Memorable/Inspirational T&F "Quotes"

[Grasshopper]

I love a great inspirational or humorous quote. I'm currently preparing my introductory "pep talk" for my new high school T&F team and I'm looking for some good quotes from famous T&F athletes (or other celebrities/historical figures) that will inspire my kids (or maybe just entertain them). If you know of any good quotes about why Track and Field is a great and unique sport, why hard-work and training is worth the sacrifice, why it's better to put the good of your team before your own, why you should focus on your own improvement rather than your place in comparison to others, etc. - or anything else that would be good material for high school-age kids, please pass it on. I thank you all in advance for whatever help you can give. God bless!

[Asterix]

Re: Memorable/Inspirational T&F

http://www.ianpainter.com/inspirations.htm

http://distancedemons.homestead.com/Trivia.html

http://www.geocities.com/halvey_99/Running_Quotes.html

[Walt Murphy]

Re: Memorable/Inspirational T&F

This is probably one you won't want to use, but one of the most memorable quotes was uttered at the NCAA Championships in Austin in 1973 when Texas SID Jones Ramsey, a football man to be sure, said, "The only sport I hate more than track is field"!

[eldrick]

Re: Memorable/Inspirational T&F

you can't tell this one to the kids,but my all-time favorite (obviously not related to track,but a "sporting" one)was from the late great Milt Berle

now he was reknowned for having the biggest d*ck in hollywood.
when asked what his strategy was in big d*ck contests was,he quipped at lightening speed:

"I only take out, what's needed to win !!!"

[gh]

Re: Memorable/Inspirational T&F

>This is probably one you won't want to use, but one of the most memorable
>quotes was uttered at the NCAA Championships in Austin in 1973 when Texas SID
>Jones Ramsey, a football man to be sure, said, "The only sport I hate more
>than track is field"!>>

Ramsey also said, "Why, I'd drive 50 miles for a track meet... in the other direction!"

Still, the sumbitch threw about the best parties that track journalists ever saw. I can only imagine how he treated football writers.

[tafnut]

Re: Memorable/Inspirational T&F

Excellent sources, Asterix, I particularly like (and believe) this one: "The harder your work, the luckier you get."

Here's one I like for Cross Country:
"Trample the weak; hurdle the dead." ;-)

[hjsteve1.97]

Re: Memorable/Inspirational T&F

I heard my college coach say 1000 times, "You have to 'Pay The Price'to be successful."

[hjsteve1.97]

Re: Memorable/Inspirational T&F

and high school coach always yelled to us,

I don't want good losers, I want good winners ! "

[Conor Dary]

Re: Memorable/Inspirational T&F

The one quote I can't forget---which, unfortunately, is not very inspirational---was the one the ex-pro footballer, Chris Berman, said on espn's Sport Center after it announced on air that Barnes and Reynolds had tested positive.
"Track, now there's a dirty sport!" Too bad Lyle Alzado didn't say it, than the irony would have been more obvious.

[marknhj]

Re: Memorable/Inspirational T&F

Here's one you definately don't want to use. Brit team official, Gateshead, circa 1980ish, "If we can't find enough of you to test who are clean we'll test six buggers from the crowd."

[Conor Dary]

Re: Memorable/Inspirational T&F

'Here's one you definately don't want to use. Brit team official, Gateshead, circa 1980ish, "If we can't find enough of you to test who are clean we'll test six buggers from the crowd.'

That sounds like something Andy Norman would have said.

[malmo]

Re: Memorable/Inspirational T&F

"Lead with your head and heart. Your legs and lungs are sure to follow" - Master Po

[Guest]

Re: Memorable/Inspirational T&F

I saw the Brit quote re testing (maybe AW, maybe AT maybe AI). Andy Norman does ring a bell as the source. If it wasn't he, it should have been.

The UT quote I saw was attributed to a football coach and was "the only thing worse than track is field".

[marknhj]

Re: Memorable/Inspirational T&F

That sounds like something Andy Norman
>would have said.

Ahem...I think it's against the rules & regs to name names. However, if I'd read that instead of posting it, Andy would have been my guess too!

[Cerutty Boy]

Re: Memorable/Inspirational T&F

Anything by Percy Cerutty:

Only the fit are fearless

It is axiomatic that only the pure can understand purity, only the cultured can appreciate beauty, and only the strong can truly measure their strength. Therefore, only the self disciplined can command genuine respect.

Understand that evolved man is a king, but without the trappings. That kingship is his right and destiny. That we can be, in time, all that we would. That we honor all real men but are subservient to none.

Ab infinitum…

Or the Bible (I think):

He who in the Olympic Race the prize would gain,
Has born from early youth fatigue and pain;
Excess of heat and cold has tried,
Love’s softness banished, the glass denied.

Or Henry David Thoreau:

If you have built castles in the air, you work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put foundations under them

Or even Karl Marx:

We have nothing to loose but our chains, we have a world to win!