The biggest rival I had in my career was me. I couldn't control Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Tom Watson or Lee Trevino. The only person I could control was me.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
Well, the biggest rival I had in my career was me.
I couldn't control Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Tom Watson or Lee Trevino. The only person I could control was me. The only person I could prepare for events was me. And if I didn't play well, I didn't play well, and I wasn't going to compete.
I had true rivalries. Not only did I want to beat my opponent, but I didn't want to let him up, either. I had a rivalry with Mac, Lendl, Borg. Everybody knew there was tension between us, on court and off. That's what's really ingrained in my mind: 'This is real. This isn't a soft rivalry.' There were no hugs and kisses.
I am my own main rival.
The likes of Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran, Tommy Hearns were true champions. There were some incredible fights between us, and I was happy to give them all an opportunity to fight me.
I didn't get along with most of the players I played against, but the one guy I did get along with was my greatest rival, so it can be done.
The rivalry is with ourself. I try to be better than is possible. I fight against myself, not against the other.
As far as I'm concerned I've never had a problem with anybody, no rivalry.
I was in relays for track where you just bonded with all these different kinds of personalities who were coming together for this one common goal of beating a rival team.
No one but myself thought I could beat guys like Tommy Hearns or Roberto Duran.
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