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Either because I was an athlete or because I was black - probably both - there seemed to be a clear assumption that I wouldn't be up to the work.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

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Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Age: 77
Born: 1947
Born: April 16
Actor
Author
Basketball Coach
Basketball Player
Film Producer
Screenwriter
Television Actor
New York City
New York
Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor
Jr.
Lew Alcindor
Seemed
Basketball
Wouldn
Probably
Either
Clear
Black
Assumption
Work
Athlete

More quotes by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

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There are a lot of authors in the world, so it's difficult to find a unique niche to present your take on things. That is always a challenge for any author.
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When I was at UCLA, the Harlem Globetrotters offered me a million dollars to come play for them. I turned it down because my education was just as important as playing ball.
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People still cheat on their wives, that hasn't fallen out of fashion. We all speak of it badly, but it has not fallen out of fashion.
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I'm still my parent's child, I'm still me, but I made a choice. I evolved into Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. I think it has to do with evolution.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
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I've kept in touch with many of my former teammates: Bob Marcucci was our team manager and we bonded over our passion for baseball.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
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Basketball is an endurance sport, and you have to learn to control your breath that's the essence of yoga, too. So, I consciously began using yoga techniques in my practice and playing. I think yoga helped reduce the number and severity of injuries I suffered. As preventative medicine, it's unequaled.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
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The game has basically not changed since I ended my career.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
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In a typical history book, black Americans are mentioned in the context of slavery or civil rights. There's so much more to the story.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
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I felt that a number of people might have questioned my loyalty, but I continue to be a patriotic American.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
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Even when there are adverse circumstances, I try to do my job. And I usually do.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
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Actor Mike Warren [was my former teammate], who was in Hill Street Blues. There are more, but it's starting to sound like a team reunion at Red Lobster. They were a great bunch of guys and we accomplished a lot together. That's something you don't forget.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
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The first time I shot the hook, I was in fourth grade, and I was about five feet eight inches tall. I put the ball up and felt totally at ease with the shot. I was completely confident it would go in. I've been shooting it ever since.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
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I got all A's and was hated for it I spoke correctly and was called a punk.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
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I think the NBA players have to be held accountable in a reasonable way, just like any other professionals.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
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What I have is P.H. positive chronic myeloid leukemia, which is an aberration in your white blood cells.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
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When the line started to blur between the fans and the players, sometimes things can get ugly.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
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I think someone should explain to the child that it's OK to make mistakes. That's how we learn. When we compete, we make mistakes.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
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What I learned in my time isn't necessarily being taught now, and I'd like to help impart that knowledge to a new generation of players.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
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Common decency demands that [NCAA athletes] should be paid, but the only way it will happen is the same way workers got paid throughout American history, through a strong union.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
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I have to say I have an incredible musical education because of my father.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar