Best advice I ever got (ESPN Insider required)
More than 300 athletes share the nuggets of wisdom that shaped their lives
Surprisingly, they’re pretty applicable to our everyday lives.
My favorites:
Brandon Jennings, Bucks
“‘The harder you work during peace, the less you bleed during war.’
Edgerrin James, NFL
“The day I got drafted, Deion Sanders called me and said, ‘Learn to say no because all types of people are gonna ask for money.’ ”
Darnell Dockett, Arizona Cardinals
“Edgerrin James. Every time I see him he tells me the same thing: ‘Get your money and save it.’
Jennifer Harman, Professional poker player
“Chip Reese gave me great advice about 10 years ago when we were heading from Atlantic City back to Vegas. We were on the plane playing Chinese poker, and I was getting crushed, so I just quit and went to bed. When I woke up he said, ‘You know, Jen, if you play your hands right, you can’t worry about the outcome.'”
Shaun Ellis, Jets
“When I was in the 10th grade, I got into a fight the day a scout from North Carolina State came to watch me. I had to go see the principal, then my coach called me into his office. Coach introduced me, saying, ‘This is the coach from NC State. He came down to look at your film, and he likes what he sees.’ The first thing the NC State coach says is, ‘I heard your name being called over the intercom.’ We started talking, and at the end of our conversation, he left me with the question: ‘Do you want to drive the BMW or do you want to wash it?’ That really hit me. It made me realize I had to get my priorities together. I didn’t want to let my talent slip. I now drive a BMW 745.”
Elton Brand, 76ers
“My mom always gives me motivation. A long time ago we were going through tough times, and she’s very religious, so she says, ‘Greater is he that’s in me than he that’s in the world.’ To me, that means you stay with your faith, focus and work hard, and everything will pan out. And it always seems to do that.”
Mardy Fish, Tennis
“‘If you play like you’re broke and hungry, you’ll never be either.’ My dad told me that.”