--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Hard as it is to believe, there were…" description: "\"Hard as it is to believe, there were three magazines fighting over me. 'Newsweek' wanted to keep me, 'ESPN The Magazine' was coming into existence and ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/104/frank-deford-3856_amazing_hard-as-it-is-to-believe-there-were-thre_2459539.png" --- # Hard as it is to believe, there were three magazines… ![“Hard as it is to believe, there were three magazines fighting over me. 'Newsweek' wanted to keep me, 'ESPN The Magazine' was coming into existence and wanted me, and 'SI' wanted to bring me back. Isn't that amazing? I had a choice, like a free agent.” quote by Frank Deford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/104/frank-deford-3856_amazing_hard-as-it-is-to-believe-there-were-thre_2459539.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/104/frank-deford-3856_amazing_hard-as-it-is-to-believe-there-were-thre_2459539.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/104/frank-deford-3856_amazing_hard-as-it-is-to-believe-there-were-thre_2459539.png) > “Hard as it is to believe, there were three magazines fighting over me. 'Newsweek' wanted to keep me, 'ESPN The Magazine' was coming into existence and wanted me, and 'SI' wanted to bring me back. Isn't that amazing? I had a choice, like a free agent.” [Frank Deford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-deford/) ## 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 likens a magazine’s competition for a writer to a free‑agent choosing among teams, highlighting market demand and personal agency. **In simple terms:** Magazines competed for the writer like sports teams. Key Takeaway Recognize your value and choose opportunities wisely. Themes career choice competition value agency Mood reflective analytical Type motivational career When to use this quote - job offers - freelance contracts - publishing deals - career transitions Key Concepts market dynamics personal branding negotiation Questions to Reflect On - How do you assess offers beyond prestige? - What factors make a choice feel like freedom? A Different Perspective The writer may have limited leverage despite demand. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Amazing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amazing/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ## Related quotes > [Zhattttttttttt this si for u!! u wanted one and made it for u!!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria/zhattttttttttt-this-si-for-u-u-wanted-one-and-made-it-for-u/) [Maria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria/) > [I thought I wanted to be on ESPN, but I didn't know what the heck it was. I knew it was sports television, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-ponder/i-thought-i-wanted-to-be-on-espn-but-i-didn-t-know-what-the-heck-it/) [Samantha Ponder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-ponder/) > [I majored in sports and went to law school and focused in sports law, so I always knew I wanted to do ESPN but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-lindsay/i-majored-in-sports-and-went-to-law-school-and-focused-in-sports-law/) [Rachel Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-lindsay/) > [Love doesnt stake claims. It is free for the giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-minagar/love-doesnt-stake-claims-it-is-free-for-the-giving/) [Melody Minagar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-minagar/) > [“She felt wild and unruly, determined and free.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-stabile/she-felt-wild-and-unruly-determined-and-free/) [Scott Stabile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-stabile/) > [All theory is against free will; all experience is for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/all-theory-is-against-free-will-all-experience-is-for-it/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [We want to free our citizens from the burden of excessive paper documents in every office. We want paperless transactions. We will set up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/we-want-to-free-our-citizens-from-the-burden-of-excessive-paper/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [My work is a love for me; I'd do it for free, but don't tell my bosses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chick-hearn/my-work-is-a-love-for-me-i-d-do-it-for-free-but-don-t-tell-my-bosses/) [Chick Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chick-hearn/) > [“Why is it," she asked, snuggling closer, "that I so often imagine myself running away and running free?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-balogh/why-is-it-she-asked-snuggling-closer-that-i-so-often-imagine-myself/) [Mary Balogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-balogh/) > [Grace is the power of the Holy Spirit coming to us free of charge to enable you to do with ease what you could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/grace-is-the-power-of-the-holy-spirit-coming-to-us-free-of-charge-to/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [If you choose to draw from the inner well of free will, then you can make choices that are outside your current karmic patterns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-choose-to-draw-from-the-inner-well-of-free-will-then-you-can/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [There are certain things you must not say in spite of the fact that supposedly democracy means free speech. No. You are not allowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-eubank-sr/there-are-certain-things-you-must-not-say-in-spite-of-the-fact-that/) [Chris Eubank Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-eubank-sr/) > [I free slaves because I believe we are all created equal. I just can't think of anything that has a higher purpose than putting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-williams/i-free-slaves-because-i-believe-we-are-all-created-equal-i-just-can-t/) [Virginia Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-williams/) > [If you love anything set it free unless it is a tiger..