Bob Richard, the former pole-vault1 champion2, 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 absolutely3 nowhere. At all the games, this hopeful athlete4 sat on the bench and hardly ever played. This teenager5 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 in the stands 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, and 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 or 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-on6. Everyone was sure he could never make the cut, but he did. The coach admitted that he kept him on the roster7 because he always put his heart and soul into every practice, and at the same time, provided the other members with the spirit and hustle8 they badly needed.
The news that he had survived9 the cut thrilled10 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 persistent11 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 senior football season, and as he trotted12 onto the practice field shortly before the big playoff13 game, the coach14 met him with a telegram. The young man read the telegram and he became deathly silent.
Swallowing hard, he mumbled15 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 slipped16 into the empty locker17 room and put on his football gear18. As he ran onto the sidelines, the coach and his players were astounded19 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 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, passed, blocked, and tackled20 like a star. His team began to triumph21.
The score was soon tied. In the closing seconds of the game, this kid intercepted22 a pass and ran all the way for the winning touchdown. The fans broke loose. His teammates hoisted23 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 fantastic24! 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!”
鲍勃·理查德，这位前撑竿跳高冠军，给我们讲述了一个动人的故事，关于一个瘦得皮包骨的小男孩全身心地热爱橄榄球的故事。
他反反复复地练习，甘心付出一切。但是，他的身高只有其他男孩子的一半，因此他完全没有指望。每一场比赛，这个满怀希望的运动员都坐冷板凳，几乎没有上场比赛。这个少年和他的父亲相依为命，他们两人之间有一种非常特殊的关系。
尽管儿子总是坐冷板凳，而父亲却总是在看台上为他喝彩。他从没有错过任何一场比赛。
这个小男孩进入高中之后，仍旧是班上身材最小的。但是，他的父亲一如既往地鼓励他，而且还明确告诉他，如果他不想再踢橄榄球的话，那他可以不必再踢了。
但是，这个年轻人仍旧非常热爱橄榄球，他决定踢下去。他下定决心，在以后的每次训练中，都要全力以赴地去练习，那样，也许等他高中毕业时就会有机会参加比赛了。整个高中阶段，他从未错过一次训练或者一场比赛，但是在这四年里，他只有机会把冷板凳坐热。他那忠实的父亲仍旧一如既往地坐在那里，仍旧一如既往地鼓励他。
上了大学之后，这个年轻人决定到橄榄球队尝试一下跑龙套的角色，接受橄榄球队的考验。大家都肯定他过不了关，但是他被录取了。教练承认，之所以把他的名字登记在花名册上，是因为在每一次训练的时候，他总是全身心地投入；同时，他还能鼓舞其他队员的士气，激励他们刻苦训练——那些队员太需要这一切了。
被橄榄球队录取的消息令他非常激动，他急忙跑到最近的电话亭，打电话给他的父亲。他的父亲也和他一样激动，并且他的儿子给他寄来了整个赛季大学联赛的门票。在大学四年里，这个坚持不懈的年轻运动员从没有错过任何一次训练，但是，他仍旧没有参加过一场比赛。
他在大学期间的最后一个橄榄球赛季即将结束。在关键的决赛即将来临之前，当他跑进训练场时，教练手里拿着一份电报找到了他。这个年轻人看了电报，顿时变得死一般沉默。
他哽咽着，对教练小声说道：“今天早晨，我父亲去世了。今天，我请假不参加训练行吗？”
教练轻轻地搂了搂他的肩，说：“孩子，这个星期剩下的几天你就好好休息一下吧。星期六的那场比赛你也不必赶回来了。”
星期六到了。比赛进行得很不顺利。第三节的时候，球队落后了10分。这时候，一个沉默不语的年轻人悄悄地闪进了空无一人的更衣室，穿上了他的橄榄球球服。当他跑进边线的时候，教练和他的队员们看到这位忠实的队友这么快就回来了，都不禁大吃一惊。
“教练，让我上场吧。今天，我非得参加比赛。”这个年轻人恳求道。
教练却假装没听见。他是决不会让他最差的球员参加这场势均力敌的决赛的。但是，年轻人仍旧不停地恳求。最后，教练有些同情这个孩子，让步了。
“好吧，”他说，“你可以上场了。”
不久，教练、队友，还有看台上的每一个人，几乎都不能相信自己的眼睛。这个从来都没有参加过任何比赛的名不见经传的小家伙场上打得有板有眼。对手根本就无法阻止他。他像一个大牌明星一样跑动、传球、拦截，擒抱摔倒对手。他所在的球队开始赶上了。
比分很快扳平了。在比赛即将结束前的几秒钟，这个年轻人截住了一个传球，带着球一路奔跑，触地得分，最终赢得了比赛的胜利。球迷们沸腾了！他的队友们把他举到了肩膀上。——这样的喝彩声是你从未听到过的！
最后，当看台上空无一人，而且队员们也都洗完了澡离开更衣室的时候，教练才注意到这个年轻人正独自一人静静地坐在角落里。
教练走过去，说道：“孩子，我简直无法相信，你真是太神奇了！能告诉我这究竟是怎么回事吗？你究竟是怎么做到的？”
他看着教练，眼里噙满了泪水，说：“教练，你知道，我父亲已经去世了。但是，你知道我的父亲是个盲人吗？”年轻人哽咽了，勉强地笑了一下，“以前，我的每一场比赛，父亲都赶来‘观看’。但是，今天却是他第一次‘看’我参加比赛，所以，我想要证明给他看——他的儿子能够做到！”
1. pole－vault n．撑竿跳
2． champion n．冠军
3． absolutely adv．完全地, 绝对地
4． athlete n．运动员
5． teenager n．十几岁的青少年
6． walk－on n．跑龙套角色（无关重要的角色）
7． roster n．名簿
8． hustle n．奋发；催促
9． survive v．幸免于, 幸存
10． thrill v．使激动
11． persistent adj．持久稳固的
12． trot v． (使)小跑, (使)快步走
13． playoff n．最后决赛
14． coach n．教练
15． mumble v．喃喃而语, 咕哝
16． slip [slip] v．开溜
17． locker n．有锁的）存衣柜，存物箱
18． gear n．工具, 用具
19． astound v．使惊骇, 使大吃一惊
20． tackle v．处理, 应付
21． triumph v．获得胜利
22． intercept v．中途阻止, 截取
23． hoist v．升起；扯起
24． fantastic adj．极好的，极妙的