Jeter and Girardi Deliver Brief Speeches on the Victory Parade

"It has been too long, hasn't it?" That were the first words Derek Jeter addressed to the crowd at the end of the victory parade of the Yankees. This kind of celebration always finishes with the stars' speeches. And today we could listen to the team's manager, Joe Girardi, and the captain, Derek Jeter, among others. Sportsmen are used to talk in front TV cameras, specially in the US.

However, delivering a speech in front of thousands of people is much more impressive. Girardi and Jeter speeches were, above and beyond all other consideration, brief. But, after all, bearing in mind the scenario, they did pretty well (minute 2 of the video).



The most famous speech of the Yankees history, and one of the most moving allocution ever,did not take place during a celebration. In fact, it was a farewell speech. Lou Gehrig, considered the best player of the XX century, was diagnosed with a rare form of a degenerative disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, which nowadays is called Lou Gehrig’s disease. He said goodbye to baseball at Yankee Stadium on July 4, 1939. The beginning of his speech was, and is still today, shivering: "Fans, for the past two weeks you have been reading about the bad break I got. Yet today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of this earth. I have been in ballparks for seventeen years and have never received anything but kindness and encouragement from you fans". I highly recommend reading the full speech.




More inspirational speeches in Onespeech.

Countdown for the Webby Awards and the Hilarious Five-word Speeches

The 14th Annual Webby Awards has open the period to present the works online, in order to distinguish the best websites, Interactive advertising & Media, Online Film & Video and the Mobile Web. The works must be entered by December 18th.

The members of the Academy that organizes the Webby Awards are political journalist as Arianna Huffington, musicians as Beck and David Bowie and Internet inventor Vint Cerf among others. These people took a clever decision. The winners can say thanks, of course, but they are not allowed to mention every single name of their relatives and workmates, neither to explain how surprised they are, how good were the other nominated, etc. Here you don't have to pray for the orchestra to do the dirty job. All the winners of The Webby Awards are advised to prepare a five-words acceptance speech. Not more but not less than five words.

Regarding what past winners have said there is no doubt that the five-word speech is an excellent idea. Here there are some of my favorite five-word speeches:

Branded Content. Clearification: Thanks mom: whoever you are.
Best Sound Design. Little Minx Exquisite Corpse: sound, check, check, one two.
News & Entertainment. Maxim Mobile: There's no screen too small.
Sports. The Reggie Bush Project: Finally a Bush everyone loves.
News. CNN Interactive: Who, What, Where, When, Webby.
Best Actress. Sarah Silverman: Holocaust... did it happen? Yes.
Community. Flickr: Can everyone get closer together?
Dreamgrove. webpage and interactive garden: This computer can also dream
Religion and Spirituality. Comment is free: religion: Thanks, this proves god exists.
Employment. TheLadders: Susan Boyle wasn't available
Cultural Institutions. Guggenheim Museum: Frank Llyod Wright was right.
Best Sound Design. The Curse of Degrassi: Thank you thank you thank.

If you liked these allocutions you can find hundreds of five-words speeches on the Webby Awards website. And don't miss this amazing advertisement!

Bill Cosby Remembers School Years in the Acceptance Speech of Mark Twain Prize

Bill Cosby remembered comically his years as a student when he received the Mark Twain Prize For American Humor at The John F. Kennedy Center. The ceremony took place on October 26, but Bill Cosby’s allocution has been kept hidden until tonight, when it has been broadcasted at PBS. The full program lasted one hour and a half. You can find Mr Cosby talk at 9 minutes to the end.

Few Differences between Victory and Defeat Speeches on the Election Day

It is not another speech. The talk that candidates give after knowing the results of the elections have a great symbolism. That allocution always takes a glance at the work done during the campaign, but above all, has the purpose to look ahead. Obviously, it is pretty different to deliver the talk as a winner or as a looser. But last night, again, winners and losers followed the same pattern: to congratulate the opponent; to thank the supporters, the family and the team of the campaign; to make a promise of keep on working and a joke.

Here you can listen to the firsts words of Mike Bloomberg, Bill Thomson, Chris Christie and Jon Corzine at the end of the election day.

Who Are Those People Behind Bloomberg and Thompson?

Another election campaign has finished. Mike Bloomberg and Bill Thompson have done their best to gain votes. I guess that there are good and bad campaigh managers. But all of them, in the United States and abroad insist on a shabby performance: to place people behind the candidates while they deliver speeches. In the best of the cases, these men and women hold a poster. The problem is that if the candidate talks quite a lot, and they use to, the picture of the people behind is a little bit ridiculous and forced.

But it can be even worse. I suppose that the campaign teams think that if there is nobody behind the candidate people will think that he is alone. And, following the reasoning of the campaign teams, if a candidate appears on TV with nobody behind, the candidature is dead.

