2 February 2003, Royal Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
A funny presentation speech because the normally eloquent and sober Premier of Victoria appeared to have had a few,
And well done the players, the players have been mag-fantastic. It’s a great finish. Congratulations to Ernie Eels (Els) and to Peter Loddard (Lonnard). To Nick Faldo. It’s been fal-fantastic. Congratulations.
1 November 1977, Flemington, Melbourne, Australia
Mr Chairman ladies and gentlemen,
Any little noises that you may happen to hear are only static. It’s just somethng wrong with the system.
I want you to understand, and I know that you will, that the minor noises do not destroy the marvellous occasion today is for me and for my wife.
Won’t say anything about Mr Cummings. It’s all written down for me here on a piece of paper, but you’ve heard it all over the loud speaker.
Cheers from a small minority, however, ah, life is wonderful for all of us, especially winners of the Melbourne Cup. Congratulations to all of you, and I’ll be back again as a spectator!
19 February 2010, TPC Sawgrass, Florida, USA
Good morning. And thank you for joining me.
Many of you in the room are my friends. Many of you in this room know me. Many of you have cheered for me, or worked with me, or supported me, and now, every one of you has good reason to be critical of me.
I want to say to each of you, simply, and directly, I am deeply sorry for my irresponsible and selfish behavior I engaged in.
I know people want to find out how I could be so selfish and so foolish. People want to know how I could have done these things to my wife, Elin, and to my children. And while I have always tried to be a private person, there are some things I want to say.
Elin and I have started the process of discussing the damage caused by my behavior. As she pointed out to me, my real apology to her will not come in the form of words. It will come from my behavior over time. We have a lot to discuss. However, what we say to each other will remain between the two of us.
I am also aware of the pain my behavior has caused to those of you in this room. I have let you down. I have let down my fans. For many of you, especially my friends, my behavior has been a personal disappointment. To those of you who work for me, I have let you down, personally and professionally. My behavior has caused considerable worry to my business partners.
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To everyone involved in my foundation, including my staff, board of directors, sponsors, and most importantly, the young students we reach, our work is more important than ever. Thirteen years ago, my dad and I envisioned helping young people achieve their dreams through education. This work remains unchanged and will continue to grow. From the Learning Center students in Southern California, to the Earl Woods Scholars in Washington, D.C., millions of kids have changed their lives, and I am dedicated to making sure that continues.
But, still, I know I have severely disappointed all of you. I have made you question who I am and how I have done the things I did. I am embarrassed that I have put you in this position. For all that I have done, I am so sorry. I have a lot to atone for.
But there is one issue I really want to discuss. Some people have speculated that Elin somehow hurt or attacked me on Thanksgiving night. It angers me that people would fabricate a story like that. She never hit me that night or any other night. There has never been an episode of domestic violence in our marriage. Ever.
Elin has shown enormous grace and poise throughout this ordeal. Elin deserves praise, not blame. The issue involved here was my repeated irresponsible behavior. I was unfaithful. I had affairs. I cheated. What I did is not acceptable. And I am the only person to blame. I stopped living by the core values that I was taught to believe in.
I knew my actions were wrong. But I convinced myself that normal rules didn't apply. I never thought about who I was hurting. Instead, I thought only about myself. I ran straight through the boundaries that a married couple should live by. I thought I could get away with whatever I wanted to. I felt that I had worked hard my entire life and deserved to enjoy all the temptations around me. I felt I was entitled. Thanks to money and fame, I didn't have far -- didn't have to go far to find them.
I was wrong. I was foolish. I don't get to play by different rules. The same boundaries that apply to everyone apply to me. I brought this shame on myself. I hurt my wife, my kids, my mother, my wife's family, my friends, my foundation, and kids all around the world who admired me.
I've had a lot of time to think about what I have done. My failures have made me look at myself in a way I never wanted to before. It is now up to me to make amends. And that starts by never repeating the mistakes I have made. It is up to me to start living a life of integrity.
I once heard -- and I believe it is true -- it's not what you achieve in life that matters, it is what you overcome. Achievements on the golf course are only part of setting an example. Character and decency are what really count. Parents used to point to me as a role model for their kids. I owe all of those families a special apology. I want to say to them that I am truly sorry.
It is hard to admit that I need help. But I do. For 45 days, from the end of December to early February, I was in inpatient therapy, receiving guidance for the issues I'm facing. I have a long way to go. But I've taken my first steps in the right direction.
As I proceed, I understand people have questions. I understand the press wants me to -- to ask me for the details of the times I was unfaithful. I understand people want to know whether Elin and I will remain together. Please know that as far as I'm concerned, every one of these questions and answers is a matter between Elin and me. These are issues between a husband and a wife.
Some people have made up things that never happened. They said I used performance-enhancing drugs. This is completely and utterly false.
Some have written things about my family. Despite the damage I have done, I still believe it is right to shield my family from the public spotlight. They did not do these things. I did. I have always tried to maintain a private space for my wife and children. They have been kept separate from my sponsors, my commercial endorsements, when my children were born, we only released photographs so they ... so that the paparazzi could not chase them.
However, my behavior doesn't make it right for the media to follow my 2½-year-old daughter to school and report the school's location. They staked out my wife and pursued my mom. Whatever my wrongdoings, for the sake of my family, please leave my wife and kids alone.
I recognize I have brought this on myself. And I know above all I am the one who needs to change. I owe it to my family to become a better person. I owe it to those closest to me to become a better man. That is where my focus will be. I have a lot of work to do. And I intend to dedicate myself to doing it.
Part of following this path for me is Buddhism, which my mother taught me at a young age. People probably don't realize it, but I was raised a Buddhist, and I actively practiced my faith from childhood until I drifted away from it in recent years. Buddhism teaches that a craving for things outside ourselves causes an unhappy and pointless search for security. It teaches me to stop following every impulse and to learn restraint. Obviously, I lost track of what I was taught.
As I move forward, I will continue to receive help because I have learned that is how people really do change. Starting tomorrow, I will leave for more treatment and more therapy.
