Words of Inspiration
Given the nature of sports and competition, it's not surprising that athletes have had some hugely motivational and touching things to say about hard work, perseverance, leadership, winning, and much more. Here are the most inspirational sports quotes for athletes and fans. For the true fan, sports are the epitome of hard work and dedication. To get to the pinnacle of their sport, even the most naturally gifted athletes have to give it their all. Here, these talented men offer their wisdom to inspire you to make you believe that if even they can do it, you should be able to, as well. Here are some quotes guaranteed to make you want to run:
Baseball
MORE INSPIRATION FROM YOGI BERRA
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"Baseball is 90% mental -- the other half is physical." -Yogi Berra
"I'm not an athlete. I'm a professional baseball player."
John Kruk
"Like they say, it ain't over till the fat guy swings."
Phillies catcher Darren Daulton on stocky first baseman John Kruk.
"I'm rich. What am I supposed to do, hide it?"
Detroit Tiger Lou Whitaker, arriving in a stretch limo for a players' union meeting during the 1994 baseball strike.
"I dunno. I never smoked any Astroturf."
Tug McGraw, asked whether he preferred grass or Astroturf
"I told [GM] Roland Hemond to go out and get me a big name pitcher. He said, 'Dave Wehrmeister's got 11 letters. Is that a big enough name for you?'"
Eddie Eichorn, White Sox owner
"Raise the urinals."
Darrel Chaney on how management could keep the Braves on their toes
"What's everyone blaming me for? Blame Felix. I wouldn't have hit into the double-plays if he hadn't hit singles."
Joe Torre of the Mets after tying a major league record by hitting into four double-plays, each time after Felix Millan had singled just before Torre came to the plate (July 21, 1975).
"I am the most loyal player money can buy."
Don Sutton, Pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Houston Astros, Milwaukee Brewers, Oakland Athletics and California Angels
"They shouldn't throw at me. I'm the father of five or six kids."
Baseball player Tito Fuentes, after getting hit by a pitch.
WORDS OF IMNSPIRATION FROM JERRY COLEMAN
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"Hector Torrez, how can you communicate with Enzo Hernandez when he speaks Spanish and you speak Mexican?" Jerry Coleman
"As I remember it, the bases were loaded."
Garry Maddox, asked his reaction to hitting a grand slam
"Better make it six; I can't eat eight."
Pitcher Dan Osinski, when a waitress asked if he wanted his pizza cut into six or eight slices
"Me and George and Billy are two of a kind."
Baseball player Mickey Rivers, on his relationship with George Steinbrenner and Billy Martin
"The game was closer than the score indicated."
Dizzy Dean, after a 1-0 game
"There is one word in America that says it all, and that word is, 'You never know.'"
Pitcher Joaquin Andujar
"That's why I don't talk. Because I talk too much."
Joaquin Andujar
"Sometimes they write what I say and not what I mean."
Pedro Guerrero, on sportswriters
"Sure. I'm proud to be an American."
Cincinnati Reds rookie pitcher Steve Foster, asked by a Canadian customs agent if he had anything to declare.
"The Yankees are only interested in one thing, and I don't know what that is."
Former Yankee outfielder Louos Polonia
"It's a partial sellout."
Atlanta Braves broadcaster Skip Caray, trying not to say the game has only drawn 6,000 fans.
RALPH KINER
Baseball Hall of Famer Ralph Kiner led the league in home runs in each of his first seven years as a baseball player. He seemed likely to break many of Babe Ruth's records until a bad back cut short his career, after only ten seasons. He then became a broadcaster for the expansion New York Mets in 1962, and still continues there today. Here are a few of his best quotes:
"We'll be back after this word from Manufacturer's Hangover."
"All of his saves have come during relief appearances."
"You have really solidified the Mets' center field problems."
Kiner to Daryl Boston.
"All of the Mets' road wins against Los Angeles this year have been at Dodger Stadium."
"In the hunt to buy the San Francisco Giants was George Shinn, owner of the Charlotte Harlots."
"Jay Bell is 0-for-6 in this series with 10 homers and 52 RBIs."
