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The Right Call: What Sports Teach Us About Work and Life
An NPR best book of the year * New York Times bestseller
The Washington Post sportswriter and New York Times bestselling author of the “fascinating” (The Wall Street Journal) The Real All Americans presents a love letter to the extraordinary coaches and athletes she has covered over the years and the actionable principles of excellence they embody.
Sportswriter Sally Jenkins has spent her entire adult life observing and writing about great coaches and athletes. With her engaging and expert prose, she has helped shape the way we view these talented sports icons. But somewhere along the line, she realized, they had begun to shape her.
Now, she presents the astonishing inner qualities in these same people that pushed them to overcome pressure, elevate their performances, and discover champion identities. Based on years of observing, interviewing, and analyzing elite coaches and playmakers, such as Bill Belichick, Peyton Manning, Michael Phelps, and more, Jenkins reveals the seven principles behind
-Conditioning
-Practice
-Discipline
-Candor
-Culture
-Resilience
-Intention
Discover how you can apply these same principles to your life and become your own champion. Colorful, inspirational, and accessible, The Right Call is the one stop shop for anyone wanting to learn how to effectively elevate themselves to greatness.
The Washington Post sportswriter and New York Times bestselling author of the “fascinating” (The Wall Street Journal) The Real All Americans presents a love letter to the extraordinary coaches and athletes she has covered over the years and the actionable principles of excellence they embody.
Sportswriter Sally Jenkins has spent her entire adult life observing and writing about great coaches and athletes. With her engaging and expert prose, she has helped shape the way we view these talented sports icons. But somewhere along the line, she realized, they had begun to shape her.
Now, she presents the astonishing inner qualities in these same people that pushed them to overcome pressure, elevate their performances, and discover champion identities. Based on years of observing, interviewing, and analyzing elite coaches and playmakers, such as Bill Belichick, Peyton Manning, Michael Phelps, and more, Jenkins reveals the seven principles behind
-Conditioning
-Practice
-Discipline
-Candor
-Culture
-Resilience
-Intention
Discover how you can apply these same principles to your life and become your own champion. Colorful, inspirational, and accessible, The Right Call is the one stop shop for anyone wanting to learn how to effectively elevate themselves to greatness.
268 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 6, 2023
245 people are currently reading
6805 people want to read
About the author
Sally Jenkins
50 books39 followersSally Jenkins is an American sports columnist and feature writer for The Washington Post, and author. She was previously a senior writer for Sports Illustrated. She has won the AP Sports Columnist of the Year Award five times, received the National Press Foundation 2017 chairman citation, and was a finalist for the 2020 Pulitzer Prize. She is the author of a dozen books. Jenkins is noted for her writing on Pat Summitt, Joe Paterno, Lance Armstrong, and the United States Center for SafeSport.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 144 reviews
February 25, 2024
As an athlete and lover of sport, I appreciated the deep dive into athletes' stories, in particular the Michael Phelps chapter on conditioning. I wish the book dove more into translating the stories into applications for work and life as the cover states. This topic itself I've thought about writing myself, as some of the best leaders and colleagues I've worked with all have athletic backgrounds in common. Inspiration for a future goal indeed.
June 10, 2023
Every story in this book is interesting, and there are a ton of them packed into every chapter. Even the stories about sports that don’t interest me, like football, have important lessons.
June 14, 2023
Jesus wept.
June 3, 2024
Thanks to the stranger on my flight home from Houston for recommending this!!!!
August 1, 2024
Very well written, relevant and useful stories and inspiring overall.
Read
May 9, 2023Loved this book! Jenkins has had a front row seat to some of the best athletes and coaches and shares what she has seen as the seven key qualities for success: Conditioning, Practice, Discipline, Candor, Culture, Resilience, and Intention. This book is for any sports fan, or even the casual reader who enjoys self-help books.
March 3, 2024
In my bio I describe my rating philosophy; 5-star books are usually those that are life-altering or life-affirming. The Right Call, by Sally Jenkins, was the latter for me. I originally listened to it on Audible in the summer of 2023 and then purchased the hard copy to transpose my notes. Transposing notes turned into completely re-reading it cover to cover in January 2024.
Sally Jenkins - a phenomenal sportswriter and columnist - sets out to “describe the athletic heart.” Having spent her life in an “unpurchasable proximity to greatness in practice,” and having taken notes, she tries to answer that very challenge by “catalog[ing] the inner qualities that allow ordinary people to overcome pressures, evaluate their performances, and find champion identities, even when they don’t always win.” Jenkins does this by describing - through study, narrative, and concise conclusion - 7 principles of great decision-making: conditioning, practice, discipline, candor, culture, failure, and intention. From Michael Phelps to Michael Jordan, Pete Sampras to Pete Carroll, Walsh to Wooden, and Pat Summit to Mike Krzyzewski - Jenkins lays out a compelling case for her theory of greatness and what it takes to be great.
Admittedly most of us aren’t professional athletes. Most kids who played sports growing up, like I did as a coach’s kid, never play at the professional level. Most journalists, teachers, lawyers, doctors, and everyday professionals might scoff at the level of commitment pro athletes have - categorizing it as “weird.” Perhaps it is - but the older I get the more I think we are all just a different kind of weird. So why read this? In Sally’s own words, “if you’re ambitious about something, why wouldn’t you behave half as committedly about your ability as any athlete does?”
Sally Jenkins - a phenomenal sportswriter and columnist - sets out to “describe the athletic heart.” Having spent her life in an “unpurchasable proximity to greatness in practice,” and having taken notes, she tries to answer that very challenge by “catalog[ing] the inner qualities that allow ordinary people to overcome pressures, evaluate their performances, and find champion identities, even when they don’t always win.” Jenkins does this by describing - through study, narrative, and concise conclusion - 7 principles of great decision-making: conditioning, practice, discipline, candor, culture, failure, and intention. From Michael Phelps to Michael Jordan, Pete Sampras to Pete Carroll, Walsh to Wooden, and Pat Summit to Mike Krzyzewski - Jenkins lays out a compelling case for her theory of greatness and what it takes to be great.
