CHAMPIONS NEVER QUIT

Destiny Fulfilled: Never Give Up or Quit On Your Dreams Because God Is With You

2010-11-03T15:38:00.006-06:00

"Nothing and no one can stop you from doing your best except yourself. You are the only thing or person who can stop you."

Timothy McGaffin II - October 16, 2010

(Note: In the video below I am the one dressed in the red shorts and the flattop.)

Never give up or quit on yourself or your dreams because God is with you. Never allow the world to put limitations on you or stop you from going after your dreams.

1. I have 5 screws in my knees. 3 screws in my right knee and 2 in my left knee from surgeries that repaired the most extreme case of a severe condition in my knees called, "osteochondritis dissecans".

2. My great orthopedic surgeon is the well-known Dr. Kirt Kimball of BYU athletics and Dr. Kimball said I have the worst knees he has ever seen in his entire career.

3. As far as I know I was the 2nd oldest player at the 2010 open basketball tryouts for the Utah Flash which is the NBA D-league team for the NBA teams of the Utah Jazz and Atlanta Hawks.

Yet, despite these before-mentioned obstacles (I chose to identify out of many more), here I am (See Video Below) at the Utah Flash tryouts playing and competing with some of the best basketball players in the world!

Simply showing up and doing your best is Victory in and of itself!!! This is truly a miracle!

Never Give Up and you will always win!

Whenever you are inspired to do something in your life God has given you a dream to fulfill. God cannot give you a dream without also giving you the power to make that dream come true.

During your journey to make your dreams come true you may not always know or understand what are the divine purposes of your dreams God gave you.

As Reverend Al Sharpton said, "As you climb up steep mountains, sometimes you scar your knee; sometimes you break your skin. But don't focus on the scars, focus on the journey."

All you have to do is focus on doing your best or in other words, NEVER GIVE UP! NEVER QUIT! Never give up and you will always be successful. You never lose when you show up and do your best.

Nothing and no one can stop you from doing your best except yourself. You are the only thing or person who can stop you.

When you do your best (never give up) you always fulfill the dream God gave you no matter what the world might see or think. It only matters what God sees and thinks of you.

As long as you keep getting back up each time you get knocked down you are fulfilling the divine purposes of your gifts, talents and dreams God gave you to fulfill.

Breaking Down the Victory Formula into 4 Steps:

1. Do Your Best (Never, Never, Never Give Up!)
2. Teamwork (Help Each Other)
3. Keep a Positive Attitude
4. Have Fun!

Author: Timothy McGaffin II

See Also:
"How to Be A Champion at Anything You Choose to Do In Your Life ...Guaranteed!"

Pete Cummings: 3 Truths From the Greatest Basketball Player Ever on How to Make the Game-Winning Shot!

2010-06-18T16:37:00.006-06:00

"During the last game when most of the players were pretty tired, Pete shot the ball from the top of the key from well behind the 3-point line and made the game-winning shot!"

Who comes to your mind when you think of the greatest basketball ever? If you are like me, you probably think of someone who played professionally in the NBA (National Basketball Association). Although the best basketball players in the world do play in the NBA, the greatest basketball player ever never played in the NBA, at the college level or on their high school team.

The greatest basketball player ever, Pete Cummings, teaches us 3 simple and profound truths through his God-given talent of playing basketball.

In the book of John of the New Testament in chapter 9, verses 1-9, Jesus Christ heals a man who was born blind by restoring his eyesight. The people ask Jesus why this man was born blind and in the 3rd verse Jesus says the man was born blind so, “that the works of God should be made manifest in him.” Keep this thought on your mind as we learn Pete’s message together.

The second to last time I played basketball with Pete Cummings was on January 21, 2010. On this particular afternoon, Pete was having a hard time making shots from the outside. We played for 90 minutes. And when we play, we play all out hard. Pete must have taken and missed at least a dozen 3-point shots.

Although he could not find his rhythm on this day he kept himself prepared without fail for the next good opportunity to shoot. When a good opportunity presented itself to shoot the ball again, Pete was ready and shot without hesitation. He shot with the same confidence as if he had been shooting well all day. He kept playing with the right mindset of teamwork. Pete did not stop.

During the last game when most of the players were pretty tired, Pete shot the ball from the top of the key from well behind the 3-point line and made the game-winning shot! It was a big-time play to win a very close and hard fought game.

Even though he had not made a 3-pointer all day long he still took that shot with the confidence he was going to make it and win the game for his team.

We said to Pete how awesome it was that the only 3-pointer he made all day was the last one he took and also the game-winner!

Truth 1: “Trusting In God, Plus Our Best Effort, Equals Victory!”

To make our goals and dreams come true, we need to keep going after them with the same preparation and confidence to make them come true no matter what the circumstances. It does not matter how many times we might have previously failed, just keep shooting with confidence. Heartache or suffering changes in an instant when that game-winning shot is made.

As demonstrated by Pete’s actions, when we trust in God, we receive the power to win. Namely, we receive the power to keep shooting with confidence, to not give up and to get back up when we get knocked down no matter what the odds might seem to be. As long as we do our best by giving our best effort, in God’s own way and time, He will help us to hit that game winning shot!

Truth 2: “Stay On The Winning Team”

Many times in life it can seem to us that God is not really there, that He really is not helping us to win. We keep doing everything we can that is in our control but we keep missing our shots and wonder where God’s help is at. Of course we do not want to lose, we want to win. In these discouraging times of doubt we are tempted to change teams because it can seem like we are actually on the losing team.

I was on Pete’s team that last game and I was exhausted. Before he took the game-winning shot I positioned myself directly under the basket to get ready for the possible rebound. I remember seeing Pete closely defended as he launched the ball. I could only see a part of his arm as he shot and see the ball as it rose over the defender toward the hoop. It was a very difficult shot. As the ball flew through the air I boxed out Dan McMillan for the possible rebound and I remember thinking to myself, “Please go in because I am really tired.”

Remember that the game has already been won. Stay on the winning team, even if it may seem like you have no chance to win. When it seems like you are in the 4th quarter with very little time left on the clock and the opposing team has a huge lead, stay on the winning team.

God will appear and come out of what seems like nowhere to hit that game-winning shot for you and win the game. Even when you are tired, in basketball and in life, just keep moving forward and God will do the rest in His own way and time.

Truth 3: “God Reveals Himself Through Our Talents”

In playing basketball with Pete, being a direct witness of his talents and meeting his friends and family it is so obviously clear that Pete Cummings was born and meant to play basketball.

God has given each one of us divine gifts and talents to fulfill divine purposes. This is as Christ explained so “that the works of God should be made manifest in him,” when Christ healed the blind man.

A lot of people talk about Michael Jordan as one example of who is the greatest basketball player ever. Jordan used the body God gave him, did his best to cultivate his basketball talents, never gave up and ultimately fulfilled the purposes of the gifts and talents he was given.

Pete Cummings did the same. Cummings used the body God gave him, did his best to cultivate his basketball talents, never gave up and ultimately fulfilled the purposes of the gifts and talents he was given.

Anyone who simply trusts in God by doing their best, by not giving up and by staying on the winning team, fulfills their purposes and is the greatest ever.

The account I gave about the second to last time I played basketball with Pete on January 21, 2010 is only one example of how God revealed himself through Pete’s basketball talents.

Pete was in great shape. He was usually one of the first guys up the floor on the offensive end and one of the first guys back down the floor on the defensive end.

Pete was such a great passer. I was on the receiving end of many perfect passes from him on fast breaks and pick and roll plays. He was a team player from start to finish. He was always trying to cheer his teammates on and look for and acknowledge the positive things each person was doing to help each other win.

There were times when I was also having an off day shooting from the outside and I would hesitate before shooting another 3-pointer. However, I would hear Pete’s voice cheering me on saying, “yeah, that’s your shot Tim,” giving me the confidence to shoot again. Then I would knock it down and point back at Pete and thank him for the confidence boost.

Finish the Race Victorious!

On January 28, 2010, Pete Cummings without warning suffered multiple strokes. He miraculously recovered from the strokes just weeks later. As many of his basketball friends and teammates visited him in the hospital we were amazed as we witnessed Pete as a living miracle.

Pete talked about how he soon would be back to play basketball again.

When I met his mother, she said to me that, “Pete never gives up, he never quits.”

In the hospital Pete told his family he did not know why these difficult experiences were happening to him but that he was never going to give up.

Pete returned home from the hospital almost fully recovered from the strokes. When he was strong enough, he returned to the hospital once more for his scheduled heart surgery to strengthen one of his heart valves that was weakened when he had the strokes.

During the surgery Pete Cummings suddenly and unexpectedly died at the very young age of 35 on April 13, 2010. He is married and has 4 children.

In this account of Pete’s message, I talked about him in the past tense saying he “was” this or he “was” that but there is no “was.” Pete finished the race victorious and he “is.”

