As a former athlete with dreams of becoming a professional baseball player, I have always had a soft spot for “underdogs” who had to overcome incredible obstacles in order to succeed. I love the never-give-up attitude and the will to keep moving forward, even if the odds are against you. I have made a list of five athletes that simply would not give up, and kept pushing forward in order to reach their goals. It’s just a small sampling of the many incredible athletes that share these same traits. Three of the five listed below have been made into unbelievable movies that I strongly recommend watching at some point.
Before I begin, think about all of the athletes that are out there who were never given the opportunity to shine. The five athletes below were all given one shot to shine and they certainly made the most of it. Whether you’re a sports fan or not, the story of bouncing back after hardships and getting one more chance can inspire us all.
1. Jeremy Lin – Basketball
For those of you who have not heard about him yet, Jeremy Lin has an incredible story developing. Lin is the first Chinese-American born player in the NBA. Most star basketball players are spotted in high school and recruited heavily by the colleges, but not Lin. He was turned down to play at his dream college, UCLA, and opted to go to Harvard since he was offered a spot on the squad there. After college he went undrafted – meaning no NBA team wanted him. He did well during a summer camp and the Golden State Warriors signed him, only to release him at camp this year. He was claimed by the Rockets, let go again, then relegated to the Development League after signing with the Knicks as a potential 12th man – meaning that he most likely would never play.
He knew his hard work and commitment to get better would eventually come through, but the odds were stacking up against him. A week ago he was sleeping on his brother’s sofa, but an injury on the Knicks led to him getting a chance to play last Saturday where he scored 25 points – an astonishing total for an unknown. A few days later he scored 28 points, then 23, and then an amazing 38 against Kobe Bryant and the Lakers last night. Jeremy Lin has captivated the ailing National Basketball League and has won over millions of fans world-wide in less than a week.
2. Tim Tebow – Football
While Tebow was a first-round pick, won the Heisman, and was a consensus top prospect in high school, he was still expected to “fail” in professional ball. Just five months ago he was the third string quarterback for the Denver Broncos. After finally getting a chance to play, it was evident from the first second he ran onto the field that he made everyone better on his team. A struggling Denver team went on to dazzle the football world with some improbable fourth quarter comeback wins. While it wasn’t always pretty, and critics continued to bash Tebow as a starting quarterback, he helped lead his team to the playoffs. Throughout it all, Denver owner John Elway has still not fully committed to Tim Tebow as a starting quarterback, so there is still more to prove during next season of play. In any case, Tim got his chance and made the most of it and dealt with much criticism during the process.
3. Rudy Ruettiger – Football (Movie Recommendation – 1993 Rudy)
Rudy was a small town boy who had dreams of one day playing for the Notre Dame Football team. After high school he worked in the local steel mill with the rest of his family, until a mill accident claimed the life of his friend. He decided to leave town and pursue his goal of playing Notre Dame Football when everyone said it couldn’t happen. Despite his small build and doubts from others, his display of undying motivation and determination during football tryouts and practices earned him a spot on the team and ultimately, a chance to run out of the famed tunnel and onto the field. The movie about his life was very well done and is a great example of how self-confidence, hard work, and persistence will help you achieve any goal.
4. James J. Braddock – Boxing (Movie Recommendation – 2005 Cinderella Man)
James J. Braddock was best known for his amazing comeback from a floundering career. After a brilliant start to his career, the combination of injuries and financial stress from The Depression derailed his success. He had lost several bouts due to chronic hand injuries and was forced to work on the docks and collect social assistance to feed his family during the Depression. While all seemed lost for Braddock, and with his family struggling to put food on the table, James was given a chance to fight John “Corn” Griffith basically as a tuneup for Griffith's next match. As fate would have it, he shocked the boxing world by knocking out Griffith in the third round and begun his amazing comeback. In 1935 he was given the chance to fight Max Baer for the Heavyweight championship. He entered the ring as a 10 – 1 underdog, despite staging one of the best, comebacks in boxing history. Braddock used all of his hardships that he and his family endured over the recent years as fuel for the comeback. He went on to defeat Baer for the Heavyweight title and earned the nickname “The Cinderella Man”. He was an inspiration to millions of Americans at a time when they needed a beacon of hope. After his inspirational boxing comeback, Braddock returned all of the welfare money he had received. Cinderella Man is another movie I highly recommend watching.
5. Seabiscuit – Horse Racing (Movie & Book Recommendation –Seabiscuit)
I must say that if you are an avid reader, there is absolutely no way you should miss out on Laura Hillenbrand’s book, “Seabiscuit – An American Legend”. It is so well written and is one of my absolute favorite books.
Seabiscuit is considered one of the greatest race horses of all-time. However, you never would have believed it by first looking at him. Although he was bred to be a race horse, he was small and bowlegged. His original trainers gave up on him and left him as a broken down track horse. Fate would later team Seabiscuit up with the trio of an owner, trainer, and jockey who had all experienced obstacles of their own. Seabiscuit’s development into a champion closely paralleled everyone’s aspiration of their own lives in the post depression years. His challenge race against War Admiral was one of the greatest races of all time and was heard by over 40 million Americans in 1938. Seabiscuit’s improbable comeback (or comebacks after a career threatening leg injury) and underdog fighting spirit resonated with a nation looking for a comeback of its own.
Comments
...Lin scores another 20 to give the Knicks their 5th straight win! Great article!
Every story above is inspiring and reminds us to push to achieve our dreams. I can only think of how many people "gave up" and therefore, never got to fulfill their dream, regardless of what the dream may have been. These stories simply help to make us all better and to remind us all not to give up.
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