Pro Football Hall of Fame Elects Eight For 2021 Induction

The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced last Saturday night during NFL Honors the inductees into the 2021 class. The list was whittled down from 15 finalists in January and is led by quarterback Peyton Manning and also features Calvin Johnson, Charles Woodson, Alan Faneca, Calvin Johnson, John Lynch, Tom Flores and Bill Nunn.

The Hall of Famers usually appear in-person during the show but given that there was no live studio audience this year, the players were surprised in their hometowns by Hall of Fame president David Baker. Two surprises stood-out in particular, the first with Drew Pearson, who had been summoned to meet with Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and Hall of Famer Roger Staubach, and the other with Peyton Manning, who was filming at Empower Field at Mile High when he was ... Read More

Nine of the Most Famous NASCAR Drivers in History

Aside from championships, race wins, winning percentage and impact on the sport are considered when naming the best NASCAR drivers of all time. The greatest drivers have achieved podium finishes more often than not and were big off the racetrack as well as on it. Here are some of the most famous NASCAR drivers who are considered the all-time best in the sport.

1. Richard Petty

When it comes to the racetrack, Richard Petty tops every list of greatest NASCAR drivers of all time because to date, no other race car driver has ever tallied as many wins as him. He holds the record of 200 wins, 123 poles, seven Daytona 500 wins, 1,027 career starts and 10 consecutive wins.

His illustrious career spanned from 1958 to 1992 and there has not been anyone since who has set as many records. He is arguably the best NASCAR driver ever. ... Read More

10 Greatest Hockey Players of all Time

The ice may have long melted, but some hockey greats’ names stay etched forever. There are those that are non-debatable on any “best hockey players of all time” list for the way they revolutionized the game and dominated in the rink. The National Hockey League (NHL) sees players come and go but the best hockey players are immortalized for years to come. Naming the greatest hockey player is almost impossible, but here’s a list of the top 10 hockey players of all time according to Sports Speakers 360.

1. Wayne Gretzky

Wayne Gretzky is probably the most famous hockey player to ever play in the NHL due to his scoring ability. He holds the NHL record of 215 points in a season, which he set in the 1985-86 campaign. ... Read More

Olympic Athletes to Remember

Making the Olympics is no small feat. It takes years of training and sacrifice for Olympic athletes to participate at the highest level. However, among Olympians, there are those who take it to the next level. In this blog post, we’ll look at some of the top Olympic athletes of all-time.

Michael Phelps

Arguably the greatest Olympic athlete ever is Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian in history. His impressive medal count includes a record of 23 gold medals with eight of them coming at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. His medal collection started at the 2004 Athens summer Olympics with eight total medals and continued through the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro with another five golds and one silver medal. Phelps is a world record holder in multiple swimming events and is considered the greatest swimmer of all-time. ... Read More

Christian Athletes Who Play & Pray

While some athletes may shy away from mixing religion and sports, others are devout Christians who openly share their faith. Read on as we look into some of the top Christian athletes and how their faith has been instrumental in their professional and personal lives.

Tim Tebow

Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow is known for being vocal about his Christian faith, both on and off the field. In 2007, Tebow won the Heisman Trophy with the Florida Gators, setting various school and national records. Known for wearing John 3:16 on his eye black, the media attributed the NCAA message ban on eye paint as “The Tebow Rule.” Additionally, his propensity for kneeling on one knee and bowing his head to honor his faith started the term “Tebowing” by fans and media. After college, Tebow played in the NFL for the Denver Broncos and Philadelphia Eagles. Tebow is currently playing baseball in the New York Mets organization and continues to publicly share his religion through motivational speeches, books and media. ... Read More

How to Introduce a Speaker

Although introducing a speaker at an event is usually little more than an afterthought, knowing how to introduce a speaker can set the tone for the entire speech and determine its success. It not only lets the audience know who will be giving the presentation but also helps increase attentiveness, generates excitement and positions the speaker as an authority.

Wondering how to introduce someone to an audience? Let’s discuss some of the most important aspects of a speaker introduction you should consider.

