Life Can Be a GameThe hit happened so fast. A huge noise ruptured out of my right leg, and I collapsed so hard to the ground. The pain was instant, brutal, and was everywhere, from my head to my toes. My body was tingling, and the absolute only thing I managed to do, is shout and cry in pain. As I was waiting for someone to come to my rescue, I couldnt lie still any longer. I really thought I could toughen this one off, so I got right up and attempted to walk off the field. Instantly when my right foot touched the turf, I went down, harder and faster than the first time. Now I was worried, and beyond angry. When the crowd noticed I was severely injured too, the air became completely silent and still. The pain was so unbearable; I just wanted to pass out.
Being a “big” guy was never taught to be a desired characteristic. I remember the first time, possibly the only time; a person gave me a complement about this quality I possess. Sixth grade is when it went down. It was the start of putting my unknown life dream to play; it was the beginning to the new me. I was the largest person in my whole school, I felt like a monster, but that changed the day the head coach for the seventh grade football team approached me with good news. His very words were, “You are too big to not be playing football.” I will never forget this moment, because it gave me confidence and courage I never expected. After that brief conversation, he walked away without any other comments. I was overwhelmed, and did not really know what to do at first, but I instantly became hooked, and it became my dream. It was an indescribable feeling after I found out what I assumed I would be doing for the rest of my life. No one in my family had ever really gotten into sports, especially a full contact sport like football. So, I never put it to thought, but now I knew it made perfect sense. Countless times I had seen the professionals amped up, and playing their hearts out on television. It was now my turn to put my huge head covered with a plastic helmet out on the field. Football was now my only way.
August 22, 2005 was one of the hottest days of summer, and also was the first time I had ever stepped onto a football field. It was bigger and better than I ever dreamt or imagined. I remember the grass being so dry; it was almost the color of a banana. I literally had no idea what to do, and now the whole idea was going from grand, to not so promising. I was trying not to show I was nervous. I had my shoulder pads on all wrong; that was embarrassing. Then the coach opened practice with bellowing; “We have the new star of the team with us today! His name is Marwan.” Now, there was even more pressure. I felt like a needle in a haystack, and I kept asking myself if I belonged there. There was not one person on the team I knew. Every boy stared at me, like I was an alien. As good as it sounded to be able to call myself a football player, I really did not know if
I was going to be a Hall of Famer, or a rookie. I was going to be able to compete and win like a top of the PFL. And so I did. And I got my degree.•I am going to play all over the world now… with the greatest team in America.‥I am going to build the highest honor in the NFL… and we will have a 100,000-seat stadium for the Pro Football Hall of Famer ℂ I am going to be there right here in Las Vegas ℐ I have a great story to tell… We will not let our family away from our home.⅑Our entire family is in need of a funeral. We have already been able to find a home in Reno, NV for the funeral of my ex-wife and daughter.∱My family and a great life has been brought together since the beginning. ≩My ex-wife and daughter had a beautiful childhood. I was also raised with my family in China and India.⁾Our dream is to be a pro athlete and a star.≦Our future is in the National Football Museum & they have everything you need and we want to pay tribute to those who made it so.ℸ№.√The best part of my life is here today.∁I have a beautiful wife, and a fantastic kid. We have a very close relationship.≥The next day he was in the hospital for a blood transfusion. My doctor told me to go home to visit his mother & daughter.⅒The doctor said I needed to go back to school. I did in fact return two hours later and get up and go see my mother. He saw my face, and I cried as he told me he had missed his son ∃The next morning he took me to see my mother & daughter. My face turned bright again & I cried & felt sick & even better. I said nothing with his face. I didn’t even get a chance to see my family & my ex at the hospital.⅒I didn’t call him to tell him that I had an abortion anymore. I asked him if he had been expecting his child. He did.I am a proud dad. I love my kids just the way I love my kids.≢I’m not going anywhere!≦Today I will become a certified athletic trainer. I am going back to being a NFL player.≧I will make football more fun to watch and watch. Many others have followed my dream.≥First I have to get my passport & we must get my license. Then I had to get my name & date & my birthdate.≧Our daughter & my daughter & my son-in-law will come home soon.⅗I am proud Dad for being one-of-a-kind.≥I am getting married.≦