Champion’s Creed

This isn’t new. But it’s new to me. It’s something I just saw. And something that
just moved me. Now I pass it along to you. First in words. Then as a link to
the video.

This is from a coach to a high school football team. Meant to inspire before a game.
A coach that either believed every word he said to it’s core, or should be
nominated for an Oscar for his performance.

The intensity with which this coach says this speech had such an effect on me that
I can’t tell if the written words do it justice. I will post the video tomorrow.

Today gentlemen, I am honored to coach you
More honored to be leading you onto the field of battle

But there’s another honor to be bestowed upon you
And that is in the answer that comes with that question:
Who am I? I AM A CHAMPION!

That’s right, and you need to remember that all through this game
I will conquer what has not been conquered
Defeat will not be in my creed
I will believe what others have doubted
I will always endeavor to pull esteem, honor, and respect out of my team
I have trained my mind and my body will follow
Who am I? I AM A CHAMPION!

I will acknowledge the fact that my opponent does not expect me to win
But I will never surrender
Weakness will not be in my heart
I will look to my comrades and to those who are a part of me in this world and
those who have trained me
And I will draw strength fromthem

Who am I? I AM A CHAMPION!

I will gladly go out into the field of battle
And I will move in everything I can do
And I will reach my field of battle by any means at my disposal
And when I get there, I will arrive violently
I will rip the heart from my enemy, and leave it bleeding on the ground
Because he cannot stop me
Who am I? I AM A CHAMPION!

To my side I have comrades,
Comrades that have been with me through thick and thin
Who have sacrificed their blood, sweat and tears
Never will I let them fall, never will I let them down, 
and
I will never leave an enemy behind

Because our opponent does not know my heart
Who am I? I AM A CHAMPION!

No one will deny me, no one will define me
And no one will tell me who and what I am and can be
Belief will change my world
It has moved continents, it has moved countries, it has put men on the moon
And it will carry me through this battle
Who am I? I AM A CHAMPION!

Defeat, retreat: those are not in my words
I don’t understand those definitions
I don’t understand when things go wrong
I don’t understand mistakes
But I do understand this:
I understand victory,
And I understand never surrendering
No matter how bad things go my heart and my mind will carry my body through limits and weakness
Who am I? I AM A CHAMPION!

Today will be that day
Not tomorrow, not next week, but right now, right here
In your house and in your homes
Who am I? I AM A CHAMPION!

History will remember me….and I will not have to worry about him being kind

I will define myself…

I will write my own pages….

And no one will tell me what I can and what I cannot be.

I will never go home, not without giving everything I got

Because who am I? I AM A CHAMPION!