Admittedly most of us aren’t professional athletes. Most kids who played sports growing up, like I did as a coach’s kid, never play at the professional level. Most journalists, teachers, lawyers, doctors, and everyday professionals might scoff at the level of commitment pro athletes have - categorizing it as “weird.” Perhaps it is - but the older I get the more I think we are all just a different kind of weird. So why read this? In Sally’s own words, “if you’re ambitious about something, why wouldn’t you behave half as committedly about your ability as any athlete does?”
July 29, 2023
This is a light, interesting, entertaining piece of work, ... and I had no trouble turning the pages or reading it in a very short period of time. And, yes, it's fun to read anecdotes about and quotes from successful, iconic, larger-than-life athletes and think about what mere mortals can learn from them.
Having said that, I didn't think it was anything special as a piece of sports writing, a professional development guide, or an airplane bookstore self-help book. Granted, that didn't make it any less entertaining; I'm just suggesting that you'll enjoy it more if you don't expect too much.
Were my expectations too high? Maybe. I've read and enjoyed Sally Jenkins for years (most often in the Washington Post, but also in other media, as well as some of her book projects and innumerable excerpts from her books), so I bought it and moved it to the top of my to-read pile with a high degree of optimism. I'm not in the least sorry I bought or read it, but, yeah, I had hoped for more and, well, in the end, it was what it was.
Reader's tidbit: If you're thinking about the book, don't be deceived by the number of pages (either way). The book is very much a quick read and could easily have been marketed at far fewer pages. The inclusion of an exhaustive index and a plethora of (non-substantive) end notes (in other words, they disclose the original source, but it's not like they add substance or additional content) suggest the book might take (much) longer to consume than it actually does.
Having said that, I didn't think it was anything special as a piece of sports writing, a professional development guide, or an airplane bookstore self-help book. Granted, that didn't make it any less entertaining; I'm just suggesting that you'll enjoy it more if you don't expect too much.
Were my expectations too high? Maybe. I've read and enjoyed Sally Jenkins for years (most often in the Washington Post, but also in other media, as well as some of her book projects and innumerable excerpts from her books), so I bought it and moved it to the top of my to-read pile with a high degree of optimism. I'm not in the least sorry I bought or read it, but, yeah, I had hoped for more and, well, in the end, it was what it was.
Reader's tidbit: If you're thinking about the book, don't be deceived by the number of pages (either way). The book is very much a quick read and could easily have been marketed at far fewer pages. The inclusion of an exhaustive index and a plethora of (non-substantive) end notes (in other words, they disclose the original source, but it's not like they add substance or additional content) suggest the book might take (much) longer to consume than it actually does.
October 1, 2023
It was super interesting to read these historic stories about not just the players themselves who achieved their dreams and goals through hard work, but also about the coaches and how they found ways and different methods to teach and motivate their teams.
Some of the seven principles were a bit too similar to one of the others, so for me it felt like there was no clear divide between the chapters; each story just flowed to the next one, the only difference being the type of sport itself, be it swimming, NFL, basketball, etc. (but mostly NFL though). And I have to confess, I don’t understand a single rule about American football so I probably wasn’t able to appreciate those stories as much as I would’ve otherwise.
Some of the seven principles were a bit too similar to one of the others, so for me it felt like there was no clear divide between the chapters; each story just flowed to the next one, the only difference being the type of sport itself, be it swimming, NFL, basketball, etc. (but mostly NFL though). And I have to confess, I don’t understand a single rule about American football so I probably wasn’t able to appreciate those stories as much as I would’ve otherwise.
February 4, 2025
This book was SO good. I’ve truthfully never been very invested in the NFL or NBA, but the stories were so compellingly written that for maybe the first time in my life, I actually want to watch the Super Bowl. As a swimmer, also loved the swimming stories. Great look into the world of sports and their impact on how we can each better go about our lives
November 7, 2023
If you enjoy sports this is a must read. Lots of great stories and insights. I don’t currently work so I applied the principles it taught to raising kids. I learned a lot about many different coaches and athletes. It molded the lessons into the stories so well that it didn’t feel like I was being preached to.
November 12, 2023
it’s good probs more of a 3.5 .. appealed more
to the business side of me than the sports if that translates well enough. there’s always more behind the scenes left me more curious about that than me making a right call .. 🚎
to the business side of me than the sports if that translates well enough. there’s always more behind the scenes left me more curious about that than me making a right call .. 🚎
September 9, 2023
I enjoyed most of the book. Many of the anecdotes were motivational and inspiring. I found the section on how to handle practice to also be very useful.
I docked this a book a whole point for using Tony Dungy as a motivational character. This clown has said and posted some incredibly dumb and hurtful things in the past. There are plenty of coaches who have motivated athletes and staff without having to write apologies starting with “As a Christian…”
I docked this a book a whole point for using Tony Dungy as a motivational character. This clown has said and posted some incredibly dumb and hurtful things in the past. There are plenty of coaches who have motivated athletes and staff without having to write apologies starting with “As a Christian…”
August 20, 2024
I love sports and really enjoyed this. It actually extends beyond sports, into business, finance, inspirational speakers, military. Lots of great nuggets of wisdom.
September 2, 2023
This book is packed with great sports stories and leadership research in some parts that point to concepts outlined by the author. The stories make the book - especially from Jenkin’s front seat to elite athletes. The concepts get a little washed out and seem to disconnect in some ways. That said, the stories make the book.
December 28, 2023
This was a TOUGH read. The author takes Malcolm Gladwell’s style of using anecdotes to extrapolate large-scale conclusions to a new level.
The formula here was select a generic, clearly positive attribute, and give 4 examples of athletes doing it. Wow, athletes show resilience! Shocking! Then mirror it with a quick excerpt of how Bob Iger or Jeff Bezos shows this same quality and you have one of the 7 main chapters. The only famous athlete the author doesn’t name drop in this book is Lance Armstrong with whom the author co-wrote two (?) autobiographies with.
The formula here was select a generic, clearly positive attribute, and give 4 examples of athletes doing it. Wow, athletes show resilience! Shocking! Then mirror it with a quick excerpt of how Bob Iger or Jeff Bezos shows this same quality and you have one of the 7 main chapters. The only famous athlete the author doesn’t name drop in this book is Lance Armstrong with whom the author co-wrote two (?) autobiographies with.
