“You can’t fake desperation (sports adage)

“You can’t fake desperation” (or “You can’t fake desperate”) is a sports adage that was popularized by ESPN Radio sports host Ryen Russillo. If a team or a player is facing elimination, that desperation will show in the game.
 
“You can’t fake desperation” was cited on Twitter on April 6, 2011. “You can’t fake desperate” was cited on Twitter on June 6, 2012.
 
     
Wikipedia: Ryen Russillo
Ryen Russillo (born August 5, 1975) is an American sports host. As of August 31, 2015, he is the main host of Russillo and Kanell on ESPN Radio. He previously worked for ESPN Radio as the main host of SVP & Russillo (previously titled The Scott Van Pelt Show) from May 2009 until August 31, 2015.
     
Twitter
Jeremy White
‏@JeremyWGR
Red wings v canes. One thought. You can’t fake desperation. Result not surprising.
8:27 PM - 6 Apr 2011
 
Twitter
Tyler Durden…
‏@LuckyLefty_711
@PHEE_Life_CAPPO you can’t fake desperate
9:00 PM - 6 Jun 2012
 
Twitter
Jonathan Fuchs
‏@koozie618
@ryenarussillo @notthefakeSVP you always say you can’t fake desperation,  the Bruins proved that again tonight
9:16 PM - 13 May 2013
 
Twitter
James Pledger
‏@Pledger_ESPNSA
As @Dat_1250ESPN says you can’t fake desperate #SDvsDEN
10:20 PM - 12 Dec 2013
 
4 January 2016, Arizona Republic (Phoenix, AZ), “An unfamiliar feeling” by Dan Bickley, pg. A1:
You can’t fake desperation or urgency in the NFL, and from the start, the Cardinals performed like a team without inspiration.
 
Twitter
Russillo
‏@ryenarussillo
You can’t fake desperate
10:12 PM - 8 Jun 2016
 
Twitter
HipHopSportsReport
‏@HHSReport
This game reminds me of my favorite @ryenarussillo quote: you can’t fake desperation.
11:31 PM - 8 Jun 2016
 
Examiner.com
Are the Cleveland Cavaliers better without Kevin Love in the NBA Finals?
William Harrison
Binghamton Sports Examiner
June 9, 2016 9:06 AM MST
(...)
Trailing 2-0 in the series, they were in a must-win situation, so the old adage in the NBA Playoffs is that you can’t fake desperation.
 
Twitter
Brad Shepard
‏@shepard_brad
@ryenarussillo did @notthefakeSVP just quote you? “You can’t fake desperation” has been your line since I started listening
12:42 AM - 9 Jun 2016