I saw him sitting on a barstool as I headed for the restaurant. I had to tell him something important, but hoped friends would not think I was in there for other purposes. After a reintroduction and the usual comments I said to this man. "You do not know it but you ruined my athletic career and possibly the pros, in High School". "I did? When in the world did that happen?"
It was at the end of the first week of football practice. A friend talked me into "going out" though I had never played a down of football and it was my junior year! Coach Jones started us out with a one on one drill. The backs would run at a tackler. He was not to run around him but through him. I was chosen as the tackler. I weighed about 140 pounds. My opponent would be this guy now sitting at the bar. He was 190 or about. He would play college ball at the University of Tulsa. His name is Donnell Wells. Donnell ran OVER me like an express train. As I lay on my back shaking stars from my brain I had a sudden "revelation". This was NOT fun! I did NOT want to play football. If my own teammates would hit me that hard what would opponents do to me? I turned in my equipment at the end of practice. My future pro career had ended, and I was happy to be alive.
After I told Donnell my story and we enjoyed a good laugh together he said to me, " Dale, I did you a big favor. I am sitting here with two bad knees from football. My shoulder aches and I have other football-related ailments. You should be thanking me!". I said, "Thanks, Donnell, I never thought of it that way." I walked out of the bar to the restaurant on my two good legs. I had no pain in my hips. I really felt pretty good (for 78). "Thanks, Donnell! I needed that hit that day!"
