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“What makes me undefeated is the fact that I absolutely – without question – dominate living with a disability.” – Matt Scott
“No Excuses” is a 2007 Nike commercial starring basketball player Matt Scott.
For the first 50 seconds of the commercial, you see Scott doing quick dribble drills and making a few shots from the chest up, all while spewing excuses people use.
“I’m too weak. I’m too slow. It’s raining. I’m not inspired. It makes me smell bad. It’s too hot. My favorite show is on. I just can’t. My feet hurt.”
Those are just a few.
Then he shames us all. He rolls away in a wheelchair. This Nike commercial was aired on Dec. 31, 2007, on ESPN and MTV. On New Year’s Day, it was aired on FOX, ESPN, the NFL Network, BET, and ABC Family, just to name a few. You may remember watching it.
“My goal has always been to show people the true ability in my sport, and maintain an intense work ethic to prove to myself and the vast majority how tremendous of an athlete we as Paralympians are capable of being,” Scott told The Undefeated.
It’s almost nine years later and Scott, known in the sports world as the Steph Curry of wheelchair basketball, is still doing his thing.
“I am doing exactly what I love and not letting a single thing stop me,” Scott said.
He has been a member of the U.S. men’s wheelchair basketball team for more than 10 years and is a three-time U.S. Paralympian. He’s never made an excuse as a way to get out of reaching his life’s dreams.
Since birth, the odds have not been in his favor. He was born with spina bifida, a condition that affects the spine. His spine wasn’t fully developed, causing him to have no function in his legs. Complications caused by spina bifida can range from minor physical problems to severe physical disabilities. But this never stopped Scott from reaching his goals and overcoming the odds.
“Most kids that grew up sports fans dream of being a professional athlete or representing their country in the Olympics in a sport that they love. I am fortunate enough to be living that very same dream despite a physical disability,” Scott said.
His Twitter profile says: “Born without the ability to walk. So I learned to fly instead! My wheelchair basketball career has taken me all over the world.”
He has soared.
He won a gold medal with the U.S. team in the 2001 Parapan American Games in Brazil. He won a silver medal at the IWBF World Wheelchair Basketball Championship in 2006 and again in 2010. He was also nominated for an ESPY Award.
He’s been winning international wheelchair basketball titles since 2008. He’s a 3-point shooting machine. Scott has become an international superstar in his own right.
Wheelchair basketball transformed his life. He was introduced to it at 14 years old. He’s noted for saying, “Wheelchair basketball didn’t just change my life. It became my life.”
“If I could change one thing, it would be the perception of Paralympic athletes. I believe with all my heart that it takes just as much hard work and dedication to become a World Champion or Paralympic medalist as our able-bodied counterparts,” Scott added.
Scott is doing what he loves and he keeps getting better. He is undefeated.
“I live an extremely fulfilling life of adventure, success and athletic triumph. I have lofty goals and I dream really big, and I wake up every day chasing those dreams and goals no matter what.”
Take a look at Scott’s 2007 Nike Commercial.
Check out some of Scott’s 3-point moves on the court.