August 26, 2023
A good read and fun example of how sports are effective at team building and leadership skills development. I’ll admit that one reason I got my first job was because of my experience playing rugby and how I could use those skills in an office setting.
Jennings selects great examples for her 8 part guide for leading sports (and business) teams. Good leaders listen, seek advice from those above and below them, and aren’t afraid to take responsibility when they fail.
A good read for athletes, sports fans, and ambitious future leaders.
Jennings selects great examples for her 8 part guide for leading sports (and business) teams. Good leaders listen, seek advice from those above and below them, and aren’t afraid to take responsibility when they fail.
A good read for athletes, sports fans, and ambitious future leaders.
August 26, 2023
This book was so good, I couldn't stop reading long enough to make notes. I think I'll read it again. I can't believe the low number of recommendations compared to junk novels. This book was recommended to me by an old roommate who has never been an athlete to my knowledge and has never advised me to read a book before. I knew from his one line email that this book had to be exceptional. It is!
August 29, 2023
I enjoyed the sports stories but did not think the author did a very good job of relating those stories to broader working life
August 19, 2023
Decided to read this book after I heard an interview with the author. Jenkins mainly talked about specific coaches and players. Those stories were in the book and found them very interesting. The sections on the "philosophy" not so much.
June 26, 2023
I have previously enjoyed articles by the author (and her father), so thought correctly that this would be good. There are a few strange errors in the audiobook that bothered me a little, but the stories and concepts are both what I anticipated and hoped to read. A good choice if you love sports (but sadly don’t get to orbit them for a living), because as we all know, they teach incredibly valuable lessons. 👂🏻
April 14, 2024
The Right Call is written as a series of stories about successful athletes and coaches, the details that helped them succeed, and the lessons that can be applied from their lives. A lot of it is the "work hard and be nice to people" stuff you'd expect, but there are some interesting tales here such as Michael Phelps never taking a day off that provide more insight than I previously had about many of the people profiled.
July 16, 2023
Sally Jenkins perfectly captures the athletic heart in these pages. One of my new favorites.
March 12, 2024
Futball-világdiadalok: 10 leglenyűgözőbb UEFA-győzelem
Az öreg kontinens, Európa futballtörténete tele van epikus pillanatokkal, amelyeket rajongók milliói csodálnak szerte a világon. Az UEFA égisze alatt zajló tornák nagy csaták, diadalok és halhatatlan szenvedélyek terepe voltak. Tekintse meg itt a fontos online fogadási tippeket és a megfelelő lépéseket a sikeres játékokhoz. A következő cikkben a 10 leglenyűgözőbb győzelemre fogunk összpontosítani, amelyek formálták és megváltoztatták az európai futball arculatát.
1. Németország 4-0 Anglia – 2010-es világbajnokság: mestermű Dél-Afrikában
A 2010-es dél-afrikai világbajnokság a torna történetének egyik legcsodálatosabb teljesítményének színhelye volt. Németország a nyolcaddöntőben Angliával mérkőzött meg, és 4-0-val bizonyította labdarúgó tudását.
2. Atletico Madrid 2-1 Real Madrid – Bajnokok Ligája 2013/2014: Szívszorító dráma Lisszabonban
A 2013/2014-es lisszaboni Bajnokok Ligája-döntő az egyik legérzelmesebb és legfeszültebb pillanatként vonult be a történelembe. Az Atlético Madrid és a Real Madrid kemény csatát vívott, amely hosszabbítás után az Atlético 2-1-es vereségével ért véget.
3. Liverpool 3-3 AC Milan (a Liverpool büntetőkkel nyert) - Bajnokok Ligája 2004/2005: "A csoda Isztambulban"
A 2004/2005-ös isztambuli Bajnokok Ligája döntő a Liverpool hihetetlen visszatérésével tovább él a szurkolók szívében. A 3-0-s hátrányból a vörösök egyenlítettek, majd büntetőkkel nyertek az AC Milan ellen.
4. Portugália 1-0 Franciaország – 2016-os Európa-bajnokság: Ronaldo megvilágítja az utat a címhez
A 2016-os Európa-bajnokság döntője történelmi jelentőségű volt Portugália számára. Sztárjátékosuk, Cristiano Ronaldo kihagyásával a csapat a hosszabbításban 1-0-ra legyőzte Franciaországot, ezzel megteremtve a nemzeti büszkeség pillanatát.
5. Barcelona 6-1 Paris Saint-Germain – Bajnokok Ligája 2016/2017: Rekord-visszatérés Katalóniában
A Barcelona a lehetetlent tette meg a 2016/2017-es Bajnokok Ligája nyolcaddöntőjében a Paris Saint-Germain ellen. Az első meccsen 4-0-ra kikapott a Blaugrana, és 6-1-re nyert, ami történelmi fordulatot hozott.
6. Olaszország 2-1 Anglia (hosszabbítás után) – Eb 2020 döntő: Az Azzurri Create Magic
A 2020-as Európa-bajnokságon Olaszország és Anglia mérkőzött meg a valaha volt egyik leglátványosabb döntőben. Hosszabbítás után az Azzurri 2-1-re győzött, hihetetlen kitartást és ügyességet mutatva.
7. Bayern München 4-1 Borussia Dortmund – 2012/2013-as Bajnokok Ligája döntő: Német Domináció a Wembleyben
A 2012/2013-as Bajnokok Ligája döntője német teljesítmény volt a labdarúgás csúcsán. A Bayern München a Borussia Dortmund ellen 4-1-re győzött, így Európa legjobb csapata lett.
8. Csehország 2-1 Hollandia - Európa-bajnokság 1976: Történelem Belgrádban
Az 1976-os Európa-bajnoki döntő történelmi pillanat volt a cseh labdarúgás számára. Csehország 2-1-re legyőzte Hollandiát a belgrádi hosszabbítás után, ezzel megnyerte a bajnoki címét.
