Steven A. Smith: What It Takes To Be Great

 

The following notes are from a speech that Steven A. Smith gave at the University of Rhode Island.  They are gathered from an article I found at The Good 5 Cent Cigar is the University of Rhode Island’s student news organization.  It is written by Jeremy Dawson, and you can find the complete article here.

“How bad do you want it?” This was the sentiment that resonated throughout a motivational speech from one of ESPN’s leading faces who spoke at the University of Rhode Island.

“No matter what your gifts are or how much talent you have you can’t pull it off by yourself,” said Smith. “So many of people’s problems today are based on their inability to come together.”

To prove this, Smith used the New England Patriots, San Antonio Spurs and Floyd Mayweather’s successes. In regards to Mayweather, who Smith predicted to knock out Manny Pacquiao in the 11th round of their bout that will take place on May 2nd, he said, “It ain’t just because he gets up and runs 7 miles at the drop of a hat. It’s not because he spars all the time. It is because of his trainers, his dad, his nutritionists, his masseuse, it’s because of a team.”

Smith was held back in the third and fourth grade. Smith said that he had people in his life that would say he never amount to anything in life.

“I remember the name of every one of those bastards that were laughing at me,” said Smith. “I said, ‘You can book it, no one will ever laugh at me again. They went from calling me a dummy to saying I’m too damn smart.”

Smith went on to discuss how he is very well paid and at the top of his field, which is due to his knowledge that someone else out there is gunning for his spot. Smith said, “I put in the work. This isn’t some overnight sensation.”

“In order to be excellent you have to be better than someone else,” said Smith. “In order to be the best you have to love competition… Bring it.”