Brian Dawkins Gives Motivational Speech to Phillies Prospects

By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor

This past week, several of the Philadelphia Phillies' top prospects gathered at Citizens Bank Park for the club's annual Prospect Education Program.

Before Jose Pujols, Deivi Grullon, Tyler Gilbert, Mauricio Llovera, Adonis Medina, Edgar Garcia, Mickey Moniak, Austin Listi, Cornelius Randolph, Adam Haseley, Connor Seabold, and Kyle Dohy, Philadelphia Eagles' Hall of Fame safety Brian Dawkins gave a motivational speech regarding playing for not only for family and the city, but also for themselves and "giving everything they have."

Dawkins' speech went as follows:

"A lot of times here in Philadelphia, from some of the men that I talk to and been able to come in contact with, some of the most positive times that they spent with their fathers or their family members was on game day. So, all week long, not so much, but on game day was a positive thing for them. So, they're looking forward to that.

This place is a hardworking place. These people work hard for what they have. They do. So, when I say they love you, they love you hard both ways. You will have a bunch of passionate individuals, that actually love you, that are going to boo you. They are. If I gave up a play in that Linc over there, or in the Vet, I expected to get boo'ed. So, I took that upon myself to say, 'you know what, not only am I going to go out and give everything that I have … I'm going to give it because I know that they are feeling this way about things.'

You have to ask yourself a question, like 'how bad do you really want what you say you want?' What are you willing to give up to get there? What are you willing to start doing differently to get there? 

You can always give everything that you have, but are you giving everything that you possibly could give? Your ability to exercise everything that you have inside of you, that God has given you, is on you, and how you determine and go about doing your business."

Several of the attending Phillies prospects have been invited to big league camp as non-roster invitees. Phillies pitchers and catchers hold their first workout in Clearwater on Feb. 13; the first full-squad workout will take place five days later, Feb. 18.