I would like to thank my friends at Accenture and the players in the field this week for understanding why I am making this -- these remarks today. In therapy, I have learned that looking at -- the importance of looking at my spiritual life and keeping in balance with my professional life. I need to regain my balance and be centered so I can save the things that are most important to me: my marriage and my children.
That also means relying on others for help. I have learned to seek support from my peers in therapy, and I hope someday to return that support to others who are seeking help.
I do plan to return to golf one day. I just don't know when that day will be. I don't rule out that it will be this year. When I do return, I need to make my behavior more respectful of the game.
In recent weeks, I have received many thousands of e-mails, letters and phone calls from people expressing good wishes. To everyone who has reached out to me and my family, thank you. Your encouragement means the world to Elin and me. I want to thank the PGA Tour, Commissioner [Tim] Finchem and the players for their patience and understanding while I work on my private life. I look forward to seeing my fellow players on the course.
Finally, there are many people in this room and there are many people at home who believed in me. Today, I want to ask for your help. I ask you to find room in your hearts to one day believe in me again. Thank you.
29 March 2018, Sydney Airport, Sydney, Australia
Good evening, thanks for coming, appreciate it. To all of my teammates, to fans of cricket all over the world, and to all Australians who are disappointed and angry – I'm sorry. What happened in Cape Town has already been laid out by Cricket Australia. Tonight I want to make clear as captain of the Australian Cricket Team, I take full responsibility. I made a serious error of judgement, and I now understand the consequences. It was a failure of leadership – of my leadership. I'll do everything I can to make up for my mistake and the damage it's caused. If any good can come of this, it's that it can be a lesson to others, and I hope I can be a force for change.
I know I'll regret this for the rest of my life; I'm absolutely gutted. I hope in time I can earn back respect and forgiveness, I've been so privileged and honoured to represent my country and captain the Australian cricket team. Cricket is the greatest game in the world. It's been my life, and I hope it can be again. I'm sorry and I'm absolutely devastated. I'll take some questions.
March 2012, Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia
Thanks Basil. I just want to give you a bit of an insight into the Saturday afternoon team. We’re a bunch of unique individuals – Malthouse, Harley, Zempilas, McLachlan and myself. We’re gonna engage with our minds and our hearts. We’re gonna exchange ideas, thoughts and even our energy. And to speak from your heart you need to have courage. You need to be honest and authentic. We’re not always gonna get it right. And sometimes, you’re not going to agree with us. But that’s okay, because just like you we care. Just like you, we’re passionate about the game. So if you want to come along for the ride, join us on Saturday arvos, because we just love the footy.
2 March 2020, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
14 June 1998, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
Well, for Bulls fans, there is of course cause for celebration tonight, after a sixth championship that came harder than the others, but there's some anxiousness mixed in as well. Who knows how all of this will play out, but it's certainly possible that tonight we have seen the last of the Chicago Bulls as we have known them, and whether it ends here or sometime in the near future, it'll be noteworthy not just for the breakup of one of the great teams in sports history, but because given the present structure of pro sports, it may be quite a while before we see anything like this again. All the organizations that have the resources, the Yankees, the Braves, the Cowboys, the Lakers in the NBA, will almost always field contending teams, but the days of continuity may be ending. Even on the best teams, there's now so much turnover, that it's becoming ever-harder to follow and identify with teams. Loyalty has been fragmented. Which brings us to an underappreciated aspect of this golden era in the NBA. It hasn't just been Bird, Magic, and Michael. It was the whole recognizable cast of characters around them that gave the Celtics, the Lakers, and the Bulls their texture, and made following them all the more interesting. Even the Jazz, noble runners-up two years in a row, are personified by the longest-tenured coach in the league, and two hall-of-famers who have been teammates for well over a decade. We'll see championship teams in the future, but will we see teams that endure in this way?
And as for Michael Jordan, all the superlatives have been exhausted and almost all apply, but perhaps the most important one is this: he's authentic. His essence is so much deeper than image, in fact the images is, in his case, an amplification of something true and substantive. Take all the money, all the adulation, all the TV cameras away, and put Michael Jordan in a gym somewhere with Russell and Oscar, West and the Doctor, and he'd be as genuine and as much in his element as any of them, his heart and his athletic integrity every bit as impressive as his artistry. So whenever it ends, it's been an incredible ride for Michael Jordan and the Bulls, and we at NBC have been privileged to be taken along for that ride. So as we say goodnight, we'd like to acknowledge the work of all the people who made these telecasts possible. For everyone at NBC Sports, goodnight, from Salt Lake City.
7 September 1980, Dublin, Ireland
Delivered in Gaelic:
“Ach freisin caithfimid cuimhneamh ar dhaoine i Sasana, i Meiriceá, ar fuaid na tíre. Agus tá said, b’fhéidir, ag caoineadh anois i láthair.”
Translated:
People of Galway, after seven and fifty years, the All Ireland title is back in Galway. It is a great honour for me, my friends, to accept this trophy on behalf of the entire team. Today is a great day to be a Galwegian. There are people over in Galway with joy in their hearts, but also we must remember (Galway) people in England, in America, all over the country and maybe they are crying at right now. I would like to thank the Limerick team for the wonderful game they gave us today. People of Galway, we love you!"
The song sung by Galway’s Joe McDonagh is ‘The West’s Awake’
Can we help you, mate? (Mumbling)
Actually, since you asked, erm, you could reimburse my plane ticket I bought to Austria three years ago under the assumption that you might qualify for the euros! JT, to them. Me, budgie, dirt box, Chinese Alan Dino and Dino's brother all booked that ticket to Austria three years ago because it was inconceivable to us that England wouldn't qualify for the European Championships! That means without the beer festival the whole thing would have been a waste of time! And yet I still believe in you. I believe in every single one of you.
Crouchy. When I look at you everything tells me you should be rubbish at football and yet you're brilliant. And you know why? Because of this: The Robot! Yeah? Where's it gone? You were hitting them right, left, center, all over the park when that was there! I know what's happened. You've started to fear the robot. You've got to let the robot fear you.I'm talking like staple, tray service swivel, can, open, drinkity drink drink yeah? What about some of these? A few turns in there? If you score a hat-trick, pull out the rope, pull out the rope.
