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Greatest Sports Movie Quotes of All Time

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Greatest Sports Movie Quotes of All Time

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Eric W. Bolin | Last updated Jun 9, 2026 4:15 PM ET

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The great thing about subjectivity is that most things in this world are subjective. Few things more so than a sports fan’s list of his or her favorite movie quotes.

Personally, I’d pick a completely different list than the 10 selected here. But, then again, layering in curse word after curse word probably isn’t terribly appealing to the bosses, even if those are the quotes that still find their way into group chats with high-school and college buddies. Oh, well.

So, instead, we’re going with 10 of the most iconic sports movie quotes ever uttered. With a catch, that is: No movie could be used more than once.

And remember, it’s not the quality of the movie itself, it’s the reverence of the line. Note: These aren't in any particular order.

"Wax on, wax off."

“Sweep the leg” earned some consideration from 1984’s “The Karate Kid,” but nothing holds up better than Mr. Miyagi’s most famous line to Daniel during training.

"Pick me out a winner, Bobby."

Those under, probably, about 45 years old might miss this quote. But “The Natural” is one of the better baseball movies ever made. And while, like we said, that doesn’t matter, the quote can come in handy in a number of non-baseball situations.

"You’re killin’ me, Smalls."

Gen Xers and elder Millennials have almost certainly told their own children this at some point while raising them. Even those who aren’t big sports fans know this particular line from “The Sandlot.”

"Show me the money!"

Thankfully, social media didn’t exist when “Jerry Maguire” came out in 1996. This line, whether from Tom Cruise or Cuba Gooding Jr., is basically a modern-day meme, anyway. Nothing wrong with that.

"There’s no crying in baseball!"

Other lines from this movie make our group chats, but, yeah, we can’t write them here. Instead, let’s go with the most famous one and one that is perfectly delivered by Tom Hanks in “A League of Their Own.”

Tom Hanks on the set of "A League of Their Own" in 1991.Don Goodaker-USA TODAY NETWORK

"If you build it, he will come."

A big dad movie and a big Dad Movie both, “Field of Dreams” is a personal favorite. The magical realism holds up well, and while James Earl Jones delivers the best series of lines in his late-movie monologue, we can’t not write about the voice.

"So I got that goin’ for me, which is nice."

Another line that’s easy to use among friends in situations that have nothing to do with the movie. “Caddyshack” has a number of quotes that would have fit nicely here if not for, ya know, vulgarity. We could make a top 10 list of just lines from it.

"If you ain't first, you’re last."

Dumb catchphrases are always fun, especially when they’ve stood the test of time like this one from “Talladega Nights: The Legend of Ricky Bobby.” Will Ferrell at the height of his comedic powers.

"I believe in the Church of Baseball."

“And when you speak of me, speak well” would make this list if it were just personal favorites. But baseball remains America’s pastime and Susan Sarandon’s opening line to her monologue in “Bull Durham” perfectly speaks to the sacredness of the sport.