Sports are often used as a source of motivation for billions of people all around the world and it shows in some of the most inspirational sports quotes. They can motivate and inspire just about anyone, no matter who you are or how much you follow the ever-evolving sports universe.
Quotes play an integral role in the society we live in today. In the words of Gloria Steinem, “quotes are short enough to be remembered, but smart enough to be memorable.” When you come across one that speaks to you and your story, you’ll remember it for the rest of your life.
In the sports world, quotes are spoken on a daily basis. Sometimes it comes from coaches and players during a press conference, while other times it comes from a journalist, analyst, reporter, or even a fan. Either way, inspirational sports quotes can put a huge smile on anyone’s face.
Inspirational sports quotes will always have a special place in my heart – and I know I’m not the only one. They get my juices flowing, they get me excited, they spark that fire within me, and they help me channel my inner athlete – even when I’m not playing or watching an actual sport.
What makes inspirational sports quotes so popular is how relatable they are – not just to sports, but to life in general. You can apply them to your day-to-day routine, your work attitude, your relationships, and in your philosophy. They can help shape you into the person you want to be.
In the sports world today, there’s no shortage of inspirational sports quotes. It’s going to be extremely difficult narrowing them down to 20 that I feel are some of the most inspirational, but that’s exactly what I’ve been challenged to do. Don’t worry, I won’t let all your athletes down!
20. “Nobody who ever gave his best regretted it.” – George Halas
George Halas spent 64 years as a member of the Chicago Bears’ franchise in the NFL – as a player, promoter, manager, owner, and most infamously as coach. He finished his Hall of Fame career with six NFL titles and 324 coaching victories. He was inducted into the HOF in 1963.
Halas has a point with this quote. It doesn’t matter what you’re doing or how difficult the challenge is, you should never give less than your best. By giving your best, you can walk away from anything with pride, even in the face of defeat. Give your best, be your best, and succeed.
19. “You have to expect things of yourself before you can do them.” – Michael Jordan
"You don't show up on game days and expect to be great. GREATNESS HAPPENS IN PRACTICE. You have to expect things of yourself before you can do them."
Michael Jordan is one of the greatest basketball players to ever live. He spent 15 years in the league and averaged 30.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5.3 rebounds, 2.3 steals, and 0.8 blocks per game in his career. He won six titles, five MVPs, Rookie of the Year, and Defensive POY.
We all have goals and we all have dreams that we hope to one day reach. While there’s nothing wrong with that, it won’t mean anything unless you 100% expect yourself to reach those goals. That’s when you start turning those goals into reality, and that reality into continued success.
18. “I became a good pitcher when I stopped trying to make them miss the ball and started trying to make them hit it.” – Sandy Koufax
I became a good pitcher when I stopped trying to make them miss the ball and started trying to make them hit it. -Sandy Koufax pic.twitter.com/tunro9mzfZ
Sandy Koufax is a Hall of Fame pitcher that spent 12 seasons in the MLB – all of which with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He finished with a 165-87 record, 2.76 ERA, 137 complete games, 40 shutouts, and 2,396 strikeouts. He was a one-time MVP and three-time Cy Young winner.
Koufax does a great job of displaying the difference between a good pitcher and a bad one. Some pitchers spend their entire career trying to make hitters miss, but the good ones try to make hitters hit. Good pitchers are up to the challenge and aren’t going to back down from it.
17. “Today, you have 100% of your life left.” – Tom Landry
Tom Landry is one of the greatest football coaches of all-time. He spent 29 years as the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys and finished his career with a 270-178-6 record. He led the team to 20-straight winning seasons and two Super Bowl wins – Super Bowl VI and Super Bowl XII.
This isn’t necessarily a sports quote, but it is inspirational and was spoken by a prominent figure in the sports world. Basically what he’s saying is that each day is a new day and no matter how much time passes, you will always have 100% of your life left – as you look at it that way.
16. “There may be people that have more talent than you, but there’s no excuse for anyone to work harder than you do.” – Derek Jeter
“There may be people that have more talent than you, but there’s no excuse for anyone to work harder than you do.” Derek Jeter pic.twitter.com/0mVSwQTfas
Derek Jeter is one of the most recognizable names in New York Yankees’ history. He spent his entire 20-year MLB career with the team, batting .310 with 260 home runs, 1,311 RBIs, and 1,923 runs scored. He helped lead the team to five World Series and was Rookie of the Year.
