It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat. The Mavericks lost to Tularosa 35 - 0 today, but aside from the agony of defeat that I am sure you are feeling right now, in the long run you are champions. Yes this is a cold comfort I am sure, but you are great. The last game did not end like we wanted it to, but I.. WE are proud of you. It is not an easy task to win as much as you did, and you are to be congratulated. Your spirit of team pride carries on with the whole town of Lordsburg. "Winning isn't everything," that is a phrase you will hear, but don't think it a meaningless saying. Many wars were won after a number of lost battles. Just look at the big picture, and you will see that this is true even here. Did you gain from this season, and did you learn something? This was a defining moment, that shows character, and in a defining moment either you define the moment or the moment defines you. In the face of defeat, did you try? Did you do all you could do? Just getting there showed you tried, and I am sure you did all you could do. It is possible to make NO mistakes, and still fall short. In defeat did you show the character of a champion? That is what you are. You left here champions, our champions, to face another town's champions. When you return you will still be our champions. Don't forget that. To try and fail does not define a loser, that is a trait revealed in the character and attitude of the one who fell. Are you going to let it make you a loser? That is up to you.You went there a champion, and even though you fell short, a champion you will remain. The lion may one day fall, but if he does fall, he fell a lion. Trophies are great, but in the end it is what is in your heart that you take with you.
