--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm not here to finish last, I'm here to…" description: "\"I'm not here to finish last, I'm here to win championships.\" — Alex Cora" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/832/alex-cora-6363_championships_i-m-not-here-to-finish-last-i-m-here-to_221550.jpg" --- # I'm not here to finish last, I'm here to win championships. ![“I'm not here to finish last, I'm here to win championships.” quote by Alex Cora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/832/alex-cora-6363_championships_i-m-not-here-to-finish-last-i-m-here-to_221550.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/832/alex-cora-6363_championships_i-m-not-here-to-finish-last-i-m-here-to_221550.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/832/alex-cora-6363_championships_i-m-not-here-to-finish-last-i-m-here-to_221550.jpg) > “I'm not here to finish last, I'm here to win championships.” [Alex Cora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-cora/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker emphasizes a competitive mindset focused on achieving top success rather than merely avoiding defeat. **In simple terms:** Aim to win, not just avoid losing. Key Takeaway Prioritize winning over merely finishing. Themes competition ambition mindset Mood determined confident Type motivational sports When to use this quote - team meetings - season planning - personal motivation Key Concepts sports psychology goal orientation Questions to Reflect On - How do you keep ambition healthy? - What sacrifices are worth making for victory? A Different Perspective Winning mindset can create pressure and burnout if not balanced. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Win](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/win/) ## Related quotes > [I want to win championships.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-cruz/i-want-to-win-championships/) [Victor Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-cruz/) > [I tell people to look at me and understand that everybody first told me that I couldn't be a 6-foot, 9-inch point guard, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magic-johnson/i-tell-people-to-look-at-me-and-understand-that-everybody-first-told/) [Magic Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magic-johnson/) > [It never bothered me when people would say, 'You only win championships because you're playing with Shaq.' It bothered me when he said it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kobe-bryant/it-never-bothered-me-when-people-would-say-you-only-win-championships/) [Kobe Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kobe-bryant/) > [Probably the No. 1 characteristic, if you want win championships, you've got to be great competitors. It's got to come naturally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-budenholzer/probably-the-no-1-characteristic-if-you-want-win-championships-you-ve/) [Mike Budenholzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-budenholzer/) > [I think you play this game to be remembered, to win championships.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesean-mccoy/i-think-you-play-this-game-to-be-remembered-to-win-championships/) [LeSean McCoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesean-mccoy/) > [Going out there and losing is so easy. I want stuff to be hard - that's why I want to win championships, I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jameis-winston/going-out-there-and-losing-is-so-easy-i-want-stuff-to-be-hard-that-s/) [Jameis Winston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jameis-winston/) > [There are only two types of player-those who keep their nerves under control and win championships, and those who do not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-vardon/there-are-only-two-types-of-player-those-who-keep-their-nerves-under/) [Harry Vardon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-vardon/) > [We will win championships.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-herman/we-will-win-championships/) [Tom Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-herman/) > [You can't win championships without playing great defense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-herman/you-can-t-win-championships-without-playing-great-defense/) [Tom Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-herman/) > [You don't have to find out what someone's mechanical abilities are. All those factors are already a known commodity. I've seen teams win championships…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-dixon/you-don-t-have-to-find-out-what-someone-s-mechanical-abilities-are/) [Larry Dixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-dixon/) > [It used to be you a needed a true center to win championships, but now the point guard position holds just as much weight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reggie-miller/it-used-to-be-you-a-needed-a-true-center-to-win-championships-but-now/) [Reggie Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reggie-miller/) > [There's efforts to win games and there's efforts to win championships.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-izzo/there-s-efforts-to-win-games-and-there-s-efforts-to-win-championships/) [Tom Izzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-izzo/) > [This era is like, 'Oh, I want to win championships, and how many rings do you have?' I've said that's what I play for:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-lillard/this-era-is-like-oh-i-want-to-win-championships-and-how-many-rings-do/) [Damian Lillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-lillard/) > [You don't win championships by having the cheapest budget.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lane-kiffin/you-don-t-win-championships-by-having-the-cheapest-budget/) [Lane Kiffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lane-kiffin/) > [Individuals play the game, but teams win championships.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/individuals-play-the-game-but-teams-win-championships/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Alex Cora > [I know who I am. I know what I represent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-cora/i-know-who-i-am-i-know-what-i-represent/) [Alex Cora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-cora/) > [I know I'm going to have good days, bad days, horrible days. I know that. But I'll keep it simple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-cora/i-know-i-m-going-to-have-good-days-bad-days-horrible-days-i-know-that/) [Alex Cora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-cora/) > [The speed of the game in Triple-A, Double-A is not the same as in the Big Leagues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-cora/the-speed-of-the-game-in-triple-a-double-a-is-not-the-same-as-in-the/) [Alex Cora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-cora/) > [I represent Latinos. I represent Puerto Ricans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-cora/i-represent-latinos-i-represent-puerto-ricans/) [Alex Cora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-cora/) > [Playing in this place, this is my office. Fenway Park. Not everybody can say that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-cora/playing-in-this-place-this-is-my-office-fenway-park-not-everybody-can/) [Alex Cora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-cora/) > [I've been saying, 'When you surround yourself with people that care and are good, you're going to be better.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-cora/i-ve-been-saying-when-you-surround-yourself-with-people-that-care-and/) [Alex Cora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-cora/) > [Everybody's in the best shape of their life when they come to spring training.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-cora/everybody-s-in-the-best-shape-of-their-life-when-they-come-to-spring/) [Alex Cora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-cora/) > [I think rest is very important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-cora/i-think-rest-is-very-important/) [Alex Cora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-cora/) > [If I make them feel comfortable, I do believe, on a daily basis, we're going to get the best out of the player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-cora/if-i-make-them-feel-comfortable-i-do-believe-on-a-daily-basis-we-re/) [Alex Cora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-cora/) > [When my dad passed away when I was 13, Joey was my brother, best friend, favorite player and my dad. He has been amazing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-cora/when-my-dad-passed-away-when-i-was-13-joey-was-my-brother-best-friend/) [Alex Cora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-cora/) > [I love Tony La Russa.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-cora/i-love-tony-la-russa/) [Alex Cora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-cora/) > [You talk to my mom about baseball, she's passionate about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-cora/you-talk-to-my-mom-about-baseball-she-s-passionate-about-it/) [Alex Cora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-cora/) > [You don't have to win the same way to be successful. The more you can show that you win a game in different ways…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-cora/you-don-t-have-to-win-the-same-way-to-be-successful-the-more-you-can/) [Alex Cora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-cora/) > [We go to my mom's house on Christmas Eve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-cora/we-go-to-my-mom-s-house-on-christmas-eve/) [Alex Cora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-cora/) > [Every year is a learning experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-cora/every-year-is-a-learning-experience/) [Alex Cora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-cora/) [Explore all 99 Alex Cora quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-cora/) ## More Championships quotes > [I have wrestled in almost every tournament in the world. I've won the Olympics, NCAAs, and World Championships, but none of those can truly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-burroughs/i-have-wrestled-in-almost-every-tournament-in-the-world-i-ve-won-the/) [Jordan Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-burroughs/) > [Nick Saban's legacy is already cemented. He's won six national championships and seven if you include the one in LSU.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ingram-ii/nick-saban-s-legacy-is-already-cemented-he-s-won-six-national/) [Mark Ingram II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ingram-ii/) > [To me, it's all about winning championships.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jalen-hurts/to-me-it-s-all-about-winning-championships/) [Jalen Hurts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jalen-hurts/) > [The Champs-Elysees is like the world championships for sprinters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-bennett/the-champs-elysees-is-like-the-world-championships-for-sprinters/) [Sam Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-bennett/) > [He's got everything. He' not a great player yet because he hasn't won any major championships, but it's a matter of time. He's an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-price/he-s-got-everything-he-not-a-great-player-yet-because-he-hasn-t-won/) Nick Price > [I can say when it comes to championships it's a tactical race and normally you don't have a pacesetter who can set a pace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rudisha/i-can-say-when-it-comes-to-championships-it-s-a-tactical-race-and/) [David Rudisha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rudisha/) > [I want to win championships.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-cruz/i-want-to-win-championships/) [Victor Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-cruz/) > [I want to be M.V.P. one day. But for me, it's all about championships.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lonzo-ball/i-want-to-be-m-v-p-one-day-but-for-me-it-s-all-about-championships/) [Lonzo Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lonzo-ball/) > [You don't win championships by having the cheapest budget.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lane-kiffin/you-don-t-win-championships-by-having-the-cheapest-budget/) [Lane Kiffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lane-kiffin/) > [Having the chance to be able to fight for something really meaningful - races, championships - that's the absolute priority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-ricciardo/having-the-chance-to-be-able-to-fight-for-something-really-meaningful/) [Daniel Ricciardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-ricciardo/) > [Wrestling is a business, it is show business and wrestling championships are props.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dibiase-sr/wrestling-is-a-business-it-is-show-business-and-wrestling/) [Ted DiBiase Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-dibiase-sr/) > [This era is like, 'Oh, I want to win championships, and how many rings do you have?' I've said that's what I play for:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-lillard/this-era-is-like-oh-i-want-to-win-championships-and-how-many-rings-do/) [Damian Lillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-lillard/) > [In the state of Kentucky, all they know is Kentucky basketball. It's the same thing in L.A. They love the Lakers and they expect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-randle/in-the-state-of-kentucky-all-they-know-is-kentucky-basketball-it-s/) [Julius Randle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-randle/) > [Rebounding wins championships, you need to emphasize it and work with kids on it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-summitt/rebounding-wins-championships-you-need-to-emphasize-it-and-work-with/) [Pat Summitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-summitt/) > [There's efforts to win games and there's efforts to win championships.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-izzo/there-s-efforts-to-win-games-and-there-s-efforts-to-win-championships/) [Tom Izzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-izzo/) Browse all 225 Championships quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm not here to finish last, I'm here to win championships.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alex Cora" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-cora/i-m-not-here-to-finish-last-i-m-here-to-win-championships/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Championships" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-cora/i-m-not-here-to-finish-last-i-m-here-to-win-championships/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/832/alex-cora-6363_championships_i-m-not-here-to-finish-last-i-m-here-to_221550.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/832/alex-cora-6363_championships_i-m-not-here-to-finish-last-i-m-here-to_221550.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/832/alex-cora-6363_championships_i-m-not-here-to-finish-last-i-m-here-to_221550.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I'm not here to finish last, I'm here to win championships.” — Alex Cora", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Alex Cora", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-cora/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I'm not here to finish last,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-cora/i-m-not-here-to-finish-last-i-m-here-to-win-championships/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-cora/i-m-not-here-to-finish-last-i-m-here-to-win-championships/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```