I still remember his first practice. I recognize that stories are often exaggerated, but I believe this to be true: It was 105 degrees when the practice started. Even though he was big for his age, the helmet and the shoulder pads seemed to swallow him up. I made him wear a yellow practice jersey so he would stand out and I could easily find him on the field.
He did not initially take to the game of football and often complained about practice.
During his first game, he was not playing very hard and was messing around on the sideline. I marched around the field in front of everyone and had a little talk. I then marched back toward my lawn chairs on the other side. Halfway back to my seat, I had one of those out of body experiences where I kind of saw myself and how I was acting. I went back to my chair, sat down and did not say a word. I relegated myself to positive support and only an occasional suggestion or two at the end of the game.
It was not until about the 8th grade that he liked football enough to enable us to use his play as a threat. We often told him that we would pull him out of football if he did not keep up with his homework. During the early years, there was an on-again, off-again desire to go to football camps during the summer. He went to several and never really seemed to enjoy them. Maybe because three of them were in Dallas in the middle of July. He did learn a lot.
At the end of his freshman season, he moved to the high school team, and they won the state championship. His playing time is limited to the last minutes and seconds of a couple of playoff games. He continues to grow and quickly becomes a large man over his sophomore year and can now look down on the top of my head.
His junior year starts with a heatstroke and two weeks in the hospital. The boy across the hall with a heat stroke dies. This fact is a constant reminder to William of how lucky he is. His life will never be the same. His recovery gains national attention. He is featured in one documentary and makes an appearance on “Today.” He comes back at the end of the season, starts the last four games, and helps his team make it to the state finals.
He works hard all summer with his team preparing for his final season. Ultimately, he finishes his senior year as the
starting left tackle for the first team in school history to finish the season as undefeated state champions. In many ways, the championship was anticlimactic. Out of the 12 games they played, the starters only played in the second half in two games. The second half of the championship game started under the Mercy Rule which runs the clock at all times. The Mercy Rule was the norm all season. His team was awesome and accomplished something very few high school teams ever have, and everyone else just has to dream about.
The championship was two weeks ago. William has been accepted to college and, for the first time, will probably watch his school’s games from the stands. Unless of course, a better offer is made this spring. I can’t believe it is over. Fifteen years gone in the blink of an eye. I am saddened by the completion of this part of his life journey, but I am excited by what is ahead of him.
I heard the song, “The Cat’s in the Cradle” last week, and it caused me to reflect on my baby boy growing up. I have a picture of me holding him when he was less than a month old, and he is screaming at the top of his lungs. He was so tiny. He is not anymore. He is everything I am, and a whole bunch of what I am not. He is definitely the new and improved version.
The cat may be in the cradle, but the baby is long gone. Time goes fast, especially for those of us way up in the CHEAP SEATS!
Bill James is a co-founder of the James Law Firm with offices in Little Rock, Conway and Fayetteville, Arkansas. His primary area of practice is criminal defense. He can be contacted at Bill@JamesFirm.com.