Things I never thought I’d say: The induction ceremony for the Football Hall of Fame is my favorite thing on TV.
I know, right? I don’t even watch football that much these days. I used to love-love-love it. But somewhere in the early 2000s, the thug-culture ruined it for me.
That said, I watch the Hall of Fame’s induction ceremony. Why? Because it’s like going to a funeral before anybody’s actually died. I get to cry at least six times, almost always as these athletes reflect on the various people (parents, coaches, teachers, spouses) who influenced their lives, and how hard they worked to reach this pinnacle of sports performance. It’s beautiful.
Yesterday, Brett Favre was inducted. His speech–unscripted, spoken from the heart, and as boyish and surprising as his competitive style on the field–totally wrecked me. Wrecked me. For many years, Favre wasn’t an athlete I cared for. Sure he was talented, but he did some really dumb/disgusting things, perhaps succumbing to all that power and fame.
But the man’s humility tells me his heart has been redeemed.
If you get a chance, watch this speech. Yes, it’s 30 minutes long. And yes, the intro is—like most intros—some yada,yada,yada. But watch as Favre begins to talk about growing up. About how he viewed his family, his coaches, his wife, and children. And how he played the sport of football. This is
This is heart. This is truth.
Here’s the link to Favre’s speech. God love this man.