Hi Mom
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
The week prior to the draft was fast and hectic for Jeff, Mattie, and Helen.
Jeff's time was consumed by an array of activities. He was trying to get in enough studying to make acceptable grades. He was getting calls from local newspaper reporters, and answering their questions was not his forte. He was still getting calls from agents. Some friends called. Normally, he would have liked to shoot the breeze with them, but this was not a convenient time. They would just have to understand.
Jeff had a couple of conversations with Coach Bodine. The coach said Miami had phoned to get more information on Jeff. He told Jeff it looked like Miami would be his best bet for a middle round pick.
The first two rounds of the draft would be on Sunday. The third through seventh rounds would be on Monday afternoon starting at three-thirty. Jeff knew he wouldn't be chosen in the first two rounds, but he drove to Birmingham to catch part of the action Sunday afternoon. Also, he wanted to meet some of the other players.
Mattie had asked to be off work Monday and Tuesday in order to go to Birmingham. She and Helen were going to drive down on Monday and stay in a Days Inn after the draft.
Jeremy was not going to the draft with Mattie and Helen. Helen had asked Jeremy to go, but he said he was not a member of the family yet. He said this event was a culmination of a lot of trials shared by Jeff, Helen, and Mattie, and that they should share in the reward as a family. Helen didn't insist on Jeremy's going. She respected his ideas and appreciated his consideration of her family and his desire not to presume or intrude.
On Monday morning, Helen drove Mattie's car to the Jiffy car wash before getting ready to leave for Birmingham.
The draft started at three-thirty. Mattie and Helen left home early. They stopped a few times to kill some time so they would arrive around three o'clock.
When Mattie and Helen arrived at the Sportsarama they found a lot of commotion around the front entrance. They entered the club and walked through a short hallway. Sporting paraphernalia and athletes' pictures hung on the walls. Most noticeable was a big black and white photo of Arnold Palmer. The hallway led to a large dining area with a bar on the left side. The room was dimly lit, except for the bright, colorful lamps over the bar. There were few people seated. Most of them were milling around and scurrying about.
Mattie and Helen looked around for Jeff but did not see him. Suddenly they heard Jeff's voice: "Mom."
Mattie and Helen turned to see Jeff working his way through some people from the corner of the room. Jeff told Mattie and Helen he had some seats saved for them at a table near the corner of the room. Jeff pointed in the direction from which he had come. Jeff continued, "As you can see, there are a couple of guys here with TV cameras. One is from WSBN."
"We may be on national TV!" Helen exclaimed.
"Chances are good," replied Jeff.
Jeff directed Mattie and Helen to the table he had reserved.
Mattie disdainedly inquired, "Do they serve liquor here?"
Jeff replied, "Yes, but y'all can just order soft drinks. A lot of people are. Sportsarama will make their money later on food and booze. Plus, look at all the TV publicity they are getting."
Jeff said, "You can get up and move around some, if you want. I asked a waitress to put this reservation card on the table." Jeff pointed to the reservation card with "Riggins" printed on it. He continued, "Also, we have a good view of the big screen TV showing the draft activities in New York."
Because of the bustle and excitement, it seemed to Mattie and Helen they had been there only a short period of time when the big screen TV showed the draft was about to begin in New York.
Bob Johnson and Scott Hayes were the television commentators. Their pre-draft conversation was mostly about those selected in Sunday's draft. They then started discussing today's draft, as the third round was about to get started. One thing they mentioned that caught Jeff's attention was that Miami had two draft picks in the third round.
Jeff told Mattie and Helen, "Miami, the team that showed the most interest in me, has two draft picks this round."
Helen asked, "Why do they have two draft picks?"
"Teams can trade and swap selections," replied Jeff, "Miami has the seventh and thirteenth picks in the third round."
The draft advanced through the first four selections in the fourth round. Some people at the Sportsarama, like the Riggins family, were paying close attention to the TV. Others were paying little attention.
The fifth selection of the third round brought some cheers and shouts from the crowd. A player at the Sportsarama had been picked. John Isaacs, a 270-pound tackle from Alabama, had been picked by the Denver Broncos. He hurriedly made his way to the podium that had been set up at one side of the lounge. He said he was thrilled to be selected by the Denver Broncos. Issacs had played at Ridgedale High School, Southside's archrival. He was the player who injured Jeff's shoulder in their last high school football game.
Mattie looked at the TV screen showing live action at the Sportsarama. John gave a few more general "thank yous" and left the podium.
Miami's choice for seventh pick created some excitement and anxiety for the Riggins family.
"Cross your fingers," said Helen.
The announcer came to the microphone in New York and said, "Miami's seventh pick in the third round is Charlie Powell of Southern California."
Mattie, Helen, and Jeff looked at each other with short, forced smiles.
"Miami has another pick this round," comforted Helen.
"Yeah, I know," replied Jeff.
Mattie said, "I brought my towel I usually take to the games." Mattie pulled the towel out of her pocketbook and said, "I brought it for good luck."
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Book Details
About the Book
This book shows the integral part a mother plays in her children's athletic careers. This is particularly true for a single mom.
Mattie Riggins is religious with strong character and resilient strength. Her unselfish goal is to guide her children in the direction that will lead to their success and happiness. A lack of adequate finances compounds her problems.
Mattie's sons, Bobby and Jeff, aspire to play in the National Football League. Their support of each other (although keenly competitive with each other) is touching.
Mattie's daughter, Helen, is pretty, smart, and likeable. However, will all these attributes, Helen has an emotional problem which is an obstacle to developing a romantic relationship.
There is considerable on-the-field football action in this book. This will awaken fond memories and nostalgic feelings for those who have played high school or college football. But more paramount is that the narrative reveals the emotions of each family member, and these feelings are things to which everyone can relate.
This book is written in a novel mode. Places, names, entities, and events may have been modified for the harmony of the book.
About the Author
Like the Riggins family, I too have had my share of hardships and tragedies in recent years. These include kidney dialysis, kidney transplant, eye surgery for double vision, five surgeries for skin cancer, a divorce after twenty-four years of marriage, and the deaths of a brother and a sister. I suffered a stroke about two years ago and took speech and physical therapy for about a year. In spite of these misfortunes, my perseverance and strong Christian faith keep me going. I still strive to score "touchdowns." Maybe this book will be one!