"That was Benes' fifth strikeout on the day. He came in with 94, so now he has 104 strikeouts on the year."
"The Mets just had their first .500 or better April since July of 1992."
"Andujar Cedeno to lead it off. He swings. And he is hit by a pitch. And it is hit over the wall and out of here for a home run."
"Some guys are inwardly outgoing."
"We're experiencing audio difficulties."
"We'll be back with the recrap after this message."
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"I lost it in the sun!"
Billy Loes, Brooklyn Dodgers Pitcher, after fumbling a grounder.
"All I'm asking for is what I want."
Rickey Henderson.
"Why does everybody stand up and sing 'Take Me Out to the Ballgame' when they're already there?"
Larry Anderson, MLB pitcher
"Models are like baseball players. We make a lot of money quickly, but all of a sudden we're 30 years old, we don't have a college education, we're qualified for nothing, and we're used to a very nice lifestyle. The best thing is to marry a movie star."
Cindy Crawford to the BBC
"That picture was taken out of context."
New York Met pitcher Jeff Innis, griping about a bad newspaper photo.
"I walk into the clubhouse and it's like walking into the Mayo Clinic. We have four doctors, three therapists and five trainers. Back when I broke in, we had one trainer who carried a bottle of rubbing alcohol and by the seventh inning he had drunk it all." Tommy Lasorda in Sports Illustrated (May 29, 1989)
"I was thinking about making a comeback, until I pulled a muscle vacuuming."
Johnny Bench
"Tonight, we're honoring one of the all-time greats in baseball, Stan Musial. He's immoral."
Johnny Logan, ex-major leaguer, introducing Musial at a banquet.
"A lot of good ballgames on tomorrow, but we're going to be right here with the Cubs and the Mets."
Thom Brennaman, Chicago Cubs broadcaster.
Football
THE IMMORTAL BILL PETERSON
From 1960-1979, "Coach Pete" Bill Peterson coached football at Florida State. His teams compiled a record of 62-42-11, and a winning percentage of .587. In the process, "Coach Pete" also became one of the greatest characters in American sports:
"I'm the football coach around here and don't you remember it."
"You guys line up alphabetically by height."
"You guys pair up in groups of three, then line up in a circle."
"I used to have this slight speech implement and couldn't remember things before I took the Sam Carnegie course."
"Men, I want you just thinking of one word all season. One word and one word only: Super Bowl."
"Just remember the words of Patrick Henry'Kill me or let me live.'"
"The greatest thing just happened to me. I just got indicted into the Florida Sports Hall of Fame. They had a standing observation for me."
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"He treats us like men. He lets us wear earrings."
Torrin Polk, University of Houston receiver, on his coach, John Jenkins, 1991
"I don't care what the tape says. I didn't say it."
Coach Ray Malavasi
"I may be dumb, but I'm not stupid."
Player/announcer Terry Bradshaw
"We're not attempting to circumcise rules."
Bill Cowher, Pittsburgh Steelers coach
"It isn't like I came down from Mount Sinai with the tabloids."
Indianapolis Colts coach Ron Meyer
"Defensively, I think it's important for us to tackle."
Karl Mecklenburg, Denver Broncos linebacker, before Super Bowl XXIV.
"I'm not allowed to comment on lousy officiating."
Jim Finks, New Orleans Saints G.M., when asked after a loss what he thought of the refs, 1986
"He's the about the size of a lot of guys that size."
Offensive coordinator Gary Crowton, on QB Cade McNown
"I feel like I'm the best, but you're not going to get me to say that."
Jerry Rice.
"I don't think this is an example of life and limb being at risk. I like the fact that our fans care."
Cleveland Browns president Carmen Policy, after ten Cleveland fans were arrested for throwing bottles onto the field to protest the overturning of a game-deciding call by replay.
"Hawaii doesn't win many games in the United States."
Analyst Lee Corso
"We've got to find a way to win. I'm willing to start cheating."
New England tight end Marv Cook.
"I'm really happy for Coach Cooper and the guy who've been around here for six or seven years, especially our seniors."
