{"id":15002,"date":"2023-12-13T09:41:52","date_gmt":"2023-12-13T14:41:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/inspirationreport\/?p=15002"},"modified":"2023-12-14T11:39:05","modified_gmt":"2023-12-14T16:39:05","slug":"sylvester-stallone-offers-encouraging-speech-at-inaugural-rocky-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/inspirationreport\/2023\/12\/sylvester-stallone-offers-encouraging-speech-at-inaugural-rocky-day.html","title":{"rendered":"Sylvester Stallone Offers Encouraging Speech at Inaugural ‘Rocky Day’"},"content":{"rendered":"
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6abc Philadelphia \/ YouTube | Inset: United Artists<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sylvester Stallone\u2019s legendary character, Rocky Balboa, still resonates with audiences 47 years after his debut in 1976, and now fans can gather in celebration of the beloved fictional boxer on a dedicated day. Dec. 3 marked the inaugural \u201cRocky Day\u201d in Philadelphia, with festivities led by Stallone.<\/p>\n

In a speech to the thousands gathered at the base of the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, where Rocky famously runs up the steps while training in the film, he said, \u201cLife is a fight. It\u2019s a tough fight and get ready. You\u2019re going to win some, and you\u2019re gonna lose a lot. But the real victory is in never giving up and going the distance for yourself and your loved ones, and standing at the top of these steps; you\u2019re reminded that all things are possible.\u201d<\/p>\n

Stallone concluded with cheers from the crowd, \u201cKeep punching!\u201d In an interview with Fox News Digital, he explained why Rocky still connects with people almost five decades later. Stallone said, \u201cThere are certain conundrums, issues, problems, journeys, challenges that everybody from every country, every culture has to face. And they may be somewhat different, but they usually deal with the same kind of \u2014 I just want to achieve something, I want people to be proud of me, I want to raise a family, I want to support my daughter. It\u2019s this kind of fear \u2014 or [thinking] I\u2019m really nobody inside. People look at me, but, on the inside, I feel weak and shallow; that\u2019s what the character was.\u201d<\/p>\n

Stallone continued, \u201cHe even said, \u2018I\u2019m going to lose; I know I\u2019m not good enough,\u2019 and people may feel that way, but at least they want to try. I think the biggest frustration on the planet is people not getting the opportunity to fail. Forget win, they may win, but at least give me a shot. And that\u2019s the biggest frustration I think that universally binds this whole underdog situation. I could talk to a billionaire, and he thinks he\u2019s an underdog. It\u2019s just ingrained in the psyche of humans.\u201d<\/p>\n