Our Al McGuire quotes provide a look into this great basketball coach and outstanding TV commentator.
Born and raised in New York, he brought some street-smart philosophy to both of his professional roles. He was not only known for his coaching and commentary but also for his colorful personality and thoughtful insights.
His takes often went beyond the gym, offering inspiration and wisdom that resonated with folks from all walks of life. In this article, we showcase some of his memorable quotes. Enjoy!
Best Al McGuire Quotations
- If the waitress has dirty ankles, the chili is good.
- If winning weren’t important, nobody would keep score.
- Life is what you allow yourself not to see.
- I come from New York where, if you fall down, someone will pick you up by your wallet.
- The nicest thing about coaching is that one day you feel like you can play handball against a curb, and on other days you feel like you can fly to the moon.
- When I’m losing, they call me nuts. When I’m winning, they call me eccentric.
- I had my moment on the stage. The trick in life is to know when to leave.
- We rush for the stars as we crawl toward our graves.
- I’ve always been the bridesmaid. More like a lunch pail, tin-hat type of person. I never thought I’d really win. I’m a positive thinker, but I always thought I’d come in second.
- I don’t discuss basketball. I dictate basketball. I’m not interested in philosophy classes.
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Good Al McGuire Quotations
- If a player leaves Marquette and doesn’t have some of my blood in him, then I don’t think I’ve done a good job.
- Help one kid at a time. He’ll maybe go back and help a few more. In a generation, you’ll have something.
- I don’t believe in looking past anybody – I wouldn’t look past the Little Sisters of the Poor after they stayed up all night.
- It’s a profession in which the longer you stay, the closer you are to being fired.
- The people who know basketball, their elevators don’t go to the top.
- Eliminate the referees, raise the basket four feet, double the size of the basketball, limit the height of the players to 5 feet 9 inches, bring back the centre jump, allow taxi drivers in for free, and allow the players to carry guns.
- I let ballplayers yell back at me because I wasn’t trying to prove I’m the boss. I know I’m the boss.
- Don’t call me son unless you’re going to include me in your will. (When Adolph Rupp called him “Son.”)
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Sayings on Basketball
- A team should be an extension of a coach’s personality. My teams are arrogant and obnoxious.
- I think everyone should go to college and get a degree and then spend six months as a bartender and six months as a cab driver. Then they would really be educated.
- I’m not saying that they were Einsteins; they were marginal students. But every ballplayer who touched me has moved up his station in life. And the players moved up my station.
- The next time I will cry is when I die. My life has been that beautiful.
- You can always tell the Catholic schools by the length of the cheerleaders’ skirts.
- Dean Meminger was quicker than 11:15 Mass at a seaside resort.
- My rule was I wouldn’t recruit a kid if he had grass in front of his house. That’s not my world. My world has a cracked sidewalk.
- Remember, half the doctors in this country graduated in the bottom half of their class.
- All love affairs end. Eventually, the girl is gonna put curlers in her hair.
- A lot of coaching is what you choose not to do, not to see… That is hypocritical, of course, but it is also true.
- Sports is a coffee break.
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On Life
- Winning is only important in war and surgery.
- You cannot have a bland feeling about me – either I’m a showboating son of a bitch, or I’m the darling that everyone picks on.
- The best thing about freshmen is that they become sophomores.
- I’ve always believed that if you get women involved in anything, it will be a success.
- If you’re straight with your players, they’ll be straight with you.
- Can’t win without talent, you know.
- The only mystery in life is why kamikaze pilots wore helmets.
- Our guys took Shop and Advanced Shop. The shop is when you make a chair. Advanced Shop is when you paint it.
- When a guy takes off his coat, he’s not going to fight. When a guy takes off his wristwatch, watch out!
- I get along with women better than I do with men.
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Funny Al McGuire Insights
These Al McGuire quotes reflect his keen sense of humor.
- Winning is overrated. The only time it is really important is in surgery and war.
- Any jackass can kick a dead lion, but he better be sure that it’s dead.
- You need charisma. There should be electricity. When I walk into the arena, the first thing I do is look at the four corner seats. If those are sold, I’ve done my job.