Ohio State quarterback Bob Hoying, after winning a Big Ten title.
"The shoulder surgery was a success. The lobotomy failed."
Mike Ditka on quarterback Jim McMahon's surgery.
"The NFL, like life, is full of idiots."
Randy Cross, color commentator.
"Most of my clichés aren't original."
Rams coach Chuck Knox.
Basketball
"Left hand, right hand, it doesn't matter. I'm amphibious."
Charles Shackleford of the NCSU basketball team
"Any time Detroit scores more than 100 points and holds the other team below 100 points, they almost always win."
Doug Collins
"I've won at every level, except college and pro."
Shaquille O'Neal, on the lack of championships early in his career.
"[My] career was sputtering until [I] did a 360 and got headed in the right direction."
Tracy McGrady, after signing with the Orlando Magic on Thursday.
"Are you any relation to your brother Marv?"
Leon Wood to announcer Steve Albert
"It's almost like we have ESPN."
Magic Johnson, on how well he and James Worthy work together
"I can't really remember the names of the clubs that we went to."
Shaquille O'Neal on whether he had visited the Parthenon during his visit to Greece
"My sister's expecting a baby, and I don't know if I'm going to be an uncle or an aunt."
Chuck Nevitt , North Carolina State basketball player, explaining to Coach Jim Valvano why he appeared nervous at practice, 1982
"Tom."
Tom Nissalke, New coach of the NBA's Houston Rockets, when asked how he pronounced his name, 1966
"I'll always be Number 1 to myself."
Moses Malone
"I'm going to graduate on time, no matter how long it takes."
Senior basketball player at the University of Pittsburgh
"I don't want to shoot my mouth in my foot, but those are games we can win."
Sherman Douglas
"Anything that doesn't progress gets stuck or left behind. Our new sponsor is a company with a great future."
Club president Fernando Ruiz of the Spanish basketball club Gijon Baloncesto, which has accepted sponsorship from a pornographic website. The website owners say they are considering supplying their girls to act as cheerleaders at Gijon's home games.
"Play some Picasso."
New Jersey Net Chris Morris, to a piano player at a hotel bar while trying to impress a date.
"Unstoppable, baby!"
Warrior rookie Marc Jackson to the Mavericks' bench, after hitting a lay-up during a 29-point loss.
"I've been dunked on by (Vitaly) Potapenko and now (Zan) Tabak. The good part is that they don't make posters of those guys."
Houston Rockets forward Walt Williams
"No comment."
Michael Jordan, after being asked for his response to making the All-Interview Team.
"I will shoot all you Asian (bleeps) ... Do you remember the Vietnam War? I'll kill y'all just like that."
Jason Williams to a fan of Asian descent sitting behind the Kings bench during a game at Golden State. Williams was fined $15,000 by the NBA.
ALLEN IVERSON GETS A BAD RAP
The uncensored version of Allen Iverson's rap single, "40 Bars." (After harsh criticism from several advocacy groups and NBA commissioner David Stern, Iverson cleaned up the language on the track, but the album was never released.)
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Man enough to pull a gun; Be man enough to squeeze it.
Blink if you don't believe it.
Anything to do with millions I'm gonna be with it.
Get murdered in the 2nd and 1st degree.
Come to me with faggot tendencies, you be sleeping where the maggots be.
Won't catch me as a victim in a rap casualty....
Everybody stay fly. Get money, kill and fuck bitches! I'm hittin' anything, and planning on using my riches....
Down for zero digits. I'm a giant and you're a midget
I know n*ggaz that kill for a fee, that would kill your ass for free. Believe me.
How you wanna die, fast or slowly?
Now I'm reaching for heat; Leave you leakin' in the street.
Nigga screamin' he was a good boy ever since he was born.
But fuck it, he gone, life must go on.
Niggaz don't live that long....
This type of murder don't need no hook; Just 40 f*cking bars from the mouth of a crook. |
Hockey
"When we're competing for the Stanley Cup, this record won't mean a thng."
Ottawa coach Rick Bowness, after the Senators tied an NHL record with 37 straight road losses.
"That's so when I forget how to spell my name, I can still find my (CENSORED) clothes."
