Sports Quotes | Beyond Motive

top of page

Sports Quotes

"Video games are bad for you? That's what they said about rock-n-roll."

"Video games are bad for you? That's what they said about rock-n-roll."

Shigeru Miyamoto, Japanese Designer

106

"My unbeaten record and the 10 British Open wins have not been equalled."

"My unbeaten record and the 10 British Open wins have not been equalled."

Jahangir Khan, Pakistani Athlete

104

"I am very happy to be signing for the best team in the world and especially proud to be the first Portuguese player to join United."

"I am very happy to be signing for the best team in the world and especially proud to be the first Portuguese player to join United."

Cristiano Ronaldo, Portuguese Athlete

Sports, First, United, World

81

"I wasn't playing mind games with anybody, I just said what I said. I am responsible for it, but I wish everybody would fall asleep for that one and let me go out there and do my thing."

"I wasn't playing mind games with anybody, I just said what I said. I am responsible for it, but I wish everybody would fall asleep for that one and let me go out there and do my thing."

Pedro Martinez, Dominican Republican Athlete

Sports, Games, Mind, Dominicanrepublican

71

"Yes, yes, I'm very happy that I finally got through this match, beat No. 7 in the world. It's my best win so far. So I'm really happy the way I play today and felt really strong on the court physically, mentally."

"Yes, yes, I'm very happy that I finally got through this match, beat No. 7 in the world. It's my best win so far. So I'm really happy the way I play today and felt really strong on the court physically, mentally."

Daniela Hantuchova, Slovakian Athlete

Sports, Court, Play, Today, World

65

"I don't expect to see them in the top six but I think of all the teams that have come up in previous seasons, I think Manchester City are the biggest club."

"I don't expect to see them in the top six but I think of all the teams that have come up in previous seasons, I think Manchester City are the biggest club."

Alan Hansen, Scottish Athlete

Sports, Seasons

55

"Basketball, in America, is like a culture. It is like a foreigner learning a new language. It is difficult to learn foreign languages and it will also be difficult for me to learn the culture for basketball here."

"Basketball, in America, is like a culture. It is like a foreigner learning a new language. It is difficult to learn foreign languages and it will also be difficult for me to learn the culture for basketball here."

Yao Ming, Chinese Athlete

Sports, America, Basketball, Culture, Language

52

"It's quite easy to start Trials riding. You just need a bike and you're set."

"It's quite easy to start Trials riding. You just need a bike and you're set."

Sete Gibernau, Spanish Athlete

50

"In five years I have never had a match where my team has had less possession than the opponents."

"In five years I have never had a match where my team has had less possession than the opponents."

Jose Mourinho, Portuguese Coach

Sports, Opponents, Possession, Years

49

"I can't do it every day. They're not going to give me much to hit right now. They're pitching me real well. If I get there, fine."

"I can't do it every day. They're not going to give me much to hit right now. They're pitching me real well. If I get there, fine."

Sammy Sosa, Dominican Athlete

Sports, Day, Now, Right

48

"We have two tables on our airplane that are set up with the games."

"We have two tables on our airplane that are set up with the games."

Steve Yzerman, Canadian Athlete

45

"Tennis has to become everything to you if you're going to make it to the top. You have to live it."

"Tennis has to become everything to you if you're going to make it to the top. You have to live it."

Monica Seles, Yugoslavian Athlete

44

"When I want to understand what is happening today or try to decide what will happen tomorrow, I look back."

"When I want to understand what is happening today or try to decide what will happen tomorrow, I look back."

Omar Khayyam, Persian Poet

Sports, Today, Tomorrow, Want, Will

41

"I used to run to school, 10k every day. And this at altitude, perfect preparation, really."

"I used to run to school, 10k every day. And this at altitude, perfect preparation, really."

Haile Gebrselassie, Ethiopian Athlete

Sports, Day, Preparation, School

40

"Sometimes that happens. I know how it feels to lose eight or nine to nothing. It can be frustrating but it was good for us. This was a team that was hot the last nine games. It seemed like any puck we touched went our way."

