--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Soccer was actually my first love, but…" description: "\"Soccer was actually my first love, but eventually, basketball took that over.\" — Sue Bird" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffa/sue-bird-4568_basketball_soccer-was-actually-my-first-love-but-ev_991111.jpg" --- # Soccer was actually my first love, but eventually… ![“Soccer was actually my first love, but eventually, basketball took that over.” quote by Sue Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffa/sue-bird-4568_basketball_soccer-was-actually-my-first-love-but-ev_991111.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffa/sue-bird-4568_basketball_soccer-was-actually-my-first-love-but-ev_991111.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffa/sue-bird-4568_basketball_soccer-was-actually-my-first-love-but-ev_991111.jpg) > “Soccer was actually my first love, but eventually, basketball took that over.” [Sue Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-bird/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early passion for soccer shifted to basketball, showing evolving interests over time. **In simple terms:** He changed sports love. Key Takeaway Follow evolving passions. Themes sports personal growth identity Mood nostalgic motivational Type personal inspirational When to use this quote - team sports - coaching - public speaking Key Concepts career transition athletic development Questions to Reflect On - What drives a shift in passion? - How to honor past interests while moving forward? A Different Perspective Changing focus can feel like loss of identity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) [First love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-love/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Soccer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soccer/) ## Related quotes > [What if everyone who loved women's basketball took the time every day to say or tweet just one thing about the game? Think about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-staley/what-if-everyone-who-loved-women-s-basketball-took-the-time-every-day/) [Dawn Staley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-staley/) > [I grew up playing piano and violin, and then basketball took over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-cambage/i-grew-up-playing-piano-and-violin-and-then-basketball-took-over/) [Liz Cambage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-cambage/) > [My goals have gone from being an all-star to just being able to play basketball. I always took for granted that I could play.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-lobo/my-goals-have-gone-from-being-an-all-star-to-just-being-able-to-play/) [Rebecca Lobo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-lobo/) > [Michael Jordan changed so much in basketball, he took his power to make a difference. It's so much going on in music right now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/michael-jordan-changed-so-much-in-basketball-he-took-his-power-to/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [Basketball will always be my first love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-drummond/basketball-will-always-be-my-first-love/) [Andre Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-drummond/) > [The natural thing in Africa is to start playing soccer at 8 or 9. You go outside and you play like kids play basketball…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masai-ujiri/the-natural-thing-in-africa-is-to-start-playing-soccer-at-8-or-9-you/) [Masai Ujiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masai-ujiri/) > [I really didn't want to play basketball for the longest time, but I just wouldn't stop growing. But I always wanted to be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luol-deng/i-really-didn-t-want-to-play-basketball-for-the-longest-time-but-i/) [Luol Deng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luol-deng/) > [Baseball is like cricket, and I grew up in a country where they had cricket. So I understand cricket, soccer and basketball. I played…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-soon-shiong/baseball-is-like-cricket-and-i-grew-up-in-a-country-where-they-had/) [Patrick Soon-Shiong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-soon-shiong/) > [I've always loved being active, and I used to do sports - basketball, soccer, volleyball - growing up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-collins/i-ve-always-loved-being-active-and-i-used-to-do-sports-basketball/) [Lily Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-collins/) > [I play basketball, I play soccer, I draw, uh I like girls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valentin-chmerkovskiy/i-play-basketball-i-play-soccer-i-draw-uh-i-like-girls/) [Valentin Chmerkovskiy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valentin-chmerkovskiy/) > [In my mind, women's basketball players are an untapped resource.