"The Happy Warrior Meets the Obsessive Competitor"

An extended look at a question that has long interested me: to be a top athlete--or a top anything worthwhile--do you have to be a jerk? With analysis of the Manning brothers, Bob Knight, Roger Federer, and more. 

Comments

[Joe R.]

Bob Knight. I had a good friend who was an assistant coach at a Big Ten school. During his first year, the teams were in pregame warm-ups and the coaches were sitting in their respective locker rooms. Knight walked into the opponent's locker room, saw my friend and greeted him by his first name. My friend was astonished that Knight knew his name, and more so that he proceeded to sit down and just casually shoot the breeze with my friend for a few minutes.

I found the story interesting, if not revealing. And I've always wondered why a fellow would choose to present such an unalterably ugly face to the public, when another side of him does exist. Some serious demons residing there.

[Bernie]

If memory serves, I believe Cartwright, who had a reputation for being easygoing, once found it necessary to set Mr Jordan straight. Fed up with Jordan's picking on him, he told Jordan in no uncertain terms that he would pound him right into the floor. Jordan got the message.