Jeter is right – you aren’t always going to be the most talented in the room and there will likely always be someone with more skill. With that said, it shouldn’t stop you from being the best version of yourself and that’s something that will come with hard work, effort, and dedication.
15. “Do you know what my favorite part of the game is? The opportunity to play.” – Mike Singletary
Be thankful for EVERY minute…EVERY play…EVERY practice. Keep grounded and focused during both the good and bad times!
Mike Singletary is one of the best linebackers in NFL history. He spent 12 seasons with the Chicago Bears and was named to 10 Pro Bowls. He was a two-time Defensive Player of the Year and one-time Super Bowl champion. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1998.
It doesn’t matter if you’re a linebacker in the NFL, the CEO of a tech company, a cashier at a grocery store, or in school – having an appreciation for the opportunities you get is crucial. Sometimes the statistics, records, and performance comes second to pure appreciation.
14. “Most people never run far enough on their first wind to find out they’ve got a second.” – William James
William James wasn’t an athlete, but he is often referred to as the Father of American Psychology and was one of the leading thinkers and philosophers of the 1800s. His work was rooted in physiology, psychology, philosophy. You’ve likely heard of some of his past work.
He studied the psychology of the ‘second wind,’ also known as ‘reserve energy.’ The idea is that many athletes have a second wind, but not all athletes push themselves to the point of learning they have it. It’s a shame because it’s this second wind that gives certain athletes that edge.
13. “Never say never because limits, like fears, are often just an illusion.” – Michael Jordan
Today marks a new week, which means it’s time for some #MondayMotivation! 💪
“Never say never, because limits, like fears, are often just an illusion”
This is our second Michael Jordan quote and it won’t be our last because he was full of inspirational sports quotes that we absolutely love. It gives you a glimpse into Jordan’s mindset and attitude – the same mindset and attitude that led him to his success in the basketball world.
He speaks about how limits and fears are often an illusion, meaning they aren’t real. Limits and fears only exist to slow us down and the more we cater to those limits and fears, the slower we get. You have to learn to look past your limits and push yourself to achieve greatness daily.
12. “Make each day your masterpiece.” – John Wooden
John Wooden is widely regarded as the greatest college basketball coach of all-time. He had a great college career at Purdue as a player and was a high school coach for 15 years. That’s when he became the coach of UCLA and won 10 NCAA Championships in a span of 12 years.
Wooden must’ve taken his own advice with this quote during his almost 30-year career at UCLA. Not only is every day a new day, but it’s whatever you make of it and Wooden was one that wanted to make that day into a masterpiece. We think you should do the same, as well!
11. “I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” – Michael Jordan
"I've missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed."
Alright, we’ve made it back around to yet another Michael Jordan quote, but this is my favorite one yet. We all know MJ for his accomplishments. The championships, the MVPs, the scoring titles, and the other accolades he achieved during his illustrious and legendary 15-year career.
Taking into account all of his accomplishments, it’s easy to forget that MJ – like most athletes – was just as much a failure as he was a success. Ironically, that is why he succeeded so much. He always knew how to get back up when he fell down and always came back stronger.
10. “Do not let what you can not do interfere with what you can do.” – John Wooden
Much like MJ, John Wooden had so many inspirational sports quotes and was so highly respected in the sports community that I couldn’t help to feature him multiple times on this list. He always knew what to say and that’s why he’s known as one of the greatest teachers.
We all have strengths and we all have weaknesses. There’s nothing you can do to change that. Even if you start strengthening your weaknesses, there’s no way you’ll strengthen all of them. What’s most important is that you don’t let your weaknesses overshadow your strengths.
9. “Winning isn’t everything, but wanting to win is.” – Vince Lombardi
We’ve talked about several great football coaches on this list, so it’s only right that we highlight Vince Lombardi – one of the most recognizable football coaches in NFL history. In a 10-year Hall of Fame career, Lombardi had a 105-35-6 record, five NFL titles, and two Super Bowls.
Every athlete wants to win. It’s what drives them to greatness, even more-so than individual statistics. But that doesn’t mean you’re always going to win and you’ll have rough patches in your life. While you won’t always win, you should always want to win – and expect to win.
8. “Winners never quit and quitters never win.” – Vince Lombardi
Don’t go anywhere because we have another Vince Lombardi quote that’s worth highlighting here – that’s back-to-back Lombardi quotes! This one is another quote about winning, which makes sense because Lombardi was one of the most prominent winners in football history.