It would be easy to have lot of people sitting in front of the candidate, listening to his message. Why that never happens? Maybe because often there is NOT a lot of people there. In some acts, there are journalists, politicians and nobody else. So it is more reliable to ask to a dozen people if they would be so kind to stay there with their best interesting faces for a while. But they are not actors and actresses and some times you can see in them that they don't give a damn what is happening here. When a mayor or a president inaugurates a monument, a road or whatever, you can have from hardhats to doctors or students behind the speaker. Now and then, it works. But campaign teams can not control everything. The video of a kid getting bored is just one of the most famous examples. Enjoy it.

Jeff Bridges Renews the War Speeches in The Man Who Stare at Goats

The Man Who Stare at Goats, the movie that has been released this week, is as much a comedy as a war movie. And there is no war movie without the speech moment. In this occasion, the responsible for giving the inspirational speeches is a terrific Jeff Bridges (he does it excellently, as well as George Clooney and Ewan McGregor). Bridges plays Bill Django, a colonel of a top secret unit of the US army. A unit of psychic spies. They don’t need weapons to fight the enemy because they use the power of their minds.



So we have a hippy colonel training his troop. And, of course, where others colonels at movies would say "let me see your war face", "piece of shit" or stuff like this, our colonel with psychic powers uses another kind of vocabulary. In the first speech of the movie Bill Django tell to his soldiers:

"You have to dream a new America that no longer has an exploitation view of everyone".

While he is talking he gives to each of the warriors… a flower!

The second statement sounds like an "archetype" war movie speech.

"You will be a psychic weapon, an angel of death, until that time you are nothing. Do you understand?
SIR, YES, SIR".

But suddenly, colonel Bill Django adds:

"I’m just kidding. Let's dance!"

It’s a really funny parody of the Full Metal Jacket speech and similar situations from other movies.











I can not finished a post about war movie speeches without revisiting one of the best film moments ever:



More speeches in movies in onespeech.

Alan Grayson Captures the Attention Again with a Moving Speech

Alan Grayson has captured the attention of the audience again. This time has been by reading letters of people who have lost a relative because they could not afford health care coverage. Grayson referred to the House floor the voice of the people who usually is not heard. The congressman has a website, the Names of the dead, where people can send their stories explaining their difficulties with the health care system. Some of the stories were read by Grayson, in tears.



This is the second sign in few days that Alan Grayson has his own methods to address his messages. The first one was more controversial. It is linked wit the same issue and the politician made a heavy accusation against Republicans.



I do not know if these are the best ways. But there is no doubt that to show passion and being original is an infallible way to be listened to.

More original health care statements on onespeech.

Hugo Chavez Latest TV Show Was Shorter: 5 Hours and 32 Minutes

Venezuela is one of those countries where the President every week addresses a speech to the population through his TV and radio program "Aló presidente". It is known when the program starts: every Sunday at 11 am. But the end is always a mystery. The last one, lasted 5 hours and 32 minutes. You can think it is lot of time, but it is not an extraordinary duration for Mr Hugo Chavez. In fact, the average lenght of his programs is 6 hours.

It is true that "Aló presidente" it is not a classic speech, because Hugo Chavez can interview somebody or answer people's questions. By all means, President of Venezuela is almost all of the time talking on the screen. If you compare, for instance, with the last Weekly Address of President of the United States we could say that Mr Obama speech is a brief: 4 minutes, 25 seconds.

Regarding these "two situations" I wander if there is any rule about the length of the speeches. This question, as many others, can be answered by common sense. It is clear that if the speaker has lots of interesting things to say, is eloquent and skilled public orator can take more minutes. It depends on the environment as well (it is different to be in an auditorium, to talk on the TV…) and on the purpose of the speech of course. As I told, common sense. But it seems pretty clear that six hours of whoever talking about whatever is too much.

Just in case somebody doesn't trust his common sense, I've been looking for what scholars say about the length of the speeches. In short, according to the experts the ideal length is 20 minutes. A really short speech could seem unsubstantial. And more than twenty minutes can be boring, and to bore people is a deadly sin.

Unless your aim were to be a record man. Then you cant talk as much as you want and you can. Although, I must warn you that it will be not easy to break a record. One of the politicians who has been talking more without a pause is Cuban President Fidel Castro. He delivered the longest speech ever at the United Nations: 4 hours and 29 minutes in 1960. But was without the narrow customs of UN when Fidel Castro gave his longest explanation: 7 hours and 10 minutes at the III Communist Party Congress in Havana.

But if your aim is to be the only, the really number one never ending speaker, you will have to beat a man from Perpinyà (south of France or Catalunya North). To defense the catalan culture, he broke the Record Guiness of the longest speech by talking for 124 hours about Salvador Dali and FC Barcelona amongst other topics. Lluís Colet was talking five days without stop. Wow!