David James. You're England's number one. You are the best you've ever been and you know why? Cos you've stopped dicking around with your hair! We've had it white, red, 'fro, corn rows okay? Let's just.. In fact, this goes for the whole team, okay? From now on, we either shave it off or it's a short back and sides, okay?
And Becks, you are not exempt from this.
Ashley. You know what, you're my favourite left back. In the world. And it hurts me to say that, cos I hate Chelsea. Just one question: What the hell's your missus doing halfway up Mt Kilimanjaro with Gary Barlow and Chris Moyles? She is a footballer's wife, I'm talking breakfast, lunch, dinner, laundry. If she starts behaving like a proper footballer's wife you will vast improvements on the pitch.
Frank. Frankie. Actually... do you know, um... Oh, do you know, err, do you know Steven Gerrard? Big scouse guy, yeah, he's got that unfortunate forward hairline? Yeah, always talk like that: (accented mumbling) Yeah, you know him? Yeah, who I'm talking about? You like him? You get on with him? Play like it then! Maybe look up and pass to him every now and then! Okay? 'Cos you are really good at football, okay? And he is as good if not a teensy bit better. I got time for you Frank.
You know that. Shaun. What I what I think we need to work on is raising the profile, you know what I mean? I'm talking clothing line, sports shoe, soft-drink, yeah? Chinese Alan's brother in law has actually got Danielle Lloyd's phone number. So, pass that to you, you two (implications) Raise the profile, yeah?
Becks, I know you're cool, gimme five. You and me, we're Essex boys and proud, you know? You went to the same school as my little sister, so practically related. It's cool, we'll text it or go down the pub, whatever you like, yeah? You're a beautiful man. With a beautiful face. JT. You are the last bastion of the old fashioned English center back. You're like Terry Butcher with a bandage round your head. Until you miss a penalty! (mocking crying) Right? I've had enough of this. We save the tears for home.
And that goes for all of us. Football's not about individuals... Football's not about solo efforts, it's about a team. And you know how we make a team work, right? How? I'm glad you asked. I'm glad you asked. David Beckham. You've got to hold. And give. And do it at the right time. You can be slow or fast but you must get to the line. They might hit you, they might hurt you, defend, attack, there's only one way to beat them, And that's around the back. So stop you if you can 'cos you're the England man! And what you're looking at is the master plan. We're no hooligans, this ain't a football song, three lions on our chests, you know we can't go wrong, we're singing for England, you're playing for England!
Come on! Come on Crouchy, yeah! Becks, come on! Yes, JT! (shouting) Cheers mate, amazing. Amazing. Thank you for- shhhh You. You talk on the pitch. Now get out of my sight!
3 August 2016, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
What lies ahead for us no one knows, it’s unwritten history
But what lies ahead of our rivals and competitors is known. A team of men and women brimming with Aussie spirit, a spirit that many in the world envy.
We’re a nation proud of our heritage.
From our indigenous Australians to those who have immigrated and sought refuge, to those born and raised on Aussie soil. We are all proud to call ourselves Australian.
I’ve been asked so many times why I’m still here, why I still ride, why I still compete.
The simple answer is, I love the feeling I get on the rare few days once every four years to wear the green and gold.
My name is Anna Meares, but it’s not my name that makes my rivals take notice.
It is the strength and pride I gain in spirit when I put on my green and gold racing gear.
I have lost more races then I have won.
I stand before you still striving for more success and still dreaming the same dream I had as a young girl in country Queensland.
I could have retired after London, gone out a winner, gone out on top of my sport.
But Rio offered a chance for me to not just be great, but to be greater again.
You’re about to represent yourself, your family, friends, team, sport and country.
It sounds like a lot. But the reason we are held in such high esteem as sportsmen and sportswomen is because we carry that Aussie spirit, that never-give-in attitude and that ‘let’s have a real crack’ mindset.
No one can find fault or disappointment in anyone who strives to be better in themselves and challenge themselves to do great things.
In its simplest terms it starts with bringing that competitive Aussie out in all of us and digging deep like Cathy Freeman, Kieren Perkins, Herb Elliott, ‘Thorpey’ and a great friend of mine, Marjorie Nelson Jackson, did in years gone by.
So to all in this team, in my team, in our team, let’s make this Olympics great.
Continue to be you, that’s what has got you here.
Continue to fight and battle and no matter the outcome I, like your family, friends, team and country, will be proud of you.
6 March 2020, Crown Palladium, Melbourne, Australia
I might keep these, I think, Dennis. Thank you. Dennis, thank you.
As we saw tonight at the beginning, there's a lot happens with that clip. And we've got a World Cup match that might get 90,000 people at the MCG, on Sunday.
We've got Russia, FINA, Sheikh Mohammed, Casa Semenya, coronavirus, Tokyo 2020, understanding mental health problems, animal welfare.
But I thought tonight I'll talk from the heart and not from the head.
Because those issues are — some of them common sense, and many of them are complex. And they are difficult to work out, even as a sports broadcaster.
I do feel like number 24 in that great race, the lowest saddle cloth possible. Particularly sitting next to Laurie tonight, and the people that have been honoured and the way that I am this evening.
I said to Annie, my wife, about three days ago, what would be appropriate tonight? And she said, "Well, Barrie Cassidy announced his retirement when he got it last year."
Dennis and I have talked a lot about the exit. How do you? And Dennis has done the soft landing — still working in Perth. But as he said to me, "You don't retire the ego." And that's the trick, I guess for all of us.
So a bit from the heart hey? I've got a lot of people that have helped me, from Gordon Bennett and Gary Fenton, through to Lewis Martin and Col Southee. And in between people like David Barham and certainly Josh Kay, who's done so much for all the broadcasters. And he is here tonight. So thank you Josh.
All of those people have made an enormous difference.
In this room I've had some the greatest anxiety that I've ever had in my life. Because this is the Brownlow Medal room. And many years ago things were going a little hairy, about a half an hour before the Brownlow. Our producer at the time, Tracy Damon looked at me and she said, "We're going to be all right. You're hosting."
