http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/29/ray-lewis-stanford-speech-nit-semifinals_n_1387639.html
We’ve all seen it. Ray Lewis has been doing this for 16 years. Lewis, widely known as one of the greatest NFL linebackers of all time, is also one of the most inspiring athletes to hear speak before any game whether it’s a big one or not.
The Stanford basketball team got a taste of what the Baltimore Ravens have experienced over the last decade and change before Tuesday’s NIT semifinal game against UMass. Before the Cardinal took the court, the former Super Bowl MVP spoke to the team in the locker room and delivered another incredibly inspiring speech.
“Wins and losses come a dime a dozen. But effort? Nobody can judge effort. Effort is between you and you. Effort ain’t got nothing to do with nobody else. So that team that think they ready to seen you? They think what they seen on film. They ain’t saw what film shows. Because every day is a new day. Every moment is a new moment,” he said. “So now you got to go out and show them that you a different creature now than I was five minutes ago. Cause I’m pissed off for greatness. Because you ain’t pissed off for greatness, that mean you OK with being mediocre.”
Stanford went on to beat UMass 74-64 and advanced to the NIT Title game for the first time since 1991, when they won the tournament.