Bob Richards, the former pole-vault champion, shares a moving story
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!"
相关单词：standing
standing解释：n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的
standing例句：
After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。
相关单词：decided
decided解释：adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的
decided例句：
This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。
相关单词：determined
determined解释：adj.坚定的；有决心的
determined例句：
I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。
相关单词：roster
roster解释：n.值勤表，花名册
roster例句：
The teacher checked the roster to see whom he would teach this year.老师查看花名册，想了解今年要教的学生。
The next day he put himself first on the new roster for domestic chores.第二天，他把自己排在了新的家务值日表的第一位。
相关单词：hustle
hustle解释：v.推搡；竭力兜售或获取；催促；n.奔忙(碌)
hustle例句：
It seems that he enjoys the hustle and bustle of life in the big city.看起来他似乎很喜欢大城市的热闹繁忙的生活。
I had to hustle through the crowded street.我不得不挤过拥挤的街道。
相关单词：persistent
persistent解释：adj.坚持不懈的，执意的；持续的
persistent例句：
Albert had a persistent headache that lasted for three days.艾伯特连续头痛了三天。
She felt embarrassed by his persistent attentions.他不时地向她大献殷勤，使她很难为情。
相关单词：trotted
trotted解释：小跑，急走( trot的过去分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走
trotted例句：
She trotted her pony around the field. 她骑着小马绕场慢跑。
Anne trotted obediently beside her mother. 安妮听话地跟在妈妈身边走。
相关单词：mumbled
mumbled解释：含糊地说某事，叽咕，咕哝( mumble的过去式和过去分词 )
mumbled例句：
He mumbled something to me which I did not quite catch. 他对我叽咕了几句话，可我没太听清楚。
George mumbled incoherently to himself. 乔治语无伦次地喃喃自语。
相关单词：locker
locker解释：n.更衣箱，储物柜，冷藏室，上锁的人
locker例句：
At the swimming pool I put my clothes in a locker.在游泳池我把衣服锁在小柜里。
He moved into the locker room and began to slip out of his scrub suit.他走进更衣室把手术服脱下来。
相关单词：gear
gear解释：n.齿轮，传动装置，设备，衣服；vt.使适应
gear例句：
We have to gear our lives to the new changes.我们必须使自己的生活适应新的变化。
The teeth of the wheel gear into each other.齿轮互相啮合。
相关单词：astounded
astounded解释：v.使震惊(astound的过去式和过去分词)；愕然；愕；惊讶
astounded例句：
His arrogance astounded her. 他的傲慢使她震惊。
How can you say that? I'm absolutely astounded. 你怎么能说出那种话？我感到大为震惊。
相关单词：persisted
persisted解释：坚持( persist的过去式和过去分词 )； 维持； 保持； 持续存在
persisted例句：
They persisted in going there in spite of the bad weather. 尽管天气很坏，他们还是坚持去那里。
She persisted that she was strong enough to go back to work. 她反复地说她身体已经好了，可以去上班了。
相关单词：intercepted
intercepted解释：拦截( intercept的过去式和过去分词 )； 截住； 截击； 拦阻
intercepted例句：
Reporters intercepted him as he tried to leave the hotel. 他正要离开旅馆，记者们把他拦截住了。
Reporters intercepted him as he tried to leave by the rear entrance. 他想从后门溜走，记者把他截住了。
相关单词：hoisted
hoisted解释：把…吊起，升起( hoist的过去式和过去分词 )
hoisted例句：
He hoisted himself onto a high stool. 他抬身坐上了一张高凳子。
The sailors hoisted the cargo onto the deck. 水手们把货物吊到甲板上。
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