Billy Williams' "Good, Better, Best" - the chant that transcended sports teams, not just one.
The Chicago Cubs' iconic phrase has been chanted by fans across the city and beyond, from Rogers Park to the suburbs. But what's behind this universal mantra? According to Billy Williams, a Cubs Hall of Famer, it all started with his own coach, Principal Lillie Dixon at Whistler Elementary School in Alabama.
The 87-year-old legend revealed that he heard these words for the first time as a student, and they stuck with him throughout his life. "I can still hear her saying it," Williams said. "It was a positive chant for me my whole life, just like it's a positive chant for the Chicago Bears."
Williams' love affair with the phrase began long before he became a star athlete at Mobile County Training School and later in his 18-year major league career. It was Dixon's weekly school assemblies that concluded with "good, better, best" that had a profound impact on Williams.
While the Cubs ultimately didn't win with this mantra in 1969 against the Miracle Mets, Williams repeated it to himself throughout his playing days as a way to drive him forward. The phrase became a driving force behind his desire to succeed and work harder each year.
Fast-forward to today, when Cubs rookie coach Ben Johnson proudly chants "good, better, best" along with his players in celebration of every win. And for Billy Williams, it's a nostalgic reminder of Dixon's influence on him.
As an avid Bears fan, Williams gets transported back in time whenever he sees videos of Johnson crouching intensely in the locker room, fist pumping the same phrase that had driven him all those years ago.
"It's motivational," Williams said, acknowledging its power to bring people together. "The players really seem to be accepting it."
The Chicago Cubs' iconic phrase has been chanted by fans across the city and beyond, from Rogers Park to the suburbs. But what's behind this universal mantra? According to Billy Williams, a Cubs Hall of Famer, it all started with his own coach, Principal Lillie Dixon at Whistler Elementary School in Alabama.
The 87-year-old legend revealed that he heard these words for the first time as a student, and they stuck with him throughout his life. "I can still hear her saying it," Williams said. "It was a positive chant for me my whole life, just like it's a positive chant for the Chicago Bears."
Williams' love affair with the phrase began long before he became a star athlete at Mobile County Training School and later in his 18-year major league career. It was Dixon's weekly school assemblies that concluded with "good, better, best" that had a profound impact on Williams.
While the Cubs ultimately didn't win with this mantra in 1969 against the Miracle Mets, Williams repeated it to himself throughout his playing days as a way to drive him forward. The phrase became a driving force behind his desire to succeed and work harder each year.
Fast-forward to today, when Cubs rookie coach Ben Johnson proudly chants "good, better, best" along with his players in celebration of every win. And for Billy Williams, it's a nostalgic reminder of Dixon's influence on him.
As an avid Bears fan, Williams gets transported back in time whenever he sees videos of Johnson crouching intensely in the locker room, fist pumping the same phrase that had driven him all those years ago.
"It's motivational," Williams said, acknowledging its power to bring people together. "The players really seem to be accepting it."
. It sounds kinda cheesy to me. Like, what even is the point of repeating 'good, better, best' over and over again? Is it really just about being motivated or something? I mean, didn't Billy Williams just use his own willpower and hard work to get where he was? And what's with it being a part of his life for 18 years? It just seems like a bit too convenient 
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this is so cool! i mean, who knew a simple chant could have such a huge impact on someone's life? it's amazing how something that started in a school assembly room can become a motivational phrase for entire sports teams 
. billy williams' story is really inspiring, especially since he was able to pass on the same mantra to his own coach ben johnson 
. i love how it brings people together and motivates them to work harder 
. and it's awesome that the cubs are still using the phrase all these years later! good, better, best indeed 
like its not even about the actual sports part, its bout the vibes & the message 
i remember my own mom saying 'good job' whenever i did something good, and it always made me feel proud. anywayz, gotta give props to Coach Dixon for instilling that positivity in Billy Williams 
and now its being passed on 2 the next gen, which is pretty cool 
. Billy Williams' gratitude towards Principal Dixon for instilling this mantra is truly heartwarming 
. And I have to admit, hearing Ben Johnson use it in the locker room makes me chuckle 
! Billy Williams' story is everything - how his old coach influenced his life and now it's spreading to a whole new generation 
! I mean, can you imagine being a kid and hearing something like that for the first time in school? It just makes me want to go back to Whistler Elementary and see Principal Dixon teach her class. Interesting that it's become this thing for different sports teams too... like, who knew it wasn't just Cubs fans 
Billy Williams' story is actually kinda cool tho, his coach had such an impact on him it's awesome how it's still relevant today 
!!! I THINK IT'S SO COOL THAT A SIMPLE CHANT CAN HAVE SUCH A BIG IMPACT ON PEOPLE'S LIVES!!! BILLY WILLIAMS' STORY IS TRULY INSPIRING, AND IT JUST GOES TO SHOW YOU HOW ONE PERSON CAN MAKE A LASTING DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF OTHERS 
... even though we're all from different teams, we're all in this together! 
anyway back to billy williams' story, i feel so bad for him that they didn't win with "good, better, best" in 1969, but it's so cool how the phrase has transcended sports teams and become a universal mantra, you know? 
The Cubs players are so lucky to have Coach Johnson leading them, and it's awesome that Williams is back in the mix, too! 
For me, the phrase just feels like a reminder to always strive for excellence and be our best selves, whether we're on the field or in everyday life. 
, but its nice to see his mantra still resonating with new gen fans like Ben Johnson... gotta give props to Principal Lillie Dixon too 
Like, do other teams' coaches tell them stuff like Principal Lillie Dixon used to say? 