Conquer or Quit: A Kids Football Story

By John Hines

Moving to a new town introduces a lonely Sam to all sorts of new things––a new school, new bullies, the new challenge of football, and most importantly, a new friend.As Sam goes through the ups and downs of success and failure, he learns that character, determination, and hard work will help him accomplish many things––both on and off the football field.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Fulton Books, Inc.
• Release date: Sep 29, 2022
• ISBN: 9781638605249

John Hines

John Hines is Founder/Executive Director of the Hines Family Foundation for Education, Innovation, and Service (HFF), a non-profit Atlanta, Georgia STEM, Innovation and Technology Workforce enabler, which aims to provide resources, opportunities and support for deserving, underrepresented, under-resourced individuals and groups. John is also Managing Director and Chief Technical Officer at JH Technology Associates LLC (JHTA), a California Technology Consulting and Advisory Services company. in December, 2012, John retired as NASA-Ames Chief Technologist (CCT) after nearly 37 years of service. Earlier, John was Chief Technologist in the ARC Engineering Directorate, Deputy Chief and Chief Technologist for the Small Spacecraft Division. As originator of the Ames Nanosatellite Missions Office, John initiated, directed or facilitated ten Nanosatellite/ISS/Free Flyer missions. From 2002-2009 John was the Principal Investigator / Program Manager for Biosensors and in-situ Bio-analytical Systems. Under John’s direction, these teams developed/applied advanced technologies for Medical/Biological, Biotechnology, small satellites, wearable biomedical biotelemetry sensors, and bio-analytical measurement systems. From 2002-2004, John was Program Manager for the NASA-NIH-NCI Biomolecular Physics and Chemistry Program. John has Chaired Peer and Program reviews and panels for the NASA Space Technology Programs, and served on two National Academy of Sciences Committees: Space-Based Additive Manufacturing of Space Hardware, and the NAS Space Technology Industry-Government-University Roundtable. John has a BS in Electrical Engineering from Tuskegee University, a MS in Biomedical/Electrical Engineering from Stanford University, and nearly 50 years of combined NASA/Air Force/Research Institute experience in biological/biomedical technology development, spaceflight hardware development, electronic systems, technology assessment, program/project/product development, management, and program advocacy.

Book preview

Copyright © 2021 John Hines

All rights reserved

First Edition

Fulton Books, Inc.

Meadville, PA

Published by Fulton Books 2021

ISBN 978-1-63860-523-2 (paperback)

ISBN 978-1-63860-524-9 (digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Much thanks to the following:

Erica, Susannah, Mark, Kent, Rob, countless Shamrocks, and so many others who pushed this book along in some way.

Cover photo credit—Jamie Gilleran Photography

Chapter 1

Sam didn’t like his new home. He didn’t like it or the new apartment complex or the new town; he probably wouldn’t like his new school either.

They had brought all their boxes inside, and Sam had been helping, but he was getting tired of helping. Sam went outside to play because his mom made him. He didn’t want to play outside; he wanted to set up his gaming system. But she had made him go, so he finally did, grumbling.

The apartment complex wasn’t really nice; Sam’s mom didn’t make a lot of money. There was a grassy area in the middle of apartments with a playground and little kids’ swing set. Sam was too big for swings, or at least he thought so. Sam wandered that way aimlessly. He didn’t like to play outside regularly; he’d rather play video games any day of the week.

Sam spied a tall, skinny kid out on the grass, playing with a football. What a weirdo. He was running around with the ball, dodging imaginary players. What. A. Weirdo. Then the kid saw Sam watching.

Wanna play football? said the skinny kid.

Nah.

Ah, come on! The skinny kid threw the ball.

Sam didn’t catch it. It landed on the ground behind him.

I don’t like football, said Sam.

Who doesn’t like football? said the skinny kid.

I just told you. I don’t like football, said Sam.

That’s so lame!

Sam went back toward his new apartment, leaving Skinny standing there, watching him.

I told you to play outside! said Mom.

This kid’s trying to get me to play football, mumbled Sam.

You should go play football with him! That’d be fun.

I don’t wanna. I don’t like football. I don’t like sports. You know that, Mom.

Mom grabbed another box and began unpacking it. You need to try new things, Sam. You need to do more than those silly video games.

They’re not silly, Mom! bristled Sam. I don’t want to try football. It looks so dumb and boring. Or any game, really. Sports is for boneheads!

How would you know, Sam? You’ve never tried it. Maybe you’d actually like it.

Sam didn’t answer. He started unpacking his gaming system and hooking it up to the TV. Mom didn’t say anything after that.

Chapter 2

Sam didn’t like his new school. It was big and noisy. There were kids everywhere. He had to be careful not to bump into kids; the hallways were so packed. Sam found his locker. He didn’t like it either. Well, it wasn’t the locker. It was the lockers next to his he didn’t like. Or rather, the boys who had those lockers.

Ha! Who’s this nerd? said a mean-looking kid.

He got close to Sam. Meany smelled like chili Fritos. And not in a good way.

What’s your name, nerd? snarled another.

He was chubby and looked like he could eat fifteen hot dogs without blinking.

Uh, Sam—

"Did you say Spam?" interrupted Meany.

Hawhaw, his name’s Spam! Hot Dog laughed.

Meany shoved his shoulder into Sam, smashing him into the locker. Oof! It hurt. Sam’s head smacked backward, making a resounding bonk! from the metal locker.

Leave him alone, Jax!

Sam looked up. It was the skinny kid from his apartment complex. The one who had tried to play football with him. He was holding a football now. Meany, who was now Jax, whirled on the skinny kid and towered over him.

Oh yeah? What are you gonna do about it, beanpole?

Skinny, or Beanpole, or whatever his real name was, stood up as tall as he could and clenched the football.

I’ll take you out, Jax! Just like I did in practice yesterday!

Pshh! That was a lucky tackle. You couldn’t do that again if you wanted to!

Jax suddenly shoved the skinny kid back into the locker as well. It caused Skinny to drop his backpack, but he held on to the football. Sam and Skinny now stood side by side, looking up at Jax and