The game has basically not changed since I ended my career. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar More Quotes by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar More Quotes From Kareem Abdul-Jabbar We can learn from mistakes of others, whether they're kings or our parents. When we do learn those lessons, we're better equipped to make our own dreams come true. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar kings dream mistake Video games just can't compare with the variety and intensity of reading. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar video reading games The transition was difficult. It's hard to stop something that you've enjoyed and that has been very rewarding. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar difficult transition basketball We all had a lot of fun making the film ["Airplane" ], but there weren't a lot of outtakes or cracking up because we all were focused on doing our jobs in a professional manner. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar airplane fun jobs A lot of young players don't really know much about the history of the game and a lot of them are missing out on what the game is all about, especially the whole concept of sportsmanship and teamwork. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar player teamwork games I felt that a number of people might have questioned my loyalty, but I continue to be a patriotic American. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar patriotic loyalty basketball If I hadn't become a professional basketball player, I would have become a history teacher. There's so much to learn from history. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar basketball player teacher 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 team guy together Black people don't have an accurate idea of their history, which has been either suppressed or distorted. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar basketball people ideas Ken Heitz got drafted by the Bucks the same year I did. He went to their camp just for the experience, then dropped out to attend Harvard Law School. I always admired his combination of athleticism and brains. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar law years school 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 passion team baseball [Coaching] is a difficult job which everyone who owns a TV thinks they can do better at. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar coaching jobs thinking The lifespan of most professional athletes is relatively short, and most have no preparation for doing anything after their career ends, which it could in an instant. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar preparation careers athlete I feel that there has been progress made since I was a boy on matters of race, but we have a long way to go. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar basketball race boys If not for the success that medicine has made, I might be part of a much different story right now. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar medicine different stories Jackie Robinson, as an athlete and as someone who was trying to make a stand for equality, he was exemplary. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar equality basketball athlete 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. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar unique challenges world When I was 17, I worked in a mentoring program in Harlem designed to improve the community. That's when I first gained an appreciation of the Harlem Renaissance, a time when African-Americans rose to prominence in American culture. For the first time, they were taken seriously as artists, musicians, writers, athletes, and as political thinkers. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar taken athlete appreciation When I was a kid, no one would believe anything positive that you could say about black people. That's a terrible burden. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar basketball positive believe I'm not going to disappear. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar disappear basketball