“Play like a champion; train like an underdog”

“Play like a champion; train like an underdog” is a popular sports adage. “Play like a champion, train like an underdog” was cited on Twitter on February 10, 2011.
 
Authorship of the saying is unknown. The saying is sometimes credited to basketball star Michael Jordan, but the only connection is a fake Twitter account called “Not Michael Jordan.”
 
     
Twitter
Pāúł Jøñęš
‏@BAM_The_Creator
Play like a champion, train like an underdog
6:22 AM - 10 Feb 2011
 
Twitter
Devon Still
‏@Dev_Still71
RT @SRKid713PJD Play like a champion, train like an underdog
7:30 AM - 10 Feb 2011
 
Twitter
Austin D. Hottle
‏@AUStheBOSS77
Train like an underdog. Play like a champion
3:01 PM - 16 Nov 2011
 
CSNChicago.com
High school coach not surprised by McDaniel’s success
November 1, 2013, 4:15 pm
(...)
McDaniel’s mantra is to “train like an underdog so you can play like a champion” — a quote he attributed to Michael Jordan, but a Google search could only connect it to a suspended Twitter account posing as Jordan.
     
Twitter
Not Michael Jordan
‏@itsMichaelJ
Train like an underdog. Play like a champion.
7:20 PM - 6 Nov 2013
 
MerryBrains
25 Inspiring Quotes That Can Build Your Life Better
Posted By: PrakhyathPosted date: April 18, 2014
(...)
14.Play like a champion. Train like an underdog.