You know Peyton Manning as a future Hall of Fame quarterback, corporate pitchman and deadpan comedian.
But how about Peyton Manning, master orator?
Manning spoke at the University of Virginia's Valediction ceremony on Saturday, displaying real wisdom in encouraging the latest class of graduates to see the world a different way in their quest to make the world a better place.
"Some people will tell you that today is the divide between childhood and adulthood, between fantasy and the real world. They'll tell you it's time to get serious because the real world is a cruel place, one in which you'll need to play by adult rules. Well, I disagree," Manning said. "If the real world isn't kind to newcomers, then it's because the people in it have chosen to be unkind. You and your future coworkers have the ability to change that. More than half of the world's population is under 30 years old. There are so many of you earning a diploma from the universities of Virginia, Tennessee, Michigan, UCLA, and others, that the sheer number of you creates a gigantic opportunity to change the workplace as we know it. Shake it up. Be the ones to throw open the shutters and let a little fresh air in. And while you're at it, make the workplace a more civil place to be. You have the power to influence change in so many ways that have never existed before. Make kindness a priority, not a blurred line."
Manning shoehorned in some football analogies, including throwing passes to three lucky but terrified spectators, and Charlottesville-related yuks (Manning's wife, Ashley, is a 1997 University of Virginia graduate) but the majority of his 20 minutes were well-written and well-researched nuggets championing the strengths of Generation Selfie.
"There are some people that will criticize your generation's altruism as childlike fantasy, yet you're the generation that can put ethics and values back in vogue again. You're the generation that can challenge leaders in business, government and other professions to make decisions based not solely on the bottom line, but on what's good for your community and others halfway around the globe."
More Manning: "When you're challenged for your naievete, remind your critics that an amateur built the ark, experts built the Titanic." I'd like to see a rookie wide receiver tell Manning that when their sight adjustments disagree.
"If you really want to be a game-changer out there, become a master observer. Just the willingness to stop and look at things that no one else has even bothered to look at enables game-changers to identify real points of meaning. The simple process of focusing on things that are normally ignored can be a source of great power and creativity," said Manning.
(HT SB Nation)
Manning wasn't the only football figure to give a great speech over the weekend.
Here's Eric LeGrand:
And Mack Brown: