ANDREW: So where are you from, John?
JOHN: I'm from Chicago.
ANDREW: Chicago? Really? So are you a...
JOHN: Wait! Don't finish your question.
ANDREW: Why not?
JOHN: I want to guess what you are going to ask me.
You are going to say: "So are you a Bulls fan?"
ANDREW: Yes, how did you know?
JOHN: Because every time I tell people I'm from Chicago,
they always ask the same question.
ANDREW: But that's because there are a lot of Bulls fans here in Taiwan.
JOHN: I can see that.
They're everywhere. Even some of my students--nine-year-old kids--they are Bulls fanatics.
ANDREW: Do you think that's bad?
JOHN: No, I think it's amusing. It is just a surprise to me. I like the Bulls too.
ANDREW: What do you think about Jordan quitting?
JOHN: Well, I know most Bulls fans are disappointed.
But as for me, I think it is an honorable decision.
ANDREW: What do you mean?
JOHN: I always think it is good to make it to the top, to do one's best.
But then, when you've done the best you can, it is good to stop there.
In English, we say: "Quit while you're ahead."
ANDREW: I'm not sure I understand.
JOHN: I will say it differently then.
You know how Jordan is one of the great basketball players of all time.
ANDREW: Yes, it is obvious.
JOHN: And if he plays next year, do you think he can do better?
I mean, can he improve?
ANDREW: No, I don't see how he can. He is already at the top.
JOHN: Well, that's what I mean.
If he continues, he can only do the same thing again, or he can start to go downhill.
And why go downhill? Why not quit when one is at the top?
ANDREW: Now I understand. You think Jordan made the right decision then.
JOHN: Sure. As we say in English: "Quit while you're ahead."
安德魯：約翰，那你是哪里人啊？
約翰：我來自芝加哥。
安德魯：芝加哥？真的啊，那么你是……
約翰：等等，別問下去。
安德魯：為什么？
約翰：我想猜你要問什么。
你要問"你是公牛隊球迷嗎？"
安德魯：是的，你怎么知道？
約翰：因為每次我跟人說我來自芝加哥
總是被問相同的問題。
安德魯：但那是因為臺灣有很多公牛隊球迷。
約翰：看得出來。
到處都有球迷，連我一些九歲的學生也是公牛隊迷。
安德魯：你覺得不好嗎？
約翰：不，我覺得很有意思，我只是很吃驚。我也喜歡公牛隊。
安德魯：你對喬丹退出球壇有何看法？
約翰：我知道大部份的球迷都很失望。
但是我認為這是光榮的決定。
安德魯：怎么說？
約翰：我總認為人要盡力達到他的巔峰。
當你達到巔峰時，最好就此畫下句點。
英語中叫"見好就收"。
安德魯：我不太懂你的意思。
約翰：那么我換個說法。
你知道喬丹是籃壇的第一把交椅吧！
安德魯：很顯然是。
約翰：如果他繼續打到明年，你認為他會打得更好嗎？
我是說他能進步嗎？
安德魯：我不認為還能更好，他已經在最巔峰了。
約翰：這就對了。
如果他繼續打，不是維持現狀，就是開始走下坡。
那為什么要走下坡呢？為什么不在頂尖狀態下隱退呢？
安德魯：我懂了，你認為喬丹做了明智的抉擇。
約翰：當然，就是英語說的"見好就收。" |