"What you are as a person is far more important that what you are as a basketball player." - John Wooden

"Happiness is the journey not the destination." - John Wooden

"Always behave like a duck--keep calm and unruffled on the surface but paddle like the devil underneath." -- anonymous

Don't be afraid to try something new...
"Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new." -Albert Einstein
"Show me a guy who's afraid to look bad and I'll show you a guy you can beat every time." -Lou Brock

"It's what you learn after you know it all that counts." -John Wooden

"Don't wallow in the mud with pigs, you'll get dirty and the pigs will like it."-Lorrie Ardoin

"If you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain."=Dolly Parton

"If at first you don't succeed, you are like most people."--M. H. Alderson

"Big shots are only little shots who keep shooting." - Christopher Morley

"Winning is overemphasized. The only time it is really important is in surgery and war." -Al McGuire

Frank Layden, Utah Jazz president on a former player: "I told him, 'son, what is it with you, ignorance or apathy? He said 'Coach, I don't know and I don't care.' "

"It takes no talent to hustle." -Hans Schmidt

When you are behind:
"Don't give up, don't ever give up."-Jim Valvano
"It ain't over till it's over" -Yogi Berra

on perfection:
"A good garden may have some weeds" .. John Wooden
"(In basketball) there is no such thing as a perfect game." ... Coach Gels

"If you pay attention to the grandstands...it won't be long before you join them." - anonymous

"What counts is not necessarily the size of the dog in the fight ---it's the size of the fight in the dog." - US President Dwight D. Eisenhower

"Son, looks to me like you're spending too much time on one subject." -Coach Shelby Metcalf, speaking about a player who received 4 F's, and a D+ one semester.

"There are really only two plays; Romeo and Juliet, and put the darn ball in the basket."- Abe Lemons

"We have a great bunch of outside shooters. Unfortunately, all of our games are played indoors." -Weldon Drew

"We can't win at home. We can't win on the road. As general manager, I just can't figure out where else to play." - Orlando Magic general manager Pat Williams, on his team's 7-27 record in 1992-93

"When fate hands you a lemon, make lemonade." -Dale Carnegie

About coaches and parents: "The perfect team to coach has 10 - 12 excellent athletes... all orphans."

For all you Yogi Berra fans, I'm going to add some of his classic quotes from time to time here. For you kids, Yogi was catcher for the NY Yankees in the 1950's-60's, and later inducted into the baseball Hame of Fame.

"It ain't over till it's over."

"If the world were perfect, it wouldn't be."

"If the people don't want to come out to the ballpark, nobody's going to stop them "

"Never answer an anonymous letter."

"I usually take a two hour nap from one to four."

"When you come to a fork in the road....Take it. "

"The future ain't what it used to be."

Referring to the West Coast, "It gets late early out here."

"If you can't imitate him, don't copy him."

"I didn't really say everything I said."

"The similarities between me and my father are different." - Dale Berra, Yogi's son

If carrots are so good for the eyes, how come I see so many dead rabbits on the road?

"I finally figured out the only reason to be alive is to enjoy it." - Rita Mae Brown

"Your future depends on many things, but mostly on you." - Frank Tyger

"The best things in life aren’t things." - Art Buchwald

"I love California. I practically grew up in Phoenix." -- Dan Quayle

"It is wonderful to be here in the great state of Chicago." - Dan Quayle, VP

“How should we Democrats select the next presidential nominee? Smoke filled rooms? Brokered convention? National primary? Personally, I prefer jump shots from the top of the key.” - Bill Bradley, during a roast of presidential candidates prior to the 1988 campaign

From Western political humorist Will Rogers:
"Never slap a man who's chewing tobacco."

"Never kick a cow chip on a hot day."

"There are 2 theories to arguing with a woman...neither works."

"Never miss a good chance to shut up."

"Always drink upstream from the herd."

"If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging."

"The quickest way to double your money is to fold it and put it back in your pocket."

"There are three kinds of men: The ones that learn by reading. The few who learn by observation. The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence and find out for themselves."

"Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment."

"If you're riding' ahead of the herd, take a look back every now and then to make sure it's still there."

"Lettin' the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier'n puttin' it back."

About Growing Older...
The older we get, the fewer things seem worth waiting in line for.

When you are dissatisfied and would like to go back to youth, think of Algebra.

I don't know how I got over the hill without getting to the top.

One of the many things no one tells you about aging is that it is such a nice change from being young.

One must wait until evening to see how splendid the day has been.

Being young is beautiful, but being old is comfortable.

If you love the game, read this: "Basketball - a history lesson".