A teenager lived alone with his father, and the two of them had a very special relationship. The father believed in encouragement. Even though the son was always on the bench, his father was always in the stands cheering. He never missed a game.
有一位少年和父親住在一起，他與父親之間的關系非常特殊。父親相信激勵的力量。盡管兒子總是坐在替補席上，他的父親卻依舊總是在看臺上為他歡呼。兒子的比賽，父親每場必到，一場也沒有錯過。
This young man was the smallest of the class when he entered high school. 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.
這個年輕人進入高中時是班里個子最小的。他的父親總是不斷鼓勵他，但也明確表示，如果他不想打橄欖球，也不必強求。
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 would get to play when he became a senior.
但年輕人熱愛橄欖球，決定堅持下去。他決心在每次訓練中都竭盡全力，或許這樣就能在四年級時獲得上場比賽的機會。
All through high school he never missed a practice or 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-on."
整個高中階段，他從來沒有錯過任何一次訓練、任何一場比賽，但四年來卻一直僅是個板凳隊員。作為他忠實粉絲的父親，每次比賽都會出現在看臺上，總是給予他鼓勵的話語。進入大學后，這個年輕人決定參加橄欖球隊臨時隊員的選拔。
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 to 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 season tickets for all the college games.
每個人都理所應當地認為他絕無晉級可能，但他卻做到了。教練準許他進入了名單，因為他總是在訓練中全情投入，同時也為其他隊員提供了他們所急需的斗志與勤勉。順利通過選拔的消息令他激動不已，他飛奔地找到了最近的電話，把這個好消息告訴了他的父親。與父親分享了這份興奮后，他還把整套大學賽季的球票寄給了父親。

This persistent young athlete never missed practice during his four years at college, but he never got to play in the game. It was the end of his senior football season, and as he trotted onto the practice field shortly before the big play-off game, the coach met him with a telegram. The young man read the telegram and he became deathly silent.
這位意志頑強的年輕球員，在大學四年里從來沒有錯過任何一次訓練，卻從來沒有獲得出現在賽場上的機會。已到他大四橄欖球賽季的尾聲階段，在距離一場重要的淘汰賽不久的一次訓練中，正當他跑向訓練場時，遇到了教練，教練手里拿著一封電報。年輕人讀了電報，然后陷入了深深的沉默。
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."
他強忍悲痛，咕嚕著向教練道出了實情：“今天早上我父親去世了，我可不可以不參加今天的訓練？”教練輕輕地摟住他的肩膀，說：“休息一周吧，孩子，先不要考慮周六比賽的事了。”
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 side-lines, the coach and his players were astounded to see their faithful team-mate back so soon.
周六到了，比賽進展得并不順利。到第三節時，球隊已經落后了10分，此時一個沉默的年輕人悄悄溜進空空蕩蕩的更衣室，穿上了自己的橄欖球裝備。當他跑到邊線位置時，教練和他的隊友們都非常驚訝，他們沒有想到這位忠實的隊友會如此快地歸隊。
"Coach, please let me play. I have 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 play-off game. But the young man persisted, and finally feeling sorry for young man, the coach gave in. "All right," he said. "You can go in."
年輕人說：“教練，請讓我上場吧，我今天要上場比賽。”教練裝作沒聽到他的話。在這樣重要的淘汰賽中，他不可能讓隊中最差的隊員上場。但這個年輕人依舊堅持要上場，教練覺得有些對不住這個年輕人，終于讓步了，對他說：“好吧，你可以上場。”
Before long, the coach, the players and everyone in the stands could not believe their eyes. This little unknown boy, 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.
他上場不久后，教練、球員和看臺上的每個人都覺得不敢相信自己的眼睛。這位不為人知、從沒上過場的小男孩，在場上表現得有板有眼，非常到位。對方球隊阻擋不了他的發揮。他的跑動、傳球、阻擋、攔截，都像球星一樣完美。他的球隊開始轉敗為勝。
The score was soon tied. In the closing seconds of the game, this young man intercepted a pass and ran all the way for the winning touchdown. The fans broke loose. His team-mates hoisted him onto their shoulders. Such cheering you have never heard!
比分很快就被扳平了。比賽的最后幾秒鐘，這位年輕人攔截到了對方的一次傳球，一路跑向達陣區。球迷們沸騰了，隊友們把他舉在肩上。這樣的歡呼慶祝前所未有！
Finally, after the stands had emptied and the team had showered and left the locker room, the coach noticed that the young man was sitting quietly in the corner all alone. The coach came to him and said, "Young man, I can't believe it. You were fantastic! Tell me what got into you? How did you do it?"
最后，在觀眾們全部離開看臺，全隊都洗完澡離開更衣室后，教練注意到這個年輕人獨自靜靜地坐在角落里。教練來到他身邊，說：“年輕人，我簡直不敢相信，你表現得棒極了！告訴我是什么讓你有這么棒的發揮？你是怎么做到的？
The young man looked at the coach, with tears in his eyes, and said, "Well, you knew my dad died, but did you know that my dad 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!"
年輕人看著教練，眼里含著淚水，回答道：“您知道我爸爸去世了，但您知道我爸爸是個盲人嗎？”年輕人抑制住強烈的感情，勉強地笑著說：“爸爸每次都會來看我的比賽，但今天是他第一次能看到我上場，我想讓他知道我是可以做到的！”
Remember: Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try. Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all. Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, "I will try again tomorrow."
請記住：每一個成就都始于決定去嘗試。世界上大部分重要的事情都是由那些在似乎毫無希望的情況下，仍不放棄嘗試的人完成的。勇氣并不總是大聲咆哮。有時候，勇氣只是在一天結束時，平靜地對自己說：“我明天再試一次。”