Championship Team Quotes & Sayings

What I hadn't expected was to be blindsided by a history lesson that betrayed every hard-won experience I'd had as a player and now a coach at the same school I'd attended. . . Whoever was responsible for sending a championship team into virtual obscurity was either a serious egomaniac or just plain mean. It stung.

After all, wasn't the story told at today's funeral the stuff of legacies? Of school lore passed on to the next class, and the next, building institutional pride as well as magical identities that made every kid in the state want to play there? — Jo Kadlecek

I wouldn't feel good about it at all. At the end of the day I'm here to win a team prize, and that's to win a championship, not an individual prize. — LeBron James

Our goal as a team is to keep playing as a group for as long as we can because you will never have that team again. It is like a dying limb, you have to prune it off and let another one grow in its place. That is the way you have to do it, but it still hurts losing these guys and that team because they and you have put so much effort into building a team. Even if you win that last game (and a national championship), it hurts badly because the players know they will never have that same special group of guys together on the same team again. Somebody always goes and somebody new always comes in. — Don Meyer

Coaches who let a championship team back off from becoming a dynasty are cowards. — Pat Riley

Parents would rather have their son get all-state than his team win the state championship. — Don Meyer

People don't own teams to lose money. If you ask any owner whether they would rather make $20 million and come in last place or lose $20 million and win a World Series, there's only one guy who honestly would take that championship: George Steinbrenner. Nobody else. — Bronson Arroyo

We are the best team of the tournament and deserved the title but luck did not favour us. I think the future of this team is good. If we play more friendly matches and target the SAFF Championship, I think this team can deliver that title. — Mamunul Islam

The GP2 championship costs 0.65 percent of what the Formula One championship costs. I don't understand why GP2 cost $2.5 million and our team and other teams cost maybe between $300 and $500 million. I do not see what the difference is. — Flavio Briatore

That race was so hard and I am very happy with the result in the end. Michelin did a great job with the tyres ? the grip on the edge was unbelievable! When I opened the throttle there was so much traction it was incredible. My team has done a great job and even if we didn't win we improved again in the World Championship. It is good to be the best Michelin finisher and the first Honda home as well. I'm confident in Malaysia that we can take revenge on Bridgestone! They did a great job and Loris rode very hard ? congratulations to them. A good battle to watch for the fans I think. — Max Biaggi

As a sophomore, I wanted to play varsity in three sports. And I accomplished that. It was a great feat that year, and something I held special. I wanted to bring a championship team to Oceanside High School, and it happened. It was a great year that I will never forget. — Junior Seau

Usually a championship team is built on a strong defense. That is something you can bring to every game. A great attack is always going to be inconsistent - at least on the scoreboard - that's the nature of the game. — Anson Dorrance

What motivates me is not one more championship, it is the challenge each year. I have just thoroughly enjoyed starting in spring with a new team and trying to put all the elements together to make a team. — LaVell Edwards

I want to win a championship. I can't come on this team and demand to be a starter. — LaDainian Tomlinson

Do you want to choose winning over standing out? It's a choice every player on every championship team has to do — Doc Rivers

The heartbeat of a football team is the quarterback position and I think everyone who has any intelligence about the game understands you must have consistency at that position to be a championship team. — Ron Jaworski

I want to play for a championship team. I want to win a championship. — Richard Jefferson

There's been injuries to where my perseverance may have gotten overlooked-just my hard work and what I bring to a franchise and to a team may have gotten overlooked. But it's a matter of staying professional and playing the game of basketball and ultimately doing whatever it takes to win a championship for your teammates. — Amar'e Stoudemire

I want to win some Super Bowls, and so thats really my focus, to do whatever I have to do to lead this team to a championship, — Kurt Warner

Winning teams at the NBA level, the college level, and the high school level all play team basketball. Championship teams have five players on the same page at all times. — Hubie Brown

I don't build championship teams, I build championship boys. — Larry Gelwix

I think this can be a championship team. But we do have to take it one game at a time. You can't look at the end of the road before you get the next foot in. — Michael Strahan

I've been on a team that won the world championship of barbecue. But barbecue's interesting, because it's one of these cult foods like chili, or bouillabaisse. Various parts of the world will have a cult food that people get enormously attached to - there's tremendous traditions; there's secrecy. — Nathan Myhrvold

