Joy of Competition Quotes

When I was young, it wasn't about the money, it wasn't about the fame and fortune, it was about playing football.

I don't play basketball for the money; it was the last thing I thought of when I was a little kid.

From the age of seven, I knew I wanted to play football - I didn't think about it in a professional sense in terms of making money from it; it was more about the social aspect of being with my friends and losing myself in the sport.

I just want to show the fans my big smile and play the game that I love.

For me, my passion is just to play the game, it doesn't matter if no one comes to the stadium to watch.

It wasn't about the money. I was just playing basketball, playing with my brother, happy being in the NBA.

I always had that joy of the game in my eyes everywhere I played, because it was the best thing, but Brescia probably had less pressure. Maybe people might perceive more enjoyment because the pressure was different, but it was the same. I enjoyed the pressure, no problem!

I have been able to live my dream of playing basketball surrounded by people I love and being cheered on by the best fans in the world.

No matter what people say outside of football, we don't work for money, we work for the love of the game and the money is something that follows.

We play with enthusiasm and recklessness. We aren't afraid to lose. If we win, great; but win or lose, it is the competition that gives us pleasure.

Even now I want to keep my amateur spirit, to spend my time, to be in the sport with all my heart.

I'm getting excited before every single game. The trophy at the end is less important than the process itself.

Football is my life, and I cannot imagine myself doing anything other than playing this game.

There's something about playing in junior and being with your buddies all the time and going through that run, it's hard not to fall in love with it.

This is sports. In sports, you win and you lose. That's the nature of sports. You can't get away from that part of it. And if you get too hung up on the losing part, then you miss the boat. The competition part, a game like that, is why you play sports. That is as good as it gets.

I've always been able to play for the love of the sport.

There's not a Sunday that goes past that I'm not excited to play this game. I feel as if I'm a lucky individual to have the opportunity to play this game, and when I do have the opportunity to finally play, you can bet your last dollar I will be excited to play.

I play because I love the relationships.

He's got an overall flair for the game. It looks to me like he really loves what he does and he can't wait to get up in the morning, go hit some balls and go play.

Where would I be without baseball? Who am I without baseball?

After almost 30 years of playing this sport, I've learned something. I've learned that, no matter what happens, or happened... or where you are, or where you've been... at the end of the day: tennis is tennis. It's always, always tennis. And there's nothing better.