Cubs Great Billy Williams Reveals the Origins of "Good, Better, Best"
The iconic phrase "good, better, best" may be synonymous with the Chicago Bears' triumphant culture, but its origins actually date back to Cubs Hall of Famer Billy Williams. The 87-year-old baseball legend revealed in an exclusive interview that he first chanted these words with Principal Lillie Dixon at Whistler Elementary School over 50 years ago.
The connection was meaningful for Williams, who credits the motivational refrain for driving his desire to succeed throughout his 18-year major league career. "These few words were the driving force behind my desire to succeed," he said in his Hall of Fame induction speech in 1987. "Year after year, [the words] would circle and become more and more pronounced as my career unfolded."
Williams' affinity for the phrase was not limited to his playing days; it has also been a staple of his personal life. The baseball great's late wife of 61 years, Shirley, was his high school sweetheart, and their home meant so much to him that he made Principal Dixon and the chant an integral part of his Hall of Fame induction speech.
However, what might have surprised fans is Williams' admission that the phrase has also inspired a connection with rookie coach Ben Johnson, who pilfered the mantra from his own high school coach, Bobby Poss. The 39-year-old Bears coach shared Williams' passion for the chant in viral videos and social media posts throughout the season.
Despite being an avid Bears watcher, Williams feels no territoriality towards the phrase and has even expressed admiration for how it has been adapted by other coaches, including Tim Duncan, who paid tribute to his mother during his own Hall of Fame induction speech in 2021.
For Williams, the common thread among these athletes is a shared dedication to perseverance and hard work. "Motivational, isn't it?" he said with a smile. "The players really seem to be accepting it."
As the Cubs prepare for their next game against the Rams, Williams can't help but feel a sense of excitement and motivation whenever he hears the phrase echoed by his namesake Caleb or other athletes who have adopted it as their own mantra.
"I'm enjoying it, man," Williams said. "The whole family is enjoying it."
The iconic phrase "good, better, best" may be synonymous with the Chicago Bears' triumphant culture, but its origins actually date back to Cubs Hall of Famer Billy Williams. The 87-year-old baseball legend revealed in an exclusive interview that he first chanted these words with Principal Lillie Dixon at Whistler Elementary School over 50 years ago.
The connection was meaningful for Williams, who credits the motivational refrain for driving his desire to succeed throughout his 18-year major league career. "These few words were the driving force behind my desire to succeed," he said in his Hall of Fame induction speech in 1987. "Year after year, [the words] would circle and become more and more pronounced as my career unfolded."
Williams' affinity for the phrase was not limited to his playing days; it has also been a staple of his personal life. The baseball great's late wife of 61 years, Shirley, was his high school sweetheart, and their home meant so much to him that he made Principal Dixon and the chant an integral part of his Hall of Fame induction speech.
However, what might have surprised fans is Williams' admission that the phrase has also inspired a connection with rookie coach Ben Johnson, who pilfered the mantra from his own high school coach, Bobby Poss. The 39-year-old Bears coach shared Williams' passion for the chant in viral videos and social media posts throughout the season.
Despite being an avid Bears watcher, Williams feels no territoriality towards the phrase and has even expressed admiration for how it has been adapted by other coaches, including Tim Duncan, who paid tribute to his mother during his own Hall of Fame induction speech in 2021.
For Williams, the common thread among these athletes is a shared dedication to perseverance and hard work. "Motivational, isn't it?" he said with a smile. "The players really seem to be accepting it."
As the Cubs prepare for their next game against the Rams, Williams can't help but feel a sense of excitement and motivation whenever he hears the phrase echoed by his namesake Caleb or other athletes who have adopted it as their own mantra.
"I'm enjoying it, man," Williams said. "The whole family is enjoying it."
I just love how this story is laid out 
! The way it starts with a hook about the phrase and then slowly unravels to reveal Billy Williams' connection to it 
is so satisfying. And can we talk about how the article uses transitions to connect the dots between different parts of the story? It's like a perfectly formatted essay 
. I also love how the author includes quotes from Billy Williams, it makes the story feel more personal and relatable. The only thing that would take this article to the next level is if the formatting was just a bit more... visually appealing 
. Maybe some bolding or italicizing to highlight important points? Just a thought 
.
! I mean, who knew Billy Williams was the OG motivator? 
It's so cool to see how a simple phrase can transcend sports and become a unifying force. The fact that it's been adopted by coaches like Ben Johnson and Tim Duncan is amazing - it just goes to show that perseverance and hard work are values that are universally understood. And I love how Billy Williams isn't attached to the phrase, he's all about spreading the love 
!
. Anyway, I'm gonna go cheer for the Cubs (or Bears) soon... who cares which one has the best "good, better, best" chant? 
. And it's awesome that other people like Tim Duncan are paying tribute to him through the same phrase 
.
. I'm all about that good, better, best vibe 
!
, I've seen this phrase "good, better, best" being thrown around a lot, but nobody really knew its origin until now. I mean, I always thought it was just some cheesy Bears thing 
.
what a coincidence that some other coaches use it too... apparently tim duncan used it to pay tribute to his mom 
and ben johnson uses it in games now... feels like the phrase is just spreading around sports teams everywhere, not really sure if its as inspiring as williams makes it out to be 
what do you guys think about this? 
I mean, who are these coaches Ben Johnson and Tim Duncan, really? What's their connection to the Chicago Bears or even baseball? It feels like a fishy coincidence to me 
And what about Principal Dixon's role in all this? Was she just a random school principal or was there something more going on behind the scenes? I'm not saying it's a conspiracy theory, but... 
! So I just heard about Billy Williams revealing where that iconic Cubs phrase "good, better, best" actually came from 
He and Principal Lillie Dixon chanted it in school & it inspired him to work hard throughout his baseball career 
and even Tim Duncan 
Can't wait for the Cubs game against the Rams, Caleb Williams will def be reppin' that phrase 
!
. And hey, who wouldn't want to be inspired by something as simple yet powerful as "good, better, best" 
. It's awesome how this phrase has become like a symbol of determination and teamwork. I wonder if Billy Williams ever thinks back on his playing days and how the chant inspired him to be his best player?
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