"Winning isn't everything, but losing is nothing" (1971)

[Fred Shapiro]

On Tue, 28 Dec 2004, Benjamin Zimmer wrote:

> The version with "it's the only thing" is often attributed to Vince
> Lombardi, but there's a 1954 Washington Post article where the saying is
> given by Redskins coach Joe Kuharich.  (There are also variations where
> *money* isn't everything, etc.)

I believe the earliest citation is Red Sanders quoted in the L.A. Times in
1950, discovered by Barry Popik.  I would welcome any earlier evidence.

Fred Shapiro


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