his trademark relentless ground strokes from the baseline. Adhering to Warren Buffet's adage of "buying when others are fearful," Agassi gambled with high-risk shots when perhaps others would not, enabling him to claim victory in a fifth-set tiebreaker.

Similarly, staying the course with a sound investment strategy -- augmented by timely, calculated gambles -- is a winning recipe, which I will continue to outline in the weeks ahead.

Life is a journey, enjoy the ride. I trust that Andre is doing so, despite ultimately falling to Federer in the finals.

1 2 3 4
» Next
At the time of publication, Dykstra was long Boston Scientific and long calls on Dow Chemical and Biomet.

Nicknamed "Nails" for his tough style of play during his Major League Baseball career, Lenny Dykstra was an integral member of the powerful Mets of the mid-1980s and the Phillies of the early 1990s, including the world champion 1986 Mets squad.

Today, Dykstra manages his own stock portfolio and serves as president of several of his privately held companies, including car washes; a partnership with Castrol in "Team Dykstra" Quick Lube Centers; a state-of-the-art ConocoPhillips fueling facility; a real estate development company; and a new venture to develop several "I Sold It on eBay" stores throughout high-demographic areas of Southern California.


Nails on the Numbers


09/12/05
'RealMoney' Radio Recap: ITT Spells Cleanup

ITT Industries is one of the few Katrina cleanup plays available, Jim Cramer tells listeners.


09/06/05
Lenny Dykstra Takes a Swing at Wall Street

The former baseball star turns his ferocious drive to investing, and he wants to tell you about it.


09/02/05
J&J Gives Canada What It Wants

The company will sell a guidewires business to get clearance for the Guidant deal.


08/26/05
The Five Dumbest Things on Wall Street This Week

GM's debt to society; Boston Scientific's shipping news; Kmart's blue flu; TiVo's cracked crystal ball; Doral's breakup.


08/23/05
FDA Scolds Boston Scientific

The company says it has already completed some corrective actions the agency mentioned in a letter.



08/05/08
Three Internet Stocks That Could Double

These forgotten Internet stocks are being accumulated by hedge funds.


08/15/08
The Five Dumbest Things on Wall Street

Raspberries for Apple; You'll be sorry, UBS; Fortress or Fort Knox? Wholly unappetizing Foods; give Liberty AOL or give them...


08/15/08
McCain Fund-Raising Picks Up

The GOP presidential candidate raised $27 million in July.


08/15/08
Cash-Back Cards Aren't Money in the Bank

Some credit and debit cards give you some cash back on purchases. But you need to manage it well to benefit from it.


Your Recent Quotes: Quote Up0 | Quote Down0
Dow S&P 500 NASDAQ
Oil*
Gold
10 Yr
0.00%
%
%
%
Data delayed 20 min
Sign up for our FREE newsletters now. See All

  • Cramer's Daily Booyah!
  • Before the Bell

Premium Stock Ideas
Premium Products
DOW was an pick on 2004-06-23