我能行

To say I am a walking train wreck is an understatement. You name it， I’ve hurt it: I’ve broken my right wrist; had a break that spiraled down through my right ankle; broken both big toes; jammed almost every finger; partially torn a 1)tendon in my right ankle; fractured my collarbone and broken my right 2)pinky twice. For all my injuries， I have one thing to blame: sports. I’ve played soccer， softball， basketball and baseball， 3)lacrosse and tennis， done cheerleading， and gymnastics， and been on swim， dive and football teams.

My decision to play football came as a result of four little words: You can’t do it. Determined to prove my friends and family wrong， I sought the approval of my father. I failed. According to him， a girl’s job is to cheer from the 4)sidelines as the boys do the hard stuff. But that did not stop me. I knew how to get what I wanted and asked my mother. She agreed. She was the only person who believed in me.

I put on my rib protector， shoulder pads， and helmet feeling nervous about my first practice. After stretching and 5)conditioning， it was time for the special drill， which consists of running at another player and trying not to get 6)annihilated.

“McCarthy and Alexander 7)on the line.” It was my turn. Coach blew the whistle， I held the ball tightly and ran at the best player on the team with all my might. I got destroyed. Practically in tears， I stood up; it was my turn to defend. Coach blew the whistle and the player ran at me. I

lowered myself and tried to tackle him.

“8)Fumble!”

The players yelled as I threw myself on the ball. The players clapped and cheered for me as I came up with the football. My teammates and coaches knew I meant business.

“Nice 9)recovery， McCarthy， except pink socks aren’t allowed on the football field.” I laughed as I handed Coach the ball， ready to try again.

Pre-season flew by and before I knew it， it was the night of our first game. I wore my jersey with pride. Three plays into the game， Coach gave me the call.

“McCarthy， 10)D-end for Donnellan. Calm down and get in there.” I ran out to the defensive 11)huddle.

“Coach wants us in a 12)beagle formation，” I exclaimed.

My teammates laughed， “It’s eagle， Shannon. Ready， break.” Embarrassed， I went to the line and got into my defensive stance. I was going to do this for everyone who said I couldn’t， for the one person who said I could， and for me. The offense hiked the ball and handed it off to the 13)fullback， who came running at me! I hit him as hard as I could and threw myself on the ball.

“Hull’s ball; recovery on the play by 14)rookie Shannon McCarthy.” I had done it.

My team finished the season with only one loss， but more importantly， I finished the season a better person. I had proved to everyone that football is not just for the guys， that girls can hold their own in the sport. I was the only girl on the team， but that did not stop me from seeking excellence. Unfortunately， that was my only season of football because a softball incident that spring caused the spiraling break down through my ankle.

I still love football and watch the 15)Patriots every Sunday. I’ve inspired a whole group of young girls in my town to play football and there has been at least one on the team every year since I played. Football gave me the opportunity to grow stronger and taught me to get up and keep going regardless of pain. I learned teamwork， respect， and never to give up even when people say， “You can’t do it.”

若說我是一個遍體鱗傷的大傷兵，這還不夠貼切。你說得出的傷患，我都得過：我的右手腕斷過，右腳踝曾螺旋形骨折，兩個大腳趾也斷過，幾乎每根手指都被軋傷過，右腳踝的一塊肌腱曾部分撕裂，鎖骨斷裂過，還有右手小拇指曾兩次骨折。我受的這么多傷，全拜體育“所賜”。我踢過足球，還打過壘球、籃球、棒球、長柄曲棍球和網球，也做過拉拉隊員，練過體操，還參加過游泳隊、跳水隊和橄欖球隊。

我之所以決定打橄欖球，完全是出于這四個字：你做不到。為了向朋友和家人證明他們是錯的，我尋求父親的支持，但是沒有成功。在他看來，女孩子要做的，就是在場外為在場上沖鋒陷陣的男孩子吶喊助威。但是我沒有被他的說法所左右。我知道怎樣得到自己想要的，所以轉而詢問母親。她支持我的決定。她是唯一相信我的人。

我穿上護甲、護肩，戴上頭盔，為第一次練習而緊張不安。做完伸展運動和適應性訓練后，我們開始進行一種特殊訓練，包括向前沖去撞倒另一名隊員并且盡量不要反被對方撞倒。

“麥卡錫和亞歷山大準備。”輪到我了。教練吹響哨子后，我握緊球，使盡全身力氣向隊里最優秀的球員沖過去。我被對方撞倒在地。我站起來，快要哭了，接著輪到我防守了。教練的哨子響起后，球員向我直沖過來。我俯下身，試著把他絆倒。

“掉球！”

我立即向球撲去，這時大伙兒都吶喊起來。我拿著球跑回來的時候，他們又鼓掌又喝彩。我的隊友和教練明白了，我是在認真地練習橄欖球，不是來玩玩的。……