Interestingly
enough, even though I’m not a big sports fan there are a few sports themed
movies that do capture my attention. One of the few is a recent (2016) football
movie called “Greater”. But it’s not just about football, it’s a story about
faith, it’s a story about life and it’s a story about following your dreams. This
is the story of Brandon Burlsworth, a wanna-be football player, who time after
time was told he wasn’t good enough to go pro.
From
a young age Burlsworth wanted to play football, and not just play, but play for
the Arkansas Razorbacks. There was just a couple of small problems: namely that
he really didn’t have much of what football coaches were looking for. A lack of
ability and skill definitely stood in the way of his reaching his goal.
But
he refused to take no for an answer, and every time he was told he wasn’t quite
good enough, he asked what he could do to get better. Even when the answer
reeked of sarcasm, he took it at face value. I couldn’t help but be impressed
by his dedication, which led him to do whatever was asked of him, and then add,
so what’s next?
Sometimes
it seems that everything is going against you and there’s nothing left to do
but quit; but quitting was never an option for Brandon Burlsworth. He didn’t
always have it easy at home, his dad was an absentee father who showed up
occasionally and made promises which he rarely kept. His older brother wasn’t
always available, but his mother believed in him. The other thing he had going
for him was a constant faith in God which got him through one heartache after
another. We have a generation of ‘fatherless children’ growing up, but here is
a reminder that God doesn’t disappoint like earthly fathers tend to do on
occasion.
Throughout the film we see Brandon
getting up earlier than his team mates, early enough to read from his Bible, and
then to hit the practice field earlier than anyone else on his team. And he is
also the last to leave. Every weekend he makes the drive home from college so
that he can take his mother to church.
What makes Brandon's faith stand out
is not how he tried to prove that he had it, but the simple fact of how he
lived it. As time went on the team members who made fun of him for his glasses,
his faith, his weight, or any other reason, saw how he responded and
started following his example. They started going with him to Bible
studies, and their lives changed as a result of his unwavering faith.
If
you followed Arkansas football, you might remember the tragic end to this story:
"Eleven days after being drafted into the NFL and before he was able to
sign the contract that would have changed the financial status of his family
forever, Brandon died in a car accident on his way home. His death stunned the
state: He did everything right, and yet he was snatched away before he and his
family could enjoy the fruits of his labor." But the legacy lives on through the charitable
foundations founded in his name. Scholarships are given, and walk-ons
are much more likely to play ball than was the case before
Brandon Burlsworth refused to give up.
Brandon’s
story was a testament to determination and the power of faith, and the power of
family support. I recommend you have
some tissues close by if you watch this movie!
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Creed II is a testament to the resiliency of the human spirit
and the power of family. The movie, which stars Michael B. Jordan and Sylvester
Stallone premiers next Week (Wed, Nov 22), just in time for your holiday
weekend.
About The Movie (Synopsis)
Life has become
a balancing act for Adonis Creed. Between personal obligations and training for
his next big fight, he is up against the challenge of his life. Facing an
opponent with ties to his family's past only intensifies his impending battle
in the ring. Rocky Balboa is there by his side through it all and, together,
Rocky and Adonis will confront their shared legacy, question what's worth
fighting for, and discover that nothing's more important than family. Creed
II is about going back to basics to rediscover what made you a
champion in the first place, and remembering that, no matter where you go, you
can't escape your history. The film releases in theaters on Wednesday,
November 21. #CreedII
Watch the TRAILER HERE
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