--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I got cut from the varsity team as a…" description: "\"When I got cut from the varsity team as a sophomore in high school, I learned something. I knew I never wanted to feel that bad again. I never wanted t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d9/michael-jordan-1054_becoming_when-i-got-cut-from-the-varsity-team-as_1917871.jpg" --- # When I got cut from the varsity team as a sophomore in… ![“When I got cut from the varsity team as a sophomore in high school, I learned something. I knew I never wanted to feel that bad again. I never wanted to have that taste in my mouth, that hole in my stomach. So I set a goal of becoming a starter on the varsity.” quote by Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d9/michael-jordan-1054_becoming_when-i-got-cut-from-the-varsity-team-as_1917871.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d9/michael-jordan-1054_becoming_when-i-got-cut-from-the-varsity-team-as_1917871.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d9/michael-jordan-1054_becoming_when-i-got-cut-from-the-varsity-team-as_1917871.jpg) > “When I got cut from the varsity team as a sophomore in high school, I learned something. I knew I never wanted to feel that bad again. I never wanted to have that taste in my mouth, that hole in my stomach. So I set a goal of becoming a starter on the varsity.” [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. After being cut from a varsity team, the speaker vowed never to feel that disappointment again, setting a goal to become a starter and avoid the pain of failure. **In simple terms:** Failure motivated a goal to become a starter. Key Takeaway Use setbacks as fuel for future success. Themes failure motivation goal‑setting resilience sports Mood determined reflective Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - team sports - personal development - goal planning Key Concepts psychology of ambition growth mindset Questions to Reflect On - What drives you after a setback? - How can you balance ambition with well‑being? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on avoiding pain may cause anxiety. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goal/) [High school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-school/) [Motivational sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivational-sports/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) [Team](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/team/) ## Related quotes > [I made the varsity team as a freshman at 15. Then, I tore a tendon and never fully recovered. I was a shortstop, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-scolari/i-made-the-varsity-team-as-a-freshman-at-15-then-i-tore-a-tendon-and/) [Peter Scolari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-scolari/) > [If you're on the varsity team, the responsibilities are a lot bigger and there's more stress, but you also walk around feeling probably like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damien-chazelle/if-you-re-on-the-varsity-team-the-responsibilities-are-a-lot-bigger/) [Damien Chazelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damien-chazelle/) > [We should teach kids, whether you're on the varsity team or not, that movement is a great thing in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-foudy/we-should-teach-kids-whether-you-re-on-the-varsity-team-or-not-that/) [Julie Foudy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-foudy/) > [As a sophomore, I wanted to play varsity in three sports. And I accomplished that. It was a great feat that year, and something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junior-seau/as-a-sophomore-i-wanted-to-play-varsity-in-three-sports-and-i/) [Junior Seau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junior-seau/) > [Yeah, my first season playing varsity, that was probably the last season I got nervous for. I was kind of nervous for that one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyler-murray/yeah-my-first-season-playing-varsity-that-was-probably-the-last/) [Kyler Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyler-murray/) > [“You count the years until you get a varsity jersey, then you're a hero, an idol, a cocky bastard because in this town you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-grisham/you-count-the-years-until-you-get-a-varsity-jersey-then-you-re-a-hero/) [John Grisham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-grisham/) > [“Ebright yawned that his varsity was nothing to write home about—“a good average outfit,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-james-brown/ebright-yawned-that-his-varsity-was-nothing-to-write-home-about-a/) [Daniel James Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-james-brown/) > [My first year on varsity opened up more doors for me than I ever imagined. During my eighth-grade season, scouts came to see some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chipper-jones/my-first-year-on-varsity-opened-up-more-doors-for-me-than-i-ever/) [Chipper Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chipper-jones/) > [It's harder than you think to play varsity sports and maintain your grades.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-zimmerman/it-s-harder-than-you-think-to-play-varsity-sports-and-maintain-your/) [Ryan Zimmerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-zimmerman/) > [If hating on people was a sport some peoole would be on the all-star team varsity too...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-hating-on-people-was-a-sport-some-peoole-would-be-on-the-all-star/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I aint never been cheap. I spend it all, never made Varsity but I f-cking ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyga/i-aint-never-been-cheap-i-spend-it-all-never-made-varsity-but-i-f/) [Tyga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyga/) > [You did not tell me what you are doing athletically just now but I do hope that if your arm comes along next spring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/you-did-not-tell-me-what-you-are-doing-athletically-just-now-but-i-do/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [I played varsity on all of them for four years. I'm 5'9 and that's not that tall for a center so I was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bridgette-wilson/i-played-varsity-on-all-of-them-for-four-years-i-m-5-9-and-that-s-not/) [Bridgette Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bridgette-wilson/) > [I was captain of my varsity basketball team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-missick/i-was-captain-of-my-varsity-basketball-team/) [Simone Missick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-missick/) > [I played varsity in high school as a 9th grader. I came off the bench during the first game of the season and had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-williams/i-played-varsity-in-high-school-as-a-9th-grader-i-came-off-the-bench/) [Lou Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-williams/) ## More by Michael Jordan > [I want to be perceived as a guy who played his best in all facets, not just scoring. A guy who loved challenges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/i-want-to-be-perceived-as-a-guy-who-played-his-best-in-all-facets-not/) [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) > [I