9. Svédország 2-3 Anglia – 2018-as világbajnokság negyeddöntője: Three Lions Score Oroszországban
Az oroszországi világbajnokságon Anglia a negyeddöntőben Svédországgal mérkőzött, és hosszabbítás után 2-0-ra nyert. Ez a mérkőzés visszaadta az angol csapat hitét és lehetőséget biztosított egy remek tornára.
10. Spanyolország 4-0 Olaszország – A 2012-es Európa-bajnokság döntője: Tiki-Taka Kijevben
Spanyolország a 2012-es kijevi Európa-bajnokságon meggyőző döntővel folytatta uralmát az európai futballban. Az Olaszország elleni 4-0-s győzelemmel a Fury megerősítette labdarúgó világhatalmi státuszát.
Ezen mérkőzések mindegyike nemcsak egyéni csapat diadala volt, hanem történelmi pillanat is, amelyre generációról generációra emlékezni fog. Az európai stadionokban virágzó futball varázslatával ezek a győzelmek szentek azoknak az izgalmas érzelmeknek és versenyszellemnek, amelyet a futball biztosít követőinek.
Az öreg kontinens, Európa futballtörténete tele van epikus pillanatokkal, amelyeket rajongók milliói csodálnak szerte a világon. Az UEFA égisze alatt zajló tornák nagy csaták, diadalok és halhatatlan szenvedélyek terepe voltak. Tekintse meg itt a fontos online fogadási tippeket és a megfelelő lépéseket a sikeres játékokhoz. A következő cikkben a 10 leglenyűgözőbb győzelemre fogunk összpontosítani, amelyek formálták és megváltoztatták az európai futball arculatát.
1. Németország 4-0 Anglia – 2010-es világbajnokság: mestermű Dél-Afrikában
A 2010-es dél-afrikai világbajnokság a torna történetének egyik legcsodálatosabb teljesítményének színhelye volt. Németország a nyolcaddöntőben Angliával mérkőzött meg, és 4-0-val bizonyította labdarúgó tudását.
2. Atletico Madrid 2-1 Real Madrid – Bajnokok Ligája 2013/2014: Szívszorító dráma Lisszabonban
A 2013/2014-es lisszaboni Bajnokok Ligája-döntő az egyik legérzelmesebb és legfeszültebb pillanatként vonult be a történelembe. Az Atlético Madrid és a Real Madrid kemény csatát vívott, amely hosszabbítás után az Atlético 2-1-es vereségével ért véget.
3. Liverpool 3-3 AC Milan (a Liverpool büntetőkkel nyert) - Bajnokok Ligája 2004/2005: "A csoda Isztambulban"
A 2004/2005-ös isztambuli Bajnokok Ligája döntő a Liverpool hihetetlen visszatérésével tovább él a szurkolók szívében. A 3-0-s hátrányból a vörösök egyenlítettek, majd büntetőkkel nyertek az AC Milan ellen.
4. Portugália 1-0 Franciaország – 2016-os Európa-bajnokság: Ronaldo megvilágítja az utat a címhez
A 2016-os Európa-bajnokság döntője történelmi jelentőségű volt Portugália számára. Sztárjátékosuk, Cristiano Ronaldo kihagyásával a csapat a hosszabbításban 1-0-ra legyőzte Franciaországot, ezzel megteremtve a nemzeti büszkeség pillanatát.
5. Barcelona 6-1 Paris Saint-Germain – Bajnokok Ligája 2016/2017: Rekord-visszatérés Katalóniában
A Barcelona a lehetetlent tette meg a 2016/2017-es Bajnokok Ligája nyolcaddöntőjében a Paris Saint-Germain ellen. Az első meccsen 4-0-ra kikapott a Blaugrana, és 6-1-re nyert, ami történelmi fordulatot hozott.
6. Olaszország 2-1 Anglia (hosszabbítás után) – Eb 2020 döntő: Az Azzurri Create Magic
A 2020-as Európa-bajnokságon Olaszország és Anglia mérkőzött meg a valaha volt egyik leglátványosabb döntőben. Hosszabbítás után az Azzurri 2-1-re győzött, hihetetlen kitartást és ügyességet mutatva.
7. Bayern München 4-1 Borussia Dortmund – 2012/2013-as Bajnokok Ligája döntő: Német Domináció a Wembleyben
A 2012/2013-as Bajnokok Ligája döntője német teljesítmény volt a labdarúgás csúcsán. A Bayern München a Borussia Dortmund ellen 4-1-re győzött, így Európa legjobb csapata lett.
8. Csehország 2-1 Hollandia - Európa-bajnokság 1976: Történelem Belgrádban
Az 1976-os Európa-bajnoki döntő történelmi pillanat volt a cseh labdarúgás számára. Csehország 2-1-re legyőzte Hollandiát a belgrádi hosszabbítás után, ezzel megnyerte a bajnoki címét.
9. Svédország 2-3 Anglia – 2018-as világbajnokság negyeddöntője: Three Lions Score Oroszországban
Az oroszországi világbajnokságon Anglia a negyeddöntőben Svédországgal mérkőzött, és hosszabbítás után 2-0-ra nyert. Ez a mérkőzés visszaadta az angol csapat hitét és lehetőséget biztosított egy remek tornára.
10. Spanyolország 4-0 Olaszország – A 2012-es Európa-bajnokság döntője: Tiki-Taka Kijevben
Spanyolország a 2012-es kijevi Európa-bajnokságon meggyőző döntővel folytatta uralmát az európai futballban. Az Olaszország elleni 4-0-s győzelemmel a Fury megerősítette labdarúgó világhatalmi státuszát.
Ezen mérkőzések mindegyike nemcsak egyéni csapat diadala volt, hanem történelmi pillanat is, amelyre generációról generációra emlékezni fog. Az európai stadionokban virágzó futball varázslatával ezek a győzelmek szentek azoknak az izgalmas érzelmeknek és versenyszellemnek, amelyet a futball biztosít követőinek.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 10, 2023
Intro to Sports Betting - Learn Sports Betting
Sports betting is also a popular pastime. And when we say popular, we REALLY mean it. Countless people around the world enjoy sports betting to such an extent that billions of dollars are spent on it every year. It's not only fun, but you can also earn money. Click here to find the best online bookmakers and information about their mobile sports betting apps for UK punters in 2023!