It’s a simple quote, but one that carries a lot of weight. Winners never quit – in fact, it’s impossible to win if you quit. Why? Well, because quitters never win. If your goal is to win, whether or not you actually do, you have to give 110% effort all the way until the final whistle.
7. “The harder the battle, the sweeter the victory.” – Les Brown
Just saying “The harder the battle, the sweeter the victory.” – Les Brown . Every drop of sweat in the gym is another drop of joy when the final whistle blows #ResilienceCountspic.twitter.com/gpO2t16mD7
Les Brown is the second person on this list that wasn’t an athlete, but he knew the right words to say and inspired athletes around the world. He was a politician and keynote speaker that changed the lives of many with his simple, yet elegant and exquisite way of viewing the world.
As humans, we’re going to face some tough battles in our lifetime – some tougher than others. Those battles are usually where we grow the most. While some people give up during tough times, Les Brown says don’t because the sweetest victories come from the toughest battles.
6. “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” – Wayne Gretzky
On this day in history: Canadian ice hockey player Wayne Gretzky, considered one of the game's greatest players, skated in his last professional hockey game!
Wayne Gretzky is widely regarded as the greatest hockey player to ever grace this Earth. He holds numerous records that may never be broken. During his 20-year NHL career, Gretzky totaled 894 goals, 1,963 assists, and 2,857 points in 1,487 games. He was dominant.
We often look at percentages and in fact, a lot of our decisions are based on the likelihood of us succeeding. And while there’s nothing wrong with picking your battles in certain situations, it’s important to remember that you will never succeed unless you actually give yourself a chance.
5. “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.” – Tim Notke
Tim Notke is a name many might not recognize on this list and that’s because he was never thrown into the spotlight. He was a high school basketball coach that loved what he did and loved changing the lives of young basketball players whenever you had the chance to do so.
I absolutely love this quote and that’s why I have it in my top-five. Some people have a hard work ethic and some people have natural talent – some even have both. But just because someone is more talented than you, doesn’t mean they can outwork you – and they shouldn’t.
4. “In baseball and in business, there are three types of people. Those who make it happen, those who watch it happen, and those who wonder what happened.” – Tommy Lasorda
Today's inspirational quote is from #MLB#HOF mgr Tommy LaSorda: "In baseball and in business, there are three types of people. Those who make it happen, those who watch it happen, and those who wonder what happened.” Good night & God bless. #quoteoftheday#quotesaboutlifepic.twitter.com/HpBPJ96wkk
Tommy Lasorda is one of the most legendary baseball managers in the history of the game. He only played a few seasons as a pitcher before turning to coaching and eventually managing. As manager, he helped the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 1,599-1,439 record between 1976 and 1996.
Lasorda was right – there are three types of people in this world. Those with the drive to make things happen, those that are too lazy to make things happen, and those that are always a little too late to the party – they’re in their own world. The question is which one are you going to be?
3. “It’s not the will to win that matters — everyone has that. It’s the will to prepare to win that matters.” – Paul “Bear” Bryant
Be better today, than you were yesterday! Your opponent will know if you prepared to win!
It’s not the will to win that matters — everyone has that. It’s the will to prepare to win that matters. – Paul “Bear” Bryant#SeahawkNationpic.twitter.com/bsyPdxagbw
Paul ‘Bear’ Bryant is a legendary college football coach. He coached Maryland, Kentucky, and Texas A&M before arriving at Alabama, where he coached for 25 years. During that time, he led the team to a 232-46-9 record, 13 conference championships, and six National Championships.
Bear Bryant was telling the truth when he said that everyone has the will to win – I mean, no one ever wants to lose or fail. The problem is that most people aren’t willing to prepare and practice to the point where winning isn’t just a want – it’s a requirement and it’s expected.
2. “Never let the fear of striking out get in your way.” – Babe Ruth
"Never let the fear of striking out get in your way"
Babe Ruth – one of the most recognizable and infamous names in all of baseball history. During his 22-year career, most of which with the New York Yankees, Ruth batted .342 with 714 home runs, 2,214 RBIs, and 2,174 runs scored. He helped his team win seven World Series.
Of all his successes, many people might be surprised to learn that Babe Ruth struck out 1,330 times during his career. In fact, he led the major leagues in strikeouts on five different occasions. Still, he never let that get in his way and every time he struck out, he came back even stronger.