If only she knew. If only she knew how I was feeling at that moment. But she did. She empowered me. I felt a responsibility. I felt for one minute that I was captain of the Channel 7 team. God, it made me lift and get my act together. So all those Channel 7 people that have helped me over the years, and those broadcasters from Sandy Roberts to Brian Taylor, and in particular, Dennis.
One of the great thrills of my life, and sad in a way, was to be with Dennis with his final AFL call. Remarkable match. When Picken did run into that open goal and the drought did finally end. An amazing day, an incredible experience for both of us to realise that our partnership was ending, and that arguably the greatest voice in football was going to be heard for the last time on an AFL grand final.
Les Carlyon, Harry Gordon, if you're a writer.
Ron Casey, Bill Collins, if you wanted to be a broadcaster. That's the way I grew up living in Adelaide. It was Bill that I wanted to be. I didn't want to call like him. I wanted to be him, to be honest. His clarity, the colour at the same time. Fact and fiction, maybe. His rhythm. His ability not to call a race, but to describe it and to read it and then to bring it home and make the hair on the back of your head stand up.
I was hooked from a very, very young age.
I've worked alongside of lot of ex champions like Robert Otie and Raelene Boyle and Jim Courier, Leigh Matthews, and they've all held my hand and helped me through. I've been fortunate. Opportunities, Seven have provided them and so did Ten. How lucky I've been to be able to speak publicly on those occasions that Dennis talked about. To talk when that ball bounces away from Stevie Milne. To be there when Glenn Boss brings Makybe Diva back, and they just stand there in front of the stand.
To be there when Winx, in the blue and white, walks through the tunnel onto the track for the final time. To be there when Carl Lewis in 1984 put the baton from his left hand to his right hand, and ran alongside Jesse Owens in the same lane, and broke the world record in the 4x100. And then Carl and Ben four years later. And then Michael Johnson's masterpiece in Atlanta. And then El Guerruj who looked like being never and then became the best ever. And then the bloke that was probably the best of them all who morphed into Muhammad Ali in the last 10 metres of the hundred metres. How dare he do that? Usain Bolt.
And then there was Cathy. And that's the one that if I ever had to look over the cliff, that was the one. And she did get away, and she did run well on the back straight. And she did explode like she did in Atlanta. And she did lift when she hit the front and she looked a winner.
And Raylene summed it up beautifully. Relief, she carried us on. How lucky am I? Opportunity. So, so fortunate. Dennis described it perfectly.
If I've got a talent... Just because I feel more comfortable talking to you right now than I did ten minutes ago, that I'm better with the headphones on, than without them on. And if I've left anything, it's, I hope I've helped someone along the way.
I'll finish by quoting something that meant a lot to me and still does us. We're all inspired by words. And when I was young, probably fifty years ago, I read this, that Gatsby believed in the green light. “The orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that's no matter. Tomorrow we’ll run faster, stretch out our arms further. And one fine morning... And so we beat on boats against the current. Born back ceaselessly into the past.”
I don't know exactly what it means. But I know what it makes me feel. Thanks everyone.
14 April 2016, Staples Center, Los Angeles, USA
Man, I can’t believe how fast twenty years went by. This is crazy. This is absolutely crazy. And you know, to be standing here at center court with you guys, my teammates behind me, and appreciating all this journey that we’ve been on. You know we’ve been through our ups and we’ve been through our downs, and I think the most important part is we all stay together throughout.
I grew up a die-hard, I mean a die-hard Laker fan, die-hard. I knew everything about every player that has played here. So to be drafted and then traded to this organisation and to spend 20 years here, you can't write something better than this.
I’m more proud about … It is not about the championships, it is about the down years. I mean we did it the right way, we got our championships, all I can do is thank you guys, thank you guys for all the support, thank you guys for the motivation, thank you guys for the inspiration.
It’s funny … the thing that had me cracking up all-night long was that I go through 20 years of everybody screaming pass the ball and on the last night everybody's like don't pass it! (followed by a big laugh).
This has been, this has been absolutely beautiful., I can't believe it comes to an end. You guys have been absolutely, absolutely beautiful. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I love you guys, I love you guys.
My family, to my family, my wife Vanessa, our daughtesr Nathalia, Gianna, thank you guys for all your sacrifices. All the time I spend in the gym and training, Vanessa holding down the family like the way you have, Vanessa I can't thank you enough, there is no way I can thank you enough for that. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
What can I say, Mamba out.
13 January 2020, Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA
It’s a vulnerable time for a lot of these young dudes, you feel me? They don’t be taking care of their chicken right, you feel me?. If they was me, or if I had the opportunity to let these young [guys] know something, I’d say take care of your money, African, because that shit don’t last forever. Now, I done been on the other side of retirement and it’s good when you can get over there and you can do what the fuck you want to.
So, while y’all at it right now, take care y’all bodies, take care y’all chicken, ya feel me, take care y’all mentals, cuz little we ain’t lasting that long. So start taking care of y’all mentals, y’all bodies and y’all chicken. And when y’all ready to walk away, you walk away and be able to do what you want to do.
5 October 2019, Melbourne, Australia
To watch video of Clarkson’s superb address, visit the Hawthorn website.
Well, we're doing things a little bit differently tonight. Get away from the lectern, Harf [Daniel Harford] has got that controlled tonight. Take Care of Our Own great song by Bruce Springsteen. Always got a Springsteen song. Got my cheat notes here because I haven't got the availability of the lecturn.
I want to tell you a couple of stories tonight. It goes right back to my childhood. I'm hoping that I can bring back some memories for you guys in terms of your childhoods, as well.
To challenge you guys, where did you fall in love with the game?
I'll tell you where I fell in love with the game.
I can remember it was 1977, I grew up in a family or a football family household, three older brothers, and an older sister. She didn't like the footy too much, but my three older brothers did.
But 1977 was the time, is a long time ago, plenty in the room, especially the young folk and particularly the players, not even born in 1977.
But I was nine years of age in 1977 in the little wheat belt town in Western Victoria, Kaniva, the Centenary Tests of cricket.
In Kaniva, you had two options, was cricket in the summer, and it was footy in the winter.
As soon as cricket season finished, you would nuggeting your footy boots, getting the footy out, and kicking it around as soon as cricket season was over. Similarly, end of September last game of the year, cricket bat, cricket balls out the next day.
