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BOY WHO LOVED FOOTBALL

    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!"
     >>

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