"Sometimes that happens. I know how it feels to lose eight or nine to nothing. It can be frustrating but it was good for us. This was a team that was hot the last nine games. It seemed like any puck we touched went our way."

Peter Bondra, Ukrainian Athlete

Sports, Games, Nothing

39

"I read the greens in Spanish, but putt in English."

"I read the greens in Spanish, but putt in English."

Chi Chi Rodriguez, Puerto Rican Athlete

Sports, English, Puertorican

38

"I may be French, but I'm playing for Arsenal."

"I may be French, but I'm playing for Arsenal."

Thierry Henry, French Athlete

37

"I think I owe it to myself and my fans in Britain to play one more Wimbledon."

"I think I owe it to myself and my fans in Britain to play one more Wimbledon."

Goran Ivanisevic, Croatian Athlete

Sports, Fans, Play

37

"When we race in London a world record will be the last thing on our minds."

"When we race in London a world record will be the last thing on our minds."

Haile Gebrselassie, Ethiopian Athlete

Sports, London, Race, Will, World

36

"As soon as I step on the court I just try to play tennis and don't find excuses. You know, I just lost because I lost, not because my arm was sore."

"As soon as I step on the court I just try to play tennis and don't find excuses. You know, I just lost because I lost, not because my arm was sore."

Goran Ivanisevic, Croatian Athlete

Sports, Court, Excuses, Play, Tennis

36

"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."

"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, Czechoslovakian Athlete

35

"It was important to score points today and I went for them with my guts."

"It was important to score points today and I went for them with my guts."

Richard Virenque, Moroccan Athlete

34

"You have to want to play it all day, every day to get to the top."

"You have to want to play it all day, every day to get to the top."

Monica Seles, Yugoslavian Athlete

Sports, Day, Play, Want

33

"I think that every single person should play sports."

"I think that every single person should play sports."

Donovan Bailey, Jamaican Athlete

30

"Tennis is so competitive. I guess that's the way it has to be."

"Tennis is so competitive. I guess that's the way it has to be."

Monica Seles, Yugoslavian Athlete

29

"I used to play sports. Then I realized you can buy trophies. Now I am good at everything."

"I used to play sports. Then I realized you can buy trophies. Now I am good at everything."

Demetri Martin, American Comedian

Sports, Now, Play

28

"If there was any magic formula, it was getting to pitch every fourth day."

"If there was any magic formula, it was getting to pitch every fourth day."

Sandy Koufax, American Athlete

Sports, Day, Formula, Magic

27

"There's nothing masculine about being competitive. There's nothing masculine about trying to be the best at everything you do, nor is there anything wrong with it. I don't know why a female athlete has to defend her femininity just because she chooses to play sports."

"There's nothing masculine about being competitive. There's nothing masculine about trying to be the best at everything you do, nor is there anything wrong with it. I don't know why a female athlete has to defend her femininity just because she chooses to play sports."

Rebecca Lobo, American Athlete

Sports, Being, Femininity, Nothing

26

"Hurricane Katrina, coupled with Hurricane Rita, which came promptly on Katrina's heels, claimed more than 1,200 American lives. Together, they caused more than $200 billion in damage."

"Hurricane Katrina, coupled with Hurricane Rita, which came promptly on Katrina's heels, claimed more than 1,200 American lives. Together, they caused more than $200 billion in damage."

Ellen Tauscher, American Politician

26

"I have contacts with the Tour de France which keep me close to cycling."

"I have contacts with the Tour de France which keep me close to cycling."

Bernard Hinault, French Athlete

26

"I mean, it's been quite busy, especially with the rain delay the first few days, and then having to play the late evenings, waiting here every day. It's been kind of difficult."

"I mean, it's been quite busy, especially with the rain delay the first few days, and then having to play the late evenings, waiting here every day. It's been kind of difficult."

Daniela Hantuchova, Slovakian Athlete

Sports, Day, Delay, First, Play

25

"Without question, no hesitation, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was the best player I ever played against."

"Without question, no hesitation, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was the best player I ever played against."

