INTEGRITY
Talese on Floyd Patterson
4.1.07
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Transcript:
After games, sportswriter Gay Talese would rather visit the loser's locker room than the winner's. Not because he loves failures, Talese said, but because he's fascinated with people who rise from the floor.
Some years ago, Talese profiled boxing champion Floyd Patterson. In 1960, Patterson had recaptured his lost title—the first boxer to reclaim the world heavyweight crown. Talese said, "Patterson got knocked down more than anybody in the history of boxing, but he got up more than anybody. That is a real achievement."
This is Howard Butt, Jr., of Laity Lodge. Talese says most of life takes place between triumph and defeat. Patterson's rise from the floor of defeat encourages us in our losses to get back in the ring . . . in the high calling of our daily work.
And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right.
READER'S COMMENTS
This is also a good reminder that we learn as much (maybe more!) from our failures as from our successes.
When I fail, I have learned another way how not to do it.
This reminds me of another radio message about Thomas Edison. He failed a lot! But he was systematic in his failures so he always learned from them.