Finals Quotations | Page 5

The State Open, the way it's bracketed, you just never know where you're going to end up. If you have three good guys that go to the finals you're going to score a lot of points. Some teams this year have that available to them, teams like Windham or Ledyard or even a team like Griswold probably.

The shuttle hurdle relay at the Drake Relays could be a lot of fun. We've got a couple of other guys who would like to be a part of that. We had three guys in the finals (at the Adidas Classic), but the hurdles in the conference is really, really strong, so (Sumrall) has got to get better if he wants to place at conference and I know that's what he wants to do.

The thing is, we're not going to change. You have to understand something: This team has a lot of playoff experience. They've been to the Finals the last two years. They're not playing differently than what they've played. That's how they play.

I've lost three finals before this one and I'm very happy that I won. When I got up in the morning, I knew this was going to be my day. I played my best match in a long time. I controlled the match until the end.

Terrence had one of his best days. In the finals he was down early but worked to beat Raymond's Walter Crow (by a 6-3 decision), who was fourth in state (last year).

Putting 12 in the finals is almost more than you can ask for. I was proud of our five champions, but you always want more. We lost a few matches to better wrestlers and a few we just didn't wrestle well in.

Our aim next year is to make the finals and the sooner we can do that during the season, like at Rounds 18 or 19, (the better). Then we can we can re-assess our goals.

Of course we want to win the tournament. We've got two bad losses and no key wins. If we beat UAB again, get to the finals and lose ... maybe ... hopefully, they will consider us over them. It's in our hands.

Oh, how do you find words for what this means? This has been some of the greatest memories I've ever had on the court, ... I'll have these memories the rest of my life. Being in the finals at 35 just means you're going to have to put up with me a lot longer.

After not advancing anybody to the sectionals last year, having three flights advance to the sectional finals was quite an improvement.

After his finals run, and I realized I would not be going to the Olympics, I collected myself, and then walked across the finish area to shake his hand. It was probably the hardest thing I've ever done, shaking his hand, but at the same time I know he would have done the same for me. It was a really hard because I could feel how sad he was for me, even in his happiest moment. We were both crying. He said, 'I wanted us both to go...' 'Me too...' is all I could get out.

Are they tired of what? What have we done? It's a hundred days to the Finals right now. This is what the NBA season is about. It's not about having three days off between a game or anything like that. This is the nuts and bolts of the NBA season. Your body doesn't feel as good, you fight a little fatigue, you have some injuries and nobody cares about injuries.

Anything beyond this week is just a bonus. You have to get to the finals before you can think about winning them. This week has been very stressful and the girls are just anxious to go out and compete. We just have to take things one meet at a time, and go out and give our best effort.

The call up is a great opportunity for Pat, hopefully he can do well and force himself into the World Cup finals this summer.

That's what we all have to live with, because we've set a very high standard here. We've been at least to the conference finals three straight years and we've been a 50-win team four years in a row.

That's why he's still out here playing and in the finals tomorrow.

That's my lucky number. My favorite NASCAR driver is number 6 (Mark Martin). When I saw we had six in the finals I thought we could get six champs.

That's kind of our goal. Make the finals and let the kids decide what they're going to do from there.

Your goal is to make the finals so you can advance to the playoffs. Nothing's for sure. It's a tougher district this year than it was last year.

You never know who you're going to have at the audition. One year we had a young girl from Beachwood who later made it to the finals of the Star Search television show.

This isn't a surprise, but you don't want to take it for granted because a lot of things can happen. The competition was really steep. The wrestling was outstanding in almost every weight class. I feel very fortunate that they made it because that was their goal. They're both undefeated. ... We all would like to see them in the finals and be a state champion.

This group has got the smell of finals and the smell of September in their nostrils,

This is absolutely awesome for our program. It was a great three days for us. We punched three kids into the finals and all three won. What these kids went through this year and what they did down here this week, it's just one of the best feelings of my life.

This is about celebrating and reliving one of the greatest FA Cup finals ever played

They're the standard right now. They've been in the World Series the last four years, to the finals the last two years and won it last year.

A lot of people are coming up and having strong finals and taking points, and that's a good indication of the depth in short track.

All of our guys in the finals wrestled great during the day to get there. I could mention every one of them.

A manager should be judged on results and he has guided us to the World Cup finals as he said he would do.

A lot of times, when you get into the finals you get hesitant and that's what he did. He didn't wrestle as wide open as he did during the year. With the ability he has on his feet he needs to open up.

They (Magnolia) were the only team to beat us last year and it was in the finals of our own tournament. The girls kind of took that to heart and came out tonight with something to prove.

There was plenty of skill displayed and a number of the finals were decided by tie breakers.

There were some powerhouse teams (at Delaware). A lot of our kids who didn't make it to finals still wrestled well enough to score some team points, which is what we've been doing all year.

This is the third year that Lo-Ma has made it to the finals in the last four years.

This is where we needed to have a good round, a round where we have not stepped up in the past. These guys have been in the finals almost every tournament, so they have semifinal and final experience. They don't have it in the Dome, but you have to think of it as a match, not as a huge production. That's what I'm going to tell them ---- one match at a time.

