There's no one who's dropped on top of the mountain. You've got to work your way to the top.

I don't discuss basketball. I dictate basketball. I'm not interested in philosophy classes.

I come from New York where, if you fall down, someone will pick you up by your wallet.

Don't call me son unless you're going to include me in your will. (When Adolph Rupp called him, "Son.")

They call me eccentric. They used to call me nuts. I haven't changed. The only difference between being eccentric and being nuts is the number of security boxes you own.

I believe in a business boarding up early. If you make a mistake, you put the boards in the window of the store and say, "Hey, I made a mistake." Let me take two shots in the arm and a punch on the nose and let me get on to the next thing. I don't believe in worrying over failures. I worry about successes. This is opposite from most people. Most people zero in on their failures. I try to keep all my attention on a pyramid type philosophy rather than the averaging-down philosophy.

I don't think any decent human being enjoys recruiting.