--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was not athletically inclined. I was…" description: "\"I was not athletically inclined. I was very quiet, introverted, non-confrontational. My three older brothers were athletes - basketball, football - but..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f27/sugar-ray-leonard-3228_athletes_i-was-not-athletically-inclined-i-was-ve_2906425.png" --- # I was not athletically inclined. I was very quiet… ![“I was not athletically inclined. I was very quiet, introverted, non-confrontational. My three older brothers were athletes - basketball, football - but I was kind of a momma's boy. Then one day, my brother Roger encouraged me to go to the boxing gym with him. I tried the gloves on, and it just…” quote by Sugar Ray Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f27/sugar-ray-leonard-3228_athletes_i-was-not-athletically-inclined-i-was-ve_2906425.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f27/sugar-ray-leonard-3228_athletes_i-was-not-athletically-inclined-i-was-ve_2906425.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f27/sugar-ray-leonard-3228_athletes_i-was-not-athletically-inclined-i-was-ve_2906425.png) > “I was not athletically inclined. I was very quiet, introverted, non-confrontational. My three older brothers were athletes - basketball, football - but I was kind of a momma's boy. Then one day, my brother Roger encouraged me to go to the boxing gym with him. I tried the gloves on, and it just felt so natural.” [Sugar Ray Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-ray-leonard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A chance encounter with boxing revealed a natural fit, transforming a non-athletic identity into a passion. **In simple terms:** Boxing felt natural, changing self‑image. Key Takeaway Explore new activities to discover hidden talents. Themes sports self‑discovery transformation Mood inspirational reflective Type motivational personal growth When to use this quote - gym trials - community sports programs - personal coaching Key Concepts identity skill development confidence building Questions to Reflect On - What held you back from trying boxing? - How can you support others exploring new activities? A Different Perspective Initial fear may deter trying new sports. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Athletes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athletes/) [Athletically Inclined](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athletically-inclined-4161709/) [Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) [Boxing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boxing/) [Boy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boy/) [Brother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brother/) [Brothers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brothers/) [Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day/) [Encouraged](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/encouraged/) [Encouraged Boxing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/encouraged-boxing-4161710/) [Felt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/felt/) [Felt Natural](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/felt-natural-471324/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Gloves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gloves/) [Go](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/go/) [Gym](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gym/) [Him](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/him/) [I tried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-tried/) [Inclined](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inclined/) [Introverted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/introverted/) [Introverted Non](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/introverted-non-4161711/) [Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/me/) [Momma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/momma/) [Natural](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natural/) [Older](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/older/) [Older brothers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/older-brothers/) [One day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/one-day/) [Quiet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quiet/) [Roger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roger/) [Then](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/then/) [Three](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/three/) [Tried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tried/) [Tried Gloves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tried-gloves-2196684/) [Very](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/very/) [Were](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/were/) [Wrestling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrestling/) ## Related quotes > [I tried the gloves on, and it just felt so natural. From that moment I became so embedded in boxing. I found a friend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugar-ray-leonard/i-tried-the-gloves-on-and-it-just-felt-so-natural-from-that-moment-i/) [Sugar Ray Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-ray-leonard/) > [The work saved me. I clung to it like flotsam in a boiling sea. It was the only solitary sport that I ever played,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rheta-grimsley-johnson/the-work-saved-me-i-clung-to-it-like-flotsam-in-a-boiling-sea-it-was/) [Rheta Grimsley Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rheta-grimsley-johnson/) > [I had grown up working in a video store, and I'd grown up more with film than I had with theater, so I kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-simons/i-had-grown-up-working-in-a-video-store-and-i-d-grown-up-more-with/) [Timothy Simons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-simons/) > [I never felt that I had the natural intellectual gifts that the people who graduate first in their class from Harvard Law had.