Roo's "Rudy" Moment

I don't care who you are, a parent can't but help but feel proud when one of their offspring does something right. Let me paint the picture. Our little Reese is built like Ichabod Crane, (incidentally, he will be the nemesis, the "headless horseman" come Halloween) and along with having no older brothers to toughen him up and a dad who up until recently wasn't in shape or athletic enough to help him much with sports, Reese hasn't had much of a background in sports. I mean, if marching band were in the picture, no problem. But Reese's Dad(myself) by no means was a superior athlete. As such, those same qualities or lack thereof have translated into Reese, who has a talent for music and is also clumsy when it comes to sports. This is the same kid who at the beginning of Football season, didn't know how to correctly do a jumping jack (thanks alot Dad for that "highlight"reel). From the moment Reese was relegated to be one of 5 kids out of 22 that didn't start at some kind of position on his team, we have been trying to motivate him to learn how to play football and play it well. It started with relating Reese to how the Incredible Hulk acts when he smashes into people. That worked for a week as far as his tackiling ability went. But, to Reese's behest, he is the tallest and lankiest kid on the team, and looks like a newborn giraffe trying to take its first steps when he gets into a three point stance. Shorter kids have that genetic disposition to have a lower center of gravity and often more power when it comes to effective hitting. Poor Reese plays his minimum 10 plays a game mandated by the league just hoping and wishing for that moment of glory when he can take down the opposition on a glorious solo tackle. During the 3rd game this season, I was trying to motivate Reese to get a tackle and told him that if he could get a tackle, he would earn a Transformer (favorite toy by far) as a reward. Game after game, Reese has been focused on earning that Transformer, only to have that toy slip through his fingers as he clumsily chased after ball carriers not ever getting close to tasting the flavor of a hard hit that knocks the ball carrier to the ground. Alas, today was the last game, and as the team didn't make playoffs, the last opportunity of the year for Reese to get his tackle. Today, in a whiny voice he asked before I dropped him off.."Daddy, if I don't get a tackle, I won't get a Transformer." to which I responded "You're right..so you'd better get one if you want it bad enough." He then said, "I don't think I will Daddy." and I responded "Newcomers never say "I don't think I can" (As if I'm a model of achievement and beating the odds..please)..perhaps this on-the-fly creation of a tradition that never was can start with the next generation..anyways, I then suggested he pray to Heavenly Father asking him to help him get a tackle. Fast forward to the 4th quarter of the game..Reese is almost out of his mandatory play opportunities, getting close a few times to making a tackle but falling shy every time. Then came the happiest moment I've experienced as a father with his son as far as secular moments go...The ball was snapped, and Reese (#71) busted through the offensive line using the "swim" move his coach taught but he wasn't good at executing up until this moment..then Reese spots the ball carrier trying to run a sweep to the outside..he closes in and in a slow motion like experience, leaps from his feet and solo tackles the ball carrier...I was ecstatic, so were the coaches at seeing their bean-pole second stringer perform an awesome tackle. They were yelling, I was yelling, the grandparents and other teammates were yelling with joy and the smile on Reese's face was priceless. Of course I was beaming with pride and so happy I was almost moved to tears. My little boy, finally feeling what it's like to be the star of the show, even if but for a moment in time. Of course, as Reese is coming towards the sideline after the play, an excited teammate tries to give him a "chest bump" and knocks him on his keester. Then Reese says in a loud voice "Dad, did you see me get that tackle? Now I can get my Transformer!" maybe some day he will learn the satisfaction of doing well for it's own sake. In the mean time, Reese got his toy, he learned and recognized that God answers sincere prayers, and he genuinely enjoyed the game, feeling how fun it is to do something right. Here's to you, little "Rudy" Roo, we love you!

(The Snap)

(The Line Break)


(In Hot Persuit 1)(In Hot Persuit 2) (In Hot Persuit 3)

(The Tackle)