Returning to chapter 9 in the book of John after the blind man is healed, some people did not think the victoriously healed former blind man was the same person. But in verse 9, the victorious man says, “I am he.”

When I think of the greatest basketball player ever, I think of many who played in the NBA, I think of my dad, Timothy McGaffin Sr., and I think of Pete Cummings.

May we live and share the 3 truths of Pete’s message by helping each other, treating each other right and cheering each other on so we win together as a team forever victorious and triumphant.

Author: Timothy McGaffin II

Author's note: I was blessed to play basketball with Pete Cummings and get to know this great man. In November of 2009, "The Daily Utah Chronicle" did a story on our basketball pick-up games. Pete was one of the players who was interviewed.

You can read this story and watch the video that accompanies the story at the link here: Pete Cummings Story and Video. Watch the video so you can see the greatest basketball player ever with your own eyes.

Eric Liddell Remembered

2010-04-26T13:39:00.005-06:00

Excerpt from video entitled, "Eric Liddell Remembered":

"Let us run with patience the race that is set before us. ...you see friends, we too are in a manner of speaking, in a race. Yet we are runners for Christ and until God blows the finishing whistle, we will keep running and I hope always with joy."

This video is in remembrance of anyone who finished the "race" as spoken about Eric Liddell in the video.

I stumbled upon this video shortly after my friend, Pete Cummings, suddenly and unexpectedly died on April 13, 2010 at the young age of 35. I was pondering how Pete fulfilled the purposes of his God-given gifts and talents and finished the "race".

Let's honor and remember all the great people in our lives by living our lives right. Living right means to trust in God, do our best and never give up. In so doing we will also be fulfilling the purposes of our God-given talents as we run our own races and inspire everyone who comes into contact with us to do the same.

-Timothy McGaffin II

"We Are The World"

2010-02-16T14:42:00.012-07:00

"We Are The World 25 for Haiti"

"...We can't go on pretending day by day that someone, somehow will soon make a change..."

"We Are The World" (Original)

"...We can't go on pretending day by day that someone, somewhere will soon make a change..."

Nothing can stop us! Champions can not be stopped! Never Give Up! Never Never Never Never Never Never Quit!

~Tim

Rev. Al Sharpton's Testimony On Michael Jackson's Life of What a Champion Is and Does

2010-01-25T17:07:00.023-07:00

Below is a video of Rev. Al Sharpton's inspired speech at Michael Jackson's memorial service held July 7, 2009 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.

Rev. Al Sharpton's words are a testimony about so many truths on so many levels. When you listen carefully and without cynicism, you will feel and know what Al Sharpton is saying is true. Never never never never never never never never give up! Never quit!

Written excerpt #1 from Al Sharpton's speech:

"No one believed in those days that this kind of dream could come true, but they kept on believing and Michael never let the world turn him around from his dreams.

I first met Michael around the 1970 Black Expo, Chicago, Illinois. Rev. Jesse Jackson, who stood by this family till now, and from that day as a cute kid to this moment, he never gave up dreaming. It was that dream that changed culture all over the world. When Michael started, it was a different world. But because Michael kept going, because he didn't accept limitations, because he refused to let people decide his boundaries, he opened up the whole world."

Written excerpt #2:

"As you climb up steep mountains, sometimes you scar your knee; sometimes you break your skin. But don't focus on the scars, focus on the journey. Michael beat 'em, Michael rose to the top. He out-sang his cynics, he out-danced his doubters; he out-performed the pessimists. Every time he got knocked down, he got back up. Every time you counted him out, he came back in. Michael never stopped. Michael never stopped. Michael never stopped."

Written excerpt #3:

"I want his three children to know, there was nothing strange about your daddy. It was strange what your daddy had to deal with but he dealt with it anyway. He dealt with it for us."

Thank you Michael Jackson! Thank you Al Sharpton!

God reveals himself through our gifts and talents!

Figure out what your gifts and talents are and share them with the world and Never Give Up!

Let's "Heal the World"! ...Together!

~Tim McGaffin II

The Truman Show - A Metaphorical Analysis

2009-12-21T17:10:00.022-07:00

Truman feels that there is something more to life that he can't see and he decides that all of those fears that have kept him from leaving Seahaven and achieving his dreams are not going to stop him anymore.

I am examining the 1998 Jim Carrey film entitled "The Truman Show." This movie is not only filled with metaphors, it is a metaphor itself. I will discuss what the metaphors are in the film, their meaning, and how they tell the story.

The purpose of this film is to inspire the audience by relating the life of a certain individual to their own lives with the use of metaphors. Truman is the main character and he is the star of a realty television show. The only problem is that he doesn't know his life is the subject of a television show. He lives in a gigantic studio that encases the population and the land of a small island city called Seahaven. 24 hours a day his life is broadcast live to the rest of the world. In order to keep the show running the crew constantly must find ways to stop him from figuring out his life is a T.V. show and they constantly must stop him from leaving Seahaven. The plot of the movie takes place when Truman decides that nothing is going to stop him from achieving his dreams and becoming a champion and he takes the audience on his journey that follows through with that decision.

There are three major themes throughout the film. The first major theme is that of 'the big picture,' or 'a world within a world.' Since Truman lives in a television studio and doesn't know the outside world exists, he is not able to see the big picture. The audience can relate because all of mankind has been trying to figure out the meaning of our existence here on earth. Many people have a similar belief or at least hope that there is life after death and the life that we now live is not all there is to life because we can't see the big picture. The world within a world can also be a metaphor for those times in life when people attempt to achieve a goal or a dream and put forth work to obtain it without knowing ahead of time if they will succeed or fail.

The second major theme is that of fear. In order to get through life or in order to achieve a dream or goal people need to conquer their fears. Losing, failure, pain, discouragement, frustration, etc., are all examples of obstacles to fear. All of these obstacles are capable of stopping someone from achieving their dreams. Truman lives on an island and is afraid of the water. To see if there is anything else to life, Truman must conquer his fear of water. The sea is also a metaphor of all the obstacles to stop someone. There are storms, sharks, waves, winds and the sea is also vast.

The third theme is that of perseverance. Perseverance has many names including commitment, determination, dedication, consistency, or never giving up or never quitting. These are just some of the names that all mean to keep going forward no matter how hard, difficult, painful, or discouraging things may get. Never quitting is the absolute toughest thing a human being can do because it means that one must confront and conquer over fear. Those that can do it achieve, accomplish, and obtain anything. Sooner or later if someone is determined enough to find a way they will. Nothing can stop a person from trying just one more time no matter how many times someone might fail. Crossing the sea takes an extreme amount of perseverance to eventually get past all the obstacles and reach the shore on the other side where our goals and dreams lie.

Truman feels that there is something more to life that he can't see and he decides that all of those fears that have kept him from leaving Seahaven and achieving his dreams are not going to stop him anymore. Due to his complete determination Truman finds the way out of the studio and into a real world. He is the True Man because he refuses to let the world decide who he is, and rather he decides who he is.

Author: Timothy McGaffin II

Mickey Mouse - A Reflection of Walt Disney

2009-12-21T16:56:00.015-07:00

"Sometimes I’ve tried to figure out why Mickey appealed to the whole world. Everybody’s tried to figure it out. So far as I know, nobody has. He’s a pretty nice fellow who never does anybody harm, who gets into scrapes through no fault of his own, but always manages to come up grinning."

Mention the name Walt Disney and one cannot help but imagine images of superior animation, magnificent theme parks, an entertainment and financial empire and the little guy who started it all -Mickey Mouse.

In 1928, Walt Disney had run into bad times while working in Kansas City. Most of his hired animators had left him and went to work for a competing studio. Things looked bleak, but out of a desperate situation came a new character. Inspired by a mouse that prowled his office, that at one point Disney could not afford cheese to feed it anymore, Mickey Mouse was born. Mickey Mouse is now the most recognizable cartoon in the world. His lasting appeal to people of all nations is one of the great phenomena's of the twentieth century. The question of why Mickey Mouse has been so successful has been discussed from time to time. Some debate that it is because he was one of the first seriously animated characters. Others say the manner in which he is drawn is unique compared to other cartoons. Although the success of Mickey Mouse seems to be a mystery to many, his success is the representation of the value of Walt Disney.

In this essay I will look at Mickey Mouse using the value analysis critique. Value analysis is the identifying of a value or values that define a culture or a person. So in this paper I will look specifically at what value Mickey Mouse represents and why that value has made him into the most successful cartoon character in the world.

The optimism of Mickey Mouse comes from that of his creator, Walt Disney. In an interview, Walt Disney said the following:

"Sometimes I've tried to figure out why Mickey appealed to the whole world. Everybody's tried to figure it out. So far as I know, nobody has. He's a pretty nice fellow who never does anybody harm, who gets into scrapes through no fault of his own, but always manages to come up grinning."

Mickey "always manages to come up grinning" because Disney learned how to "come up grinning."