Stu Grimson, Chicago Blackhawks left wing, explaining why he keeps a color photo of himself above his locker.
"I'll be sad to go, and I wouldn't be sad to go. It wouldn't upset me to leave St. Louis, but it would upset me to leave St. Louis. It's hard to explain. You'll find out one of these days, but maybe you never will."
Brett Hull during his St. Louis Blues days, on a possible trade.
"Better teams win more often than the teams that are not so good."
Tom Watt, ex-Maple Leaves coach (his team was not so good)
Tennis
"I'm glad you're doing this story on us and not on the WNBA. We're so much prettier than all the other women in sports."
Martina Hingis in Detour Magazine, 3/98 issue.
"My potential speaks for itself."
Liliah Osterloh (USA) who finished the year ranked 111 in 1998.
"It's a nice bonus but, you know, I have to pay taxes too."
Venus Williams after winning the Grand Slam Cup.
Boxing
FLOAT LIKE A BUTTERFLY, STING LIKE A BEE, BUT STOP MOVING YOUR MOUTH, MUHAMMAD ALI.
"What's the difference between a Jew and a canoe? A canoe tips."
Muhammad Ali, at the premiere party for the biographical movie "Ali," before a crowd of politicians and Hollywood figures at the Cafe Milano in Washington, D.C.
"No, no, no, don't..."
Ali's wife, Lonnie, pleading for him not to tell the next joke.
"A black, a Puerto Rican and a Mexican are in a car. Who's driving? The police."
Muhammad Ali's next joke.
"Unfortunate, given the champ's long-standing commitment to causes of multiculturalism."
The Anti-Defamation League in a statement expressing "disappointment" at the remarks Ali made (according to the Washington Post).
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"I quit school in the sixth grade because of pneumonia. Not because I had it, but because I couldn't spell it."
Rocky Graziano
"He's a guy who gets up at six o'clock in the morning regardless of what time it is."
Lou Duva, Veteran boxing trainer, on the spartan training regimen of heavyweight Andrew Golota, 1996.
"He's the man of the hour at this particular moment."
Don King
"He (Julio Cesar Chavez) speaks English, Spanish, and he's bilingual, too."
Don King, boxing promoter.
"Fear was absolutely necessary. Without it, I would have been scared to death."
Floyd Patterson, former heavyweight boxing champion.
"You can sum up this sport in two words: You never know."
Lou Duva, boxing trainer
"I'll be back."
Peter McNeeley, five days after being pummeled in his fight with Mike Tyson.
THE WIT AND WISDOM OF MIKE TYSON
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"I am the most ruthless, brutal champion ever. There is no one who can match me. I want your heart. I want to eat your children."
"I'm gonna make sure you talk about me, and your grandkids and kids after that gonna know about me...your great grandkids will say 'wow, wasn't that a bizarre individual?'"
"[He] called me a 'rapist' and a 'recluse'. I'm not a recluse." -Mike Tyson, on writer Wallace Matthews
"I am many things. I am an animal. I am a convicted rapist, a hell-raiser, a loving father, a semi-good husband. You don't really know me."
"I have some pain I'm gonna have for the rest of my life. So every now and then I kick your fucking ass"
"Everyone has a plan 'till they get punched in the mouth."
"I can sell out Madison Square Garden masturbating."
"These books ain't window dressing. I think Machiavelli's the most sophisticated writer outside of Shakespeare. Way ahead of his time. Such a manipulative person. Everything he accomplished he did by kissin' ass... That Tolstoy crappeople shouldn't read that stuff."
"If I take this camera and put it in your face for 20 years, I don't know what you might be. You might be a homosexual if I put that camera on you since you were 13 years old. I've been on that camera since I was 13 years old."
"I was gonna rip his heart out. I'm the best ever. I'm the most brutal and vicious, the most ruthless champion there has ever been. No one can stop me. Lennox is a conqueror? No! He's no Alexander! I'm Alexander! I'm the best ever. I'm Sonny Liston. I'm Jack Dempsey. There's never been anyone like me. I'm from their cloth. There is no one who can match me. My style is impetuous, my defense is impregnable, and I'm the ferocious. I want his heart! I want to eat his children! Praise be to Allah!"