This is where I'm from. This is my roots. My friend, my family are all here, and for me to be able to get back for an Eastern Conference finals ... it's a dream come true for me.

This is where I finally got my title and played two finals here. I like going to the restaurants here. It's a nice relaxing tournament.

They're extremely excited. Their goal is to make the state finals and win.

They have some unbelievable offensive players. They make very few errors and hit hard. But just making the finals was way beyond our expectations. By far it was the most consistent we've played all year and we played on a high level all day. It was good to see that.

There it is. Tonight we showed better patience that we've shown and the kids feel good about it. Getting in the district finals on our floor, we're excited about that.

All of us in Fiji, the Government and the people, are very proud for what you have achieved in reaching the finals of this year's Hong Kong Sevens.

A conference tournament is always fun. You have all the teams there at one time. And the good thing this year is that all the teams get along good. We will enjoy the atmosphere. Our first goal is to win Saturday and clinch the second seed. We want to at least get to the finals of the conference tournament. We've been there the last two years.

It's finals now, so if you put 12 months on to that, basically next year's a waste of time. It's only recovering and getting back to this part of the season, so it'll be pretty tough for him to come back from here.

It's a tough track meet. The preliminaries and finals are all in the same day. There's a lot of running and jumping going on. It's a great meet to be at early in the season. Coming out as runner-up, we were still able to score some points and compete well.

It's a bigger field this year. I just hope we can get some people to finals to score.

It wasn't until the middle of December that things started to turn for him. In hindsight, I should have sat him a couple of games. He wanted to play, like all players do. We had that full week during finals where we were able to sit him and I think that helped.

It wasn't the wrist at all, it was the rust. This tournament will always be special to me because I made my first finals here. I wished I would have played a little better.

It was emotional, an unbelievable feeling and I am enjoying this moment. I have a 100% record in finals of Grand Slams and these are the ones which really count.

It was really tough watching him lose in the finals again. I get more nervous for Nick's matches than mine. I'm pretty upset now, but he wrestled a good match. Hopefully, they will meet for a rematch in the state finals.

It was a total team effort. Everyone had everyone's back and that is what it takes to win a national title. It's nice to get off No. 7 because the title is not a given. Rutgers didn't even make it to the finals after winning last year. That shows how hard it is to just make the finals. With the parity, it is getting tougher and tougher.

It was a rough season for us. We had some key injuries that slowed us down, but we're not making excuses. We reached the finals of the Pre-Holiday Tournament this year. That just shows what we're capable of when we're healthy and playing together.

It was a tough run to get there. We had a double overtime game in the sectional finals and two quality opponents in the districts.

It's awesome. It's the first time we brought home the most medals. It is the best feeling in the world. I wanted to be in the finals so it's disappointing, but I put that in the past.

It's a grind. With finals just around the corner and the World Series right after that, we have to make sure that we are able to sustain the grind.

It smells like finals - that's what it smells like.

It's not ideal to have three five-setters going into a final, ... but I felt pretty decent out there in the fifth set. I stepped it up when I needed to. It's not ideal but it's a great problem to have. I'd sign up for the chance to be in the finals anytime. And I might just surprise you. Mentally, just being out there will take care of that. Physically, I'll be able to make someone earn it.

It's not like we haven't been here before. It's just impressive the way the guys dominated throughout those finals matches.

For him to suffer his third serious knee injury on the eve of the finals after all he's been through, and all he's done to get back playing this year is cruel.

It's time to prepare for finals but this is good review too. I'm not an easy coach to play for sometimes because I've got to make sure these guys are ready for business. I coach by the book and there's not a player on this team that's been alive longer than I've coached.

It's going to be an unbelievable series. I wish it was seven games, because that's how good it's going to be. It feels like a Kelly Cup Finals series. It's going to be interesting because the winner is probably going to go and win the (American) Conference Finals.

It's been a tremendous rivalry. The matches have been tactical matches which is more like a chess match. If they end up in the finals of the Big 12, I think it's going to be a great match. If they end up in the finals of the national tournament I think it's going to be another great match.

It's been over by the first day before, and it might still be over. Your kids can still get pins in the semis and finals to help the score, though.

It's great. He kept us from getting shutout. We had five in the finals and he brought us a championship.

It's great for our organization. To get the ship righted and play in the finals is big.

It's really disappointing to not make it to the finals and not have a chance to win it. We all felt that this was our tournament.

It's really important to come into finals with momentum. We had more home and away wins last year but it means naught if you don't come into finals with momentum. Last year we came off four losses, this year we came off three super elimination-type finals atmosphere (matches).

Then, it wasn't a Finals atmosphere, but he went up against Bruce Bowen, one of the best perimeter defenders in the league, and he gave Bruce fits. Al wasn't one of those guys to play with the ball. He caught it and shot it or caught it and drove it and shot it. Not many people could stop him.

It's like going to the (NBA) Finals in basketball or to the Super Bowl,

It's like going to the finals in basketball or to the Super Bowl. You still have to win it. Yeah, it's great to get there, but that's not the ultimate goal. The ultimate goal is to be the last team under the pile.