Looking at the all the times in Walt Disney's life when he was down, one can see that nothing could ever stop him because he always got back up. Growing up on the farm in Marceline, Missouri his family had their share of bad times. Two years in a row the crops failed and Disney's father, Elias, had to mortgage the farm. Then the well where the Disney family and the livestock got their water became contaminated. After swine fever had hit the hog herd, Elias became extremely ill with typhoid. He hovered between life and death for several weeks at the hospital. Walt's older brother Roy enlisted in the U.S. Navy during World War I and Walt, being inspired by his brother but still being a year too young to enlist, persuaded a Red Cross recruiter to let him join up. Walt was shipped off to France in October 1918, when the war was practically over. However, he saw the devastated lands over which the war had been fought. He spent ten months in France and told friends that it constituted "a lifetime of experience."

In the fall of 1919 Disney tried to get a job as a newspaper cartoonist in Kansas City but was turned down by all the papers. He became discouraged but remained determined, and got a job at the Pesmen-Rubin Commercial Art Studio. There he became friends with a Dutchman named Ub Iwerks. A few weeks after Christmas, both of them were laid off and Disney and Iwerks decided to "come up grinning" and go into business for themselves. They got a job in February, 1920 at the Kansas City Film Ad Company.

Disney began to experiment with animation and gradually completed several cartoons that he shipped off to local theaters. He approached the owner of the Film Ad Company, A. Vern Cauger, with a suggestion to develop a series of cartoon shorts. His idea was rejected, so Disney decided to "come up" again and break out on his own. He collected $15,000 from local investors and used the money to assemble a small studio with a working crew. Walt joined with his brother Roy as business partners to eventually establish the three-room Disney Brother Studios in Los Angeles.

Walt signed a contract with New York distributor, Margaret Winkler, and her backer, Universal Studios, for one series and an option for two more of "Alice's Wonderland." An animated comedy that featured a live-action six year old filmed in a cartoon setting. The initial contract called for one cartoon per month. In 1924, Margaret Winkler's husband, Charles Mintz, took over the distribution company and demanded one film every three weeks. In 1926 with a steady income, a new studio was built and a new animated character, named Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, was developed. He debuted in 1927 and became a great success. In 1928 the current Oswald contract expired and Mintz concocted a scheme to make Disney and his studio fold over to him, slowly luring away the majority of Walt's staff. Disney negotiated with Mintz for a new contract, and was stunned when Mintz offered him less money and told him to take it or leave it. Within days, most of Disney's other animators went to work for Mintz also. Roy Disney was very upset and asked his brother, "Do you realize what sort of situation we are in? We've lost our animators and it looks like we'll lose our studio." Facing the first major crisis of his career with a "grin," Walt held secret brainstorming sessions with Ub Iwerks, and his brother Roy. At a time when things seemed to be at their worst, here emerged Mickey Mouse.

Like his creator, Mickey also had his share of hard times and was able to always get back up. In 1928, Mickey starred in his first film, "Plane Crazy" and then followed "Gallopin' Gaucho." His third film was a breakthrough innovation that incorporated sound for the first time called "Steamboat Willie." In "Steamboat Willie" Mickey gets into a "scrape" with the captain but tries to remain confident and pretend he is not afraid of the captain when his expression sometimes dictates otherwise. Even in the earliest of cartoon shorts Mickey does not back down from his problems. There were many times in Walt's life when he was faced with a scary situation but chose to keep his head up and move forward. "Mickey didn't seek trouble, and he didn't complain; he rolled with the punches...as in "The Little Tailor," he showed warrior resourcefulness and won, once again, a kiss from dear,...Minnie." Mickey Mouse's relentlessness to remain optimistic when confronting the struggle was drawn into him by Walt Disney's pen.

The personality of Mickey Mouse is that of his author, Walt Disney. As a young man, Walt Disney always impressed friends and family alike "with his mischievous curiosity and fun-loving nature." His younger sister Ruth took note that he had an engaging personality and "was always thinking of ideas." She said that throughout his whole life, "Walt always seemed like a kid to me." Mickey is the kind of fellow who is always playing around and playing jokes. The entire concept of the creation of Disneyland and Disneyworld, the two major theme parks, and its spokesman, Mickey Mouse, is to inspire people to keep the wonder, youth and fun of life alive and well in everyone. Walt Disney always seemed like a kid to his sister, Ruth, and so does Mickey Mouse. A cartoon never grows old and never changes with age, it never dies. When Ub Iwerks was shown Walt's preliminary sketches of Mickey he said, "he looks just like you--same nose, same face, same whiskers, same gestures and expressions. All he needs now is your voice." Walt admitted that he would look in the mirror and use his face as a model and that many of the facial expressions were his." Mickey's appealing charisma of youth and joy to make others happy comes from the imaginations of Walt Disney's desire to make others happy.

Mickey Mouse's perseverance to succeed is why he is so appealing. In America the majority of people were all the "little guy." The decade that preceded Mickey Mouse, America lived through World War I, and a year after Mickey was created came the Great Depression. The distance that separated the rich from the poor was immense. There wasn't much in between. In contrast, the number of poor and middle-class incomes greatly outnumbered those on the higher end of the social ladder. Walt Disney had also lived along with America during these difficult times as well. Disney had always been the "little guy." He was always getting picked on by Hollywood and tried to be taken advantage of. He speaks of when he was dismally poor in his tiny office of Kansas City and one of his friends was a little mouse. He states "It used to crawl across my desk and I'd feed it bits of cheese. I got quite fond of it and looked forward to its visits." Disney was with nothing but a mouse to look forward to. "It would take the cheese right out of my fingers and then curl up and go to sleep in the palm of my hand," he said. Then there came a period when he could not even afford cheese for the mouse any longer. In those hard times Disney remained determined that he would make his dreams come true as well as everyone else in America also desired.

When the time came that Walt Disney became successful in the creation of Mickey Mouse he could not help but put the very same value characteristic into that mouse that Disney had in himself. Disney knew that he had become a success because he decided to never give up. He decided to take the value of "never quitting" and put it into animated form. Mickey Mouse is an animated creation of the value of "never quitting." Mickey Mouse is so appealing as a cartoon because people in America and all over the world recognize that value to never quit in Mickey. The value of Mickey Mouse is a direct representation of that same value of Walt Disney. The greatest human achievement possible is getting back up just one more time. Anyone who possesses this quality can never be defeated and can do anything. People pick up on that and can feel it in the personality of Mickey Mouse. People want to be like Mickey Mouse and that is why he is so likeable.

Mickey Mouse and Walt Disney are the same exact value. "There's a lot of Mouse in me," Disney said of himself. They both are huge successes. Disney's success came from the worldwide appeal of Mickey Mouse. Mickey's success came from the worldwide appeal of Walt Disney.

In analyzing Mickey Mouse as the text that has permanently become a global phenomenon, and then his creator, the value of "never quitting" is easily identified as the one they both have in common. It is the value that they and the people that admire them also have in common. It answers the question of why Mickey Mouse has become so successful. He is the embodiment of Walt Disney's character. They both had extremely difficult times in their lives just like the majority of people do at some period during theirs. They both endured the hard times because they knew eventually they would become successful. People identify with both of them because they too know they will become successful sooner or later by exercising the same value of "never quitting."

Author: Timothy McGaffin II

Michael Jackson Performed at Berlin Reichstag June 19, 1988 - BAD World Tour

2009-08-17T18:30:00.006-06:00

LIVE from the Reichstag, Berlin, Germany on August 8, 2009.

Michael Jackson performed at the Reichstag on June 19, 1988 during the BAD World Tour.

Michael could have performed at any other stadium but decided to perform at the Reichstag to send a message of peace and unity.

The Berlin Wall was still up and the border (The Wall) between East Berlin and West Berlin ran just behind the Reichstag.

The message was sent loud and clear.

Thank you Michael!

"Heal the World"

~Tim McGaffin II

Micheal Jackson performs during a concert at the historical Berlin Reichstag on June 19, 1988.

Photograph by: AFP/Getty Images, file photo

Michael Jackson is the KING: First Performance (BAD) - Part 1 of 3 - Tim McGaffin

2009-08-17T17:37:00.005-06:00

LIVE from O2 Arena, London, England. July 16, 2009. Part 1 of 3.

This would have been the first Michael Jackson concert that I would've witnessed on July 16, 2009. I decided to still make the trip to thank the KING!

Michael Jackson is the KING of music and dance.

The greatest performer in the history of the world because he used his talents to inspire and help others to become truly great and achieve greatness.

Champions are Unstoppable.

Campeões são Imparáveis.

When I was 8 years old in 1987 and just starting 2nd grade, the BAD video came on TV and it was the first time I ever saw Michael Jackson perform.

I knew within 30 seconds of watching him dance, sing and move with such heart and soul and real emotion that Michael is the GREATEST EVER!

Even though I was only 8, I knew within 30 seconds that M.J. is the greatest ever...

