Inspiration. If you asked me, What did you think about the 2016 ESPYs? I would say it was incredibly inspiring.?Sitting among the very best athletes in the world is pretty awesome. There were guys there who Ive looked up to for a long time, who have inspired me for years and still do today.?A theater full of athletes, men and women, from around the world, side by side, is something pretty special and to share that experience is a huge honor. Simply put, its pretty humbling.??Head to toe in Pal Zileri, walking the long red carpet and getting to meet some very cool media along the way. A thousand questions and a lot of laughter in Los Angeles scorching sun. A 360 photo for Quicksilver from Capital One, fans looking down and calling out the names of their favorite stars and joking around with my fellow Best Driver nominee Scott Dixon?while Snapchatting for USA Today. These were moments from the day.But it wasnt until the lights went down as we took our seats and the montage of this years top sporting moments came on the big screen that I began to get goosebumps: watching athletes across all sports, in their best and worst moments -- the passion, the emotion, the drive, the focus. It was a pretty breathtaking compilation, beautifully showing the parallels of our sporting worlds, and the fundamental basis from which we all work; the common denominator and the rationale behind what we do.?Highs, lows, winning, losing, but mostly never giving up. Its something synonymous across all sports, no matter what your discipline. I think what resonated the most was that unity in which those collecting the awards spoke with a clear message to the world. Over on the block to my right, Lindsey Vonn. A few rows in front, LeBron James. A few rows left, Peyton Manning. And the list goes on: different people, different experts in their field, different perspectives -- but all united by our love of the game.?I thought Kobe Bryant summed it up perfectly when he said, My next dream is to be honored one day for inspiring the next generation of athletes to have a dream, sacrifice for it, and never, ever rest in the middle. We were on our feet for that -- a standing ovation for words we all agree on.And thats the feeling I came away with -- its about never settling, never giving up. Its a mantra that has stayed with me throughout my life, quite simply -- never, ever give up. Through the ups and downs, and the roller-coaster of life, I guess the only constant is that everything changes. For me, the night wasnt about the awards or the red carpet, it was about uniting people through sport and inspiring someone -- even if its just one person, to never give up.?I came away from it inspired. Kudos to Kyle Busch for his win as Best Driver, and thank you to The ESPYs and IndyCar Series for a brilliant couple of days.?Next stop is Toronto, and I cannot wait to get racing again.? Anthony Rizzo Cubs Jersey . Spiller left Week 3s 27-20 loss to the New York Jets with a thigh injury, but fully practiced with the team all week and expects to be ready to go on Sunday. Mark Prior Jersey .5 seconds to play in the game, Kevin Love never stopped believing that they would come out of there with a win. https://www.cheapcubs.com/2160t-robel-garcia-jersey-cubs.html . Laudrup revealed Thursday he was notified of his dismissal in "the briefest of letters which gave no reasons why such hasty and final action was deemed necessary. Fake Cubs Jerseys . Nathan MacKinnon, Jamie McGinn and Jan Hejda also scored for the Avalanche, who won despite being outshot 38-23. MacKinnons goal, also on the power play, came with just over a minute remaining. Joe Girardi Cubs Jersey . In Europe, top teams seem to be largely happy with their squads after spending nearly $1 billion in the off-season. And although English league clubs are unlikely to splash cash in January, Arsenal and Chelsea could be tempted to strengthen their squads with new strikers. CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton doesnt know why ratings have been down in the NFL this season, but he knows what hed like to see more of: players having fun and celebrating.The reigning NFL MVP says the league has to understand that allowing players to express themselves is good for the game.I really cant talk on their ratings, Newton said Tuesday as he prepared for a Thursday night game against the Saints. But in some?way, shape, form or fashion, we are entertainers. Our influence ranks second-to-none at this time of the year.Few, if any, in the league expressed himself more last season than Newton, whose Dab after touchdown runs spread throughout the country. Newton brought back the Atlanta-based dance in the second quarter of Sundays loss to Kansas City after proclaiming it retired following the 2015 season.Hes not sure whether hell continue to dab the rest of the season.But Newton would like the league to allow more celebrating.Youre asking a person who celebrates, he said with a smile.Newton grew up in Atlanta watching cornerback Deion Prime Time Sanders, known for high-stepping and showboating after big plays.Newton watched the Monday night game between the New York Giants and Cincinnati Bengals just to see what wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. would do after a touchdown.Beckham did his version of Michael Jacksons Thriller. Newton began softly singing the lyrics to the song as he described it.Football is hard, man, Newton said. I cant stress it enough. The way my body feels right now is not going to be the same way it feels come Thursday. Now Im sore, but still knowing that Thursday I gotta give everything.And if scoring a touchdown, getting a sack, getting a win ... let alone all of that bottled up and staying here until 10 att night and here at 6 in the morning, all of that energy that you put, spending time away from your family, all of that bottled up and being able to do exactly what you planned and foresaw yourself doing, you are owed something.ddddddddddddNewton, whose foundation sponsors a 7-on-7 football tournament, says he sees his influence and the influence of other NFL players throughout the year talking to kids.So when you come out in blue cleats or white cleats, gold cleats, whatever cleats ... When you come out and do a certain dance, people are watching, Newton said. And when you nuke that, I wouldnt say the ratings may get affected. I dont know what you can determine to that.[But] Im an advocate of youth football, and every time I look on social media or wherever, and I see kids from where I grew up in Atlanta wearing your cleats to doing the whatever, its just mind-boggling. And you have to understand your worth to giving back to your community, as well as the league has to understand its entertaining for people to see that.Newton recalled how he was influenced by the University of Miami football team as a kid in terms of wanting to wear a bandanna as he wears now.I wasnt from Miami, but they didnt know how important they were for my overall growth for the love of football, Newton said. I am pretty sure there are people that I dont know that I wish I could talk to.Its just football brings a lot of people together. I saw one commercial the NFL put together where it says football is family -- and it really is. On a Sunday, on any given day that football is on, collegiate, high school and professional, it brings a lot of people together. ' ' '