That’s life.
As Frank Sinatra sang it…
I’ve been up and down and over and out,
And I know one thing:
Each time I find myself flat on my face
I pick myself up and get back in the race.
Watching the ACC Tournaments I was fascinated by the play of Sophomore guard Cat Barber on the NC State team’s game against Pittsburgh. He delivered A career-high 34 points on 9-of-13 from the field, including 4-5 from beyond the arc. Barber was also a perfect 12-12 from the line and dished out five assists as State won 81-70. The next evening the Duke team squashed him as if he were a little bug. Duke beat NC State 77-53.
If we are very lucky in our lifetime and we follow those rules for success sometimes we get to soar like an eagle and it is such a wonderful thing to experience. And sometimes for most of us there is a moment in our lives when we get squashed just like a little bug. That doesn’t mean that overall life isn’t wonderful but it does mean that we need to constantly work on developing the stuff like character and desire and humility and fortitude to pick ourselves up and get back in the race.
For the long run, my money is on the Cats in this world.
“Some days you’re the bug; some days you’re the windshield.”
Not my original phrase, but I have found truth in it over the years …
The Sinatra’s mantra is more inspiring.
Just watched “Unbroken” this weekend – a dramatic salute to the human spirit at both ends of the humanity scale.
Art,
Art…. Pro football teams have a 24 hour RULE. If you win or lose you have 24 hours to celebrate or get over it. Monday is always a light day and the players have Tuesday off. 24 hour rule…. A strict rule that players have talked to me about for 30 years…. and Duke basketball…. one of their star players is freshman guard Tyus Jones. He started in the 8th grade for apple valley high school and I did countless interviews with him and know his family…. last night his little brother Tre… a freshman…. led apple valley to the state hs championship in the big schools class in Minnesota….. Tyus PRACTICED all year and his little brother saw what it took to get to the top. Olympic gold medalist Steve Fraser told me he figured out he worked out for 18,000 hours just to BE in the Olympics… I was there in LA when he won the gold and he’s given speeches with me at grade schools…. He was head coach for the Olympic team for years. Art I have his number if you’d ever want to interview him. The 24 hour rule…. wish we ALL had it…. keep in touch. John Gross….