The thing about players like Kobe (and there aren’t many walking this planet) is the fierce competitiveness in everything they do. Maybe that’s what makes them the best in their business.
I remember Ravi Shastri talking about the fierce competitiveness that Tendulkar possesses. Apparently SRT and Shastri were on a vacation in the US and were playing a ‘leisurely’ game of tennis. But SRT kept score and made sure he ‘won’ that game. Yuvraj Singh says SRT can’t bear losing even at table tennis and the intensity with which he plays might make you think he is playing for his life.
Makes you think, in this politically correct world, we talk about ‘winners’ and ‘those who didn’t win’ (apparently there are no losers). We say ‘”Winning isn’t everything. It’s all about participation, competing and doing the best you can.” Isn’t that a load of bull? I mean, its great to console a 5 yr old, but the day we start believing in it, wouldn’t that kill our ability to improve and evolve? Isnt the thought of winning that motivates us to put in that extra effort? Isnt it the desire to win that fuels the curiosity of our ‘child scientists’ to be creative and excel in their science projects? I wonder if there is a single sportsperson in the world who goes through rigorous training day in day out aiming for the silver medal in the olympics!
Winning isn’t everything. It’s the only thing. It’s a different thing that mere mortals like us can’t ‘win’ in everything we do – although we would love to. But does that mean we quit trying?
I remember Ravi Shastri talking about the fierce competitiveness that Tendulkar possesses. Apparently SRT and Shastri were on a vacation in the US and were playing a ‘leisurely’ game of tennis. But SRT kept score and made sure he ‘won’ that game. Yuvraj Singh says SRT can’t bear losing even at table tennis and the intensity with which he plays might make you think he is playing for his life.
Makes you think, in this politically correct world, we talk about ‘winners’ and ‘those who didn’t win’ (apparently there are no losers). We say ‘”Winning isn’t everything. It’s all about participation, competing and doing the best you can.” Isn’t that a load of bull? I mean, its great to console a 5 yr old, but the day we start believing in it, wouldn’t that kill our ability to improve and evolve? Isnt the thought of winning that motivates us to put in that extra effort? Isnt it the desire to win that fuels the curiosity of our ‘child scientists’ to be creative and excel in their science projects? I wonder if there is a single sportsperson in the world who goes through rigorous training day in day out aiming for the silver medal in the olympics!
Winning isn’t everything. It’s the only thing. It’s a different thing that mere mortals like us can’t ‘win’ in everything we do – although we would love to. But does that mean we quit trying?
