Someone overheard me teaching my son this and he goes “That’s right!”  I immediately went to shake his hand.  I taught the kids that when you face difficult circumstances and you may even lose, go down fighting and swinging.

I would purposely guard the best offensive player in basketball, some of whom even played college hoops.  Surprisingly (or not), I could hold my own.  One time I guarded someone much bigger and taller than me.  He definitely had more than 50 pounds on me and at least 6 inches in height.  He, of course, chuckles when he first sees me coming after him.  He never scores, much less touches the ball.  After the game, he blames his shoes.  I go up to him and say no m———r, not the shoes.

One time in court, my first month actually, an experienced attorney challenges me to a fight.  He is trying to intimidate me.  I tell him, no problem sir, we don’t have to do it outside, we can do it right here.  Smoke and mirrors.  And at the NYPD, when I knew I was going down, I still fired everything I had left.

Absolutely difficult as an Asian male in this society.  And especially the fields I went into.  Doormat or threat. Those were my choices.  I know what I picked.

It was worth it.