#ROBERT YOU MISSED A BALL THAT PADDY KICKED

[peoplediedrobert]

Robert’s Athleticism

for @scrapyardboyfriends and @memorieswarm (x)

+ Bonus because some things never change

[softlass27]

❛❛ C’mere. Lean on me. ❜❜ (robron AU, one of them gets hurt)

Hope you like it, Amy!

ao3 link here

Sometimes Robert forgets that he is married to a very stubborn man.

It’s easy to forget because Aaron’s a lot more open and easygoing these days, compared to how he was in the early days of their relationship. More willing to show vulnerability than he used to be.

He still has his moments, though.

Like on the football pitch.

The Woolpack football team reformed about six months ago, and actually – shockingly – they’re pretty good this time around. Now that they’ve got rid of some dead weight (Paddy, the team is too polite to say, even if Robert isn’t), recruited a couple of new players and actually had time to practice together, they’re less like a group of clumsy kids having a kickabout and more like an actual team. They’ve even started winning matches.

Matty is now a force to be reckoned with, his nimble feet making him perfect for stealing the ball from opposing players; Ellis and Billy are so in sync they practically move together as one unstoppable force; David is surprisingly good at tackles, even if he does whine like a baby every time he falls over; and Vinny is… well he’s not the best goalkeeper in the world (or even the Dales), but what he lacks in natural talent he makes up for in enthusiasm.

The star player – in Robert’s entirely unbiased opinion – is Aaron. Look, Robert’s not exactly an expert in football, but from where he’s standing (on the side of a cold, muddy field until he can’t feel his toes), Aaron scores the most goals, executes the most successful tackles, has the most energy… Robert’s earned bragging rights, okay?

So there he’s stood one chilly Saturday morning in March, like the supportive husband he is, watching Aaron and his team. Well, he’s half watching, half chatting shit with Dawn while keeping an eye on Seb and Lucas playing together.

Seb is easily Aaron’s biggest cheerleader, in awe of his dad every time he sees him play. Last month, Robert couldn’t resist surprising Seb with a tiny version of the team’s strip for him to wear to every match, and he doesn’t know who was more delighted by it, his husband or his son.

But it’s just past the 70th minute now, there’s only so long a four year-old’s attention span can last. Robert can’t say he blames him; to be honest, he’s counting down the minutes until the final whistle blows and they can all head to the warm pub for a full English.

If he had been paying more attention, perhaps he wouldn’t have missed the brutal tackle that sends Aaron flying. One second Robert’s absently checking his phone, the next he hears the unmistakable sound of his husband’s loud yell, and he whips his head up to see Aaron sprawled on the grass, his face scrunched up in agony as he grips his left ankle.

Billy and Ellis are already shouting to the ref and charging towards a player on the opposing team, who holds his hands up and loudly protests his innocence. The team checks Aaron over; Robert can hear them telling Aaron to sit out the rest of the match but he’s shaking his head and insisting that he’s good to keep going.

Robert feels a tug on his on jeans and looks down to see Seb clutching his leg worriedly. “Is Daddy okay?” His bottom lip’s already wobbling, so Robert quickly lifts him up and gives him a squeeze.

“Daddy’s fine, he just took a bit of a tumble,” he says in his best reassuring voice, despite the fact that he’s more than a little worried himself. “He’s already getting back up, see?”

Matty’s helping Aaron to his feet and he manages to stay standing, though Robert can see him wince and wobble as soon as he puts weight on his injured leg. He spots Robert and Seb staring at him and gives them both a smile and a thumbs up, before waving off his teammates’ concerns and lining up to take a free kick.

This is enough to calm Seb, who wriggles impatiently in Robert’s arms until he lets him back down and goes back to playing with Lucas. Robert, on the other hand, isn’t quite so convinced by Aaron’s supposed recovery.

