Heart of a Champion

Over the course of my life, athletics has been constant.  I have always played and watched them as if they were apart of me.  Recently, I have pondered about athletes of my generation and have thought, first of all, how lucky I have been to watch great players like Tiger Woods, Wayne Gretzky, Cristiano Ronaldo, Roger Federer, Tom Brady, Kobe Bryant, Derek Jeter, the Williams sisters, Michael Phelps and countless other individuals who have made their mark in their respective sport.  Second of all, to go into more depth, what is that makes an athlete truly great?

A lot of people deem greatness by numbers, some by championships, others by an athlete's influence on the game.  For me, I judge greatness on heart.  Sure, talent plays a part in being successful, but as the late great John Wooden stated, "success comes from knowing that you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming."  So where does heart come into play?  Well, it's nurtured in the off-season and is different for each athlete I'm sure, but it is manifested in the closing seconds of a game, on the 18th green, in the final set at Wimbledon, in the World Series.  It happens on the game's biggest stage.

My grandfather always said, the cream will rise to the top.  You don't get to the top based soley on talent alone though, it takes heart.  Heart is what makes champions.  Heart is defined as wanting to win more than the other person and working harder than them to get there.  Heart is defined in the players I have listed above.  Sure, they are all great athletes and have talent, but they have maximized their talent through hard work and effort to become who they are now.  There's a reason people talk about the "heart of a champion" and not the talent of a champion or the influence of a champion.  It takes heart, miles and miles of heart, a la Jimmy McGinty, Shane Falco, and Chase Arthur.

The Great Debate

No, not Kobe or Lebron, not Red Sox or Yankees, not Democrat or Republican, but So Cal or Nor Cal.  The Southern California - Northern California rivalry has existed for quite some time, and luckily for me, I have been able to experience both sides of the coin.  The similarities exist, however they are almost considered differences because of the originality involved.  From what I have been able to grasp, they both possess unique and beautiful qualities about them that makes choosing one over the other a difficult task.

Let's start with home.  Southern California has been my home for 21 years, however 2 of them have been spent in Northern California.  It's hard not to like Southern California.  It boasts some of the best weather and location in the entire world.  After getting home the other day from school in Northern California, I was just in awe at how beautiful the area is.  I guess after 21 years I have finally come to appreciate all that exists in my backyard.  I mean people around the world consider Southern California a vacation destination, and for me, it's just home.

Aside from the weather and gorgeous homes, I think the variety of scenery in Southern California is under-appreciated.  The beach, the nature-filled canyons, the lakes, the isolated hilltops, and the mountains are all within reach.  Not to mention, as far as living, Southern California offers it all.  It offers homes practically anywhere just mentioned.  There sure is a lot of variety, and all of it at the top of its class. However, when it comes to people, Southern California receives some knocks.  I'm trying not to generalize, but from my experiences in Southern and Northern California the people in Northern California are far more approachable, courteous, and down to earth.

I have been in Northern California for 2 years, both during college.  At first, I hated the place.  It took some getting used to with everyone saying hella, dressing differently, and having a different attitude towards life.  Northern California people, from my experience, are genuine, very loyal, and passionate towards everything in their life, especially their sports' teams.  They may not boast the expensive houses like Newport Beach, but they don't give a damn about the car you drive compared to who you are as a person.  And don't get me wrong, Northern California has some beautiful areas to live like Saratoga, Los Gatos, Redwood City, San Mateo, Palo Alto and many others that might not get the attention like some of the Southern California homes.

I guess after writing this, they possess a lot of the same characteristics with their own wrinkle to them.  It's hard for me to describe, and I'm stuck.  I don't know who wins the debate, it is something you are going to have to experience for yourself.  I obviously have a bias towards Southern California since it is my home, but I also owe a lot of my growth and appreciation for life to Northern California.  I have gained so much perspective from Northern California and its such a refreshing place, but home is home and it's hard to compete against a place like Southern California.  Sorry to disappoint, but I'm not picking a winner, I cherish both, and attribute who I am to both places.  Both of them are a great place to live, making it a tough decision on where I want to live in the future.  However, something tells me I'll want to stay down here at home.  Until then though, I'm not ruling out any ideas of heading North again and settling up there.

A Tribute to the Big Fella, Shaquille O'Neal

It's not often that the league witnesses a player like Shaquille O'neal.  A 7 foot 1 inch 325 lb absolute beast, he completely revolutionized his position and quite frankly, the game.  He was so big, so strong, and so talented around the rim that he was almost impossible to stop.  A first ballot Hall of Fame player, Shaq will be inked into the pages of NBA history as one of the greatest and most dominant players to ever play the game.

With that being said, I think his legacy would have been far better if he retired earlier.  I wasn't a fan of seeing such an iconic player wear a different uniform each year chasing after a 5th ring.  There was a time when players were dependent on Shaq, and it was troubling to see him play minimal minutes in the hopes of latching onto another championship. This was disappointing for me, but aside from that, people should not forget what this guy brought to the league.  I mean, if Shaq had the ball in the paint, it was as close to an automatic 2 points as you could get.  Not to mention, he was a legitimate force on the boards as well as a shot blocker.

It's a sad day for the NBA, losing a great basketball player and personality.  Shaq will be remembered for his jovial personality, original interviews, and his pure dominance on the court.  His presence will be missed by fans, but not by opposing players and coaches.  I wish him nothing but the best and appreciate what he brought to the league.  Take it easy big fella, and congratulations on your accomplishments throughout your highly successful career.


Throughout his 19 years in the NBA, Shaq was able to accomplish the following:

Career Season Average (1,207 Games Played): 23.7 PPG 10.9 RPG 2.5 APG 2.3 BPG
Career Playoff Average (216 Games Played): 24.3 PPG 11.6 RPG .5 APG .5 BPG
Ranks All Time: 5th in Points, 5th in Field Goals, 7th in Blocks, and 12th in Rebounds

4 NBA Championships
3 NBA Finals' MVP
1 NBA MVP
15-time NBA All Star
15-time All NBA Team
3-time All NBA Defensive Team
3-time NBA All Star Game MVP
Rookie of the Year ('92-'93)
In 2000 was Finals MVP, NBA MVP, and All Star Game MVP


Aside from his basketball game, Shaq is notorious for his assortment of nicknames which are listed below:

Shaq, The Big Aristotle, The Diesel, Superman, Shaq Fu, The Big Cactus, The Big Shaqtus, The Real Deal, Dr. Shaq, The Big Shamrock, Shaqovic, The Big Conductor, Big Fella, The Big Daddy, and many others.