[AUTHENTICITY CERTIFIED: Text version below transcribed directly from audio]
Thank you. Thank you all. Thank you all very much.
Standing up here on this platform -- Standing up here on this platform is much different than I imagined. With all that has taken place over the past several months, the reality of getting into the Pro Football Hall of Fame didn't really hit me until a couple of days ago, as there was an overwhelming sense of -- that this is really going to happen, and even more so as I stepped up on this stage and just seeing the magnitude of all this and all of you. I appreciate your support.
There has been so much excitement and activity since the announcement that it's been hard to sit back and think about the significance of what all this really means. By being here, I realize now that it's more than just having a bust made of yourself and -- and wearing a gold jacket. And when you take the time to kind of look through all the hype and the celebration that comes along with this, you see that it's really all about this history and tradition of the game, and about an elite group of athletes who helped make the game what it is today.
My class and I -- My class and I had a luncheon with all the Hall of Famers yesterday. And as we were eating and some of them started standing up and -- and talking, I took a moment to just look around the room, and I focused on the face of each and every Hall of Famer that was in there. And I suddenly realized that I was sitting in the middle of a room of the greatest athletes that have ever played this game: some who played just because they just -- for the love of the game; some who broke through the color barrier and persevered through the struggles of racism; and others sacrificed for the benefit of those who have followed in their footsteps.
And for me, it was a privilege for me to be sitting in that room with them, some of which I never knew, some of which I've watched in awe growing up, wanting to be like them, emulating them; and others that I've had the opportunity to play with, compete against. And even though they were my competitors, I greatly appreciated and respected their abilities. And I loved playing against them because they were the best, and they helped to bring the best out in me. And now to be standing here next to them as one of them is truly an honor and an awesome, awesome moment in my life.
Getting here did not come without controversy, as I'm sure -- as I'm -- as I'm sure it did with some of the guys sitting behind me. But through it all, I'm here with a greater appreciation for something that not every player is able to achieve and for the people who stood up for me and spoke out on my behalf -- like David Elfin and all of you out there. The love and support I received these past seven to eight years, has been overwhelming. And I appreciate it very much.
And what -- what I've tried to convey -- what I've tried to convey to those who were upset about the process was that I was okay with it. But in all due respect, that as great as this honor is, it's not what really defines who I am or the things that I've been able to accomplish in my life.
I'll always be known as a Redskin. That's right.
And even now as a Hall of Famer, the one thing I want to make very clear is that my identity and my security is found in the Lord. And what defines me and my validation comes in having accepted his son Jesus Christ as my personal savior. And what defines me is the word of God and it's the word of God that will continue to shape and mold me into the person that I know that he's called me to be. So I've learned a long time ago never to put my faith or trust in man, for man will always fail you. Man will always disappoint you. But the word of God says that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. And He will never fail you. And that is what I live by and what I stand on.
Being included into this fraternity is pretty -- is a pretty humbling experience for me. I always grew up seeing these guys as giants and legends who made significant contributions to the game of football. And it's pretty hard for me to believe that I've now been included as part of them. Growing up I was never voted the most likely to succeed. And there was never anything about me that would have given anyone the impression that I ever would have played in the NFL, let alone to be standing here.
There's a scripture that I think about almost every day and I've come to personalize to my life. It says: "Lord who am I that you are mindful of me?"¹ And the Apostle Paul says, "Think of what you were when you were called. Not many were wise by human standards. Not many were influential. Not many were born of noble birth."² And when I look at my life and how I grew up, I certainly had none of those qualities or benefits. But I understand and I know that I'm here not by -- by in and of my own strength but it's by the grace and the power of God upon my life who I know gave me favor along the way and who provided opportunity and room for me to use my gifts. So I am very grateful to receive this honor, and I can stand here before you and say, hey, look at me, look what I did. But if I'm going to boast, I'm going to boast today in the Lord, for it's because of Him that I'm here and I give Him thanks and glory and honor for all that he has done for me.
There's obviously a lot of people -- you've heard my classmates talk about -- there's a lot of people who played a vital role in me reaching this platform from White Plains, New York, to Syracuse University, Washington, D.C. There have been school administrators, teachers, coaches, staff members, fans, family and friends, who encouraged me and gave me direction for my life. I wish I had time to acknowledge all of you today individually -- something that I plan to do some time in the near future.
