Top Player Quotes from the 2025 National Sports Collectors Convention

ROSEMONT, Illinois – The 2025 National Sports Collectors Convention was a star-studded event loaded with current and former NFL, NBA, and MLB All-Stars and Hall of Fame inductees. Beckett spent time with a few of the attendees compiling top quotes from one-on-one interviews conducted at the event.

Player Quotes

NFL

Emmitt Smith: Dallas Cowboys (1990-2002) and Arizona Cardinals (2003-04). All-time NFL leading rusher (18,355) and rushing touchdowns (164). 1993 NFL MVP, three-time Super Bowl champion (XXVII, XXVIII, XXX), Super Bowl XXVIII MVP, and eight-time Pro Bowler.

Smith spoke about his legacy in the NFL:

“Legacy is defined differently for everybody. I look back over my accomplishments, I feel very blessed and very fortunate to be in a position or have been put in a position where I could actually maximize my talent. A lot of people don’t always get that opportunity.

“For me to be able to play for the Dallas Cowboys, and the other teams that I was on, being part of rebuilding an organization and being an integral part of it – I had done that before in high school. My freshman year in high school was kind of similar and going to the University of Florida was kind of similar as well.

“I was accustomed to being in those types of pressure situations, and it just worked out to where I had the right head coach with the right drive and the right focus and the right commitment and the right determination along with everyone else putting things together.

“When you look up, 15 years later, you have accomplished something that nobody else in the league has ever accomplished. It’s a wonderful feeling, but you know you put in that work to get it done.”

NBA

Kevin McHale: Third pick in the 1980 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics (1980-1993). Seven-time All-Star and three-time NBA champion (1981, 1984, 1986).

McHale’s humorous take on NBA jersey swaps:

“I’ve got some stuff that I have, its mine, though. It’s just different things that teammates of mine have signed and stuff like that. There was no trading, nothing with the other teams. I never actually talked to the guys on other the teams much.

“There were no trading jerseys in my era. You had one jersey, and you washed it yourself. There were no trading jerseys. (Laughs) I should have traded Larry’s all the time.”

Bill Cartwright: 16-year NBA veteran with the New York Knicks (1979-88), Chicago Bulls (1988-94), and Seattle SuperSonics (1994-95). Three-time NBA champion: 1991-93. Third pick in the 1979 NBA Draft.

Cartwright on starting his career with the New York Knicks:

“Everything’s a challenge when you’re a young athlete; going to college is a challenge. Then it is, let’s see if you can meet the expectations there (NBA). Then you go to New York, which is the biggest stage of them all. I was ready for it, physically and mentally.

“What I wasn’t quite ready for was the opportunity to play so much. Because of Marvin Webster, he was supposed to be our starting center, he had hepatitis. So, that year I was second in the league in minutes. But it was great.”

Robert Parish: Eighth pick in the 1976 NBA Draft. Played for the Golden State Warriors (1976-1980), Boston Celtics (1980-1994), Charlotte Hornets (1994-96), and Chicago Bulls (1996-97). Four-time NBA champion (1981, 1984, 1986, 1997) and nine-time NBA All-Star.

Parish spoke about winning titles with the Boston Celtics:

“It was sacrifice, dedication, and focus. What I liked about working towards the championships, we all forgot about the name on the back. We were all playing for the name on the front, the Celtics. And I think it’s one of the reasons why we were successful.”

Dominique Wilkins: Third pick in the 1982 NBA Draft by the Utah Jazz. Played for the Atlanta Hawks from 1982-994, nine-time NBA All-Star, 1986 NBA scoring champion, two-time NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion (1985, 1990), and member of the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.

Wilkins covered how loaded the NBA Eastern Conference was in the 1980s:

“Man, there were so many good teams, especially in that Eastern Conference. You know, the West was loaded as well. But, before the Chicago Bulls really got started, I mean, you had Philadelphia, Boston, you had Milwaukee, and Cleveland, and Chicago was coming. Then the East became this loaded conference.

“People don’t talk about how good the Indiana Pacers were in those days. Everybody was good. Even the teams that were on the lower end were good. There were no easy nights.

“When you look at the small forward position that I played, I had no nights off. One night I could go against Dr. J, one night against Bernard King, one night against (Alex) English, another night against (James) Worthy. I mean, all those guys were having 20-plus a game, and we had to guard each other.”

MLB

Al Oliver: Played in MLB from 1968-1985 batting .303 for his career. Seven-time All-Star, three-time Silver Slugger, 1982 NL batting and RBI leader, 1971 World Series champion.

Oliver commenting on winning a World Series with the Pirates:

“In 1971, we were fortunate enough to go on and win the World Series, and that was the key, winning the World Series. To see Steve Blass pitch an outstanding game (Game 3; three-hit, 1-run, complete game), to see Roberto Clemente (WS MVP) do his thing and show the world how great he was.

“I was just glad to be a part of that team. I did make a little contribution, but Roberto just told us just to give a little help, and he would do the rest. I’m just very fortunate to play on some great teams early in my career and throughout my career.

“I always played on contending teams. I never played on a losing team throughout my career. And so that’s the thing that I feel good about.”

Todd Helton: Played entire career with the Colorado Rockies (1997-2013) earning five All-Star selections, three Gold Glove and four Silver Slugger awards, and was the 2000 MLB batting and RBI leader.

Helton shared the best hitting advice he ever received:

“The best hitting advice I got was from Tony Gwynn (San Diego Padres). He called me over, you know, out of the blue, and just told me… he said, ‘Where do you look at when you’re trying to pick up the ball?’

“And I said, ‘Well, I envision his release point up there.’

“And he said, ‘That’s not right.’

“Then he said, ‘Todd, if you’re doing that, your eyes are wandering. They’re not fixed on one thing. If you start at the bill of their cap, and when they release then you should shift your eyes over.’

“It was the best advice I ever got for hitting.”