Great Sporting Wisdom: Legendary Quotes from the World of Sport

Muhammad Ali

A Vote of No Confidence

A lot of boxing promoters couldn’t match the cheeks of their buttocks.

Mickey Duff – boxing promoter

KO

My toughest fight was with my first wife, and she won every round.

Muhammad Ali

The Lion And The Lamb

Going into the King’s Hall is like going into the lion’s den – you go in like a lion and go out like a lamb.

Barney Eastwood

Slumberland

Terry Downes’ face looked as if he had slept on it.

Michael Parkinson

Cut Down To Size

General Gowan of Nigeria: I used to do some boxing.

Muhammad Ali: What did you box? Apples or oranges?

3. The Ugly

Deconstruction

The Great White Hopeless.

The Boston Globe’s verdict on Mike Tyson’s comeback opponent, Peter McNeeley

Suppression

Joe Bugner was like a volcano that never erupted.

Henry Cooper

In The Eye Of The Beholder

He’s [Joe Frazier] so ugly, they ought to donate his face to the World Wildlife Fund.

Muhammad Ali

Hard Neck

He [John Conteh] has a neck built like a stately home staircase.

Tom Davies

Turning Defence Into Attack

Baroness Summerskill: Mr Cooper, have you looked in the mirror lately and seen the state of your nose?

Henry Cooper: Well, Madam, have you looked in the mirror and seen the state of your nose? Boxing is my excuse. What’s yours?

Acid Drops

He’s [Sonny Liston] so ugly, that when he cries the tears run down the back of his head.

Muhammad Ali

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Pedal to the Metal (#ulink_5c6b6dd0-7c76-5f13-afd6-307c8b5ba6b3)

The adrenalin of the most exciting and dangerous sport in the world has generated many pithy and quirky quotations which have been a feature of racing parlance for decades. Grand Prix racing represents a curious mixture of stark death and side-splitting humour. The following anthology concentrates exclusively on the brighter side of the sport. The cast includes the magnificent men in the flying speed machines, the fanatics who worship them and cameo appearances from mechanics, drivers’ wives and journalists.

1. Danger

The Road To Recovery

I don’t know what happened, but I think it was quick. I feel okay. It’s a bit difficult to breathe because of my nose and my hand hurts a bit. I’m off to play with the nurses now.

Rubens Barrichello, following an accident

Casualties

You win some, lose some, wreck some.

Dale Earnhardt

Sweet Dreams Are Made Of This

The accident didn’t hurt me at all. It’s an honour to have been under your wheels. I was more worried about you. I have followed you all over, and now I’ve met you face to face. It really is a dream come true.

Spectator Ian Neild, who fell under Nigel Mansell’s car at the end of the 1992 British Grand Prix

Speed

Brakes only slow you up.