1. “It is not the size of a man but the size of his heart that matters.” – Evander Holyfield
“It is not the size of a man but the size of his heart that matters.” – Evander Holyfield Check out the Sportable App. The first social media network for athletes! https://t.co/yKrSK9pQ0Epic.twitter.com/XwwZGhU8PA
Evander Holyfield was a heavyweight and cruiserweight boxer that made his pro debut on November 15, 1984 and fought his final fight on May 7, 2011. During that time, he amassed a 44-10-2 record and was the undisputed champion in both weight classes – the only boxer to do so.
When he wasn’t knocking out other world-class boxers, Holyfield was knocking us out with his words – in a good way, though. He theorized that it wasn’t the size of the man that mattered most. Instead, it was the size of their heart because heart will always triumph in times of need.
What Are Your Favorite Inspirational Sports Quotes?
Inspirational sports quotes hit everyone differently. Some people are going through a rough time in their life and need extra motivation. Some people are gearing up for a crucial moment in their life and need to light that fire within them. And some people just like inspirational sports quotes.
It doesn’t really matter which side of the spectrum you fall on, so long as you take away what you need from the quote – that’s all that really matters. And when you do, make sure you don’t forget it. That way, you can always turn back to that quote when you need some inspiration.
Well, we shared with you some of our favorite inspirational sports quotes and even shared how those quotes make us feel. Now, we want to know what your favorite inspirational sports quotes are. Did we highlight any of them? Did we introduce you to some new ones? We want to know!
20 Sportsmanship Quotes You Should Tell Your Children
Athletes are known to get competitive with one another, but sportsmanship quotes teach us how to compete and contest without losing respect for your teammates or opponents. It’s one of the universal rules that athletes must follow – though sometimes athletes need a slight reminder.
According to Merriam-Webster, sportsmanship is defined as “conduct (such as fairness, respect for one’s opponent, and graciousness in winning or losing) becoming to one participating in a sport.” Sportsmanship is necessary for sustaining and maintaining integrity in every sport.
In most sports, teams and players are subject to one of three outcomes – a win, a loss, or a tie. While everyone wants to win, not everyone will win. With sportsmanship at the forefront of all sports, players must show respect for one another no matter what outcome they experience.
Sportsmanship is something we learn – it’s not something that comes naturally. From a young age, we’re born to be competitive and we hate when things don’t go our way. As we age, we learn to take the good with the bad and understand that a loss is nothing more than a lesson.
I don’t know about you, but a lot of the sportsmanship within me was learned through various sportsmanship quotes that I came across growing up. Sportsmanship quotes helped me understand what sportsmanship is and what it means to be a good teammate and opponent.
With that said, I’d like to share with you some of my all-time favorite sportsmanship quotes that are worth memorizing and one day reciprocating to your children. They’re sportsmanship quotes that will make you rethink your attitude towards winning, losing, and playing the sport you love.
20. “Winning isn’t everything, but wanting to win is.” – Vince Lombardi
— 𝔹𝕚𝕘 𝕄𝕠𝕟𝕖𝕪 𝕎𝕚𝕫𝕒𝕣𝕕𝕤 𝔻𝕚𝕤𝕥𝕣𝕚𝕔𝕥 (@BigMoneyWizardD) October 14, 2021
Vince Lombardi is a legendary Hall of Fame head coach that spent 10 seasons with the Green Bay Packers in the NFL. During that time, he won 5 NFL titles, two Super Bowls, and had a coaching record of 105-35-6. He’s one of the most-quoted NFL head coaches of all-time.
Let’s be honest, we all love winning and that’s always the end goal, but that’s not always the outcome. Sometimes, you’re going to lose and it might not even be close. What truly matters, though, is that you put in 100% effort and you proved to yourself that you wanted to win.
19. “I think sportsmanship is knowing that it is a game, that we are only as good as our opponents, and whether you win or lose, to always give 100 percent.” – Sue Wicks
Sue Wicks – I think sportsmanship is knowing…
“I think sportsmanship is knowing that it is a game, that we are only as a good as our opponents, and whether you win or lose, to always give 100 percent.” -Sue Wicks
Sue Wicks is a Hall of Fame female basketball player that spent six seasons with the New York Liberty after a legendary career at Rutgers. She won the 2000 Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award and is one of the greatest shot blockers in WNBA history. She also played internationally.
