环球英语 — 677：Going the Wrong Way
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Welcome to Spotlight. I’m Adam Navis.
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And I’m Liz Waid. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.
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In today’s Spotlight we tell the story of sports player Roy Riegels. He played American football.
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American football is a little different than world football. In American football, the area of land where players play is called a field. The field is about 110 meters long. Each end of the field is a goal area called an “end zone.” American football uses a brown ball with points on each end. Football players carry the ball along the field. One player passes the ball to other players. The other players try to run into the end zone. When a player brings the ball into the correct end zone his team gets points. There are many other complex rules to this game. American football players are famous in the United States because of their abilities. Many people watch this game on television or listen to it on the radio.
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Roy Riegels was a very skilled young player. He played for his college team, the California Golden Bears. He played many games for his team. But one particular game made him famous. This was the Rose Bowl Football game of 1929. In this game Roy’s team, the California Golden Bears, played against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.
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It was near the beginning of the game. Neither team had any points. Near one end of the field, the player carrying the ball dropped it. The ball jumped off the ground, and up into the air. Everyone tried to catch it. Finally, Roy caught the ball. His team was near their end zone. It would be very easy for him to get the points for his team.
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Roy began to run toward the end zone. The other team chased him. Roy moved from side to side. He tried to avoid them. Finally, Roy saw no one in front of him. So he ran. He was never the fastest member on his team. But now, Roy was running faster than he ever had before.
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But the other players on the field did not understand what was happening. That is because Roy was now running the WRONG WAY.
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The radio announcer could not believe what he was seeing. He shouted into the microphone:
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“What is the matter with me? Am I going crazy? What am I seeing? Am I going crazy?”
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The crowd and the rest of Roy’s team shouted at him to stop. But Roy did not listen. Finally, Benny, another member of Roy’s team, decided to do something. He started running after Roy. He shouted:
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“Roy! Stop! Turn back Roy! . . . You are going the wrong way! Stop!”
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But Roy thought Benny wanted to take the ball. Roy wanted to run to the end zone alone. He shouted back to Benny:
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“Go away Benny! This is my ball!”
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Roy was almost at the end zone. If he succeeded, the other team would get the points! Benny acted fast. He put his arms around Roy and pulled him to a stop. Roy began to understand his mistake. But it was too late. The other team reached Roy and Benny. They pulled Roy to the ground. Now the other team had the ball. It would not be very difficult for them to score points.
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This was an important game. If the other team won this game, they would be the national champions. Roy’s team tried to stop them. But the other team scored two points.
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During a break in the game, Roy walked to where his team was sitting on the side of the field. He put a blanket over his shoulders. All Roy could do was cry. He had made himself look like a fool in front of over 70,000 people. Thousands more people heard about his actions on the radio.
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What would Roy’s coach, the team leader, do? Would Roy’s team still be able to win the Rose Bowl? What would Roy do?
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Roy’s coach was quiet. No one knew what would happen. Finally, Roy’s coach said something:
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“Men, the same team that played the first half of the game will start the second half.”
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This was very unusual. The rest of Roy’s team walked out to the field. But Roy just sat. Roy’s coach should have been angry. He should not have let Roy on the field again! But Roy’s coach said again:
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“Roy, did you hear me? The same team that played in the first half of the game will start the second half.”
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Roy kept his head down and said sadly:
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“Coach, I cannot do it to save my life. I have ruined you. I have ruined the University of California. I have ruined myself. I could not face that crowd in the stadium to save my life.”
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The coach put his hand on Roy’s shoulder.
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"Roy, get up and go back to the field. The game is only half over."
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Roy went back on to the field. He played the rest of the game. Roy played the best he could. But Roy’s team lost the Rose Bowl game.
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After that game people had a special name for Roy. They called him “Wrong Way Riegels.” But people did not only remember him for going the wrong way. They remembered him for going back into the game.
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Many times in life, people make bad decisions. This is like going the wrong way. People can be depressed when they discover that they have been going the wrong way. They may even become so sad that they stop trying to go the right way, to do the right thing.
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But there is a way to change. Christians believe that God, like Roy’s coach, tells people to go try again. He tells them to get “back into the game.” God understands that people make mistakes. But he accepts them anyway.
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It took a lot of courage for Roy to go back on to the field. He felt intense shame. But finally he got back up and tried again.
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In Roy’s case, going the wrong way cost his team the championship. But in another case, going the wrong way can cost something more serious. Going the wrong way in life can mean getting into a lot of trouble. It can mean losing friends, family, or even a relationship with God. But people can always stop going the wrong way. They can turn around and start going the right way.
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This program was written and produced by Liz Waid. Computer users can hear more Spotlight programs on our website at This program is called “Going the Wrong Way.”
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All quotes have been adapted for this program and voiced by Spotlight. If you have a comment or question, you can email us at Radio @ English . net. Goodbye!
