DMB playing one of my many favorite songs. Grey Street.
“I dream myself a thousand times around the world, but I can’t get out of this place”
Many years ago I said to myself that if ever I knew how to play the saxophone, I would exactly be like you. Rest in peace Leroi Moore. Thank you for giving us sweet soulful music.
His name is always close whenever the word “greatest” is mentioned. Nicknamed Mr. Clutch, hall-of-famer Jerry West played in such a way that every aspect of his game became a qualitative standard. He personified court intelligence, toughness and overall skill. Actually, its his image to which the NBA patterned its logo. And even after retirement, West pursued more. He became a successful coach and team executive. Undoubtedly one of the greatest individuals who ever held the leather ball. He is in fact, legendary.All great, but this. Most of his professional career as a player ended up in failures. Many times the rival team denied West that coveted championship ring. The Boston Celtics beat the Lakers in almost all attempts. In 10 NBA Finals trips, Jerry West and his team lost 9 of times. He would bounce back and start the succeeding season with the same determination that made him the player that he is, but only to end up losing again and again. He would eventually win one ring. But when revisited, the emotional ghosts of the past haunt Jerry West even up to this day.
In an interview of the NBA’s greatest 50 players, Jerry West all gray haired and aged remarked this. “During the worst, I’m at my best.” He wasn’t talking about his 25,192 points, he wasn’t pointing out his 6,238 assists. He was talking about the failures. Funny if you look at it, West talking to himself in certain situations, “Ok it’s losing time, time to be great.” But did he really fail?
There’s a lot to learn from Jerry. We may not be on the court playing his game, but sure enough many of us are up against the same struggles. Trying and failing. It’s really difficult to be at your best during the worst of times, but that’s where the real winning lies. “There is suffering in life, and there are defeats. No one can avoid them. But it’s better to lose some of the battles in the struggles for your dreams than to be defeated without ever knowing what you’re fighting for.” West desired to be a champion. It would be such a road of suffrage, but he did get there. He got what his heart and mind fervently desires.
Determination will not go unnoticed. After losing to the Celtics in a championship game, Jerry West slumped in the locker room. Minutes later, the Celtics went inside and hugged perhaps their greatest nemesis. “Jerry, coach loves you.” said Bill Russell. Ask anyone of who Jerry West is and you get nothing but utmost respect and admiration.
Sometimes we can never really be successful like that of what we aim for. Hey, hit or miss, at least we are trying. And it’s in this process that we are molding ourselves. Molding for the future, molding for what lies ahead. In a pattern like this it’s safe to say we are winning. After all we can take it from Jerry. The mold to which greatness came to form.
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