She reminds us that while sports are a career to some people, it’s important not to forget that it’s just a game. We can go out there and expect greatness from ourselves, but that doesn’t mean we’re guaranteed anything. So long as we give 100% every single day, then life is good.
18. “One man practicing sportsmanship is far better than a hundred teaching it.” – Knute Rockne
Knute Rockne is a legendary college football head coach that spent 13 seasons with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish before his sudden death in 1930. During his time as head coach, he led Notre Dame to six National Championships, a 105-12-5 record, and five unbeaten seasons.
Essentially, Rockne is saying that a hundred people teaching sportsmanship is great, but those people are teaching it – they aren’t necessarily practicing it. Until you get that one person (and hopefully many more) that actually practices it, all that teaching would have been for nothing.
— Special Olympics PA – Philadelphia (@SOPAPhilly) August 27, 2018
Paul Brown is a legendary football head coach that spent 17 seasons coaching the Cleveland Browns and eight more coaching the Cincinnati Bengals. He had a career 213-104-9 record and was a four-time AAFC Champion, three-time NFL Champion, and was inducted into the HOF.
Sportsmanship and class go hand in hand. The only way to truly showcase both is through your actions. When you finally start to act on it, people will take notice. And when people start to take notice, that class and sportsmanship will start to reciprocate – that’s when progress is made.
16. “Golf is a game of respect and sportsmanship; we have to respect its traditions and its rules.” – Jack Nicklaus
Jack Nicklaus is a legendary professional golfer and world-renowned golf course designer. He turned pro in 1961 and his career lasted over 40 years. During that time, he totaled 117 wins as a pro, including 73 PGA Tour wins, and 18 major championships. He’s one of the best all-time.
Nicklaus is right that golf is a game of sportsmanship. In fact, it’s one of the most respectful and respected sports in the entire world. It’s a game of tradition and a game of rules – sometimes hidden rules, but rules nonetheless. Learning to respect and appreciate the rules is mandatory.
15. “Victory is remembered for at most two decades; an act of good sportsmanship is remembered for a lifetime.” – Simon Nguyen
When’s the last time you won something? The last time you experienced the smell of sweet victory? In a perfect world, we would taste victory on a daily basis and would never have to face defeat. Unfortunately, the world doesn’t work like that and we have to be a little more realistic.
While most people believe winning is what’s most important, think again. Winning is something you’ll remember forever, but it’s something others will eventually forget. If you truly want to make your mark on this world, be a good sportsman and play out of respect – that’ll be remembered!
14. “Sometimes I think sportsmanship is a little bit forgotten in place of the individual attention.” – Cal Ripken Jr.
Sometimes I think sportsmanship is a little bit forgotten in place of the individual attention. -Cal Ripken, Jr. pic.twitter.com/mDc3F58vxA
Cal Ripken Jr. is a legendary shortstop that spent 21 seasons in the MLB – all of which with the Baltimore Orioles. He’s a two-time MVP, Rookie of the Year, World Series champion, eight-time Silver Slugger, two-time Gold Glove winner, Home Run Derby champion, and HOF player.
Most of us get so attached to our individual glory that we forget sports are more than that. Not only are there thousands of other athletes out there with the same goals as you, but those people are attached to their individual glory. This is why sportsmanship is underappreciated.\\
13. “After I hit a home run I had a habit of running the bases with my head down. I figured the pitcher already felt bad enough without me showing him up rounding the bases.” – Mickey Mantle
After I hit a home run I had a habit of running the bases with my head down.
I figured the pitcher already felt bad enough without me showing him up rounding the bases. -Mickey Mantle pic.twitter.com/e7ZTiyxOOo
Mickey Mantle is a legendary outfielder that spent 18 seasons with the New York Yankees in the MLB. He was a three-time MVP, 20-time All-Star, seven-time World Series champion, Triple Crown winner, and even won a batting title. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1974.
Mantle was a man that took sportsmanship and class very seriously – so much that he hated to celebrate a home run because he didn’t want to make the pitcher feel bad. After all, the pitcher already felt pretty bummed that he gave up a home run. There’s no need to brag or be cocky.
12. “I never thought about losing, but now that it’s happened, the only thing is to do it right.” – Muhammad Ali
"I never thought about losing, but now that it's happened, the only thing is to do it right." – Muhammad Ali pic.twitter.com/oG8qVF4rvf
Muhammad Ali is one of the most recognizable and dominant boxers in the history of the sport. He made 18 appearances on the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine, which is the second most by an athlete all-time. He’s one of the greatest heavyweights of all-time with a 56-5-0 record.
