"In group activity, there must be supervision and leadership and a disciplined effort by all, or much of our united strength will be dissipated pulling against ourselves.
If you discipline yourself toward team effort under the supervision of the one in charge, even though you might not always agree with the decisions, much can and will be accomplished.
Your lot is certain failure without discipline.
I am very interested in each of you as an individual but I must act in what I consider to be in the best interest of the team for either the moment or the future.
Your race or your religion will have no bearing on my judgment, but your ability and how it works to my philosophy of team play very definitely will. Furthermore, your personal conduct and adherence to standards that I make will undoubtedly be taken into consideration either consciously or unconsciously.
There may seem to be double standards at times as I most certainly will not treat you all alike in every respect. However, I will attempt to give each individual the treatment he earns and deserves according to my judgment, in keeping with what I consider in the best interest of the team. You must accept this in the proper manner for you to be a positive and contributing member..."
From John Wooden's annual letter to the team in July of 1970, a few months after UCLA's basketball team won its 4th consecutive national title
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