That was our life. Wasn't a hell of a lot else going on in Kaniva. Thousand people, little community town.
But I'll never forget this. 1977 the centenary test, 100 years of cricket - MCG, for those that are of my vintage or older. You remember the game, Lillee took six wickets in the first innings of the English. Both teams, both the Australian team made 140, then we knocked over the Poms for less than a hundred. Lillee took six wickets, big Tangles Walker took four. Then the Aussies batted, made 400 something and the poms had to chase.
We ended up winning that test match by 45 runs. Ironically, exactly the same margin as Australia won 100 years earlier, 45 runs. But the day after, the cricket bats were in the cupboard, the footy boots were out getting nuggeted, tanned up ready for the season. And the Tommy Sharon, which I used to get my birthday was in April. Still is mind you, I got a pair of footie boots, but I always got a Tommy Sherrin.
I was a bit of a smart ass with the Tommy Sherrin, because I'd kick the absolute bejesus out of the footy, and I'd send it back to Tommy Sherrin about August each year, and just say it's gone out of shape, and they'd send me a new Tommy Sherrin. So, mum and dad only ever had to pay for one Tommy Sherrin for about 10 years.
A really important part of that phase for me was a realisation that I just loved this game. Centenary Test was over. Cricket was done. I had a love for both sports. I can't even explain why.
I can, a little bit. The only game that was televised to Kaniva, on radio in 1977, round one of the 1977 season, Richmond versus Fitzroy. Oh, I hated the Tiges, and Fitzroy, I had a bit of a soft spot for them because they hadn't won a premiership since 1944.
On this particular day. They beat the Tiges by 23 points. The scoreline 142 to 119 —shit. What's happened to our game in the last 40 years? Where do we see scores like that — but always just captivated. I was captivated by players like Francis Burke, and Kevin Bartlett. Who played for the Tiges. I was captivated by players like Gary Wilson and Bernie Quinlan, Laurie Serafini. These guys played for the Lions.
As I said, for some of the younger folk in the room, they're saying, shit, who are those players? Never heard of him before? Doesn't matter in the context of this, because I want to challenge you to pick someone on your table that you can have a discussion. When I get down from speaking some of the shit I'm going to talk about the next five minutes. I want you to have a discussion with someone on your table. It could be someone sitting next to you. It could be your partner, it could be your friend. It could be someone who's on the opposite side of your table. Have a discussion at some point on the night. Where did you fall in love with this game? Because that's where I decided that I wanted to do something special in this game.
I didn't know, how I was a long way from Melbourne, but the essence of the game, and the passion of which we all have, which is the reason why there's 1200 that fill this room, tonight. The majority of which are just so passionate about our club, and the journey that we're all on.
Unfortunately, along that journey, we sometimes lose perspective. This cracker right here included.
Their perspective, you probably recall — some of you would've been in the room, 2012, when we came here demoralised after losing to the Sydney Swans, favourites. Some of our best footy that we've played in the last 20 years, was played in 2012 and we didn't salute, but we sat in this room that night, and we spoke about Jarryd McVeigh losing his daughter. We spoke about Jill Meagher losing her life and we spoke about my brother-in-law who died of a brain tumour at 39 years of age and left a wife and two young children aged less than five. We spoke about perspective.
Then we made it human. We gave ourselves a chance for the next three years to win it, and we did. Then peanut here loses all sense of perspective, and thinks, "Okay, this game is all just about winning every year, because that's what we've done for the last three. Let's just do it again"
The challenge for us in a sense is to say it's not, we're not here to produce, Pete Nankerville spoke spoke about us just before, we're not here to produce, we want to win. Of course, we want to win, but we're not here to be produce, just winners, we're here to here to produce good people.
Our footy club is here with us to do with our administrative staff, our coaching staff, our players, our volunteers. Anyone, our supporters, our members. Anyone connected the Hawthorn, we want you to be better for the experience. There'll be some players in this room, that unfortunately their journey will finish pretty soon. Big rough nuts one of those, what was the word, Pterodact-ile Rough. The big Pterodactile. Is that the word? Is that a dinosaur of some sort?
I say that, because he asked me just before, ‘you got to get that into your speech somehow Clarko’. So, there it is Rough. I've got it out for you, lad.
But you'll probably recall a time this year we played the West Coast Eagles at the MCG … round … someone help me … round 15 … and lost by six points. We kicked something like, Oh shit, someone in the audience will be able to tell me, 8.16 or some bloody … there were a few challenges around our goal kicking coach that week, but we played really well, but lost on the scoreboard.
I think Reevesy will sit here, and acknowledge this. Jeff did too. I was as low as shark shit after that loss, and no matter what Reevesy could try to do, and Jeff to try to give me some sort of perspective. Usually with Jeffrey Gibb it's the other way around. I'm trying to give him perspective and he's trying to have standards and expectations so high. But on this particular occasion he was trying to have empathy, and comfort for me and say, "listen, it's not so bad. We played pretty well, but we just got beaten." I was nearly inconsolable.
Not in tears, but in a pretty low spot.
Then fortunately, despite our season looking like it was on the brink, five and nine, something happened that was pretty significant. The next week we played Collingwood, on a Friday night, and the focus of winning &and losing just went straight out the door. Why? Because we're saluting to absolute rippers. Ben McEvoy, Luke Breust played their 200th games. Who gives...
In terms of what they do, whether we win or lose, who cares? Really? It's just like go out and play our best, but no matter whether we win or lose, we're going to open a couple of cans after the game, and salute magnificent contributions that they've made to our footy club. Well, just the bonus. We knocked off the Pies that night.
Two weeks later, we play the Cats, top of the letter at that point in time, Liam Shiels, played his 200th game, best on ground Pup, I hope you get the votes tonight, lad. Another chance for us to actually say, here's a celebration of our people.
Not long after the Bullet or Silk as you guys all know him. 372 games. Wow. Unfortunately, we lost that game, but in terms of perspective. We didn't say anything about the game, what we did well, or what we did shithouse after the game. It was just like "Bullet, well done, mate. You've played more games than any indigenous flyer has ever played in this game."
