--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Play the game right. If you play the game…" description: "\"Play the game right. If you play the game intelligently and execute the fundamentals, you can win.\" — Tony La Russa" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/733/tony-la-russa-11536_football_play-the-game-right-if-you-play-the-game_1497321.png" --- # Play the game right. If you play the game intelligently… ![“Play the game right. If you play the game intelligently and execute the fundamentals, you can win.” quote by Tony La Russa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/733/tony-la-russa-11536_football_play-the-game-right-if-you-play-the-game_1497321.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/733/tony-la-russa-11536_football_play-the-game-right-if-you-play-the-game_1497321.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/733/tony-la-russa-11536_football_play-the-game-right-if-you-play-the-game_1497321.png) > “Play the game right. If you play the game intelligently and execute the fundamentals, you can win.” [Tony La Russa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-la-russa/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Mastering fundamentals and strategic thinking leads to success in competitive environments. **In simple terms:** Fundamentals plus strategy win games. Key Takeaway Focus on basics and smart play. Themes strategy fundamentals competition leadership Mood determined pragmatic Type motivational practical When to use this quote - coaching - team sports - business negotiations Key Concepts Game theory skill development decision making Questions to Reflect On - What fundamentals are you overlooking? - How can you balance fundamentals with innovation? A Different Perspective Overemphasizes fundamentals, neglecting creativity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/) [You can win](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you-can-win/) ## Related quotes > [It took me five years to learn to play the game intelligently enough to make big money when I was right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-lauriston-livermore/it-took-me-five-years-to-learn-to-play-the-game-intelligently-enough/) [Jesse Lauriston Livermore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-lauriston-livermore/) > [Just like I always say, play the game the right way and just do what the game calls for. If it's scoring, score. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-reaves/just-like-i-always-say-play-the-game-the-right-way-and-just-do-what/) [Austin Reaves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-reaves/) > [I try to play the game the right way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-vanvleet/i-try-to-play-the-game-the-right-way/) [Fred VanVleet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-vanvleet/) > [I've never played for my dad. I played against my dad actually in high school. That was fun, but he taught me how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-amendola/i-ve-never-played-for-my-dad-i-played-against-my-dad-actually-in-high/) [Danny Amendola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-amendola/) > [I play the game the right way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajon-rondo/i-play-the-game-the-right-way/) [Rajon Rondo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajon-rondo/) > [If you put up good numbers and play the game the right way, good things will happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xander-bogaerts/if-you-put-up-good-numbers-and-play-the-game-the-right-way-good/) [Xander Bogaerts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xander-bogaerts/) > [I had some pretty good teachers. I learned how to play the game the right way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-martinez/i-had-some-pretty-good-teachers-i-learned-how-to-play-the-game-the/) [Dave Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-martinez/) > [People are still trying to figure out who I am. Most people just say I play the game the right way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwyane-wade/people-are-still-trying-to-figure-out-who-i-am-most-people-just-say-i/) [Dwyane Wade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwyane-wade/) > [What I'm trying to do is play the game the right way, not force shots up. Whenever I have my opportunities, take 'em.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemba-walker/what-i-m-trying-to-do-is-play-the-game-the-right-way-not-force-shots/) [Kemba Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemba-walker/) > [I just try to play the game the right way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domantas-sabonis/i-just-try-to-play-the-game-the-right-way/) [Domantas Sabonis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domantas-sabonis/) > [We play every game the right way and we play to win games.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-cora/we-play-every-game-the-right-way-and-we-play-to-win-games/) [Alex Cora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-cora/) > [I always like to stay even-keeled and just play the game the right way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyronn-lue/i-always-like-to-stay-even-keeled-and-just-play-the-game-the-right-way/) [Tyronn Lue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyronn-lue/) > [I'm not too worried about points and all that stuff. It's about making the right play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-anthony-towns/i-m-not-too-worried-about-points-and-all-that-stuff-it-s-about-making/) [Karl-Anthony Towns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-anthony-towns/) > [I just know I can't force things. I've just got to play the right way, make sure I'm making the right play at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jalen-brunson/i-just-know-i-can-t-force-things-i-ve-just-got-to-play-the-right-way/) [Jalen Brunson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jalen-brunson/) > [That's what my mindset is, making the right play and doing the right thing each and every possession.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trae-young/that-s-what-my-mindset-is-making-the-right-play-and-doing-the-right/) [Trae Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trae-young/) ## More by Tony La Russa > [I've said this: If Jim Leyland had been in my place, he'd have the 2,000 wins and I'd have 1,000. Leyland is the greatest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-la-russa/i-ve-said-this-if-jim-leyland-had-been-in-my-place-he-d-have-the-2/) [Tony La Russa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-la-russa/) > [There's a bigger difference now than when I first got into professional baseball because that was before guaranteed contracts, before there was a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-la-russa/there-s-a-bigger-difference-now-than-when-i-first-got-into/) [Tony La Russa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-la-russa/) > [I think each negotiation should be based on what's the best decision - taking everything into account, not taking one thing into account.