He watches as Aaron continues to play for the remainder of the match, his face twisting as he tries to run without putting too much strain on his left leg. It’s only a few more minutes, but time seems to stretch out as Aaron becomes slower and slower, the clearly-increasing pain becoming more evident in his movements.

“Just stop, you idiot,” Robert mutters under his breath. Unsurprisingly, this doesn’t make a difference.

To say Robert’s relieved when the ref finally blows the whistle is an understatement. If the match had gone on much longer, he would have barrelled onto the pitch and dragged Aaron off himself.

The Woolpack’s team have won 2-1, so they’re in a jubilant mood, arms thrown over each other’s shoulders and slapping each other’s backs as they come off the pitch.

“Back to the Woolpack then, lads?” Vinny cries, to which they all cheer in agreement like it’s the best idea they’ve ever heard. Robert doesn’t know why they’re so excited; they always go to the Woolpack after a match, whether they win or lose.

Aaron walks – well, hobbles – over to Seb and swings him up into the air.

“You won again!” Seb crows happily.

“Course we did, we’re the best aren’t we?” Aaron grins and tips Seb back in his arms until he’s nearly upside down – a move that never fails to make him screech with delight.

Robert runs a hand through Aaron’s sweaty hair. “You’re not going to the pub, are you?”

Aaron puts Seb down and grabs Robert’s arm as he straightens up. Robert doesn’t miss the grimace on his face, the way his weight shifts to the side of his uninjured leg.

“Yeah, course I am. Team tradition, innit?”

“But your leg, you need to rest it.”

“Don’t fuss, my leg’s fine.”

“It is not fine.”

“It’s just a twinge, I can barely feel it,” Aaron replies with all the gusto of an idiotic footballer who’s just had a big win and wants to get hammered with his mates.

“You’re practically using me as a crutch right now,” Robert points out.

“No, I’m just… touching you. Normally.”

Robert blinks and tries very hard not to scream in frustration. He is literally the only thing holding Aaron up right now.

“Right, so you won’t mind if I just – ” He quickly steps away so Aaron loses his grip and tilts sideways, gritting his teeth when his weight lands on his injured foot. He reaches out for Robert quickly.

“Okay okay, fine, you've made your point, get back here.”

Robert rolls his eyes and returns to Aaron’s side, lets him lean against his chest and rest his head on his shoulder. He can feel Aaron letting out harsh, controlled breaths against his neck.

“On a scale of one to ten, how sore are you right now?”

“Like… four?”

“So that’s a seven, then.” All that gets him is an annoyed grunt and a soft headbutt in return.

“Sorry lads,” Robert calls out to the group. “I’m taking this one home, get some ice on his dodgy leg. You’ll have to have your piss-up without him this time.”

They whine and groan like they’re all half their ages, but agree readily enough, Matty coming over to pat Aaron on the back and tell he he hopes he feels better soon.

As the rest of the team troops off towards their respective cars, Robert pulls Aaron’s left arm around his shoulder. “C’mere. Lean on me.”

They set off at a slow pace, ambling towards the car while Seb zigzags about in front of them, kicking his miniature football that he brings to every match.

“You should’ve just stopped when the prick tackled you. You’ve probably made your leg worse now, you idiot.”

“Oi, I’m injured here, you wanna try being a little nicer to me?”

“Oh, now he admits it,” Robert grumbles and grips Aaron’s wrist a little tighter. “I’m just saying, you’re not exactly 21 anymore.”

“Rich coming from you, old man.” Aaron snorts.

They continue in silence until they reach the car, twin expressions of irritation on their faces.

Robert helps Aaron into the passenger’s seat, then goes to buckle Seb into his booster seat in the back. He spots one of Seb’s pillows (they keep it in there for when he needs to nap during long car journeys) and brings it to the front, tucking it under Aaron’s foot.

“Here, that might help until we get home,” he mutters, slamming Aaron’s door and heading for the driver’s seat before he can reply.

