The Heart of a Champion

[THIS IS A MESSAGE WRITTEN BY MY 15-YEAR-OLD SON FOR INSPIRATION FOR HIS FOOTBALL TEAM; PHOTO CREDITS-CHRIS RAYNOLDS]

Champions are not made in gyms; they are not built or molded by scientists.

Champions are made from something they have deep inside them . . .

a desire,

a dream,

a vision.

They have last minute stamina. They fight harder every play, every down. Every time they step foot on the field, champions have the mindset to win.

Each play, champions must be a little faster than the play before; then after that . . .

even faster.

Every down, a champion has his brother’s back. They are

born leaders,

athletes,

warriors.

To be a champion, one must have the skill and will to conquer anything and everything standing in one’s path.

But the will to win must be stronger than the skill.

In everything one does, every second of the day, choices determine whether one will be a champion.

Live with honor,

pride,

and

courage.

The path to victory is rough; there are ups and downs . . . and times when one desires to lie down and quit.

But that’s not the way to succeed.

To be a champion, one must live with

character,

leadership,

bravery,

respect.

Being a champion isn’t easy; champions strive to be the best they can be to win.

A person can be as great as he or she wants to be; the difference between a champion and others is the will to win and the belief that anything is possible.

Champions not only believe that it is possible to achieve victory,

they act on that belief.

If one believes in himself and in his brothers and has

the courage,

the determination,

the dedication,

and

the competitive drive,

and if he has the will to win and is willing to sacrifice the little things in life and pay the price for success,

it can be done . . .

it will be done . . .

because that is what a champion does . . .

he wins;

he fights for what he believes in.

All year, a champion prepares for the battles and the obstacles he will face on the field.

He leads his brothers; he prepares them for what they will face together every Friday night

under the lights.

Champions pour all they have into everything they do. Why?

Because that is the heart of a champion.

That is the will to win.

Not skill, not weakness, but

strength 

and 

courage. 

The will to fight until the sound of the whistle, and then the ability to get back up and do it again.

And when it seems like there is no hope, no chance of success . . .

a champion steps up 

and 

leads his team. 

Champions face their opponents

without fear,

without doubt.

A champion brings his team together and fights to the very end.

The team fights as one to achieve victory, and, in the end, all the hard work, and all the sweat and blood poured out

on the practice field,

in the weight room,

in the locker room,

pays off.

If not now, in the years to come.

Because that is the heart of a champion.