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-bird/in-my-mind-women-s-basketball-players-are-an-untapped-resource/) [Sue Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-bird/) > [I played sports year around: basketball, soccer, softball and I ran track year around, from the time I was, like, six, seven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-union/i-played-sports-year-around-basketball-soccer-softball-and-i-ran/) [Gabrielle Union](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-union/) > [Love is the Key started in 1994 with a simple idea: that Love is the Key that would open all the doors in life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/love-is-the-key/love-is-the-key-started-in-1994-with-a-simple-idea-that-love-is-the/) [Love Is The Key®](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/love-is-the-key/) > [“Lord I come before you, I repent all my sins; forgive me. I repent on behalf of my children forgive them Lord. Help them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euginia-herlihy/lord-i-come-before-you-i-repent-all-my-sins-forgive-me-i-repent-on/) [Euginia Herlihy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euginia-herlihy/) > [“It was December, I had never felt so cold, the eel soup lay heavy on my stomach, I was afraid I'd die, I turned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/it-was-december-i-had-never-felt-so-cold-the-eel-soup-lay-heavy-on-my/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) ## More by Sue Bird > [I'd love to have another chance to represent my country in the Olympics. If I'm healthy, absolutely... I'm very realistic when it comes to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-bird/i-d-love-to-have-another-chance-to-represent-my-country-in-the/) [Sue Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-bird/) > [In my mind, women's basketball players are an untapped resource.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-bird/in-my-mind-women-s-basketball-players-are-an-untapped-resource/) [Sue Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-bird/) > [In the past, I've told people to get me DVDs: like, the box sets of entire series. When you're overseas and there isn't much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-bird/in-the-past-i-ve-told-people-to-get-me-dvds-like-the-box-sets-of/) [Sue Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-bird/) > [I've never felt as nervous as I did before a track meet - literally, stomach going crazy - 'cause it was just so difficult.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-bird/i-ve-never-felt-as-nervous-as-i-did-before-a-track-meet-literally/) [Sue Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-bird/) > [I've been on extremely talented teams that just don't click, and I've also been on team with a little bit less talent, but they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-bird/i-ve-been-on-extremely-talented-teams-that-just-don-t-click-and-i-ve/) [Sue Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-bird/) > [Something I've been starting to use almost every day is a blood flow restriction system for my legs. It's good for recovery and strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-bird/something-i-ve-been-starting-to-use-almost-every-day-is-a-blood-flow/) [Sue Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-bird/) > [A lot of my friends loved Pearl Jam, so whenever I'd hang out with them, that was usually what CD - not album -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-bird/a-lot-of-my-friends-loved-pearl-jam-so-whenever-i-d-hang-out-with/) [Sue Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-bird/) > [I think, overall, the name 'The Storm' in Seattle has just continued to grow. It has now become not just an afterthought that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-bird/i-think-overall-the-name-the-storm-in-seattle-has-just-continued-to/) [Sue Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-bird/) > [There's something about dominant teams that draws fans in. People like to see this; they like to witness dominance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-bird/there-s-something-about-dominant-teams-that-draws-fans-in-people-like/) [Sue Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-bird/) > [I always thought front office work, being with the team day in and day out, that was something I wasn't going to get to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-bird/i-always-thought-front-office-work-being-with-the-team-day-in-and-day/) [Sue Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-bird/) > [I can be quiet and a little shy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-bird/i-can-be-quiet-and-a-little-shy/) [Sue Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-bird/) > [There was no professional basketball for me in the United States when I was in grade school and middle school. I could look to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-bird/there-was-no-professional-basketball-for-me-in-the-united-states-when/) [Sue Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-bird/) > [When you have teammates just as talented as you, it's kind of weird to get all the attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-bird/when-you-have-teammates-just-as-talented-as-you-it-s-kind-of-weird-to/) [Sue Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-bird/) > [Be a gunner? Me? I don't think I can do it. But I'll go for whatever the assist record is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-bird/be-a-gunner-me-i-don-t-think-i-can-do-it-but-i-ll-go-for-whatever-the/) [Sue Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-bird/) > [When you're a point guard, man, if you're not up to par, you're in a lot of trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-bird/when-you-re-a-point-guard-man-if-you-re-not-up-to-par-you-re-in-a-lot/) [Sue Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-bird/) [Explore all 109 Sue Bird quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-bird/) ## More Basketball quotes > [We love playing together and we love adversity. You know, back-to-back, the two best teams in the East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-nash/we-love-playing-together-and-we-love-adversity-you-know-back-to-back/) [Steve Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-nash/) > [I