The same can be said for almost all forms of gambling, but few (if any) are as popular as sports betting. This is especially true on the Internet, where the most popular gambling sites accept millions of sports bets every day.
Real money sports betting requires a deposit. This is done through e-wallets (such as PayPal and Skrill), debit cards and bank transfers. These are the main ways and each bookmaker determines them himself.
Why does sports betting attract so much attention? It's hard to know for sure without checking every single sports book in the world.
However, after looking at everything we know about sports betting, we believe that there are ultimately two main reasons for this.
The first is simply that the sports themselves are extremely popular. Of course, not everyone plays sports, but there are certainly a lot of people. For many of them, betting on the sports they love is just a natural process.
The second main reason is that sports betting is very easy. You can start betting with limited basics and still have a chance to win money, especially if you bet on a sport you really understand.
Now it is another matter that we are constantly making money. Much more knowledge and more effort is required. Understanding the sport definitely helps, but it's not enough for long-term success. You also need to learn and develop certain skills.
You don't have to worry about all that when you start. This is something to keep in mind if your long-term goal is to become a profitable bettor. And even if you just want to have a little fun, it's important to know that winning doesn't come easily.
As simple as sports betting is, there are many benefits to knowing more about it before putting your money on the line. This sports betting presentation is the perfect place for that. This is for complete beginners. We plan to teach you everything you need to know to have the best possible sports betting experience.
Our introduction is divided into three distinct parts. The first section contains important information to keep in mind before you begin. It will help you decide if sports betting is right for you and give you an idea of how it all works. The second part is a basic step-by-step guide to getting started, and the third part focuses on teaching you some basic betting skills that will really help you.
We told you how easy it is to start sports betting and we really believe it. But we must not forget that there are real risks here. It doesn't matter how well you know the sport you're betting on; every time you place a bet, you risk your money. Unfortunately, beginners are more likely to lose than win.
So if you want to jump straight into sports betting because you think you'll make a lot of money right away, think again. Can you make money as a beginner? Completely. will Probably not.
We are not saying this because we want to prevent you from taking sports bets. That is not our intention at all. In fact, we hope that when you try it, you'll find that you really like it! We just want your eyes to open wide. Sports betting is NOT for everyone. Therefore, it is mandatory to read the first article of the introduction. It highlights the risks and rewards of sports betting and helps you decide if it is the right activity for you.
Sports betting is also a popular pastime. And when we say popular, we REALLY mean it. Countless people around the world enjoy sports betting to such an extent that billions of dollars are spent on it every year. It's not only fun, but you can also earn money. Click here to find the best online bookmakers and information about their mobile sports betting apps for UK punters in 2023!
The same can be said for almost all forms of gambling, but few (if any) are as popular as sports betting. This is especially true on the Internet, where the most popular gambling sites accept millions of sports bets every day.
Real money sports betting requires a deposit. This is done through e-wallets (such as PayPal and Skrill), debit cards and bank transfers. These are the main ways and each bookmaker determines them himself.
Why does sports betting attract so much attention? It's hard to know for sure without checking every single sports book in the world.
However, after looking at everything we know about sports betting, we believe that there are ultimately two main reasons for this.
The first is simply that the sports themselves are extremely popular. Of course, not everyone plays sports, but there are certainly a lot of people. For many of them, betting on the sports they love is just a natural process.
The second main reason is that sports betting is very easy. You can start betting with limited basics and still have a chance to win money, especially if you bet on a sport you really understand.
Now it is another matter that we are constantly making money. Much more knowledge and more effort is required. Understanding the sport definitely helps, but it's not enough for long-term success. You also need to learn and develop certain skills.
You don't have to worry about all that when you start. This is something to keep in mind if your long-term goal is to become a profitable bettor. And even if you just want to have a little fun, it's important to know that winning doesn't come easily.
As simple as sports betting is, there are many benefits to knowing more about it before putting your money on the line. This sports betting presentation is the perfect place for that. This is for complete beginners. We plan to teach you everything you need to know to have the best possible sports betting experience.
Our introduction is divided into three distinct parts. The first section contains important information to keep in mind before you begin. It will help you decide if sports betting is right for you and give you an idea of how it all works. The second part is a basic step-by-step guide to getting started, and the third part focuses on teaching you some basic betting skills that will really help you.
We told you how easy it is to start sports betting and we really believe it. But we must not forget that there are real risks here. It doesn't matter how well you know the sport you're betting on; every time you place a bet, you risk your money. Unfortunately, beginners are more likely to lose than win.
So if you want to jump straight into sports betting because you think you'll make a lot of money right away, think again. Can you make money as a beginner? Completely. will Probably not.
We are not saying this because we want to prevent you from taking sports bets. That is not our intention at all. In fact, we hope that when you try it, you'll find that you really like it! We just want your eyes to open wide. Sports betting is NOT for everyone. Therefore, it is mandatory to read the first article of the introduction. It highlights the risks and rewards of sports betting and helps you decide if it is the right activity for you.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 9, 2023
As a disclaimer, I'm coming at this book as a youth sports professional which certainly colored my opinions. I thought it had some really good content, particularly the chapters on discipline and culture (though I was quite turned off by the line, "If you want obedience, have a child"). I appreciated Jenkins' emphasis on coaching as a partnership between staff and players, and her debunking the myth that authoritarian coaching is effective.
Unfortunately the bad content is Very Bad. I nearly stopped reading at the chapter on conditioning, which was full of inaccuracies and borderline bad advice. Jenkins is not a science writer, and while I think she was trying to simplify and possibly poeticize neuroscience the result was unclear at best and wrong at worst. There was a tone of victim-blaming and fat-shaming throughout the chapter as Jenkins implied that only people at their physical peak are capable of great things - and, presumably, people not at their physical peak are not capable of great things - and anyone with enough drive can be at their physical peak.
