Hello all.
This week is a very special week to most people here at Lucky 13. Like most people this week is filled with talk of the big game, the Super Bowl. While most of us here in the cheese state are die hard Packer fans, the Super Bowl is still the end all be all of sporting events. As always it will be the most watched single event of the year, and will be talked about for years to come regardless of who wins or loses. Watching all the reports and reading all the articles about the game led me to think about one thing. What did Baltimore and San Francisco do that all the other teams didn't?
The NFL is a league built around parity. At this level it's supposed to be a playing field where on any given Sunday anything can happen. I have to believe that at some point every single team set out this year to reach and win the Super Bowl at the beginning of the year. Even the teams who "realistically" didn't stand a chance talked about it and fantasized about being a part of the sports biggest stage. But in the end only two teams did what all the other teams couldn't. Why? Here's a thought regarding one of the teams.
I remember sitting on my couch watching Sportscenter when Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis announced his retirement. I turned to my friend who was there watching it with me and I remember saying "Baltimore just got into the Super Bowl." My friend one of our top account managers looked at me as if I had a third eye, and asked how could I say such a thing. I confidently told him that now the Ravens had something to play for, and that makes them a very dangerous team. Everyone wants to win, but wanting to win for someone else is a very powerful motivator. Like him or not Ray Lewis is the heart and soul of the entire Baltimore franchise. Every player there has been impacted by his play and his presence. And for the other players to be able to give back and send him out on top which is a feat that most athletes on any level will never experience, is something special. That common goal has galvanized that team to be way more than they could or should be. Since his announcement they have played like a team with purpose and focus. They do not look like the same team that half way through the season didn't know if they could make the playoffs.
The new year always brings hope of change. "New years resolutions" are always popular in January and then not so popular come February. Whats the difference? The difference is some people have something to work for. Some people have a reason beyond the goal itself, and that makes achieving the goal much more realistic. I'm sure that if your reading this you yourself had set some type of goal for yourself in 2013, I know I did. But I ask, do you have a reason big enough to achieve your goal no matter what? If not rest assured that it's not too late. There are 11 months left in 2013,and that leaves plenty of time to do what the Baltimore Ravens did and find your why.