dont take pictures with Niggas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/i-dont-take-pictures-with-niggas/) [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) > [The minute you get away from fundamentals – whether its proper technique, work ethic or mental preparation – the bottom can fall out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/the-minute-you-get-away-from-fundamentals-whether-its-proper/) [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) > [Be true to the game, because the game will be true to you. If you try to shortcut the game, then the game will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/be-true-to-the-game-because-the-game-will-be-true-to-you-if-you-try/) [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) > [Work ethics eliminates fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/work-ethics-eliminates-fear/) [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) > [I can accept failure everyone fails at something but what I can't accept is not trying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/i-can-accept-failure-everyone-fails-at-something-but-what-i-can-t/) [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) > [Even though, physically, I can't do it, the mind says, 'Yeah, I can still do it,' and I still think I can do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/even-though-physically-i-can-t-do-it-the-mind-says-yeah-i-can-still/) [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) > [I wasn't really a work-conscious type of person. I was a player. I loved to play sports.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/i-wasn-t-really-a-work-conscious-type-of-person-i-was-a-player-i/) [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) > [If you are confident you have done everything possible to prepare yourself, then there is nothing to fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/if-you-are-confident-you-have-done-everything-possible-to-prepare/) [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) > [Sometimes you need to get hit in the head to realize that you're in a fight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/sometimes-you-need-to-get-hit-in-the-head-to-realize-that-you-re-in-a/) [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) > [You have competition every day because you set such high standards for yourself that you have to go out every day and live up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/you-have-competition-every-day-because-you-set-such-high-standards/) [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) > [All I knew is that I NEVER wanted to be AVERAGE.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/all-i-knew-is-that-i-never-wanted-to-be-average/) [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) > [“He fallado una y otra vez en mi vida, por eso he conseguido el éxito.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/he-fallado-una-y-otra-vez-en-mi-vida-por-eso-he-conseguido-el-xito/) [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) > [I'd take 12 guys who had a strong passion for the game over 12 guys who don't respect the game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/i-d-take-12-guys-who-had-a-strong-passion-for-the-game-over-12-guys/) [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) > [The NBA is the strongest professional sports league in the world. The league and the game is bigger than any one person, Michael Jordan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/the-nba-is-the-strongest-professional-sports-league-in-the-world-the/) [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) [Explore all 299 Michael Jordan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) ## More Becoming quotes > [Focus on becoming more to achieve more while doing less](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-elrod/focus-on-becoming-more-to-achieve-more-while-doing-less/) [Hal Elrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-elrod/) > [If the media is sending girls the message that their value lies in their bodies, this can only leave them feeling disempowered and distract…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-siebel-newsom/if-the-media-is-sending-girls-the-message-that-their-value-lies-in/) Jennifer Siebel Newsom > [But I already saw no great difference between the psyche and spirituality. To amass knowledge without becoming wise is not my idea of progress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-scott-peck/but-i-already-saw-no-great-difference-between-the-psyche-and/) [M. Scott Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-scott-peck/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [The path I choose through the maze makes me what I am. I am not only a thing, but also a way of being--one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-keyes/the-path-i-choose-through-the-maze-makes-me-what-i-am-i-am-not-only-a/) [Daniel Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-keyes/) > [Becoming famous is a really shocking thing, especially when you don't have aspirations to it. It got to the point where I would try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moyet/becoming-famous-is-a-really-shocking-thing-especially-when-you-don-t/) [Alison Moyet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moyet/) > [When other boys dreamt of going to the moon or becoming doctors, I wanted to be a designer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivier-theyskens/when-other-boys-dreamt-of-going-to-the-moon-or-becoming-doctors-i/) [Olivier Theyskens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivier-theyskens/) > [One is not born a genius, one becomes a genius; and the feminine situation has up to the present rendered this becoming practically impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/one-is-not-born-a-genius-one-becomes-a-genius-and-the-feminine/) [Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/) > [The dream of coming back is becoming a reality. A lot of the uncertainty about the future has been cleared up. A lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tagliabue/the-dream-of-coming-back-is-becoming-a-reality-a-lot-of-the/) [Paul Tagliabue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tagliabue/) > [I'm getting to a point where everything is becoming streamlined in my life. I'm learning how to stand onstage for two hours and play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mayer/i-m-getting-to-a-point-where-everything-is-becoming-streamlined-in-my/) [John Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mayer/) > [The term 'Pre-Raphaelite' is in danger of becoming one of the most misused tags in art history](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-wood/the-term-pre-raphaelite-is-in-danger-of-becoming-one-of-the-most/) Christopher Wood > [We are somehow the children of the planet, we are somehow its finest hour; we bind time, we bind the past, we anticipate the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/we-are-somehow-the-children-of-the-planet-we-are-somehow-its-finest/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [The reason so many of us are obsessed with becoming stars is because we are not yet starring in our own lives. 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