We're in a little bit of a worry at this point in time, however, because it didn't seem just like win, lose or draw. We're pulling out the esky and having a few cans after a game.
Then I'm probably forgetting one somewhere along the line. But we get to play GWS in Canberra. Unfortunately, I got my shirt off on the Friday night, or Thursday night.
Which I get a text message from my daughter and my wife, simultaneously "Put away the blubber", but celebration, because the forecast is that we're going to be playing in snow! There has never been a game of AFL footy played in snow, and the Hawks have got the chance to play in it. You fucking, beauty!
In addition to that, we have named a debutante player. He's a refugee from Sudan, who's come via Ethiopia. For those ain't great at geographics. Is that right? Geographics? Geography. That is desert country. He plays his first game in the snow. Wow. What an unbelievable story for his family. What an unbelievable story, for our club. He plays his debut. This is the only game in AFL history that's ever been played in snow. We play it and we belt the Giants on their home deck.
The next week because we're good blokes at Hawthorn, the Pterodactile, plays his last game for our footy club. We're playing a little bit of a game, me and Rough for probably six weeks. We planned this. We didn't want to disrespect. Dewy and the Gold Coast Suns by announcing it early, because sitting there "Oh, well, who cares if we just playing the Gold Coast Suns? We'll just play anyone. It doesn't matter.
We didn't want to be like that Dewy is a great friend of ours. Mark Evans is a great friend of ours. We've got a lot of respect and regard for their club. No matter how tough they're doing at the present time. Plus things can happen in footy. We were hoping like hell that Birch, who is tracking at the same time to play 250 in that Gold Coast game. He's a great mate of Rough Nut’s. We're hoping that there'd be a double celebration. This is the vagaries of the game. Birch gets hurt. He can't get there.
We tell Rough six weeks out, and tell the public six weeks out, that Rough's playing in that game. Anything can happen in footy and you look like an absolute peanut. So, we leave it until the Monday. Rough, and then it's like Rough was saying, let's just leave it till Thursday until selection. It's just like, mate I'm going to get lynched if we don't announce it on the Monday. So, we eventually convinced Rough, let's get it out there, and then by the end of the week you'll be ready to play, and play he did six goals big fella, what a send off!
So, naturally enough we put the beers on after the game, again! Bit of a celebration of our people. What a magnificent finish to a magnificent career for our club. 15 years of unbelievably decorated service. Not just in terms of what he's able to do on field, but what he's able to do off field for our club. How he developed as a man.
The next week we played the West Coast Eagles, we've got 190,000 paid up members from Collingwood and Richmond rooting for the Hawks! There was a fair few West Coast members that weren't too happy when we knocked them off, though. But Richmond, Collingwood, and of course our 81,000, and a little bit more, Hawks members, were rapt with our performance, but it was Isaac Smith's 200th game for the Hawthorn footy club.
Another chance win, lose or draw to celebrate a fantastic career for our club, and not worry about the result. Just worry about our people. Unfortunately, as I said earlier, I wish I could have maintained that perspective through 16, 17, 18, and the first part of 19, perhaps a little bit better than what I have, because for a hundred years or longer, this club has always been just about it's people. If we continue to make it about our people, then whatever happens, win, lose, or draw really, who cares? If you're investing in one another as much as you possibly can, then the results and that sort of stuff, we'll just look after themselves.
Something really special happened at our footy club in Grand Final Week. Thank Christ something cheered us up in that week, because when you’ve been in finals, it's hard to actually sit through finals knowing that we got the capability of getting there, and we don't, we didn't get there.
Being Grand Final Week, the club organised a couple of things. The first one is they got together a group of our players, and their partners, and their children, which was great to see. Lakey down at the club. Hodgey was there, Mitch was there. Shaun was there, Poppy was there. Jordan Lewis was there. Mitch helped me out. Who have I missed? Haley was there. Sewelly wasn't there. I've got it on my cheat notes here. I'm going to have to go to them. I got Lewis, Roughead, Howe, Mitchell, White, Puopolo, Burgoyne, Hodge. I've got them all. That was pretty good. Having all of those enormous contributors to our club. Plus their partners plus their kids who have now grown up, some of them five years later from what they were in 2013 when some photographs were taken off them, one on the MCG in the confetti doing this sort of stuff. Beautiful photo. Lakey driving around in that fucking Gatorade truck.
Some beautiful images, but to see their kids, and to also once again get a bit of perspective, because Lakey's been going through some tough times, and for us to understand that we're trying to make everyone better people out of being associated and linked to our footy club. Lakey strange enough will be a benefactor of that too. going through it tough at the moment. But what usually happens when you go through it tough like that the pride of the male says, "Oh, I'm not going to lean on the club." Lakey lean on us. Lean on us. We're here to help you, mate. Like we are for anyone at Hawthorn.
Two days later, we had another function which is organised by Axel Foley, Nathan Foley, who runs their academy programme and next generation, that sort of stuff. He ran a programme where he invited all the father, son, daughters, of players who have played at the club in the last 20 years or so. Now, I can't remember all these names, so I'm reading them off. Nathan Thompson, Kris Barlow, Clinton Young, Crawf brought his for boys with Olivia. Ben Dickson, David Hale, Rick Ladson, Rayden Tallis, Brad Sewell, Steve Green, Paul Hudson, Scotty Maginness, Timmy Hazel, Richie Vandenberg, Mark Graham, Shaun Burgoyne, Michael Osborne, and there was kids everywhere. It was gold, it was absolute gold.
Let's just go to the screens, we've got about a two minute video, I reckon, maybe even less than that of just...
That was a pretty special day, because it was all about our people was particularly special for me — There's two things. One is there's a lot of players there like the Maginnesses, and the Hudsons, and the Barlows, and the Thompsons, and these sorts of guys who were of an era before my time at the club. You'd understand why Lado would be there, and Ozzy, and Vanders, and Dicko, Crawf. ‘Just like, Oh, I've still got a connection to the club, and I've got a bit of a connection to Clarko’. What was really significant to me was that these guys were saying to themselves, "Listen, I'm Hawthorn. All I need is an invitation to come back again and the invitation was forwarded, and we'll be doing that every year. it was just like such a fantastic day for our footy club.