I remember even saying out loud to myself, "He is the BEST. He is the BEST ever."

I just knew.

Thank you Michael.

~Tim McGaffin II

"The Best is Yet to Come!"

The Definition of Glory: Vince Lombardi

2009-04-10T18:34:00.005-06:00

"The real glory is being knocked to your knees and then coming back. That's real glory. That's the essence of it." -Vince Lombardi

Read more great quotes on "the real glory" here: "Triumph and Victory" (Click Here) for more TRUTHS about NEVER QUITTING!

Victory! Vince Lombardi

2009-04-10T16:30:00.005-06:00

"I firmly believe that any man's finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle - victorious." -Vince Lombardi

Jackie Joyner Kersee

Read more great quotes on "the greatest fulfillment" here: "Triumph and Victory" (Click Here) for more TRUTHS about NEVER QUITTING!

The Greatest Glory: Nelson Mandela

2009-03-18T16:34:00.014-06:00

"The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." - Nelson Mandela

Read more great quotes on "the greatest glory" here: "Triumph and Victory" (Click Here) for more TRUTHS about NEVER QUITTING!

Champions Never Quit: Victory Is Ours! We Can Never Be Stopped!

2009-01-31T23:11:00.010-07:00

"Only a Champion can perform the greatest accomplishment which is to comeback or rise again after failure or difficult times.

I know when we choose to move forward despite being in a negative situation we gain divine qualities and attributes in those comeback moments such as service and charity for others.

Never never never never never never never... Quit.

Champions are Unstoppable!" -Tim McGaffin II

How to Be A Champion at Anything You Choose to Do In Your Life ...Guaranteed

2009-01-15T14:55:00.186-07:00

Tim McGaffin II and John Stockton, April 17, 1992

"You were our second choice Tim," the assistant basketball coach said to me. I just failed to make the team and make my dream come true. Or, at least it appeared I failed. Remember, God never gives us a dream without also giving us the power to make that dream come true.

What Does It Mean To Be A Champion?

Shortly after turning 9 years old I made the choice to play professional basketball in the N.B.A. (National Basketball Association).

At this moment of choosing to play in the NBA, I created my dream and also made the commitment to making my dream come true.

One of the reasons I wanted to play in the NBA is because only the best of the best players are in the NBA. I wanted to be the best at something in my life because that would mean I am the best, that I am a Champion. If you can become the best at one thing, then you can become the best at anything you choose because you are the best.

Becoming an NBA basketball player is almost impossible. I wanted to prove all of our dreams always come true when we put our heart and soul into making them a reality. I wanted to prove no matter what or who you choose to be in your life that you will be whatever or whoever you choose.

Here Is Where The Fun Begins:

When I was 13 years old I tried out for the basketball team in 7th grade at Lakeridge Jr. High School...

....And I failed.

I tried out again for the basketball team in 8th grade at Canyon View Jr. High School...

...And I failed.

I tried out again in 9th grade at Canyon View...

...And I failed.

I tried out again in 10th grade at Orem High School...

...And I failed.

I tried out again in 11th grade at Timpanogos High School...

...And I failed.

I tried out again in 12th grade at American Fork High School...

...And I failed.

I went on a two-year mission for my church to Portugal and came back home.

I had two major knee surgeries and had 5 screws added to my knees. 3 screws in my right knee, 2 screws in my left knee.

My orthopedic surgeon said I had the worst knees he had ever seen in his entire career.

After waiting for more than 6 months for my knees to heal from the surgeries, I came back and tried out again for the basketball team at Utah Valley State College...

...And I failed.

I transferred to the University of Utah and tried out for the basketball team in now my 3rd year of college...

...And I failed.

The coaches really liked me because they saw how much I loved basketball and they saw I was never going to quit. They asked me if I wanted to be the Equipment Manager for the team.

I accepted and became the Equipment Manager for the University of Utah men's basketball team.

I tried out again for the team in now my 4th year of college.

....And I failed.

I failed for the 9th consecutive time, spanning 12 years of consecutive failure.

And this time I was ONLY ONE PERSON AWAY FROM MAKING THE TEAM.

ONLY ONE PERSON AWAY!!!

The coaching staff invited me into the office and told me they could only add on one more player to the basketball team. They said unfortunately I was their second choice.

The coaches said if their first choice declined to accept the final roster spot, then I would be on the team instead.

But since their first choice did accept the final roster spot and I was the coaches' second choice and there was only room for one player, ...I didn't make it.

"You were our second choice Tim," the assistant coach told me.

Before the University of Utah's second basketball game of the season this year, the team and I sat down to eat our pre-game dinner.

During the dinner, one of the players began to speak to me in a mocking tone and manner and in a volume loud enough for everyone in the quiet dining room to hear. (This player is a very good person and I do not mean to falsely portray him in a negative way and that is why he remains anonymous.)

He (anonymous player) said he didn't believe the coaches were telling me the truth.

He said the coaches were lying to me when they said I was their second choice because they didn't want to hurt my feelings.

He said I would never be able to become a college basketball player because it is almost impossible.

"You want to be where we are, you want to be one of us, but you'll never be one of us. It's too hard," he told me.

I then responded by agreeing he was right that it is almost impossible.

"You're right, it is almost impossible to play basketball in college, to become a college basketball player," I said.

"And as difficult as it is to play basketball in college, it is even more difficult or even more impossible to play basketball in the NBA.

But I have done something that is so difficult, that not a single person in this room has done what I've done," I said, boldly to the entire team of players and assistant coaches eating dinner in this private hotel dining room.

At this point in the conversation everyone was looking over at the anonymous player and me, while listening intently to both of us.

"And not only has no one in this room done what I've done, but what I've done is so difficult that not even a single player in ALL of college basketball has done what I've done," I continued.

"And not only has no one playing in college done what I've done but also not even a single basketball player in ALL of the NBA has done what I've done.

And not only has no one in college or the NBA done what I've done, but not a single college or NBA basketball player PAST or PRESENT has done what I've done."

I then told him and everyone in the room, "What I've done is...

...No one has ever tried out to make a basketball team as many times in a row as I have and also failed as many times in a row as I have and still has not given up."

I went on to explain that at this point in my life I had now tried out to make the basketball team 9 consecutive times, spanning 12 years. I failed to make the team all 9 of those times, but I still have not quit!

"The main reason you're on the team is because you just happened to grow to be 7 feet tall. You didn't choose to be 7 feet tall. It just happened," I said to him.

"The door has always been opened for you. But the door has always been closed for me and yet I still keep choosing to continue to move forward by re-opening the door every time it shuts on me," I said.

I asked him, "If you would have failed to make your high school team one year would you have come back and tried out again to make the team a second time?"

"Uhh, yeah, you probably would have tried again," I told him, answering my own question I just posed to him....

I then asked him, if he would have failed two years in a row, would he have come back to do his best to try out again a third time in a row?

"Hmmm, maybe," I said to him...

Finally I told him, "...And I know without a doubt you would not have come back to try again a fourth time."

I explained:

I failed to make the basketball team 9 consecutive times.

9 Times!

And I have come back 9 consecutive times.

9 Times!

I still have not given up. I still have not quit.

Then I told him and everyone in the dining room, "I know the most difficult thing you can do in your life is to never quit or to get back up when you get knocked down.

And not only is 'Never Quitting' the most difficult thing you can do in your life, it is also the greatest thing you can do in your life. And I know the only types of people capable of 'Never Quitting' are Champions. A Champion is the greatest type of person you can become," I said.

Playing basketball in the NBA, or in college or anything else that might be seen as "great" in the eyes of the world is NOTHING compared to the power of the person who never gives up!

The only types of people who can rise again after failure or hard times are Champions!

The only types of people who can confront and conquer over fear are Champions!

The only types of people who are capable of never never never never never quitting are Champions!

The greatest type of person you can become in your life is a Champion!

Because I know when we come back after failure, come back after a negative time, come back after a difficult situation, we acquire divine qualities and attributes such as love, charity and service for others.

Because when we are down or hurting or suffering and we choose to not let the hard times keep us down we are choosing to be the BEST. We are choosing to be the GREATEST. We are choosing to be HAPPY.

A person who can choose to rise up in the most difficult of situations is a person who can never be stopped!!!

Nothing Can Stop You.

No One Can Stop You.

Nothing Can Stop You From Doing Your Best!

No One Can Stop You From Doing Your Best!

The person who chooses to be unstoppable is the truly "great" person and is seen by the eyes of God as being truly "great."

You are a Champion when you make the choice to be a Champion.

Anyone can choose to be a Champion if they truly desire to be one.

Yes, you can always choose to be whatever or whoever you truly desire.

Author: Timothy McGaffin II

"Champions Never Never Never Never Never Never Never Never Never Quit." -Tim McGaffin II

P.S. "I am the greatest basketball player of all-time." ~Tim McGaffin II

"...I am the greatest of all-time not because I hold the WORLD RECORD for the Most Consecutive Failures Without Quitting to Make a Basketball Team but because I chose and did my absolute best and therefore I fulfilled my full potential.