They pull out onto the main road and set off in the direction of Emmerdale, Robert driving as carefully as he can in an attempt to avoid jostling Aaron’s leg. It doesn’t take Aaron long to notice what he’s doing, and he reaches over to run his thumb over Robert’s wrist. A silent apology for snapping.

“Sorry you couldn’t go to the pub with the others,” Robert offers, only feeling a little bit bad.

“S’okay, think I’d rather hang out with you two anyway.”

Robert doesn’t know if he entirely believes that, knows how much Aaron loves hanging out with his teammates – especially on the high of winning a match – but he appreciates the gesture.

Aaron glances back to Seb, who’s happily tearing the little collection of daisies that he’d picked into shreds (Gonna have to give the backseat another hoover tomorrow, Robert thinks with a wince).

“What d’you say, mate – us three putting our feet up, big bowl of popcorn and a How to Train Your Dragon marathon?”

“Dragons!” Seb yells, throwing the remnants of his daisy petals in the air.

Dragons are Seb’s newest favourite thing, quickly overtaking dinosaurs in his estimations (“Because dragons are like dinosaurs ‘cept they can breathe fire, Daddy,” he’d explained matter-of-factly. Robert couldn’t really fault his logic).

Aaron laughs and turns to Robert.

“So?”

Robert grins without taking his eyes from the road.

“Dragons it is.”

[rustandruin]

Was it everything to you? BECAUSE IT WAS EVERYTHING TO ME!

IT WAS EVERYTHING. LET ME COUNT THE WAYS IN WHICH IT WAS:

(Under the cut because it’s me, and it got long.)

SOMEONE TAKING THE TIME TO DO THE CALLIGRAPHY ON THE CHALKBOARD SIGN THEY PUT OUTSIDE THE PUB ANNOUNCING THE WEDDING. 

ROBERT BEING ABLE TO SPEND EVEN ONE NIGHT AWAY FROM AARON AFTER HAVING BEEN APART FROM HIM FOR THE BETTER PART OF A YEAR. (NOT TO MENTION THEIR MANY VACATIONS APART.) 

ROBERT AND AARON PROBABLY DISCUSSING HOW THE LAST TIME THEY GOT MARRIED THEY WERE SHARING A ROOM ABOVE THE PUB AND JUST LAYING THERE IN BED AND CHATTING UNTIL THEY BOTH DOZED OFF STILL SMILING AT EACH OTHER. 

CHAS BEING HAPPY THAT HER SON FOUND A PARTNER WHO WANTS HIM AS BADLY THE NIGHT BEFORE THE WEDDING AS HE DID THE DAY THEY FIRST KISSED. 

AARON BEING WELL AWARE THAT HIS LUNATIC HUSBAND HAS A SUIT KINK. 

AARON LETTING CHAS KNOW HOW MUCH IT MEANS TO HIM THAT SHE’S BEING STRONG FOR HIM TODAY. 

ERIC CHECKING FAITH OUT AS SHE ADJUSTED HER SHOE. (I STAN ONE OLDER COUPLE WHO WANT EACH OTHER LIKE TEENAGERS.)

EVERYONE ROASTING BERNICE FOR SETTING ROBERT UP WITH CHEF MIKE. 

MATTY’S A++ OUTFIT. 

ROBERT THINKING TO CHECK UP ON LIV’S SPEECH PROBABLY BECAUSE HE KNEW SHE WAS NERVOUS ABOUT IT.

ROBERT ASKING AARON IF HE’S READY. (UNLIKE THE LAST WEDDING, ROBERT ISN’T NERVOUS. HE’S JUST HOPING AARON IS READY TO DO THIS.) 

AARON RETURNING ROBERT’S WATCH AND SAYING HE KEPT IT BECAUSE IT WAS A SIGN THAT ROBERT HADN’T LOST HIM. AARON THINKING THAT WASN’T A GOOD ENOUGH GIFT. ROBERT BEING ALL, “OF COURSE IT IS. YOUR VERY PRESENCE IS PERFECTION.” 

