The Greatest Motivational Speeches in Sports History

In sports, the mental game is half the battle of any victory. You can train all you want, practice all you want, and run through every single play, but you still won't come out with the win if you and your teammates aren't mentally prepared. Great coaches all know this, from guys like Vince Lombardi to Jim Valvano. Being a great coach isn't just about managing personalities and laying out schemes, it's also about being a master motivator.

Of course, moments of great motivation in sports don't have to just come before, during, or after a game. They can happen in moments of honor or awards or vulnerability. As Kevin Durant's MVP acceptance speech proved to us last week, an individual award can also be a platform for recognizing an entire team, and the sacrifices made by loved ones for the good of another human being. It's times like these that sports inspire, motivate, and energize all of us.

So, since it's Ray Lewis' birthday today, and the former Baltimore Ravens All-Pro linebacker is one of the greatest emotional leaders in all of sports, we put together The Greatest Motivational Speeches in Sports History for you to sit through and enjoy. Feeling like you need an extra push to get to the weekend? Sit back, and take a listen. After hearing one of these, you'll feel like you can climb Everest.

15. "I'm Hurt, Dawg."

Speaker: Ed Reed
Date: 10/13/2001
Team: Miami Hurricanes
Situation: Halftime of the 2001 Miami-Florida State rivalry game

Sometimes, a motivational speech doesn't have to be long in order to be effective. A moment that is short and sweet can easily be just as inspirational as long-winded oration, and with a man who is as soft-spoken as All-Pro safety Ed Reed, it shouldn't be surprising that his speech would go straight to the point. Back in his senior season with the Miami Hurricanes, Reed and his teammates found themselves down 21-13 at halftime against their rival Florida State, putting their perfect season in jeopardy.

However, as they were readying themselves to head back out onto the field, Reed delivered a few choice words to let his fellow 'Canes know that they needed to step it up. "I'm putting my heart in this shit, dawg," he screamed. "Let's go, man!" Thankfully, Reed's teammates heard him. The Hurricanes would score 27 points in the third quarter en route to a 49-27 victory.

14. Who Am I?

Speaker: Coach Flowers
Date: Unknown
Team: Leland High School JV football team
Situation: Pre-game address for JV conference championship

In terms of intensity and preparation, Coach Flowers of the Leland Chargers takes the cake on this list. Firstly, he has his players ready to respond with the "I am a champion" remark. Secondly, he has a script in hand. Thirdly, he's playing music from The Last of the Mohicans in the background.

Honestly, the entire affair is borderline insane—especially when you consider that this was for a JV football game—but you have to love his commitment to the production, and if this doesn't get you motivated or pumped up in the least bit, then you should consider getting your pulse checked.

13. We Are BC

Speaker: Steve Addazio
Date: 8/31/2013
Team: Boston College Eagles
Situation: Pre-game address for Boston College's season opener

In his first season as the head football coach for the Boston College Eagles, Steve Addazio wanted to let his players know that they were part of something bigger than one season or one team. "We’re BC," he told them. "It’s not just about 11 on the field at one time...This program is built on the whole family."

Addazio was speaking of the entire Boston College football legacy, a lineage that spanned back for decades, and one that those players were now members of. And in his first game with the team, Addazio's players did well to represent that history, defeating the Villanova Wildcats 24-14.

12. Pissed Off For Greatness

Speaker: Ray Lewis
Date: 5/28/2012
Team: Stanford Cardinal men's basketball team
Situation: Pre-game address for the 2012 NIT semifinals

We've seen it countless times before throughout Ray Lewis' storied career: the Baltimore Ravens defensive leader acting as the team's emotional compass. However, we'd never really seen Lewis provide these services for another team until the Stanford Cardinal men's basketball team brought Lewis into their fold for the 2012 NIT tournament.

The NIT may not be that prestigious anymore, but that wasn't going to stop Stanford from making it a once-in-a-lifetime moment. With Lewis' help, the Cardinal learned they needed to be "pissed off for greatness." And clearly, they were. The team would go on to defeat their opponent, UMass, by a score of 74-64 before winning the entire tournament in the next round.

11. I Know Your Heart

Speaker: Derrick Moore
Date: 9/1/2007
Team: Georgia Tech football team
Situation: Pre-game address for Georgia Tech's season opener

As the team chaplain, Derrick Moore had a close relationship with the members of the 2007 Georgia Tech football team. And when the squad was getting ready to start up their 2007 season, he let those guys know how much it meant to them.

