Toughness Quotations

My brother was a huge Charles Barkley fan - my brother went to Miami. He played power forward, and he always used to tell me stories about Barkley and college. And I watched Barkley growing up. I loved what he brought to the game. His toughness and just his attitude, being as strong he was.

I started playing basketball when I was about three years old. After that, everything else just came naturally. I had older cousins that used to let me hang with them, so I got my toughness from them.

I am a sweet old softy, but it took toughness to get through what I went through.

I have a lot of respect for tough coaches.

Just because we want our favorite team to win does not mean there's any lack of toughness when a player chooses family first.

I suppose there is a lot of toughness in me.

Israel has been a stage on which American Jews have played out their fantasies of toughness - often from Martha's Vineyard.

I find industrial cities exciting. I like their toughness.

We need intelligence in this country. We need a certain toughness in this country, or we're going to end up like a lot of the other places, and we're not going to have a country left.

The one thing we preach is mental toughness and we showed it tonight.

Whether you call it a low-grade separation or a contusion, he practiced every day. He won't get treatment for it. He blocks out pain. He plays through it. It's a testament to his toughness as a football player.

We're modern-day gladiators, and that mental toughness is really important to have (in) a good team. It's got to permeate your team, and there has to be a core group of guys that buy in and believe in that.

We're going to get back in the weight room to work on toughness and character. I promise we'll be tougher and I promise we'll get this program back to where we all want it.

What they need down the stretch is experience. It's what we have. Our experience and our toughness won this game.

What makes Jeremy so valuable are his mental toughness and competitiveness,

We're going to have to play very well next weekend. Fortunately, I think we'll go into it pretty healthy. I thought today was a good showing overall, although the results weren't great. We showed toughness and more confidence today.

We?re going to have to go down there and really focus. We have to match their toughness and their intensity level. And do it the right way. It will be physical and we have to keep our emotions in check.

We did it to build mental toughness. That is what we are trying to get kids to believe in. That toughness gave us the mental edge that we need in tight games like this.

There are some tough guys on this team. They're definitely getting there as far as physical play. It's bothered me that we haven't had that persona, but our inside guys are maturing. Rebounding is a toughness trademark.

This program's always had tough kids. That is way too general. ... I'm not buying they didn't have toughness here.

She's a tough kid -- physically, mentally and emotionally tough. We haven't even had her that long, but her toughness is something she came here with.

She's been suffering from some lower leg issues that really haven't been well-defined -- shin splints and some other muscular issues. It's gonna depend on her mental toughness to determine how far she can take her performances. Spring break will help her to rehab a little. She got off to a good start, though.

She seems very benign and wholesome, ... but underneath lurks an incredible toughness and powerful directness.

She's committed (and) she's got the right mental toughness for it.

She (Gerry) has made the single most improvement. She will be the focus of our attack this year. In girls soccer it's hard to find a goal scorer. She has that mindset. She brings a good level of toughness to our team.

Mental toughness was the key. We were doing a good job of getting out and being where we wanted to be at the mile mark of races but would fall back in the middle part of the race. We did a good job by not falling back today (Thursday).

Mental toughness is what got us through the game.

Mental toughness is crucial at the higher level at which they are going to be playing and there is no room for complacency.

Mental toughness comes in varying degrees and we didn't have it tonight. Other teams have allowed defensive touchdowns and survived and I think our kids lost their toughness after that.

One of our concerns has been, and probably always will be - unless you have a (Tim) Duncan or a Shaq (O'Neal) - having enough depth at the center position with enough flexibility so you can match up with all the different teams, because teams give you different looks, ... That was a strength last year, and it will be another strength for us this year. We have the strength with Vitaly, versatility and talent with a guy like Nick Collison, a low-post game. You have some length now and running ability in Mikki and some youth in Petro and Robert and some toughness and bulk in Danny.

No one knows when Francine Busby became an expert on port security. What we do know is that Busby has accepted money and support from some far-left, anti-war groups that don't exactly emphasize toughness when it comes to dealing with terrorists.

My dad claims, to this day, that he's helped me with my toughness and everything that could be related to me being a good player.

Nehemiah will bring toughness for us. We're going to be a lot quicker to the ball. This team will be even more disciplined than last season's team.

Right now I think our mental toughness is lacking. If we can raise that we can become the team I think we can be.

I would be lying to you if I said I wasn't concerned. It's all mental and physical toughness when you go on the road. You've got to do a better job taking care of the ball. Every mistake you make magnifies. Rebounding and being able to execute offensively are huge, especially with a team like Arizona.

I have high expectations for Kyle. One reason I believe in him a lot is last year when everybody was down on him and wrote him off he handled it so well. When he really started to do some things, not once did he say, 'I told you so.' He was the same guy and that showed me he has the mental capabilities and toughness to do it.

