farewell

The retirement speech of someone I truly admire from the world of sports:

On his fans:
"The scoreboard says I lost today, but what the scoreboard doesn't say is what it is I've found. Over the last 21 years, I have found loyalty; you have pulled for me on court and also in life. I have found inspiration; you have willed me to succeed, sometimes even in my lowest moments. And I have found generosity; you have given me your shoulders to stand on to reach for my dreams, dreams I could never have reached without you. Over the last 21 years, I have found you and I will take you and the memory of you with me for the rest of my life."

On his co-athletes:
"They were all stanuding, applauding me. I tell you the greatest applause that any person will receive in their life is that which comes from their peers. It's not like we're a company who's working together to accomplish something. We're people that succeed, in some cases, at the demise of the other. To have them applaud you is the greatest compliment."