I make shoes for white suburban kids, not the poor black kids. That would be like opening a restaurant for people without stomachs.

Heart is what separates the good from the great.

There are no shortcuts. I approached practices the same way I approached games. You can't turn it on and off like a faucet. I couldn't dog it during practice and then, when I needed that extra push late in the game, expect it to be there. Very few people get anywhere by taking shortcuts.

If you're trying to achieve, there will be roadblocks. I've had them; everybody has had them

The reason I became such a successful athlete was my mind was saying that no matter who you put up against me, I am better, I am the best.

You have to be uncompromised in your level of commitment to whatever you are doing, or it can disappear as fast as it appeared... Excellence isn't a one-week or one-year ideal. It's a constant. There will be days when you don't feel on top of your game, or meetings in which you aren't at your best, but your commitment remains constant. No compromises.

I realize that I'm black, but I like to be viewed as a person, and this is everybody's wish.