NFL Hall Of Fame – The Lessons It Teaches In Business and Life
Huge, strong, accomplished football men baring their souls, sharing their hearts, crying with love and gratitude for their mothers and grandmothers! Everything a football girl could love. And love it I did.
Yesterday I watched my TIVO’s NFL Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, from pregame to post. It did not disappoint. I cried all the way through, and I love doing that, as well.
Ed Sabol, founder of NFL FILMS (talk about sports movies) started it off. He invented football highlights, dramatically narrated, music thumping, slow-motion unbelievable plays—making true believers out of the most entrenched skeptics, and making the NFL games America’s passion.
There were 3 players out of 7 who grew up in abject poverty, in crime-infested neighborhoods, and saw sports as their way up and out. They were African-American, and though they didn’t blame, and racism was never mentioned, my personal politics dictate that I say their conditions (in the 80’s mind you, not the 50’s) were a result of the evil racism in this country. I will be so happy, when the Hall of Fame of the future inducts players that started out on an even playing field, so to speak, where people
are judged “not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” After all, we elected a brilliant President according to Reverend King’s dream.
Some highlights for us to learn from: Shannon Sharpe said his grandmother taught him it was all about the 3 D’s: Determination, Dedication, Discipline. He’s lived his whole life like that, on and off the field.
Do you? Marshall Faulk made his agent cry with his gratitude for him. My favorite part of the highlight film on him was when he vomited through his face mask on the field, and just kept on going. Wow.
Faulk said, ” Life’s a challenge. We’re all blessed, but it’s in our hands to put that blessing in motion.
Being a Running Back gave me the opportunity—I made the commitment.”
Deion Sanders said, “If your dream isn’t bigger than you, then there’s a problem with your dream.” He did it all for his mom, who raised him by herself, so she wouldn’t have to work another day in her life.
Now, he funds programs for guiding kids, many of them without a father—he brought 7 buses of his kids to the Induction Ceremonies where they had a most meaningful and joyous experience. Deion said football taught him, “when you get knocked down, you have to get back up again; it taught me how to live and play with pain.” Yep, that’s what we’re facing in this economy, and we gotta get back up again.
Deion also said, “circumstances can’t dictate what you choose to be,” and I say, don’t let circumstances dictate your actions each day. My to-do list is overflowing; is yours?