Team sports are really difficult things, sometimes your team wins because of you, sometimes in spite of you, and sometimes it's like you are not even there. Thats the reality of the team game. At one point in my career something wonderful happened; I dont know why or how, but I came to understand what "team" meant. It meant that although I didnt get a hit or make a great defensive play, I could still impact the team in an incredible and consistent way. I learned I could impact my team by caring first and foremost about the team's success and not my own. I dont mean by rooting for us like a typical fan-fans are fickle. I mean care, really care about the team....about "US." I became less selfish, less lazy, and less sensitive to negative comments. When I gave up me I became more. I became a captain, a leader, a better person and I came to understand that life is a team game.....and you know what? I've found most people arent team players. They dont realize that life is the only game in town. Someone should tell them. It has made all the difference in the world to me.
Don Mattingly
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