Wore than that was Jenkins' near hero-worship of Michael Phelps in this chapter. He is undoubtedly the best swimmer of all time, and he worked very hard to get there, but it is irresponsible to hold him up as the ideal when it comes to commitment and training. Yes, his punishing schedule allowed him to become the most decorated Olympian of all time, but at a significant cost. As a sportswriter, surely Jenkins is aware that Phelps has struggled with anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, and substance abuse problems. Inside the pool he may be the poster boy for hard work and commitment, but he has had a very difficult time figuring out who he is and how to function outside it. Phelps may have had mental health issues with our without swimming, but living his life in a pressure cooker surely didn't help.
In fact, only once did Jenkins acknowledge the possible downsides of this type of single-mindedness, when she mentions in passing that, "One cost of [Tom] Brady's intentionality was an eventual divorce." Otherwise, there is no discussion of the fact that many top performers suffer from mental health issues, stress-related illness, and failed personal relationships because their lives are utterly lacking in balance. Their is no recognition of the fact that for every Tom Brady or Michael Phelps, there are thousands of athletes who suffer repetitive use injuries, burnout, and isolation, not because they are too weak to do what it takes but because it's not a healthy or sustainable way to live.
I would hate for parents of youth athletes to read this book and come away with the impression that the path to success is a 365-days-a-year training schedule or practicing one's throwing motion in front of a brick wall so that anyone with flawed motion will suffer "raked knuckles and scabs." Children need rest, they need fun, they need downtime, they need friendship, and they need time to explore varied interests - in other words, they need to be humans and not just performance machines. In hockey we say, "All roads lead to beer league," and the same is true of every sport. Eventually every athlete will have to step away from the game, and when that happens they will need to have an identity beyond that of "athlete" in order to live a fulfilling life.
Unfortunately the bad content is Very Bad. I nearly stopped reading at the chapter on conditioning, which was full of inaccuracies and borderline bad advice. Jenkins is not a science writer, and while I think she was trying to simplify and possibly poeticize neuroscience the result was unclear at best and wrong at worst. There was a tone of victim-blaming and fat-shaming throughout the chapter as Jenkins implied that only people at their physical peak are capable of great things - and, presumably, people not at their physical peak are not capable of great things - and anyone with enough drive can be at their physical peak.
Wore than that was Jenkins' near hero-worship of Michael Phelps in this chapter. He is undoubtedly the best swimmer of all time, and he worked very hard to get there, but it is irresponsible to hold him up as the ideal when it comes to commitment and training. Yes, his punishing schedule allowed him to become the most decorated Olympian of all time, but at a significant cost. As a sportswriter, surely Jenkins is aware that Phelps has struggled with anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, and substance abuse problems. Inside the pool he may be the poster boy for hard work and commitment, but he has had a very difficult time figuring out who he is and how to function outside it. Phelps may have had mental health issues with our without swimming, but living his life in a pressure cooker surely didn't help.
In fact, only once did Jenkins acknowledge the possible downsides of this type of single-mindedness, when she mentions in passing that, "One cost of [Tom] Brady's intentionality was an eventual divorce." Otherwise, there is no discussion of the fact that many top performers suffer from mental health issues, stress-related illness, and failed personal relationships because their lives are utterly lacking in balance. Their is no recognition of the fact that for every Tom Brady or Michael Phelps, there are thousands of athletes who suffer repetitive use injuries, burnout, and isolation, not because they are too weak to do what it takes but because it's not a healthy or sustainable way to live.
I would hate for parents of youth athletes to read this book and come away with the impression that the path to success is a 365-days-a-year training schedule or practicing one's throwing motion in front of a brick wall so that anyone with flawed motion will suffer "raked knuckles and scabs." Children need rest, they need fun, they need downtime, they need friendship, and they need time to explore varied interests - in other words, they need to be humans and not just performance machines. In hockey we say, "All roads lead to beer league," and the same is true of every sport. Eventually every athlete will have to step away from the game, and when that happens they will need to have an identity beyond that of "athlete" in order to live a fulfilling life.
January 16, 2024
Sports writer Sally Jenkins has taken what she has learned from decades of observing successful athletes and coaches and distilled lessons that are applicable not just for those who are are seeking to improve their job-related performance, but to anyone wanting to be more effective in their personal lives as well. The book is divided into seven principles:
--Conditioning
--Practice
--Discipline
--Candor
--Culture
--Failure
--Intention
While each of these was interesting, Candor, Culture and Intention were the chapters that were most successful for me. In Candor, Jenkins focuses on the relationship between Diana Nyad and her coach Bonnie Stoll as Nyad attempted the unprecedented swim from Cuba to Florida. For the swim to be successful--and for Nyad to survive--clear communication was crucial. Jenkins effectively conveys how Stoll's clear instructions contributed to Nyad's success--and survival--in what became four separate attempts to reach Florida. I found the story so inspiring that I watched Nyad starring Annette Benning and Jodie Foster which is currently showing on Netflix. So inspiring, especially for someone 61 years old (like me)!
Warrior's coach Steve Kerr is at the center of the chapter on Culture. When Steve Kerr was named head coach of the Warriors, his agent suggested he visit Pete Carroll for advice. Carroll insisted that the key to his success was not having the right on court or on field strategies, but rather building a strong culture. Kerr had played for Phil Jackson and Gregg Popovich, two of the most successful coaches in NBA history. Jenkins discusses the culture created by Jackson and Popovich and then explains how Kerr went about creating his own for the Warriors. What struck me was that each culture reflected the coach who created it--so that it was authentic. And it was that authenticity that led to player buy-in. When the Warriors had a terrible season due to key injuries, the culture stayed consistent.
The final chapter Intention analyzes how motive--why you do what you do--is so important for success. Here, the key figures are Peyton Manning and Tony Dungy. Manning was a good player who worked hard and analyzed the game, but had only mid-level success until Dungy helped him understand the "why" of the work. Manning felt he had to be good enough to make up for weaknesses in the team, especially in defense, so he was continually attempting long touchdown passes and was consequently frequently intercepted because the opposing defense knew that was what he was trying to do. So Manning had to refocus and realize the why was to win and that being less predictable and more willing to go for the short pass was a key to winning.
Overall, the premise of the book was interesting, the inside stories about athletes and their coaches were entertaining and there were valuable insights on the key elements for success on the institutional and personal level. I was a high school teacher for 30 years and while reading I often reflected on the leadership at my school and how the tenets of this book might have improved our school culture.
