As a high school coach, I did all I could to help my boys win their games. A dramatic incident, however, changed my thoughts on victories and defeats.

It was a basketball game between New Rochelle and Yonkers High and I was appointed as the referee. New Rochelle was coached by Dan O’Brien, and Yonkers by Les Beck. The gym was crowded, and the noise made it impossible to hear. The game was well played and closely contested. The Yonkers were leading by one point as I glanced at the clock and discovered that there were only 30 seconds left to play.

The Yonkers, in possession of the ball, passed off and shot ―but it missed. New Rochelle got the chance, caught the ball and shot. They got it in! I looked at the clock and saw that the game had been over. I had not heard the final buzzer because of the noise. I checked with the other referee, but he could not help me.

I went over to the timekeeper, a young man of seventeen or so, and he said, “The buzzer went off before the final point was made.” I had to tell Coach O’Brien the sad news. “Dan,” I said, “the time ran out before the final basket. The Yonkers won the game.”

His face clouded over. The young timekeeper came up. He said, “I’m sorry, Dad. Time ran out before the final basket.”

Suddenly, like the sun coming out of a cloud, Coach O’Brien smiled, “That’s okay, Joe. You did what you had to do and I’m proud of you.”

Turning to me, he said, “I want you to meet my son, Joe.”

【日积月累】

◇dramatic adj. 戏剧性的；生动的

◇appoint v. 约定，指定，任命

◇referee n. 裁判员

◇buzzer n. 蜂鸣器，汽笛

◇timekeeper n. 计时员

【参考译文】

作为一个高中教练，为了让自己的球队打赢比赛，我会竭尽全能。但是一个戏剧性的小事件改变了我对成败的看法。

那是一场新罗切尔高中对决杨科斯高中的篮球赛，我受任为裁判。新罗切尔队的教练是丹奥布兰，而杨科斯队的是雷斯贝克。体育馆挤满了人，喧哗声让人什么都听不清。比赛很精彩，双方势均力敌。杨科斯队领先1分的时候，我瞟了一眼时钟，发现只剩30秒了。

控球的杨科斯队传球后投篮，但球没进。新罗切尔队有了机会，他们抢到球，然后投篮。球进了！这时我一看钟发现比赛时间已经完了。因为太吵我没听到蜂鸣器的最后一次报时。我问另一个裁判，但是他也帮不上忙。

我去找计时员，那是一个17岁左右的男孩。他说：“在最后一个球进之前蜂鸣器就响了。”我得把这遗憾的消息告诉奥布兰教练。“丹，”我说，“在最后进球前就没时间了。杨科斯队赢了这场比赛。”

他的脸一下子掉了下来。那个年轻的计时员走了过来。他说：“真遗憾，爸爸。在最后进球前就没时间了。”

突然，好像太阳从云层后走了出来，奥布兰教练笑道：“没关系，乔伊。你做了你该做的事，我为你感到骄傲。”

然后他转向我说：“我想跟你介绍下我的儿子，他叫乔伊。”

【人生启迪】

这个时代充斥着恶性的竞争和利欲熏心的人们，“赢”字至高无上。但是故事的小主人公却坚守本职，诚实刚正，实在是难能可贵。在他高尚的诚信面前，胜负已显得微不足道。