Wooden: A Lifetime of Observations and Reflections On and Off the Court

Jubilation

There’s nothing wrong with jubilation. It’s excessive jubilation that I cautioned against: showboating, hotdogging, conducting yourself in a fashion that is simply a display of arrogance, behaving in an egotistical sort of way.

The year before we lost the championship game to Muncie Central in the 1928 Indiana state high school tournament, we had won the title. Then, too, I saw no reason to be overly jubilant—though I was very happy, of course.

It’s important to keep things in perspective. When they get out of perspective, it affects your ability to prepare and perform. It harms your peace of mind.