Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom.
―Thomas Jefferson
As a high school coach, I did all I could to help my boys win their games. I pushed as hard for 1 as they
did.
A dramatic incident, 2 , following a game in which I was appointed as a referee (裁判), 3 my views on
victories and defeats. I was refereeing a league championship basketball game in New Rochelle, New York,
between New Rochelle and Yonkers High. New Rochelle was coached by Dan O'Brien, Yonkers by Les Beck.
The gym was 4 with audience, and the volume of noise made it 5 to hear. The game was well played
and 6 contested. Yonkers was 7 by one point as I 8 the clock and discovered there were only 30
seconds left to play.
Yonkers, 9 the ball, passed off-shot-missed. New Rochelle recovered-pushed the ball up court - shot. The
ball 10 around the rim and off. The fans shouted with disappointment.
New Rochelle, the 11 team, recovered the ball, and tapped it in ( 拨进篮框) for what looked like victory.
The noise of whistles, screams and shouts was 12 . I took a quick look at the clock and saw that the game
was over. I hadn't heard the final buzzer (终场哨声) because of the noise. I 13 with the other official, but he
could not help me.
Still 14 help in this chaos, I approached the timekeeper, a young man of 17 or so. He said,"Mr. Covina,
the buzzer 15 as the ball rolled off the rim, 16 the tap-in was made."
I was in the unpleasant position of having to tell Coach O'Brien the 17 news."Dan," I said, " Yonkers won
the game."
His face clouded over. The young timekeeper came up. He said, "I'm sorry, Dad. The time ran out before the
final basket."
Suddenly, Coach O'Brien's face 18 . He said, "That's okay, Joe. You did what you had to do. I'm 19 of
you."
Turning to me, he said, "Al, I want you to meet my 20 , Joe."
The two of them then walked off the court together, shoulder to shoulder. |