THEM WALKING PAST ALL THEIR GUESTS TO THE INSTRUMENTAL VERSION OF THE SONG THAT THEY WALKED OUT TO DURING THEIR FIRST WEDDING. 

THEM ACTUALLY GETTING MARRIED OUTSIDE IN THE OPEN AIR, SURROUNDED BY LEAVES AND MUSIC BECAUSE NOTHING ABOUT THEIR LOVE NEEDS TO BE OR SHOULD BE HIDDEN. THEY’RE BOTH SO COMFORTABLE IN WHO THEY ARE AND HOW THEY FEEL. 

SEB WEARING A LITTLE HAT AND SUIT WHICH YOU KNOW ROBERT PRESSED THE NIGHT BEFORE, MINUTES BEFORE HE SNUCK OVER TO THE PUB WHILE LIV BABYSAT. #BESTPREWEDDINGPRESENTEVER

LIV CARRYING SEB. VIC WALKING BY HERSELF. BOTH OF THEM HAVING THEIR MOTHER FIGURES BESIDE THEM. 

NO ONE OBJECTING TO OR INTERRUPTING THE WEDDING. JUST SMILING UP AT THEM. AARON GRINNING AT ROBERT ALL SMUGLY, AS IF TO SAY, “SEE? WE HAVE NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.” ROBERT LETTING OUT A SIGH OF RELIEF WHILE GRINNING BECAUSE NOT ONLY IS HIS HUSBAND-TO-BE-RIGHT BUT YEAH, NO ONE THINKS THIS IS A BAD IDEA. (YOU KNOW THEY DISCUSSED THIS LAST NIGHT.)

VIC TELLING THEM THERE’S ONE GUY THAT’S PERFECT FOR YOU AND BOTH OF THEM NODDING AND HOLDING HANDS BECAUSE YEAH. AREN’T THEY LUCKY THEY FOUND HIM AND ARE ABOUT TO MARRY HIM TWICE??? 

BOTH THEIR VOICES BEING HEAVY AND LADEN WITH EMOTION. 

AARON’S LITTLE LAUGH OF DISBELIEF AS HE SAID, “LAWFUL WEDDED HUSBAND.” 

BOTH OF THEM CRYING AS THEY SAID THEIR VOWS. 

THE RINGS. GOD KNOWS IF THEY REMELTED THEM DOWN INTO NEW RINGS MADE OF THE OLD ONES (TO SIGNIFY THEIR REFORGED BOND) BUT OH BOY DID I LOVE THAT. 

HUSBAND AND HUSBAND. (ALSO SHOUTOUT TO THE WORLD’S MOST ENTHUSIASTIC WEDDING OFFICIANT.)

THE SPEED WITH WHICH THEY KISSED EACH OTHER. BOTH THEIR HANDS GENTLY CUPPING THE BACK OF THEIR HEADS AS THEY CAME IN FOR A DOUBLE KISS, THE SECOND ONE MORE FIRM BECAUSE YES THEY MADE IT TO THIS MOMENT. THEY’RE BOTH OFFICIALLY KISSING THEIR HUSBAND. ALSO, THEY JUST DECLARED THEIR COMMITMENT IN SO MANY WAYS. THEY LITERALLY CAN’T LOVE EACH OTHER MORE RIGHT NOW. 

EVERYONE CHEERING FOR THEM AS THEY KISSED. 

ROBERT’S LITTLE RUN TO HOLD AARON’S HAND AS THEY WALKED BACK UP THE AISLE BECAUSE HE DIDN’T WANT TO BE APART FROM HIM ANY LONGER THAN NECESSARY. 