--Conditioning
--Practice
--Discipline
--Candor
--Culture
--Failure
--Intention
While each of these was interesting, Candor, Culture and Intention were the chapters that were most successful for me. In Candor, Jenkins focuses on the relationship between Diana Nyad and her coach Bonnie Stoll as Nyad attempted the unprecedented swim from Cuba to Florida. For the swim to be successful--and for Nyad to survive--clear communication was crucial. Jenkins effectively conveys how Stoll's clear instructions contributed to Nyad's success--and survival--in what became four separate attempts to reach Florida. I found the story so inspiring that I watched Nyad starring Annette Benning and Jodie Foster which is currently showing on Netflix. So inspiring, especially for someone 61 years old (like me)!
Warrior's coach Steve Kerr is at the center of the chapter on Culture. When Steve Kerr was named head coach of the Warriors, his agent suggested he visit Pete Carroll for advice. Carroll insisted that the key to his success was not having the right on court or on field strategies, but rather building a strong culture. Kerr had played for Phil Jackson and Gregg Popovich, two of the most successful coaches in NBA history. Jenkins discusses the culture created by Jackson and Popovich and then explains how Kerr went about creating his own for the Warriors. What struck me was that each culture reflected the coach who created it--so that it was authentic. And it was that authenticity that led to player buy-in. When the Warriors had a terrible season due to key injuries, the culture stayed consistent.
The final chapter Intention analyzes how motive--why you do what you do--is so important for success. Here, the key figures are Peyton Manning and Tony Dungy. Manning was a good player who worked hard and analyzed the game, but had only mid-level success until Dungy helped him understand the "why" of the work. Manning felt he had to be good enough to make up for weaknesses in the team, especially in defense, so he was continually attempting long touchdown passes and was consequently frequently intercepted because the opposing defense knew that was what he was trying to do. So Manning had to refocus and realize the why was to win and that being less predictable and more willing to go for the short pass was a key to winning.
Overall, the premise of the book was interesting, the inside stories about athletes and their coaches were entertaining and there were valuable insights on the key elements for success on the institutional and personal level. I was a high school teacher for 30 years and while reading I often reflected on the leadership at my school and how the tenets of this book might have improved our school culture.
October 20, 2023
2.5 stars
Not a bad book, but not much in the way of new concepts. Sports teach us: how to make decisions under pressure, discipline, honesty, teamwork, creating an intentional culture. Similar books have been written about many different fields, such as music and Girl Scouts among others. I did find the discussion about the difference between conditioning and practice interesting. Conditioning is the monotonous training of muscles by doing the same task over and over. Practice is more deliberate, focusing on improving certain skills.
In my opinion the most valuable chapter was on the importance of failure. At a team meeting of a winning football team, the head coach asked everyone in the room to stand, then asked people to sit if 1) they had ever been fired, then 2) if they had ever been traded, then 3) if they had not been picked first, then when only 1 person was left standing, he asked "how many college scholarship offers did you get?" The answer: none. The coach asked him to sit, illustrating that every single person in the room had experienced failure, "Winners aren't born; they are made -- and they are made out of people who have been losers at one time or another."
"Statistically, even the greatest shooters in basketball miss well over helf the time." LeBron James, the most dominant player of his era had a shooting percentage of 41.6 percent.
Without failure, there is no innovation. Without innovation there is no forward motion. Success depends on being willing to accept failure. "Champions are good losers."
Notes:
pg 58
Mental Pressure
Practice under the same conditions you will actually perform under
"Very few people realize how our thinking is shaped by the body" Neurologist Sian Beilock, author of 'Choke.'
"Maladaptive Control" is over-thinking. When athletes (or anyone) start thinking about small actions that should be automatic, they freeze up.
pg 88
"The difference between athletes and executives is that athletes are disclipned int the right things and a lot of executives are disclipined in the wrong things." They confuse personal discipline with overwork. "They are constantly putting themselves in a position of deficit."
pg 155
"Athletes tend to be more resilient in the face of failure than the resto fo us because they grasp an essential fact: you can't improve something until you've stressed it."
Not a bad book, but not much in the way of new concepts. Sports teach us: how to make decisions under pressure, discipline, honesty, teamwork, creating an intentional culture. Similar books have been written about many different fields, such as music and Girl Scouts among others. I did find the discussion about the difference between conditioning and practice interesting. Conditioning is the monotonous training of muscles by doing the same task over and over. Practice is more deliberate, focusing on improving certain skills.
In my opinion the most valuable chapter was on the importance of failure. At a team meeting of a winning football team, the head coach asked everyone in the room to stand, then asked people to sit if 1) they had ever been fired, then 2) if they had ever been traded, then 3) if they had not been picked first, then when only 1 person was left standing, he asked "how many college scholarship offers did you get?" The answer: none. The coach asked him to sit, illustrating that every single person in the room had experienced failure, "Winners aren't born; they are made -- and they are made out of people who have been losers at one time or another."
"Statistically, even the greatest shooters in basketball miss well over helf the time." LeBron James, the most dominant player of his era had a shooting percentage of 41.6 percent.
Without failure, there is no innovation. Without innovation there is no forward motion. Success depends on being willing to accept failure. "Champions are good losers."
Notes:
pg 58
Mental Pressure
Practice under the same conditions you will actually perform under
"Very few people realize how our thinking is shaped by the body" Neurologist Sian Beilock, author of 'Choke.'
"Maladaptive Control" is over-thinking. When athletes (or anyone) start thinking about small actions that should be automatic, they freeze up.
pg 88
"The difference between athletes and executives is that athletes are disclipned int the right things and a lot of executives are disclipined in the wrong things." They confuse personal discipline with overwork. "They are constantly putting themselves in a position of deficit."
pg 155
"Athletes tend to be more resilient in the face of failure than the resto fo us because they grasp an essential fact: you can't improve something until you've stressed it."
October 16, 2023
If you've been in the business world for any amount of time, you have surely been hit with some war or sports analogies.
War -
"We're going to crush our enemy."
"We're in the middle of a minefield."
Sports -
"It's crunch time."
"That presentation was a home run."
