David Belisle, one of the most inspirational coaches in Little League World Series history, speaks to his Cumberland American LL team after it's crushing 8-7 loss to Jackie Robinson West of Chicago, Illinois.
This is the type of coach that every coach should aspire to be. He lead his kids to the very top of the game and when they lost (and it was a great, tight game) he shared with them that there is value in losing if you lose with self respect. Most importantly he didn't withhold his admiration, respect, and love for them. Those kids will forever remember Coach Dave and the tremendous impact he had on their lives. That is the kind of immortality that no trophy can come close to representing. R-E-S-P-E-C-T...
That coaches speech to his players are one of those gems you don't forget, and know that he has his players interest at heart. I would be honored to shake that man's hand out of respect. When I ran track & field, my coach was tough, *but* he was also very inspiring and compassionate knowing the game.
I have never seen a coach do a better job of putting something that big into perspective. That speech shows that the manager of that team had a lot to do with those boys getting as far as they did. Just wow.
This coach is awesome and his speech is so inspiring. I've seen some comments about no crying in baseball. Yet you hear about coaches going off on Umps or parents going off on Coaches or going off on their kids, all in Little League. He's so right. Sportsmanship is so important and these young men had a great mentor/coach. They'll never forget him.
This coach gets it. By "it" I mean what Little League baseball is. I respect this coach just for this speech he gave his team. Not only did he teach these young men about the game but being a role model.
It's maybe hard to explain the attachment that you develop with young many over years of playing baseball together in Little League but I can totally relate to where Coach Belisle is coming from, the emotion of coaching a group of young men for the last time but at the same time the tremendous amount of pride you have in seeing them develop and mature over the years.
If a flying bat tore the arm off any of the players, they'd suspend somebody, but there'd be an inquiry into the whole worlds of baseball, medicine, and physics on how a toddler managed to do such a superhuman act.
I see an ESPY award coming soon for Coach David Belisle, for best motivational speech in little league history. I'm just saying... PS... Put on "The Last Samurai soundtrack- Hans Zimmer "Taken"" to this great motivational speech...
HOPE PEOPLE LEARN SOMETHING FROM THIS VIDEO!!!! LIKE HOW TO BE A ROLE MODEL AND MENTOR!!!! AMERICA NEEDS MORE MEN LIKE THIS!!!! BOYS NEED MORE MEN LIKE THIS!!!!! :)
From someone who didn't have a male role model growing up, I appreciate this man's words to these kids...They will take them with them for the rest of their lives. Good coach, greater man right there.
Good Manager...Teaching the kids what is really important about sports,.it's not just about winning and losing...It's about competing and doing your best, getting knocked down and getting back up...building resolve and character...so when you go out in life and things don't always turn out in your favor....you can cope with it.
wish I had a coach like Belisle. He is the main reason, besides the kid's talent, they got this far. They don't make them like Dave anymore....nuff said
I always said if I won a championship I'd cry, if I lost a championship I'd cry. I love what this coach did, let those kids know they're fighters. In a tournament like this teams are going to lose but it's OK as long as you go down swinging. I love sports.
For people saying the speech was "cookie-cutter"... well, maybe. But it was undeniably *heart-felt.* Yes, it could've been better scripted in a movie, but not nearly as authentic. While few people will remember who won this year's little series, these losers will rack up millions of views, and become a reference point for countless people.
Hollywood emotionalism comes from the same pit that all of us draw from. Hollywood could rip your heart out in seconds, but they'd lose customers to desensitization. Porn wrecks sex.
Heartfelt, poignant, gracious, respectful and inspirational! Great work guys, this coach made me relive every precious moment of my Little League experience. I can hardly push the tears aside. Perhaps these words have been spoken before, but not with such depth and admiration....you go coach Belisle!
Now THAT is how you coach a little league team. No wussy "everybody wins" crap. Nor the other extreme of "you guys suck". Just a perfect balance of of dignity and strength. They took a loss, they took it well, and they walked out of there with their heads held high knowing they left everything they had out on the field. There's no shame in losing. There is only shame in quitting. Those boys didn't quit, and their coach didn't quit on them. God bless you, David! You're a shining example. May the world be filled with more like you.
As a native New Englander who recently moved from Ferguson, MO after 13 years to a different part of MO. I can say I miss my fellow New Englanders. We get it.
Coach Belisle's statement: "If everyone would play baseball like the Cumberland Americans, this would be the greatest game" is only half true. If every Little League coach were like him and all teams played baseball like the Cumberland Americans then it would truly be the greatest game.
I think the parents need to hear this speech. Over the years, We've all seen and heard stories of Little League parents to bitch out the coach, umpires and THEIR OWN KIDS because they lost a game. Folks, these players are KIDS. They aren't getting paid for this. When it comes to kids, they should be concerned with HAVING FUN AND ENJOYING THEMSELVES. Not worrying if mom and daqd afre going to make a scene because they struck out.
I don't care how many times he said okay, mkay whatever. This man is an amazing coach and more importantly a good man. He left his wife at home stricken with cancer to attend the LLWS with his team. I only wish they could have made it further in the tournament. He is an inspiration and I wish only good things for him and his family. For those of you making rude and idiotic comments, I won't stoop to your level and join you. I will say you should be ashamed of yourselves. Period.
The only thing great about the speech in my opinion was him saying, 'Im an old man, I need memories like this".. those kids will remember that man for ever. Even after he departs from this world.
Congratulations Coach Belisle, his staff, and Team ! You may not have won the world series but you definitely set the pace on and off the field for the World of Sports. Your right coach......" What a great game baseball would be if all teams performed the way you folks did. Thanks for the great games !
Forgot to mention the best coach in the tournament, the Dick Vermeil of little league. Well done, this should be mandatory viewing for all kids athletic coaches.
I hope they show this video in the Jackie Robinson West law suit. I'm sick of hearing about how they shouldn't have had their championship taken. Every time I hear someone talking about how it's not fair to the Chicago players I want to force them to watch this video.
Honestly it's not that big of a deal they didn't need to take away their title they got there and it's not like some of he players were miles and miles out of the boundary they were just a couple minutes out it wasn't a big deal
talk some motivation into those criminals who were 6 miles from the park instead of 5, absolutely despicable. obviously didn't work hard and totally cheated their brains out
These kids are 11-13 years old dude. This is what kids dream of. Playing in the little league World Series and having a chance to be the best team in the whole world. I'm sure you'd be crying to if you made it that far only to come up a few wins short.
"losing doesn't make you loser" - etthehiphoppreacher good coach teaching kids to lose with dignity and that just because they lost doesn't mean they aren't good they are one of the best little league teams in the world and thats not easy, takes a lot of hard work. props to these kids and their coach.
One of the most incredible instances of deep paternal love has been interpreted into Biblical proportions. The Pastor where I work as an accompanist used the Ps. 121 (abt. raising eyes to seek the Lord), to illustrate what coach B. truly meant. He also referred to Jesus walking on water, and then helping Peter (who started to sink when his eyes left the Lord's). The truth of life's many lessons is contained in the Coach's emotional truth. We are all truly blessed for his noble insights. Ann D.
What a true coach saying this, to his team. I have never seen a Coach like this saying, this to the youngest team like this.!!!!!! wow !!!!!!!!. this brought me to tears, in a good way. This Coach deserves an award, For giving a speech Like This.
What a nice man. I grew up with a dad or any positive male influence in my life. Now as an adult I see how important moments like these are to our kids and how it shapes their character.
I am youth basketball coach and this speech makes me cry today was my first game with i9 sports and i played them this speech and then i added to it telling them we have to work to hard and we got our first w today