"I just want to be humble at all times." |
Golf
"I'm a golfernot an athlete."
Lee Westwood of Britain, the world's fifth-ranked golfer.
"I owe a lot to my parents, especially my mother and father"
-Greg Norman
"His nerves. His memory. And I can't remember the third thing."
Lee Trevino on the three things that go as a golfer ages.
"I don't think anywhere is there a symbiotic relationship between caddie and player like there is in golf."
Johnny Miller, TV analyst and pro golfer.
"Then I was skinnier. I hit it better, I putted better, and I could see better. Other than that, everything is the same."
PGA Senior Tour player Homero Blancas.
"My handicap is that I don't have a big enough beer cooler for the back of my golf cart."
Pro football linebacker Rick D'Amico, on his golf handicap.
"(We) should be allowed to wear shorts. God almighty, (LPGA) women are allowed to wear 'em, and we've got better legs than they do."
Greg Norman
"Ninety percent of putts that are short don't go in."
Yogi Berra on golf
PRESIDENTS WITH A GOOD LIE
"Anybody see a flaw in my swing? Or is there a swing in my flaw?"
President Bush, while golfing Monday in Meridian, Texas.
"I know I am getting better at golf because I am hitting fewer spectators."
Gerald Ford
"Oh, I hit too far to the right. I should've hit the 3-wood."
Bill Clinton after playing the first hole at a golf course in Carbondale, Colorado. He took a mulligan.
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Auto Racing
"The lead car is absolutely unique, except for the one behind it which is identical"
Murray Walker/
"It's basically the same, just darker."
-Alan Kulwicki, stock car racer, on racing Saturday nights as opposed to Sunday afternoons, 1991
"All I had to do is keep turning left!"
George Robson, Winner of the 1946 Indy 500
Horse Racing
"This is really a lovely horse, I once rode her mother."
Ted Walsh,Horse Racing Commentator
"The racecourse is as level as a billiard ball"
John Francombe
Boat Racing
"Ah, isn't that nice, the wife of the Cambridge president is kissing the cox of the Oxford crew."
Harry Carpenter on the BBC TV Boat Race, 1977
People Racing
"Morcelli has four fastest 1500-metre times ever. And all those times are at 1500 metres."
David Coleman
"Moses Kiptanui - the 19 year old Kenyan, who turned 20 a few weeks ago..."
David Coleman
"Her time is about 4.33, which she's capable of."
David Coleman
"There goes Juantorena down the back straight, opening his legs and showing his class."
David Coleman at The Montreal Olympics
"It tastes like any other sport drink."
Japanese marathon champion Naoko Takahashi, on the beverage she used to fuel her run into marathon history Sundayjuice from giant killer hornets.
Weight Lifting
"This is Gregoriava from Bulgaria....I saw her snatch this morning and it was amazing."
Pat Glenn, Weightlifting commentator
Rugby
The best quotes from Sky TV's rugby man, the ubiquitous Murray Mexted:
"You don't like to see hookers going down on players like that."
"He's looking for some meaningful penetration into the backline."
"Spencer's running across field calling out, 'come inside me, come inside me.'"
"I can tell you it's a magnificent sensation when the gap opens up like that and you just burst right through."
"I don't like this new law, because your first instinct when you see a man on the ground is to go down on him"
"Darryl Gibson has been quite magnificent coming inside Andrew Mehrtens, and I'm looking forward to seeing more of the same today."
"There's nothing that a tight forward likes more than a loosie right up his backside"
"Everybody knows that I have been pumping Martin Leslie for a couple of seasons now." |
Winter Sports
"That's what I call the ultimate laxative."
Canadian Prime Minister of Sports Otto Jelinek, after riding the luge down the Winter Olympics course.
"I really lack the words to compliment myself today."
Skier Alberto Tomba
"My wife tells me "I think you love baseball more than me." I say, "Well, I guess that's true, but hey, I love you more than football and hockey." Tommy Lasorda
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