The Kid Could Throw
(as told by Dr. Seuss)
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The kid could throw.
Oh boy—could he throw!
He could zip it through rain,
He could zip it through snow.
He could throw to the left,
He could throw to the right,
He could throw in the morning,
He could throw late at night!
The kid had an arm like a coiled-up spring,
And the way that he played?
Well, he just had that zing!
Scouts watched him in high school,
They came by the ton.
They said, “He’s amazing!
He might be The One!”
He threw like a rocket,
He threw like a breeze,
He could spot a defender
While tying his knees!
At fourteen years old—he was spotted! It’s true!
In Eastern Michigan, Junior League too.
He tossed and he turned and he set record pace,
Then he broke them again with a smile on his face!
He'd dodge and he'd spin,
He would leap and he’d dash,
And never once worried
About making a crash.
His coaches all loved him,
They’d cheer, “Let him play!”
They’d hand him the team
And then just walk away!
Three years he went undefeated, oh yes,
No losses, no fumbles, no panic, no stress.
He won with a grin and a nod of his head,
He played like a legend, the other team fled!
Colleges came like a wild, stampede herd!
“Full scholarship! Full ride! Just say the word!”
He picked out a team where he knew he’d win big,
And threw that ol’ ball like a greased-up pig!
He aced all his classes, he drew up the plays,
He practiced at night and through most of his days.
He tossed like a wizard, he dashed like a deer,
And the NFL said, “We want him next year!”
He played on the telly!
The fans went ker-splat!
And screamed, “This boy's magic!
Now how ‘bout that!?”
The coaches built walls to protect his two feet,
And everyone knew—he just couldn’t be beat.
Then came the time—oh, a big choice to make,
He said, “Going pro!” and made the earth quake!
The Texans came calling, they shouted, “He’s ours!”
They offered big bucks and a contract with stars.
He was gonna be great! He was ready to play!
The crowds all went wild on that hot Texas day!
But then—oh dear me—what a turn of the page,
A twist in the tale, a storm on the stage.
A party was held, with music and song,
But something, oh something, went terribly wrong.
A car drove on by, and BANG-BANG they did shoot,
And joy disappeared in the blink of a hoot.
He hadn’t played once, not a quarter or down,
Before fate came to town, and turned smiles to frowns.
They buried him softly, the fans wept with woe,
And whispered, “He could throw. Oh boy—he could throw.”