--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Any old coach will say the game was meant…" description: "\"Any old coach will say the game was meant for finesse. It's a beautiful game, especially on television.\" — Dean Smith" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14c/dean-smith-12433_basketball_any-old-coach-will-say-the-game-was-mean_808194.jpg" --- # Any old coach will say the game was meant for finesse… ![“Any old coach will say the game was meant for finesse. It's a beautiful game, especially on television.” quote by Dean Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14c/dean-smith-12433_basketball_any-old-coach-will-say-the-game-was-mean_808194.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14c/dean-smith-12433_basketball_any-old-coach-will-say-the-game-was-mean_808194.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14c/dean-smith-12433_basketball_any-old-coach-will-say-the-game-was-mean_808194.jpg) > “Any old coach will say the game was meant for finesse. It's a beautiful game, especially on television.” [Dean Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote celebrates the elegance and aesthetic appeal of basketball, especially when viewed on TV, emphasizing skillful play over brute force. **In simple terms:** Basketball is beautiful when played with skill, especially on TV. Key Takeaway Appreciate the finesse in sports. Themes sports beauty media skill television Mood admiring reflective Type observational appreciative When to use this quote - watching games - coaching - commentary - media analysis Key Concepts Aesthetics spectatorship performance Questions to Reflect On - How does media shape our perception of sport? - What role does skill play versus physicality? A Different Perspective It may overlook the importance of physicality and strategy beyond finesse. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) [Beautiful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beautiful/) [Finesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finesse/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games/) [Television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television/) ## Related quotes > [Basketball is a beautiful game when the five players on the court play with one heartbeat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-smith/basketball-is-a-beautiful-game-when-the-five-players-on-the-court/) [Dean Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-smith/) > [Every player wants to start the game, especially me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-calvert-lewin/every-player-wants-to-start-the-game-especially-me/) [Dominic Calvert-Lewin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-calvert-lewin/) > [We're all blessed, as baseball players, to be playing this game, especially to make a living at it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-semien/we-re-all-blessed-as-baseball-players-to-be-playing-this-game/) [Marcus Semien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-semien/) > [“If you want people to download your game – and especially if you want them to pay for it – you will need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-want-people-to-download-your-game-and-especially-if-you-want/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There is always a pressure if you play every game and especially when you are representing your country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imran-tahir/there-is-always-a-pressure-if-you-play-every-game-and-especially-when/) [Imran Tahir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imran-tahir/) > [“Loving the game meant mastering the mechanics of the game.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sasha-issenberg/loving-the-game-meant-mastering-the-mechanics-of-the-game/) Sasha Issenberg > [I understood my path and what I meant to the game and what I mean to kids. Not only kids, but individuals around the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muggsy-bogues/i-understood-my-path-and-what-i-meant-to-the-game-and-what-i-mean-to/) [Muggsy Bogues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muggsy-bogues/) > [Here the term 'language-game' is meant to bring into prominence the fact that the speaking of language is part of an activity, of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-wittgenstein/here-the-term-language-game-is-meant-to-bring-into-prominence-the/) [Ludwig Wittgenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-wittgenstein/) > [“But what I found out that summer . . . was that I could swallow whatever hit me and let it sink as if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/per-petterson/but-what-i-found-out-that-summer-was-that-i-could-swallow-whatever/) [Per Petterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/per-petterson/) > [Football is not a game meant to be played being nice to each other and all that, like 'Kumbaya.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jalen-ramsey/football-is-not-a-game-meant-to-be-played-being-nice-to-each-other/) [Jalen Ramsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jalen-ramsey/) > [The game is meant to be fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicklaus/the-game-is-meant-to-be-fun/) [Jack Nicklaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicklaus/) > [I was a 52-year-old coach. But people don't realize I had 25 years as a head coach. Most coaches my age only had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ara-parseghian/i-was-a-52-year-old-coach-but-people-don-t-realize-i-had-25-years-as/) [Ara Parseghian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ara-parseghian/) > [I don't have any problem with Louis van Gaal. He discovered me when I was 20 years old. He was the only coach who,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-valdes/i-don-t-have-any-problem-with-louis-van-gaal-he-discovered-me-when-i/) [Victor Valdes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-valdes/) > [He was our symbol of baseball at a time when the game meant something to us that perhaps it no longer does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-costas/he-was-our-symbol-of-baseball-at-a-time-when-the-game-meant-something/) [Bob Costas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-costas/) > [What's interesting to me is that in terms of people who I feel are getting what my game is about - and here I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-blow/what-s-interesting-to-me-is-that-in-terms-of-people-who-i-feel-are/) [Jonathan Blow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-blow/) ## More by Dean Smith > [You should never be proud of doing the right thing. You should just do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-smith/you-should-never-be-proud-of-doing-the-right-thing-you-should-just-do/) [Dean Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-smith/) > [“If you do what we ask you to do, the victories will belong to you, and the losses to me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-smith/if-you-do-what-we-ask-you-to-do-the-victories-will-belong-to-you-and/) [Dean Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-smith/) > [The best way to build team chemistry is the way Rupp used to substitute, when they fouled out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-smith/the-best-way-to-build-team-chemistry-is-the-way-rupp-used-to/) [Dean Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-smith/) > [The real issue is not if a crossing is put in, but when. It would be negligent on the part of Union Pacific and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-smith/the-real-issue-is-not-if-a-crossing-is-put-in-but-when-it-would-be/) [Dean Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-smith/) > [A