I've always thought that war analogies are probably overused and don't have impact. Fortunately most of us have never faced the war front and if we had, we'd realize that comparing selling internet service to war is an insult to the soldiers who have defended our freedoms.
But sports, on the other hand, should be more relatable since nearly all of us have competed at some level during our life even if it was PE class in elementary school. That's why Washington Post Sports Columnist Sally Jenkin's new book The Right Call resonated with me.
With a lifetime of her own reporting and being the daughter of hall of fame sports writer Dan Jenkins, Sally has had access to some of the greatest athletes and coaches of the 20th and 21st Century. She applies that access and insight to boil down the commonalities that champions like Michael Phelps, Peyton Manning and Martina Navratilova commit to that led them to be champions.
Sally breaks down the seven principles that she has observed in success:
Conditioning, Practice, Discipline, Candor, Culture, Failure and Intention.
The chapter I found most impactful was Failure. I believe that in business we don't appreciate Failure and the benefits is offers as much as we should. As a society, we tend to downplay or straight up cover up our failures as there is a belief that they show weakness. But I believe that failure is a part of competition and is always half of the outcomes you may achieve. With Failure there are three things you are in control of:
1. Are you as prepared as you can be for the competition?
2. Are you focused on executing as well as you can?
3. What can you learn from the experience that you can do better next time?
My favorite line of famous UCLA basketball coach John Wooden's is his definition of success: "Peace of mind that comes with the self satisfaction that you know that you did the best that you are capable of." Nothing about winning but did you do the best YOU are capable of.
With everything going on in the world today, let's get away from the war analogies but let's NEVER get away from what can be learned at any level of athletics and how it can translate to the rest of our lives.
War -
"We're going to crush our enemy."
"We're in the middle of a minefield."
Sports -
"It's crunch time."
"That presentation was a home run."
I've always thought that war analogies are probably overused and don't have impact. Fortunately most of us have never faced the war front and if we had, we'd realize that comparing selling internet service to war is an insult to the soldiers who have defended our freedoms.
But sports, on the other hand, should be more relatable since nearly all of us have competed at some level during our life even if it was PE class in elementary school. That's why Washington Post Sports Columnist Sally Jenkin's new book The Right Call resonated with me.
With a lifetime of her own reporting and being the daughter of hall of fame sports writer Dan Jenkins, Sally has had access to some of the greatest athletes and coaches of the 20th and 21st Century. She applies that access and insight to boil down the commonalities that champions like Michael Phelps, Peyton Manning and Martina Navratilova commit to that led them to be champions.
Sally breaks down the seven principles that she has observed in success:
Conditioning, Practice, Discipline, Candor, Culture, Failure and Intention.
The chapter I found most impactful was Failure. I believe that in business we don't appreciate Failure and the benefits is offers as much as we should. As a society, we tend to downplay or straight up cover up our failures as there is a belief that they show weakness. But I believe that failure is a part of competition and is always half of the outcomes you may achieve. With Failure there are three things you are in control of:
1. Are you as prepared as you can be for the competition?
2. Are you focused on executing as well as you can?
3. What can you learn from the experience that you can do better next time?
My favorite line of famous UCLA basketball coach John Wooden's is his definition of success: "Peace of mind that comes with the self satisfaction that you know that you did the best that you are capable of." Nothing about winning but did you do the best YOU are capable of.
With everything going on in the world today, let's get away from the war analogies but let's NEVER get away from what can be learned at any level of athletics and how it can translate to the rest of our lives.
April 9, 2024
Quick read that highlights a few decades worth of observations, interviews, and stories from Jenkins supplemented by some fairly current neuroscience research to define best practices to improve decision-making performance and other leadership skills.
A lot of what Jenkins recommends, especially in terms of establishing values, building culture, and emphasizing positive interpersonal relationships, in the second half of the book will be familiar to teachers, but what resonated most for me was how important physical well-being is to cognitive function. she has some solid data about the ways that overall physical conditioning improves brain function- and some great stories about intentionally stressing the body (think training with large rocks underwater) so brains get used to performing when the body is sending all kinds of distress signals.
The reminders that a lot of the greats worked really hard in a really intentional way to be as successful as they are is also inspiring- although-outside of acknowledging Tom Brady's divorce- she doesn't really spend that much time going into the COST of hyper-focused quests for constantly improving performance.
This whole book also just begs the question, what is adaptive about being a generalist? Why are most of our brains primed to be excited by novelty- and not by the tedium that so much elite sports training requires? She acknowledges that many people are not that motivated to spend endless hours improving performance in any given area by 1%- and later, she acknowledges the importance of followership to organizational success. Obviously, we don't want to be dysfunctional humans- or live and work in dysfunctional systems - but there's a thread of the Ricky Bobby fallacy woven throughout Jenkins' argument (and, let's face it, the culture of U.S. capitalism) - if you're not first, you're last! Where are the books that talk about the joys of being average and enjoying a range of life experiences?
A lot of what Jenkins recommends, especially in terms of establishing values, building culture, and emphasizing positive interpersonal relationships, in the second half of the book will be familiar to teachers, but what resonated most for me was how important physical well-being is to cognitive function. she has some solid data about the ways that overall physical conditioning improves brain function- and some great stories about intentionally stressing the body (think training with large rocks underwater) so brains get used to performing when the body is sending all kinds of distress signals.
The reminders that a lot of the greats worked really hard in a really intentional way to be as successful as they are is also inspiring- although-outside of acknowledging Tom Brady's divorce- she doesn't really spend that much time going into the COST of hyper-focused quests for constantly improving performance.
This whole book also just begs the question, what is adaptive about being a generalist? Why are most of our brains primed to be excited by novelty- and not by the tedium that so much elite sports training requires? She acknowledges that many people are not that motivated to spend endless hours improving performance in any given area by 1%- and later, she acknowledges the importance of followership to organizational success. Obviously, we don't want to be dysfunctional humans- or live and work in dysfunctional systems - but there's a thread of the Ricky Bobby fallacy woven throughout Jenkins' argument (and, let's face it, the culture of U.S. capitalism) - if you're not first, you're last! Where are the books that talk about the joys of being average and enjoying a range of life experiences?
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