Strength of A Champion

[503_ravens_fan]

I was honored to receive O.J. Brigance's book for my birthday and I have to say its a very powerful book. The emotions that it brings up is amazing. After reading it, like Ray Lewis I find myself not willing to complain about anything. O.J. your a hero man. I really hope the world gets to read your words cause they have changed me for the better.

[Jokerraven]

I was honored to receive O.J. Brigance's book for my birthday and I have to say its a very powerful book. The emotions that it brings up is amazing. After reading it, like Ray Lewis I find myself not willing to complain about anything. O.J. your a hero man. I really hope the world gets to read your words cause they have changed me for the better.

I just got it too and I can't wait to read it just need to find time .

[Strength.52]

  I just ordered mine. I've never seen a team rally around an individual like this EVER. Everybody in the Ravens organization has so much respect and seems to be impacted so much by OJ. The 2012 Ravens went through a lot of adversity / emotion on and off the field, but OJ's presence and spirit during the Playoffs was the #1 Driving force that propelled them (at least it seems so) - I don't know honestly if there is another professional team that would have rallied around and embraced a guy in OJ's state.

 

I don't mean that in a negative way. I think teams could say they might rally around someone going through a struggle like OJ, they might even appear on the outside and in the media to be rallying around someone like that, and they may even genuinely want to rally around a guy, but inside the way the 2012 Ravens team are built - Built through a team-1st mindset and a faith / belief that a lot of teams are uncomfortable to tap into (Led by leaders who aren't afraid to speak up in John Harbaugh and Ray Lewis), the Ravens team truly used OJ as a catalyst and #1 Leader for the Playoffs Run.

 

   I think the story is also powerful just because of the contrast between styles of leadership. Ray Lewis is perceived as a loud leader by most people, willing to speak up and fire up his team, etc. That's great. Oj's leadership is the exact opposite on the outside (Literally because he can not talk and does not speak like Ray Lewis), but on the inside it's been obvious that both Ray lewis and OJ Brigance were preaching the exact same thing last year. I think using both of those men's emotional / leadership / will / determination / every intangible imaginable last year in the PO's was really incredible for the men in that locker room.

 

An article I read said that OJ gave a 15 minute speech the day of the Super Bowl and from then on, I think Harbaugh said they felt a presence in the room and knew that they would win. Combining that speech w/ Ray lewis's speech the night before that Ravens players said they cried over, the player's most likely got an incredible feeling heading into the Super Bowl. (Which again, I don't think other teams could duplicate because other team's were not as close-knit and open as the 2012 Ravens and it would just seem "fake" if a player did such a thing ... I'm not saying that other player's can't give good speeches, I'm saying it would not have the effect of a speech from OJ or Ray lewis ). People saw Ray Lewis's leadership last year, but OJ's leadership was even larger in my opinion and the fact that his impact on the 2012 Ravens has been overshadowed makes it even more special I think. Only the men in that locker room know the impact he had ... and through this book, hopefully we can see a little of that impact. Can't wait to read it!