What counts in sports is not the victory, but the magnificence of the struggle.
Joe PaternoRead
They ask me what I'd like written about me when I'm gone. I hope they write I made Penn State a better place, not just that I was a good football coach.
Interpretation
The quote expresses a desire to be remembered for making a positive impact rather than just professional achievements.
Joe Paterno emphasizes the importance of legacy and the impact one has on their community over mere professional accolades. He hopes to be remembered for contributing positively to Penn State, reflecting the value of making a difference in the lives of others rather than just excelling in one's career.
In practice
During a tribute speech, I would use this quote to emphasize the importance of community service.
What counts in sports is not the victory, but the magnificence of the struggle.
I don't think it's fair to 12-, 13- and 14-year-olds to say 'Show us you're a winner right now!' Winning isn't everything. I'll never buy that thing that if a boy loses a football game, he's a loser in life.
My thing was play as hard as you can, don't be stupid, pay attention to details, and have enough guts in the clutch that you're not afraid to make a play. Some things I thought were important for a young man to know.
What is a coach? We are teachers. Educators. We have the same obligations as all teachers, except we probably have more influence over young people than anybody but their families. And, in a lot of cases, more than their families.
The name on the front of the jersey is what really matters, not the name on the back.
The same way that I know that I'll never do a movie as good or as celebrated as 'Forrest Gump,' I know that I'll never do a movie as bad as 'Bonfire of the Vanities.'
The great secret of true success, of true happiness, is this: the man or woman who asks for no return, the perfectly unselfish person, is the most successful.
The attempt and not the deed confounds us.
Without the element of uncertainty, the bringing off of even, the greatest business triumph would be dull, routine, and eminently unsatisfying.
So many good things have happened to me in the game of baseball. When I do allow myself a chance to think about it, it's almost like a storybook career. You feel so blessed to have been able to compete this long.
Become a millionaire not for the million dollars, but for what it will make of you to achieve it.
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