WINNING AND LOSING

"A winner is someone who recognizes his God-given talents
 Work his tail off to develop them into skill, and then relents
 The pains and tears, uses the skills to accomplish his goals"
Says Larry Bird - the Boston Celtics' cager in his starring role

"You can't get much done in life if you only work on the days
  That you feel good", NBA superstar Jerry West also says
Basketball may just be a game, but Pros doesn't only play
They inspire, they entertain, and at times they lead the way

Millions are in the game but only a handful become superstars
No pain, no gain, willing work hard and toil to earn their spurs
But lest we forget that to be at the top, and to be the number one
Hundred guys have to line up trying to outdo n' bring you down

So they say, conquer the mountain so you can see the plains
Once you reach the top, no other way to go but down the drain
One must realize that falling is as natural as rising and winning
Fame and glory are the prize, pain and misery goes with losing

When you're down, the applause and cheers will but be memories
But its not hopeless for you can still go down with pride and praises
If you were good to the people who were around you when rising
They will catch you as you fall, and they will keep on believing

Good memories keep you going, smooth the ride while you're sliding
As you fall you may never be able to rise again, and quit on playing
People will remember, and never forget the guy who took the last shot
Won the championship when there was but a second in the shot clock,

Some players too tried hard but failed, always unable to take the grind
Yet kept the plays, the moves, the strategies, stack them up in their mind
So when they leave the game they have learned a lot, then hope to find
A rag tag team with unpolished talents then to teach them how to climb

As the saying goes - he who can't do, teach -  being a loser you learn
Not everyone can be like Michael Jordan, so find another way to turn
A shattered pride ... maybe the pieces you need to build another dream
And mold unpolished talents to be better, lead, and be a winning team

Losing doesn't really make one a failure if he continues to move on
Its when you quit that failure becomes permanent, then you're done
But if ever you decide to hang on, and start all over and try to swim
You don't have to drown in sorrow, then you can teach others to win