VOA常速英语2007年-Ripken Has New Career after Baseball

By Tony Budny
Washington, D.C.
26 November 2007
 
Retired¹ major league baseball player, Cal Ripken Jr, is well-known to many Americans for his 21-year career as infielder for the Baltimore Orioles.  He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in July for his accomplishments², including playing a record 2,632 consecutive³ games.  Now, Ripken is the Special Sports Envoy⁴ for the U.S. State Department and in that role he recently held a baseball clinic in Beijing.  VOA's Tony Budny reports on Ripken's career and life after baseball.

"You are challenged by the game of baseball to do your very best day in and day out and that is all I've ever tried to do," Cal Ripken said upon setting a baseball record.

Ripken earned the nickname "Iron Man" for his record number of consecutive games – spanning 16 seasons – an achievement that likely will stand unbroken.

Ripken has stayed close to baseball since his retirement⁵ from the Baltimore Orioles. 

The former infielder owns two minor⁶ league baseball teams – one in Maryland and the other in Georgia. 

His company, Ripken Baseball, is made up of business ventures, youth organizations, and charity work -- which includes giving underprivileged children the chance to play baseball.

As the State Department's Special Sports Envoy, Ripken recently taught youths in China how to play baseball.  During the weeklong clinic, the kids learned how to catch and hit.  They also found out about some unique American baseball traditions, such as chewing gum or collecting baseball cards.  

Ripken spoke⁷ to VOA about his goals as envoy. "A special envoy almost is looked at as an ambassador of sorts, using to share your experiences and maybe build a bridge, open up a level of conversation and just exchange through sport,” he told us “My expectations are no more than trying to share experiences and bring a smile to someone's face, have them understand the magic."

During his baseball career, Ripken was as competitive as he was committed.  He rarely struck out and played in every game he could -- usually in the position of shortstop. 

He also had memorable⁸ performances in important games.  One was when he hit the go-ahead home run in a game in which he broke former New York Yankees star Lou Gehrig's 56-year-old record for consecutive games played.  This spirit of competition remains⁹ important to him.

"You take that competitiveness as a way to motivate, that says 'O.K., I'm not competing like I did before.’ Competition brings out the best in us. But it is to be able to tap into that need to succeed and measure it internally to motivate yourself to have success."

Ripken's wife, Kelly, sees a different side of her husband. "He's still the little kid playing baseball."

Ripken, who still has nine months left in his appointment as sports envoy, does not know where he will visit next.  But he has received invitations to hold youth camps in other nations. 

1 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

2 accomplishments   

n.造诣；完成( accomplishment的名词复数 )；技能；成绩；成就

参考例句：

• It was one of the President's greatest accomplishments. 那是总统最伟大的成就之一。
• Among her accomplishments were sewing,cooking,playing the piano and dancing. 她的才能包括缝纫、烹调、弹钢琴和跳舞。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

3 consecutive   

adj.连续的，联贯的，始终一贯的

参考例句：

• It has rained for four consecutive days.已连续下了四天雨。
• The policy of our Party is consecutive.我党的政策始终如一。

4 envoy   

n.使节，使者，代表，公使

参考例句：

• Their envoy showed no sign of responding to our proposals.他们的代表对我方的提议毫无回应的迹象。
• The government has not yet appointed an envoy to the area.政府尚未向这一地区派过外交官。

5 retirement   

n.退休，退职

参考例句：

• She wanted to enjoy her retirement without being beset by financial worries.她想享受退休生活而不必为金钱担忧。
• I have to put everything away for my retirement.我必须把一切都积蓄起来以便退休后用。

6 minor   

adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修

参考例句：

• The young actor was given a minor part in the new play.年轻的男演员在这出新戏里被分派担任一个小角色。
• I gave him a minor share of my wealth.我把小部分财产给了他。

7 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

8 memorable   

adj.值得回忆的，难忘的，特别的，显著的

参考例句：

• This was indeed the most memorable day of my life.这的确是我一生中最值得怀念的日子。
• The veteran soldier has fought many memorable battles.这个老兵参加过许多难忘的战斗。

9 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。