They're happy to be Siamese twins. They feel blessed. But the rest of us have to go through the world alone. And they don't. And because they have this great attitude, they have a lot of friends. They were the kings of the prom. You know, they were in the state championship hockey team. You know, they're the goalie. And it's just they're a couple of winners who happen to be Siamese twins. — Peter Farrelly

Everybody was ready to put Denver and Indianapolis in the championship game. We're the same team that went 15-1 last year and made it to the championship game. We're coming from a different perspective now, being on the road playing two tough road games. We all believed in one another, even if no one else did. — Hines Ward

My biggest frustration with the Heisman is it's become the MVP of the national champion, or a team going to the National Championship game. That's what it's turned into. If you're not undefeated, you're out of the running. — Doug Flutie

It takes a number of critical factors to win an NBA championship, including the right mix of talent, creativity, intelligence, toughness, and of course, luck. But if a team doesn't have the most essential ingredient - love - none of those other factors matter. — Phil Jackson

And he made a home run, and his team won the state championship. The greatest thing about this story is that every time my dad tells it, it never changes. He's not one to exaggerate. — Stephen Chbosky

Some people asked me if it was going to be a downer to come back and play on a college team after playing on a world championship team, and I don't think they understand what it is like to play here. — Lorrie Fair

The Mets have shied away from that iconic club because they don't want the current one exposed to that hard-partying culture which, while well-documented, has also been somewhat exaggerated at times. The guys from that championship team are older and more mature now and can warn the current Mets about some of the pitfalls of fame. — Mookie Wilson

A lot of people talk about the Fab Five, and they were wonderful, one of the best teams you'll ever see in college basketball. But the '89 team is the best one to ever play at Michigan in my opinion because they won the national championship. Winning a championship is winning a championship. — Trey Burke

Beautiful fans of Oklahoma City, I can't say enough about you guys. All the support you give our team, The home-court advantage that we have, Is the best I've ever seen. We disappoint you guys sometimes, But we try our best every single night to win for you guys. And we want to win a championship for you guys. — Kevin Durant

They're fighting for the championship, that's not a coincidence: I believe they have developed as a team. They've become much stronger, the squad is more balanced. And they still play the way Arsenal always play. They want to have the ball, they like playing it short, and they have outstanding individuals. — Philipp Lahm

My goals are for the U.S. team to get to the second round of the World Cup and to win a championship here in the U.S. with my club team the Columbus Crew. — Brian McBride

Allen Iverson is a ball hog. You will never win a championship with him on your team. — Carmelo Anthony

When you're trying to build or change a culture, what do you do? I always say to take players from state championship teams because they only know one thing
winning. — John Calipari

It's not about rugby, it's about young men. It's not about building a championship team, it's about building championship boys. Boys who will be forever strong. — Larry Gelwix

For us to be the team that got him that historic 10th championship is special for us. — Kobe Bryant

There are 3 basic differences between we British and you Americans. One, we speak English, and you don't. Two, when we have a "World Championship", we invite teams from other nations. Three, when you meet the British head of State, you only have to get down on one knee. — John Cleese

Practice is important. The regular season is important. Your meetings are important. Your walk-through is important. Everything is important. You want to be a championship team, there's a price to pay. And that's what you have to do. There's no shortcuts. You can't shortcut your way to success. — Tom Thibodeau

They need to do two things if they're going to be great and win a championship: take the ball away and keep teams out of the end zone. You have those two things, that's the recipe for a championship. — Willie McGinest

If you can achieve winning a league championship, that, to me, is the full test of the team and management because it is over the full season and you have a lot of problems you have to overcome. — Walter Smith

My goal had been to win a championship, work toward the Hall of Fame, have my jersey retired by the team and I'd go in as a lifelong New York Giant, but I'm now resigned to the fact that this won't happen. — Michael Strahan

The support this city and our fans have shown the Grizzlies made my decision to stay in Memphis an easy one. Memphis deserves a championship team, and I am committed to that. — Jerry West