The second part about it that's significant for us, it's really the essence of my whole talk. Remember where you were, if you can with that conversation that you have with someone, when you fell in love with the game? Really the Hawthorn footy club in a sense is just the vehicle for these lads to be on a journey with their partners, and eventually their families, which we saw so many of them there, just then. The Hawthorn footy club is just a vehicle, I was at a function in Grand Final Week with Leigh Matthews, and Leigh said, unfortunately through his whole career either playing or coaching, he didn't really find much fun in the game. It sort of surprised me a little bit. No fun in the game. He found challenge, and stimulation, but not much fun. Through the challenge and stimulation though there is just unbelievable growth, because there isn't a footballer, Rough Nut included. Wow. What about his journey? He’s had unbelievable highs, and unbelievable lows, whether it's to do with injury or illness of which to endure over his 15 years at our footy club. He's had just amazing support from Sarah, his own family, Sarah’s family, these extended mates, and the Hawthorn footy club, and the wider football community I might add that's helped him through a really, really tough period in his life. And we don't wish that upon anyone but he doesn't succumb because he got so much support around him. Hawthorn support, family support.
And it’s the journey of life, and this is what I'm saying. What happened to me for a couple of years there, where I lost that nine year old passion, and love, and essence of the game, which was just, I just got to find a way somehow to find that nine years of age back in Kaniva following a game, Richmond v Fitzroy on the radio, and somehow on that day, cause it's the only game that's broadcast on radio. We didn't even have colour TVs back there in Kaniva back then, we're the last town in the state to go under the proper telephone exchange. I can still remember a number, Kaniva 238, and sometimes you could hear the actual lady who was doing the connection, she'd still be on the line listening to your conversation. That was the life that I grew up with. I had that passion for the game. I had to find a way somehow from Kaniva to live my passion, and get involved in this great game.
But if we lose perspective along the way, the game becomes a prick, and none of us can allow that to happen. If you let wins and losses be the thing that determined and condition how we have an attitude towards our players, our coaches, our club, one another, the workplace, then we're going down the wrong track. Let's keep some perspective. Rough, you’re a beautiful, beautiful man, because you've given us such an opportunity to actually keep perspective in our lives well done mate, great career.
They gave me five minutes to speak, and I've just taken 35. So, sorry if this night goes an extra half an hour for you guys, especially the girls that want to get on the dance floor, but keep things in perspective. One last thing. We've got a video to play now, goes for about a minute, or a minute and a half. This is perspective. This is a video of our volunteers that gives heart & and soul to our footy club. No money. They just love the club. They love our players. They love our people, and they give their heart & soul, because they just love the club. Thanks guys. Cheers.
Trent…I sort of choke up speaking about this guy and what he means to me and what he means to our football club
I love what he does, I love how he’s led the club, and it’s a real credit to him.
I watch this kid forensically, so I know exactly what he does in and around the club.
The influence he’s had on the Norm Smith Medallist and the Brownlow Medallist (Dustin Martin), has just been profound.
I’ve got no doubt that without Trent’s influence, he’s (Martin) not anywhere near the player he is today.
This guy (Cotchin) will go down as an All Star in the Richmond Football Club Hall of Fame.
He’s an incredible player and we’re very lucky to have him and he’s a Premiership captain, so I couldn’t be any happier for him.
28 May 2012, Madison Square Garden, New York City, USA
Let me tell you something, if tomorrow wasn’t promised, what would you give for today? Forget everything else. Forget everything else. Forget that there was any sunlight left. What would you spend today thinking about? Yourself? Or the man that’s beside you. Or the man that you know you’d give everything in your heart for? We get one opportunity at life. One chance at life to do whatever you gonna do. To lay your foundation and make whatever mark you’re going to make. Whatever legacy you gonna leave. Leave your legacy! And it’s found through effort. Wins and losses come a dime a dozen. But effort? Nobody can judge effort ’cause effort is between you and you. Effort ain’t got nothin’ to do with anybody else. So that team that think they ready to see you? They think what they’ve seen on film? They ain’t shown what film shows. Because every day is a new day. Every moment is a new moment. So now you’ve got to go out and show them that I’m a different creature NOW than I was five minutes ago. Because I’m pissed off for greatness. Because if you ain’t pissed off for greatness, that mean you okay with being mediocre. Ain’t no man in here okay with being just basic. So let’s do what we do. Tonight, we ain’t got to worry ’bout taking no breaks. Don’t worry about — [Inaudible due to cheering.]
8 January 2009, Dolphin Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida, USA
Hey Let’s go! Get in here! Get in here right now! Hey, we got 30 minutes for the rest of our lives! 30 minutes for the rest of our lives! That’s our bet on first down, it ain’t happening! We get the ball, I promise you one thing, we're going to hit somebody and take it down the field for a touchdown, I guarantee you that. Look at me! Look at me! We got 30 minutes for the rest of our lives, let’s go!
17 July 2016, Palm Beach, Florida, USA
What is a legacy without a journey? What is a journey without a destination? What is a destination without a plan? Every last one of you must be (inaudible), but without a plan there is no journey. Without a plan there is no vision. Without proper (inaudible) there is no vision. Without reading not reading my bible every day there is no vision. Without praying every day there is no journey, there is no destination. It’s only one way you make it to the next level. You’ve got to put it all together. Everybody that’s sitting in this crowd with orange and black jerseys right now on I’m going to tell you the truth. You are at a disadvantage because now everything is distracting you.
When we grinded the only grind we wanted to feel was pure competition. Beat me and it aint in no video games brother. Y’all don’t need to be the most popular person on Twitter. I’ll tell you what, when you step in between those lines that’s what we’re letting go. That’s what we’re letting go. We’re letting go the essence of what the University of Miami was built by. It’s built by pure competition. One on one battles. Then I’ve got to share something with you.
No matter what level you ever go to in life forget how big the cameras. Forget how much the league makes. Every day of your life will be a one on one battle. And you know the scary part about it? It aint even about the next man. The one on one battle is with yourself. How much time are you really going to waste man? This program here taught me something that I will never forget in my life--that my identity is greater than my brand and it will never change because of my foundation of why I wanted to do what I did. Because I wanted to turn my mother’s tears into smiles. That’s why I aint never stopped. The game may stop, but who I am lives forever.
