Man, legendary motivational sports quotes are the only reason I didn’t delete my whole existence some random Tuesday in 2022. I’m currently eating cold leftover Domino’s on a paper plate because I ran out of real plates three days ago, dog just farted so bad I had to open a window in November, and my knee sounds like popcorn when I stand up. Cool cool cool. Anyway, these dumb lines from people way tougher than me are basically my emotional support wallpaper.
The Ones That Actually Crawled Inside My Skull
- “It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get up.” – Lombardi
I had this written on the duct tape holding my ankle together junior year. Then I got absolutely trucked by a 280-pound lineman from Dayton and spent the next six months learning how to shower sitting on a plastic chair. Still got up though. Eventually. Like three years later. - “Pain is temporary. Quitting lasts forever.” – Lance, yeah that Lance
Shut up, I know. Quote still hits. I was hobbling around the indoor track at the Y at 1 a.m. because the night janitor felt bad for me and let me in. That line was on a loop while I cried into my hoodie sleeve. Worked enough to keep me from jumping off the Scioto River bridge, so I’ll allow it.

The Ali One That Makes Me Look Insane in Public
“I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.’”
I was in line at the BMV last month waiting to renew my expired tags and this popped in my head. Started breathing all weird and the lady next to me thought I was having a panic attack. I was just remembering how much 6 a.m. summer two-a-days sucked and how I’d literally sell my left nut to feel that miserable again.
Legendary Motivational Sports Quotes for People Who Peaked at 17
That’s most of us, right? We all had that one season where we were kinda nice and then life was like “lol nah” and now we’re 32 getting winded carrying laundry up one flight.
- “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” – Gretzky
I’ve weaponized this into chaos. Applied for jobs in cities I can’t spell. Slid into DMs that were definitely left on read. Bought a $2 scratch-off that won me $5 so technically I’m up. Wayne would be proud. - “I’ve failed over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed.” – MJ
My phone wallpaper is still him ugly-crying with the trophy.

Yeah I’m Still Here, Barely
These legendary motivational sports quotes won’t fix your credit score or make your ex text back, but they’ve kept me from yeeting myself into Lake Erie on multiple occasions and that feels like a win.
So do me a favor, pick one that makes you feel something stupid, write it on the back of an old receipt, stick it in your wallet where you’ll see it when you’re buying $9 beer at the gas station. Works better than therapy and it’s free. What’s yours? Throw it in the comments, I’m running out of new ways to not give up and I could use the ammo.
Outbound Links:
https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/vince_lombardi_100833
https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/lance_armstrong_389672
https://www.muhammadali.com/quotes/
https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/wayne_gretzky_159233
https://www.nba.com/news/michael-jordan-hall-of-fame-speech-transcript








































