(S23) - PT 4 - The Butterfly Effect

[ZootTX]

Young Zee Rechs was raised on a cattle ranch, and his father was an all-star athlete. As a result, the expectations were high that he would play sports and do well. And Zee did excel at athletics of all kinds. In fact, Zee made the All-State football team as a senior and set state records in the bench press and deadlift in powerlifting. The future was looking bright! Then, tragedy struck. Zee was in a car wreck, which shattered his left knee. Zee’s world came tumbling down around him. Zee moped around the house for quite a while, nursing his injured leg and thinking about the opportunities he seemed to have lost.
Zee’s father, never one for whining, sat Zee down and told him that he could either wonder what could have been, or do something about it. So, Zee decided to rehab his knee and try for the local community college’s football team, since no major college wanted him any more. After training for a few months, Zee’s father convinced him to try to walk-on at Texas A&M, his alma mater, instead. So Zee took a risk. And the rest, as they say, is history. If Zee’s dad never had that sit down with him, Zee may have just stayed at home and worked the family’s cattle ranch instead. Zee’s Dad is his biggest hero, and he credits him with much of his success.

236 words

[RussDrivesTheBus]

Bass’ DSFL season with the Minnesota Grey Ducks was characterized by making tackles. 147 of them. So too, was his collegiate career. Bass has made a living in sniffing out the football and making the play. When he came to San Jose, he was happy to continue on that path, but the Front Office had other ideas. They moved Bass to the edge of the defensive line, rather than him playing center fielder. The move was initially a bit of a shock, because he was never contacted about the switch. But, in his rookie season, Bass blossomed into his new role racking up 18 TFLs an adding 3 sacks. His efforts were enough to get him nominated for DEoTY; truly an honor. In his second year, he has continued to play Defensive End, and started the season off at break-neck pace. Through the first 8 games, Bass recorded 14 TFLs and was on pace to break the single season record. But, a 3-game drought has stifled those chances, and he simply hopes to reach the same mark he set last year. Overall, the change to Defensive End, while not permanent, could have thrown Bass for a loop and caused dissention. Instead, he saw it as an opportunity to help his team compete, and hopefully set them up for success in the near future.

[Net]

PBE Affiliate

[muse316]

“Your mother is very sick,” his dad told him, awkward in his sadness. “She’s going to need a lot of care.”

Skywalker looked up at his dad, taking in his father’s tears, the man who never cried, not even at his own father’s funeral, and understood. “Of course, dad.” Skywalker said. “I can always go to college close to home. Lehigh has lots of great academics, and it’s just down the road from our house.”

His dad looked defeated. “I know we were set on you playing QB at Michigan, son. I can always hire some nurses or aides to help her.”

“No dad,” Skywalker answered. “I know how to take care of her. I want to stay home and help.”

His dad looked away in guilt. “You can’t give up your dreams for us. We’re your parents; it’s not right of us to ask you of it, and you need to think of your future. You should go.”

Skywalker considered this and thought of his future. The glory, the adventures, the fun times he could have living on his own in his parents’ alma mater. His whole life, planned out, set up ahead of him. Then he looked once more at his dad, and then his mom who slept on the hospital bed. He thought of his dad’s limited savings, his mother’s illness, and the dedication and sacrifices his parents have given to him in his life. And he realized it was an easy decision.

“No dad,” he said, squaring his shoulders and willing himself to give up one dream for another. Maybe not as glorified a dream, but a dream nonetheless where he could bring his mother home and support his family. That was still a good dream, he thought. “I’ll stay home. You’re right. It IS my future. That’s the future I want.”

Skywalker played at Lehigh until his mother made a full recovery. He then transferred to Michigan to finish junior and senior year as the Wolverine’s starting quarterback. He was often asked, later in life, if he ever regretted giving up those two years for his family. He was even asked that question after his mother passed away a few years later after a resurgence of the disease. His answer never changed. “I didn’t give up two years,” he said. “I got 2 years more to spend with my mom and to make my dad happy. That’s a great dream, isn’t it?”

[Thor]

SHL Affiliate

[WildfireMicro]

Eric Richards in college felt like he was on top of the world. However one potential decision he almost made could have changed all that. He was in pain from a hard hitting game against Arkansas the day before, with his leg especially cramping. He had some ice on it when he then roommate Kyle James came in and saw how awful he looked with his hurt leg and headache. He then decided to offer Eric a chance to take the load off by taking what we will call an"illicit substance"

Eric of course refused, but Kyle kept pressuring him to do it, saying that, "I'm your friend, and I only want to help you relax. Don't you want to relax?" His pressuring over the next few days left Eric in a very difficult position of choosing between taking the substance and relaxing his joints and keeping sweat he thought was a good friend, or finally frimly saying "no!" And perhaps having to report him to the dean if it continued. Ultimately Eric got so annoyed he reported him and Kyle was expelled.

Obviously if Eric took the substance and got caught he would have been kicked out of the college or at least kicked off the team and would have never been an NSFL player. This decision helped him stay on track for his life, and he even refused pain medicine for the most part because he is so paranoid about getting addicted. He would never talk to Kyle again, and he believes Kyle went to some military school afterwards though he never confirmed that.

[Birdman]

SHL Affiliation - Championship Week (LordBirdman)

[24redcrayons]

PBE Affiliate PT

[Slothman07]

As you probably remember, after my good-for-nothing husband Stan left me penniless and without means to support myself, I went back to school ate age 57 to earn my degree in English Literature at Golden Gate University, where I discovered my passion for the most beautiful game of pigskins. The most difficult decision I ever faced was on that field, the Golden Gridiron. My daughter was in the hospital giving birth to my first Grandchild, Robby, on the night of the championship game of my sophomore season. Family is family, so of course I was there for the birth; I even caught him when he shot out. But when I saw there was time for me to make it for the final quarter, I spiked that baby right down and sprinted across town, running right onto the field just in time to sack the Anaheim Flat Tires’ star Quarterback, Jaguar Milenko. I sacked him three more times consecutively, allowing our offense to rob that clown of a championship in his senior year. Was it hard to hand off that sweet, slimy little baby? Yes. Was it heartbreaking to see the tears in my daughter’s eyes as I ran out of the hospital room? Yes. Was it awkward when I caused a twelve car pileup on the way to the game when a yellow-cab t-boned me and I left it crumpled in the intersection with the imprint of my powerful thighs still in its grill? Of course. But was it worth it to watch Jaguar Milenko’s faceprint-stained tears running down the front of his uniform as I handed him the game ball, knowing he would have to live with the shame of this ass-whoop-whooping forever? Absolutely.

[AL_GRINGO]

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