Stanford Tennis Memories

March 2023 Stanford Update:

• Last Summer, I was able to attend Stanford's Commencement 2022 Week.

• John McEnroe is Stanford's first-ever professional athlete Commencement Speaker of 2023

• 🎓 🔊 Johnny Mac brings plenty of Tennis and Dad jokes! 😄😂🤭
  Played for 17-time NCAA Champion Coach, Dick Gould

• Bryan Brothers' Foundation Charity @ Indian Wells.

• Stanford GSB = Knight Management Center - the Nike way to pay it forward.
• *New Film* Origins of NIKE: The Air (Jordan) Movie - now in theaters.
• Watch Roger Federer's new comedy commercial on YouTube.
• Please come and visit Roger's Switzerland!

Shoes of Nike's Dad - Phil Knight

Such a fun week living in Palo Alto Downtown!

I got to celebrate #Me2We2023 at Stanford GSB.

"When in Rome, do as the Romans do!"

• Rain or shine, I rode the Marguerite Shuttle (X, Y)
• I walked and talked with Stanford students, athletes, staff, and professors on campus daily.
• My Favorite Lunch? Jimmy V's Sports Cafe - the Roasted Chicken Special - a student favorite 
• The breakfast burrito (chorizo) was the best value in all of Palo Alto - yes, I sampled many meals (ranging from $18 to $80).

Photographer for the week's speakers, events

Somehow, we managed a minor miracle. Fitting ~400 LEADers on the CEMEX auditorium stage! 

Assembling this international body of GSB cohorts together for the first time in 4 years was prolific.

#Me2We2023 Week had over 400 in attendance!

Photos of the biggest Stanford GSB LEAD class reunion (live) in over 4 years since COVID

 Stanford Men's Head Coach Paul Goldstein. His team motto: "We before Me."

Our 10-min Interview:
Building Championship Teams with Individual Identities

Success in Tennis and Business

Johnny Mac Returns in June!

Stanford's 2023 Commencement Speaker

Memories at Stanford

JC at Stanford's Main Quad

June 2006: my great tennis privilege of playing at Stanford University for Coach.

Coach Dick Gould created my kick serve - this single shot paid dividends 100x over in my tennis.

Check out Coach Dick Gould's new book - "Anatomy of a Champion" (2022)

Nike Tennis Boot Camp - was held at the former home of the Bank of the West Classic for the WTA.

June 2006: Nike tennis training and DVD featuring Coach Gould

Signed: "To Jacky - Best Wishes, D. Gould (6/18/06)"

Team USA Calendar - March 2021

The start of my Stanford GSB executive postgrad 

Stanford's Cardinal Red
The color of "JC" on all my avatar logos 

Phil Knight (MBA '62) has graciously donated over half a billion dollars to Stanford

"The Trees Always Know."

The lion's share of creating the new Stanford GSB Knight Management Center.

" Shoe Dog" is my prescribed GSB prerequisite reading!

It became my business travel anthem.

May this book inspire you to dream, to fly, to grow!

Grown on the Farm by the Bay

Soil from Planters' Thiel and Musk

Blooming, One of many.

Forever Grateful.

- JC

From Stanford LEAD to Pickleball Startup

In Spring 2021, along with Stanford LEAD, I simultaneously became part-owner and ambassador advisor to TopCourt.com (an EdTech startup). From each of my 9 executive business courses, I added my small contributions to the startup, growing it from seed to sun.

Now featured on Pickleball.com - the multi-sport platform helps grow the fastest-growing sport in America (along with the MLP / PPA league and pro tour). Join me, Mark Cuban, and the pickle club!

Overcoming your Tennis Everest - a message for the aspiring tennis player

I left this comment for PJ (roadto45tennis.com) and World Tennis Congress organizer today in response to his post about recent setbacks.

Background: I came in contact with PJ way back in 2012 leading up to the first Tennis Congress. He was very nice and we had a nice long chat about NY’s Total Tennis vs other tennis academies. I stumbled upon this blog again the other day and so surprised to see his note about recent health issues and struggling with getting to NTRP 4.5. I hope this message finds you and your readers well, PJ!

My USPTA Tennis Coach Biography

I started out as a 3.0 USTA player.

Over a decade ago and picked up tennis late as a teenager. Climbing the next rung on the later was also my tennis life’s goal. My road too was paved with many hurdles, setbacks, multiple tennis injuries and heartbreak losses at USTA championships.

But right here I want to stop and say -
If a (small 5’5 Asian) guy with big dreams in his mid-30s can play the best tennis of his life – every person reading this blog can get there too! And become reigning DC Open 4.5 singles champion

The late, great boxer Muhammad Ali once said…

”Champions are made from something they have deep inside them – a desire, a dream, a vision. They have to have the skill, and the will. But the will must be stronger than the skill.”

JC in 3D bullet time

Aussie Open - fun with a 360 camera rig 

"Bullet Time" Action shot of me with a super-sized Wilson Steam 99S =)

3 Behaviors of Successful Tennis Players

Sportsmanship

1) Do Not be Lazy.

If you have a goal, a dream, a passion to be the best - you cannot be lazy. There are no superstars in the world that can stay #1 in any sport if they sit back on their laurels. Really - try and name one. Can you imagine how much work, diligence, and struggle plus sacrifices they had to make to get to #1? It is not such a sexy topic, and we'd all like to imagine success can come cheaply or free - but I can tell you it doesn't.

Look at Messi. Look at Federer. Look at LeBron James.

At some point, they had to humble themselves and ask themselves if they love it enough? They had to grind harder, train longer, and keep their faith strong. Through pain, through defeat, through pressure - they came a long way in their journey to the top of their own mountain.

"Hard Work" is not a miracle pill you can pay $3 to get a daily fix.

2) Do not be Rude.

Smart or dumb, we owe it to our fellow man to extend him a fair challenge. To prove worth on an equal playing field. Ours should not be to judge, when we ourselves are imperfect.

Extend common courtesy of politeness. Respect cultural and social differences. Give the other person the benefit of the doubt before we cast the first stone.

Being "Rude" or "Lazy" are completely deliberate choices we have control over.
These should be 4-letter words in any tennis student's vocabulary.

Only Human.
Also just because the stars have riches and/or fame, their private lives should not be our public tabloid fuel. There is a great price that comes with great power/fame/wealth...but however envious or upset or disturbed we are about their status, we need to remind ourselves that they are human too.

Being greeted in a sincere manner goes much further, than expecting them to behave as circus animals on a stage for you at every moment in public.

3) Seek to understand from others.

Open your mind. Try to know yourself, know the terrain, know your enemy. Do not be afraid to ask for help or advice.

Figure out what went right or what went wrong, after every match. Watch replays from pros.

Learn. Grow. Think Beyond. Never think you know everything, never think someone new cannot show you something new.

Winning is not good enough. Never stop learning or trying to get better.

"Seek excellence in all endeavors"...as my HS Calculus teacher would say.