"Creed," the seventh movie in the "Rocky" series, comes out Thanksgiving Day. I’m so pumped to see Michael B. Jordan play alongside the phenomenal Sylvester Stallone in this film. I grew up watching, quoting, living, and breathing the "Rocky" movies. Even now, when there’s a "Rocky" movie playing on TV, my dad and I drop what we're doing and instantly get sucked in. "Yo Adrian, I did it!" and "There is no tomorrow!" are said often—probably too often—between my dad and I. We’ve had many heated discussions about which "Rocky" movie is the best (I say 4, he says 2—I will not give up this fight because I have the eye of the tiger). I’ve watched the trailer for "Creed" an unhealthy number of times, and I will continue to do so until I can finally sit front and center in the theater. Thanksgiving dinner and Black Friday shopping will have to wait.
These movies are loaded with heart and motivation. Each contains nail-biting fights, heart-wrenching moments of losing someone you love, the motivation to overcome whatever stands in your way and tells you that you can't do it, the drive to continue getting back up each time you're hit, and leave you with the feeling of being able to overcome anything.
Sylvester Stallone is the man. He was the trifecta—actor, director and writer—for four of the movies, "Rocky" 2, 3, 4, and "Rocky Balboa." He has inspired so many people with the story of the small club fighter who worked his way to heavyweight champion, then coming out of retirement for another victorious fight.
Let's take a trip to Philly and remember some of the reasons why "Rocky" is one of the greatest sports movie series ever made.
The epic scene when Rocky ran up the stairs in the first movie, training for his fight against the heavyweight champion, Apollo Creed. Inspiration at its finest.
The beautiful and supportive relationship between Rocky and the shy and soft-spoken Adrian, who had no problem putting him in his place and motivating him at the absolute perfect times.
The moment Rocky went from a nothing-club-fighter to heavyweight champion after beating Apollo in "Rocky II," proving all of his blood, sweat, and tears paid off.
After his fight with Apollo Creed, he yelled the famous line, "Yo, Adrian! I did it!" And she hugged him, blood and all, because that's what real love is.
When Mickey died and you could hear the sound of your own heart breaking, along with Rocky's sobs echoing through your broken heart.
When Rocky let his sadness swallow him after losing Mickey, but Apollo wouldn't let him give up, telling him he had the eye of the tiger. Cue one of the most famous scenes from all the movies: their run on the beach, signifying Rocky overcoming everything he had been through.
The moment Apollo was killed in an exhibition match with Drago and you thought for sure that the world had stopped turning.
The montage in "Rocky IV" that showed the difference between Rocky's training and Drago's, the boxer from Russia who had steroids for breakfast.
Let's not forget about when the Italian Stallion made the risky decision to fight Drago to redeem Apollo even after everyone had told him it was a death wish.
But then won. And gave the inspiring speech, "If I can change and you can change, everybody can change." (Yes, Dad, it's a great speech.)
And, who could forget about Paulie? Always saying the wrong thing at the wrong time but always along for the ride.
In "Rocky V" when he began training Tommy Gunn, who turned on him, then wanted to fight. Rocky's response? "Yo Tommy, my ring's outside."
A last bit of advice from the Italian Stallion:
