--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was 25, if you'd have said I was…" description: "\"When I was 25, if you'd have said I was going to be a commentator, that would seem like, 'Oh, my God. That's a huge step down.'\" — John McEnroe" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e4/john-mcenroe-11362_commentator_when-i-was-25-if-you-d-have-said-i-was-g_2572703.jpg" --- # When I was 25, if you'd have said I was going to be a… ![“When I was 25, if you'd have said I was going to be a commentator, that would seem like, 'Oh, my God. That's a huge step down.'” quote by John McEnroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e4/john-mcenroe-11362_commentator_when-i-was-25-if-you-d-have-said-i-was-g_2572703.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e4/john-mcenroe-11362_commentator_when-i-was-25-if-you-d-have-said-i-was-g_2572703.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e4/john-mcenroe-11362_commentator_when-i-was-25-if-you-d-have-said-i-was-g_2572703.jpg) > “When I was 25, if you'd have said I was going to be a commentator, that would seem like, 'Oh, my God. That's a huge step down.'” [John McEnroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcenroe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He reflects that early career expectations can feel like a downgrade, yet embracing unexpected paths can lead to fulfillment. **In simple terms:** Unexpected career moves can feel like a step down. Key Takeaway Accept change, pursue passion. Themes career identity expectations resilience sports Mood reflective motivational Type personal inspirational When to use this quote - career counseling - athlete transition programs - personal development seminars Key Concepts self‑concept public perception career pivots Questions to Reflect On - How do you define success? - What fears hold you back from change? A Different Perspective The quote may ignore structural barriers that limit career flexibility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [25 Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/25-said-1706843/) [Commentator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commentator/) [Commentator Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commentator-like-1706841/) [Down](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/down/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Going](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going/) [Going Commentator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going-commentator-1706840/) [Huge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/huge/) [Huge Step](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/huge-step-1706842/) [Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like/) [Oh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oh/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Seem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seem/) [Step](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/step/) [Would](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/) ## Related quotes > [This idea that the open exchange of information can have a positive global impact is being proven over and over again around the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/biz-stone/this-idea-that-the-open-exchange-of-information-can-have-a-positive/) [Biz Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/biz-stone/) > [I played football with the biggest stars and made a huge step from Stromsgodset to Sergio Ramos and Cristiano Ronaldo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-odegaard/i-played-football-with-the-biggest-stars-and-made-a-huge-step-from/) [Martin Odegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-odegaard/) > [Well, I think just the fact that you are making your first film is a huge step.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-lyne/well-i-think-just-the-fact-that-you-are-making-your-first-film-is-a/) [Adrian Lyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-lyne/) > [I just feel coming from Long Beach Poly was a huge step for me to make it to the NFL.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desean-jackson/i-just-feel-coming-from-long-beach-poly-was-a-huge-step-for-me-to/) [DeSean Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desean-jackson/) > [I had toured around England endlessly throughout my teens, but when I came to the U.S. to perform on Broadway, that was a huge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-andrews/i-had-toured-around-england-endlessly-throughout-my-teens-but-when-i/) [Julie Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-andrews/) > [Getting to be on DVD is a huge step for me as an actor, this isn't the world that I imagined for myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wiseman/getting-to-be-on-dvd-is-a-huge-step-for-me-as-an-actor-this-isn-t-the/) [Mary Wiseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wiseman/) > [I bet it is a huge step forward.Best wishes are sent your way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-bet-it-is-a-huge-step-forward-best-wishes-are-sent-your-way/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm not a political comic at all, so it would be weird if I just turned into a preachy, sort-of political commentator.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-lampanelli/i-m-not-a-political-comic-at-all-so-it-would-be-weird-if-i-just/) [Lisa Lampanelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-lampanelli/) > [The honor is overpaid, When he that did the act is commentator.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-shirley/the-honor-is-overpaid-when-he-that-did-the-act-is-commentator/) [James Shirley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-shirley/) > [I like Ben Stein. I think he's funny, creative, and an insightful commentator on a host of issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-norris/i-like-ben-stein-i-think-he-s-funny-creative-and-an-insightful/) [Chuck Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-norris/) > [“For the commentator to stay as closely as possible to home, that is, to the text of the Gospel itself, there is much to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-ridderbos/for-the-commentator-to-stay-as-closely-as-possible-to-home-that-is-to/) [Herman Ridderbos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-ridderbos/) > [In all my years as a news commentator I was never once, able to tell the truth, about anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/in-all-my-years-as-a-news-commentator-i-was-never-once-able-to-tell/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [I cannot be made into the commentator for the unspoken black masses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-mcgruder/i-cannot-be-made-into-the-commentator-for-the-unspoken-black-masses/) [Aaron McGruder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-mcgruder/) > [I'm not a journalist. I'm a pundit. I'm a commentator, I'm somebody with an opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-rove/i-m-not-a-journalist-i-m-a-pundit-i-m-a-commentator-i-m-somebody-with/) [Karl Rove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-rove/) > [You never know how you're going to go down as an English commentator in Australia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-guha/you-never-know-how-you-re-going-to-go-down-as-an-english-commentator/) [Isa Guha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-guha/) ## More by John McEnroe > [I haven't seen a professional player come out of New York in over 20 years since my brother Patrick came out. Blake spent a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcenroe/i-haven-t-seen-a-professional-player-come-out-of-new-york-in-over-20/) [John McEnroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcenroe/) > [Believe it or not, I was a pretty shy youngster growing up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcenroe/believe-it-or-not-i-was-a-pretty-shy-youngster-growing-up/) [John McEnroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcenroe/) > [The important thing is to learn a lesson every time you lose. Life is a learning process and you have to try to learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcenroe/the-important-thing-is-to-learn-a-lesson-every-time-you-lose-life-is/) [John McEnroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcenroe/) > [The 1980 Wimbledon final with Borg - that's the one I was most proud of to be part of. It's talked about as one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcenroe/the-1980-wimbledon-final-with-borg-that-s-the-one-i-was-most-proud-of/) [John McEnroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcenroe/) > [I'd like to think I could have and should have won more, but that's not the point. And I was at the point where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcenroe/i-d-like-to-think-i-could-have-and-should-have-won-more-but-that-s/) [John McEnroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcenroe/) > [The greatest compliment I ever got was when people called me an artist, and I understand that solo aspect of being an artist, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcenroe/the-greatest-compliment-i-ever-got-was-when-people-called-me-an/) [John McEnroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcenroe/) > [I'd like to be the commissioner of tennis, but do I want to get into politics? Sometimes I have delusions of grandeur that that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcenroe/i-d-like-to-be-the-commissioner-of-tennis-but-do-i-want-to-get-into/) [John McEnroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcenroe/) > [There's too much money and too many nice guys around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcenroe/there-s-too-much-money-and-too-many-nice-guys-around/) [John McEnroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcenroe/) > [No one cares about the Davis Cup. How many people know I won five Davis Cups and seven majors, but that I rarely played…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcenroe/no-one-cares-about-the-davis-cup-how-many-people-know-i-won-five/) [John McEnroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcenroe/) > [I think it's the mark of a great player to be confident in tough situations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcenroe/i-think-it-s-the-mark-of-a-great-player-to-be-confident-in-tough/) [John McEnroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcenroe/) > [As they say in sports, the older you get, the better you used to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcenroe/as-they-say-in-sports-the-older-you-get-the-better-you-used-to-be/) [John McEnroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcenroe/) > [The good part of having six kids is, there's always one who wants to hug you and say, 'Daddy, I love you.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcenroe/the-good-part-of-having-six-kids-is-there-s-always-one-who-wants-to/) [John McEnroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcenroe/) > [Well I think that's probably one of a few, where I grew up in the City of New York, it's got a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcenroe/well-i-think-that-s-probably-one-of-a-few-where-i-grew-up-in-the-city/) [John McEnroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcenroe/) > [To be involved in a senior tournament back in the States is very satisfying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcenroe/to-be-involved-in-a-senior-tournament-back-in-the-states-is-very/) [John McEnroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcenroe/) > [Let's hope his nerves will run through his veins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcenroe/let-s-hope-his-nerves-will-run-through-his-veins/) [John McEnroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcenroe/) [Explore all 60 John McEnroe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcenroe/) ## More Commentator quotes > [You never know how you're going to go down as an English commentator in Australia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-guha/you-never-know-how-you-re-going-to-go-down-as-an-english-commentator/) [Isa Guha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-guha/) > [I'm not a journalist. I'm a pundit. I'm a commentator, I'm somebody with an opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-rove/i-m-not-a-journalist-i-m-a-pundit-i-m-a-commentator-i-m-somebody-with/) [Karl Rove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-rove/) > [I cannot be made into the commentator for the unspoken black masses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-mcgruder/i-cannot-be-made-into-the-commentator-for-the-unspoken-black-masses/) [Aaron McGruder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-mcgruder/) > [In all my years as a news commentator I was never once, able to tell the truth, about anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/in-all-my-years-as-a-news-commentator-i-was-never-once-able-to-tell/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [“For the commentator to stay as closely as possible to home, that is, to the text of the Gospel itself, there is much to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-ridderbos/for-the-commentator-to-stay-as-closely-as-possible-to-home-that-is-to/) [Herman Ridderbos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-ridderbos/) > [I like Ben Stein. I think he's funny, creative, and an insightful commentator on a host of issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-norris/i-like-ben-stein-i-think-he-s-funny-creative-and-an-insightful/) [Chuck Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-norris/) > [The honor is overpaid, When he that did the act is commentator.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-shirley/the-honor-is-overpaid-when-he-that-did-the-act-is-commentator/) [James Shirley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-shirley/) > [I'm not a political comic at all, so it would be weird if I just turned into a preachy, sort-of political commentator.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-lampanelli/i-m-not-a-political-comic-at-all-so-it-would-be-weird-if-i-just/) [Lisa Lampanelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-lampanelli/) > [I never in my wildest imagination dreamed that I would somehow become a sports commentator.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-rogan/i-never-in-my-wildest-imagination-dreamed-that-i-would-somehow-become/) [Joe Rogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-rogan/) > [Just being a commentator is not as easy as people think with going out there and talking for three hours. So, I don't call…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t/just-being-a-commentator-is-not-as-easy-as-people-think-with-going/) [Booker T](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t/) > [ \[ Rabbi Shlomo ben Isaac\] was the greatest commentator \[of the Bible\] we ever had. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/rabbi-shlomo-ben-isaac-was-the-greatest-commentator-of-the-bible-we/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [When I got hurt - I broke my back in a match in London, England - I had to retire and became just a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-layfield/when-i-got-hurt-i-broke-my-back-in-a-match-in-london-england-i-had-to/) [John Layfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-layfield/) > [A good commentator is someone who obviously people like listening to, who gets the blend between description, entertainment and accuracy of conveying the event…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-agnew/a-good-commentator-is-someone-who-obviously-people-like-listening-to/) [Jonathan Agnew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-agnew/) > [“I’d make a great color commentator. Turquoise.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-d-make-a-great-color-commentator-turquoise/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“three cuttle-fish sable, and a commentator rampant.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/three-cuttle-fish-sable-and-a-commentator-rampant/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) [Browse all 30 Commentator quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commentator/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I was 25, if you'd have said I was going to be a commentator, that would seem like, 'Oh, my God. 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