B2U4 Text A with Translation
Why Soccer Is More Than Just a Game
Love, passion and commitment have all defined my life playing soccer.
Kaushik Dhanyamraju
1 Certain things have a way of capturing our hearts and souls. It could be music, painting or gaming. All of our troubles, even for a moment, seem to just disappear and we can enjoy ourselves to the fullest with that one thing. For me, that one thing is soccer.
2 It all started when I was six years old. I was a happy-go-lucky child who was content with life as a couch potato. One day, my parents came back from work and said, “We signed you up for soccer. You can’t spend each and every day going to school and doing nothing.” I definitely have my parents to thank because that very decision they made 15 years ago would forever change my life. When I started playing, however, I had no idea what I was doing. Passing, dribbling, shooting, teamwork — they were all foreign concepts to me. Although it was normal for most six-year-old kids to feel the same way, that uncertainty led to apathy. I would have rather been playing “Super Mario Brothers” on my old Gameboy Advance, or watching the latest episodes of “Spongebob Squarepants” on Nickelodeon.
3 Eventually, my stubbornness began to give. As I began to play more often, there was just something mystifying, yet fun, about playing the beautiful game. Maybe it was being around other kids my age outside of school, or maybe it was feeling useful and appreciated while playing as a defender or goalie. I couldn’t place my finger on it, but soccer had my attention.
4 As time went on, my father bought me the latest soccer video games for my computer and PlayStation. He even called Dish Network, our satellite cable provider, to unblock the soccer channels. Even though I wouldn’t start watching soccer on a daily basis until I was 13, the intentions my father had definitely spoke volumes. However, my frustration with not being as good as other kids my age began to wear me down. I ended up giving up the beautiful game for a year in order to play baseball.
5 With baseball, I was actually pretty good. Throughout the North Brunswick little league, I developed quite the reputation for my batting prowess. My teammates and I really enjoyed each other’s company. However, the long periods I had to wait to bat and just the overall duration of each inning, let alone the entire game, really irritated me. Also, some aspects were missing — speed, thrill, intensity, excitement and most importantly, fun. It was at that moment I realized I wanted to return to soccer, and once again, my life would never be the same.
6 I’m a late bloomer, and it was evident on numerous occasions as I erupted into a ferocious 9-year-old forward in recreational soccer, started playing travel/club soccer for North Brunswick when I was 11 and eventually becoming a tenacious forward and midfielder for my local Monroe travel team. By then, soccer had everything I’ve always wanted: the speed, the thrill, the intensity, the excitement and most importantly, the fun. However, the game still lacked a certain essence, but it’s clearer in hindsight than it was at the age of 13.
7 That all changed when I tried out and made the Monroe Township Middle School Boys’ Soccer team during the fall of my eighth-grade year. Immediately, I was catapulted into a whole new world of soccer that exceeded the wildest of my imaginations. The culture was incredible, and I was surrounded by players who already played for state and regionally ranked clubs. The constant discussions about tactics took my young mind by storm. I wanted to reach and surpass the level of play my middle school teammates were at. After that fall 2008 season, I committed myself to improving as a player. I contacted multiple teams to try out for, practiced soccer in my house (much to the chagrin of my parents) and registered for a number of camps and clinics for my age and up. Throughout the beginning of this newfound experience in soccer, what I was searching for became apparent — love. The respect I had for the game turned into admiration, and that admiration, into love.
8 Throughout this journey, I’ve traveled all over the country for the beautiful game. Whether it was league games, one-day tournaments, or college showcases, the weekends would always be my favorite time of the week. I loved soccer so much that I decided I would not let myself go to college without receiving a quality education and playing NCAA soccer, and that was a goal I had since I was 16. Soon after my last season of high school soccer, I subjected myself to productive, yet rigorous training that I still follow to this day. With this course of action, I’ve increased my size, strength and stamina in addition to my technical ability. Through the blood, sweat and tears, I’ve evolved into both a player and man my teammates, coaches, supporters and most importantly, myself, would be proud of. Being an esteemed member of both Men’s Soccer and the overall community at Rosemont College is proof of that evolution, and I could not be more fulfilled with a rewarding experience.
