Demario Davis - The Unsuccessful Champion: Finding True Victory in the Midst of Adversity

Foreword by BENJAMIN WATSON

THE
UNSUCCESSFUL
CHAMPION

Finding True Victory
in the Midst of Adversity

DEMARIO DAVIS
WITH BECKY YORK

Copyright 2019 Demario Davis with Becky York.

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Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.

ISBN: 978-1-9736-7603-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-7604-1 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-7602-7 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2019915267

WestBow Press rev. date: 10/04/2019

CONTENTS

To my children, may they always remember that the key to life is keeping Christ at the center.

A HERO IS SOMEONE WHO INSPIRES YOU TO BE something or someone beyond what you think you can be by your own ability, leading you to rely on a power higher than yourself. Heroes usually admit that what they are, they are not by their own strength. They attribute their greatness to something greater than themselves. Demario defines heroism. When you look at the life he is living, when you watch the things he says and does today, youll see that while hes not perfect, Gods hand is all over his life.

When I returned to the New Orleans Saints roster for the 2018 season, they had just signed Demario. While I had met him in the past, we had never been on the same team. Having seen how he handles himself in the NFL, I gained a genuine respect and appreciation for the man, and as a fellow follower of Christ, we naturally had a camaraderie on the team. But Ill never forget the moment he boldly approached me on opening day of the season.

It was pregame at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, and we were warming up as a team on the stretch line, the offense on one side and the defense on the other. Demario, being the hype man that he is, was dancing to the music that was blaring in the stadium and shaking his teammates hands to celebrate the kickoff of the season. I looked over to find him jogging over to the offense; he was headed my way. Joining me on the ground, he boldly said, Lets pray. As we both took a knee in that moment, lifting up the game, our team, and the season in prayer, I knew this teammate of mine was differenthe was set apart.

For me, that moment in the stadium captures who Demario is. Football is important to him; hes the life of the locker room, always excited about the game, and he has an energy about him thats contagious. Win or lose, Demarios joy and eternal perspective on life remain steady. But even greater than his passion for the game is his zeal for his relationship with the Lord. Hell let you know about it every chance he gets. Hes always ready with a word of encouragement to share with another.

On the field, Demario makes every other player, whether teammate or opponent, want to play harder. As I sat on the bench with the offense, watching the defense take the field, I would see him aggressively tackling his opponents and celebrating with his teammates with an infectious energy. Hes one of the few people I know who can do thatchange the environment hes in by simply being himself. Demario did that for me; he changed the environment of the game for me, giving me a renewed excitement to take the field. After playing fifteen seasons in the NFL, I was reminded just how blessed we are to play in this league. He showed me that.

A spiritual leader in the league, hes one guy you want to have in your locker room. He speaks the truth of the Gospel boldly, proudly, and loudly, no matter where he is or whom hes with. We need more Demarios in this worldpeople who are willing to carry the banner of Christ unashamedly, in humility, never deviating from the truth. Hes someone who wants to eradicate wrong and share the love of Christ in tangible ways on his team and within his community. People are naturally drawn to him because they see something in him that they want to see in themselves. And theyll find that something is the love and joy of Jesus Christ.

Everyone has a series of experiences that make up his or her life story. When we look back at our lives, many of us are able to recognize we were only one or two mistakes away from never getting to where we are today. Had it not been for a certain person or specific circumstance outside of our control, we would not have made it. But because of something, or someone, greater, we have been blessed and shown favor. Demarios story is one of redemption, displaying Gods favor and protection all for the purpose of bringing glory to God. Since Demario has experienced the power of Gods redemption, forgiveness, and mercy, he enthusiastically seeks to do that for others. Thats what the Gospel is. We are all condemned, poor, and broken. But because of Gods redemptive grace, we can experience the undeserved freedom and joy He so freely offers. And as a result, we can offer that same grace to others.

Demarios story is one that needs to be told because we can all see part of our own story in his. With priorities that exemplify what any man of God should behis God, his family, and then othersDemario has a life that inspires, encourages, and challenges. My prayer is that as you read his story, you are changed from the inside out, as I know I have been.

Benjamin Watson , NFL tight end

MY LIFE HAS BEEN ONE FILLED WITH MOMENTS OF many great feats as well as some not-so-great feats. Ive competed countless times, and many times, Ive fallen just short of successfrom losing the championship game in my Pop Warner football league, to coming just shy of winning the state championship with my high school basketball and track and field teams. In college, we once won conference but lost the bowl game. While I was with the New York Jets, we went 106 and pulled up just shy of qualifying for the playoffs. Last year, with the New Orleans Saints, we were just one overtime play away from going to the Super Bowl. Even now, Ive been named one of the top linebackers in the NFL, but Im not the top. With almost everything Ive aspired to be or do, Ive either struck out and missed it completely or fallen just short of the mark. Ive seen all of the disappointments one can imagine, all of which threaten to lessen my morale, and yet Ive continued to get up and try again. I have not, and will not, allow it to defeat me.