"If you don't win, don't come home."

From the bio of Clint Johnson, who was inducted in the South Dakota Sports Hall of Fame, in today's Argus Leader:

A 1974 Spearfish High grad, Johnson dominated the saddle bronc riding competition on the pro rodeo circuit in the 1980s.

He was the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association world saddle bronc champion four times - in 1980 and 1987-89 - and he was runner-up in 1983, 1985 and 1986.

He started his pro rodeo career in 1975. The 5-foot-9, 160-pounder qualified for the National Finals Rodeo 12 years in a row (1978-89). He also won the 1989 NFR average and he won the Calgary Stampede Rodeo $50,000 bonus a record three times. He retired in 1991.  ...

Johnson grew up on a ranch near Spearfish. As a senior in high school, he was a state champion wrestler and an all-conference offensive guard in football. He also was the state high school saddle bronc champion.

At South Dakota State, he won the saddle bronc riding, bareback riding and all-around titles in the Great Plains Region of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association in 1977.

Cool.  Read the bios of all the inductees, but note in particular the bio about Don Bierle.  Excerpt:

Co-founder of the South Dakota Sportswriters Association and the South Dakota Sports Hall of Fame, Bierle's love of athletics as a measure of character began early.

Although a childhood injury put him on crutches or in a wheelchair for more than 60 years, Bierle lived and breathed sports. A 1946 Yankton High and 1951 University of South Dakota law school graduate, Bierle began work as a linotype operator for the Yankton Press & Dakotan but soon moved to the sports desk, where he served as the P&D's sports editor for more than 25 years. Bierle interviewed all the greats - from Joe Louis to Frank Leahy.  ...

A fierce competitor, Bierle often exhorted his children with the comment, "If you don't win, don't come home." One always assumed he was partly serious when he said that.

Heh.  Maybe we should discuss who should be in the South Dakota Politics Hall of Fame?!  Any takers?