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megyn-kelly/i-never-felt-that-i-had-the-natural-intellectual-gifts-that-the/) [Megyn Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megyn-kelly/) > [I never thought I had to forge a family, but it felt the most natural thing that ever happened to me - meeting someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jude-law/i-never-thought-i-had-to-forge-a-family-but-it-felt-the-most-natural/) [Jude Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jude-law/) > [Playing music has always felt very natural. You know, you do try to do other things, and you do learn lessons that way, but,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dhani-harrison/playing-music-has-always-felt-very-natural-you-know-you-do-try-to-do/) [Dhani Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dhani-harrison/) > [It felt very natural to me to write a Christmas song, but at the same time I had to really put all sorts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-perri/it-felt-very-natural-to-me-to-write-a-christmas-song-but-at-the-same/) [Christina Perri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-perri/) > [“She shivered as he left her to go to the fire, and find water and cloths. He leaned into the light, and brightness and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/she-shivered-as-he-left-her-to-go-to-the-fire-and-find-water-and-2/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [I know it's cliche, but after the first show, I knew I liked singing, being on stage, making people happy. It just felt natural.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabby-barrett/i-know-it-s-cliche-but-after-the-first-show-i-knew-i-liked-singing/) [Gabby Barrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabby-barrett/) > [It felt natural. That is what I remember most about becoming a father halfway through my 20s. As if Mother Nature was giving me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-parsons/it-felt-natural-that-is-what-i-remember-most-about-becoming-a-father/) [Tony Parsons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-parsons/) > [“Driving was almost the only thing that felt natural in America. It was traditional. It was patriotic . When you accelerated, you could almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hari-kunzru/driving-was-almost-the-only-thing-that-felt-natural-in-america-it-was/) [Hari Kunzru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hari-kunzru/) > [ You live with a writer \[a mother\], and you grow up with their words, their kind of fantasies, and I'd pretty much seen every… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keira-knightley/you-live-with-a-writer-a-mother-and-you-grow-up-with-their-words/) [Keira Knightley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keira-knightley/) > [Whatever the reasons, I enjoyed being nude; it felt natural to me. I got the same kind of pleasure from being free of clothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charis-wilson/whatever-the-reasons-i-enjoyed-being-nude-it-felt-natural-to-me-i-got/) [Charis Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charis-wilson/) > [I was always meant to be a mom. As soon as I had my kids, it just felt so natural.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessie-james-decker/i-was-always-meant-to-be-a-mom-as-soon-as-i-had-my-kids-it-just-felt/) [Jessie James Decker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessie-james-decker/) > [It's good that there is more support of diversity but there is still a lot of resistance. I never saw it as fighting for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-gaultier/it-s-good-that-there-is-more-support-of-diversity-but-there-is-still/) [Jean Paul Gaultier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-gaultier/) ## More by Sugar Ray Leonard > [I always expect unexpected challenges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugar-ray-leonard/i-always-expect-unexpected-challenges/) [Sugar Ray Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-ray-leonard/) > [Were all given some sort of skill in life. Mine just happens to be beating up on people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugar-ray-leonard/were-all-given-some-sort-of-skill-in-life-mine-just-happens-to-be/) [Sugar Ray Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-ray-leonard/) > [I made mistakes, but I'm luckier than most. I've got a successful business, lots of fans who think a lot of me and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugar-ray-leonard/i-made-mistakes-but-i-m-luckier-than-most-i-ve-got-a-successful/) [Sugar Ray Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-ray-leonard/) > [Muhammad Ali was a god, an idol and an icon. He was boxing. Any kid that had the opportunity to talk to Ali, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugar-ray-leonard/muhammad-ali-was-a-god-an-idol-and-an-icon-he-was-boxing-any-kid-that/) [Sugar Ray Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-ray-leonard/) > [It's different when you become a professional, because you also have to become a businessman, and that takes something away from it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugar-ray-leonard/it-s-different-when-you-become-a-professional-because-you-also-have/) [Sugar Ray Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-ray-leonard/) > [I don't hold any regrets whatsoever about my life besides hurting people I loved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugar-ray-leonard/i-don-t-hold-any-regrets-whatsoever-about-my-life-besides-hurting/) [Sugar Ray Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-ray-leonard/) > [I've never believed in tying myself up in a long-range contract, and I've been very outspoken on that subject.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugar-ray-leonard/i-ve-never-believed-in-tying-myself-up-in-a-long-range-contract-and-i/) [Sugar Ray Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-ray-leonard/) > [I made the decision to turn pro, and I remember what Ali said to me: 'Get Angelo Dundee. He's the right complexion with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugar-ray-leonard/i-made-the-decision-to-turn-pro-and-i-remember-what-ali-said-to-me/) [Sugar Ray Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-ray-leonard/) > [I was not from a middle-class family at all. I did not have middle-class possessions and what have you. But I had middle-class parents…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugar-ray-leonard/i-was-not-from-a-middle-class-family-at-all-i-did-not-have-middle/) [Sugar Ray Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-ray-leonard/) > [When the trainer talks to the fighter, there's a connection. You don't always have to say much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugar-ray-leonard/when-the-trainer-talks-to-the-fighter-there-s-a-connection-you-don-t/) [Sugar Ray Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-ray-leonard/) > [At 