ROBERT’S DEEPER VOICE AS HE GAVE HIS SPEECH, WHICH WAS SURPRISINGLY SHORT AND CONCISE AND SUMMED UP EVERYTHING THAT AARON MEANS TO HIM (ACCEPTANCE, LOVE, FRIENDSHIP, FAMILY), WHILE STILL MANAGING TO PUT A FAINT TEAR IN AARON AND MY EYES. 

EVERYONE ROASTING ROBERT WHEN HE SAID “MY HUSBAND AND I” BECAUSE YOU KNOW THEY KNOW HE’S GOING TO BE DROPPING THAT TITLE AROUND LIKE A MADMAN. 

KERRY’S “UH OH” FACE TO NICOLA BECAUSE SHE TOTALLY DIDN’T KNOW PEOPLE WERE BRINGING GIFTS. 

THE CHRISTMAS SWEATER PHOTO.

AARON THINKING ANYTHING HE MIGHT SAY ABOUT HIS LOVE FOR ROBERT BEING NOT GOOD ENOUGH AS HIS HUSBAND GAZED AT HIM LIKE HE COULD DO NO WRONG AND LIKE HE WAS THE LUCKIEST MAN ALIVE. AARON ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THE CORNERSTONE OF MARRIAGE IS SUPPORTING EACH OTHER THROUGH THE TOUGH TIMES BECAUSE ROBERT WAS THERE FOR HIM DURING THIS LAST WEEK JUST LIKE HE HAS BEEN SINCE HE HAS COME INTO AARON’S LIFE, GOING BACK TO THAT TIME THEY HUGGED WHEN CAIN WAS IN HOSPITAL. 

THE HUG. (WHERE ROBERT PROBABLY TOLD AARON THAT HE WILL ALWAYS BE ENOUGH.)

PADDY SUMMING UP AARON’S ENTIRE JOURNEY THUS FAR AND CALLING HIM HIS SON. 

LIV MENTIONING HER KICKING ROBERT IN THE BALLS, PROBABLY HER WAY OF TEASING HIM FOR THE “HELP” HE TRIED TO GIVE HER WHEN SHE WAS FIRST WRITING THIS SPEECH. LIV THANKING BOTH OF THEM FOR BEING HER BROTHERS. 

DOUG SMILING PROUDLY DURING LIV’S SPEECH. 

CHAS’ TELLING EVERYONE THAT SHE DIDN’T WANT TO CANCEL BECAUSE SHE WANTED TO CELEBRATE THIS VERY SPECIAL MOMENT IN AARON’S LIFE, ONE SHE WON’T GET WITH GRACE, BUT BY ALL THAT IS HOLY WAS SHE GOING TO LET AARON MISS OUT ON THIS PERFECT DAY HE DESERVES. 

AARON TENDING TO A FUSSY SEB BECAUSE HE KNOWS THAT IT WOULD UPSET CHAS. BUT ALSO SEB QUIETING DOWN NOW THAT HIS DAD IS IN FRONT OF HIM ALL OFFICIALLY MARRIED. (POOR GUY DEFINITELY WANTED TO GIVE A SPEECH ABOUT HOW HE IS SECRETLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS DAY.) 

CHAS’ SPEECH SIGNIFYING THAT THIS UNION NOT ONLY GAVE HER A SON-IN-LAW, BUT ALSO, TWO UNOFFICIAL DAUGHTERS AND HER FIRST GRANDCHILD. (CHAS KNOWING THAT THERE WILL BE MORE TINY SUGDEN-DINGLES RUNNING AROUND ONE DAY.)

SUGDEN-DINGLE. 

AARON AND ROBERT BOTH GETTING CHAS HUGS. 

ROBERT HANGING OUT WITH VANESSA, SAM, AND FAITH ON THE DANCE FLOOR??? 

ROBERT SUGDEN FEELING SO HAPPY AND FREE AND LOOSE THAT HE WAS ACTUALLY DANCING LIKE A MAD MAN. 

