VICTORY AND DEFEAT- COMPETITION AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS

Super Bowl Champion Washington Redskins Rick "Doc" Walker and Todd Liebenstein

Motivational speaker and SportsTalk 980 WTEM broadcaster Doc Walker and Herndon High World History Teacher Todd Liebenstein met with Philosophy students on March 3rd, 2004. They discussed the nature of competition in sports and in life. Below are pictures, questions and quotes.

Pictures by Sara Fontanez and Doug Graney

Maddy, Mr. Walker, Elliot, Mr. Liebenstein and Katie

Mr. Liebenstein: You will have to sacrifice for something that you really want. All of you that have goals, dreams, you're going to have to somewhere along the line sacrifice something. It may be time, family, whatever it is to achieve that goal.

I feel privileged to have been part of that 1982 (Super Bowl winning) team. I got to hold the Lombardi Trophy, I got the ring. I am part of that unit that I will take with me forever. When I run into guys like Doc, even though I was a rookie, there is that bond. It's pretty special.

When facing adversity you don't sulk, you don't point fingers or place blame or anything like that. The thing you have to do is accept it and move on. Don't waste time feeling sorry for yourself.

Don't be afraid to change. There's not many people that wind up in the career they choose when they were leaving high school.

Mr. Walker: My philosophy for young people who are at the high school level is that you are creating habits. And if you create habits where it becomes easy for you to do the right thing, you'll be creating success for yourselves down the road.

I'm someone that believes in a lot of fun, but I also understand limitations. You earn the right to have a great time based on your academics and based on how open-minded you are and how smart you are.

I have failed more than most people. Failure is something you have to digest. If someone tells me they haven't failed a lot, then they have not attempted a lot. You can avoid failure by having no guts. So I'm not afraid to fail because in order to succeed, you have to put yourself on the line.

It's always avoiding mistakes that leads to success.

You should have flexibility and don't be afraid to go into the unknown.

Sarah: Mr. Liebenstein, if you had won that 2nd Super Bowl would you have still become a teacher?

Mr. Liebenstein: I probably would have gone down that same path.

Ryan: What is going through your head when you had to sit out a game because of an injury?

Mr. Walker: It's hard...if you miss anytime there are 15 people looking at it like an opportunity. If you miss time, you are teeter-tottering with being out of the league. It's horrible. It's cruel. They treat you like crap because it's a business to them (management) and all their focus goes on the people that are there (that can play).

Mr. Liebenstein: You have to suck it up, rehabilitate and move on.

Elliot (left): Prior to games, did you do anything to psyche yourself up or any crazy superstition?

Mr. Liebenstein: I just listened to music. But everybody was different.

Mr. Walker: I just liked watching Dexter Manley. He would do the wildest things.

Griffin (back): Is winning everything?

Mr. Walker: When you're a player it should be, but that doesn't mean it is right.

Mr. Liebenstein: I don't think winning is everything. I think the desire to win is extremely important in anything.

Cheryl: It is weird for you to see Joe Gibbs coming back? Are you thinking "my coach is back"?

Mr. Walker: Not a bit. Part of me is happy, part of me is sad. I could have been very happy with him never coaching again. When you come back you risk failing. He's willing to take that risk and I admire him for it. But he has different circumstances now.

Mr. Liebenstein: I was really excited. I was surprised.

Suzanne (center) : What sacrifices did you have to make to become a pro athlete?

Mr. Walker: Well, your summers suck. No vacations. It was a very sheltered, abnormal life.

Mr. Liebenstein: I was miserable. When I was a football player I spent endless hours lifting....

Ryan, Mr. Walker, Sara, Mr. Liebenstein, Katrina

Sara: Knowing that you have reached the top possible achievement in your football career, how do you react as a parent when you see your children make mistakes? Do you feel they should be able to achieve similar success?

Mr. Liebenstein: When I've found out in parenting is that my kids are not alike. One of my sons plays lacrosse and that's great because I'd rather not coach my son. I don't want to have to get on him in practice and then be his dad at home.

Mr. Walker: I don't put any pressure on them, but I'm realistic. I'd rather they did not play football. You don't have smarts if you play football.

Katie and Mallory

Challenges met, challenges to come...