--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't think some athletes understand…" description: "\"I don't think some athletes understand how big it is to be an athlete, what they can do with just a simple gesture of shaking a kid's hand. It can make..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/536/matt-kemp-14010_athlete_i-don-t-think-some-athletes-understand-h_2325077.jpg" --- # I don't think some athletes understand how big it is to be… ![“I don't think some athletes understand how big it is to be an athlete, what they can do with just a simple gesture of shaking a kid's hand. It can make a fan's day. It can make a fan's life.” quote by Matt Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/536/matt-kemp-14010_athlete_i-don-t-think-some-athletes-understand-h_2325077.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/536/matt-kemp-14010_athlete_i-don-t-think-some-athletes-understand-h_2325077.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/536/matt-kemp-14010_athlete_i-don-t-think-some-athletes-understand-h_2325077.jpg) > “I don't think some athletes understand how big it is to be an athlete, what they can do with just a simple gesture of shaking a kid's hand. It can make a fan's day. It can make a fan's life.” [Matt Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-kemp/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A small gesture from an athlete can profoundly impact a fan, turning a brief encounter into a memorable, uplifting experience. **In simple terms:** Athletes' simple actions can deeply affect fans. Key Takeaway Recognize the power of small gestures. Themes humility connection influence Mood grateful inspired Type motivational reflective When to use this quote - sports events - community outreach - meet‑and‑greets - charity appearances Key Concepts social impact role model empathy Questions to Reflect On - How can athletes consistently use small gestures to build lasting connections? - What moments have you experienced where a simple act changed your day? A Different Perspective Fans may not always appreciate or remember the gesture later, limiting lasting impact. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Athlete](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athlete/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Gestures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gestures/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Top athletes understand that to play at their best, they must alternate periods of intense performance with periods of strategic renewal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-s-sharma/top-athletes-understand-that-to-play-at-their-best-they-must/) [Robin S. Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-s-sharma/) > [The 7 Practices of Exceptional Student Athletes is an excellent book for student athletes to understand what it takes to be successful. It covers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-ford/the-7-practices-of-exceptional-student-athletes-is-an-excellent-book/) Danny Ford > [I was a big athlete, but I think a lot of the things I did were because they were my false identity, if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walker-hayes/i-was-a-big-athlete-but-i-think-a-lot-of-the-things-i-did-were/) [Walker Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walker-hayes/) > [Bobsledders are big athletes, and I'm a big athlete.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elana-meyers/bobsledders-are-big-athletes-and-i-m-a-big-athlete/) [Elana Meyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elana-meyers/) > [I was a big kid and a big athlete, but let's be honest: I don't know diddly about football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-show/i-was-a-big-kid-and-a-big-athlete-but-let-s-be-honest-i-don-t-know/) [Big Show](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-show/) > [I was afraid I would see someone from my past who thought I was this big athlete, and then I end up being just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-cruz/i-was-afraid-i-would-see-someone-from-my-past-who-thought-i-was-this/) [Victor Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-cruz/) > [As an athlete, I just try my best to be as good as I can. Whether people like you or not should be irrelevant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-murray/as-an-athlete-i-just-try-my-best-to-be-as-good-as-i-can-whether/) [Andy Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-murray/) > [In the marathon a crazy athlete can just keep pushing from the beginning, at a championship you don't need a time just to win…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haile-gebrselassie/in-the-marathon-a-crazy-athlete-can-just-keep-pushing-from-the/) [Haile Gebrselassie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haile-gebrselassie/) > [Just because you're big doesn't mean you can't be an athlete. And just because you work out doesn't mean you're going to have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prince-fielder/just-because-you-re-big-doesn-t-mean-you-can-t-be-an-athlete-and-just/) [Prince Fielder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prince-fielder/) > [I'm a professional athlete, I was just on TV on Fox Sports 1, and $50,000 is what I walk away. Are you kidding me?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-iaquinta/i-m-a-professional-athlete-i-was-just-on-tv-on-fox-sports-1-and-50/) [Al Iaquinta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-iaquinta/) > [A lot of people probably think I'm not athletic or don't even try to work out or whatever, but I do. Just because you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prince-fielder/a-lot-of-people-probably-think-i-m-not-athletic-or-don-t-even-try-to/) [Prince Fielder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prince-fielder/) > [I don't eat as much as an athlete should. I just don't like it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-weir/i-don-t-eat-as-much-as-an-athlete-should-i-just-don-t-like-it/) [Johnny Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-weir/) > [I see myself as an athlete and just try to market myself as a feminine athlete.