don't look at myself as a basketball coach. I look at myself as a leader who happens to coach basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/i-don-t-look-at-myself-as-a-basketball-coach-i-look-at-myself-as-a/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [There is no doubt in my mind and I know in my time, there will be a Canadian basketball player playing for Toronto Raptors, 100%](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masai-ujiri/there-is-no-doubt-in-my-mind-and-i-know-in-my-time-there-will-be-a/) [Masai Ujiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masai-ujiri/) > [I learned so much from Sue about the Xs and Os of the game of basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-summitt/i-learned-so-much-from-sue-about-the-xs-and-os-of-the-game-of/) [Pat Summitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-summitt/) > [ I failed, I think, seven \[or\] eight times before I finally got my first \[championship\]. It was just, you know, just about me growing… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-failed-i-think-seven-or-eight-times-before-i-finally-got-my-first/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [It's not how big you are, it's how big you play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/it-s-not-how-big-you-are-it-s-how-big-you-play/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Basketball isn't just a sport to me ; it's my ecstasy !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamira-robinson/basketball-isn-t-just-a-sport-to-me-it-s-my-ecstasy/) [Jamira Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamira-robinson/) > [It's similar to basketball: when you go to different gyms and win or lose, you learn something new. So when kids get out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-iguodala/it-s-similar-to-basketball-when-you-go-to-different-gyms-and-win-or/) [Andre Iguodala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-iguodala/) > [If a Coach is determined to stay in the coaching profession, he will develop from year to year. This much is true, no coach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolph-rupp/if-a-coach-is-determined-to-stay-in-the-coaching-profession-he-will/) [Adolph Rupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolph-rupp/) > [And I want to do it the right way, like everybody else, not just a famous figurehead that gets a job because he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/and-i-want-to-do-it-the-right-way-like-everybody-else-not-just-a/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [Well, you can certainly teach free-throwing. And you can teach the boys to pass at angles and run in curves. - University of Kansas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darryl-dawkins/well-you-can-certainly-teach-free-throwing-and-you-can-teach-the-boys/) [Darryl Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darryl-dawkins/) > [Practice to beat the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-bennett/practice-to-beat-the-best/) [Dick Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-bennett/) > [I'm a competitive person. I love the game of basketball. I'm a gym rat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-pierce/i-m-a-competitive-person-i-love-the-game-of-basketball-i-m-a-gym-rat/) [Paul Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-pierce/) > [I am both humbled and honored to receive the Honda Sports Award for women's basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittney-griner/i-am-both-humbled-and-honored-to-receive-the-honda-sports-award-for/) [Brittney Griner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittney-griner/) > [What I've talked about the entire series and throughout this playoffs is about intensity and effort, desire and will of our players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-laimbeer/what-i-ve-talked-about-the-entire-series-and-throughout-this-playoffs/) [Bill Laimbeer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-laimbeer/) [Browse all 5,387 Basketball quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Soccer was actually my first love, but eventually, basketball took that over.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sue Bird" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-bird/soccer-was-actually-my-first-love-but-eventually-basketball-took-that/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Basketball" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-bird/soccer-was-actually-my-first-love-but-eventually-basketball-took-that/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffa/sue-bird-4568_basketball_soccer-was-actually-my-first-love-but-ev_991111.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffa/sue-bird-4568_basketball_soccer-was-actually-my-first-love-but-ev_991111.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffa/sue-bird-4568_basketball_soccer-was-actually-my-first-love-but-ev_991111.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Soccer was actually my first love, but eventually, basketball took that over.” — Sue Bird", "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": "Sue Bird", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-bird/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Soccer was actually my first love,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-bird/soccer-was-actually-my-first-love-but-eventually-basketball-took-that/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-bird/soccer-was-actually-my-first-love-but-eventually-basketball-took-that/#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 } } ] } ```