Dennis Eckersley Quotes

The first game is always the most difficult, for the nerves you have before you begin to play.

I think people are always nervous for your first game.

Auditioning is so nerve-racking.

I know what it feels like to walk out in front of a sold-out crowd of a thousand people that are there for you, and how good that feels, but as an opener, you just have to train yourself to think that it's going to be harder.

When I was younger I used to get really nervous before games, so much so, you are almost throwing up before games.

Yeah, my first season playing varsity, that was probably the last season I got nervous for. I was kind of nervous for that one.

It's okay to feel nervous before a competition because it means you care about doing well.

I am nervous all the way through the national anthem and the first play. Once I get up and down the court a few times, it fades.

The fear of failing... not quite the fear of failing, but the uncertainty of whether you are going to perform or not, is there every single game I have played in my life. It will always be there.

Nerves can happen to even the best of us. It's not easy to compete.

The first game I played against the University of Miami, I was very nervous - eyes wide open.

All these years later, I have almost no memory of the shows themselves. It's a blur. I remember my jogging runs better - that was my way of getting my energy together. I used to try to get to the arena as late as possible; otherwise, I'd just be pacing around, waiting to go on.

As for the stage fright, it never goes away. When I'm waiting in the wings to go on, it's agony every single time but I stay focused and I know that once I'm on stage it'll be fine; I'll be in my happy little bubble.

I was this kid, and I was scared to death of all these pros around me... My head would shake, and my hands would shake, and I discovered if I kept my head down and looked up, my head would not shake, so I started to do that when I could, when it was appropriate in a scene.

Every audition is different, but I get incredibly nervous and insecure and worked up for however long I have to prep - that's when I get to spin. But you're not allowed to spin once you enter the room. Doubt really can't enter the room when you're auditioning - unless it's part of the character.

It's fun to be there with the guys, to practice with them, arrange the balls, do this, do that, but when you play you can get some of this nervousness out of your system.

It's so scary to go on stage. I used to throw up before I went on stage, every time.

I was passionate about soccer. I still am. Odd, though - playing soccer always made me much more anxious than playing tennis. On soccer days, I'd be out of bed by 6 in the morning, all nervous. But I was always calm when it was time for a tennis match. I still don't know why.

Showing your movie to an audience... it's like your kid doing a piano recital. 'Just let it not fail. Please.'

I go through insanity before a show. It's not really a process but it's like absolute mortal fear.

Before every performance, I think I am about to keel over.

If you go to a game nervous, you make a mistake.

I think it's healthy for a person to be nervous. It means you care - that you work hard and want to give a great performance. You just have to channel that nervous energy into the show.

To begin with, I don't have any stage fright.

Some guys have trouble sleeping the night before an important round. I never have. Invariably, I sleep longer and better, and have more dreams, when I'm in contention and feeling pressure.