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Bob Richards, the former pole-vault champion, shares a moving story about a
skinny young boy who loved football with all his heart. Practice after practice,
he eagerly gave everything he had. But being half the size of the other boys, he
got absolutely nowhere. At all the games, this hopeful athlete sat on the bench
and hardly ever played. This teenager lived alone with his father, and the two
of them had a very special relationship.
Even though the son was always on the bench, his father was always standing
with cheering. He never missed a game. This young man was still the smallest of
the class when he entered high school. But his father continued to encourage him
but also made it very clear that he did not have to play football if he didn't
want to. But the young man loved football and decided to hang in there. He was
determined to try his best at every practice, and perhaps he'd get to play when
he became a senior.
All through high school he never missed a practice nor a game but remained
a bench-warmer all four years. His faithful father was always in the stands,
always with words of encouragement for him.
When the young man went to college, he decided to try out for the football
team as a "walk-on." Everyone was sure he could never make the cut, but he did.
The coach admitted that he kept him on the roster because he always puts his
heart and soul to every practice, and at the same time, provided the other
members with the spirit and hustle they badly needed.
The news that he had survived the cut thrilled him so much that he rushed
to the nearest phone and called his father. His father shared his excitement and
was sent season tickets for all the college games. This persistent young athlete
never missed practice during his four years at college, but he never got to play
in a game.
It was the end of his last football season, and as he trotted onto the
practice field shortly before the big playoff game, the coach met him with a
telegram. The young man read the telegram and he became deathly silent.
Swallowing hard, he mumbled to the coach, "My father died this morning. Is
it all right if I miss practice today?" The coach put his arm gently around his
shoulder and said, "Take the rest of the week off, son. And don't even plan to
come back to the game on Saturday."
Saturday arrived, and the game was not going well. In the third quarter,
when the team was ten points behind, a silent young man quietly slipped into the
empty locker room and put on his football gear. As he ran onto the sidelines,
the coach and his players were astounded to see their faithful teammate back so
soon. "Coach, please let me play. I've just got to play today." said the young
man. The coach pretended not to hear him. There was no way he wanted the worst
player in this close playoff game.
But the young man persisted, and finally feeling sorry for the kid, the
coach gave in. "All right," he said. "You can go in." Before long, the coach,
the players and everyone in the stands could not believe their eyes. This little
unknown, who had never played before was doing everything right. The opposing
team could not stop him. He ran, he passed, blocked like a star.
His team began to triumph. The score was soon tied. In the closing seconds
of the game, this kid intercepted a pass and ran all the way for the winning
touchdown. The fans broke loose. His teammates hoisted him onto their shoulders.
Such cheering you never heard.
He looked at the coach, with tears in his eyes, and said, "Well, you knew
my dad died, but did you know that my dad was blind?" The young man swallowed
hard and forced a smile, "Dad came to all my games, but today was the first time
he could see me play, and I wanted to show him I could do it!" |
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发表于 2016-7-10 11:30:23