--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Being a professional athlete, people…" description: "\"Being a professional athlete, people respect the fact that I respect eSports professional gamers.\" — Gordon Hayward" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b21/gordon-hayward-5925_athlete_being-a-professional-athlete-people-resp_1567229.jpg" --- # Being a professional athlete, people respect the fact that… ![“Being a professional athlete, people respect the fact that I respect eSports professional gamers.” quote by Gordon Hayward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b21/gordon-hayward-5925_athlete_being-a-professional-athlete-people-resp_1567229.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b21/gordon-hayward-5925_athlete_being-a-professional-athlete-people-resp_1567229.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b21/gordon-hayward-5925_athlete_being-a-professional-athlete-people-resp_1567229.jpg) > “Being a professional athlete, people respect the fact that I respect eSports professional gamers.” [Gordon Hayward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-hayward/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The athlete expresses respect for eSports professionals, bridging traditional sports and gaming. **In simple terms:** Traditional athletes respect eSports pros. Key Takeaway Acknowledge eSports as a legitimate field. Themes respect eSports cross‑disciplinary Mood optimistic forward‑looking Type explanatory persuasive When to use this quote - team building - brand partnerships - career transitions - fan engagement Key Concepts sports culture digital competition Questions to Reflect On - How can traditional sports learn from eSports? - What challenges arise in this respect? A Different Perspective Some may question eSports' athletic legitimacy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Athlete](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athlete/) [Being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) [Esports Professional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/esports-professional-1221574/) [Gamers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gamers/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-respect/) [Professional athlete](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/professional-athlete/) [Professional Gamers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/professional-gamers-5891547/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Respect Esports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect-esports-5891546/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) ## Related quotes > [I am not a friend of eSports. It's the same with professional wrestling - it's for booger eaters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-cowherd/i-am-not-a-friend-of-esports-it-s-the-same-with-professional/) [Colin Cowherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-cowherd/) > [“Mika: Sometimes I just feel like you don’t want to be like this with me. Letti: Like what with you? You have no idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shanice-williams/mika-sometimes-i-just-feel-like-you-don-t-want-to-be-like-this-with/) [Shanice Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shanice-williams/) > [I would like to reach non-gamers. It's always great when guys come up to me who are gamers and represent my usual audience, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-schafer/i-would-like-to-reach-non-gamers-it-s-always-great-when-guys-come-up/) [Tim Schafer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-schafer/) > [“No matter what I did, I was hurting someone. There was a constant battle of emotions going on inside my head, but even though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shanice-williams/no-matter-what-i-did-i-was-hurting-someone-there-was-a-constant/) [Shanice Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shanice-williams/) > [First Person Shooter is famous that First Person Lover; absolutely for gamers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/first-person-shooter-is-famous-that-first-person-lover-absolutely-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm fortunate to know other female gamers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pokimane/i-m-fortunate-to-know-other-female-gamers/) [Pokimane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pokimane/) > [The one point gamers all hate is the point where they have to put the controller down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reggie-fils-aime/the-one-point-gamers-all-hate-is-the-point-where-they-have-to-put-the/) [Reggie Fils-Aime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reggie-fils-aime/) > [Game designers are obsessed with emotion. How do we create the emotions that we want gamers to feel, and how can we really make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/game-designers-are-obsessed-with-emotion-how-do-we-create-the/) [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) > [Maybe there are people who are gamers who haven't seen movies I have made, or the movies I have made have made no impression…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-spacey/maybe-there-are-people-who-are-gamers-who-haven-t-seen-movies-i-have/) [Kevin Spacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-spacey/) > [When I started to mention to people who know about such things, 'I'm doing this game, 'Portal 2', they got very excited, suddenly. More…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-merchant/when-i-started-to-mention-to-people-who-know-about-such-things-i-m/) [Stephen Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-merchant/) > [There are people who are very dismissive of games and gamers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/there-are-people-who-are-very-dismissive-of-games-and-gamers/) [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) > [Gamers