The Speech Sydney Seau Wanted to Give on Behalf of Her Late Father, Junior Seau

Earlier today, one of the greatest players to wear a San Diego Chargers uniform was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Junior Seau was not only a force on the field, but also off the field in the community. To many fans in San Diego, Junior Seau was to the Chargers as Tony Gwynn was to the Padres. So when it was announced that the Pro Football Hall of Fame would not allow any member of Junior's family to speak at his induction ceremony, it struck a deep nerve not only in the Seau family, but the San Diego community as a whole.

Some speculated that the Hall of Fame was trying to sweep Seau's suicide under the rug and the pending litigation brought against the NFL by the Seau family. However, it was later explained that the policy had been established in 2011. The Hall of Fame later relented and allowed Sydney Seau to speak at her late father's induction ceremony.

She was not given enough time to give the full speech she had prepared, but the New York Times was able to publish the entirety of her speech. Below are a few sections from the speech, and if you want to read it in its entirety, head on over to the New York Times.

Before I start thanking communities, teams, family and friends that I do know and many others that I have yet to have the pleasure of getting to know, I would like to say that this is not my speech to give. This speech was meant for a man that worked 20 years within the sport he loved most in this world.

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Your Junior Seau, your No. 55 and your buddy, was also my father. And although I didn’t know every aspect of his life, I did know one particular part very well. His athleticism and talent made him extraordinary enough to make it into the Hall, but it is his passion and heart that make him truly legendary and deserving of this tremendous honor. Tonight I would like to honor him and his legendary heart.

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I would like to think that his selflessness and ability to love unconditionally were instilled in him by his family. Nana, Papa, all my aunts, uncles, cousins, mother and brothers who share the Seau name, I know that he would say that this honor is also yours. You all were the motivation he needed to become a success. He wanted nothing more than to make you all proud, and I hope you know that without you he wouldn’t have been the man, the player or the father he was, and for that, I also thank you.

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San Diego, you are and always will be home. You have embraced my father with open arms and allowed him to carry on his athletic career, but more importantly the Junior Seau Foundation. In my mind, one of his greatest achievements was being able to give back to the community and home that gave him everything.

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But I think what we tend to forget about our favorite invincible, unstoppable, indestructible superhumans is the minor detail that they are also human. That is something that we all must endure today without his physical presence. We cannot celebrate his life and achievement without feeling the constant piece that’s missing.

May 2, 2012, we all endured a loss. Thousands lost their all-time favorite linebacker, hundreds lost their favorite Charger, tens lost their buddy, and four lost their father. The reason why this honor is so hard to accept is because we had always envisioned him still being here to accept it.

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There’s nothing I want more than to see you walk up on stage, give me a hug and tell me that you love me one last time, but that isn’t our reality. You would always say you loved me, and even after I would respond and say I loved you, too, you would look me in the eyes and say, "I love you; do you hear me?"