“Big-time players make big-time plays in big games”

“Big time players make big (time) plays in big (time) games” is a popular sports saying. The saying means that sports superstar players prove their greatness by making great plays in important games. The line is usually said after a “big-time player” has just proved his or her worth in that “big game.”
 
“It’s said the big-time players make the big plays in the big games” was cited in print in 1988, indicating that the saying had been established by that time.
 
   
14 March 1988, Courier News (Blytheville, AR), “Harvell, Echols Liet Gosnell To AA State Title” by Rick Fires, pg. 6, col. 4:
It’s said the big-time players make the big plays in the big games.
 
7 November 1992, Galveston (TX) Daily News, “Rayburn 22, Texas City 18” by Walter Bevers, pg. 3B, col. 5:
“We’ve been saying that big time players make big time plays in big games,” Dowling said.
(Texas City Stings coach Rusty Dowling—ed.)
 
24 January 1994, Gazette Telegraph (Colorado Springs, CO), “Bils/Ricochet pickoff kills Chiefs’ late first-half drive,” pg. C4, col. 2:
“That was a big one to get, no question about it,” said Bills coach Marv Levy. “It was a big play. Big-time players make big plays.”
 
18 December 1994, The Hawk Eye (Burlington, IA), “Rohdy clutch for Rockets” by Jeff Linder, pg. 1B, col. 4:
MOUNT PLEASANT - Big-time players make big plays in big situations.
 
16 November 1998, Sacramento (CA) Bee, “New Sheriff in the NFC West?.” pg. E1:
You could go broke betting on how many times the cliche “big-time players make big-time plays” would be administered during the post-mortem, ...
 
Google Books
The Road to Indy:
Michigan State’s Unforgettable 1999-2000 National Championship Season
By Francis J. Fitzgerald
Birmingham, AL: Epic Sports
2000
Pg. 93:
“But, big time players make big plays. He’s a big time player.”
 
24 March 2000, Rockford (IL) Register Star, “Michigan State rallies to crush Orangemen” by Harry Atkins (Associated Press), pg. 2C, col. 3:
“But, big time players make big plays. He’s a big time player.”
(Syracuse point guard Jason Hart on Michigan State guard Morris Peterson—ed.)
 
welcome to the inferno!
thursday, october 27, 2005
big time players make big time plays
Thursday with the next friday off is becoming one of my favorite days.
 
Google Books
Classic Clashes of the Carolina-Clemson Football Rivalry:
A State of Disunion
By Travis Haney and Larry Williams
Charleston, SC: The History Press
2011
Pg. 178:
Williams: Big-time players make big-time plays in big games.
 
Google Books
This Is Indiana:
Tom Crean, the Team, and the Exciting Comeback of Hoosier Basketball
By The Herald-Times
Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press
2012
Pg. 16:
“But big-time players make big-time plays, and C-Wat did.”
 
Blogging the Boys (Dallas Cowboys football blog)
Mo Claiborne makes a big play!
Big time players make big time plays in big time games.
by JoeGall on Sep 5, 2012 6:30 PM CDT