佚名/Anonymous
BobRichardtheformerpole-vaultchampion, , , , , .
, butalsomadeitveryclearthathedidnothavetoplayfootballifhedidn’twantto.
, andperhapshe’, , alwayswithwordsofencouragementforhim.
Whentheyoungmanwenttocollage, , , andatthesametime, providedtheothermemberswiththespirit.
, buthenevergottoplayinagame.
Itwastheendoftheseniorfootballseason, andashetrottedontothepracticefieldshortlybeforethebigplayoffgame, thecoachmethimwithatelegramandhebecamedeathlysilent.
Swallowinghard, hemumbledtothecoach,“?”
Thecoachputhisarmgentlyaroundhisshoulderandsaid,“Takemerestoftheweekoff, ’tevenplantocometothegameonSaturday.”
Saturdayarrived, , whentheteamwastenpointsbehind, , thecoachandhisplayerswereastoundedtoseetheirfaithfulteammatebacksosoon.
“Coach, pleaseletmeplay.I’vejustgottoplaytoday.”saidtheyoungman.
, andfinallyfeelingsorryforthekid, thecoachgavein.
“Allright,”hesaid.“Youcangoin.”
Beforelong, thecoach, theplayers, , , passed, blocked, , .
Histeammateshoistedhimontotheirshoulders.
Finally, afterthestandshademptiedandtheteamhadshoweredandleftthelockerroom, thecoachnoticedthattheyoungmanwassittingquietlyinthecornerallalone.
Thecoachcametohimandsaid,“Kid, Ican’!Tellmewhatgotintoyou?Howdidyoudoit?”
Helookedatthecoach, withtearsinhiseyes, andsaid,“Well, youknowmydaddied, butdidyouknowthatmydadwasblind?”Theyoungmanswallowedhardandforcedasmile,“Dadcametoallmygames, buttodaywasthefirsttimehecouldseemeplay, andIwantedtoshowhimIcoulddoit!”
