Rocky Balboa -

To the city of Philadelphia, is not a character; he is a citizen. The bronze statue of Rocky that stands at the bottom of the Art Museum steps is one of the most photographed objects in the United States. Tourists don't run up the steps to see the art inside; they run up to raise their arms in the air like the "Italian Stallion."

That is the legacy of . He is not a winner in the traditional sense. His record is spotty; he lost the title, he lost his fortune, he lost his wife. But he never lost his dignity. The character endures because every single one of us, at some point in our lives, wakes up feeling like a heavy underdog in a championship fight. Rocky Balboa

Rocky felt a bruise of something in his chest—worry mixed with a pride so sharp it hurt. He didn’t give pep talks. He taught rhythm and respect. He taught the importance of coming back from a fall. He taught the long game. Still, he stayed up nights imagining Mikey’s first bell, every possible mistake mapped out in his head. To the city of Philadelphia, is not a

There is a moment in Rocky Balboa (2006) where the aging fighter speaks to his son about the nature of life. He says, "The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It's a very mean and nasty place... It will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it." He is not a winner in the traditional sense