always believe that an epic win is possible and that it's always worth trying, and trying now. Gamers don't sit around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/gamers-always-believe-that-an-epic-win-is-possible-and-that-it-s/) [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) > [Take the hardcore gamers. The characters are way more real in the world of hardcore gamers who have played the game for hundreds of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uwe-boll/take-the-hardcore-gamers-the-characters-are-way-more-real-in-the/) [Uwe Boll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uwe-boll/) > [Gaming notebooks aren't that abundant. Not that many gamers are able to play on notebooks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jensen-huang/gaming-notebooks-aren-t-that-abundant-not-that-many-gamers-are-able/) [Jensen Huang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jensen-huang/) > [“Yeah, actually, gamers in the house forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-pynchon/yeah-actually-gamers-in-the-house-forever/) [Thomas Pynchon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-pynchon/) ## More by Gordon Hayward > [I think video games have been instrumental to me as an NBA player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-hayward/i-think-video-games-have-been-instrumental-to-me-as-an-nba-player/) [Gordon Hayward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-hayward/) > [I work every day on skills, and I don't think you can ever work enough on that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-hayward/i-work-every-day-on-skills-and-i-don-t-think-you-can-ever-work-enough/) [Gordon Hayward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-hayward/) > [Obviously with LaMelo, he's a fun guy to play with, he makes some exciting plays.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-hayward/obviously-with-lamelo-he-s-a-fun-guy-to-play-with-he-makes-some/) [Gordon Hayward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-hayward/) > [Dennis Lindsey - if there's anyone who's most responsible for the winning culture in Salt Lake, it's him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-hayward/dennis-lindsey-if-there-s-anyone-who-s-most-responsible-for-the/) [Gordon Hayward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-hayward/) > [You know how boxing does those pound-for-pound rankings? If the NBA did that, I think you'd see Kemba right there among the very top…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-hayward/you-know-how-boxing-does-those-pound-for-pound-rankings-if-the-nba/) [Gordon Hayward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-hayward/) > [I've always controlled my emotions. I think that probably came from playing a lot of tennis, keeping it inside and not letting the opponent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-hayward/i-ve-always-controlled-my-emotions-i-think-that-probably-came-from/) [Gordon Hayward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-hayward/) > [It's easier to learn things at a younger age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-hayward/it-s-easier-to-learn-things-at-a-younger-age/) [Gordon Hayward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-hayward/) > [League of Legends' players are so toxic. I can't imagine being on a team in the NBA where they were as toxic as they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-hayward/league-of-legends-players-are-so-toxic-i-can-t-imagine-being-on-a/) [Gordon Hayward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-hayward/) > [My dream was always to be in the NBA. I just happened to be better at tennis in high school. But I loved basketball,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-hayward/my-dream-was-always-to-be-in-the-nba-i-just-happened-to-be-better-at/) [Gordon Hayward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-hayward/) > [Any time somebody goes through a major injury you feel for him and also what I've been through, I know firsthand what it's like.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-hayward/any-time-somebody-goes-through-a-major-injury-you-feel-for-him-and/) [Gordon Hayward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-hayward/) > [It's been so much fun for me here in Utah and growing up here, starting a family, growing from a basketball standpoint, growing from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-hayward/it-s-been-so-much-fun-for-me-here-in-utah-and-growing-up-here/) [Gordon Hayward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-hayward/) > [There's not too many 5-10 basketball players that make it, let alone play college and make it to the NBA.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-hayward/there-s-not-too-many-5-10-basketball-players-that-make-it-let-alone/) [Gordon Hayward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-hayward/) > [Whether it's some last-second move within a move that he's adding, or switching up his timing the smallest amount, or using the rim as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-hayward/whether-it-s-some-last-second-move-within-a-move-that-he-s-adding-or/) [Gordon Hayward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-hayward/) > [The Salt Lake fans are so passionate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-hayward/the-salt-lake-fans-are-so-passionate/) [Gordon Hayward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-hayward/) > [I think playing with no fans would be pretty wild. It would almost be like a scrimmage at training camp. You'd have to bring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-hayward/i-think-playing-with-no-fans-would-be-pretty-wild-it-would-almost-be/) [Gordon Hayward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-hayward/) [Explore all 100 Gordon Hayward quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-hayward/) ## More Athlete quotes > [As a professional athlete and someone who has spent almost his entire life in boxing, not a day goes by when I don't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-de-la-hoya/as-a-professional-athlete-and-someone-who-has-spent-almost-his-entire/) [Oscar De La Hoya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-de-la-hoya/) > [I'd noticed him watching me for a year or so, especially when we'd play games where there was running or jumping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-owens/i-d-noticed-him-watching-me-for-a-year-or-so-especially-when-we-d/) [Jesse Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-owens/) > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) > [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/) > [I think what bothers us about fighting sports isn't the damage to the athlete but the fact that you win by doing more harm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-gottschall/i-think-what-bothers-us-about-fighting-sports-isn-t-the-damage-to-the/) [Jonathan Gottschall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-gottschall/) > [Athletes at all ages are bigger and stronger than ever before. And they are being encouraged - sometimes even incentivized, as we recently learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naveen-jain/athletes-at-all-ages-are-bigger-and-stronger-than-ever-before-and/) [Naveen Jain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naveen-jain/) > [I think life is full of challenges and problems. I don't believe that anyone is perfect. We all make mistakes. It's not a bed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-mansell/i-think-life-is-full-of-challenges-and-problems-i-don-t-believe-that/) [Nigel Mansell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-mansell/) > [I'd never been much of an athlete, due to a physical condition I'd had since birth (unathleticism). Perhaps if there were a sport centered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/i-d-never-been-much-of-an-athlete-due-to-a-physical-condition-i-d-had/) [Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) > [I didn't set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-collins/i-didn-t-set-out-to-be-the-first-openly-gay-athlete-playing-in-a/) [Jason Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-collins/) > [I like to push characters to extremes so they have to make really tough decisions and there is no life more extreme than that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cleave/i-like-to-push-characters-to-extremes-so-they-have-to-make-really/) [Chris Cleave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cleave/) > [I don't want to say names, but there are certain companies I won't work with because of previous people they've worked with. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-morgan/i-don-t-want-to-say-names-but-there-are-certain-companies-i-won-t/) [Alex Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-morgan/) > [We are like highly trained athletes, who never run a race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-samuelson/we-are-like-highly-trained-athletes-who-never-run-a-race/) [Paul Samuelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-samuelson/) > [There are only two options regarding commitment; you’re either in or you’re out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-riley/there-are-only-two-options-regarding-commitment-you-re-either-in-or/) [Pat Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-riley/) > [I didn't aspire to be a good sport; 'champion' was good enough for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-perry/i-didn-t-aspire-to-be-a-good-sport-champion-was-good-enough-for-me/) [Fred Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-perry/) > [Treat yourself like an overweight, out of shape person and that's what you will be. Why not train and treat yourself like an athlete?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chalene-johnson/treat-yourself-like-an-overweight-out-of-shape-person-and-that-s-what/) [Chalene Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chalene-johnson/) [Browse all 2,455 Athlete quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athlete/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Being a professional athlete, people respect the fact that I respect eSports professional gamers.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gordon Hayward" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-hayward/being-a-professional-athlete-people-respect-the-fact-that-i-respect/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Athlete" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-hayward/being-a-professional-athlete-people-respect-the-fact-that-i-respect/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b21/gordon-hayward-5925_athlete_being-a-professional-athlete-people-resp_1567229.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b21/gordon-hayward-5925_athlete_being-a-professional-athlete-people-resp_1567229.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b21/gordon-hayward-5925_athlete_being-a-professional-athlete-people-resp_1567229.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Being a professional athlete, people respect the fact that I respect eSports professional gamers.” — Gordon Hayward", "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": "Gordon Hayward", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-hayward/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Being a professional athlete, people respect...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-hayward/being-a-professional-athlete-people-respect-the-fact-that-i-respect/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-hayward/being-a-professional-athlete-people-respect-the-fact-that-i-respect/#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 } } ] } ```