Get Motivated with George Bush Speeches

Those who believed that George W. Bush would be an exception… were wrong. As all the men and women who sometime have been elected as a president of a country, George W. Bush has a new job. He is now a speaker, of course!

It doesn't matter if you are blessed with the art of the oratory or you aren't. If you have been a president, I know it is not easy to become a president, your new employment for the rest of your life will be to deliver speeches. George Bush is again under the spot. He delivered a motivational speech in Fort Worth, Texas, on Monday. He was the star of the seminar "Get motivated". The organizers of the event promise that "this blockbuster one-day seminar will give you proven strategies to sharpen your business skills, ignite your motivation, accelerate your effectiveness and increase your income!". And they keep on going "only the BEST of the BEST appear on our stage! Dazzling pyrotechnics, live music and stunning special effects set the stage for our superstars speakers who deliver riveting presentations packed with cutting-edge skills for success".

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to find the statement of the 43rd president (couldn't either find his fee). But if you are interested, you can try to contract him through Washington Speakers Bureau.


More onespeech motivational speeches.

Bill Cosby Receives the Mark Twain Prize with a Funny Speech, Doesn't He?

Bill Cosby is the 2009 recipient of the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. The ceremony took place last night at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Lots of stars assisted to the act and Chris Rock and Jerry Seinfeld made the audience laugh until the great moment: the acceptance speech.

At this stage, just the lucky people who were at the ceremony know what Bill Cosby said when he received the award. According to Associated Press, the 72 years old comedian expressed that The Mark Twain Prize is special because Twain was "the quintessential American writer —because he held his language and his love for words in perfect American form".

We'll pay attention to his words, which will be aired on PBS next November 4th, at 8 pm. This kind of events are a very good chance to listen clever and funny people who deservedly had been on the height. Eleven names have preceded Bill Cosby in receiving the Mark Twain Prize. Among the winners, Richard Pryor, Whoopi Woldberg, Lily Tomlin, Billy Cristal and Steve Martin. One of Steve Martin's best performance was, precisely, the acceptance speech of this award.



As I told, a "recognition" to a whole career is good chance for a good speech. Ununderstandingly Alfred Hitchcock never received an Oscar as a best director. Perhaps, this was the reason why when he received one honorary statuette pronounced the shortest acceptance speech in the history of the academy awards: "thank you".

For those who think that it is a pity that sir Hitchcock didn't prepare something longer there is a consolation. A really good one, in fact. In 1979, he received proudly the American Film Institute Life Achievement Award. At that time Hitch was old and his health was delicate. But, in my point of view, his speech is a masterpiece. A lesson of how to introduce humor and gratefulness at the same time:

"Among those people who have contributed to my life, I ask permission to mention by name only four people who have given me the most affection, appreciation, and encouragement, and constant collaboration.
The first of the four is a film editor.
The second is a scriptwriter.
The third is de mother of my daughter, Pat.
And the four is a fine a cook as ever performed miracles in a domestic kitchen.
And their names are Alma Reville".

We are used to listen to thousands of speeches that bore everybody thanking the family or the workmates… Obviously, is not the case of Alfred Hitchcock. His acceptance speech is a treasure. Don't miss it.

Andy Rooney Sick of Current Health Care System

It's really difficult not to hear everyday something about the health care reform. At this hour, I'm pretty tired about this item. I've been living 32 years in Spain. It is known how much has to pay the goverment and the patients there —much more less than in US— and how easy is to get medical attention. So, as far as practicable, I don't want to talk here about the health care plan because, though I try to, I don't understand exactly what's going on. But last night, controverisal Andy Rooney was on CBS, 60 minutes. It is a gift to listen to somebody talking so clear and with such a humor sense. His speech is a good contribution to this debate.


Watch CBS News Videos Online

More health care original statements on onespeech.

Preparation of the US Teachers "Needs Revolutionary Change", Says Secretary of Education

It's really difficult to say why some countries succeed in their education systems and others fail. The answer is not the amount of money the governments invest or other ideas that at first sight can seem reasonable. In fact, scholars just agree in one point as the most important: the preparation of the teachers.

Working as a teacher today is not easy and we should respect this job more than we do. But if education is what pushes a country forward it is necessary to train better the educators. Arne Duncan, the US Education Secretary, addressed yesterday to the teachers' teachers to say clearly that most of the nation's colleges are doing a "mediocre job" and that "America's university-based teacher preparation programs need revolutionary change". In my point of view, the speech of the Education Secretary is a brave example because she delivered at Columbia University's Teachers College. Unfortunately, this kind of "realistic" descriptions are an exception in the world of speeches. This is the reason why I'm talking about the Arne Duncan conference here. Of course, her words will be even more valuable if the shift comes true.

