Lyle's Second Go

    In 1982，when I was coaching the Raiders， the owner of the team talked with me about a possible trade for Lyle Alzado. After watching him on tape，I didn't think he was that good, but the owner felt we could make Lyle better by creating the right environment lor him. We made the1.

    That summer at training camp，Lyle was having a hard time. He had that look in his eyes that many young players and some old players get when things aren't going 2.One morning Lyle came into my office and he looked like he hadn't slept. Here was a huge man, with his head about as3as it could go. We talked, or rather, I listened. The main point was that Lyle felt his career (职业生涯）was over and it would be best for him and for the team if he retired (退役）.He apologized for4us since we had just traded for him.

    Lyle was always an emotional person. This is one of the reasons he was a good player. He5all that emotional energy with him, ready to lire out at the snap of the ball (开球）.Now he was in front of me， almost crying. I thought for a moment， realizing we had to keep that 6going. Then I went through my reasons why he should not retire. At the end of our talk， I said，“You go out and play your very best, and let us7if you still have it. Personally， I think you do.”

    In January 1984. Tampa Bay Stadium. Super Bowl XVIII. With less than two minutes remaining, we were leading 38-9. We were the world champions of professional football. I saw Lyle，crying like a baby. I had to turn away quickly，or I would have joined him in 8.

    I remembered that morning in my office， and what Lyle， and what the Raiders， had achieved since he came to us. If Lyle hadn't given his career another shot, he wouldn't have had this victory. Maybe the Raiders wouldn't have had this victory. During that moment， I felt one of the greatest satisfactions of my coaching career.

    Many people don't like to stay at home on holidays. They want to go out to see something 1 or do something exciting. People from the countryside go to the 2, and people from the city go to the countryside for holidays. During the holidays, trains, buses and planes are all very busy. It is very 3 to buy train tickets or air tickets. Many people 4 cars or buses for travelling.

    Last National Day, my family went to the countryside by car for our 5. There was too much traffic on the road. We had to move very 6. It took us about an hour to get out of the town. After some time, we 7 to a hill. It was green and beautiful. We thought that was a good place for a 8, so we stopped and 9 the food, fruits and drinks out of the car. We sat down and began to eat. Suddenly, a strong wind came and soon it started to 10. We all got wet. We had to run back to our car and had our picnic in the car. Then we drove home. What a bad trip we had!

    Imagine a life without arms or legs! You can't hold anyone in your 1 . You can't walk anywhere with your feet. How would you last a day like that? Would you 2 at yourself in the mirror(镜子) like Nick Vujicic, the 29-year-old Australian？

    Nick was born without limbs(四肢), so life was not3 for him. At school many students played jokes on him 4 he looked different from everyone else. He was refused to be 5 friends, so he always felt 6.

    However, he faced that bravely. He 7 to type and write with two toes(脚趾) at the age of six, and he could8surf and play golf. In college, he achieved great success and was among the 9 students in the studies. And he decided on 10 to do later in his life--to encourage others to work hard for their dreams.

    Now Nick is one of the most popular 11 in the world. He travels to many countries and gives speeches about his story 12 difficulties. "Living life fully is about looking at what you 13 , not what you don't have. " he said. His 14encourages millions of people.

    "I tell people to keep on getting up when they 15and to always love themselves," he said. "If I can encourage just one person, then my job in this life is done."

    John was driving through a small country town, feeling quite lost and 1. He was happy when he saw a small 2 coming up on the right side of the road. John quickly 3 his car, and walked inside the restaurant.

    John saw a blackboard with a 4 written on it. It said, "Today's Special (特价菜): Vegetable Soup with Fried Chicken and Roast Potatoes."

    "Wow, that sounds pretty good!" John thought to 5. He decided that he would try this special.

    "I'll take the special," John said to the waiter when he came over to 6 John's order. But a few minutes after receiving his order, John called the waiter 7 to his table. He was 8.

    "Is this the special? It says vegetable soup, but there are no 9 in this soup at all! It also says fried chicken, but the chicken isn't 10. And it says roast potatoes, but these potatoes aren't toasted—they've been boiled. What is going on here?"

    The waiter was not used to 11 people from the city. He wasn't quite sure what to say to this angry customer. But he finally found a way to answer the man. "My good man," the waiter said while looking down at John over his glasses, "that is the reason why it is so 12!"