IJMC Another Sweet Story

                     IJMC - Another Sweet Story

I was thinking I was going to write a bit tonight. Since I forgot last 
night's IJMC and well, I'm DONE with my exams for this quarter, I thought 
I'd say more. But, well, there's some mighty good food upstairs and 
another half bottle of champagne. I'll be plastered and placated soon. 
So, this and one more is what you get, happy Friday!                -dave






   There was 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 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 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 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-in."  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 into 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 reason 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 senior 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 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 teammates hoisted him onto their shoulders.
Such cheering you never heard.  Finally, after the stands had emptied and
the team had showered and left the locker room, the coach noticed that
this 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 he 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!" 




IJMC March 1998 Archives