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-gulbis/i-see-myself-as-an-athlete-and-just-try-to-market-myself-as-a/) [Natalie Gulbis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-gulbis/) > [I think every athlete that’s just out here for the Olympics just does something to inspire those around them and inspire each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-pistorius/i-think-every-athlete-that-s-just-out-here-for-the-olympics-just-does/) [Oscar Pistorius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-pistorius/) > [I don't rate myself as a fantastic, talented athlete. I just have perseverance. I'm a cart horse. I work hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-de-reuck/i-don-t-rate-myself-as-a-fantastic-talented-athlete-i-just-have/) Colleen De Reuck ## More by Matt Kemp > [I didn't know if I could make it to the big leagues without going through Triple-A.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-kemp/i-didn-t-know-if-i-could-make-it-to-the-big-leagues-without-going/) [Matt Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-kemp/) > [I'm just going to live my life the way I want to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-kemp/i-m-just-going-to-live-my-life-the-way-i-want-to/) [Matt Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-kemp/) > [I've always liked shoes. I peep everybody's shoes out to see what they're rocking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-kemp/i-ve-always-liked-shoes-i-peep-everybody-s-shoes-out-to-see-what-they/) [Matt Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-kemp/) > [I feel like you can tell a lot by a person's shoes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-kemp/i-feel-like-you-can-tell-a-lot-by-a-person-s-shoes/) [Matt Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-kemp/) > [Everything is repetition in baseball. When you get all out of whack and do something different, you feel weird.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-kemp/everything-is-repetition-in-baseball-when-you-get-all-out-of-whack/) [Matt Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-kemp/) > [If I could do it over, I'd want to come up to the big leagues like Mike Trout. He's exciting and I like watching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-kemp/if-i-could-do-it-over-i-d-want-to-come-up-to-the-big-leagues-like/) [Matt Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-kemp/) > [In Hollywood, for me, it's all about the movie stars and the singers. Baseball players don't draw too much attention; we're low key. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-kemp/in-hollywood-for-me-it-s-all-about-the-movie-stars-and-the-singers/) [Matt Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-kemp/) > [One of the things I've done is tell myself I can't let bad things that happen to me on the field, off the field,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-kemp/one-of-the-things-i-ve-done-is-tell-myself-i-can-t-let-bad-things/) [Matt Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-kemp/) > [If you do a full-on workout and then eat McDonald's or Wendy's, you're defeating the purpose. If you put good things into your body…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-kemp/if-you-do-a-full-on-workout-and-then-eat-mcdonald-s-or-wendy-s-you-re/) [Matt Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-kemp/) > [I don't think people understand what microfracture surgery is. It's pretty serious. A lot of basketball players get it in their knees, and if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-kemp/i-don-t-think-people-understand-what-microfracture-surgery-is-it-s/) [Matt Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-kemp/) > [More money gives me the chance to help more people, to give something back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-kemp/more-money-gives-me-the-chance-to-help-more-people-to-give-something/) [Matt Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-kemp/) > [Everybody used to say that baseball players can't dress and athletes can't dress. You know, a lot of athletes now are trying to prove…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-kemp/everybody-used-to-say-that-baseball-players-can-t-dress-and-athletes/) [Matt Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-kemp/) > [That's what we all play for, is to play in the postseason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-kemp/that-s-what-we-all-play-for-is-to-play-in-the-postseason/) [Matt Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-kemp/) > [Beast Mode doesn't make excuses. It doesn't complain. Whatever you're doing, go out there and get it done. Keep pushing. If I have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-kemp/beast-mode-doesn-t-make-excuses-it-doesn-t-complain-whatever-you-re/) [Matt Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-kemp/) > [L.A. has always been home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-kemp/l-a-has-always-been-home/) [Matt Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-kemp/) [Explore all 48 Matt Kemp quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-kemp/) ## 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": "I don't think some athletes understand how big it is to be an athlete, what they can do with just a simple gesture of shaking a kid's hand. It can make a fan's day. 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