Too Old, Too Small, and Danny Rumbaugh
In fifth grade, I gave up soccer to try football. I was one of the smallest kids on the field, but I was fast, and in my first game I scored four or five touchdowns. I thought I had found my sport. Then I learned I was several days too old for the younger division and was forced to move up to the older league. Overnight, I went from starting running back to benchwarmer. The following weekend, we played the best team in the league, led by a much bigger and more talented player named Danny Rumbaugh. Late in the game, Danny broke loose on a kickoff return, and somehow I was the only player with a chance to stop him. Despite being completely outmatched, I dove at his legs and brought him down. Danny landed on top of me and, furious that the smallest kid on the field had stopped him, punched me in the face. Fortunately, I was still wearing my helmet. Danny injured his hand badly enough to leave the game and eventually needed stitches. I never became the football star I imagined I would be. ...