Bill Walton, American Athlete

Sports, Hesitation, Question

24

"Georgia Tech beat us and Mississippi Southern tied us last year, and Texas beat us after we had the game won. We only played about five games the way we were capable of playing and lost one of those."

"Georgia Tech beat us and Mississippi Southern tied us last year, and Texas beat us after we had the game won. We only played about five games the way we were capable of playing and lost one of those."

Bear Bryant, American Coach

23

"I think if you come first with a new world record, that is the best."

"I think if you come first with a new world record, that is the best."

Haile Gebrselassie, Ethiopian Athlete

Sports, First, World

21

"Sports and entertainment have always been windows of opportunity for African Americans, when other doors were closed."

"Sports and entertainment have always been windows of opportunity for African Americans, when other doors were closed."

Lynn Swann, American Athlete

Sports, Opportunity, African, Americans

20

"Somebody may beat me, but they are going to have to bleed to do it."

"Somebody may beat me, but they are going to have to bleed to do it."

Steve Prefontaine, American Athlete

20

"But I was very much into sports when I was a child."

"But I was very much into sports when I was a child."

Eva Herzigova, Czechoslovakian Model

19

"The sports world is an echo chamber. All it takes is one quote from a general manager and a thousand sports columns bloom."

"The sports world is an echo chamber. All it takes is one quote from a general manager and a thousand sports columns bloom."

Michael Lewis, American Author

Sports, Manager, Echo, World

19

"It ain't bragging if you can do it."

"It ain't bragging if you can do it."

Dizzy Dean, American Athlete

Sports, Bragging

19

"I enjoyed seven years at Wimbledon and there were high and low points."

"I enjoyed seven years at Wimbledon and there were high and low points."

Kenny Cunningham, Irish Athlete

19

"It's not tough at all as long as the fans are yelling, screaming and hollering."

"It's not tough at all as long as the fans are yelling, screaming and hollering."

Bill Laimbeer, American Coach

19

"My first was in 1994 and it's ten years ago already. It's been ten years and I'm still around. I won a stage again, like I did last year and the year before."

"My first was in 1994 and it's ten years ago already. It's been ten years and I'm still around. I won a stage again, like I did last year and the year before."

Richard Virenque, Moroccan Athlete

Sports, First, Years

18

"Sports do not build character. They reveal it."

"Sports do not build character. They reveal it."

Heywood Broun, American Journalist

Sports, Character

17

"They have very good individual players, but they need the collective game. And they still do not have it although there are now only six months left to go."

"They have very good individual players, but they need the collective game. And they still do not have it although there are now only six months left to go."

Roger Milla, Cameroonian Athlete

Sports, Months, Now

16

"He took me under his wing when I first came to the Rams and taught me everything - his technique in the pass rush, how to play off blockers, and how to make the big play."

"He took me under his wing when I first came to the Rams and taught me everything - his technique in the pass rush, how to play off blockers, and how to make the big play."

Jack Youngblood, American Athlete

Sports, First, Play

16

"Sports is the only entertainment where, no matter how many times you go back, you never know the ending."

"Sports is the only entertainment where, no matter how many times you go back, you never know the ending."

Neil Simon, American Playwright

Sports, Ending, Entertainment

16

"I'm not the next anyone, I'm the first Maria Sharapova."

"I'm not the next anyone, I'm the first Maria Sharapova."

Maria Sharapova, Russian Athlete

15

"If you look at my bookings, they've gone down each season. That's something I'm trying to keep improving. On the pitch you don't want any silly bookings."

"If you look at my bookings, they've gone down each season. That's something I'm trying to keep improving. On the pitch you don't want any silly bookings."

Wayne Rooney, English Athlete

Sports, Silly, Trying, Want

15

"Good pitching will always stop good hitting and vice-versa."

"Good pitching will always stop good hitting and vice-versa."

Casey Stengel, American Athlete

Sports, Vice, Will

15

"Be bold. If you're going to make an error, make a doozy, and don't be afraid to hit the ball."

"Be bold. If you're going to make an error, make a doozy, and don't be afraid to hit the ball."

Billie Jean King, American Athlete

15

bottom of page