Favorite Quotes

Philosophical:

 “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” -1 Corinthians 10:31

"You don't play against opponents, you play against the game of basketball." -Bob Knight

"A good professional athlete must have the love of a little boy and the good players feel the kind of love for the game that they did when they were little leaguers." -Tom Seaver

"If you don't think baseball is a big deal, don't do it. But if you do, do it right." -Tom Seaver

"In baseball, my theory is to strive for consistency, not to worry about the numbers. If you dwell on statistics you get shortsighted, if you aim for consistency, the numbers will be there at the end." -Tom Seaver

"My job isn't to strike guys out, its to get them out, sometimes by striking them out." -Tom Seaver

"No one had more impact on my career than Gil Hodges. Playing for him was a learning experience, and he was a tower of strength. Not everbody liked him, but everybody respected him. He went about his job in a very professional manner, and it caused me to do the same with my job." -Tom Seaver

“I would say that the quality of each man’s life is the full measure of that man’s commitment of excellence and victory – whether it be football, whether it be business, whether it be politics or government or what have you.”  -Vince Lombardi

Commitment to Excellence:

“Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.” - Ecclesiastes 9:1

“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” -1 Corinthians 10:31 

“Football is a great deal like life in that it teaches that work, sacrifice, perseverance, competitive drive, selflessness and respect for authority is the price that each and every one of us must pay to achieve any goal that is worthwhile.” -Vince Lombardi

“There’s only one way to succeed in anything, and that is to give it everything. I do, and I demand that my players do.” -Vince Lombardi

Discipline:

“But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” -1 Corinthians 9:27 

“There is something good in men that really yearn for discipline.” -Vince Lombardi

Winning:

"The key is not the will to win... everybody has that. It is the will to prepare to win that is important." -Bob Knight

"There are only two places in the league - first place and no place." -Tom Seaver

"Winning is not a sometime thing, it is an all the time thing. You don’t do things right once in a while…you do them right all the time.” -Vince Lombardi

“The spirit, the will to win and the will to excel – these are the things that endure and these are the qualities that are so much more important than any of the events that occasion them.” -Vince Lombardi

Mental Toughness:

“And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.  And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.” –Genesis 32:24-25

"Mental toughness is to physical as four is to one." -Bob Knight

"Mental toughness is many things and rather difficult to explain. Its qualities are sacrifice and self-denial. Also, most importantly, it is combined with a perfectly disciplined will that refuses to give in. It’s a state of mind – you could call it character in action.” -Vince Lombardi

"If I came in to recruit your son, I would tell you, your wife, and your son, that I will be the most demanding coach your son can play for." -Bob Knight

"Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard." -Kevin Durant

Good quote but would be better said that "Hard work beats natural talent when natural talent doesn't work hard."

"It helps if the hitter thinks you're a little crazy." -Nolan Ryan

Teamwork:

“Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:” - Ephesians 4:13 

"Individual commitment to a group effort – that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.”-Vince Lombardi

Humorous:

"I never questioned the integrity of an umpire. Their eyesight, yes."-Leo Durocher

"They give you a round bat and they throw you a round ball.  And they tell you to hit it square."-Willie Stargell

"Why does everyone stand up and sing Take Me Out to the Ball Game when they're already there?"-Larry Anderson

"He slides into second with a stand-up double."- Jerry Coleman

"Little League baseball is a very good thing because it keeps the parents off the streets." -Yogi Berra

"It's like deja-vu, all over again." -Yogi Berra

"I'm getting smarter, I finally punched something that couldn't sue me." -Billy Martin