- I’m an Einstein of the streets and an Oxford scholar of common sense.
- All love affairs end. Eventually, the girl is gonna put curlers in her hair.
- I went into a restaurant one night and ordered lobster, and the waiter brought me one with a claw missing. I called him over and told him about it. He told me that in the back there’s a tank they keep the lobsters in and while they’re in there, they fight and sometimes one loses a claw. I told him ‘Then, bring me a winner.’
- Keep it simple, when you get too complex you forget the obvious.
- Coaching is not the ultimate. I never liked coaching. There’s got to be more to life than hangin’ up jock straps.
- I never really learned how to spell, and this is genuine. And so I guess I’ve always played with words, related words.
Humorous Takes
- I don’t know why people question the academic training of an athlete. Fifty percent of the doctors in this country graduated in the bottom half of their classes.
- I was the Houdini, who did the disappearing act. I know that 85 percent of me is buffalo chips, and the other 15 percent is rare talent.
- My rule was I wouldn’t recruit a kid if he had grass in front of his house. That’s not my world. My world has a cracked sidewalk.
- I never saw a ballplayer play in high school that I recruited, and I only recruited blue-plate specials. I don’t think any decent human being enjoys recruiting.
- It bothers me that the average fan, the average sportswriter for that matter, pays so much attention to what’s in a box score. A box score does not properly represent the most important thing – team play. It shows some guy scoring 27 points, but it doesn’t show that my 27-point man let his guy score 30.
- You can always tell the Catholic schools by the length of the cheerleaders’ skirts.
- Seashells and balloons is bare feet and wet grass. It means a light breeze.
- Every obnoxious fan has a wife home who dominates him.
- If a guy takes off his wristwatch before he fights, he means business
Words of Wisdom
Many Al McGuire quotes reflect a keen observer of details and a sharp wit.
- Butch, you come from DeWitt Clinton. There are five thousand brothers in that school. You’re the best there. You’ve been all-city two years in a row. How bad can you be? You come with me, and we’ll make nice music.
- I think the world is run by “C” students.
- They used to call me nuts. I haven’t changed. The only difference between being eccentric and being nuts is the number of security boxes you own.
- I’m an Einstein of the streets and an Oxford scholar of common sense.
- God didn’t miss any of us.
- Live every day as if it were Saturday night.
- Dream big.
- Don’t be just another guy going down the street and going nowhere.
- Live in the moment that you are in.
- Make your life exciting. Do what you have to do as long as you don’t hurt people.
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Al McGuire Fun Facts
A.) McGuire was born on September 7, 1928, in the Queens area of New York City
B.) He received a full basketball scholarship to attend St. John’s University in Brooklyn.
C.) As the Marquette coach, McGuire led the Warriors (now Golden Eagles) to a national championship in 1977.
D.) McGuire won 400 games at the college level including 295 at Marquette University.
E.) He is one of just a few college coaches to have won both NIT and NCAA championships.
F.) McGuire was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1992.
G.) As a broadcaster/color commentator in college basketball, Al was at courtside for the 1979 NCAA Men’s Championship game that featured Indiana State (with Larry Bird) taking on Michigan State (with Magic Johnson). That game is credited with enhancing the appeal of college basketball games and is still the highest-rated NCAA Final broadcast.
Al McGuire’s Streetwise Lingo
Here are some phrases that Al McGuire would use.
- Aircraft carrier = A strong basketball center you can depend on.
- French Pastry = Something showy.
- Go barefoot in the wet grass = Enjoy the day.
- Congratulate the temporary = Live in the moment.
- Cloud Piercer = A player with hops.
- Cupcakes = Easy opponents.
- Thoroughbred = A top-notch player.
- SRO = Standing Room Only.
- White Knuckler = A tight game.
- Squirrel some nuts away = Save some dollars.
- Seashells and Balloons = Wins and happiness.
- Never undress until you die = Always save something for later.
Read more about the great Al McGuire on Wikipedia. If you have any suggestions for additional Al McGuire Quotes, please let us know via the Contact Us page. Thanks.
I hope you enjoyed this fun collection of Al McGuire quotes.
By Mike O’Halloran
Founder and Editor, Sports Feel Good Stories
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