“Fatigue makes cowards of us all.” – Vince Lombardi

“It’s what you get from games you lose that is extremely important.” – Pat Riley

“He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life.” – Muhammad Ali

May 13, 1983 – Reggie Jackson became the first MLB player to strikeout 2,000 times

Reggie Jackson played 21 seasons and reached the post-season in 11 of them, winning six pennants and five World Series. His accomplishments include winning both the regular-season and World Series MVP awards in 1973, hitting 563 career home runs (sixth all-time at the time of his retirement), maintaining a .490 career slugging percentage, being named to 14 All-Star teams, and the dubious distinction of being the all-time leader in strikeouts with 2,597 (he finished with 13 more career strikeouts than hits). Jackson was the first major leaguer to hit one hundred home runs for three different clubs, having hit over 100 for the Athletics, Yankees, and Angels.

Jackson was the first player to reach the 2,000 strikeout plateau, in 2003 he finally had company when Andrés Galarraga joined the “club” and Sammy Sosa made it a trio in 2004.

“A team will always appreciate a great individual if he’s willing to sacrifice for the group.” – Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

May 11, 1988 – Mario Andretti records fastest Indianapolis 500 lap, 221.565 mph

Mario Andretti was the fastest driver (Indianapolis 500) in practice all week, leading the charts at 221.565 mph. On pole day morning, Mario drove a lap of 220.372 mph. On his qualifying attempt, though, he could only get to 214.692 mph. No one knew what happened to the car and why it went so slow. On race day, he had just as bad of luck. After several long pit stops to repair gearbox problems, an oil leak, and electrical gremlins, Andretti finally called it quits. With the leaders at lap 170, Mario was about 50 laps down with a dead engine. Mario was credited with 118 laps in 20th place.

“I’ve learned that something constructive comes from every defeat.” – Tom Landry

#ThrowbackThursday

Young Stephen Curry hanging out with Drazen Petrovic, Mitch Richmond and Don Nelson.

“The more difficult the victory, the greater the happiness in winning.” – Pelé

#ThrowbackThursday

Kobe Bryant at age 12 playing grown men of Italy.