Excerpt
From his father he learned reason in the face of setback and how it applies to life.
Dad never hesitated, and with stern but encouraging words said, “Herm, you gotta get the corners!” He continued with that strong and military commanding voice, “Son, he paused, don’t be afraid of the broom!”
Dad would stop the car and say, “Get out, son, we’ve got to look to the east.” And they would look toward where the flag was and salute. Nobody would see them if they didn’t, but they would know.
To be great takes effort, commitment, preparation, self-sacrifice and determination. It’s a long hard road to achieve greatness. Greatness and fame can go together, but greatness must precede any true fame.
I think Herm has three simple rules. One is like, “Be on time.” The other is “Be professional.” And the third one . . . I can’t remember the third one. -Joe Bommarito
How did I make the game (NFL football) better? Did I leave it better than it was left to me?”
Herm #46 - Cornerback, Philadelphia Eagles
Joe Bommarito has Edwards’s approach pretty well pegged. “You know, when you win, that’s easy,” he says. “But if things go bad, Herm doesn’t point the fingers at anybody. He looks at himself first. He’s going to keep working. He’s not going to dwell on something negative. He’s going to pick it up and say, ‘Let’s keep moving, let’s look for the next one. There’s something good up ahead. There’s something good out there.’”
You play for the history of the game and for all of the people who have ever played the game. It’s not for the name on the back of the jersey; it’s for the logo on the helmet.”
Quit? Not on my watch,” he fired back. Then he continued, “You play to win the game”-and looked right at the reporter who was writing, “Hello?” Herm said “You play to win the game.”
The Youth Foundation camp is winning that battle with the kids. They do dress differently than Herm did when he was their age, but he’s impressed with their values, integrity, and sportsmanship. As an example, at the football camp kids are given shirts, shorts, and travel bags. They put their names on each of their bags, but they leave their bags and other personal items lying around as they work out at the camp. Wow! These kids come from a wide variety of backgrounds, yet they respect the rights of others. In nine years the TYF camp has never had one-not one-personal item stolen. They are making a difference!
The Prayer of a Sportsman
(author unknown)
Dear Lord, in the battle that goes on through life
I ask for a field that is fair
A chance that is equal to all in the strife
The courage to strive and to dare.
If I should win, let it be by the code
With my faith and my honor held high.
But if I should lose, let me stand by the road
And cheer as the winners go by.
