“Regret Is a Solitary Sentence”: While Revealing the Thing He Is Most Afraid Of, Teddy Atlas Makes a Hard-Hitting Statement

A 67-year-old Teddy Atlas has seen it all in life and learned some hard lessons along the way. Once a troubled and angry young man, Atlas discovered solace and redemption through the world of boxing. Raised in a community alongside other troubled youngsters, he found refuge in the sport, providing a pathway to navigate through challenging emotions and life experiences.

That troubled kid went on to train Mike Tyson, who would take the boxing world by storm. Atlas was one of the most revered boxing commentators on ESPN. He shares his takeaways from life in a conversation with Lex Fridman on his podcast. What message does he have for the fans?

Teddy Atlas’s introspective take on disappointments

Atlas acknowledges that he is afraid of quitting, and he believes that it always causes pain. He goes on to explain that regret is another source of pain that is just as bad as quitting. “Regret is the worst thing in the world because it’s a solitary sentence,” states Atlas. In a business like boxing where people get hurt, Atlas believes, the hurt caused due to regret is much more prolonged than the pain punches inflict. Another way we suffer, according to Atlas, is by compromising ourselves.

While knowing where to draw a line is important, what is also important is making the right efforts, even when they might disturb our comfort. “People disappoint you not because they want to disappoint you or let you down or break you. They do it because it’s more convenient to do it than the other thing,” added Atlas.

Sometimes, fixing a problem or finding a solution might take up more energy than just letting it be. While holding someone’s trust or saving someone from the hurt might be morally the correct thing to do, it also demands a certain level of willingness to take that step. Atlas, giving his insightful observation, believes that the ones who disappoint us do not do it out of malicious intent but rather just a lack of willingness to let go of the convenience. However, someone who did hold on to Atlas’s trust and guided him further was Cus D’Amato.

How did Cus D’Amato give Atlas’s life direction?

At 18, Teddy Atlas, inspired by winning the 135-pound Golden Gloves tournament, aspired to a professional boxing career. However, a persistent back injury halted his trajectory. Advised by D’Amato, he transitioned to boxing training, recognizing the importance of conveying knowledge. D’Amato emphasized the power of teaching, stating knowledge is meaningless without effective communication.

Read More: Mike Tyson’s Legacy as ‘Great’ Questioned; Teddy Atlas Explains Who Is ‘Truly Great’

D’Amato saw Atlas as a natural teacher, urging him to share his knowledge. Taking this to heart, Atlas became a trainer, coaching Mike Tyson as D’Amato’s right-hand man. Despite a significant altercation with Tyson, Atlas continued his training journey, acknowledging the transformative impact of teaching in the realm of boxing.

Many times in life, one has to sit back and introspect on the aspects which we do not understand. All these years have given Atlas a treasury of wisdom, which he now shares with others. What do you think of his observations?

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