“I think the challenge that I’m asking you guys right now is let talent be what talent is, but man you’ve got to take talent to a whole ‘nother level. You know how many camps in the country that’s going on right now? So what makes you different? What makes someone point you out in the crowd? What makes your legacy live forever?
Do yourself a favor when you get home. Look up the definition of trailblazer and look up the definition of pathfinder because in today’s times we’ve got a lot of pathfinders. We’ve got a lot of followers. Everybody wants to follow, follow, follow, follow, follow. It’s amazing that social media can tell us something and we want to follow something before we respect you. Understand how valuable your brand is man. Everything that you put out there can now come back. That’s a fact. That’s where we are in life. Aint no more secrets. Aint no more getting away with nothin’ and so the only thing you can ever invest in is yourself. If I was going to bet on anything in my life I’m going to always bet on me.
But when I look into these kids’ eyes, when I look down I’m looking for something different. I don’t care how fast you run. I’ve never been the biggest, the fastest, the strongest, but I promise you aint a man flat out out-work me in my life because I made up my mind and it was bigger than just sports. I made up my mind to be in bible study every Wednesday night. I made up my mind to be in choir rehearsal every Saturday. I made up mind to lead Sunday school every Sunday. I made up my mind to go to the 4 o’clock service on Sundays. I made up my mind that I wanted my protection to be always over me and I wanted me to always be covered.
Then I went to the league and played 17 years and watched this revolving door of younger athletes and faster athletes and stronger athletes and I watched them walk right out the door. Simply because I figured out one thing. You may out-run me once, you may out-run me twice, you may even be stronger than me, but effort—the only reason I stayed around was because of effort. Every time the coach turned on the film there was something about 52 that started right here.
I’m only telling you about this program because this program is the foundation (inaudible). You can do whatever you want to do in life, but if the next level is the key, man we breed them. We breed them. That’s what we do. If you want a brotherhood then you come down here. It aint no sales pitch. One thing about is we don’t sell people to come to the ‘U.’ Either you’re for us or you’re not. This aint a one-time thing. This isn’t a if-I-want-to-go or I’m-not-sure-I-want-to-go. If you don’t, it’s alright. But if you do your life will change forever. Doors will open for you that you aint never seen in your life open.
I’m asking a different fight now. I’m asking a fight that men take back who we are. I’m asking young men to go back and understand what say ‘yes ma’am’ and ‘no ma’am’ and what ‘yes sir’ and ‘no sir’ still mean. I’m telling men to pull up your pants. Pull them up and put them around your waist. I’m telling you to walk with integrity. Keep your chin high. That’s what a man does and a young man follows in a man’s path. It’s time to switch it now.
All of the fast running out here, what happens when you go home? I promise you my greatest ability was not in front of a coach. It’s what I did on my own. That’s what my greatest gift was. When nobody was watching you that’s what I believe true discipline is. I believe discipline, true discipline, is when nobody is watching that you can make yourself. Challenge yourself. Do it for yourselves. Don’t look for somebody to praise you. Don’t look for videos to be the top ones. You know who you want to praise you? Every time they look up they will say something about you, something about you, and then they’ve go to tell the truth about you.
My second year in the league I made my decision on one thing, I said I wanted to be the greatest ever to do it. I said I wanted to be talked about at Thanksgiving dinner when people are sitting around the table and they talked about the greatest who ever came through--I wanted to be that guy. I started push-ups at 10 years old to make sure no man would put his hands on my mom again. I just got through with 2,500 this morning. It don’t stop. Just because the game stops, it don’t stop.
Let me talk these leaders real quick. Let’s be men. Let’s lead young men that respects women, that respects their mothers, that respects the order. That’s what we breed. What coach (Mark) Richt has brought to this program and what he’s trying to bring back to this program is what we’re built on and that’s family. If I spread my fingers out individually (inaudible), but if I close my fist that’s a hell of a punch because they’re all working together. Make your decision. Figure out where you want to be. But if you’re wanting to do something really. If you really trying to go to the next level this is it. This is where you buckle down. This is where I started from. This is what I’ll never forget.
Take this for the rest of your life. It’s never what you do that will haunt you. It’s what you don’t do that will haunt you. It’s never what you do. It’s never how many catches you catch. It’s how many times you fall on your face, but I still find my way back. It aint about the fall. It’s about the get up, and again, and again, and again, and again. And keep getting up. Because when you’re really destined to be great there’s a lot of people that don’t want to see that. That’s why my haters became my greatest motivators. I love my haters because they kept getting me up every day. What you did today was just a start. You guys have to go back and finish something.
Some of you guys have made up your mind that you’re going to do whatever you’re going to do, but I’m trying to explain to you is if you come here, we’re built to build men, that we’re built to build character. It was a built to build integrity. That’s what we breed. Hurricanes are for life. That’s why we say, ‘It’s all about the ‘U,’ because realistically it’s really all about you and what you want to do. Don’t waste no more. Write down everything even if you don’t think you need to write it down. I’m 41 years old and I still write down everything I eat to this day. In 23 years I haven’t eaten pork or beef, 23 years because I said I wanted to be the greatest. I don’t drink soda. I don’t eat after 8 o’clock. I drink two gallons of water every day. You think I like it? No I hated every day of training, but if it meant to lift my life as a champion the rest of my life I’d do it all over again.
Every man here has an opportunity. Every parent here did one thing. They brought you because they believe in you. Now it’s up to you to believe in yourself. That’s where the ‘U’ comes in. It’s all about the ‘U’. Thank you.
31 August 2013, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
We're BC. It's not just about 11 on the field at one time. This program is not built on that. This program is built on the WHOLE FAMILY. Together. Fighting for each other.
13 October 2001, Miami, Florida
I'm hurt, dawg; don't ask me if I'm all right, Hell, naw. Joaquin [Gonzalez] said, 'Dominate,' and we're not doing it. I'm putting my heart in this shit. Let's go, man.
