The 2011 Pro Football Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony Provided Primetime Entertainment

I don't usually catch the Pro Football Hall of Fame Induction ceremony. It's kind of a boring 3 hour process, but I did tune in this year as one of my favorite football players was inducted. "Prime Time" Deion Sanders, as always, didn't disappoint and neither did some of the other 2011 inductees.

Even though Deion Sanders never played for my favorite team (the New York Giants), I absolutely idolized him. He, at one time, even played for the rival Dallas Cowboys, who I despise!! (I already loved him at that point...it was a rough 4 or 5 years). Anyway, he was the reason I played the cornerback position from when I first started playing football as a kid. So naturally, like when he used to take to the field, I had to tune in and watch Prime Time do his thing over the weekend when he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

His speech was classic "Neon Deion"-esque, as his electricity commanded his audience once again. It was very heartfelt, he attributed all his success to his mother. It pained him from a young age to see his mother struggling financially and he made her a promise at the age of 7 that he would one day make a lot of money and see to it that she never has to work again. That promise was always the driving force to utilize his athletic talents, which he knew would be the catalyst to fullfill that promise. His speech was very inspirational, as were others given by inductees over the weekend (yeah I ended up watching a good portion of those 3 hours this year).

Shannon Sharpe and Marshall Faulk also gave very heartfelt, inspirational speeches. I want to quickly share a quote Marshall Faulk said his late father always used to share with him. Faulk's father used to tell him as a boy, "on life's road, if there are no speed bumps, you're headed for a dead end". How true is that? We will all have to overcome personal struggles and endure pain, but that is what life is all about. Dealing with that is what makes us who we are.

There was another quote pertaining to this life lesson that turned up in my life recently. I had one of those speed bumps recently pop up in life's path and it's funny how guidance (if you're looking for it) usually accompanies them. The quote was, "life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's learning to dance in the rain". As you get older, you begin to realize that hardship will fall upon you in life. You also begin to realize that you have enough character built up to adequately deal with it. No matter how hard it gets, trust in yourself and who you are.

As silly as it seems, I believe I was meant to watch this year's Pro Football Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. Just some more guidance and assurance to help me along the way. Carry on my friends!