FAITH GETTING HER WISH AND ACTUALLY DANCING WITH ROBERT TO A POINT WHERE ERIC FELT THE NEED TO CUT IN. (I MEAN, FAITH SHOOTING HER SHOT AND GETTING RESULTS IS AMAZING ANYWAY.)

ROBERT DANCING WITH KERRY, WHO WAS SO BAFFLED BY THE COMPLETE 180 FROM THE “SAD PANDA WHO DIDN’T KNOW HOW HIS BITS WORK” TO THIS FREE-DANCING-LUNATIC THAT SHE JUST ADJUSTED AND COPIED HIS MOVES. BECAUSE WHAT ELSE ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO DO WITH ROBERT WHEN HE’S LIKE THIS.

MATTY’S OUTFIT. (IT BEARS REPEATING.)

ROBERT DANCING OVER TO VIC AND AARON BECAUSE HE SAW CONFLICT AND WANTED TO BE THERE IN CASE AARON NEEDED HIM. (A DIRECT PARALLEL TO WHEN AARON BACKED HIM UP WHILE TALKING TO LACHLAN.) 

AARON NEEDING SOME SEB CUDDLES TO CALM DOWN AFTER WHAT VIC SAID. ROBERT COMING IN TO CHECK ON BOTH OF THEM, AND REITERATING THAT NO ONE WILL BE SPLITTING THEM UP AND THAT THEY’RE A FAMILY NOW. AARON DINGLE WILL NOT BE GOING BACK TO PRISON HIS WATCH. 

BOTH OF THEM DROPPING THE WORD “HUSBAND” LIKE IT’S GOING OUT OF STYLE. 

ROBERT HAPPILY SWATTING THE JUST MARRIED BALLOON AT THE BACK OF THE CAR. 

ROBERT BEING WILLING TO CANCEL THE HONEYMOON, BUT AARON INSISTING THEY GET TO GO ENJOY THIS TIME TO THEIR SELVES. #PROPERWEDDINGPROPERHONEYMOON 

AARON REVEALING THAT HE CHOSE THE ORDER OF THE HYPHENATION, EVEN THOUGH HE’S GRUMPING ABOUT IT NOW. (CAN YOU BELIEVE THEY HAD THIS WHOLE CONVERSATION AND I SAT THROUGH SO MANY MINUTES OF DAZ TRYING TO CONTACT BERNICE???) ALSO, BOTH OF THEM KNOWING HOW TO CHEER EACH OTHER UP??? MARRIED LIFE HAS ALWAYS SUITED THEM. BUT NEVER MORE THAN THIS MOMENT. 

ROBERT’S “MR. SUGDEN DINGLE FIRST” DAD JOKE. 

ROBERT ACKNOWLEDGING THAT GETTING AARON OUT OF HIS SUIT IS HIS TRUE WEDDING GIFT. (YOU WILL NEVER NOT CONVINCE ME THAT HE DIDN’T TRY AND CONVINCE AARON TO GET INTO THE SUIT WHILE HE WAS STILL IN THE PUB LAST NIGHT BECAUSE HE LOVES THE WHOLE PROCESS.) 

AARON DRIVING ROBERT’S CAR. 

AARON CHECKING ON CHAS ONE LAST TIME EVEN AS HE DROVE AWAY ON HIS HONEYMOON. 

ROBERT AND AARON DRIVING OFF INTO THE SUNSET TOGETHER. 

[dubsism]

Today’s Movie: Pride of the Marines

Year of Release: 1945

Stars: John Garfield, Eleanor Parker, Dane Clark

Director: Delmer Daves

This movie is not on my list of essential films.

NOTE: This installment of Sports Analogies Hidden In Classic Movies is being done as part of something called the The Eleanor Parker Blog-A-Thon being hosted by Maddy Loves Her Classic Films. Through the great topics she always selects, she has been exposed to so much of my nonsense she must be close to developing complete immunity to it 🙂

You can see all the contributors to this blog-a-thon here:

Days One and Two

The Story:

“Pride of the Marines” is a classic three-act film which is in a solid class of movies released near the end  of the Second World War and in it’s aftermath addressing the struggles of servicemen returning from combat to civilian life.