9 By now, it’s pretty obvious that I have played a lot of soccer. Everyone else, especially in high school, would be out hanging out with friends, partying, so on and so forth. While they chose these routes, I chose to play soccer. It wasn’t because I thought I was better than everyone else. I simply played soccer because I loved it with a burning passion. It was my goal to train and go as far as I possibly could in my footballing career. I am always thinking about the next practice, game or chance to just go to the local fields and just shoot around. My social life thrived off of playing the beautiful game, as I have come across a multitude of skill levels, people, cultures and much more from this sport. My friends were my teammates, and my best life experiences came from playing soccer. My coaches were not only there for growth and development in soccer — they were my mentors outside the classroom. I’m no longer the shy and timid person I used to be thanks to the way the beautiful game shaped my personality. The love I have for this game cannot be measured. Throughout the course of my career, trophies were won, goals were scored, championships were lost, chances were squandered, tears were shed and bones were broken. Regardless of the good and the bad, the happiness, sadness, anger, frustration, determination, tenacity and fun that simply come with the game, I will always love the sport.
10 Bill Shankly, one of Liverpool FC’s most iconic managers, once said, “Football is not a matter of life and death … it’s more important than that.” I hold this quote to be true — it’s who I am, it’s the embodiment of my soul and it’s in my blood. Through the good, bad and ugly, my fire for the game burns brightly all the same. I’m not a professional, All-American or up-and-coming prodigy. I’m simply a man who loves a sport. Regardless, one thing remains certain: soccer will always be more than just a game to me.
为什么足球不仅仅是一项运动
热爱、激情和投入诠释了我的足球生涯。
考锡克·丹雅拉竺
1 有些东西总能抓住我们的心，勾住我们的魂，它可能是音乐、绘画或是游戏。只要有了它，哪怕只是片刻，我们所有的烦恼似乎立刻烟消云散，让我们能尽情享受。对我来说，那个东西就是足球。
