The Greek On Life & Rocky Balboa

I want to personally thank Sylvester Stallone for his contribution to society in creating and writing the words spoken by this inspirational character. Sylvester, before he became famous, spent some time working at a metal products fabricator and wholesaler on American Street in Philadelphia. I know this because my father and I would shop there for sheet metal used for restaurant kitchen wall cover etc. They were very proud of him.

The story of this man's own personal triumph, as detailed in the DVD version of his first film, Rocky, written and produced by him, is something worth owning. One particular piece within that documentary that I found interesting was that Stallone was offered $100,000 for his script. He turned it down, despite being near penniless, and made the film himself. Had he accepted the money, he would probably still be an unknown actor today. Instead, he turned down the lesser treasure to continue in the pursuit of his dream, and the rest is history.

I think that this particular scene, in the conclusion to the saga, Rocky Balboa, will go down as one of the most inspirational scene's in filmmaking history and be shown again when Sylvester is inevitably honored into the industry's hall of fame. Fictional characters in film like Rocky, Zorba, George Bailey, have inspired me, as have triumphant characters of real life like Peter Lynch, Winston Churchill, John F. Kennedy. Thank God for men like these and for genius like Sylvester's.

There's a Greek song with the lyrics, "I was born different. I am from those who win when they lose." Rocky's quote fits in with this character trait perfectly, and is something people like me, who find hope with each morning's first light despite a seemingly endless stream of challenge, live by. Never quit. Never give up. Like Rocky says, "life isn't about how hard you hit, it's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward." God bless those of you facing struggles. I say to you, keep standing. Fighters fight!