Associated Press

50 Most Inspirational Quotes in Sports

Sean Evans

It doesn't matter if your dad owns a professional sports team or if you play squash on the weekends with Rupert Murdoch; if you don't perform as an elite athlete or coach, then you're history.

Consequently, the people in this list are uniquely qualified to inspire.

Major sports figures have professions that are intensely competitive, emotionally draining and—on the plus side—decidedly more exciting than your sad, meager existence.

But in the spirit of turning things around for you, I've curated a list of motivating quotes from those who have made it to the top.

Hopefully, these pearls of wisdom will inspire you to join a CrossFit gym, learn to play the piano or demand stock options during a hostile annual review with your employer.

Before we begin, this article does not include quotes from sports movies. If you're looking for scripted inspiration, click here. Also, to ensure that Vince Lombardi and John Wooden don’t saturate this list with prosaic musings, I've limited each sports personality to one quote each.

The first day of the rest of your life begins now with the 50 most inspirational quotes in sports.

Joe Namath

Image via AP Photo/Richard Drew

Source.

Dwayne Johnson

Image via AP Photo/Evan Agostini

Source.

Reggie Jackson

Image via AP Photo

Source.

Laird Hamilton

Image via AP Photo/Neuro Drinks

Source.

Dean Smith

Image via AP Photo

Source.

Billie Jean King

Image via AP Photo

Source.

Lou Brock

Image via AP Photo

Source.

Charles Barkley

Image via AP Photo

Source.

Hank Aaron

Image via AP Photo

Source.

Marshawn Lynch

Image via AP Photo/Ted S. Warren

Source.

Mark Spitz

Image via AP Photo

Source.

Jim Abbott

Image via AP Photo/Mike Albans

Source.

Carl Lewis

Image via AP Photo/Eric Risberg

Source.

Larry Bird

Image via AP Photo/Ed Nessen

Source.

Pat Summitt

Image via AP Photo/Sara D. Davis

Source.

Tom Landry

Image via AP Photo

Source.

Tommy Lasorda

Image via AP

Source.

Mario Andretti

Image via AP Photo

Source.

George Allen

Image via AP Photo

Source.

Gary Player

Image via AP Photo/Chris O'Meara

Source.

Jack Dempsey

Image via AP Photo

Source.

Bobby Bowden

Image via AP Photo/Chris Gardner

Source.

Julius Erving

Image via AP Photo

Source.

Bobby Knight

Image via AP Photo/Jeff Roberson

Source.

Roger Staubach

Image via AP Photo/Charles Bennett

Source.

Wilt Chamberlain

Image via AP Photo

Source.

Herb Brooks

Image via AP Photo

Source.

Mia Hamm

Image via AP Photo/Lawrence Jackson

Source.

Jackie Robinson

Image via AP Photo/John Roone

Source.

Bruce Lee

Image via AP Photo

Source.

Steve Prefontaine

Image via AP

Source.

Pat Tillman

Image via AP Photo/Roy Dabner

Source.

Knute Rockne

Image via AP Photo

Source.

Pat Riley

Image via AP Photo/Marta Lavandier

Source.

Jim Valvano

Image via AP Photo

Source.

John Madden

Image via AP Photo

Source.

Paul "Bear" Bryant

Image via AP Photo/Joe Holloway Jr.

Source.

John Wooden

Image via AP Photo

Source.

Muhammad Ali

Image via AP

Source.

Lou Gehrig

Image via AP Photo/Murray Becker

Source.

Eddie Robinson

Image via AP Photo

Source.

Arthur Ashe

Image via AP Photo/Rusty Kennedy

Source.

Wayne Gretzky

Image via AP Photo/Leon Algee

Source.

Roberto Clemente

Image via AP Photo

Source.

Mike Ditka

Image via AP Photo/Charles Bennet

Source.

Babe Ruth

Image via AP Photo/Harry Harris

Source.

Lou Holtz

Image via AP Photo/Joe Raymond

Source.

Jesse Owens

Image via AP Photos

Source.

Michael Jordan

Image via AP Photo

Source.

Vince Lombardi

Image via AP Photo

Source.

   

Read 0 Comments

Download the app for comments Get the B/R app to join the conversation

Install the App
×
Bleacher Report
(120K+)