He missed the lesson on giving up
A gangly, uncoordinated fellow played four years of high school football a few decades back. Freshman team, junior varsity, two seasons on the varsity squad. Not once in all that time did he miss a practice session, not even one.
He also never got into a game. Not for a minute, not for a second. Not even when his team was ahead by six touchdowns.
One of his teammates went on to play professional football in the NFL. Later he returned to town for a class reunion. Others hurried to gather around, to be by his side. He was polite enough, tolerant of people he once had known and some he hadn't. His face lit up when saw an old teammate across the room, the man who had never gotten into a game. The pro called his name, elbowed his way through the crowd until he was able to shake the uncoordinated fellow's hand and throw an arm around his shoulder. They went to a table off by itself, talked and laughed together for a couple of hours.
Later a man who had never gone out for the team took the old pro by the arm and said, "Why did you spend all that time talking to him of all people?"
The pro shot him a scornful look. "He was the most important man on the team."
The other man laughed. "Important? He never even got in a game."
The pro jerked his arm free and walked away. Over his shoulder he said, "He taught us never to quit."
He also never got into a game. Not for a minute, not for a second. Not even when his team was ahead by six touchdowns.
One of his teammates went on to play professional football in the NFL. Later he returned to town for a class reunion. Others hurried to gather around, to be by his side. He was polite enough, tolerant of people he once had known and some he hadn't. His face lit up when saw an old teammate across the room, the man who had never gotten into a game. The pro called his name, elbowed his way through the crowd until he was able to shake the uncoordinated fellow's hand and throw an arm around his shoulder. They went to a table off by itself, talked and laughed together for a couple of hours.
Later a man who had never gone out for the team took the old pro by the arm and said, "Why did you spend all that time talking to him of all people?"
The pro shot him a scornful look. "He was the most important man on the team."
The other man laughed. "Important? He never even got in a game."
The pro jerked his arm free and walked away. Over his shoulder he said, "He taught us never to quit."
posted by Dick Stodghill | 8/17/2009 10:38:00 AM
5 Comments:
Wonderful, Dick.
Glad you liked it, Carol.
Dick, 19 Aug 09
Great story about two great people and one jerk.
It makes me wonder if there are more folks like those two that we never hear about or sadly, that there aren’t more like them too hear about.
Thanks for writing the story and reminding us what is important. I hope the jerk of the story reads it though I doubt he would understand.
Chet
He taught us to never quit.
I'll use that!
Thanks for the comments, fellows.
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