"It has truly been an honor to know each and everyone one of you by name," he began. "I know your heart." Delving into this relationship, Moore continues his speech with an evangelical fervor, letting each and every player know that they have what it takes to succeed. On that day, the Yellow Jackets proved Moore correct. They squashed the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, 33-3.

10. Manic Aggression

Speaker: Paul O'Connell
Date: 2/11/2007
Team: Ireland rugby team
Situation: Pre-game address for Six Nations Test versus France

Rugby players are a different breed, as they willfully put their bodies on the line for every test without any of the protection that an American football game can offer. However, it's not just the physical differences that separate rugby players from the rest. It's also the mental aspect, as you'll see from Paul O'Connell's stirring, but intimidating, pre-test speech for Ireland's Six Nations test against France.

O'Connell wants his teammates to "put the fear of God" in their opponents, among other, equally intense objectives. Since the speech, O'Connell has admitted that he's now "embarrassed" about the moment (perhaps because Ireland ended up losing the test), but we believe that he still deserves recognition for rallying his teammates no matter how over-the-top his methods may have been.

9. We Got 30 Minutes For the Rest of Our Lives

Speaker: Tim Tebow
Date: 1/8/2009
Team: Florida Gators
Situation: 2009 BCS National Championship Game

With his Florida Gators knotted with the Oklahoma Sooners in the 2009 BCS National Championship Game, Tim Tebow wanted his team to come out of halftime ready to win. After a lackluster first half, the game was tied at just 7-7. However, Tebow declared that it wouldn't stay that way for long. "We get the ball, I can promise you one thing," he said. "We're gonna hit somebody, and we'll take it downfield for a touchdown." The Gators would make good on his guarantee, edging out the Sooners 24-14.

8. It's Not Going to Come Easy

Speaker: Vince Lombardi
Date: 1/14/1968
Team: Green Bay Packers
Situation: Pre-game addess for Super Bowl II

Vince Lombardi is the kind of legendary figure in sports whose presence and poise often meant more than his words. As the head coach for the Green Bay Packers, Lombardi led his team to the first two Super Bowl titles in NFL history, first over the Kansas City Chiefs, and then over the Oakland Raiders. However, in Super Bowl II, there were some who felt that the Raiders would have a chance to defeat the Packers after the hard-fought game Green Bay had endured against the Dallas Cowboys in the previous round.

Sensing a possible letdown, Lombardi let his team know what they needed to do in a succinct, but inspiring, pre-game speech. "Just hit, just run, just block, and just tackle," he told them. And it was as simple as that. Green Bay would go on to win 33-14.

7. It's About Us

Speaker: Drew Brees
Date: 12/26/2011
Team: New Orleans Saints
Situation: Post-game address after the Brees broke Dan Marino's single-season passing record

It isn't often that you see a player go out of their way to thank every member of the organization or the team that they're a part of after they've earned an award or broken a record. However, after breaking Dan Marino's long-standing record for most passing yards in a single season back in 2011, Drew Brees made sure that everyone in the locker room knew how much they meant to him when he was given the game ball by the coaching staff.

"It's about us," Brees said, as he thanked the equipment managers, the owners, his teammates, and seemingly everyone he could think of. At the end of the speech, it should be clear to everyone why the New Orleans Saints have enjoyed all the success they've earned with Brees at the helm: his unshakable belief in the concept of teamwork.

6. This Is Your Everest

Speaker: Jim Telfer
Date: 6/21/1997
Team: British & Irish Lions
Situation: Pre-game address for test against the Springboks

With the British & Irish Lions playing the underdog during their 1997 tour in South Africa, assistant coach Jim Telfer knew that he needed a way to properly inspire his Lions players to victory. And as they were readying for their first test against the Springboks, Telfer succeeded in his mission.

"You have an awesome responsibility on these eight individual forward's shoulders, an awesome responsibility," Telfer began. "This your f***ing Everest boys. Very few ever get the chance in rugby terms to get to Everest, the top of Everest. You have the chance." The Lions would seize the opportunity, winning their test series 2-1 in a considerable upset.

