Chapter II

"Always do your best. What you plant now, you will harvest later."

-Og Mandino

-------------

One week before basketball season begins, Dad gives me a little speech of his.

My father says, “Just do your best. Remember—it’s a long race and you can always outwork talent in the end.”

That’s Dad’s personal life motto, even though he ended up alone and working the night shift, collecting tolls at the bridge, where he needs neither talent nor a good work ethic.

Mostly because of my mom, my father’s life always been pretty dreary. But his eyes always seem hopeful when he says that I can outwork talent over the long haul, and so for him—and for me too—I try my best to do just that.

The nights Dad watches me play basketball, I truly believe that those are the best in his entire life. That’s one reason I love b-ball so much: for the opportunity to make Dad happy.