Summary: The coach of the Rhode Island Little League team gave one of the most inspiring post-game speeches after his team was eliminated from competition.
When Cumberland American, a team from Rhode Island, was eliminated from the Little League World Series, their head coach gave what will go down as one of the greatest post-game speeches of all-time.
The coach, David Belisle, provided his players with a reason to continue playing baseball into their futures with this speech. He did not yell at them, berate them or show his disappointment in the team’s loss. Instead, he told them how proud he was of their effort and that they would be his boys forever. If you love sports, even if you don’t, you need to listen to this speech. It lasts no longer than two and a half minutes, but is powerful nonetheless.
Here is the transcript of the speech:
David Belisle: Everybody, heads up high, heads up high. Let’s talk for a moment here. OK, got to see your eyes, guys. OK, there’s no disappointment, OK, in your effort, OK, in the whole tournament and the whole season. It’s been an incredible journey, OK? We fought. Look at the score 8 to 7, OK, 12 to 10 in hits, came to the last out. We didn’t quit. That’s us! Boys, that’s us! The only reason why, OK, I’ll probably end up shedding a tear is because this is the last time I’m going to end up coaching you guys. But I’m going to bring back with me and the coaching staff is going to bring back with me, you guys are going to bring back something, OK, that no one other team can provide, but you guys. That’s pride, OK? Pride.
You’re going to take that for the rest of your life, what you provided for our town in Cumberland. You had the whole place jumping, right? You had the whole state jumping. You had New England jumping. You had ESPN jumping, OK? Because want to know why? They like fighters. They like sportsmen. They like guys who don’t quit. They like guys who play the game the right way, OK? We cut down to the nitty-gritty. We’re one of the best teams in the world. Think about that for a second. For the world, right? So we need to go see our parents because they’re so proud of you, OK? I want more. I want a big hug. I want everyone to come in here for one big hug, OK? One big hug. One big hug. Then, we’re going to go… Then, we’re going to celebrate. Hey, boys, then we’re going to go celebrate it with our parents, and then tomorrow, we’re going to celebrate and then we’re going to come back home to a big parade, OK? Got it?
Team: Yes, coach.
David Belisle: I love you guys, I’m going to love you forever. You’ve given me the most precious moment, OK, of my athletic and coaching career, and I’ve been coaching a long time, OK? A long time. I’m getting to be an old man. I need memories like this. I need kids like this, OK? You’re all my boys, OK? You’ll be the boys of summer, OK? So for the last time, we’re going to try to suck it up, and we’re going to yell, “Americans,” OK? One, two, three…
Team: Americans!
David Belisle: OK, boys, good job.