The first act is set in the days prior to the war. The central character is a Philadelphia steel worker with a decided swagger named Al Schmid (played by John Garfield).  Ai is determined to avoid marriage at all costs; he would rather be the essential “playing the field” bachelor.  That all changes when he crosses paths with a head-strong stunner named Ruth Hartley (played by Eleanor Parker).

Ruth’s “no non-sense” approach to life quickly breaks down Al’s disdain for marriage. They go on a hunting trip together during which it’s pretty obvious the seeds of love are being sown.

Then comes December 7th, 1941.  In the wake of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, like millions of other Americans Al enlists in the military. At the train station just as he is about to depart to join the Marine Corps, Al asks Ruth to marry him.

The plot then moves to the Battle of the Tenaru River on the Pacific island of Guadalcanal on August 21, 1942. Al is part of a Browning machine gun crew in “H” Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st First Marines along with Lee Diamond (played by Dane Clark) and Johnny Rivers (played by Anthony Caruso).

In what proves to be a brutal battle, Lee, Johnny, and Al kill over 200 enemy soldiers, but then face an onslaught all their own during which Johnny is killed by a gunshot to the head, Lee suffers an injury to his arm, and Al is rendered blind by a grenade explosion.

The plot jumps ahead again, this time to Al’s rehabilitation, which to say the least humbles the once cock-sure steel worker turned U.S. Marine.  Al struggles with his new-found dependence upon others. Originally, there is hope that his sight can be restored with surgery, but the attempt proves to be unsuccessful.  To conceal his blindness from Ruth, he breaks off their engagement.

However, during Al’s time in the hospital, he is reunited with Lee.  Along with hospital rehabilitation officer Virginia Pfeiffer (played by Rosemary DeCamp), they take on the difficult task aiding Al’s recovery.

In the meantime, Al discovers two things.  First, he is going to be awarded the Navy Cross.  He also learns he is going to be permanently transferred to the Philadelphia Naval Hospital…which puts him right back in his hometown, where he will no longer be able to avoid Ruth.

Once he finds out that his award ceremony will also take place in Philadelphia, Al becomes both angry and afraid he will be confronted by Ruth…and he’s not wrong.  What Al is really afraid is being pitied by Ruth; that’s a blow he can’t take coupled with his loss of independence. Instead, Al tries to convince himself he will regain his sight and until will not depend on others.

As al fears, Ruth re-enters the picture.  She goes to the hospital to enlist Lee’s assistance in a plot to get Al to come back home before he moves to his new hospital in Philadelphia. As such, Lee tells Al there’s a Navy car with a WAVE (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service — a division of the U.S. Naval Reserve) driver waiting for him.  But instead of taking him to the Philadelphia Naval Hospital, the driver takes Al home where Ruth and his family are waiting. 

With no ability to escape, Al has no choice but to listen to Ruth and how she wants to be with him regardless of what has happened. The movie ends with Al telling Ruth he may never see again, to which she responds “Whichever way it is, we’ll do it together.”

The Hidden Sports Analogy:

Today’s analogy isn’t so much about a particular injury; it’s all about returning to life as one knew it before being wounded in combat. In the sports world, there’s no better example of that than Rocky Bleier.

The Robert Patrick “Rocky” Bleier story begins right about the time “Pride of the Marines” ends when he is born in 1946 in Appleton, Wisconsin. The story really begins in earnest at Xavier High School, where Bleier established himself as a star in three sports being a team captain in football, basketball, and track.  But it would be the gridiron game which would pave the way for Bleier’s next steps. On the football field, Bleier was a three-time all-state selection as a running back. and won all-conference honors on the other side of the ball at both linebacker and defensive back.

