Posted on 10/14/2003 10:59:58 AM PDT by Chancellor Palpatine
WINNING LOCKER ROOM
I'm really proud of the way our guys hung in there.
We were really on our game.
We came to play.
We brought our A-game.
We took them out of their game.
We knew what we had to do and went out and did it.
We proved we're the better team.
We're tickled to death.
We're glad to get out of here with the win.
We're happy we could pull this one out at the end.
We feel fortunate.
We knew this would be no cakewalk.
It wasn't pretty but we'll take it.
We managed to eke out a win.
The important thing is that we won.
A win is a win.
This was a good win for us.
This was a confidence booster.
We're going to use this win as a building block.
We'll use this win as a stepping stone to the next level.
We're not going to rest on our laurels.
This win was no fluke.
We finally got the monkey off our backs.
Everyone counted us out before the season started.
It was a hard-fought contest.
It was a total team effort.
I'm happy I could make a contribution.
I was just doing my job.
It was a workman-like effort.
We made our own breaks.
We played our hearts out.
We really took it to 'em.
We snatched victory out of the jaws of defeat.
This team has finally learned how to win.
We weren't going to just lie down.
We weren't going to just roll over.
We knew we had to defend our home turf.
This team always seems to find a way to win.
This team has overcome a lot of adversity.
This team shows a lot of character.
This team shows a lot of poise.
This team shows a lot of pride.
This team shows a lot of resiliency.
This team shows a lot of heart.
We're going to savor this victory.
This team has served notice.
We made a statement here today.
We sent a message here today.
This win is for all the fans.
Our fans were the 12th man today.
We feed off the energy of our fans.
We've got the greatest fans in the world.
I want to thank my Lord and Savior.
It hasn't sunk in yet.
I'm in a state of shock.
I'm speechless.
We shocked the world.
You dream about this as a kid.
This is a dream come true.
This is the greatest feeling in the world.
After blowing-out the other team
They're tough competitors.
They're a class act.
Give them a lot of credit.
We beat a very good team today.
Here are some actual quotes:
NC State basketball coach Herb Sendek managed to string three cliches into a sentence describing Wake Forest All-American Josh Howard in the post-game press conference (February 6, 2003; AP):
"When the game hung in the balance he went to another level and just made some really nice plays."
A coach has to be on top of his cliche game after a blowout loss; Dallas Cowboy coach Dave Campo pulled out all the stops following a 37-7 rout by the Giants (December 15, 2002; SportsTicker):
"There's no excuses...they whipped us on both sides of the ball...give credit to the New York Giants. They were ready to play and they got after us. They took it right to us...we got into a hole we couldn't dig ourselves out of."
In the playoffs, cliches are taken to another level. Derek Fisher of the Los Angeles Lakers explained how his team defeated Sacramento in their decisive Game 7 (June 4, 2002; AP):
"We dug deep...deeper than we've ever dug before."
Announcers often mix sports cliches, as Chris Berman did when analyzing how the Philadelphia Eagles won their wildcard playoff game (January 12, 2002; ABC-TV):
"They smelled the jugular."
Sports cliches now infect Spanish! Speaking through an interpreter, 2nd baseman Alfonso Soriano commented on the Yankees' series-clinching victory over Oakland (October 15, 2001; Sports Ticker):
"We came out a little more focused this game knowing there was no tommorow."
Things to say after losing a Super Bowl (January 28, 2001; NFL Insider):
NY Giant quarterback Kerry Collins: "They never gave us anything. They completely took me out of my rhythm."
Offensive tackle Lomas Brown: "We thought wed have more success running the ball...we werent able to sustain anything.
Running back Tiki Barber: "They got us out of our game plan early. We just couldn't execute."
Oakland Raiders cornerback Charles Woodson got one year probation after getting busted for driving while impaired. Woodson's agent Kevin Poston addressed the media (July 18, 2000; AP):
"He made a mistake and he's learned from it. He's turning a negative into a positive."
If a major sports championship is won in a large American city, a riot will immediately occur. Prominent people then emerge to make cliche statements, such as Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike Antonovich after the Lakers secured the NBA championship (June 21, 2000; AP):
"What began as a tremendous victory on the basketball court became a black eye for Los Angeles County as the result of senseless, irresponsible behavior."
Facing elimination by the Philadelphia Flyers in their best-of-7 series, a few New Jersey Devils served up these cliche gems (May 21, 2000; AP):
Captain Scott Stevens: "It's not over yet. We have to look at it as one game at a time, starting tomorrow."
Bobby Holik: "There is no desperation. I think the best way to describe it is determination. I don't think we have to do anything differently, we just have to play 60 minutes the way we are capable of playing. We just have to be more focused and disciplined."
Scott Niedermayer: "There is no choice, we have to go out and leave it all on the ice."
Coach Larry Robinson: "It's beyond me, that if you consider yourself a winner, how you can go out and not give everything. You can't leave anything on the table."
Sportswriter Cam Cole penned these bizarre lines in Canada's National Post about Canadian champion Jennifer Robinson during the World Figure Skating Championships in Nice, France (April 3, 2000):
(She) skated like a dream. In the circumstances, the old "110%" hardly covers it. She gave more than she had, no doubt about it.
The best quotes from the 2000 NCAA basketball tournament -- our Final Four:
East Regional. Seton Hall coach Tommy Amaker upon advancing to the Sweet 16 (March 19, 2000; SportsTicker):
"We drew closer together in the face of adversity. Our team has shown a lot of heart and guts. This team has won a lot of close games and it has a lot to do with their mental toughness."
South Regional. North Carolina coach Bill Guthridge after the Tar Heels upset #1 seeded Stanford (March 19, 2000; SportsTicker):
"Obviously that was a great win for us. I'm happy for the team. They worked hard and deserve it. Stanford is a great team and to defeat them is great for us. Our team is resilient. They have kept their heads up through the adversity this year."
Midwest Regional. Kentucky coach Tubby Smith survives St. Bonaventure in overtime (March 16, 2000; SportsTicker):
"Resiliency has been the profile of this team all season, as we have matured and grown and have gone through the difficult times. We have come together as a team."
West Regional. Arizona coach Lute Olson after the #1 seeded Wildcats exit the tournament in the second round courtesy of Wisconsin (March 18, 2000; SportsTicker):
"It's very obvious that the better team won this from the standpoint of maturity and toughness. It's a difficult lesson to learn but it's obvious that Wisconsin's maturity and toughness is something that our freshmen and sophomores have to be aware of if we want to get to where we want to get as a team. I'm really proud of these guys. They battled really hard all year long and right to the end."
He may be running out of rope, but he's still got plenty of cliches in reserve. UCLA coach Steve Lavin assessed his team's losing streak (February 19, 2000; AP):
"We are struggling right now,'' embattled Bruins coach Steve Lavin said. "We have lost six of seven. We are running out of rope. Our backs are against the wall."
Going out on top of his game - excerpts from the resignation speech of Georgia Tech coach Bobby Cremins (February 18, 2000; RamblinWreck.com):
"I feel the time has come for new leadership in our basketball program."
"This is my responsibility and I feel badly I have not been able to get us going where we should be going."
"I want to thank our great fans."
"I am looking forward to the next chapter in my life."
(Excerpt) Read more at sportscliche.com ...
"grinding it out and winning in the trenches...."
"caught looking"
"prevent defense"
"Hail Mary pass"
"This is going to be a rebuilding year."
Those f'ing Yankees did it to us again!!!
I know (sigh). But as a lifelong Red Sox fan, this is getting all to familiar. But I keep the hope alive by proudly cheering GO SOX !!!
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