Experiences in school, especially sporting

[grahamg]

I was reminded recently of all the happy sporting memories I have from my secondary, or senior school days.

The younger brother of a school friend of mine rang me, a brother I played rugby union alongside, (think American football, but you can only pass the ball to a teammate standing behind you!). His brother Ian had died tragically from meningitis in his last year at school, and his younger brother asked me whether I had any contacts with other teammates he'd played with in the first team.

Forty five years on the painful memories of the loss of the most outstanding player in the team have obviously faded for the rest of us school mates, but our friend isn't forgotten, and I'm sure any teammates I can find or contact will be delighted to speak to Ian's younger brother.

We talked about how much we enjoyed our school days overall, and the excellent characters we met, both teachers/coaches, and fellow players from our own school, and opposing teams, where "foul play" was almost nonexistent, and all were trained to accept the referees decisions without question.

A few modest sporting achievements come to mind too, but the challenges, trips around the country, and all the fun and ribaldry stick with you most. .

 

[911]

I am sorry to learn of your friend’s death. Even though it’s been many years since the occurrence, I can tell it still hangs on for you.

I played football, basketball and baseball in high school. I never cared for being labeled, but the kids would call us jocks. We had a really good running back on our football team, until during one game he was tackled by two players who hit him high and low, which caused a partial tear of his spine and left him in a wheelchair for the rest of his life. He used to often tell us that someday he would walk again, but that would never happen.

He’s still alive and still in a wheelchair and he still has his infectious smile when I go to visit. He never married, but lives by himself and has learned how to completely care for himself. I have often referred to him when telling stories about being strong to my kids and when I would go to schools and talk about bullying. He was and is a great person. He never asked ‘why me’ of thought of himself as being handicapped.

 

[grahamg]

I am sorry to learn of your friend’s death. Even though it’s been many years since the occurrence, I can tell it still hangs on for you.

I played football, basketball and baseball in high school. I never cared for being labeled, but the kids would call us jocks. We had a really good running back on our football team, until during one game he was tackled by two players who hit him high and low, which caused a partial tear of his spine and left him in a wheelchair for the rest of his life. He used to often tell us that someday he would walk again, but that would never happen.

He’s still alive and still in a wheelchair and he still has his infectious smile when I go to visit. He never married, but lives by himself and has learned how to completely care for himself. I have often referred to him when telling stories about being strong to my kids and when I would go to schools and talk about bullying. He was and is a great person. He never asked ‘why me’ of thought of himself as being handicapped.

I did eat my lunch with Ian, just hours before his death, although he didn't eat anything, just had his head in his hands saying how bad a headache he had, but I was only thinking he needed an Aspirin, not his life was in danger, so yes that sticks with you certainly.

The teachers wanted to know what he ate, in case there was a danger he'd injested something, but we all used to eat the same food, even if he'd eaten anything.

A very strange thing happened a couple of weeks earlier too, we'd taken part in country trials, and I'd played okay, as a selector told me, whilst Ian stood out as usual, but the selector had this warning for him:"If you carry on playing like that you will not live very long!"

Ian hated him saying this, as you would, but I'm sure the selector saw he held nothing back, and this is what made him fear for his future.

Your story about your teammate rings bells for me too, as a lad called Hine was paralysed from the neck down a few years before I started at the school, and this worried my parents a lot. The son of a cousin of mine was similarly injured four years ago, taking a ride at a theme park, or something like that, and he too is making the most of life too, as a twenty odd year old, unable to follow his chosen farming career obviously.

This thread has diverted from the many happy memories I'm sure we all have from school days, especially sporting ones, but you can't forget those who were so dreadfully unlucky either. .

 

[Misti Mae]

I was also quite sporty in my high school days. I was a 3 sport gal although soccer was my sport. I played Soccer in the Fall, Basketball in the Winter, and Tennis in the Spring. Back in the late 80's when I was in high school no one payed a bit of attention to the girls sports until my Senior year when our Soccer team went undefeated and went to the State Semi Finals.

I am sorry to hear about your friend, but it seems like he has coped with his situation quite well.