When many people look at NFL players, many think of the blessed life they must lead. Physical strength, big salaries, and glory are often what comes to mind. Many rarely look into a player’s past as a source of inspiration. Although you may not recognize him, Blaise Winter is one of the NFL’s most inspirational players of all time. Having the odds stacked against him from a young age, his story is one of trials, tribulations, and triumphs. According to his website, he is “living proof of the power of mind and body.”

Although you may not recognize him, Blaise Winter is one of the NFL’s most inspirational players of all time. Having the odds stacked against him from a young age, his story is one of trials, tribulations, and triumphs. According to his website, he is “living proof of the power of mind and body.”

Blaise was one of the 700 children born every year with a cleft lip and palate. This condition can affect breathing and speech, requiring surgery and speech therapy to be corrected. Not only did Winter undergo numerous surgeries to correct his cleft lip and palate, he completed hours of speech therapy. If left untreated, those with the medical issue can face bullying, physical limitations, and can be rejected by peers. Unfortunately for him, his troubles did not stop there.

Sadly, his troubles did not stop there.

Facebook Blaise Winter

In addition to speech therapy for his cleft lip and palate, Winter had issues with speech due to hearing loss. At a young age, tumors developed in both of his ears. Although they were removed, the tumors caused permanent hearing loss in one ear. As a result of being deaf in one ear, Winter had problems both understanding speech as well as producing it. The many health complications Winter faced only led to more difficulties in his education.

Due to his difficulties with speech and hearing from his past medical conditions, Winter was perceived by educational professionals to need special education. Assumed to be of lower intelligence, Winter was mistakenly placed in a classroom for children with special needs.

For anyone, these difficulties would lead to low self-esteem, social isolation, and self-doubt. Winter fought all of these setbacks and set his mind to positive endeavors. Winter was determined to find his voice, and he did—through sports.

Facebook Blaise Winter

“Sports were a way for me to speak without opening my mouth,” he explains.

Despite being told he had no athletic talent, Winter rejected negative feelings of self-doubt. In fact, he made positive self-talk a dominant figure in his life. Winter persisted in his positivity through his love of sports, and in 1983 was named MVP at Syracuse University.

In 1984, Winter was drafted into the NFL by the Indianapolis Colts. Winters recalls running around his parents’ New York home shouting for joy, as he had “dreamed of that moment since I was in 8th grade.”

Winter played defensive end for not just the Colts, but the San Diego Chargers and Green Bay Packers as well. His NFL career ended on a high note as he walked away with a championship ring.

Facebook Blaise Winter

These days, Blaise Winter practices what he preaches: the power of mind and body. Winter has always had a habit of beating the odds, and this led him to discover his purpose as a motivational speaker. Through inspirational speech, Winter teaches his listeners to believe in themselves and relentlessly pursue their dreams.

Not only does Winter use his passionate speaking style to reach others, he also utilizes his NFL experience teaching hand combat for football. Winter can also be seen visiting schools to assist in teaching football techniques and inspiring today’s youth.

The post NFL Star Blaise Winter’s Struggles With Abuse, Hearing Loss Only Made Him Stronger appeared first on SportzBonanza.

When many people look at NFL players, many think of the blessed life they must lead. Physical strength, big salaries, and glory are often what comes to mind. Many rarely look into a player’s past as a source of inspiration. Although you may not recognize him, Blaise Winter is one of the NFL’s most inspirational players of all time. Having the odds stacked against him from a young age, his story is one of trials, tribulations, and triumphs. According to his website, he is “living proof of the power of mind and body.”

Although you may not recognize him, Blaise Winter is one of the NFL’s most inspirational players of all time. Having the odds stacked against him from a young age, his story is one of trials, tribulations, and triumphs. According to his website, he is “living proof of the power of mind and body.”

Blaise was one of the 700 children born every year with a cleft lip and palate. This condition can affect breathing and speech, requiring surgery and speech therapy to be corrected. Not only did Winter undergo numerous surgeries to correct his cleft lip and palate, he completed hours of speech therapy. If left untreated, those with the medical issue can face bullying, physical limitations, and can be rejected by peers. Unfortunately for him, his troubles did not stop there.

Sadly, his troubles did not stop there.

Facebook Blaise Winter

In addition to speech therapy for his cleft lip and palate, Winter had issues with speech due to hearing loss. At a young age, tumors developed in both of his ears. Although they were removed, the tumors caused permanent hearing loss in one ear. As a result of being deaf in one ear, Winter had problems both understanding speech as well as producing it. The many health complications Winter faced only led to more difficulties in his education.

Due to his difficulties with speech and hearing from his past medical conditions, Winter was perceived by educational professionals to need special education. Assumed to be of lower intelligence, Winter was mistakenly placed in a classroom for children with special needs.

For anyone, these difficulties would lead to low self-esteem, social isolation, and self-doubt. Winter fought all of these setbacks and set his mind to positive endeavors. Winter was determined to find his voice, and he did—through sports.

Facebook Blaise Winter

“Sports were a way for me to speak without opening my mouth,” he explains.

Despite being told he had no athletic talent, Winter rejected negative feelings of self-doubt. In fact, he made positive self-talk a dominant figure in his life. Winter persisted in his positivity through his love of sports, and in 1983 was named MVP at Syracuse University.

In 1984, Winter was drafted into the NFL by the Indianapolis Colts. Winters recalls running around his parents’ New York home shouting for joy, as he had “dreamed of that moment since I was in 8th grade.”

Winter played defensive end for not just the Colts, but the San Diego Chargers and Green Bay Packers as well. His NFL career ended on a high note as he walked away with a championship ring.

Facebook Blaise Winter

These days, Blaise Winter practices what he preaches: the power of mind and body. Winter has always had a habit of beating the odds, and this led him to discover his purpose as a motivational speaker. Through inspirational speech, Winter teaches his listeners to believe in themselves and relentlessly pursue their dreams.

Not only does Winter use his passionate speaking style to reach others, he also utilizes his NFL experience teaching hand combat for football. Winter can also be seen visiting schools to assist in teaching football techniques and inspiring today’s youth.

The post NFL Star Blaise Winter’s Struggles With Abuse, Hearing Loss Only Made Him Stronger appeared first on SportzBonanza.