I'd be all for it. I know that's up to management, not us. But we might have to bring him back. We definitely need him right now. I know it's something that would have to be handled in-house. And Kwame would have to come back and demonstrate to them that he'll do what is necessary. But I'd love to entertain the idea. I might suggest it myself. He has the size and strength and toughness we need right now.

I had said it would be a big disappointment if the team didn't make the playoffs. I'm not sure that we have enough guys that are hungry enough to want to be in the playoffs. The toughness to be able to get there sometimes doesn't show up. I take responsibility for that. That's my job to make them tougher or whatever it takes for them to be able to play.

From a level of mental toughness and competitiveness, he has kind of reframed the standard for all of us in this organization. He made a big impact on our young starting pitchers.

From an intangible standpoint, it's about things like effort, mental toughness, the ability to stay focused and execute, and be a little relentless in the way you try to go about your work, ... We're gladiators out there. We're modern-day gladiators and that mental toughness has got to permeate your team.

From day one of spring training, he came in with mental toughness and helped set the tone for our team. He had an all-star year for us, so he's very valuable for us.

If anybody can do it, I believe Chad can do it because of his mental toughness and what he feels he has to prove. He's a unique individual, he really is. I mean, he played with that thing torn up those last five or six games (in 2004) and we made the playoffs. If anybody can do it, Chad can do it. I'm pulling for him and I'm praying for him.

I expect these guys to help us out quite a bit. They have experience and bring some physical toughness to the middle of the field.

I emerged from summer league feeling that I would have no trouble, no problem playing Wayne Simien. And I think that's the first step for any player. ... I think he has the skills and the smarts and the toughness where you would have no problem.

He was a man among boys. He was the guy who set the tone for toughness for our defense.

I always give respect to and pay homage to New York, because I don't feel like I would be the player that I am today if it wasn't for New York City. It gives you a certain edge, a certain toughness just growing up in the city.

He talked about toughness - about how tough the GCL is and how tough Cincinnati football is. What a great message, but the score looks like the kids didn't respond.

He's a young player who had not played center; we moved him to center when he got here. He's got excellent toughness and good strength. He is lost right now, learning how to play the position. Centers have to make all the calls and are in charge of a lot, so he's got to learn that and it's going to take some time. He's made very good progress, but he's got a long way to go.

He had a street smartness and a toughness about him. He was also a very good wrestler. Just a tough, dependable son of a gun.

He is a sound defender, a great leader both on and off the floor and his toughness is unmatched.

He is a winning player -- he's got a toughness about him that's unique. He has a knack for making other people better. I don't know where we'd be without him.

He has so dramatically improved. He's a very intelligent kid, one of the top students in his class. He works very hard at it. He's played all year-round this last year, gone to tournaments and worked hard. His mental toughness and some pretty good strokes have helped him climb the ladder.

He gives us the ability to come off the bench and score in different ways, ... Post-ups, slashing to the basket and he brings a toughness to our defense. And he wants to win.

He gives Texas an identity. An important part of being a good team is you're going to be known for something. P.J. gives them a toughness and orneriness because that's the way he plays.

We talked about toughness and heart. That's all it came down to.

We just have to climb, climb, climb and build that toughness. And right now, it's more the mental toughness we need to build.

We've got to work on our mental toughness and that is what we will be working on this week. We have the talent, but we don't have the mental game down yet.

Her mental toughness separates her from other players. She has no weaknesses technically, mentally, physically or emotionally. I've yet to see an effective strategy against her.

He's a special kind of player. He combines the grit and toughness with a skill level that's outstanding. He give us a player that's among the best in the country.

He's a toughness guy. Darren's got a great body. He's strong. ... With how thin we are now, he's a very versatile, important, key guy.

He seems to be doing better than I did with it, and I thought I did pretty well, ... His mental toughness is second to none, and that's what'll get him over the hump.

He?s gotten bigger, stronger, and some mental toughness also.

He's got so much toughness at the end of the game. He's always willing the take the big shot, and most of the time he hits them.

His speed is very deceptive once he catches the ball. He can beat you vertically and has the toughness and willingness to play special teams, too.

His will and his toughness is what stands out. For a guy his size, to play as well as he does, is a testament to his ability.

He's going to be in the mix. He's got the toughness you're looking for, but he's got more run after contact than maybe any back we got. So he's been a real bright spot.

He's getting more and more responsibility. And you mature when you get those responsibilities. We're looking for him to bring some toughness and stability on our defense.

He's been one of the best centers in the league when he's been healthy. We're not worried about his health. He brings us the kinds of things we're looking for as far as toughness and leadership.

Underneath the beautiful exterior there was an element of ruthlessness and toughness that I had trouble either accepting or forgetting.

He kind of takes the pressure off us. He's our emotional leader. He brings toughness and leadership.

J.T.'s really impressed me. His district tournament was the best he's wrestled all year. His toughness and his ability to win the close matches has really impressed me. He's my drill partner, so that's really been making both of us better all year.