Amelia Earhart a Great Pilot and a Skilled Orator

Today is released "Amelia", a biopic movie about Amelia Earhart, who became the first aviator to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean.



I had the chance to see the movie yesterday. I did not like it very much, but the film is a good opportunity to discover the speeches of Amelia Earhart. She used her popularity to deliver messages, for instance in favour of the women rights. Moreover, some of her talks brought to the audience her feelings as a pilot. A good example of this are the words she pronounced when the National Geographic Society awarded her the Society's Special Medal. Amelia's Earhart acceptance speech is a simple but "vivid" description of her flights. She even said clearly which facts had been exaggerated by others in order to made her trips more spectacular. You can read but also listen to the voice of Amelia Earhart.



Furthermore, The Aviation-Online Network located two "rare" speeches of the most popular woman in the Aviation History.

New York Knicks Win Two Games in a Row, With the Help of Some Speeches?

It was the first time I saw a live NBA game. Past wednesday, my favorite team, the New York Knicks, played against Boston Celtics at the Madison Square Garden. Needless to say that I was absolutely prepared for a Knicks failure. But they started playing pretty well, with Harrington, Robinson, Gallinari and Lee kind of inspired. Playing at their best, Knicks achieved to get to the end of the third quarter running neck and neck with Celtics. However, at that point I was still convinced of the defeat of the Knicks.

Players of both teams were listening to their coaches on the benches. Some seconds before the resuming of the game, the Madison Square Garden scoreboard showed a video with brief moments of different movies. All of them were inspirational speeches of coaches to their players. The 4th quarter started and the Knicks won clearly the game. Final score: New York Knicks 108, Boston Celtics 103. Even most incredible: next day, yesterday, the New York Knicks won again. Two victories in a row.

Of course I know that the influence of the movies speech moment on the victory of the Knicks was scarce —or less than that. But the influence on the public was real. It moved the people because actors and actresses are the ideal speakers. You will find the best motivational speeches in movies. I don't know if in the real life the words coaches address to their players are useful. (if they are, it's time to look for high skilled speakers coaches). But in the cinema, specially in sports movies, there are lots of great touching moments. I hope that seeing them inspires you!
















More speeches in movies in Onespeech.
More sport speeches in Onespeech.

Obama About to Pronounce One of his Most Important Speeches

The US president is a "speechaholic" and there is no doubt that he has a special talent in this field. I'm pretty sure that the speechwriters of the White House have already started to prepare the words that Barack Obama is going to pronounce next 10th of December, the day that he is going to receive The Peace Nobel Prize, at the Norway city of Oslo. This is one of that lectures that will remain and it must be prepared with special care.

Obviously, other people have been in the situation that now faces the President. Some of them, men and women well trained in speaking in public as well (people as charismatic as Martin Luther King or Nelson Mandela). Others, with a life away from the spotlight (before they received the Nobel, of course). People not used to talk in front of an auditorium and, definitely, with nobody around who writes speeches for them everyday. For instance, the youngest Peace Prize Nobel awarded, Mairead Corrigan. In 1976, when she won the prize, she was 32 years old. If you read her curriculum at that time you would find out that she was a Secretary that co-founded the Northern Ireland Peace Movement. In a very similar situation was Betty Williams who shared the award with Corrigan.

Since 1901 there has been 120 laureates with the Nobel Peace Prize. What it is interesting to detect having a look at the list of the awarded is how has changed the significance of the Lecture. Do you know how lasted the first Nobel ceremony? Fifteen minutes! Just fifteen minutes with the presentation speech included! The awarded were Jean Henry Dunant, founder of the International Committee of the Red Cross and Frédéric Passy, founder of first French Peace Society. Well, guess what these guys said as the first winners of the Nobel Peace Prize... Not a word! They didn't delivered a speech. In fact, they even didn't went to the ceremony. But that was in 1901. Things changed fast and the lectures gained value. However in those early years, few of the laureates didn't speech. It is surprising, for example, that the President Woodrow Wilson sent a minister of his government to give the acceptance speech. Today it would be disconcerting. In 1919 maybe it was not.

Since those days, the winners of the award go to the ceremony with the best words they find. Well, not everybody. In a couple of cases, there was no speech because they were awarded posthumously. So, it appears reasonable that those guys said nothing. Aung San Suu Kyi didn't give the speech either because she was under house arrest, in Burma. Le Duc Tho, the Vietnamese leader, didn't talk… because he is the only one who has not accepted the Nobel Peace Prize.

As I said, the world has changed and, if it does not happen something really extraordinary, Barack Obama will be in Oslo. At the moment he begins to speak, he will know that THAT will be one of the speeches of his life.