Fall Means Football
by Larry Stein
It’s football season and after Halloween and the election we head into the High Holidays of Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year celebrations.
One of the best Rotary meetings is the annual Bedlam Rivalry.
Many wear their Orange and black or Crimson and cream.
Some great Cowboys and Sooners have gone on to play on Sundays and the perspective of those players is always interesting.
Recently a Super Bowl Champion provided some insight into game preparation and some of his comments were a surprise.
Terrell Davis the Super Bowl Champion running back for the Denver Broncos.
Nicknamed TD, he explained the first 15 plays are decided and planned BEFORE the game. In two winning Super Bowls he was the key player in the first plays. TD’s was one of the greatest running backs and earned all sorts of accolades BEFORE getting into the Hall of Fame.
“I realized the team was depending on me. And you may not realize it but some players don’t want to ball,” Terrell said.
WHAT? Why would you play football if you don’t want the ball?
“Those players loved football but when it came to the responsibility of carrying the ball—they didn’t want the ball,” Davis explained.
You get the ball, you can drop it, it could be fumbled, it couldn’t be intercepted—there are so many things that could happen—and only one play could make a player a legend or a failure.”
The same thing happens in life.
Who wants to play ball? Who wants to lead? Who were all those candidates who put themselves on the ballot this year?
Rotary is filled with leaders from business, government and those who run for public office.
Most of the Rotarians are always ready to say, “GIVE ME THE BALL!”
So many leaders in Rotary make a difference and as we head into the holidays, let’s remember to thank all those inside and outside Rotary who selflessly are ready to lead and say, “Give ME the ball—and let’s score a touchdown!”