I'm the head coach at LSU. I will be the head coach at LSU. I have no interest in talking to anybody else. I got a championship game to play, and I'm excited for the opportunity of my damn strong football team to play in it. Please ask me after. I'm busy. Thank you very much. Have a great day! — Les Miles

I feel like I've always been doubted or slighted. Let's be honest. When you're a walk-on, you don't start for a No. 1 team, a national championship contender. You just don't. A walk-on is a guy who plays scout team, who's just happy to be on the team. — Clay Matthews III

I've been here for eight years and I'm going into my 13th season. There's nothing I'd have liked better than to retire as a Jet. But the reality is, they released me. My goal now is not to break the bank. I did that twice already with my original contract and a restructuring. It's about winning a championship, and from this point forward, I'm going to go to the team that gives me the best chance to win a Super Bowl. — Kevin Mawae

Most coaches would consider leading a team to an Olympic gold medal a capper for a pretty good year. The same goes for winning an NCAA national championship. Or a FIBA world championship. Mike Krzyzewski, head coach of the Duke Blue Devils and Team USA, led teams to each of these honors ... within about 24 months. — Don Yaeger

In 1981, when I went down to visit Georgia Tech, I watched Michael Jordan play and literally get ridiculed for taking a jump shot in the championship game that went off the backboard, and they won. People are forgetting that Michael was just one of the players when they went to the Dream Team. — John Salley

His passion was the Galaxy. In retrospect, it's fitting that we won a championship for him this last year because I think he was so passionate about this team and loved every single player and the organization. — Steve Sampson

I can see Sue and I leading this team to many more championships ... We're going to take this and learn from it. We worked too hard for this. — Lauren Jackson

You can take a sidewards step in the Premier League, go to a team in the Championship or come to a team in League One. — Alan Smith

Any team that does not win it's conference championship game should not play in the BCS title game — Nick Saban

You've got to coach worrying about your entire team: whether that gets you a championship or whether that gets you fired. I think it allows you to coach free. You're coaching with freedom because you know you're doing what you think is right. — Doc Rivers

I have always preferred to liken the championship to a marathon. You have to know how to start the race, how to take the strain when problems come along and to make sure you don't give any potentially dangerous rivals an advantage. My policy is to ideally have five or six men around the age of 26, a couple of youngsters, a couple round the 28 mark and one or two in their 30s. But the nucleus of the team should be experienced and not too old. — Bob Paisley

I saw this college team bowling championship. Each team had their own coach. What kind of strategy advice is a bowling coach giving? "You know what? This time Timmy, I want you to knock down all the pins." "You sure?" "Trust me. Just do it son!" — Jim Gaffigan

If I get an opportunity to play for a championship team, I'm going to go hunting for that. I have no loyalty. — Richard Jefferson

I'd like to think that the nature of the two teams - Boston being a championship team over the years and the Lakers, same thing - was a lot bigger than Larry Bird or Magic Johnson. — Oscar Robertson

When hired three years ago, I willingly accepted the challenge of leading the Bulls back to the type of team this city richly deserves. I'm proud of the fact that each year the team has taken another step toward an NBA championship, and played with intense pride and determination. — Doug Collins

I'll tell you about Ryder. He's the star quarter back of our Division 1A state championship football team. Top student in our class, he doesn't even have to work for it. He plays the piano like some kind of freaking prodigy, and I wouldn't be surprised if he composed sonatas or something in his spare time.
Oh, and did I mention that he's gorgeous? Of course he is. Six foot four, two hundred ten pounds of swoon-worthy good looks. Spiky dark hair, chocolate brown eyes, and full-on dimples. — Kristi Cook

The championship always goes to the team that wins the most rounds and is the most prepared. I think everybody on our team works hard towards keeping that goal. Time will tell if we're prepared or not. — Larry Dixon

If you have talent with teamwork, you've got a chance to be a championship team. — Mike Krzyzewski

Being happy is very important. We won our second championship last season and we have our entire team coming back to try and defend our title again. I'm very proud of that. — Larry Dixon

When you look at the last 20 years in the NBA, there have been seven teams that have won the NBA championship. Six of those seven teams drafted the number one or number two pick; their foundational people, — Ted Leonsis

It's a different thing when you play on a team that has to win, that doesn't consider it a good year unless you win the championship — Manu Ginobili

