[情報] Alex Smith's special visitor

看板US_Army作者carillon (事情輕重分清楚啊!!)時間22年前 (2003/11/04 09:26)推噓2(2推 0噓 0→)

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a newsletter from Austin Tennis Association 我覺得還滿感人的 Alex Smith’s Special Visitor George Schuldberg, Austin C.C. On Saturday morning September 6th, one of my men's clinic players passed on a rumor that Andy Roddick, who was still in the mix at the US Open, was headed to Austin after the Open to look for a house. In the next couple of days, this rumor would be the catalyst for a sequence of events that forever changed a young man's life. After the men's clinic, our Junior Team Tennis kids arrived for their practice session. Among them was Alex Smith, a 12 year-old who had caught a strong case of tennis fever during the summer and couldn't seem to get enough. As usual, Alex and the rest of the kids worked hard in anticipation of their upcoming season. The next day, Sunday, I watched Andy Roddick win his first Grand Slam title and raise the trophy as 2003 US Open Champion. I was really excited about the prosp ect of Andy once again calling Austin home - we'd have a Grand Slam winner in our midst. That evening, however, all the excitement of the day was erased by a phone call informing me that Alex Smith and his family had been involved in a boating accident Saturday night in which Alex had lost his right hand. The news hit me hard. I'd seen Alex only hours before the accident on Saturday and watched him play practice matches, hitting the ball well and working hard. Now I learned he had lost his playing hand, and I wanted to do something. I knew it was too soon to call his family or visit the hospital, so I called my fellow pros at the Austin Country Club instead and we shared our grief. The work week started Monday with everyone at the club talking about Andy's Open win and his rumored visit to Austin. Some of us, though, had to be bearers of bad news and let people know about Alex's unfortunate accident. On Tuesday, while talking about both Andy's visit and Alex's accident, I had the idea to tie these coincidentally timed events together and bring something positive to an otherwise tragic week. If Andy was in town, maybe there was a way to put him in touch with Alex. I realized I had a chance to do something for Alex, somethi ng that might make a big difference in this most difficult of times. I came off the court on Tuesday, September 9, at noon and immediately got on my computer and started surfing the net, looking for a way to contact Andy Roddick or any of his associates. I eventually found some information on his charity, the Andy Roddick Foundation, and SFX, his management company. I sent over a dozen email messages explaining Alex's situation and asking that if Andy was indeed in Austin, would it be possible to arrange a visit with Alex? It was 1:30 in the afternoon. I checked my email repeatedly all afternoon, hoping for a response to my shot in the dark. Nothing. I told my boss what I had done and he complimented me for my thoughtfulness, assured me that I'd done a good thing, and said there wasn't much else I could do. At 6:30 p.m., as I was going on court for a men's clinic, our shop attendant ran out to tell me that Blanche Roddick, Andy's mom, was on the phone for me! I ran inside, picked up the line, and listened in disbelief as Blanche told me she had received my message, that Andy was in town, and that she had spoken to Andy. He had said he would be happy to visit Alex in the hospital. Those who know me know that I am rarely, scratch that, I am never at a loss for words. But at that moment I could not find the words for what I was feeling. I thanked Blanche repeatedly for her act of kindness. We spoke a couple more times that evening and finalized the plans for Andy to visit Alex the next day, September 10th, three days after his US Open victory. That evening, Alex's mother called to thank me for arranging the visit and to invite me and another of Alex's coaches, Kenan Yayboke, to the hospital for Andy's visit. Wednesday afternoon, as promised, US Open Champion Andy Roddick walked into Alex's room, looked at Alex in his bed and simply said, "Alex? Hi, I'm Andy Roddick.” Alex had a beaming smile on his face from the second Andy walked in the room, and it lasted for several hours after Andy had gone. Andy was kind, funny and very patient, posing for pictures, signing tennis balls and hats and a copy of Brad Gilberts"Winning Ugly"for Alex. Andy brought his girlfriend Mandy Moore with him, and she too was delightful, choosing to stand aside and let Andy do his thing until, coaxed by Alex's parents, she came forward to pose for pictures with Alex as well. In one last eerie coincidence, Andy gave Alex a gift of the cap he wore the week he won the Masters Cincinnati event. It just so happened that Alex's father, who works in Cincinnati during the week, had flown Alex up and taken him to the final, where they watched Andy beat Mardy Fish for the title. I still can't believe the luck I had getting in touch with the Roddicks, and the lucky timing of Andy being in town to make this meeting possible. I will forever thank Andy and his mother Blanche for responding to my plea for help for Alex. And I will never forget the look on Alex's face when Andy Roddick walked into his hospital room. Alex is recovering unbelievably quickly! A mere two weeks after his accident he has already been back on the court several times hitting the ball left handed. We are all amazed and inspired by his strength and resilience and are committed to helping him on his tennis comeback. I will forever be an Andy Roddick fan, not just because he's a great player, but, more importantly, because he is a great person. I hope you will all join me in recognizing Andy for the champion he is, not only on the court, but off the court as well. Andy, welcome back! George Schuldberg, USPTA Head Tennis Professional Austin Country Club -- ※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc) ◆ From: 140.112.193.85