To the outside world, Dan Henderson had all a 24-year-old could want. He was living in a house on a golf course with his choice of big-boy toys in the garage - a Harley, a Porsche and a truck. Henderson and his wife Jessica had everything they could want, including his and her Lexuses.

But what the world outside the Henderson household didn't know was that all they had was the result of a dream dashed in 1997. And that dream was still in the back of Dan Henderson's mind and it was starting to affect his everyday life.

So, he gave it all up, sold it, jumped out of the business world for a shot at playing professional baseball, picking up a dream that had been dormant for more than four years. In tryouts beginning March 5, he moves where no Lexus, no Porsche and no Harley could take him, when Henderson pursues a spot in the Florida Marlins' organization. It's the first professional step in a quest that could have ended many times for the former Calallen baseball standout.

"For me being here, there's got to be some sort of divine power involved," said Henderson, who graduated from Calallen in 1995. "It's not every day you get to try out with a major league organization."

There's something at work for Henderson, who thought that his baseball career was over when he was dismissed from the University of Texas-Arlington team in 1997, and rebounded to play at Dallas Baptist University in 2002. Since leaving DBU, Henderson has endured a terrible showing as a pitcher in an independent league tryout and seen his hopes of playing outfield dashed by a fastball that nearly broke his hand.

Now, a guy that estimates he pitched only 40 innings in college is on the cusp of throwing for a major league organization.

Long trip

That lack of time on the mound in college may have benefited him. Randy Kierce, the assistant director for international operations for the Marlins, felt like Henderson was early enough in his career that he wouldn't have to unlearn many bad habits.

"The first time I saw him, the thing that impressed me was his arm strength as an outfielder," Kierce said. "He showed us a very live young arm and threw a plus-curve ball-slider combo."

Henderson's route to the Marlins has more twists and drops than his curve-slider combo. After Calallen, he earned a scholarship to Laredo Junior College, didn't see much time as an outfielder, and had a scout from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays tell him to pitch.

So Henderson transferred to UT-A, where he had his ups and downs on the mound at the NCAA Division I school. One day during a 1997 practice, Henderson was asked to leave the team and the pursuit of his dream.

"I'm a very low-key guy that never compromises authority," Henderson said. "I had a rock in my shoe, and I overthrew second base. Coach said for me to do it again. I said, 'Let me get the rock out of my shoe.' I guess I have a tendency to sound like a jerk at times. He said, 'I never want to see you again. Get off the field, pack up your stuff and leave.'

"I didn't know what to do," Henderson added. "I packed up and left. My pride set in. I really expected someone to call me. No one did. I thought maybe this was a sign that I should quit baseball."

He quit and scrapped his baseball career. Henderson had started a Web site development company for businesses the previous fall, and it was thriving. Henderson threw all of his efforts into the business world and made himself a success in the Dallas area. The company merged and went public, and Henderson eventually started four more Web-based companies. The money was coming in.

And he was unhappy. The cars, motorcycles, trucks, Rolexes and the golf courses did not mean everything was going well. He still yearned to play baseball, and problems were spilling into his personal life.

"My marriage was struggling because my priorities were out of whack," Henderson said. "I had to evaluate my life, and I decided my marriage was more important."

He gave notice to his partners in NetCommerce Inc. He still kept two businesses, one a company called Net Growth, and a company named ADS.

Partially encouraged by the story of Texas high school baseball coach Jim Morris, who inspired the movie "The Rookie," Henderson decided to head back to college. The parallels were not identical, as Morris was in his 30s and made it to the Devil Rays, while Henderson was 24 at the time and was going to try small college ball.

Henderson was pursuing his dream, and his wife, Jessica, supported the move.

"I had always known that it was something he wanted to do," Jessica Henderson said. "He was very consumed in his business, and he put everything into that. He had lost that dream, then he found it again."

But the dream would not continue on the NCAA level, where his eligibility had run out. The NAIA was the most viable option.

He approached Dallas Baptist coach Sam Riggleman about trying out for the Patriots baseball team. If Riggleman gave his consent, it would mean that Henderson would be juggling two companies, a full-time course load and a schedule of baseball games and practices.

"When he initially came to me, he was risking a great deal," said Riggleman, now the coach at Spring Harbor University in Michigan. "It was one of those deals where he had aspirations of continuing his college career, and we were willing to work to see if we could help that dream."

That dream had its harrowing side. Henderson was out of condition, and his skills had diminished to the point where he was having difficulty even catching the ball.

His stab at pitching was rougher. Henderson over-extended himself and hurt his arm. He started out as a designated hitter. Eventually, as his arm improved, he saw time in the outfield and was even able to throw some pitches in the bullpen to strengthen his arm.

After his season at DBU, Henderson tried out with an independent team in the Central League, but called the experience "humiliating," as he only broke 80 mph once with his pitches.

Then, Henderson found a Major League Baseball tryout camp - the Play Ball camp in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., run by Kierce - scheduled for November of 2002.

"You pay to go there," Henderson said. "I wasn't expecting them to sign anyone because it's more for profit. I decided to try anyway."

The first day, the outfielders threw from the outfield to the infield the entire day, giving Henderson a chance to flash his arm strength. The next day, Henderson got his opportunity at the plate, but was hit on the back of his left hand. The hand felt broken, and he wasn't able to properly grip the bat. Kierce told him it was time to leave the batting cage.

Henderson thought it was the end, but Kierce wanted him to go to the mound. Impressed by Henderson's arm strength in the outfield, Kierce wanted to see him throw.

In front of Fred Ferreira, the team's senior vice president, Henderson struck out three of four hitters he faced, allowing no hits. His fastball topped out at 89 mph, 1-2 mph below major-league level.

Kierce called him over and told Henderson the Marlins would like to see him throw again in January at a camp in Jupiter, Fla.

One last chance

The team gave Henderson a throwing program, and Henderson went to Steve Chapman, his old coach at Calallen, to help him build his arm strength.

Henderson went to Jupiter in January and threw 70 pitches, with 60 for strikes. The scouts asked to see his fastball, which was creeping up into the low 90s, and Henderson fired off five of those.

They delivered the news.

"They said thanks for coming out, and my heart just sank," Henderson said.

But Kierce asked if Henderson would be interested in a minor league contract. Henderson didn't hesitate.

Henderson is far from assured of a roster spot. At 25, he is old by minor league standards. Kierce guessed that a great showing at the March tryouts would land Henderson in Class A ball, a step above the rookie leagues, but three notches below the majors.

Not a sure thing by any means. But, even at $850 a month, this opportunity has given Henderson a much more exciting ride than a Lexus, Porsche or Harley.

Lee Goddard