I'm not trying to get back on a team, but I have tried to stay in shape just in case a team needs a point guard. A championship team. I wouldn't go to any other team. — Tim Hardaway

A team championship doesn't happen because three people score 10s, it happens because all the guys score well. In my opinion, everyone deserved 10s, we're all 10s on this team. — Mitch Gaylord

To be a part of a championship team, I'm excited ... This is the closest I've ever been to a championship. I'm looking forward to the challenge of helping this team repeat. — Michael Finley

The reason I went to an all-boys Catholic school was because they had the best football team. We won the state championship my junior year. It was super-competitive. We lost in the semifinals my senior year, and it still haunts me. — Theo Rossi

You can play and try to get focused for that time, but still the reality of that whole situation is once that game is over you still have to be confronted with what's going on. I think that's where the senior leadership on your football team has to come. They have to understand that we have a responsibility to reach our goals and that's to win the championship. — Pete Richardson

Greece won the 2004 European Championship with the oldest trick in the book: man-for-man marking. Why? Because nobody expected it - and by the time they knew what Otto Rehhagel's team were about, it was too late. Great football is like great comedy in that way. It is all in the timing. — Martin Samuel

In over 160 years of recorded baseball history, no team had ever won a championship this way. — John Thorn

I'm competitive. I'd love another chance to be part of a Stanley Cup championship team. That'd be awesome. — Ed Belfour

In all the research you do as a coach, studying other coaches and championship-type situations, you find that all those teams combined talent with great defense. You've got to stop other teams to win. — Pat Riley

Championship teams are built on being prepared, playing unselfishly and being held accountable — Jason Kidd

I've got a Championship game to play and I'm excited about the opportunity of my damn strong football team to play in it. — Les Miles

I have always wanted to be part of something special, and when I got to Boston.. actually, when I bought, begged and pleaded my way onto the Celtics.. it was already a championship team. I was just glad to be able to sit there and cheer and to be Larry Bird's valet, to be sure that his shoes were fine and his uniform was folded neatly. — Bill Walton

People think I would never take on a team that has no legitimate chance to win a championship, This is one of the major misconceptions about me. Success can be measured in many different ways ... Either way, I would find the challenge invigorating. — Phil Jackson

I want to be on that team that wins the world championship here in Chicago and sees the city go crazy. — Derrek Lee

Everybody wants to be on a championship team, but nobody wants to come to practice. — Bobby Knight

I really believe in setting goals, no matter what it is: whether it's losing five pounds or making the world championship team. — Dara Torres

The only team that believed in me was the Saints, and I feel like I owe them a great debt of gratitude. I want to give them what they saw in me-a guy who could lead this team to a championship. — Drew Brees

I think you can get too focused on the championship and forget how rewarding it is to be part of a team. — Steve Nash

Before we can talk about a championship, we have to practice like a championship team. — Mike Singletary

The team which I led to the 1992 European Championship Finals is the only one in the history of the entire competition to have won every single one of its qualifying matches. — Michel Patini

I'm 31 years old and I want to be part of a championship team before my career is over. — Mats Sundin

That's the one regret I have in all the years that I've played professional sports, that I didn't win a championship in the N.F.L. And that's why you play on any level of team sports: you want to win a championship as part of a team. — Warren Moon

Having different people come together and be on a team and win a world championship is literally, I think, the definition of being American. — Abby Wambach

As I and the rest of my Pittsburgh Steelers teammates prepared that week in late December 1974, we knew one thing: The road to the Super Bowl in the AFC went through Oakland. To achieve your dreams as a team, you had to slay the Oakland Raiders. They were the barometer of what it took to be a championship team. — Joe Greene

A team doesn't win the championship if its players are working from different agendas. — John C. Maxwell

Communicating to others WHAT YOU WANT will enable you to start 'BUILDING YOUR TEAM' to accomplish whatever goal you have made for yourself. The bigger the goal you make for yourself, the bigger and better TEAM you must BUILD to accomplish the goal. Have average goals? Create an average team or do it by yourself. Have CHAMPIONSHIP GOALS? Create a CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM. Want to be LEGENDARY? Create a LEGENDARY TEAM! — Shay Dawkins