Precious real-life lessons from 'Rudy'

People go to the movies mainly for entertainment, but it doesn’t hurt to get practical tips on how to live life and deal with the challenges that knock one down along the way.  The 1993 film "Rudy," for one, tells the story of real-life Notre Dame football player Daniel “Rudy’ Ruettiger, who’s a short young man who builds his life around the dream of playing for the popular Fighting Irish.  Here are some lessons from this film.

Fight for your dream

There will be plenty of naysayers along the way, but that’s okay.  Rudy wasn’t supposed to play football if his own family were to decide, and he didn’t have the built of an athlete or the natural skills linked to sports. All he had was drive, but that sufficed.  Mockery from his family or teammates weren’t enough to block his way to winning and overcoming.

Build on your strengths

It’s important to know your strengths and work to get better at them.  Be a better teammate while at it: look for the strengths of others (not their weaknesses), offer constructive criticism, and hone that leadership ability.

Don’t stop at goal setting – work toward them

Rudy had realistic dreams all right: to wear the uniform, get on the field for a play during regular seasons, and “get his name in the tiniest print in the school archives,” according to the late film critic Roger Ebert.  It wasn’t about going to be a starting member of the team, but instead, suit up for a single game and get on that field just once.

But one practical, attainable dream doesn’t mean being half-assed about it: work hard, go through the often punishing process, and beat the odds. 

George Ammar subscribes to a healthy lifestyle by prioritizing fitness. As for movies, he is a fan of sports films such as "Rudy" and the "Rocky" series. For similar reads, visit this page.

Will LeBron take the Lakers to the Finals in just his first year?

LeBron’s departure from Cleveland was, for many, almost an inevitability. It’s no wonder Cavs fans are not as bitter as they were when James left for Miami. After all, LeBron has delivered on his promise to bring another championship to the state.

Image source: fadeawayworld.net

The offseason focus and speculations have now shifted to LeBron’s arrival in Los Angeles, and to whether he can quickly bring another NBA ring to the storied Lakers franchise or not. Indeed, the player movements surrounding James’ are indications of such a move: Magic Johnson has managed to acquire veterans Lance Stephenson, Rajon Rondo, JaVale McGee, and Michael Beasley to play alongside King James this coming season. 

The lineup is certainly not patterned after Golden State’s. But it’s in the contrary philosophy that this move truly shines. No NBA team in the past three years has been successful in beating the Warriors in their own high-offense game. Perhaps the trick is in going against that grain and working on a more defense-oriented backbone powered by veteran smarts. After all, James will provide the offense. And the Lakers has kept its promising bunch of rookies in Kuzma, Ingram, and Ball. 

This early, the Lakers lineup is truly enviable for its sheer depth and the presence of reliable players in every position. People forget, too, that James is not getting any younger; despite his stellar showing in recent seasons, the 2019 season is still a step forward to his eventual retirement. With more teams in the league becoming solid contenders themselves, there’s no question that this Lakers strategy is clearly packaged to pay immediate dividends. 

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George Ammar is a businessman who’s also very much into sports and fitness. He supports various sports franchises including the Cleveland Browns, Cleveland Cavaliers, and the University of Notre Dame's football and basketball teams. For related posts, visit this link.