So in today's game, we see Liam (#16 day-glow yellow) striving to get the ball into the net. The ball arrives, but the defender (#21 maroon) first tags it with his arm and never attains possession. Then the defender gives Liam a kick in the knee, turns around, and takes Liam out without ever touching the ball. In the process, the defender pulls a thigh muscle, is in a lot of pain, and is unable to walk. Later in this sequence we see maroon #8 throw another yellow player to the ground. Finally the ref stops play, we get an extended time-out, and #21 gets carried off behind the net by two teammates. I fail to understand how none of these infractions earned a whistle, but that's a different issue.
Shortly, the game ends, and all the players on the field walk back to their respective benches.
Except one.
Liam takes a sharp left turn and jogs over to the opponents empty goal. He picks #21 off the ground where his team left him, and gingerly helps him back to his own bench while the next game is getting ready. Doesn't even know the kid's name. Everyone else on the field -- players from both teams, coaches, officials, parents -- they all forgot about the discarded #21.
Words cannot describe how my heart swells today.
Young Liam's action was the result of values a mother and father have given to their young son.
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