Ali didn’t like to lose, much like any athlete. In fact, he never even thought about losing – that is, until his 1971 loss to Joe Frazier. At the time, Ali was 31-0 and seemed unstoppable. He might’ve never thought of losing, but when he finally did, he decided to do it with complete class.
11. “Win as if you were used to it, lose as if you enjoyed it for a change.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Ralph Waldo Emerson wasn’t an athlete and is only one of three non-athletes on this list. He was an American poet, philosopher, thinker, and essayist that played a major role in the development of romanticism and transcendentalism. He was quite an elegant poet at the time.
Emerson does an excellent job of portraying the meaning behind sportsmanship in as few words as possible. Win like you’ve been there before – it shows maturity and shows how humble you are. You should also lose as if you enjoyed it – that shows an even higher level of maturity.
10. “When you win, say nothing. When you lose, say less.” – Paul Brown
Today in 1945 Paul Brown signed a contract to coach what would become @Browns “When you win, say nothing. When you lose, say less.” pic.twitter.com/FYOYefJhE5
This is the second time Paul Brown is being featured on this list, showing just how important sportsmanship quotes are to the legendary head coach. It’s a similar quote to the last one by Ralph Waldo Emerson, but captures the big picture in a different way – a more elegant way.
When we win, our initial instincts tell us to be loud, obnoxious, cocky, and proud. While that’s understandable, it’s not the greatest way to show off how much of a sportsman you are. Instead say nothing and embrace the moment for what it is. And when you lose, say even less than that!
Paul Brown isn’t the only legendary football coach worth quoting multiple times with inspiring sportsmanship quotes. Knute Rockne has a ton of good quotes to his name and there are several that won’t be featured on this list – unfortunately. He always knew the words to say.
Rockne put it as simply as you can – it doesn’t matter what the outcome of the game, do it fairly. Don’t cheat yourself, don’t cheat the opponent, and don’t cheat the sport. Be righteous in everything you do and take pride in your ability to do the right thing when no one is looking.
8. “I would prefer even to lose with honor than to win by cheating.” – Sophocles
There were only three Ancient Greek tragedians that had their work preserved over the past several thousand years – Sophocles was one. He embodied what sportsmanship meant and explained it perfectly in one sentence – the same sentence that’s written above in that quote.
Known for his ability to create characters unlike other play writers of his time. While he wasn’t an athlete, he entered into dozens of playwright competitions. He didn’t always win (he won 24 of the 30 he entered), but he did make sure to compete with class and sportsmanship.
7. “Victory is in the quality of competition and not the final score.” – Mike Marshall
Mike Marshall was a former Cy Young winner that spent 14 seasons as a pitcher in the MLB. He finished his career with a 97-112 record and had five seasons with more than 10 wins – including a career-high 15 wins in 1974. He also made two All-Star appearances in his career.
Marshall was right. The final score isn’t what’s most important. Sure, winning is fun and it’ll make you feel good, but there’s more to sports than that because you can gain just as much from a good, quality, competitive loss as you can in an easy, effortless, and lazy victory.
6. “I can accept failure. Everyone fails at something. But I can’t accept not trying.” – Michael Jordan
Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen.
I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I cannot accept not trying.
We all know who Michael Jordan is. He’s widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all-time. During his 15-year career, he won six championships (two three-peats), was a 14-time All-Star, five-time MVP, Rookie of the Year, and Defensive Player of the Year.
Failure plays a large role in every single one of our lives. It’s something we can’t avoid in life and is something that will haunt us sooner or later. And that’s okay because there’s nothing wrong with failure – so long as it was met with an honest effort. Just because you fail, doesn’t mean you can’t be proud.
5. “It is your response to winning and losing that makes you a winner or a loser.” – Harry Sheehy
Accountability Wednesday It is your response to winning and losing that makes you a winner or loser. – Harry Sheehy pic.twitter.com/y7wRzMiaCc
— Carroll Chargers (@carrollchargers) May 29, 2019
Harry Sheehy is the former athletic director at Dartmouth and was once the head coach and athletic director at Williams College. He theorized that it wasn’t necessarily the outcome of the game that determined the winner or lose. Instead, it was how that team responded that matters.