It's nice to be leading the World Cup and you're always happy to be among those fighting for it. It's a big goal but the finals are still two months away.

Everyone below us would like to swap places with us. All the games are finals for us now but if we have the same effort as today then we are in with a big chance.

Summerville beat Mariposa, which has lost just three games and went to the finals of the Columbia College tournament and beat Downey and Sierra. And Calaveras, with their style of play, can make teams anxious because they don't allow them the same amount of possessions they're used to.

It's definitely a great day for Devils' fans and the organization and Scotty being the first and building some history with the organization. It's well deserved. Seeing what the Rangers are doing all the time, when you look at what our captain did, it's a little more impressive as far as numbers with winning three Stanley Cups and getting to the Finals four times.

It'll be difficult for anyone in the game not to think about it, but I'm hoping we use it as a motivating factor. It'll be nice to be at home and we're hoping for a big vocal crowd. We're inviting the three schools that made the finals of the elementary contest. They really gave us a lift this year.

It seemed like it was a long time ago, like a lot of things have happened to me. Walking back on the stage where you've been so successful, it's a lot of pressure on you. But you also know you've had a lot of success in the past, playing the finals here over and over. Tonight, it worked, and all I can say is it feels great to be back out there.

It seemed for a long time there that we made the finals every year and took it for granted. It has been a while.

It's difficult to put my feelings and emotions into words. It really feels great to finally win a title. I've played well in many semifinals and finals but then haven't been able to finish it, but now I've finally won a title, so it feels unbelievable.

It was amazing. That was my first finals and it was at state. To take first felt great.

It was Monday, it was a holiday and finals are coming up. We were just slow; we were just lazy.

It was a great help to have the stadium supporting the team so much. It was like a final but of course in finals you have two sets of supporters and we had the whole stadium behind us.

It was a great experience to play against him and I hope I will get another opportunity. I am not sure I played very well today as I had problems with my serve and missed a lot of shots when he was slicing to my backhand. But I played better than in the last two finals I lost. I enjoyed myself more.

It was a bad match. I never should have been in that position in the match. I should have wrestled better . . . all the way up to the finals I did as well as I expected to.

It was a convincing win for Nelson. Irwin and Scherer pretty much dominated. All three have a good shot at making the finals if they wrestle well.

It was probably one of the scariest finals that I ever had to swim in because I've had my toughest competition here. I've really struggled in the past racing Jodie and Alice. That's the one thing I wanted to change in this race.

It's very hard to compare because the previous grand slam finals were before my surgery and I really feel different now.

It will take some time to consider which way we go. Each is in good form. Toby has a record in finals - and he kicked four last week (with Sturt).

The watching crowd and cold weather didn't affect the team and it was the additional focus and determination that carried us through. The focus is the qualifying finals in November so playing the tournament is part of our preparation.

They went to the Stanley Cup Finals two years ago, and I think they are better now. They are very talented.

They want to go to the finals and they want to win a State championship. They've been working really hard for it.

They've never won the bid, but they made it to the finals in 1998.

Not only making it to the finals in New York, but I think some of them this year have a very good chance of actually winning in New York.

Shawn has proven to himself that he can get it done down there. And he saw his brother, Justin, wrestling in the state finals last year. That's pretty good incentive for him.

That's a road you have to follow if you want to be considered among the great ones. The campaign last year about the Finals was 'where legends are born,' and I think you could have said that for the playoffs. ... Clearly in order to write yourself large in NBA history, you've got to be in the playoffs.

Their ultimate aim is to reach the national finals in Las Vegas where they can earn hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The fact that we were in the finals two years in a row is a great thing, ... We put ourselves in a tough position in this series losing Game 1 (69-65 at Mohegan Sun on Sept. 14). I think we're every bit as talented as Sacramento. But they made their breaks for themselves tonight. ... We have been here twice and now we have to figure out a way to get over the hump.

The fact that we're in the Finals two years in a row is a great thing, ... We put ourselves in a tough position in this series losing Game 1. I think we're every bit as talented as Sacramento. But they made their breaks for themselves tonight.

The CCS is a very tough section, and to get to the finals of that (tournament) is a major accomplishment. Their strengths are their quickness and their tenacity. They're playing their best basketball right now, so we more than have our hands full.

I'm not saying I completely agree with him, but Detroit should be the favorites because they went to the Finals two years in a row and they won a championship. I can't disagree with him on that. I think there's no doubt one of our biggest concerns is playing as a team. We know we have a lot of individual talent. It's a matter of playing as a team. I give him credit for calling it how he sees it.

I'm not saying any of that to lower our expectations. But I think it has to raise the sense of urgency on the part of our players. Even the ones coming back, if they think we can do what we did last year and we're on to the finals and then we'll hope the last 2 1/2 minutes will get better, that's ridiculous.

I'm going to go out there, do the best I can as quick as I can for three rounds, save some energy for the finals and then give it all I've got and hopefully bring the title home with me.

I'm not looking for any excuses, she was just too good today. I'm going home with my head up. This is a good start to my comeback. I don't think I played badly today, she was just too good. Being in the finals here in Tokyo really exceeded my expectations.