That's the great thing about sports: You play to win, and I

Herm Edwards once roared with fire and clarity: “That’s the great thing about sports: You play to win, and I don’t care if you don’t have any wins. You go play to win. When you start telling me it doesn’t matter, then retire. Get out. ’Cause it matters.” These words are not the musings of a coach in passing, but the creed of a warrior who understood that the essence of competition is not comfort or convenience, but the pursuit of victory. In them, we hear the cry of one who demands honor, purpose, and unyielding effort from all who step onto the field of battle.

The heart of this teaching lies in the sacred truth of sports: that one does not enter the arena to accept mediocrity, but to strive for excellence. Even if the scoreboard shows defeat, the purpose of play remains unshaken — it is to pursue triumph with all of one’s strength. Edwards reminds us that the worst sin is not losing, but surrendering to the lie that losing does not matter. To dismiss the meaning of victory is to abandon the very soul of competition.

History is filled with examples of those who embodied this spirit. Consider Winston Churchill during Britain’s darkest hour in World War II. Though battered and outnumbered, he told his people they would “never surrender.” At that moment, victory seemed far, perhaps impossible, yet the refusal to accept that defeat was acceptable kept the fire alive. Like Edwards, Churchill understood: you may be without wins today, but you still must fight to win, for to stop striving is to cease living.

In the realm of sports, Michael Jordan offers another testament. During his early years with the Chicago Bulls, his team endured playoff defeats again and again. Yet Jordan never approached the court to simply “play the game.” He entered with the fire to win, no matter the obstacles. That hunger, even through failure, shaped him into the legend he became. The victories came later, but the mindset to win was there from the beginning. Without it, the championships would never have arrived.

Edwards speaks, too, of the danger of complacency. To say “it doesn’t matter” is to betray yourself and those who believe in you. It is better to retire than to play without purpose, for aimless effort dishonors both the game and the player. True athletes — and true leaders — understand that passion without purpose is wasted breath. Only those who know that winning matters keep alive the spirit that inspires nations, communities, and generations.

But let us be wise: Edwards does not speak only to athletes. His words are for all who strive in the arena of life. Whatever your field — be it business, art, family, or learning — approach it with the will to win. You may stumble, you may fail, but if you tell yourself that it does not matter, you have already surrendered your spirit. To live with honor is to rise each day with the fire to overcome, to conquer, and to push beyond your limits.

The lesson is eternal: do not fear failure, but fear the apathy that whispers “it doesn’t matter.” Live with intent. When you commit to something, give your whole being to it, as though victory itself were your destiny. And when others grow weary, let your passion ignite them, for one soul aflame with purpose can light the way for many.

Thus, Herm Edwards’ words endure as a warrior’s commandment: play to win, because it matters. Let no one persuade you otherwise. For in victory — whether on the field, in the home, or in the trials of life — lies not only glory, but the fulfillment of the spirit’s true calling. And if ever you cease to believe in the importance of striving, then step aside, for the world belongs to those who still dare to care.