Albert, the football player

Was a star at Crestwood High

He was delighted with the attention

That all his family and friends

Lauded on him

- – -

He played as a quarter back

Heard that a famous scout

Was in town from a university

And Albert was out to impress him

At his next game

- – -

Albert’s stardom didn’t

Live up to the hype

He put in a rather disappointing

Performance against

A second rate school

- – -

The following day he showed up

At the scout’s hotel

To find out if he were one

On his short list

- – -

The scout was encouraging

But informed him

That he has to build

His body, strength

And endurance

Before he can talk to him

- – -

Albert felt that football

Was his ticket to college

He was an average student

And didn’t want this opportunity

To pass him by

- – -

He spoke with his mother

And minister

Telling them

That he needed 12-hundred dollars

For tutoring for his SATs

- – -

Albert’s thinking was

After he got the money

He would go on a regimen

Of steroids 

And begin working out 

At his local gym

- – -

Albert is the son

Of a single Mom

And a younger sister

That don’t work

But were on welfare

- – -

His mother turned

To their church for help

Their minister was on board

With their plans

And appealed to his congregation

For a “peace offering” for Albert

- – -

At church, Albert was all decked out

In his Sunday best

As the minister spoke wonderful

Words about him

- – -

To make a long story short

Albert began injecting himself

With steroids

On a regular basis

And did everything possible

Even stealing

To get his fix

- – -

His body size increased

He became faster

And was recruited

At one of the better schools

- – -

There he played wonderful 

Football for two seasons

Before his health began 

Going down hill

- – -

Albert developed heart problems

His kidneys began to fail

And he eventually lost his slot

On his team

- – -

Albert eventually died at 21

His last words on his deathbed were

“I’ve given my soul for football.  

God help me!”