5. You're the Real MVP

Speaker: Kevin Durant
Date: 5/6/2014
Team: Oklahoma City Thunder
Situation: His acceptance speech for the 2013-14 NBA MVP Award

Last week, in what was one of the longest and greatest acceptance speeches ever, Kevin Durant gave an off-the-cuff and passionate explanation of what winning the NBA MVP Award meant to him, and how exactly he got there. Many were touched by the words he said about his mother, thanking her profusely for everything he gave him and the rest of their family. "When you didn't eat, you made sure we ate. You went to sleep hungry. You sacrificed for us. You're the real MVP," he said.

However, it wasn't just the love for his mother that grabbed everyone's attention. It was also the fact that Durant wanted to thank every single one of his teammates, especially his superstar counterpart Russell Westbrook, when detailing how he managed to earn the prestigious award.

For years, Durant had been labelled as "too nice," a sort of backhanded compliment that he finally managed to shed this year by ruthlessly dominating teams night in and night out. However, in his most vulnerable moment yet, everyone was glad to see that KD could still be the nice guy when the time called for it. KD's words motivated the Thunder to a 112-101 victory over the Clippers the following night.

4. It Ain't About One Play

Speaker: Ray Lewis
Date: 1/22/2012
Team: Baltimore Ravens
Situation: Post-game address for the 2012 AFC Championship Game

After a tough loss to the New England Patriots in the 2012 AFC Championship Game, the Baltimore Ravens weren't feeling good about themselves. A stripped pass in the end zone had prevented the Ravens from scoring the winning touchdown in the closing minute, and a missed field had kept them from tying it at the last second. However, Ray Lewis wasn't about to listen to anyone who wanted to moan about the loss or a single play.

"We fought as a team," he said in the locker room. "The fact is, we gotta come back and go to work." They certainly did. The Ravens would avenge their AFC Championship Game loss in the next season against the Patriots before capturing their second Super Bowl title in Super Bowl XLVII.

3. This is Our F***ing City

Speaker: David Ortiz
Date: 4/20/2013
Team: Boston Red Sox
Situation: Pre-game address to Boston fans

After the 2013 Boston Marathon tragedy, the city of Boston was in need of a boost to their morale. So, with the city turning out in huge number for the April 20 game against the Kansas City Royals, star player David Ortiz knew that he needed to bring up the crowd's spirits. It wasn't a long, eloquent speech, but it was incredibly effective.

First, Ortiz let them know that the Red Sox represented the city of Boston, and not just the franchise. After that, he thanked the Boston mayor, the Massachusetts governor, and all the public service employees who had helped Boston citizens during the horrific incident. Then, out of nowhere, Ortiz said his now-famous line: "This is our fucking city. And nobody gonna dictate our freedom. Stay strong." Mind you, this happened on live television.

However, given the gravity of the moment, it's hard to believe that anyone would complain about Ortiz's sentiments.

2. Leave No Doubt

Speaker: Billl Stewart
Date: 1/2/2008
Team: West Virginia Mountaineers
Situation: Pre-game address for the 2008 Fiesta Bowl

Interim head coach Bill Stewart took over the West Virginia football team at a tumultuous moment. Former head coach Rich Rodriguez had just left the team to take the job as the Michigan Wolverines HC, leaving his Mountaineers players without their offensive mastermind and leader. However, Stewart wasn't willing to let his players get too down about it. With the Oklahoma Sooners waiting, Stewart needed his guys to be ready to play.

"Let 'em know," he told them. "Leave no doubt tonight! They shouldn't have played the old Gold and Blue!" He was right. The Mountaineers would dominate the Sooners by a score of 48-28, making the loss one of the worst in Bob Stoops' career as the Oklahoma head coach.

1. Don't Ever Give Up

Speaker: Jim Valvano
Date: 3/4/1993
Team: N/A
Situation: The 1993 ESPY Awards

With cancer ravaging his body, former NC State men's basketball coach Jimmy Valvano was determined to make one last stand to the public, delivering a speech at the inaugural ESPY Awards that would come to define his legacy.

During his speech, Valvano candidly explained the consequences of his illness, but still bravely rallied support for his cause, and remained adamant that no one give up hope. "I just got one last thing," he said. "I urge all of you, all of you, to enjoy your life, the precious moments you have." And on a closing note, Valvano famously expressed, "Cancer can take away all my physical abilities. It cannot touch my mind, it cannot touch my heart and it cannot touch my soul. And those three things are going to carry on forever."

Valvano would succumb to cancer on April 28, 1993. However, the Jimmy V Foundation for Cancer Research lives on to carry his name.