WEEKLY MOTIVATIONAL PIECE - JULY 19, 2012

Greetings My Friend!


THIS WEEK'S MOTIVATIONAL PIECE... ENJOY!


Never in the history of sports has their been a player more valuable to his city and perhaps (arguably) to his team. This person is Drew Brees, the record-breaking All-Pro QB for the New Orleans Saints.


His name brand is so off the charts right now that Brees was just tabbed by our United Nations to serve as the U.S. National Ambassador “Against Hunger” for the World Food Program. AN AMAZING HONOR! In addition, out of the thousands of professional athletes around the country, Drew landed at the No. 1 spot in this year’s “Power 100” ranking compiled by a Georgia sports marketing firm that helps Corporation’s determine which athletes are worthy of being chosen for endorsement opportunities.


Yet, just six years ago, Drew Brees was a “broken player” in more ways than one. He was without a home. Despite being productive in San Diego (his original draft team) for a few years, the Chargers decided to acquire Philip Rivers as the 3rd overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft and invested tens of millions in their rookie QB. Obviously, management played their hand and showed Brees that his time in San Diego was now just a poor performance or an injury situation away from his time in California coming to an end. Going into his free agent contract season in 2006, Brees suffered an untimely – and one of the most horrific shoulder injuries to a quarterback.


As he rehabbed and shopped himself around, there were no NFL team takers. It was bad enough that Brees always had to fight off the label from pro personnel experts that he was too short for his position (6'0") and his already perceived lack of arm strength. Now he had to recover from a torn labrum. New Orleans, a desperate city trying to find traction after one of the worst natural disasters in U.S. history, was the only NFL club to gamble on a player no one gave hope he could ever play again. Brees would later say his landing in New Orleans was much more than just an athlete's change of venue, “It was a calling!'' he said. "We were brought here for a reason.''


Brees and his wife, Brittany, showed love for New Orleans upon arrival when the city – ravaged and ruined by Hurricane Katrina - felt abandoned by so many others. Not only did he spark the team’s play on the field – the franchise was coming off of a horrendous 3-13 record - but he also threw himself into helping the city recover, and its people to feel like they were not alone. Brees, who may go down as one of sports’ all-time greatest leaders, has since led the Saints to two division championships and a Super Bowl title while setting all-time offensive performance records for NFL quarterbacks. "He symbolizes the people of New Orleans in many, many ways,'' says NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.


Always remember that pro scouts cannot measure one’s “determination” nor the size of an athlete’s “will” and “heart” or his ability to perform under pressure. Brees picked himself up from the bottom barrel of his sport to now becoming the highest paid player in the history of the NFL!


SO NEVER DOUBT YOU AND HAVE FAITH NO MATTER WHAT LIFE’S CIRCUMSTANCES BRINGS YOUR WAY... OK!!


Faith = Fortitude … Attitude … Integrity … Trust … Humility.


All the best my friend! Keep Believing in your Mission and go Capture your Dreams!


Jim Loria


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“When you look at an Athlete’s Body, you only see the tip of the iceberg. The 10 in the 110%! What you can’t see is what really matters. That’s the Will to Continue. The Fuel to Drive the Mind that pushes the body again and again. The Outside only shows the Final Chapter. But the Story gets told from Within!” – stated in ESPN The Magazine


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“A man can be as great as he wants to be. If you believe in yourself and have the courage, the determination, the dedication, the competitive drive and if you are willing to sacrifice the little things in life and pay the price for the things that are worthwhile, it can be done” – stated by Vince Lombardi, legendary Hall of Fame NFL Coach


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“An invincible determination can accomplish almost anything and in this lies the great distinction between great men and little men” – stated by Dr. Thomas Fuller, 1700s British Physician and Preacher


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“JUST WIN THE DAY!” – an everyday quote authored by Chip Kelly, Head Football Coach at the University of Oregon




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Jim Loria
E-Mail: loria@sfstampede.com