If you were to be loud and obnoxious after a win, you aren’t going to look like a very good sportsman. On the other hand, if you were loud and obnoxious during a loss, you’ll likely be viewed the same, if not worse. Instead, you should always be respectful and honorable.
4. “The greatest test of courage on earth is to bear defeat without losing heart.” – Robert Green Ingersoll
— Bravo Creative MEDIA Productions (@BravoCreativeM1) November 25, 2021
Robert Green Ingersoll, also known as The Great Agnostic, was a prominent figure during the Golden Age of Free Thought. He was primarily a lawyer and writer that fought for the defense of agnosticism. He was born on August 11, 1833 and died at 65 years old on July 21, 1889.
Victory is always the goal, but defeat is often the outcome. While that’s true in many cases, defeat doesn’t have to weigh you down and it certainly doesn’t have to result in a loss of heart. Instead, it should strengthen that bond and make you yearn for victory even more than before.
3. “The mark of great sportsmen is not how good they are at their best, but how good they are at their worst.” – Martina Navratilova
Sports Quote of the Day: “The mark of great sportsmen is not how good they are at their best, but how good they are at their worst.” Martina Navrátilová #SportsQuotepic.twitter.com/Xo7bHlTlGq
Martina Navratilova is a legendary and talented Hall of Fame female tennis player that won 369 titles, 59 major championships, and was a 26-time Finalist. She had a career record of 2,189-362, which included a singles record of 1,442-219 and a doubles record of 747-143.
Most people are interested in seeing how people act, behave, and carry themselves in the face of victory. While that is important in its own right, many would argue that it’s how you act, behave, and carry yourself in the face of defeat. That’s when true character is known to shine.
2. “Sportsmanship is not just about being nice. It is much more important than that. It’s about realizing that you could not compete without an opponent and that she has the same goals as you.” – Stephanie Deibler
Virtue of The Week: SPORTSMANSHIP “Sportsmanship is not just about being nice. It is much more important than that. It’s about realizing that you could not compete without an opponent and that she has the same goals as you.” – Stephanie Deibler pic.twitter.com/qAphRuXTUi
Many people believe being a good sportsman requires you to be a good person and to be genuinely nice. While that certainly plays a big role in it, that doesn’t mean it’s the only thing that matters and it’s often much more than just that. It takes a deeper level of respect for the game.
You have to learn to realize that you’re not the only one out there competing. Your opponent often has the same goal as you and is willing to put in any amount of effort to achieve it. It doesn’t matter who wins or loses, but one person will be victorious and the other will not.
1. “Sportsmanship for me is when a guy walks off the court and you really can’t tell whether he won or lost, when he carries himself with pride either way.” – Jim Courier
Sportsmanship for me is when a guy walks off the court and you really can't tell whether he won or lost, when he carries himself with pride either way. 🔴 Jim Courier 🔴#Mondayvibes#MondayMotivationpic.twitter.com/cwROAG8Du2
Jim Courier is a Hall of Fame male tennis player that was a four-time major champion and three-time finalist. He won 29 career titles and had a 68.1% winning percentage (630-334 record), which included a 506-237 singles record and a 124-97 doubles record.
I want you to think of the last tennis match you watched – or it could be any sport, really. When the final whistle blew and the athletes were walking off the playing surface, think about how those athletes acted. That will tell you everything you need to know about that specific player.
Do You Have Any Favorite Sportsmanship Quotes?
There’s something about those sportsmanship quotes that speak to me. They help athletes understand that there’s more to sport than winning and losing. Even in the face of intensity, there’s no reason why anyone should show disrespect or ignorance to their opponent.
I’m sure I’m not the only one that likes to learn from sportsmanship quotes, especially when they come from a true and proven sportsman with a history of respect in the sports community. The world needs more of it and it’s these sportsmanship quotes that are going to supply that.
Now that I’ve shared my favorite sportsmanship quotes with you, it’s time for you to share your favorite sportsmanship quotes with me! Are they some of the ones I listed above? Did I miss some good ones? Do you have an original one you’d like to share with us? Let us know!
At The Buzzer, or ATB is the place for those who love sports, life, family, community, and so much more. We are far from the run-of-the-mill 24/7 sports news websites. We not only bring you what’s happening in the world of sports in terms of trades and breaking news, but we also bring you the news that goes on behind the scenes, like big life moments, and so much more. So take a minute and read one of our articles, we promise you won't regret it.
