English Original
Bob Richards, the former pole-vault champion, shares a moving story about a skinny young boy who loved football with all his heart.
Practice after practice, he gave everything he had. But being half the size of the other boys, he rarely got to play. At every game, this hopeful athlete sat on the bench.
He lived alone with his father, who was always in the stands cheering. He never missed a game. Even when the son entered high school as the smallest in his class, his father encouraged him but made it clear he didn't have to play.
The young man loved football and decided to persevere. He was determined to try his best at every practice, hoping to play in his senior year. Throughout high school, he never missed a practice or game but remained a benchwarmer. His faithful father was always there with words of encouragement.
In college, he tried out as a "walk-on." Everyone doubted he would make the team, but he did. The coach kept him on the roster because he put his heart into every practice and inspired his teammates with his spirit and hustle.
Thrilled, he called his father, who shared his excitement. For four years of college, this persistent athlete never missed practice but never played in a game.
Near the end of his senior season, before a big playoff game, the coach met him with a telegram. The young man read it and fell silent. "My father died this morning," he mumbled. "Is it all right if I miss practice today?" The coach told him to take the week off and not to come to Saturday's game.
Saturday arrived, and the team was struggling. In the third quarter, ten points behind, the young man quietly slipped into the locker room, put on his gear, and returned to the sidelines. "Coach, please let me play today," he pleaded. Reluctantly, the coach agreed.
To everyone's astonishment, this unknown player did everything right. He ran, passed, blocked, and tackled like a star. His team began to win. In the final seconds, he intercepted a pass and ran for the winning touchdown. The crowd erupted. His teammates hoisted him onto their shoulders.
After the game, the coach found him alone. "You were fantastic! How did you do it?"
The young man looked up, tears in his eyes. "You knew my dad died. But did you know he was blind? Dad came to all my games, but today was the first time he could see me play. I wanted to show him I could do it."
中文翻译
前撑杆跳冠军鲍勃·理查兹分享了一个感人的故事，讲述了一个瘦弱却全心热爱橄榄球的小男孩。
他一次次刻苦训练，倾尽全力。但由于身材只有其他男孩的一半大，他几乎得不到上场机会。每场比赛，这位满怀希望的运动员都坐在替补席上。
他与父亲相依为命。父亲总是坐在看台上为他加油，从未错过任何一场比赛。即使儿子进入高中时仍是班里最瘦小的，父亲也一直鼓励他，但也明确表示，如果他不想，不必非得打橄榄球。
年轻人热爱橄榄球，决定坚持下去。他决心在每次训练中都做到最好，希望能在高年级时上场。整个高中阶段，他从未缺席过一次训练或比赛，但始终是替补队员。他忠诚的父亲总是在看台上，用话语鼓励他。
大学时，他决定以“走读生”身份尝试加入球队。所有人都认为他不可能入选，但他成功了。教练将他留在名单上，因为他每次训练都全心投入，并以他的精神和拼劲激励着其他队员。
他激动不已，打电话告诉了父亲，父亲也分享了他的喜悦。大学四年，这位坚持不懈的运动员从未缺席训练，但从未在正式比赛中上场。
在他大四赛季临近尾声时，一场重要的季后赛前，教练拿着一封电报找到了他。年轻人读完电报，陷入了死寂般的沉默。“我父亲今天早上去世了，”他喃喃道，“我今天可以缺席训练吗？”教练让他休息一周，周六的比赛也不用来了。
周六到了，球队打得并不顺利。第三节，球队落后十分，这位年轻人悄悄溜进空无一人的更衣室，穿上装备，回到了场边。“教练，请让我今天上场吧，”他恳求道。教练不情愿地同意了。
令所有人震惊的是，这位名不见经传的球员表现得无可挑剔。他跑动、传球、阻挡、擒抱，像个明星一样。他的球队开始反超。在最后几秒钟，他拦截了一次传球，并跑出了致胜的达阵。人群沸腾了。队友们将他扛在肩上。
比赛结束后，教练发现他独自一人。“你太不可思议了！你是怎么做到的？”
年轻人抬起头，眼里含着泪水。“你知道我爸爸去世了。但你知道他是盲人吗？爸爸来看我所有的比赛，但今天是他第一次能‘看见’我打球。我想向他证明我能做到。”