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-la-russa/i-think-each-negotiation-should-be-based-on-what-s-the-best-decision/) [Tony La Russa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-la-russa/) > [I'm careful not to give into theatrics when times are tough, I don't like it when somebody gives into outside pressure and puts on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-la-russa/i-m-careful-not-to-give-into-theatrics-when-times-are-tough-i-don-t/) [Tony La Russa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-la-russa/) > [Losing sucks. I don't think most people understand how bad it feels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-la-russa/losing-sucks-i-don-t-think-most-people-understand-how-bad-it-feels/) [Tony La Russa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-la-russa/) > [My mind is just a product of 50 years of being taught. I'm no smarter than anyone else, but I've been taught by some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-la-russa/my-mind-is-just-a-product-of-50-years-of-being-taught-i-m-no-smarter/) [Tony La Russa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-la-russa/) > [I'm a great believer in the character of a club. To me, character has a lot to do with how you compete. That creates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-la-russa/i-m-a-great-believer-in-the-character-of-a-club-to-me-character-has-a/) [Tony La Russa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-la-russa/) > [If the national government doesn't fix your problem, you've got a problem. You've got to fix it yourself. That's just part of the American…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-la-russa/if-the-national-government-doesn-t-fix-your-problem-you-ve-got-a/) [Tony La Russa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-la-russa/) > [Just because you're down to your last strike, you're not out yet. You can always do more. You'll always have more at-bats to take.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-la-russa/just-because-you-re-down-to-your-last-strike-you-re-not-out-yet-you/) [Tony La Russa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-la-russa/) > [Being involved in competition is a privilege and an opportunity. Seek to make the most of that opportunity by pushing yourself to the limit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-la-russa/being-involved-in-competition-is-a-privilege-and-an-opportunity-seek/) [Tony La Russa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-la-russa/) > [I'm very distressed that the report was leaked early so that the initial headline said 'dismissed, fired.' That's 180 degrees from the arrangement we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-la-russa/i-m-very-distressed-that-the-report-was-leaked-early-so-that-the/) [Tony La Russa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-la-russa/) > [When you don't have the deepest pockets, you better have the best scouting and development.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-la-russa/when-you-don-t-have-the-deepest-pockets-you-better-have-the-best/) [Tony La Russa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-la-russa/) > [If you try to give them a scheme, most hitters will rebel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-la-russa/if-you-try-to-give-them-a-scheme-most-hitters-will-rebel/) [Tony La Russa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-la-russa/) > [The game has never seen a better catcher than YADIER MOLINA.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-la-russa/the-game-has-never-seen-a-better-catcher-than-yadier-molina/) [Tony La Russa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-la-russa/) > [I think there's a growing number of pitchers who want to have a plan going into a game about how they're going to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-la-russa/i-think-there-s-a-growing-number-of-pitchers-who-want-to-have-a-plan/) [Tony La Russa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-la-russa/) [Explore all 59 Tony La Russa quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-la-russa/) ## More Football quotes > [When I came to Chelsea, it was clear that, like many other players, I would first be loaned out. So I went to Belgium…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thorgan-hazard/when-i-came-to-chelsea-it-was-clear-that-like-many-other-players-i/) [Thorgan Hazard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thorgan-hazard/) > [If you take your eye off the ball or lose focus for even a minute you can lose a game against any team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felipe-anderson/if-you-take-your-eye-off-the-ball-or-lose-focus-for-even-a-minute-you/) [Felipe Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felipe-anderson/) > [There are guys who play lacrosse, and there are lacrosse players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-mundorf/there-are-guys-who-play-lacrosse-and-there-are-lacrosse-players/) Brendan Mundorf > [Giggs is the realest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kaluuya/giggs-is-the-realest/) [Daniel Kaluuya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kaluuya/) > [You get a new coach; you do things a little differently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archie-manning/you-get-a-new-coach-you-do-things-a-little-differently/) [Archie Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archie-manning/) > [You gotta have a little kid in you to play football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-edwards/you-gotta-have-a-little-kid-in-you-to-play-football/) [Herman Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-edwards/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [My team mates are fundamental for my characteristics, if they send in crosses I can play inside the area.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/filippo-inzaghi/my-team-mates-are-fundamental-for-my-characteristics-if-they-send-in/) [Filippo Inzaghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/filippo-inzaghi/) > [The Copa del Rey is a different competition. It is football in its purest form and is different from the continuity of the league.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-laudrup/the-copa-del-rey-is-a-different-competition-it-is-football-in-its/) [Michael Laudrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-laudrup/) > [“Wild card, got it," Duncan said. "Just like in Crazy Eights. I can be a diamond; I can be a spade. Whatever you need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-healy/wild-card-got-it-duncan-said-just-like-in-crazy-eights-i-can-be-a/) [Christopher Healy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-healy/) > [Leo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Eden. Every year, you look at their numbers - score goals, assists, minutes - to see they play very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro/leo-cristiano-ronaldo-neymar-eden-every-year-you-look-at-their/) [Pedro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro/) > [It's a lot harder to play football when you haven't got the ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gray/it-s-a-lot-harder-to-play-football-when-you-haven-t-got-the-ball/) [Andy Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gray/) > [I just enjoy winning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xander-bogaerts/i-just-enjoy-winning/) [Xander Bogaerts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xander-bogaerts/) > [I think you can get, as a player, stuck in the mindset of trying too hard to prove yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trinity-rodman/i-think-you-can-get-as-a-player-stuck-in-the-mindset-of-trying-too/) [Trinity Rodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trinity-rodman/) > [We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/we-cannot-change-the-cards-we-are-dealt-just-how-we-play-the-hand/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) [Browse all 59,646 Football quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Play the game right. 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