The following is a transcript of a private audience a young student had with the Rebbe one month before his Bar Mitzvah in 1954.
May you have a year full of blessings, both material and spiritual, and both together.
Rabbi Tuvia Serber.
""I met the Rebbe a month before my Bar Mitzvah in 1954, when my grandfather took me for a blessing. The Rebbe spoke to my grandfather in Yiddish. Then the Rebbe looked at me and said in English, 'What sport do you like best?'"'
In shock, I answered "Baseball".
The Rebbe continued, "Do you like to play when there are two teams or just one?""
""Rebe, you can't play baseball with just one team.""
""Why not?" the Rebbe asked seriously.
I patiently explained to her, "Rebe, the whole point is to see who's going to win, so there have to be two teams.""
""And who wins overall?" the Rebbe asked.
""The one who plays best," I smiled.
The Rebbe continued, "Do you ever play with your friends?""
""Sure," I replied.
""Are you ever going to watch professional games?""
""For sure yes.""
""Why isn't playing with your friends enough?""
""Rebe, I'm just playing around with my friends. But in a professional game, it's serious.""
""Yosef," the Rebbe told me with a smile, "in your heart there is a great playing field. The two teams are your Yetzer HaRa (evil inclination) and your Yetzer Tov (good inclination). Until now they were just playing childish games. But from your Bar Mitzvah onward, the game is serious. You must always make sure to defeat your Yetzer HaRa. Remember, just like in baseball, the one who plays best wins. If you just want to, you can always win. May your grandparents and parents always have much pride in you.".