Bill Bradley is one of two players to win an Olympic Gold Medal, Euroleague title, and NBA championship.* (other at the end of article)
Banker's son, Princeton graduate, NCAA tournament record scoring, Rhodes Scholar, twice NBA champion, Hall of Famer, author, United States Senator. Bill Bradley has the resume'.
He wrote Values of the Game. Here are some quotes:
"With his education and upbringing, he was committed to finding some way to serve other people." - Phil Jackson
"Winning was fun, but so was the struggle to improve...basketball was a clear example of virtue rewarded."
"The passion of solitary practice was matched by the joy of playing team ball."
(On Rodman): He uses his body only after he uses his brain and his eyes, and then he makes a second, third, and fourth effort."
(On Chamique Holdsclaw): "Her sheer love of the game becomes infectious."
"I sensed that the deals were offered because I was a "white hope" and not because of my playing ability." (Bradley did not take endorsements.)
"I never wanted to lose simply because I hadn't made the effort."
"I stacked chairs in towers to practice shooting hook shots (over a taller player)."
"I kept shooting until I had made twenty-five in a row from each spot." (Both set shots and jump shots)
"The by-product of those countless hours of practice was a self-discipline that carried over into every aspect of my life."
"The biggest myth in basketball is that of the natural player."
"They weren't beat physically; they were beat mentally." - John Havlicek
"Off-season is when major leaps occur in a high school player's abilities..."
"It takes real character to derive enjoyment from the pass that leads to the pass that leads to the basket."
"The difficulty of preparation contributes to the sense of triumph."
"Mastery of others is strength; mastery of yourself is true power." - Lao Tzu
Lagniappe:
Quiz answer: Manu Ginobili