A teenager lived alone with his father, and the two of them had a very
special relationship. The father believed in encouragement.
This young man was the smallest of the class when he entered high
school. 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. Even though the son was always on the bench, his
father was always in the stands cheering. He never missed a game.
All through high school he never missed neither 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 the game. It was the end of his senior football season, and as he
trotted onto the practice field shortly before the big play off
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 team-mate 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 his
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 and
tackled 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 team-mates
hoisted him onto their shoulders. Such cheering you've never heard! Finally,
after the stands had emptied and the team had showered and left the locker
room, the coach noticed that the young man was sitting quietly in the corner
all alone. The coach came to him and said, "Kid, I can't believe it. You were
fantastic!
Tell me what got into you? How did you do it?"
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 . . . "..
special relationship. The father believed in encouragement.
This young man was the smallest of the class when he entered high
school. 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. Even though the son was always on the bench, his
father was always in the stands cheering. He never missed a game.
All through high school he never missed neither 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 the game. It was the end of his senior football season, and as he
trotted onto the practice field shortly before the big play off
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 team-mate 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 his
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 and
tackled 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 team-mates
hoisted him onto their shoulders. Such cheering you've never heard! Finally,
after the stands had emptied and the team had showered and left the locker
room, the coach noticed that the young man was sitting quietly in the corner
all alone. The coach came to him and said, "Kid, I can't believe it. You were
fantastic!
Tell me what got into you? How did you do it?"
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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