Hi! Welcome to “Deliberately Tear-Jerking/ Emotionally Manipulative Monday!”
Yes, this clip is indeed shameless in its blatant sentimentality.
And yes, it has a rather heavy-handed ‘Christian message’ tacked onto the ending.
HOWEVER, having said all that…
Unless you have a cold, grey cinder where your little heart is supposed to be, I defy you to not be moved by it– at least a little bit.
(What do you think?)
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A few more details:
Derek Redmond’s Olympic Spirit (1992)
“Derek Redmond was prepared for the 400m semifinal race at the Olympics in Barcelona in 1992. He felt he was in the best shape of his life. Despite 8 operations on his Achilles tendons over the past 4 years, he felt very confident. His father Jim, sitting in the stands, also had high hopes. Jim and his son were very close and he made it to all of the championship races.
Derek gets off to a good start. Coming around the first bend in the track, tragedy struck as Derek’s hamstring went. Initially he thought he had been shot because the pain was so great. His leg would not function. London’s The Guardian newspaper quoted him, “Everything I had worked for was finished. I hated everybody. I hated the world. I hated hamstrings. I hated it all. I felt so bitter that I was injured again. I told myself I had to finish. I kept hopping round. Then, with 100 metres to go, I felt a hand on my shoulder. It was my old man.”
Derek hopped on one leg for half a lap before his father came to his aid. Together they finished the race arm-in-arm to a standing ovation. Now, some 17 years after the race, not many people remember who won that semi-final race or who even won the final.
But many still remember Derek Redmond.”
Actually, I stopped by to share this little story, not knowing this was, in reality, going to be “Let’s Share YouTube Clips Monday!!”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_R76gf67Bk
And in keeping in line with the “Deliberately Tear-Jerking/ Emotionally Manipulative Monday!” theme, this one got to me a couple hours ago…
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/38623161/ns/today-today_people/?GT1=43001
I remember watching that on TV. It was an incredible moment! The track security tried to shooo Dad away but he would have none of it. That was his son and he was going to help him get to the end. It was played over and over and was one of the “highlights” for the whole Olympics (you know how at the end American TV does “the best of”. This was one of them).
I was a “track Mom” so I can relate to the Dad. I was always amazed at the kids who were in track. 99.9999% of them will never win a thing, yet they still come out to practice every single day, run the track, practice, show up for the meet, come in last or pretty close to it, then do it all again the next week. They do it for their “personal best”; they might have come in last place – again – but they bettered their time. And that’s a victory!
I guess that’s what the Bible means when it says we are to “run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus…” (Hebrews 12:1). Everyone’s race is different but we are all to run it with endurance – keep on keeping on. And we have a great cloud of witnesses cheering us on, just like Derek had the whole stadium cheering him on.
Good stuff. I guess I like “Deliberately Tear-Jerking/ Emotionally Manipulative…”
jonny– I think we are on to something here…. Maudlin Mondays!!! (I LOVED both of these, thank you!)
MostlySunny– Great verse, perfect. I like DTJEM Mondays, too!
You could call it “Motivational Monday” too! Wow! That Derek just doesn’t give up, does he? I “Googled” his name and found out a few more things about him. Even though he “finished” the race, the Olympic committee decided since his dad helped him, he technically didn’t finish, and the official record said so. But he went on to play other sports, with the encouragement of his dad, after his injuries and surgeries prevented him from running track, and did well. He gives motivational speeches today! Like…….DUH! What a lesson for us parents…….and what pressure!
I love the other videos too, jonny! And that little lady that took to witnessing to the thief——that would be my Mom! LOL
Yes, I agree with you, LindaB, it could as well be a “motivational Monday”! However, I guess it will keep my thoughts busy throughout the day…
LindaB: I have to tell you, when I watched that for the first time, all I could think of was if that was one of my kids, I would be MAKING them stop! “Quit hopping on your dang hurt leg Finish, schminish– you only have two knees and you kinda need them!”
Which may be why neither one of my girls will ever be in the Olympics.
delightedabroad: We definitely ought to make this a regular ‘Bloomr feature, don’tcha think?
LOL Tori! I would have done the same! And maybe Derek’s MOTHER would have too! I guess his father knew his son so well, knew his physical and mental commitment, and the depth of his disappointment, and knew that was his son’s way to cope with this heartbreaker. It’s obvious that Derek got his drive and determination from Papa! (I wonder now if Derek was an only child! I also wonder how much damage Derek did to his leg hobbling all the way to the finish line—–that was quite a ways! Mothers think about those things!)
Made me cry……could somebody tell a joke….or something?!
knock, knock…
I’ll bite,…..Who’s there?
Two peanuts walk into a bar.
One was a salted.
Banana.
Banana who?
Knock. Knock.
Hello! I’m back! We’ve moved house and it took years and years (well it seemed like it anyway) to get the internet connection sorted out.
jonny – we’re back up north living in Newcastle – its as wonderful as ever.
I remember watching that live on TV as a teenager – obviously Derek Redmond was one of the few realisitic medal hopes that the British team had! Whoever put that clip together with the music and the timing of the words certainly knows how to get people reaching for the tissues (me included – got some very odd looks from the girls). It is certainly a story to inspire.
Anyway .. I’ll let you get on with the jokes … good to be back.
Really good to have you back!! A friend was in New Castle a few weeks ago & he sung its praises as well!! = )
I actually remember, seeing this on the TV at the time it occurred.
Ok, I snotted all over the place. *sniff sniff* Are you happy now?
Actually, I really did need to see this today. Thanks for posting.
DonnaMariePatterson– Glad it brightened your day, girl.
Well, I guess I should just leave everyone hanging, or in suspence, so I’ll finish the Knock Knock joke myslef. I’ll start at the top again, though.
Knock, knock…
Who’s there?
Banana.
Banana who?
Kmock. Knock.
Who’s there?
Banana.
Banana who??
Knock! Knock!
Who’s there?
Banana.
Banana who!??
Knock, knock!!
Who’s there?!
Banana.
Banana who!!?
Knock. Knock.
Who’s there!?!
Orange.
Orange who!!?!?
Orange you glad I didn’t say ‘banana’?? =)