The Quotable Athlete: Words of Wisdom from Mark McGuire, Michael Jordan, Mia Hamm, Bonnie Blair, Wayne Gretzky, Joe Theismann, and More (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Susan Shelly (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

In this compendium of approximately 1000 selected quotes, casual and avid sports fans get touching and sometimes hilarious quotes from the sports great who have spanned generations, including Chris Evert, Julius Erving, Babe Ruth and Joe Namath.

From the Back Cover

Sometimes it takes years to really grasp what has happened to your life.---Wilma Rudolph, U.S. track athlete and winner of three Olympic gold medals.

What do Yogi Berra, Mary Lou Retton, Arnold Palmer, and Charles Barkley all have in common? Each of them had something to say--sometimes funny, sometimes touching, sometimes shocking, but always something interesting, inspiring, and wise. Now sports fans, both avid and armchair, can see firsthand what some of their favorite stars had to say about everything from adversity to fame to teamwork.

The mind is the limit. As long as the mind can envision the fact that you can do something, you can do it--as long as you really believe 100 percent.---Arnold Schwarzenegger, bodybuilder and actor.

Often our sports heroes seem larger than life, celebrities of mythical proportions. The selections collected in The Quotable Athlete afford a more intimate look at these very public figures, allowing us to glimpse what they're really like away from the cameras and the formal interviews. As a result, we're able to view them as never before--remarkable insights into an athlete's exclusive world governed by training, practice, pressure, relationships, money management and all the other advantages and disadvantages associated with fame.

Before I was ever in my teens, I knew exactly what I wanted to be when I grew up. My goal was to be the greatest athlete that ever lived.---Babe Didrikson Zaharias, Hall of Fame golfer.

World-class athletes are not just born with innate talent and the ability to be the best in their field. They also must work hard and concentrate to achieve their dreams. Also, an athlete's family and surroundings can have a formidable influence on the future. While football star William "the Refrigerator" Perry claims, "even when I was little, I was big," Joe DiMaggio felt strongly that "a player's got to be kept hungry to become a big leaguer. That's why no boy from a rich family ever made the big leagues." And Michael Jordan sets a supreme example by explaining how he sees his role in life now that's he's retired from playing professional basketball: "As a father, I just want to be there for my kids. To help them learn, to help them enjoy life, and yet, give them discipline, guidance."

A bad attitude is worse than a bad swing.---Payne Stewart, professional golfer.

Whether you're looking for that perfect conversation starter, a fun way to impress your friends, or some lively reading, editors Mike McGovern and Susan Shelly feature a fascinating compendium of quotes from such diverse voices as Billie Jean King, Vince Lombardi, and even Tara Lipinski. There are practical--as well as inspiring--quotes here. Mountain climber John Roskelley reminds us that "you've got to know when to turn around," but Hall of Fame golfer Amy Alcott wisely says, "don't give advice unless you're asked." And perhaps the sagest words of all come from chess grand master Viktor Korchnoi. When asked if he was scared to play a match against Anatoly Karpov in 1978, Korchnoi retorted: "I fear nobody but the dentist." The Quotable Athlete is sure to be an inimitable addition to every sport fan's collection.

Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.---Muhammad Ali

About the Editors Mike McGovern is an assistant sports editor and columnist for the Reading (Pa.) Eagle-Times. Susan Shelly is a freelance writer and researcher. A former newspaper reporter and columnist, she's written more than a dozen books. They have two children, Sara and Ryan McGovern and live in Shillington, PA.

Check out the brains behind the brawnThe Quotable Athlete... Hear what they have to say.

The Quotable Athlete is a collection of the most colorful, profound, and important words ever uttered by the greats and near-greats of the sports world. Many of the athletes included are household names; others are virtually unknown. But they all have something memorable to say. From Jack Nicklaus on failure ("I think I fail a bit less than everyone else") to Bruce Lee on expectations ("As you think, so shall you become"), there's something here for everyone.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 191 pages
• Publisher: Mcgraw-Hill (August 17, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 007136062X
• ISBN-13: 978-0071360623
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
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• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,993,488 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)