Anyone who chooses and does their absolute best fulfills their full potential and becomes the greatest ever!

There is room enough for everyone at the top to be the greatest ever at whatever you choose to do or whoever you choose to become. Ask God to help you, then never never never never never never never quit and you will be the greatest ever! You will be a Champion!"

P.P.S.
The Rest of the Story (In God's Own Way and Time!):

Our dreams are gifts from God.

My dream to play basketball and become the greatest basketball player ever came to me when I was 9 years old as an answer to my prayer asking God what I should do in my life.

Yes, you read that correctly, I did just say: “the greatest basketball player ever”. By the way, the answer to my prayer did not come right away. I kept praying over many months until I received my answer. Remember, never give up!

However, after receiving the answer to my prayer I thought in my flawed human understanding that in order for me to become the greatest basketball player ever I would need to play in the NBA (National Basketball Association). So because of that flawed understanding of mine, I focused on playing in the NBA to make my actual dream of becoming the greatest basketball player ever come true.

I did not go around telling my friends I wanted to become the greatest basketball player ever because I did not want to possibly be misunderstood. I did not want people falsely thinking of me as crazy or arrogant or something. I just wanted to be my best self and I knew that God wanted me to be my best self. Remember, my dream is a gift from God who wants every single one of us to finish in 1^st place!

Instead, I told my friends I was going to play in the NBA because I thought I could only become the greatest basketball player ever by making it to the NBA. But as you learned from reading the short version of my story, I did not make it to the NBA. Not only did I not make it to the NBA, I did not even make any college, high school or junior high school teams.

So of course, I became discouraged when it seemed that God really was not with me. However, He was with me the entire time, the entire journey! He was with me because over and over again I became so inspired by my family and friends as I saw them not giving up and not quitting on their dreams.

Over and over again I heard the message to not give up, to keep going, to not quit! This message of "never quitting" constantly was communicated to me so that is all I focused on. I focused on one simple action: getting back up! I knew if I kept getting back up that somehow, someway God's dream that He gave me would come true by some miracle.

And the miracle did happen! It happened in a way I could never have possibly imagined! In fact my dream came true before I consciously recognized it came true.

In what seemed for a time to be my darkest hour was actually my miraculous triumph and victory!

After failing to make the team 9 consecutive times over 12 years. After overcoming the worst knees my orthopedic surgeon ever witnessed in his entire career. After working as hard as a human being could possibly work. After overcoming so many odds, this time I was only one person away from making the team and it seemed in the eyes of the world I was a failure.

Yet, in in the eyes of God I had done it!

I got back up!

What a great feeling! Correction: We did it! We did it together as a team! I did not do it alone. I could never have continued to keep going, over and over and over if God was not with me to help me along the entire journey.

God is on your team and is passing you the ball to make the game-winning shot! There is no possible way you can miss when He is on your team. All we have to do is keep getting back up with His help. Use your team to win. Do not try to win on your own because you cannot do it alone.

God does answer our prayers and cannot lie!

Pray and ask for help and understanding to see how He sees you, so you can recognize and know He is helping you to be the greatest ever.

..."The Best Is Yet To Come!" ~Tim

See Also:
Pete Cummings: 3 Truths From the Greatest Basketball Player Ever on How to Make the Game-Winning Shot!

Great Quote From My Friend, Lolita Figueroa

2008-12-01T20:13:00.001-07:00

"Failure is never a solution, but merely the stepping stone that awakens the Giant within..." -Lolita Figueroa

Great Quote by Michael Jackson

2008-08-19T11:06:00.011-06:00

I just found this awesome quote I've never previously read or heard before and it's great. This is a profound message by M.J.

"If you enter this world knowing that you are loved, and you leave this world knowing the same, then everything in between can be dealt with." -Michael Jackson

Attack Your Goals and Dreams Like the Mailman, Karl Malone

2008-07-09T11:10:00.005-06:00

Watch this video of the Mailman for some inspiration. If you can attack your dreams and goals like a Karl Malone hammer dunk, nothing will stop you from achieving Victory!

"Other people see you as you see yourself...."

2008-05-27T14:12:00.047-06:00

Below is an excerpt I wanted to share with you from a newsletter I received from Mike Dillard of 'Magnetic Sponsoring' (Mike became a millionaire in 18 months after failing in his home business for 7 years.)

Mike describes perfectly the type of person and skill sets required to achieve their dreams in anything including any business.

-Tim McGaffin II

--Start of Newsletter Excerpt--
"How Do You Know Who The 'Right' People Are, And How Do You Attract Them To You?"

1: True desire to be successful - "The Test" Everyone will "tell" you they desire to be self-employed, but only 10% or so will have a core desire to do so.

You can tell who these people are with this one simple question:

"So what books or training course have you read lately for your business?"

People with real desire will be able to name a few. The pretenders will give you a really weak answer.

2: They have good verbal communication skills. This is an indicator to you for many things...

People with a strong, confident phone presence typically have self confidence, natural posture, and at least some degree of current leadership ability.

I can usually tell whether or not I want to work with someone within the first 10 seconds of the conversation, but by the sounds of their voice.

If they sound timid, soft spoken, depressed, or just have no energy, I'm off the phone.

This might sound harsh, but this business isn't about your product or your compensation plan.

It's about YOU. People don't join a company, they join leaders.

If you do not have/convey the traits of a leader, you're going to have a very difficult time sponsoring people or doing anything in this industry, or any other for that matter.

In business, it's survival of the fittest. You're competing against hundreds of other businesses and potential sponsors, and if you're not the leader that person "reacts" to on an instinctual level, then they'll find someone else who does trigger that response.

If you don't know what I'm talking about, here's a very simple explanation...

By nature, people are pack animals. They follow a leader until they gain enough experience/confidence to challenge for leadership themselves.

This is a survival instinct that has been ingrained in us since our early tribal days.

Man could not survive on his own, so he formed tribes.

The tribal leader (alpha male), was typically the strongest and most dominate individual in the pack. One of his primary responsibilities was to protect his group, and in return for that protection, they would follow him.

...And everyone lived longer.

That instinct is still present today, but it's expressed through different activities such as business instead of skull-bashing.

There are two important lessons here:

1. People have a subconscious attraction to others who convey leadership qualities.

If you want to make it big in networking, (or anything in life), you must learn to convey those qualities, and eventually BECOME a leader.

2. If your prospect does not have these qualities, they will struggle as well until they develop them.

Whether or not you sponsor this type of person just to "get a check", is completely up to you. I recommend getting past that stage of sponsoring anyone with a pulse for "self-appointed approval" as quickly as possible.

We'll get more into this topic of social dynamics and more tribal stories another time, and all of it is covered in detail in Magnetic Sponsoring and Black Belt Recruiting.

3: The X Factor...

This is unique to you. The "right" person is someone you would personally enjoy working with.

You might share some things in common like gender, age, personality types, location, demographic, etc...

It might even be experience level.

For example, my criteria for sponsoring a person will be very different from most people's...

I'm so busy these days, that I don't have time to work with someone unless they've already taken care of their mental game, and are capable of self-reliance. I don't want to teach them the game, I want to enhance their current game.

No you might think that I'd only sponsor a handful of people with such a high bar, but that's not the case.

The pool of people who meet my personal criteria is endless for me and anyone else because people are constantly graduating to the level I'm looking for on a daily basis.

When they do, they tend to seek out others like themselves to work with...

And The Reason Behind That Fact Brings Us To The "Attraction" Portion Of This Email...

Once again, this gets back to psychology and social dynamics, but I'm going to keep it very simple today...

People gather is groups of individuals similar to themselves.

Successful and wealthy people tend to keep to themselves, especially in business, because each of them have built up a tremendous amount of value to the rest of the group.

The sharing of these abilities between members increases the holdings/power/chance for survival in the world for each of them.

A person of common skill and intelligence has nothing to offer someone who is at a "higher" level.

(And please, don't spin your wheels coming up with all kinds of "what if's" and exceptions to this generality. The world is still based on survival of the fittest, even if it's an uncomfortable truth to swallow socially).

The "common" person tends to socialize with other "common " people because they feel equal in status around peers of the same group.

Life experiences, local culture, and local events shared by the people in each group strengthen the bond between the individuals in it.

If a "common" person desires to leave the group and become an "uncommon" person, (as you're trying to do in your attempt to leave the working world behind for life as a wealthy entrepreneur), the group will apply social pressure in order to bring them (you) back in line with their mentality.

My point...

You attract who you are, and you are who you see yourself to be within your mind.

You might need to read that a few more times...

If you want to attract successful leaders, you must believe yourself to be one. I don't say that you need to already be one...

I'm saying that you need to believe you're one. Other people see you as you see yourself.

Reality will follow what you believe.

