They say it will never happen.

They shake their heads and quietly chuckle.

They try to introduce doubt.

They pour their pessimism all over me and expect me to wilt.

They question my motives.

They call themselves my friends.

But…

They don’t know how badly I want this.

They didn’t see the tears or hear me as I cried alone in my car 16 months ago, because I didn’t want to leave.

They didn’t feel the pain or the push as I went through rebuilding my leg.

They haven’t seen the countless emails and tweets I’ve written or the calls I’ve made.

They haven’t boarded the planes or driven the hours in an effort to make it all happen.

They didn’t see my head droop after the worst beating of my life and they don’t know that it inspired me to work harder.

They haven’t seen the thousands of makes, when I’m alone in the gym.

They don’t know what it’s like to feel the pain of a “no” from those that have the ability to help…or what it’s like to keep pressing forward.

They don’t know what it’s like to come face to face with Michael Jordan…twice!

**

They are powerless against my journey and yours.

***

Maybe these words are for you.

Perhaps you want to be the best player on your team and currently you’re not even close.

Maybe you just want to be happy.

They have controlled you, your entire life, and you’ve let them.

It’s time to stop listening to them.

It’s time to listen to yourself.

Only you know how badly you want it.

Now show the rest of the World.

If you work hard enough, one day THEY will tell you that they always knew you could do it.

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Connect:  Twitter (@KennyEller) and mevsMJ.com Facebook Fan Page.

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If you’re new to the site, I set out in August 2010 to get a game of 1-on-1 vs. my childhood hero Michael Jordan.  This site is about that journey…through every valley, to every mountain top of triumph!

Later tonight I will take the next step in my preparation to face Michael Jordan by attending my first training session with Kevin Sutton!!  Due to the group of players participating in this session (I’ll be the only 33 year old), I’ll be giving it my all.

Will everyone else?

Truthfully, will the college guy give everything he’s got against me or just enough to attempt to accomplish his goal of winning?

Do I decide that or does he?

####

I’ve been at the gym a lot lately working on my game, but since my injury I haven’t really played a lot of hoops besides my 1-on-1 match-ups with Robert Brown and Garfield Blair, a couple of times with a buddy of mine and then this past Sunday with my brother.

My brother actually came up to the gym to workout, but the weight room and cardio room were both closed so he came to the court and told me that I have to be his cardio today.

I asked him if he wanted to shoot or play, knowing that I could help him get a good workout either way.  He said play, to which I confidently told him that he’s not ready for me.  My brother has played hoops just twice in the last four months.  He’s not in basketball shape.

I went into the game with the mindset that I’d give just enough effort to win.

Bad move on my part. I lost.

I regrouped and won the next two, but I should have won every game.

Not to take anything away from him, because he’s amazing on the court, but my focus and effort decided the outcome of those games…the wins and the loss.

####

Who dictates the effort that you give?  Is it you or your competition?

If you go back to how I began this post, I have a tendency of letting my competition dictate my level of effort.

That is a titanic mistake just waiting to sink my dreams.

I can no longer allow that.  I Must Always Give My All!

Reminder: Be sure to check back Thursday for a recap of my first training session with Coach Kevin Sutton!