If you don't do what's best for your body, you're the one who comes up on the short end.
Julius ErvingRead
When I get a chance to power jump off both legs, I can lean, twist, change directions and decide whether to dunk the ball or pass it to an open man. In other words, I may be committed to the air, but I still have some control over it.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes the ability to adapt and make decisions even when faced with opportunities.
Julius Erving's quote reflects the dynamic nature of taking risks and making choices. It illustrates how one can embrace challenges, like jumping high in basketball, while still retaining the power to control the outcome, whether it's a bold move or a strategic pass. This serves as a metaphor for life, where taking leaps of faith can lead to various possibilities, but with the wisdom to choose how to proceed.
In practice
During a motivational speech at a sports camp.
If you don't do what's best for your body, you're the one who comes up on the short end.
One of the most predictable things in life is there will be change. You are better off if you can have a say in the change. But you are ignorant or naive if you don't think there will be change, whether you want it to or not.
I demand more of myself than anyone else could ever expect.
When I played, the owners had the power. The prisoners are running the prison now, not the warden. The warden is strong and he has say so but, the balance of power is definitely with the players.
Right up until the time I retired at age 37, I felt like there were still things that I could do better.
I keep both eyes on my man. The basket hasn't moved on me yet.
Right now, I'm at the top of the world in my game so my focus isn't on when I'm going to end. My focus is on playing the best tennis that I can, and there is no end to that.
'Good enough' stopped being good enough a long time ago. so why not be great?
Why shoot for the moon? It matters because when you try to do something radically hard, you approach the problem differently than when you try to make something incrementally better.
You musn't be afraid to dream a little bigger, darling.
The true competitors, though, are the ones who always play to win.
If you're trying to achieve, there will be roadblocks. I've had them; everybody has had them
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