All of the teams in this league that have won multiple championships, they didn't come out the gate winning. Sometimes you have to take those hits to understand what it takes to win.
Interpretation
Success is often preceded by failures and lessons learned from setbacks.
Sue Bird's quote emphasizes that true success, particularly in competitive environments like sports, is often built on the experiences of losses and challenges. Winning multiple championships is not merely a result of talent, but also reflects resilience and the valuable lessons learned from earlier struggles. These 'hits' are crucial for developing the grit and understanding necessary to achieve long-term success.
In practice
This quote could be used in a motivational speech for athletes.
A lot of us players, if you were to ask them, feel like they have to play overseas. Why? 'Why not? Might as well do it while I can.' For a while, I felt that way - I've got to make the most money that I can. Now, do I feel like I could still play overseas? Absolutely. But I don't feel that pressure anymore.
Homophobia hurts our league. Racism hurts it. Sexism hurts it.
As quickly as you can go 4-1, you can go 1-4. And the whole objective is not to get too high and not to get too low. It's one thing to tell somebody that and explain it, but it's another thing to really buy in, to have felt that and understand what it means to stay even-keel. That's what you have to be in this league.
Success is outliving your failures
To be successful, you have to be out there, you have to hit the ground running
First gain the victory and then make the best use of it you can.
I was 19 or 20 when The Beatles were at their peak, and I was coming up to the peak of my career, too. I was also the first footballer to have long hair, and that's how I got my nickname 'the Fifth Beatle.'
For one true measure of a nation is its success in fulfilling the promise of a better life for each of its members. Let this be the measure of our nation.
Growing up, I always dreamed of winning an NBA championship, never a gold. A gold was something that never crossed my mind.
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