Get to Know Your Guest Speaker: Be Knowledgeable in Your Introduction

The speaker that delivers the message can be just as important as the message itself, so one of your most important tasks is figuring out how to present the speaker in a way that positions them as a qualified authority to speak on the subject.

While you can use an introduction of speaker sample to get yourself started, the core of the message should still be centered around the specific qualifications and accomplishments of the speaker, as that is what will get people excited about hearing them speak. ... Read More

The Biggest Comebacks in MLB History

Baseball is truly a staple sport in America that has captured imaginations for more than a century.

The sport requires from players not only incredible skill, focus and precision but also mental strength. Since crucial and game-changing plays often happen in split-seconds, having doubts or second-guessing your instincts is simply not an option. That’s what makes the game so interesting. With a margin of error so small, it’s not surprising that there have been some fascinating baseball comebacks where teams managed to turn the game around in a seemingly impossible fashion. To illustrate this, let’s review the games fans debate as the biggest comeback in MLB history.

Seattle Mariners vs Cleveland Indians at Jacobs Field – August 5, 2001

It’s been almost two decades since the now-legendary game between the Seattle Mariners and the Cleveland Indians but those who have seen the game will probably remember it for the rest of their lives as it is widely considered to be the biggest comeback in MLB history.

At one point, the game seemed just about over with the Mariners holding a comfortable 12-run advantage in the 7th inning, but that wasn’t what was in store that night. Leading 14-2, the Mariners were ready to start celebrating and the Indians were just about ready to concede defeat as well, benching Ellis Burks, Travis Fryman and Roberto Alomar, three of their starters. ... Read More

The Pros & Cons of Athletes as Role Models

Whether people like it or not, sports celebrities are now more influential than ever before.

And while not all people think athletes as role models are a good thing, the truth is, there are both positive and negative sides of the issue to explore.

In this piece we’ll be answering the age-old question: are athletes good role models?

Why Athletes Are Good Role Models

Although athletes get both negative and positive coverage in the press and in general, the truth is, there are plenty of reasons why it’s a good thing that athletes are role models.

For starters, professional athletes as role models makes sense because there are simply so many to choose from. There’s a handful of widely popular sports, each of which has its own celebrities, stars, and leaders, which means that there’s never a shortage of accomplished people who can share their stories and provide inspiration to all types of audiences. ... Read More

Ray Lewis’ Inspirational Speech

Ray Lewis is heralded as a leader by sports fans from around the globe.

Professionally, he is known for being a two-time Super Bowl champion and for being selected to the Pro Bowl an impressive 13 times. He is also one of a select few football players to spend the duration of his career with a single team— the Baltimore Ravens.

But a lot of what makes Lewis so impressive has to do with his life away from the gridiron. Hailing from Bartow, Florida, a small city of 15,000 people, Lewis grew up without having a relationship with his biological father and a stepfather who was extremely abusive, which he says motivated him to train and become strong in an effort to protect his mother. These hardships fueled his desire to achieve greatness and become a Hall of Fame linebacker.

Today, Ray Lewis is retired, having stepped away from professional football after his 2012 season. He continues to give back by speaking publicly and using his platform to provide inspiration to others.

In today’s post, we’ll be covering some of the most influential Ray Lewis motivational speeches, as well as sharing a few of our favorite quotes. ... Read More

5 Fantastic Motivational Sporting Speeches

Motivational speeches have been a source of inspiration (and a catalyst for change) for almost as long as humans have existed.

From Alexander the Great, who encouraged his soldiers to stand up and continue fighting after a gruesome battle against the Paurava kingdom in 326 BC to George Washington’s infamous resignation speech in 1784, the use of one’s words and voice to inspire others has shaped history and greatly contributed to the world as we know it today.

In the world of sports, speeches are used to motivate and inspire players, acting as an impetus that drives them to perform at their best.

But motivational sporting speeches are not applicable to athletes alone. The themes that are shared in these speeches are universally relatable, making them relevant to individuals from all walks of life.

Whether it’s overcoming adversity, rising to the challenge or the importance of teamwork, sports players, coaches, and other athletic professionals have an abundance of wisdom to share.

Thus, in today’s blog, we’ll be sharing some of the best sports speeches and quotes from the past. We hope they inspire you as much as they inspire us! ... Read More