Football

It's game today! I was glued on my computer all morning till our stupid house internet decided not work, only a few minutes before your game started. How annoyinnnnnnng. I tried everything, even knocked on my landlord's door to see if they could do something about it, but they weren't even there. I was furious (at Bell haha). But finally, sneaky internet connection decided to surprise me about an hour or so after your game had already started. At least I got to watch some it.

You already know I'm no football expert (way far from an expert, that's for sure haha), but you know what... this doesn't stop me from feeling so damn proud of you! (This is when I need one of your super-hugs by the way). Sometimes I wonder... how do you manage to hide your red cape under that jersey, it must be so uncomfortable to run and all eh. But then again, you're Superman, you can find a solution for almost everything right. Hahah. On a serious note now... I wish I was there, watching you live, cheering and holding silly signs for you (hehe). But then again, everything happens for a reason, we are where we are for a reason. And we should make the best out of it.

So today's game inspired me to look for football quotes. Here's the ones I picked cause I found them super motivational and I thought are worth sharing with you:

• If a team is to reach its potential, each player must be willing to subordinate his personal goals to the good of the team.
  -Bud Wilkinson

• No talking. Talking doesn't play football, talking isn't going to make you practice harder or play harder.
  -Ken Simonton

• I want to be remembered as the guy who gave his all whenever he was on the field.
  -Walter Payton

• The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather in a lack of will.
  -Vince Lombardi...

• Show class, have pride, and display character. If you do, winning takes care of itself.
  -Paul "Bear" Bryant
   
• Build up your weaknesses until they become your strong points.
  -Knute Rockne
   
• Without self-discipline, success is impossible, period.
  -Lou Holtz
   
• Success is not forever and failure isn't fatal.
  -Don Shula

• To succeed... You need to find something to hold on to, something to motivate you, something to inspire you.
  -Tony Dorsett

• Football is an honest game. It’s true to life. It’s a game about sharing. Football is a team game. So is life.
  -Joe Namath
   
• It's not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog.
  -Archie Griffen
   
• Don’t give up at half time. Concentrate on winning the second half.
  -Paul Bear Bryant
   
• Nobody who ever gave his best regretted it.
  -George Halas

• Football is like life, it requires perseverance, self-denial, hard work sacrifice, dedication and respect for authority.
  -Vince Lombardi
   
• Set your goals high, and don't stop till you get there.
  -Bo Jackson 
   
• If you can believe it, the mind can achieve it.
  -Ronnie Lott
   
• It’s not whether you get knocked down; it’s whether you get back up.
  -Vince Lombardi
   
• If you train hard, you'll not only be hard, you'll be hard to beat.
  -Herschel Walker
   
• You have to perform at a consistently higher level than others. That's the mark of a true professional.
  
  -Joe Paterno
  
  
• The principle is competing against yourself. It's about self-improvement, about being better than you were the day before.
  -Steve Young 

I think that's enough for today eh. Hahah. I also found a great list of the top 10 inspirational football speeches, I'll probably share the links with you in another post (you might have watched them already, but oh well haha!). You know what though, what I like about these quotes is how they don't only apply to the game of football, but like Vince Lombardi says, they also apply to life in general. Plus I've come to realize, football itself is more than just a sport. As a former basketball player myself (I made it sound so pro) I feel the same way about basketball as well.

However, as an outsider in sports now, I am able to see things from a different perspective as well. Every time I watch games online, or when I get to watch you play I've realized how important sports are in general. For example it's amazing to notice how players have to think about others first, and realize how important working hard is. Players are there with all their friends, they sweat and bleed with them, and that makes them bond as a group of hard-working young men. And as irrelevant as it may sound, is also one of the many reasons I know you will succeed in life.

Football and sports in general strengthen your personality and character.Your attitude towards people and life in general. You learn to maintain the same attitude at victory and loss. You learn to not let victory get in your head and not allow loss discourage you from moving forward. It teaches you never to give up. Even when you're tired and feel like passing out you know you can always put in another gear even if you think you "can't do it" or that "you need to give up". You learn that when you always give whatever you’re doing your best effort, you will have no regrets.

I find that applies to every aspect of life too. And of course sports teach you so much more, which I won't have the time or the space to mention here. Now that I am thinking about it, I remember we even had this conversation once on the phone :). Speaking of having a conversation, today is Saturday and we haven't actually "talked" or spent time updating/listening to each other, since Thursday night when you missed my calls. It sucks not having a phone :(. Oh well, there's definitely worse things, so whatever :) By the way..... It's Halloween weekend! Meaning... partying, drinking and ridiculous costumes. I dunno when we're gonna have time for a proper phone/skype date next but...

...what I know is that I love you and I am so proud of you!
GG.