I didn't become a leader when I bought a fancy car or wrote a book.

I became a leader on a telephone call from my bedroom in San Antonio about 4 years ago while I was waiting tables. I was still dead broke, but that night I changed my mindset on that call, took a leadership role with the person on the other end, and the rest is history...

It was a defining moment in my life and I can remember it like yesterday.

That new mindset led to new actions, new confidence, new posture, new vocal expression... All traits of a leader.

Expressing those traits brought on by the new beliefs, manifested into the "Magnetic" life I live today.
--End of Newsletter Excerpt--

To Be a Great Champion...

2007-12-18T21:31:00.003-07:00

Here is a quote of greatness my friend Kiran gave to me:

"To be a great champion, you must believe you are the best. If you are not, pretend you are." -Muhammad Ali, World Champion Boxer

Albert Einstein: Persistence

2007-10-10T19:33:00.006-06:00

"Persistence is the most powerful force on earth, it can move mountains." -Albert Einstein

Read more great quotes on "the most powerful force on earth" here: "Triumph and Victory" (Click Here) for more TRUTHS about NEVER QUITTING!

Can't Stop The Flattop

2007-09-11T01:16:00.004-06:00

I love the FLATTOP because it is the ultimate basketball haircut. In the late 80's and early 90's watching the NBA regularly is when I fell in love with the classic haircut called the FLATTOP.

NBA players such as Chris Mullin, Scottie Pippen and Patrick Ewing had some awesome FLATTOPS. And many other players both in college and the pros had the best haircut on earth.

I strive to be my best because I want to be the best just like all the greats, masters and the champions. Many of the great basketball players I studied and learned from chose the FLATTOP. So it was only natural for me to learn from them and choose the same classic cut as well. After all, we are all on the same team.

The FLATTOP is perfectly flat which is a symbol of consistency, persistence, perseverance, or most simply stated, it never quits. The FLATTOP is UNBREAKABLE, UNSTOPPABLE, and INVINCIBLE! The FLATTOP is the haircut of champions!

Nothing can stop the FLATTOP just like nothing can stop a CHAMPION!

Champions Never Quit! Together, as a team, we can never be stopped!

-Timothy McGaffin II

Champions Never Quit, Never Surrender

2007-08-08T18:02:00.000-06:00

Champions Never Quit, Never Surrender
By Daniel Sitter

What makes a champion? Is it an unrelenting attitude, belief in yourself, focus and determination? A champion is a strong competitor who never quits, never surrenders. A true champion would rather fall down while striving and exerting maximum effort, than to sit down because she is tired. I remember maintaining a wide horse-stance in karate class for what seemed like hours while our instructor often repeated that it was acceptable to collapse to the ground, but forbidden to stand up to find relief. Quitting is never an option for winners. Remember the words of Tim Allen's Captain Nesmith character in Galaxy Quest, "Never quit. Never surrender."

At Wimbledon this year, we witnessed a true champion in action: According to the Associated Press, "Hobbled and hurting and essentially playing on one leg, Serena Williams managed to gut out a three-set victory." At one point, Williams fell to the ground, experiencing a crippling leg cramp. "I thought about not finishing, but very briefly. I thought I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I hadn't at least tried" she said after the event. Serena Williams summoned all of the strength and fortitude within her and found victory, as a true champion will. Against all odds, she prevailed.

The same attitude and characteristics also describe the successful entrepreneur. Although it may appear sometimes that there is little hope, you must remain hopeful. There is always something to be learned from past experiences, something that we can reach inward for that will furnish the drive and inspiration to prevail.

There will always be that quiet temptation to quit, to find a job and escape, but the serious entrepreneur realizes that during those disconcerting moments, success is often waiting, just ahead, obscured by the next curve in the road. Though currently unseen, triumph awaits beyond the coming dip.

The winner knows in her gut that she will find a way to prevail in her current course or will change course as many times as necessary, ultimately finding success there. This winning attitude is expressed so eloquently in the old adage" I cannot do anything about the wind, but I can adjust my sails." To quit is simply not an option. That is the winning attitude that separates champions from everyone else.

Entrepreneurial champions possess these same characteristics. Most winners are also further inspired by tales of other winners and their successes against all odds. Such sources of inspiration often fuel the fires of desire and persistence, providing that much needed boost that often provides their edge. Go and do likewise.

Daniel Sitter, author of both the popular personal development book, Learning For Profit, and the highly anticipated business book, Superior Selling Skills Mastery, has garnered extensive experience in sales, training, marketing and personal development over a successful twenty-five year career. http://www.learningforprofit.com/ Read his blog http://www.idea-sellers.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Daniel_Sitter
http://EzineArticles.com/?Champions-Never-Quit,-Never-Surrender&id=637894

UNSTOPPABLE: Stockton And Malone Seek The 2003 NBA Championship

2007-08-02T00:24:00.013-06:00

"For any NBA player, the ultimate goal is to win the NBA championship because winning the championship means winning the title of ‘champion.’ ‘Champion’ is the most sought-after title for anyone because the word itself means ‘unstoppable.’"

Karl Malone set the screen, John Stockton hit the game-winning three-point shot at the buzzer, and they were finally on their way. The Utah Jazz had just defeated the Houston Rockets in Game 6 of the 1997 Western Conference Finals, advancing to the NBA Finals for the first time ever. Coach Jerry Sloan, referring to then 35-year-old Stockton playing in his 13th season and then 33-year-old Malone playing in his 12th season, commented on how they had done it. “These guys have been criticized the last few years for not getting to where we’re going, but I’ve always said that the most important thing in sports is to keep trying. Let this be an example of what it means to say it’s never over.”

“It’s never over” when you “keep trying,” or in other words when you –never quit. In their quest for the NBA championship, be assured in 2003 that this year’s playoffs are no different from any other –John Stockton and Karl Malone will never quit.

For any NBA player, the ultimate goal is to win the NBA championship because winning the championship means winning the title of ‘champion.’ ‘Champion’ is the most sought-after title for anyone because the word itself means ‘unstoppable.’ Of the 29 league-teams that compete for the championship annually there can only be one team that will win it, only one team that will not be stopped. The 12 players on the team that does win it in that particular year are the only ones who were not stopped. Championship-winning players can claim they are unstoppable for the rest of their lives because they are champions for the rest of their lives. Nothing can ever take that title away from them.

Champion-boxer Muhammad Ali said it best when describing the importance of becoming a champion. “I hated every minute of the training, but I said, ‘Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.’”

John Stockton and Karl Malone too are champions for one simple reason: both are unstoppable.

Before the 1997 NBA Finals, Stockton and Malone had been criticized for not reaching it as Sloan commented. Now, six years later since they lost their first NBA Finals appearance against Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls in 1997, and five years later since their second appearance in 1998, they have received criticism for not winning it. Without the championship it seems they are stoppable because they have not won the title of ‘champion.’ However, what their critics fail to realize is Stockton and Malone have not been stopped.

Stockton and Malone have remarkably led the Jazz to the playoffs every season of their careers. Stockton has made 18 consecutive appearances, starting in his rookie season of 1984-85; the Mailman has made 17 straight appearances, beginning with his first season of 1985-86. They hold the record for most playoff appearances without winning a championship. They also hold the record for playing in the most playoff games without winning a championship; Stockton has played in 177 games and Malone has played in 167 games. No other player in NBA history has been to the playoffs as many years or played in as many postseason games without winning the championship as Stockton or the Mailman.

No other player in NBA history has gotten back up as many times either.

“The greatest accomplishment is not in never falling, but in rising again after the fall,” Super Bowl-champion coach Vince Lombardi once said.

That is the “greatest accomplishment” of them all because it is the most difficult of them all. It is easy to get back up when you are winning because you are already up. To get back up when you are down –that is the hard part. To get back up again and again when you are down again and again –that is the hardest part.

Winning is difficult; it only comes to those who perform the “greatest accomplishment.” All of Stockton and Malone’s individual and team successes have resulted from never quitting.

Winning individually, as Jazz fans know, Stockton and Malone have become arguably the greatest players ever to play their positions. Briefly stated, Stockton is arguably the greatest point-guard ever because he is the all-time assist and steals leader. No one else has ever done that. The Mailman is arguably the greatest power-forward ever because he is currently the all-time second-leading scorer. No other forward has ever done that.

Winning as a team, Stockton and Malone have led Utah to become one of the most winning franchises ever. During the Stockton-to-Malone era the Jazz have had 11 seasons of 50 or more wins and three seasons of 60 or more wins. On March 26th of this year when Utah beat the Portland Trailblazers 94-85 (Stockton’s 41st birthday) the Jazz ensured themselves of extending their NBA record of consecutive winning seasons from 17, to 18 with their 42nd win on the year. No other team has ever done that.

All of Stockton and Malone’s future individual and team successes will also result from never quitting. Stockton and Malone can never be stopped because they never quit, and that is why they will win the championship.