Upon graduating from Xavier in 1964, Bleier went on to play college football for Notre Dame. During his junior season in 1966, the Fighting Irish won the national championship. Bleier was named a team captain as a senior in 1967, and graduated the following spring with a degree in business management.

Rocky Bleier running the rock for the Fighting Irish.

1968 turns out to have more than one reason to be a transformative time in the life of Rocky Bleier. Not only did he become a college graduate, he was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 16th round of the 1968 NFL/AFL Draft, the 417th overall player selected. However, the Steelers weren’t the only organization wanting Bleier.  On December 4th, 1968, Bleier was drafted into the U.S. Army.

Now SPC4 Bleier, he was trained as squad grenadier operating a 40mm M79 grenade launcher. He volunteered for duty in South Vietnam and was assigned to the 196th Light Infantry Brigade. Arriving in Vietnam in May 1969 assumed the duties of a typical soldier.

While on patrol in the Hiep Duc Valley on August 20, 1969, Bleier’s platoon was ambushed. Forced to take cover in a rice paddy, Bleier was shot in the in the left thigh, and while he was down, a grenade sent shrapnel into his lower right leg and blew off part of his right foot.

Doctors told Bleier he would never play football again. But not long after that. he received a postcard from Pittsburgh Steelers owner Art Rooney which read “Rock – the team’s not doing well. We need you. Art Rooney.” Bleier later credited that postcard as being an inspiration to return to football.  After many surgeries, Bleier was discharged from the Army in July 1970, at which time he returned to Pittsburgh and began having informal workout sessions with several Steeler teammates.

Fresh out of the Army in 1970, Bleier couldn’t even walk without pain and had dropped from his playing weight of 210 pounds down to 180.  The Steelers placed him on injured reserve for the 1970 season, which meant he could stay on the team’s roster, but could not play in any games.

He found his way on to the the field in the 1971 season, albeit his duties were limited to the kick coverage team. After this, Bleier spent three more seasons trying to get more playing time with no success.  In fact, he was released by the Steelers twice.  But he never quit, and by 1974 his intense training regimen got him back up to 212 pounds. This would also be the year Bleier finally earned as spot as the team’s starting fullback.

In no time, the man missing part of his right foot became one of the best fullbacks in the National Football League.  First and foremost, he may very well have been the best lead blocker coming out of the backfield in the game.  He was also a gifted pass receiver, and he certainly could carry the ball for those hard yards between the tackles.  In fact, he and primary running back Franco Harris both rushed for over 1,000 yards in 1976, which made them only the second backfield duo to do so along with Mercury Morris and Larry Csonka of the undefeated 1972 Miami Dolphins.

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You can’t tell the story of the Pittsburgh Steelers without telling the story of Rocky Bleier.  He was a key cog in the Steeler machine which defined dominant as it churned out four Super Bowl victories in six seasons in the 1970s.  Bleier’s brightest moments likely came in Super Bowl XIII when he caught a touchdown pass from Terry Bradshaw that gave Pittsburgh a lead it would never surrender and recovered the Dallas Cowboys’ on-side kick attempt in the closing seconds which sealed the Steelers’ victory.

Rocky Bleier retired from football after the 1980 season.  All tolled, Bleier ended with 3,865 rushing yards, 136 receptions for 1,294 yards, and 25 touchdowns. At the time he retired, Bleier ranked as the Steelers’ fourth all-time leading rusher. But what can’t be measured in the numbers is how many of Hall-of-Famer Franco Harris’ 12,120 rushing yards or 91 career touchdowns had their trail blazed by Bleier.

The Moral of the Story:

The root word in “disability” is “ability.”

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Sports Analogies Hidden In Classic Movies – Volume 93: “Pride of the Marines” Today's Movie: Pride of the Marines Year of Release: 1945 Stars: John Garfield, Eleanor Parker, Dane Clark…