Athletes are, as a general rule, more confident and less neurotic than the rest of us. It’s part of the job requirement. If you go into a football game unsure of yourself, you’re going to get knocked on your ass. Athletes — and not just the top ones — don’t sit around contemplating the universe, questioning their ability to succeed; they almost all believe they are the best and will never lose. This kind of overconfidence can cause them immense difficulty in their personal lives.