Humble Beginnings

"If your dream ain't bigger than you, than there's something wrong with your dream."- Deion Sanders

Political speeches? Nope. Deep theological speeches? Nope. Some of the most fascinating and inspirational speeches are those coming from pro football players who are enshrined into the Hall Fame each year. Being inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame is one of the more prestigious honors and always seems to outshine the 3 other major sports Hall of Fame. But the one characteristic that all sports players have in common is speaking of their humble beginnings and how they got where they are today. Here's some inspirational tidbits from this past weekend's Pro Football Hall of Fame:

Marshall Falk, St. Louis Rams:

"It took hard work to get from the projects of New Orleans to the penthouse."

Marshall Falk was not just a player, but a fan of the game. As a kid he would sell popcorn inside the SuperDome because he couldn't afford a ticket to watch the Saints.
Having a love for the game of football and carrying the dream of succeeding from out of the projects to a pro football career was his goal. It was truly a fulfillment of a lifetime dream.

"God blessed everyone on this earth, but what we do with it is the blessing. It's in our hands to put that blessing in motion and living true to life as it is to me."

Shannon Sharpe, Denver Broncos:

Shannon and his older brother Sterling both played in the NFL. They grew up on a farm in Georgia where they developed their strong work ethic and the 3 D's: determination,dedication, and discipline.

Shannon went off to college at Savanna State with only 2 grocery bags filled with all of his belongings, and all he heard when he got there was that he was destined to fail.

"When people told me I'd never make it, I listened to the one person who said I could:me."

Shannon went from being a 7th round draft pick to a stellar career as a pro bowl tight end, winning 3 Super Bowls: 2 with Denver and 1 with Baltimore. His older brother Sterling Sharpe was dealt a different hand: played only 7 years due to injuries, but in those 7 years he was one of the top receivers in the league.

Shannon Sharpe's speech was said to be one of the most inspirational of the evening, and brought his brother and the crowd to tears when he exclaimed:

"I am the only player of 267 men in this Hall of Fame that can honestly say this,
'Though I am in the Hall of Fame, I am the second best football player in my
family!"

Deion Sanders, Dallas Cowboys:

Deion was probably the most flamboyant player of his era, and, you either loved him or you hated him for his showtime antics. Deion not only played for 5 different football teams, he was also known for his athleticism as he played professional baseball too.. He can even claim to be the only player to play in both a professional baseball game and a football game on the same day.

Though being a vibrant vocal player on and off the field, he always backed his talk with his stellar play on the field. Deion reached out to his humble beginnings and talked about his upbringing and promising his mother he would be a success so she could quit working in the hospital.

Deion even admits for the first time that in his youth he was ashamed of his mother's job of cleaning in the hospital. He made a pledge to himself that he would do whatever it took to be successful so his mother wouldn't have to work another day in her life.

"When people told me I couldn't do it, I pushed myself harder by just seeing my momma pushing that cart in the hospital all those years to support us kids."

What can drive you forward to succeed in everything you do?
Just look back at your humble beginnings.