5 years ago today, Herb Brooks was killed in a car accident just 7 miles south of my home. I drove by that accident not knowing who it was, and found out when I got home. Herb was on a short list of people I always wanted to meet. For those of you asking,"Who the hell is he talking about?" Herb was the hockey coach of the 1980 gold medal team.
Herb was most famous for his inspirational speeches and the following is an excerpt from a speech he made to a group of student athletes.
"In an effort to solve the problems of yourself, your community, and your nation-by your very presence here tonight,you possess the greatest of all admirable character traits-courage.What is courage?Let me tell you what I think it is. An indefinable quality that makes a man put out that extra something when it seems there is nothing else to give. Ladies and Gentlemen, I dare you to be better than you are. I dare you to be a thoroughbred.I might best describe this by telling you a story about the courage of a man taken from the bible:the story of Eleazer.
Let me refer to a story in the Old Testament, a story a lot of you have never heard.It is not about Goliath. It is about a young Captain in King Davids army. His name was Eleazer. One day King David called his captains together and said,"We have lost most every day to the Philistinesand unless we win tomorrow, you come to the point of no return. Unless we win tomorrow as a nation, we are sunk." He said, "Is there anyone that can lead us to victory?"
Herb was most famous for his inspirational speeches and the following is an excerpt from a speech he made to a group of student athletes.
"In an effort to solve the problems of yourself, your community, and your nation-by your very presence here tonight,you possess the greatest of all admirable character traits-courage.What is courage?Let me tell you what I think it is. An indefinable quality that makes a man put out that extra something when it seems there is nothing else to give. Ladies and Gentlemen, I dare you to be better than you are. I dare you to be a thoroughbred.I might best describe this by telling you a story about the courage of a man taken from the bible:the story of Eleazer.
Let me refer to a story in the Old Testament, a story a lot of you have never heard.It is not about Goliath. It is about a young Captain in King Davids army. His name was Eleazer. One day King David called his captains together and said,"We have lost most every day to the Philistinesand unless we win tomorrow, you come to the point of no return. Unless we win tomorrow as a nation, we are sunk." He said, "Is there anyone that can lead us to victory?"
