What’s the lesson to be learned from Super Bowl LI?

 

What’s the lesson to be learned from the New England Patriots’ 34-28 victory over the Atlanta Falcons in overtime on Sunday night?

 

What’s the lesson to be learned from the Patriots, behind by a whopping 25 points with two minutes left in the third quarter and seemingly out of the game, rallying to win with 31 unanswered points?

 

No, not the football lesson. That’s for the football people, such as Falcons head coach Dan Quinn, who must still be in shock, to worry about.

 

Instead, we’re talking about something bigger – much bigger, in fact – than football. It’s called life.

 

I know, I know, some of you may not realize there is something bigger than football, but there is.

 

And the lesson to be learned is this: Whatever the endeavor and no matter how bleak it may look, never, ever give up. There is always a chance for success. Like the saying goes, you never really lose until you quit trying.

 

We all find ourselves in difficult, hopeless and even impossible situations from time to time. It’s inevitable. It’s been part of life since time began.

 

But you can’t give in to the temptation to just throw up your hands and walk away because you never know what may happen if you just keep working at it. You never know when your relentless effort is going to be rewarded.

 

Yes, it sounds trite and corny. Yes, it sounds like a line right out of one of those motivational seminars.

 

Yes, it is all of that and more.

 

But it’s true. It’s really true.

 

The Patriots proved it on Sunday.

 

And the 1986 Browns proved it as well. Trailing the New York Jets 20-10 with 4:14 left in the AFC divisional playoffs and fans streaming out of Cleveland Stadium in droves, the Browns rallied for a 23-20 victory in double-overtime.

 

Browns Pro Football Hall of Fame tight end Ozzie Newsome was pictured running with the ball in a scene from the game on the next week’s cover of Sports Illustrated with the tag line, “Never Say Die.”

 

Never.

 

Ever.