Six years later, now 41-year-old Stockton playing in his 19th season and now 39-year-old (40 in July) Malone playing in his 18th season, will again return to this year’s playoffs expecting nothing less than to win the 2003 NBA championship. Of course, eventually the legends themselves will even have to retire from basketball one day (probably when they are 50 years old or so) and when that day does come, they will either have won or not won the championship. Either way, “it’s never over” because nothing can stop John Stockton and Karl Malone from never quitting.

Author: Timothy McGaffin II

UNBREAKABLE: Michael Jackson Defines Greatness

2007-07-25T22:42:00.035-06:00

When asked what the message of his song "Unbreakable" is in a 2001 interview with TV Guide, Michael Jackson responded with the following: "That I’m invincible, that I’ve been through it all. You can’t hurt me. Knock me down, I get back up."

When asked what the message of his song "Unbreakable" is in a 2001 interview with TV Guide, Michael Jackson responded with the following: "That I'm invincible, that I've been through it all. You can't hurt me. Knock me down, I get back up."

Michael Jackson is the most successful singer in popular music-history, selling more records than any other solo artist. Due to this success, Jackson is one of the greatest musicians ever. He is also one of the most criticized artists ever, both negatively and positively. Negatively, he has been the subject of almost constant controversy in the media, in part because of his own actions but mostly because of his greatness as an artist, which will be discussed further in this essay. In trying to determine how Jackson has achieved greatness I will look at what he value's most as a person and how what he value's translates into achieving greatness. To see what he values most, I will examine his autobiographical song entitled, "Unbreakable," and use value analysis as the method of critique. In this essay I will thoroughly analyze each verse of lyrics in subsequent order to determine the value presented in each verse, as well as its relationship to achieving greatness. Michael Jackson shows through his song, "Unbreakable" that people become great when they exercise the value of perseverance.

The message of the song, as Jackson commented in the TV Guide interview, is that he is invincible. Proclaiming himself as being invincible seems it cannot possibly be true until the message is explained in more detail. It was a message he was eager to get out, being that "Unbreakable" appears as the opening song on Jackson's 2001 album, "Invincible." Not only was the song the opening one, but it was also the opening one on an album that was his first of entirely new material in six years. The opening verse begins to explain the message of why he is invincible:

Now I'm just wondering why you think
That you can get to me with anything
Seems like you'd know by now
When and how I get down
And with all that I've been through, I'm still around

Here Jackson acknowledges he has been down, but he also proclaims nothing can keep him down. He has overcome all the times and situations he has been down, using the evidence that he is "still around." He has not run away from his obstacles but instead has confronted and overcome them. This verse demonstrates the fact that Jackson will always overcome discouragement. Always overcoming discouragement is what Jackson value's in the opening verse and can be defined more simply as the value of perseverance.

In the second verse Jackson continues to explain:

Don't you ever make no mistake
Baby I've got what it takes
And there's no way you'll ever get to me
Why can't you see that you'll never ever hurt me
'Cause I won't let it be, see I'm too much for you baby

Having previously proven he exercises the value of perseverance due to the fact he is "still around," Jackson begins to elaborate on what exercising perseverance means. In the second line Jackson states he has "what it takes." In this instance "it" is a reminder of the value of perseverance he identified in the prior verse. Due to this value, there's nothing and no one who can control or hurt him, rather Jackson is free and in control.

In the chorus Jackson proclaims his greatness boldly:

You can't believe it, you can't conceive it
And you can't touch me, 'cause I'm untouchable
And I know you hate it, and you can't take it
You'll never break me, 'cause I'm unbreakable

Within the first and third lines of the chorus Jackson identifies two negative values perseverance always overcomes but also always attracts from individuals who lack "it" themselves. In this case as well as before, the word "it" is referring to perseverance or greatness. In the first line, the negative value of ignorance is identified and in the third line jealously is named. Ignorance is a lack of knowledge and only those who lack knowledge cannot "believe" or "conceive" or rather understand "it." Jealousy is a lack of respect or an unwillingness to learn from those who have become great by exercising "it." Jackson follows each negative value with a subsequent proclamation of his greatness, stating that he is "untouchable" and "unbreakable" in the second and fourth lines of the lyric. Being that the chorus of a song is repeated multiple times, it is important to Jackson for everyone who listens to understand and learn who he is and what is greatness.

In the third verse Jackson reiterates the reasons perseverance is the formula for achieving greatness:

Now you can't stop me even though you think
That if you block me, you've done your thing
And when you bury me underneath all your pain
I'm steady laughin', while surfacing

He proclaims he is unstoppable in the first line and gives the reason why in the fourth, stating he will always, by using the word "steady," and confidently, by using the word "laughin,'" resurface or comeback. What someone thinks as stated in the first line, being blocked, as in the second line and being buried as in the third line are all temporary setbacks. Also the third line is an evident example of what someone does when they lack perseverance and instead possess the negative values of ignorance, jealousy or both. Jackson demonstrates someone who lacks greatness does not value themselves and would rather try to negatively criticize or tear down others to help make their personal pain go away than simply learning from others to improve their self-worth. Jackson illustrates in this third verse that perseverance is permanent and obstacles are temporary.

Lastly, in the fourth and final verse Jackson leaves a lasting image of the truth having already proven he exercises the value of perseverance:

You can try to stop me, but it won't do a thing
No matter what you do, I'm still gonna be here
Through all your lies and silly games
I'm a still remain the same, I'm unbreakable

Jackson proves his definition of greatness to be true by using his life experiences in this song as the evidence or proof he persevered, is persevering and continues to persevere to become and remain great. By proclaiming his greatness in this song, Jackson inspires others to also become or remain great by persevering in their lives. Michael Jackson defines greatness as someone who exercises perseverance and through this value a person becomes "Unbreakable."

Author: Timothy McGaffin II

"Michael Jackson, the king of music and dance, proves he is unbreakable because he exercises the value of perseverance." -Tim McGaffin

Triumph and Victory

2007-06-26T19:16:00.025-06:00

“The greatest accomplishment is not in never falling, but in rising again after you fall.” –Vince Lombardi

“A winner is someone who recognizes his God given talents, works his tail off to develop them into skills, and uses these skills to accomplish his goals.” –Larry Bird

“I know of no higher fortitude than stubbornness in the face of overwhelming odds.” –Louis Nizer

“They can because they think they can.” –Virgil

“Things turn out best for people who make the best of the way things turn out.” –John Wooden

“There is no failure except in no longer trying.” –Elbert Hubbard

“Within you now is the power to do things you never dreamed possible. This power becomes available to you just as soon as you change your beliefs.” –Maxwell Maltz

“Success seems to be largely a matter of hanging on after others have let go.” –William Feather

“It's easy to have faith in yourself and have discipline when you're a winner, when you're number one. What you got to have is faith and discipline when you're not a winner.” –Vince Lombardi

“All that a man achieves and all that he fails to achieve is the direct result of his own thoughts.” –James Allen

“A determination to succeed is the only way to succeed.” –William Feather

“Perseverance is demonstrated by those who keep going when the going gets tough, who don’t give up even when others say, ‘it can’t be done’.” –James E. Faust

“When you choose to do your best in the most difficult of situations says to me that you are a Champion.” -Tim McGaffin II

“Again and again, when the struggle seems hopeless and the opportunity lost, some man or woman with a little more courage, a little more effort, brings victory.” –James F. Bell

“Even the woodpecker owes his success to the fact that he uses his head and keeps pecking away until he finishes the job.” –Coleman Cox

“We all have possibilities we don’t know about. We can do things we don’t even dream we can do.” –Dale Carnegie

“Winning means being unafraid to lose.” –Fran Tarkenton

“Some men give up on their designs when they have almost reached the goal; while others, on the contrary, obtain a victory by exerting, at the last moment, more vigorous efforts than before.” –Heodotus

“With ordinary talent and extraordinary perseverance, all things are attainable.” –Thomas F. Buxton

“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is to always try just one more time.” –Thomas Edison

“Lies run sprints, the truth runs marathons.” –Michael Jackson

“You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don’t try.” –Beverly Sills

“You have to know you can win. You have to think you can win. You have to feel you can win.” –Sugar Ray Leonard

“The principle of success is desire –knowing what you want. Desire is the planting of your seed.” –Robert Collier

“It’s the constant and determined effort that breaks down all resistance, sweeps away all obstacles.” –Claude M. Bristol

“‘Tis a lesson you should heed, try, try again. If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.” –William E. Hickson

“Few things are impossible with diligence and skill. Great works are performed not by strength, but perseverance.” –Samuel Johnson

“The thing to try when all else fails is: AGAIN.” –Anonymous

“Never despair, keep pushing on!” –Thomas Lipton

“Push yourself again and again…Don’t give an inch until the final buzzer sounds.” –Larry Bird

“It’s easy enough to be a starter, But are you a sticker too? It’s easy enough to begin a job. It’s harder to see it through.” –Margaret Thatcher