It came down to toughness and we had the toughness in the second half. We were down 11 and our coach motivated us to play harder in the second half. I felt like my team needed me tonight and I think I came through.

It always seems when we get together that the game goes right down to the wire. I'm so proud of this group for the way they hung in there and battled. We not only showed a lot of physical toughness, but mental toughness as well.

I think it shows great character and definitely a lot of toughness mentally. They obviously have great kids, great people.

I think it's great. We did get off to a bad start, but we showed some toughness by winning 12 of our last 13 games. We are a young team and not many people expected much out of us. We just try to go out there and play hard every day, and it paid off in the end.

I thought we showed a lot of resiliency and toughness in fighting back. We were in trouble, obviously.

I thought we played well the last three quarters, but we need to develop mental toughness and not take quarters off.

I think you have to have a focus on the road, a mental toughness on the road, that I think we're trying to find. That's the story of our season.

I thought this was the first game all year that I thought we deserved to win. I thought we did a great job. I think we brought our toughness to the table, and we just had a few things slip through our fingers.

I thought that might have been one our best defensive efforts of the season. They are a very tough, physical team and we always worry about being a small team because of our guards that I thought we handled their toughness with quickness and toughness defensively.

I thought our veterans really led the way with a lot of toughness and a lot of heart. And certainly our crowd this evening really pulled us through tonight.

I thought our veterans led the way for us with a lot of toughness and heart.

I think Wesly's experience in the kicking game has definitely showed up here in training camp. Between his experience and his playing ability, his toughness and his desire to be a good special teams player, all of those are weighing on the right side of the scale.

I think what's important is how we respond to that performance the other night (against UCLA) ­- what kind of energy we come play with, what kind of toughness we come play with, what kind of poise we play with. Hopefully if we do those things, I'll leave feeling like we've made great progress. Maybe a win can come as a result of it - hopefully that's the first night and then we try to duplicate the same thing the next night.

I think a few of those guys in that locker room have quit. It's disappointing to me; (those guys) won't be here, it's as simple as that. We have no mental or physical toughness on this team right now. It's just hard to watch that; it's hard to watch these young guys that don't understand and don't get it.

I think it's us struggling with our offense. I don't think it's so much what other teams are doing to us, I just think it's ourselves. Right now I don't see the mental toughness when we go out on the floor and play and like a team playing with that type of confidence, I think we're hurting ourselves more than other teams are hurting us.

Lately, Brooke has come in and made plays to start us on runs and stop the other team's momentum. We are getting good minutes from everyone and showing the kind of toughness on the court we need to be a winning team.

Late in the first half, this was a one-goal game, but we really dug down and showed the toughness that we've been talking about. We maximized our chances on offense, controlled the ball well, and defensively I thought we made things very difficult for them.

Jeff has fullback toughness and tailback speed. He's an outstanding blocker and is a guy who can get the yards when we need them. He really makes us a tough offense to defend because he's a guy opposing defenses have to pay a lot of attention to.

Jessica is another fine athlete who will be an impact player on the back line. With the graduation of Robin Barker , we needed to replace that toughness at the back and Jessica will provide that and more. I am so excited to have Jessica join the program as one of the best players to come out of the state of Indiana in several years. Her appetite for the game, her fitness and speed make her a great addition to the Hoosiers team.

Kyle is becoming stronger and stronger as the season wears on, and seems to be peaking at the right time to defend his state title. His toughness and spirit will carry him a long way in that quest.

Kristin has a toughness and tenacity to her game, which makes her an option for us in the center of the field in either the midfield or the backline. Her calmness on the ball will serve her well in either position. If she is able to step in and show the same toughness for us, she will have an opportunity to see significant minutes.

I think Danny did well. His shoulder velocity is up, and I think his confidence is, too. He showed some health, and he showed some mental toughness in his games.

Our guys have worked hard this spring and we have had good competition at a lot of positions. I have been pleased with our effort most of the time, yet I know we need to get better in a lot of areas, too. I am looking forward to who comes out ready to play and compete on Saturday, and who plays with toughness and who plays fast.

Our kids didn't blink. We didn't play so well in the third quarter but it didn't faze our kids. That mental toughness was awesome.

Our identity encompasses toughness now because she supplies it. She wants the ball, she's not afraid of any type of defense or any type of circumstance, and she guards the heck out of people.

Our front line is getting the respect and it's certainly well-deserved. But our guards provide so much toughness and so many crucial baskets at key times. They knock down open shots, they provide room for Andy. They are on the floor for loose balls, charges, it's a great group.

Overall, it was a good meet for us. Iowa City West was strong everywhere, and Mount Pleasant is also very good, and the competition was just what we needed. Most of our kids responded well to the toughness of the meet.

Overall, the season went pretty well. We played the hardest we could every game. We didn't always win but we knew we had the toughness to win.

Our attitudes have changed a lot, really, and so there's a certain toughness about it.