Quote of the Week #21
What I learned about getting off of the sidelines and into the game.
“Like it or not, life is a game. Whoever denies that truth, whoever simply refuses to play, gets left on the sidelines.”
— Phil Knight, Shoe Dog
Calling life a game might sound cliché, especially coming from someone who played a game for a living. But I do think this quote holds real weight. “Game” doesn’t mean carefree or fun. I hear it more as a framework. A system with players, rules, decisions, and consequences.
Whether we like the setup or not, life demands participation. Refusing to play doesn’t stop the game. It just changes the outcome. And not in our favor.
As an athlete I’m wired to respect structure, competition, and accountability. But even more, I’m wired to respect ownership. The best players I’ve ever shared the field with didn’t complain about the rules or circumstances, they studied them. They didn’t wait for the “right situation”, they made the most of whatever they had.
I saw this clearly during my 2012 season with the New Orleans Saints. That year, our defense was historically bad. The worst in NFL history — literally. We gave up more yards than any defense ever. It was miserable. We hated the scheme. The locker room was fractured. Every excuse was valid. Morale was low.
But I’ll never forget what captain Jonathan Vilma said to me in the middle of all that:
“Regardless of what the coach calls or what’s happening with the team, it’s your name on the back of your jersey. At the end of the day, they’re going to judge you on how you play. So do whatever you gotta do to play your game when it comes time.”
That stuck with me. You can point to everything and everyone else all you want, but when it’s all said and done only you will be accountable for what you did and didn’t do.
Even when the plan is flawed or the system is broken, the play still counts. The film still rolls. The outcome still affects your life and your legacy.
Ownership doesn’t mean you control everything. It means you take control of what you do, and you stay accountable for it.
So yes, life is a game. One that is best played with presence, strategy, resilience, and—above all—intentionality.
Let’s Talk
What game are you in right now?And how are you choosing to play?