But there are a couple of groups of individuals that I would like to mention. I've had some great teammates over the years, and obviously I wouldn't be here because of them. We've worked hard. We've -- We've battled together. We've cried together. And we've shared some great times together. But there are a couple of teammates, groups of teammates that I would specifically like to mention who really made a difference for me.
When I first arrived at the Redskins, there was a group of guys there known as the Over the Hill Gang. And these were partially gray haired, cigar smoking, trash talking veterans who were serious about their football and who played really hard. And because I was an incoming rookie, they gave me a hard time; physically and mentally they tested me -- not just to see and to prove me worthy of wearing the burgundy and gold, but to see if I would be the type of player that would fit in to being a team player and one that they can trust and count on. These guys were also full of experience and wisdom and often they would pull me aside before practice, during practice, after practice, outside of practice and give me valuable words of wisdom about myself as a person, my skill as a wide receiver and about the game of football being played in Washington, D.C. I am grateful for those men. I've learned a lot from them. And they really helped set the ground work for the rest of my career.
I'm close with a lot of my former teammates that really helped me along the way. But there's one specific group that has become like family to me. There's Monte Coleman; there's Charles Mann; there's Darrell Green; there's Tim Johnson and Ken Coffey. Because they're the ones who not only took the time to share the gospel for me -- to me, but they also demonstrated it in their lives, which allowed me to receive the gospel for myself. And this was a life changing experience for me. Their example showed me what it meant to love and serve and honor your wife and to be faithful to her and to be the right example for my children. I greatly appreciate God using them and -- and -- and putting them in my life. Thank you, guys.
One good thing about meeting the Hall of Famers this past week is you also get to know their -- meet their wives as well. And I was stopped in the -- in the -- in the lobby a couple of days ago by a couple of the wives and they told me that I had better not get up here and give my speech without mentioning my wife; because they said their husband, when they were in this position, didn't do so. And I'm not sure if I should mention their names. But the Bible says that, "He who finds a wife finds a good thing."³ And our children are a blessing from the Lord. And I can't tell you, or I can't think of the words appropriate enough to really explain how truly blessed I am to have my wife Desiree of 26 years; and my three children, James, Danielle and Monica, which I'm extremely proud. They don't know me as Art Monk; they know me as dad and husband, and they've loved me they and stood by me through all these years, put up with me, with my moods, coming home from practice. But they've shown me unconditional love, and I just want to say I love you guys. I love you very much. Thank you.
I learned a lot of things from a lot of people but it's been the influence of my parents and my sister and the biblical foundations that they've laid in my life that has made me the person that I am today. Of course, they've encouraged and they supported everything that I've ever done. But they also demonstrated a life of godly and steadfast character. It was what I saw in them, in the life that they lived, that made the difference more than what they said. They taught me not to just become a man of success, but a man of value and character. And it's those same values that I've tried to instill in my children.
It is these qualities that I also live by and what most people have come to know me for. My dad passed away a few years ago. He would have loved to have been here. He loved watching me play. He loved coming down from New York, traveling, picking up a bucket of chicken for my kids to eat when he got to the house. And I can see the look on his face now.
My mom wasn't able to travel to be here with us today, but I know she's watching. Hey, mom: I love you. My sister is here, and I just want you guys to know how much I truly love you, appreciate you, and that the words that you spoke and the example that you've shown me did not go unnoticed. Thank you.
But from the time I first picked up a football, I just -- I fell in love with this game. It's all I ever wanted to do. From playing tackle in the streets of White Plains to playing in the stadiums in the NFL, I never ever imagined that it would take me this far. It's taken a lot of hard work and sacrifice and the belief from people at times when I didn't believe in myself. I've experienced some exciting moments. I've met some extraordinary people and I have a lot of great memories that I will never forget.
This is the icing on the cake for me, and I take it very seriously. And I'm extremely honored to now be included with this group of elite athletes and to do so with my Class of 2008. I will wear the banner with pride. And I will represent it well.
Thank you.
Book/CDs by Michael E. Eidenmuller, Published by
McGraw-Hill (2008)
¹ Psalms 8:4 (adapted)
² 1 Corinthians 1:26
³ Proverbs 18:22
Audio Source: ESPN (TV)
Image #1 Source: Sports Illustrated
Image #2 Source: ESPN.com
Image #3 Source:
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