leader's job is to develop committed followers. Bad leaders destroy their followers' sense of commitment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-smith/a-leader-s-job-is-to-develop-committed-followers-bad-leaders-destroy/) [Dean Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-smith/) > [The focus should be on the players. I'm here a long time. You can call me in the summer. Our seniors will be gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-smith/the-focus-should-be-on-the-players-i-m-here-a-long-time-you-can-call/) [Dean Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-smith/) > [As soon as you try to describe a close friendship, it loses something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-smith/as-soon-as-you-try-to-describe-a-close-friendship-it-loses-something/) [Dean Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-smith/) > [The truly free person in society is a disciplined person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-smith/the-truly-free-person-in-society-is-a-disciplined-person/) [Dean Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-smith/) > [I would never recruit a player who yells at his teammates, disrespected his high school coach, or scores 33 points a game and his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-smith/i-would-never-recruit-a-player-who-yells-at-his-teammates/) [Dean Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-smith/) > [I just think we shouldn't get into counting coaches' records. I've never been for that... but I know that's just American society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-smith/i-just-think-we-shouldn-t-get-into-counting-coaches-records-i-ve/) [Dean Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-smith/) > [A lion never roars after a kill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-smith/a-lion-never-roars-after-a-kill/) [Dean Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-smith/) > [“Play hard. Play smart. Play together.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-smith/play-hard-play-smart-play-together/) [Dean Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-smith/) > [The most important thing in good leadership is truly caring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-smith/the-most-important-thing-in-good-leadership-is-truly-caring/) [Dean Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-smith/) > [One player's selfish attitude can poison a locker room and make it hard, if not impossible, to establish team work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-smith/one-player-s-selfish-attitude-can-poison-a-locker-room-and-make-it/) [Dean Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-smith/) > [I know a lawyer who'd love to retire and be an assistant coach. I mean, it's fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-smith/i-know-a-lawyer-who-d-love-to-retire-and-be-an-assistant-coach-i-mean/) [Dean Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-smith/) [Explore all 55 Dean Smith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-smith/) ## More Basketball quotes > [We love playing together and we love adversity. You know, back-to-back, the two best teams in the East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-nash/we-love-playing-together-and-we-love-adversity-you-know-back-to-back/) [Steve Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-nash/) > [I don't look at myself as a basketball coach. I look at myself as a leader who happens to coach basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/i-don-t-look-at-myself-as-a-basketball-coach-i-look-at-myself-as-a/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [There is no doubt in my mind and I know in my time, there will be a Canadian basketball player playing for Toronto Raptors, 100%](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masai-ujiri/there-is-no-doubt-in-my-mind-and-i-know-in-my-time-there-will-be-a/) [Masai Ujiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masai-ujiri/) > [I learned so much from Sue about the Xs and Os of the game of basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-summitt/i-learned-so-much-from-sue-about-the-xs-and-os-of-the-game-of/) [Pat Summitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-summitt/) > [ I failed, I think, seven \[or\] eight times before I finally got my first \[championship\]. It was just, you know, just about me growing… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-failed-i-think-seven-or-eight-times-before-i-finally-got-my-first/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [It's not how big you are, it's how big you play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/it-s-not-how-big-you-are-it-s-how-big-you-play/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Basketball isn't just a sport to me ; it's my ecstasy !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamira-robinson/basketball-isn-t-just-a-sport-to-me-it-s-my-ecstasy/) [Jamira Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamira-robinson/) > [It's similar to basketball: when you go to different gyms and win or lose, you learn something new. So when kids get out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-iguodala/it-s-similar-to-basketball-when-you-go-to-different-gyms-and-win-or/) [Andre Iguodala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-iguodala/) > [If a Coach is determined to stay in the coaching profession, he will develop from year to year. This much is true, no coach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolph-rupp/if-a-coach-is-determined-to-stay-in-the-coaching-profession-he-will/) [Adolph Rupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolph-rupp/) > [And I want to do it the right way, like everybody else, not just a famous figurehead that gets a job because he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/and-i-want-to-do-it-the-right-way-like-everybody-else-not-just-a/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [Well, you can certainly teach free-throwing. And you can teach the boys to pass at angles and run in curves. - University of Kansas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darryl-dawkins/well-you-can-certainly-teach-free-throwing-and-you-can-teach-the-boys/) [Darryl Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darryl-dawkins/) > [Practice to beat the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-bennett/practice-to-beat-the-best/) [Dick Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-bennett/) > [I'm a competitive person. I love the game of basketball. I'm a gym rat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-pierce/i-m-a-competitive-person-i-love-the-game-of-basketball-i-m-a-gym-rat/) [Paul Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-pierce/) > [I am both humbled and honored to receive the Honda Sports Award for women's basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittney-griner/i-am-both-humbled-and-honored-to-receive-the-honda-sports-award-for/) [Brittney Griner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittney-griner/) > [What I've talked about the entire series and throughout this playoffs is about intensity and effort, desire and will of our players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-laimbeer/what-i-ve-talked-about-the-entire-series-and-throughout-this-playoffs/) [Bill Laimbeer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-laimbeer/) [Browse all 5,387 Basketball quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Any old coach will say the game was meant for finesse. 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