John Mcphee's A Sense Of Where You Are
A Sense of Bill Bradley In John McPhee’s “A Sense of Where You Are” (1965), he explains how Bill Bradley is a role model to many. He is the single greatest basketball player in Princeton’s school history. He leads the team to the Final Four in 1965. Beyond basketball, Bill’s hard working, unselfish, and responsible attitude made him much more than just a great basketball player, for they make him a great man. Bill Bradley is very disciplined and extremely hard working. Bill Bradley may have had God given ability, but he works harder than anyone on his team. “… he does not permit himself to move on until he has made at least ten shots out of thirteen from each location” (27) While others could not have made four out of thirteen shots,
Bill Bradley pushes himself harder than any others. “‘The difference between Bill and other basketball players is self-discipline’” (64-65). Bill’s discipline makes him the great player that he is. Bill also is hard working and disciplined in the classroom: “He had stayed up the night before until two a.m., writing a difficult paper, which was still unfinished” (91). Bill Bradley has extreme given talent, but he spent hours in the gym pushing himself to be better. As good as a player that Bill is, he receives all the attention, but he does not let any of it in his head, as he remains unselfish the entire time. “He is painfully aware of his celebrity… He remembers people’s names, and greets them by name when he sees them again” (37). Throughout his life, Bill stays unselfish and humble. Bill also shows his unselfishness on the court: “… Bradley is a passer first and a scorer second…” (32). Bradley has the ability to score every time he touches the ball, but instead he looks to pass first. Furthermore, Bill Bradley is always more focused on Princeton doing well than himself; “Bradley did not just hope to do well himself–he intended that Princeton should win” (86). While Bradley is obviously the star on the team, he focuses on the team first, and himself second.
Bill Bradley pushes himself harder than any others. “‘The difference between Bill and other basketball players is self-discipline’” (64-65). Bill’s discipline makes him the great player that he is. Bill also is hard working and disciplined in the classroom: “He had stayed up the night before until two a.m., writing a difficult paper, which was still unfinished” (91). Bill Bradley has extreme given talent, but he spent hours in the gym pushing himself to be better. As good as a player that Bill is, he receives all the attention, but he does not let any of it in his head, as he remains unselfish the entire time. “He is painfully aware of his celebrity… He remembers people’s names, and greets them by name when he sees them again” (37). Throughout his life, Bill stays unselfish and humble. Bill also shows his unselfishness on the court: “… Bradley is a passer first and a scorer second…” (32). Bradley has the ability to score every time he touches the ball, but instead he looks to pass first. Furthermore, Bill Bradley is always more focused on Princeton doing well than himself; “Bradley did not just hope to do well himself–he intended that Princeton should win” (86). While Bradley is obviously the star on the team, he focuses on the team first, and himself second.