Greetings Nick!
This player is all but 23-years of age. At 19, he was the consensus National College Basketball Player-of-the-Year. The NBA Rookie-of-the-Year at 20. The youngest player ever to win an NBA scoring title at 21. Today, he is now known as a 3-time NBA scoring champion.
Meet Kevin Durant. Like Drew Brees, QB of the NFL New Orleans Saints, Durant is one of those rare athletes that carries the weight of his sports team franchise and perhaps an entire city on his back. He is one of those rare breeds found in sports. He is a living BRAND who is worshipped by the entire population of Oklahoma City. Yet he is as genuine as they come! He gives as much to the tenth man coming off the bench as he does to the starters. He never travels with a posse or security guards like most NBA superstars. He drives a plain everyday conversion van to-and-from the arena.
The local OKC fans took to Durant from the very beginning. It started off with the little things… people saw him attending local church each week. They saw him slap five to every child sitting courtside. They saw him hug his mom before each tipoff. They saw him sign autographs. They saw him pay homage at the Oklahoma City National Memorial (that honored the 168 citizens killed in the bombing of the 1995 Federal Building). They saw him give every custodial worker inside the Oklahoma City Arena the same respect – much like Peyton Manning during his days with the Indy Colts – as he gives his teammates and family.
“I like to see people smiling,” says Durant. “So I do whatever it takes. The fans make time for us as players. They don't have to go out of their way to drive to the game. They don't have to go out of their way to buy our jerseys, buy tickets, come scream and support us every game. They can save their money. But they choose to come watch us play. So that's the least I can do, just showing them that I appreciate them.”
At a young age Durant's parents instilled a sense of humility and often told their son that “IT DIDN’T HAVE TO BE YOU” when they realized Kevin was developing an athletic gift. Says Durant: “That's as simple as it can get! My parents taught me with those words that it could be the guy living across the street that's in my shoes. I was blessed to be a guy that's been chosen to do something. I've been put on this earth to do something that I love and I can't take that for granted.”
One of the things that impresses me so much about Kevin Durant is how he GETS IT! He’s making tens of millions. Actually turned down ten$ more! Doesn’t need the big city lights like Miami or L.A. to make him famous. He loves being tucked away in Oklahoma City. When asked why he didn’t bolt the Thunder franchise for more riches as a 22-year-old free agent and league scoring champion, Durant said: “OKC fits my personality very well. It's laid back and calm, and that's the kind of person I am. The people are tremendous. And I love the organization and what we have in store. We're big on family and that's what we have in Oklahoma City.”
That is such a key fellas. Finding a school (college) and or pro organization that you feel comfortable. That you have a trust. That your skills and beliefs match up with the program or organization. No matter how much money you may be paid someday, establishing that comfort zone and daily routine is one of the keys to helping you perform and reach the excellence you have come to expect. No matter how much we're all compensated in life, every human being has to feel loved and feel that inner happiness in order to succeed!
ALL THE BEST MY FRIEND! KEEP BELIEVING IN YOU ALWAYS AND GO CAPTURE YOUR DREAMS!
Jim Loria
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“Once a man has made a commitment to a way of life, he puts the greatest strength in the world behind him. It’s something we call heart power. Once a man has made this commitment, nothing will stop him short of success” - stated by Vince Lombardi, the legendary NFL Hall of Fame Coach
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"A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. He does not set out to be a leader, but becomes one by the quality of his actions and the integrity of his intent" – stated by Unknown Author
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“Confidence imparts a wonderful inspiration to its possessor” – stated by John Milton, English Poet
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“Confidence is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony” – stated by Mahatma Gandhi, the leader of India during the early 1900s
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Jim Loria
E-Mail: loria@sfstampede.com
Sunday, June 24, 2012
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