Class of 2015 | psacardinals

"It’s much harder to keep a championship than to win one. After you’ve won once, some of the key figures are likely to grow dissatisfied with the role they play, so it’s harder to keep the team focused on doing what it takes to win. Also, you’ve already done it, so you can’t rely on the same drive that makes people climb mountains for the first time; winning isn’t new anymore. Also, there’s a temptation to believe that the last championship will somehow win the next one automatically. You have to keep going out there game after game. Besides, you’re getting older, and less willing to put up with aggravation and pain …“When you find someone who at age 30 or 35 has the motivation to overrule that increasing pain and aggravation, you have a champion."

“Even with all the talent, the mental sharpness, the fun, the confidence and your focus honed down to winning, there’ll be a level of competition where all that evens out. Then the pressure builds, and for the champion it’s a test of heart…. Heart in champions has to do with the depth of your motivation, and how well your mind and body react to pressure. It’s concentration—that is, being able to do what you do under maximum pain and stress”

Bill Russell speaking on the secret of winning in "The Book of Basketball" by Bill Simmons

“There are a super group of guys on this team. Players who put the team ahead of self. I think basketball is the epitome of team sport anyhow, and we’ve got players now who complement one another for the sake of the team. Team success is what everyone here is after. I’ve never seen a guy down on himself after he had a bad performance, as long as we won. In the past he might have been more concerned about his poor shooting, and even if we had happened to win the game he wouldn’t have been any happier.”

Rick Barry speaking on the secret of winning in "The Book of Basketball" by Bill Simmons

“[Winning] becomes a state of mind, an obligation, an expectation; in the end, an attitude. Excellence. It’s a rare chance to play with the best, to be the best. When you have it, you don’t want to give it up. It’s not easy and it’s not always fun … when you win as often as we do, you earn a right to lose. It’s losing to remember what winning feels like. But it’s a game of chicken. If you let it go, you might never get it back. You may find it’s a high-paid, pressureless comfort to your liking. I can feel it happening this year. If we win, next year will be worse.”

Ken Dryden speaking on the secret of winning in "The Book of Basketball" by Bill Simmons

“You don’t learn about a great team or great players when they’re winning; you learn about them when they’re struggling and clawing to remain on top.”

Bill Simmons on the secret of winning in "The Book of Basketball" by Bill Simmons

the class of

2015

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Hold your head lil' bruh
You're not dead lil' bruh
You are brown and this world is black and white lil' bruh
I know how it sounds lil' bruh, but you'll be alright lil' bruh

I bet this song, make no sense to you
With the world on your shoulders, what can you see?
God blessed us all, with the gift to pursue
Just clear your mind and, you'll feel like me
Yeah~!

Forget what you read lil' bruh
Get them words our your head lil' bruh
With them shades the world's the same don't you know lil' bruh?
It only just fades lil' bruh, but can't hide your glow lil' bruh
Yeah, cause

I bet this song, make no sense to you
With the world on your shoulders, what can you see?
God blessed us all, with the gift to pursue
Just clear your mind and, you'll feel like me
Yeah~!

Forget the latest lil' bruh
You're the greatest lil' bruh
You were made to amaze and bring change lil' bruh
It takes one to know one bruh, so here's one to grown on bruh
Yeah

I bet this song, make no sense to you
With the world on your shoulders, what can you see?
God blessed us all, with the gift to pursue
Just clear your mind and, you'll feel like me
Yeah~!