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kshitij-roshan/if-you-love-anything-set-it-free-unless-it-is-a-tiger/) [Kshitij Roshan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kshitij-roshan/) > [The United States cannot and should not discriminate on the basis of religion. The free exercise of religion is at the very heart of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/the-united-states-cannot-and-should-not-discriminate-on-the-basis-of/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) ## More by Frank Deford > [Because I lost a daughter, eight years old, to cystic fibrosis, I think that anytime that I'm dealing with people who, like Andrea Yeager,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-deford/because-i-lost-a-daughter-eight-years-old-to-cystic-fibrosis-i-think/) [Frank Deford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-deford/) > [I never wanted to be an editor. I never wanted to be a boss. I just wanted to write, and it didn't make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-deford/i-never-wanted-to-be-an-editor-i-never-wanted-to-be-a-boss-i-just/) [Frank Deford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-deford/) > [Dan Rather pulling on a sweater and thereby winning a whole new chunk of the populace: That's television. President Reagan's press conferences: That's television.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-deford/dan-rather-pulling-on-a-sweater-and-thereby-winning-a-whole-new-chunk/) [Frank Deford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-deford/) > [I am something of a ham. Yeah, I'd always been a writer. But in high school, I acted in plays. So it wasn't as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-deford/i-am-something-of-a-ham-yeah-i-d-always-been-a-writer-but-in-high/) [Frank Deford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-deford/) > [I think the four major leagues ought to set up a joint commission - say, of retired judges - to rule on athletes who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-deford/i-think-the-four-major-leagues-ought-to-set-up-a-joint-commission-say/) [Frank Deford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-deford/) > [If I'd grown up in Sao Paulo, I'm sure I would've been a great soccer fan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-deford/if-i-d-grown-up-in-sao-paulo-i-m-sure-i-would-ve-been-a-great-soccer/) [Frank Deford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-deford/) > [The dollar is a winner. The euro is a tie. Get off the dime, Europe, and play to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-deford/the-dollar-is-a-winner-the-euro-is-a-tie-get-off-the-dime-europe-and/) [Frank Deford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-deford/) > [I grew up in Baltimore and that's why I root for the Orioles. I'm very suspicious of people who move and take on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-deford/i-grew-up-in-baltimore-and-that-s-why-i-root-for-the-orioles-i-m-very/) [Frank Deford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-deford/) > [I remember one time I wrote something very, very critical about Wilt Chamberlain. The next time I saw him - and Wilt was not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-deford/i-remember-one-time-i-wrote-something-very-very-critical-about-wilt/) [Frank Deford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-deford/) > [If the players aren't getting paid, there's something terribly, terribly wrong, and that's true only in the United States. Everywhere else, where money is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-deford/if-the-players-aren-t-getting-paid-there-s-something-terribly/) [Frank Deford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-deford/) > [Johnny U was an American original, a piece of work like none other, excepting maybe Paul Bunyan and Horatio Alger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-deford/johnny-u-was-an-american-original-a-piece-of-work-like-none-other/) [Frank Deford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-deford/) > [If there ever was an 'America's team,' it would be itty-bitty, little Green Bay, stuck way up there somewhere, owned by the salt-of-the-Earth citizens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-deford/if-there-ever-was-an-america-s-team-it-would-be-itty-bitty-little/) [Frank Deford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-deford/) > [That's the greatest compliment I can get: when somebody from Key West says, 'Hey, Bubba.' That means I'm in!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-deford/that-s-the-greatest-compliment-i-can-get-when-somebody-from-key-west/) [Frank Deford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-deford/) > [To see the glory in sport, where somebody comes from behind and does something, sinks a shot in the last second or throws a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-deford/to-see-the-glory-in-sport-where-somebody-comes-from-behind-and-does/) [Frank Deford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-deford/) > [When Juan Antonio Samaranch said the Olympics are more important than the Catholic Church, I just couldn't believe it. I said to myself, 'Don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-deford/when-juan-antonio-samaranch-said-the-olympics-are-more-important-than/) [Frank Deford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-deford/) [Explore all 120 Frank Deford quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-deford/) ## More Amazing quotes > [My favorite galaxy of all is called the Sombrero, NGC 4594. It's an amazing galaxy that is really two galaxies in one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-faber/my-favorite-galaxy-of-all-is-called-the-sombrero-ngc-4594-it-s-an/) [Sandra Faber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-faber/) > [I don't own designer clothes, or a sports car, or a huge house, but I am seeing the world, experiencing amazing things, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roz-savage/i-don-t-own-designer-clothes-or-a-sports-car-or-a-huge-house-but-i-am/) [Roz Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roz-savage/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [Yoga's an amazing release.