Do you know what my favorite part of the game is? The opportunity

When Mike Singletary, the fierce linebacker of the Chicago Bears, declared, “Do you know what my favorite part of the game is? The opportunity to play,” he did not speak with the arrogance of one who had conquered or the pride of one who had triumphed. He spoke with the humility of a warrior who understood that the true gift is not the glory, nor the fame, nor even the victory—but the chance itself, the sacred privilege to step onto the field and take part in the struggle. His words remind us that life’s greatest treasures are not always in the outcome, but in the sheer grace of participation.

The origin of this saying lies in Singletary’s own journey. He was not the tallest, nor the fastest, nor the most naturally gifted, yet through sheer will and relentless determination he became one of the most feared defenders in football history. He cherished the game not because it gave him championships, but because it gave him a stage on which to test his courage, sharpen his spirit, and prove his devotion. For Singletary, every game was a blessing, every snap an honor, every collision a reminder that he was alive in the arena.

The ancients would have bowed their heads at such wisdom. The Greeks taught that the crown of olive leaves in Olympia was not the true reward; the true reward was the contest itself, the chance to measure one’s soul against the demands of the struggle. The Romans knew that the glory of the gladiator was not in survival alone, but in the courage to enter the arena at all. So too with Singletary’s words: the opportunity to play is life’s great gift, for it is in the playing that we discover who we are.

Consider the story of the 1985 Chicago Bears, one of the greatest defenses in football history. Singletary was the heart of that unit, a leader whose eyes burned with focus. Yet in interviews, even in the midst of dominance, he spoke not of invincibility but of gratitude—for the chance to suit up, to play alongside his brothers, to be part of something greater than himself. That team became immortal, not only because they won, but because they reveled in the chance to play the game with all their might.

The lesson is clear: in life, as in sport, the greatest joy is not always in the result, but in the opportunity itself. Too often we wait for the victory, the recognition, the final achievement, forgetting that the chance to take part is itself a blessing. To play the game—whatever that game may be for us—is to be alive, to engage, to strive, to risk. The field of life is fleeting, and one day the whistle will blow for the last time. To cherish the opportunity now is to live fully.

What then must we do? First, cultivate gratitude for the chances we are given, whether grand or small. Second, approach each endeavor not with entitlement, but with humility, knowing that every opportunity is a gift, not a guarantee. Third, pour ourselves fully into the game, for the value lies not only in winning, but in the courage to play, to risk, to give our all when called upon.

Thus, Mike Singletary’s words shine like a torch passed to us: “The opportunity to play.” They remind us that life itself is the greatest field, and each day the greatest game. Let us not take for granted the chance to rise, to act, to fight, to love, to dream. For when the final whistle sounds, it will not be the trophies we recall most dearly, but the joy of having played at all.