2 一切开始于我六岁那年。那时的我无忧无虑，满足于成天在沙发上看电视的生活。有一天，我父母下班回来说，“我们给你报了足球班。你不能每天就上上学，其他什么都不做。”我绝对要感激我的父母，因为正是他们15年前做的那个决定永远地改变了我的生活。然而，我刚开始踢球的时候，压根不知道自己在干什么。传球、带球、射门、协同配合——这些对我来说都是生疏的概念。尽管对于大多数六岁孩童来说，这种感觉实属正常，可是这种捉摸不定使我对足球产生不了兴趣。我宁愿在我的旧掌上游戏机上玩《超级马里奥兄弟》，或者看尼克频道播出的最新集《海绵宝宝》。
3 终于，我不再执拗。随着踢球日渐频繁，从事这项美妙的运动变得既神秘又好玩。也许是因为在校外能和同龄孩子一起玩耍，也许是作为后卫或守门员，感觉自己有用并得到赏识。我说不清楚，但足球吸引了我的注意力。
4 后来，父亲给我买来最新的足球电子游戏，让我在电脑和游戏机上玩。他甚至打电话给我们的卫星电视服务提供商DishNetwork，让其开放我们的足球频道。尽管我到了13岁才开始天天看足球，父亲的确是用心良苦。然而，我踢得不如同龄孩子好，这种挫败感拖垮了我。最终，我放弃了这项美丽的运动达一年之久，转而去打棒球。
5 其实，我棒球打得非常不错。在整个北布伦斯威克小联盟，我以击球技术高超而攒集了相当的名气。我和我的队友相处愉快。可是，每一次击打，我都要等很久，每一局持续时间很长，更不用说一整场比赛了，这一切真让我恼火。此外，有些东西在棒球中是缺失的，比如速度、刺激、强度、兴奋感，还有最重要的是，乐趣。正是在那个时刻，我意识到我想回归足球。又一次，我的人生不再一样。
6 我成才较晚，这一点无数次得到了印证：九岁一跃成为休闲足球凶猛的前锋，十一岁进入北布伦斯威克少年/俱乐部足球队，最终成为我们当地门罗少年足球队顽强的前锋和中场。彼时彼刻，足球满足了我时常想要的一切：速度、刺激、强度、兴奋感，还有最重要的是，乐趣。然而，这项运动还是缺了一点精髓，不过这一点是我后来回想时才明白过来的，其时十三岁的我还懵懵懂懂。
7 那一切在我八年级秋季学期时都改变了。那时我经过选拔进入门罗镇中学男子足球队，就像搭乘火箭，我一下子被送进了一个崭新的足球世界，这个世界超乎我最狂野的想像。这个世界的文化不可思议，我的周围全是已效力于本州或本地区顶级俱乐部的球员。我们不断讨论足球战术，这让年轻的我心潮澎湃。我渴望赶上并超越中学队友们的球技。2008年秋季赛之后，我致力于提升自己的球技。我联络了多支球队参加选拔，在家里练球（令我父母懊恼不已），还报名参加一些我这个年龄段及高年龄段的足球集训营和培训班。在全新的足球体验开始之际，我的追求变得清晰可见——热爱。我对足球的敬重演变为崇拜，崇拜又进而演变为热爱。
8 一路走来，为了这项美丽的运动，我周游了全国各地。无论是联赛、一日赛，或是大学表演赛，周末总是一周中我最喜欢的时光。我是如此热爱足球，以至于我打算如果不能既接受优质教育又参加全美大学足球联赛，我就不上大学了。那是我自十六岁以来给自己树立的目标。高中最后一个足球赛季之后不久，我迫使自己进行富有成效却又十分严格的训练，至今不断。经过这样的训练，我的体型变魁梧了，体力和耐力增加了，球技也提升了。凭藉血水、汗水和泪水，我逐渐成为一名足球运动员和一条汉子，让队友、教练、球迷，还有最重要的，我自己，引以为豪。那段成长的明证是成为罗斯蒙特学院男子足球队以及整个学院社区受人尊重的一员，我对这段颇有收获的经历感到非常满足。
9 时至今日，显然我已踢了很多年足球。所有其他人，特别是高中的其他学生，会和朋友闲逛、社交聚会，如此等等。他们选择这样生活，我选择踢足球。这不是因为我认为自己比别人高明，我踢球仅仅是因为我热爱足球，对它有着似火的激情。我的目标就是训练，在我的足球生涯中竭尽全力发展。我总是在想着下一场训练、下一场比赛或下一次去当地球场练练射门。我的社交生活也因为从事这项美丽的运动而变得丰富多彩，因为踢球，我见识到许多不同水平的球技，结识到很多人，接触到多种文化，凡此种种。我的朋友是我的队友，我最好的生活经历来自于踢足球。教练们不仅帮我在足球技术上成长和进步，更是我教室之外的良师益友。感谢这项美丽的运动塑造了我的个性，我不再像过去那样腼腆羞怯。我对足球的热爱无以比量。我的整个足球生涯有过赢得奖杯、射门得分，有过痛失冠军、错失良机，还有过流泪哭泣、骨头断裂。不管它带来的是好是坏、是喜是悲，还是愤怒、沮丧、果断、坚韧、乐趣，我将永远热爱这项运动。
10 利物浦足球俱乐部偶像级的经理之一比尔·香克利曾说：“足球不是生死攸关……它比生死还要重要。”我认为其所言极是——足球就是我，是我精神的体现，是融入我血液的东西。经历过美好、糟糕和丑陋，我对足球运动爱的火焰一直熊熊燃烧。我不是职业球员，不是全明星阵容球员，也不是明日之星，我只是热爱这项运动的普通人。尽管如此，一事确然无疑：足球对我而言将永远不只是一项运动。
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