I was watching last night the excellent series currently running on ESPN focusing on the storied NBA rivalry between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers. It’s so much bigger than Magic and Bird. But what really hit me was something Kevin McHale said when describing what it was like to beat the Lakers even though his team was a heavy underdog one year. McHale said, “Anything can happen when you got fight in you.”

It’s so true isn’t it? When you got fight in you you don’t pay attention to things like feelings, circumstances, or critics. When you got fight in you life is rich regardless of your material possessions.

When you got fight in you your past is irrelevant no matter how littered with failure. When you got fight in you there’s no feeling sorry for yourself. When you got fight in you complaining has not yet been invented. Your gratitude comes from living another day to fight on.

When you got fight in you pleasure, comfort, and security are way down the list. When you got fight in you you spring out of bed each morning and wait to the last minute to go bed.

When you got fight in you you live above the mundane, ordinary, the go along to get along crowd. Life for you is about something much bigger than you. You live with purpose, determination, grit. Perseverance is your soul-mate.

When you got fight in you you sacrifice, delay gratification, pay the price, do whatever it takes. Life is so much more exciting, rewarding, meaningful, and impactful when you got fight in you.

When you got fight in you you leave a mark, make the world a better place, improve the lives around you. Influence comes to those who have fight in them.

When you got fight in you it will bring enemies. You will encounter resistance, criticism, and have to endure founded and unfounded personal attacks. The status quo doesn’t like fighters, the status quo requires group think, compliance, conformity. When you got fight in you you represent a clear and present danger to the status quo and the powers that be.

When you got fight in you victim is not a word you know. A fighter is never a victim. A fighter makes things happen. Things don’t happen to them.

When you got fight in you it doesn’t matter how bad it gets, how bleak it looks. or how much the odds are against you, you never quit. When you got fight in you you never quit.

Dan Fagan is a former television news reporter, journalism professor, newspaper columnist, and radio talk show host. He grew up in New Orleans and currently lives there. He is a regular contributor for The Hayride. If you have a news tip for Mr. Fagan you can reach him at faganshow@gmail.com or 504-458-2542.