SacTown Chronic
09-07-2007, 11:03 PM
"Okay, last play. Jacques, If I pick this, you're running goalpost to goalpost."
"No sweat, coach."
Who's next? Oh sh*t, it's Todd. I hate to shut down my own son but Jacques must be pushed.
I've never seen an eleven year old kid like Jacques before. Things break right for him, we'll be watching him play professional football in about a decade or so. Jacques is a specimen; a freakishly talented athlete and right now we need to know if he can be our quarterback. We have two practice games tomorrow and the real action starts next Saturday.
"Remember Jacques, throw it where only your guy can get it and put it on a rope. You throw it behind him and I'm taking it the other way and you're running."
Todd gets the same treatment as everyone else, I let him get into his break then I follow...ready to pounce. I want this pick. Jacques is getting cocky and he needs to run.
"Set. Hike."
Todd takes off. I squat, hands dangling, and wait for Todd to come to me. Todd cuts toward the inside of the field and I follow. The throw from Jacques comes in low and away. My only play is to dive. I stretch for the ball and feel it scrape my fingertips. From the corner of my eye I see Todd catch the ball and start running. I tuck and roll and come up pounding the turf.
"Dammit!" I pretend to be upset but my heart swells with pride.
The concentration required to make that catch is indescribable. The throw Jacques made was awesome; Todd's catch was otherworldly. For one moment the superstar-in-the-making was overshadowed by my undersized son. It's going to be a fun season.
"No sweat, coach."
Who's next? Oh sh*t, it's Todd. I hate to shut down my own son but Jacques must be pushed.
I've never seen an eleven year old kid like Jacques before. Things break right for him, we'll be watching him play professional football in about a decade or so. Jacques is a specimen; a freakishly talented athlete and right now we need to know if he can be our quarterback. We have two practice games tomorrow and the real action starts next Saturday.
"Remember Jacques, throw it where only your guy can get it and put it on a rope. You throw it behind him and I'm taking it the other way and you're running."
Todd gets the same treatment as everyone else, I let him get into his break then I follow...ready to pounce. I want this pick. Jacques is getting cocky and he needs to run.
"Set. Hike."
Todd takes off. I squat, hands dangling, and wait for Todd to come to me. Todd cuts toward the inside of the field and I follow. The throw from Jacques comes in low and away. My only play is to dive. I stretch for the ball and feel it scrape my fingertips. From the corner of my eye I see Todd catch the ball and start running. I tuck and roll and come up pounding the turf.
"Dammit!" I pretend to be upset but my heart swells with pride.
The concentration required to make that catch is indescribable. The throw Jacques made was awesome; Todd's catch was otherworldly. For one moment the superstar-in-the-making was overshadowed by my undersized son. It's going to be a fun season.