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-keena/yoga-s-an-amazing-release/) [Monica Keena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-keena/) > [I struggled and I did theater for 10 years, for 15 years, I tried to get little parts here and there in TV shows.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-tupper/i-struggled-and-i-did-theater-for-10-years-for-15-years-i-tried-to/) [James Tupper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-tupper/) > [I think cricket is there in Usain Bolt's blood. Since I got to watch from close quarters, it was amazing to see him run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harbhajan-singh/i-think-cricket-is-there-in-usain-bolt-s-blood-since-i-got-to-watch/) [Harbhajan Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harbhajan-singh/) > [Literally every person in my life is so amazing. I even don't understand how I am so blessed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/literally-every-person-in-my-life-is-so-amazing-i-even-don-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I got to travel a lot and meet amazing people. That was a lot of fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhavish-aggarwal/i-got-to-travel-a-lot-and-meet-amazing-people-that-was-a-lot-of-fun/) [Bhavish Aggarwal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhavish-aggarwal/) > [Under Thatcher, who ruled us with an iron rod, great art was made. Amazing designers and musicians. Acid house was born. Very colourful and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-gallagher/under-thatcher-who-ruled-us-with-an-iron-rod-great-art-was-made/) [Noel Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-gallagher/) > [A stadium tour would be amazing - that's definitely one of my goals. Just to keep putting out real, honest music that people can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daya/a-stadium-tour-would-be-amazing-that-s-definitely-one-of-my-goals/) [Daya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daya/) > [I definitely want to put together an amazing debut album with some really dreamy collaborations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bree-runway/i-definitely-want-to-put-together-an-amazing-debut-album-with-some/) [Bree Runway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bree-runway/) > [So crazy to think that we have only known each other 2 years. its been so amazing and we have got to do so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/one-direction/so-crazy-to-think-that-we-have-only-known-each-other-2-years-its-been/) [One Direction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/one-direction/) > [I saw Frank Frazetta's art, and it seared on my memory. I love his paintings. They're so amazing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-momoa/i-saw-frank-frazetta-s-art-and-it-seared-on-my-memory-i-love-his/) [Jason Momoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-momoa/) > [When you're true to who you are, amazing things happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-norville/when-you-re-true-to-who-you-are-amazing-things-happen/) [Deborah Norville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-norville/) > [I want to continue to produce film, television, and theater, and to make the most amazing music that I've made in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-keys/i-want-to-continue-to-produce-film-television-and-theater-and-to-make/) [Alicia Keys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-keys/) [Browse all 6,502 Amazing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amazing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Hard as it is to believe, there were three magazines fighting over me. 'Newsweek' wanted to keep me, 'ESPN The Magazine' was coming into existence and wanted me, and 'SI' wanted to bring me back. Isn't that amazing? I had a choice, like a free agent.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Frank Deford" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-deford/hard-as-it-is-to-believe-there-were-three-magazines-fighting-over-me/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Amazing" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-deford/hard-as-it-is-to-believe-there-were-three-magazines-fighting-over-me/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/104/frank-deford-3856_amazing_hard-as-it-is-to-believe-there-were-thre_2459539.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/104/frank-deford-3856_amazing_hard-as-it-is-to-believe-there-were-thre_2459539.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/104/frank-deford-3856_amazing_hard-as-it-is-to-believe-there-were-thre_2459539.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Hard as it is to believe, there were three magazines fighting over me. 'Newsweek' wanted to keep me, 'ESPN…” — Frank Deford", "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": "Frank Deford", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-deford/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Hard as it is to believe,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-deford/hard-as-it-is-to-believe-there-were-three-magazines-fighting-over-me/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-deford/hard-as-it-is-to-believe-there-were-three-magazines-fighting-over-me/#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 } } ] } ```