14, I was the most disciplined guy around. I would get up at 5 o'clock in the morning and run five miles, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugar-ray-leonard/at-14-i-was-the-most-disciplined-guy-around-i-would-get-up-at-5-o/) [Sugar Ray Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-ray-leonard/) > [Bruce Lee was an artist and, like him, I try to go beyond the fundamentals of my sport. I want the public to see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugar-ray-leonard/bruce-lee-was-an-artist-and-like-him-i-try-to-go-beyond-the/) [Sugar Ray Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-ray-leonard/) > [You just don't heal that easy unless you're young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugar-ray-leonard/you-just-don-t-heal-that-easy-unless-you-re-young/) [Sugar Ray Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-ray-leonard/) > [I learned to run backwards from Muhammad Ali. He told me about running backwards because you try to imitate everything you do in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugar-ray-leonard/i-learned-to-run-backwards-from-muhammad-ali-he-told-me-about-running/) [Sugar Ray Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-ray-leonard/) > [I asked my kids, 'Do you know what Papa used to do.' They said, 'You were a boxer, you won the Olympics!' And that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugar-ray-leonard/i-asked-my-kids-do-you-know-what-papa-used-to-do-they-said-you-were-a/) [Sugar Ray Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-ray-leonard/) [Explore all 136 Sugar Ray Leonard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-ray-leonard/) ## More Athletes quotes > [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/) > [Whether it's basketball, football, baseball, you like meeting other athletes to see how their jobs work, and everything like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-gaudreau/whether-it-s-basketball-football-baseball-you-like-meeting-other/) [Johnny Gaudreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-gaudreau/) > [I'd just like to see athletes awake. And aware. There's so much going on and so much to know... We stay in our little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-teter/i-d-just-like-to-see-athletes-awake-and-aware-there-s-so-much-going/) [Hannah Teter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-teter/) > [Professional athletes die twice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-nash/professional-athletes-die-twice/) [Steve Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-nash/) > [It's important for closet gay athletes everywhere, not just at the professional level, but more importantly athletes at the younger level in high school…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-fujita/it-s-important-for-closet-gay-athletes-everywhere-not-just-at-the/) [Scott Fujita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-fujita/) > [Theres that initial reticence for some athletes to take you seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-guerrero/theres-that-initial-reticence-for-some-athletes-to-take-you-seriously/) [Lisa Guerrero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-guerrero/) > [I think athletes in general, your days are numbered. Any time you can kind of learn and grow from an entrepreneurship standpoint and ownership…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ingram-ii/i-think-athletes-in-general-your-days-are-numbered-any-time-you-can/) [Mark Ingram II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ingram-ii/) > [Athletes can not look the same and be great in their individual sport. The example I like to use is Gabby Douglas. She could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-carter/athletes-can-not-look-the-same-and-be-great-in-their-individual-sport/) [Michelle Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-carter/) > [“Athletes, we were supposed to just be there, and in class I made it a point that I was prepared for every exam, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-wilkens/athletes-we-were-supposed-to-just-be-there-and-in-class-i-made-it-a/) [Lenny Wilkens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-wilkens/) > [My guess is many top athletes, distance runners included, use performance-enhancing drugs, enough so that the problem must be tackled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-rodgers/my-guess-is-many-top-athletes-distance-runners-included-use/) [Bill Rodgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-rodgers/) > [I always tell young athletes the same thing, 'Wherever you go, whatever you do, what must your top priority be? Running.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haile-gebrselassie/i-always-tell-young-athletes-the-same-thing-wherever-you-go-whatever/) [Haile Gebrselassie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haile-gebrselassie/) > [The most important thing to me is to inspire all these athletes in the next generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobin-heath/the-most-important-thing-to-me-is-to-inspire-all-these-athletes-in/) [Tobin Heath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobin-heath/) > [Somewhere behind the athlete you have become, and hours if practice is a little girl who picked up a ball, fell in love with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/somewhere-behind-the-athlete-you-have-become-and-hours-if-practice-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Athletes love challenges, and golf is something you can never master.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-horry/athletes-love-challenges-and-golf-is-something-you-can-never-master/) [Robert Horry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-horry/) > [My concentration level blocks out everything. Concentration is why some athletes are better than others. You develop that concentration in training and concentrate in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-concentration-level-blocks-out-everything-concentration-is-why/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 601 Athletes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athletes/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was not athletically inclined. I was very quiet, introverted, non-confrontational. My three older brothers were athletes - basketball, football - but I was kind of a momma's boy. Then one day, my brother Roger encouraged me to go to the boxing gym with him. 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