Jon Lester Quotes

Soccer is the most difficult business that we're in, because one day you're on top, and the next day you're very low.

I'd often wondered what would I do if I were ever traded, because it happened many, many times.

When there were just eight teams in each of the big leagues, I was always told, 'It's hard to come up, but it's just hard to stay in the big leagues.' That's because there's always somebody. The Cardinals had so many minor league clubs and had so many good ballplayers.

After 12 years in the major leagues, I do not feel that I am a piece of property to be bought and sold regardless of my wishes.

I started this job in 1995, and I felt the same pressure in my first day, with my first team, Reggiana, in the Second Division, as I feel now. Nothing has changed, but what changes are the number of games, especially for top teams. For this reason, the work has pressure. But only this.

I think the big thing with Philly is I have such a great relationship with all the personnel decision makers that if there ever does come a day where I am traded or something does happen, it's going to be an open conversation.

There's a lot of veteran players that, honestly, being comfortable where they play is more important. And that's just not me.

The job is always with you, 24/7. I played over 400 games as a player and the highs aren't as high when you win and when you're a player the low isn't as low when you get beaten. It really spikes and dips as a manager.

If I get traded, I get traded. It's a part of the business.

People are always asking if I was mad at Houston. Honestly, I'm not. The truth of the matter is that when I was there, I didn't perform and they actually did me a favor by cutting me loose. They could have really held me there, not let me leave, bury me in Triple-A, put me behind some prospects and I would never even play.

When you are one of the best coaches in the world, it is normal to attract bad reviews if you lose a couple of games.

One thing when I started playing in the league, I saw that a lot of guys are friendly. It's OK to be friendly, especially off the court. But on the court, I want to dominate.

Any competitor would be frustrated in that moment... but it certainly made sense what Coach Kubiak did for the playoff run. I got replaced by Peyton Manning... I think we all know who is going to play in the game.

I love the game of baseball. Like I love playing, I'm just not good at - I don't enjoy the media part of it. I don't enjoy all the different aspects that come with it, like the business side of it.

We need constant change, technological innovation capability, and high productivity to survive in the fierce competitive environment.

You go into training camp and you fight for jobs and often times things work themselves out. Like players just take the job, they play so well, they win it, and makes it easier on the coach to decide who is the guy that gets those minutes.

Whenever I hear people crying about Kobe yelling at people in practice or wondering whether or not LeBron is best friends with his teammates, I just roll my eyes. You know how many off-court conversations I had with the Zen-Master Phil Jackson in my entire time with the Lakers? One.

Every single year I was on the block - could be cut, could be released.

I wasn't expecting to be traded, so it definitely was a surprise to me. But things happen in this league so I just decided to take in stride and start a new journey in Milwaukee.

One thing is a pro is supposed to make certain plays, while a college player is learning to make plays.

I haven't had many problems adapting to the Premier League.

Managers and players at different clubs, it's difficult to compare.

You want to play in the big games, you want to play for a big club and to play with pressure.

Whenever something in the system changes, you have to prove yourself again. But wherever you go, you have to prove that you're better than whoever else is on the team. At a team like Arsenal, that's always going to be hard so I always have to be on it in training and matches.

There's one must in life: whatever job you do, wherever you are, whatever age you have, how much experience you have, you have to keep performing at the top level otherwise someone else will take your place.