“I’m not going to get it close. I’m going to make it!” –Tom Watson

“I don’t think anything is unrealistic if you believe you can do it. I think if you are determined enough and willing to pay the price, you can get it done.” –Mike Ditka

“The thing that contributes to anyone reaching the goal he wants is simply wanting that goal badly enough.” –Charles E. Wilson

“When you reach for the stars, you may not quite get one, but you won’t end up with a handful of mud either.” –Leo Burnett

“If you think you can win, you can win. Faith is necessary to victory.” –William Hazlitt

“The miracle, or the power, that elevates the few is to be found in their industry, application, and perseverance under the prompting of a brave, determined spirit.” –Mark Twain

“Persistence and a positive attitude are necessary ingredients for any successful venture.” –L. Douglas Wilder

“The will to win is important, but the will to prepare is vital.” –Joe Paterno

“When you win, nothing hurts.” –Joe Namath

“Success is the result of perfection, hard work, learning from failure, loyalty, and persistence.” –General Colin Powell

“Great works are performed not by strength but perseverance.” –Samuel Johnson

“Let our opportunities overshadow our grievances.” –Booker T. Washington

“I play to win, whether during practice or a real game. And I will not let anything get in the way of me and competitive enthusiasm to win.” –Michael Jordan

“I’m invincible…I’ve been through it all. You can’t hurt me. Knock me down, I get back up.” –Michael Jackson

“I hated every minute of the training, but I said, “Don’t Quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.” –Muhammad Ali

“These guys have been criticized the last few years for not getting to where we're going, but I’ve always said that the most important thing in sports is to keep trying. Let this be an example of what it means to say it’s never over.” –Jerry Sloan

“No great achievement is performed by the person who says it can’t be done.” –Melvin Chapman

“Never give in--never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.” -Winston Churchill

“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” –Theodore Roosevelt

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

“We will either find a way or make one.” –Hannibal

“There's got to be some way we can win this game.” -John Stockton

“I know when we choose to move forward despite being in a negative situation we gain divine qualities and attributes in those comeback moments.” -Tim McGaffin II

“If you can’t win, make the fellow ahead of you break the record.” –Anonymous

“The only thing that stands between a man and what he wants from life is often merely the will to try it and the faith to believe that it is possible.” –Richard M. Devos

“Success is a state of mind. If you want success, start thinking of yourself as a success.” –Dr. Joyce Brothers

“Never never give up.” –Donald Trump

“You have to be tough and stick it out, or you wind up being nothing.” –Joe Louis

“There are no gains without pains.” –Adlai Stevenson

“All our dreams can come true, if we have the desire to pursue them.” –Walt Disney

“The truth always triumphs!” –Michael Jackson

“Effort only fully releases its reward after a person refuses to quit.” –Napoleon Hill

“I never blame failure –there are too many complicated situations in life –but I am absolutely merciless toward lack of effort.” –F. Scott Fitzgerald

“You learn that, what ever you are doing in life, obstacles don’t matter very much. Pain or other circumstances can be there, but if you want to do a job bad enough, you’ll find a way to get it done.” –Jack Youngblood

“Real difficulties can be overcome, it is only the imaginary ones that are unconquerable.” –Theodore N. Vail

“There’s such a thing as giving up too soon. You can always get one more spoonful of juice out of a grapefruit.” –Milt Weiss

“The greatest thing you can do in your life is to rise again after failure or hard times ...Never Quit!” -Tim McGaffin II

“You are never given a wish without also being given the power to make it come true.” –Richard Bach

“The greatest education in the world is watching the masters at work.” -Michael Jackson

“Success is failure turned inside out, the silver tint of the clouds of doubt, and you can never tell how close you are, it may be near when it seems so far. So stick to the fight when you are hardest hit. It’s when things seem worse, that you must not quit.” –Unknown

“Nothing can stop a person from trying just one more time no matter how many times someone might fail.” -Tim McGaffin II

“Never, never, never give up.” -Winston Churchill

“Every time you lose, you think that life’s unfair. You think of the bad breaks. But when you’re winning and playing well, you still get those bad breaks, only you overcome them. It just depends on how strong your mind is.” –Greg Norman

“Desire creates the power.” –Raymond Holliwell

“Follow your heart and God will be close by.” -Prince Marion Pharoah Taite

“To finish first, you must first finish.” –Rick Mears

“Nothing can stop me from doing my best. No one can stop me from doing my best.” –Tim McGaffin II

“No one knows what he can do until he tries.” –Pubilius Syrus

“Life is strange with its twists and turns, as everyone of us sometimes learns. And many a failure turns about, when he might have won had he stuck it out. Don’t give up though the race seems slow, you may succeed if you go on and go.” –Anonymous

“There is nothing which persevering effort cannot overcome.” –Seneca

“Difficult things take a long time. The impossible takes a little longer.” –Unknown

“You have to have already convinced yourself that you are going to win no matter what other influences are.” –Edwin Moses

“We all have the ability. The difference is how we use it.” –Stevie Wonder

“I want to continue to grow. To me, the biggest sin of all sins is to be given a gift, a talent, because its actually a gift from God, to take that and not cultivate it and make it grow, that's the biggest sin in the world.” -Michael Jackson

“Never give up! Never quit!” -James Brown

“When you get right down to the root meaning of the word “succeed,” you find that it simply means to follow through.”–F.W. Nichol

“I always do my best.” –Michael Jackson

“Failures are expected by losers, ignored by winners.” –Joe Gibbs

“Nothing is impossible to the man who can will.” –Mirabeau

“You must have long-range goals to keep you from being frustrated by short-range failures.” –Charles C. Noble

“You never fail until you stop trying.” –Florence Griffith Joyner

“There is no such thing as no chance.” –Henry Ford

“If you never try you can never succeed. If you try and do the best you can, you will never fail.” –Jim Rodgers

“Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” –Confucius

“Desire and determination must overcome disappointment.” –Walter Alston

“I’ve always believed that anybody with a little ability, a little guts and the desire to apply himself can make it. He can make anything he wants to make of himself.” –Willie Shoemaker

“What we do not see, what most of us never suspect of existing, is the silent but irresistible power which comes to the rescue of those who fight on in the face of discouragement.” –Napoleon Hill

“It’s not over until it’s over.” –Yogi Berra

“No system can long command the loyalties of men and women which does not expect of them certain measures of discipline, and particularly self-discipline. The cost in comfort may be great. The sacrifice may be real. But this very demanding reality is the substance of which comes character and strength and nobility. Permissiveness never produced greatness. Integrity, loyalty, and strength are virtues whose sinews are developed through the struggles that go on within as we practice self-discipline under the demands of divinely spoken truth.” –Gordon B. Hinckley

“VICTORY – a matter of staying power.” –Elbert Hubbard

“The one thing that matters is the effort.” –Antoine De Saint-Exupery

“Great works are performed not by strength, but by perseverance.” –Samuel Johnson

“Never give then, for that is just the place that the tide will turn.” –Harriet Beecher Stowe

“If you’ve got the guts to stick it out…you’re going to make it.” –Brian Hays

“Without continuous effort there cannot be continuous achievement.” –Orison Swett Marden

“Men fail much oftener from want of perseverance than from want of talent.” –William Cobbett

“Little minds attain and are subdued by misfortunes; but great minds rise above them.” –Washington Irving

“To try and fail is at least to learn. To fail to try is to suffer the inestimable loss of what might have been.” –Chester Barnard

“He conquers who endures.” –Persius

“You can’t win ‘em all. You have your good days and you have your bad days. Don’t be afraid to lose.” –Tommy Hearns

“Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow.” –Ronald E. Osborn

“Our doubts are traitors, And make us lose the good we ought might win, By fearing to attempt. –William Shakespeare

“History has demonstrated that the most notable winners usually encountered heartbreaking obstacles before they triumphed. They won because they refused to become discouraged by their defeats.”—B.C. Forbes

“If you make the unconditional commitment to reach your most important goals, if the strength of your decision is sufficient, you will find the way and the power to achieve your goals.” –Bob Conklin

“Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude.” –Thomas Jefferson

“You can't touch me.
You can't break me.
You can't stand with me.
'Cause I'm unbreakable.” -Michael Jackson
("You" is referring to 'ignorance' which cannot comprehend greatness or 'jealousy' which comprehends but refuses to respect greatness.)

“The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” -Nelson Mandela

“Persistence is the most powerful force on earth, it can move mountains.” -Albert Einstein

“The real glory is being knocked to your knees and then coming back. That's real glory. That's the essence of it.” -Vince Lombardi

“Don't give up. Do it one more time, for that is just the time that success will show up.” -Timothy McGaffin Sr.

“You just can’t beat the person who never gives up.” –Babe Ruth

“Champions never never never never never never never never never never quit.” –Tim McGaffin II

1970-01-01T12:00:00.004-07:00

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