美国国家公共电台 NPR--Tom Brady announces his retirement from the NFL

Tom Brady announces his retirement¹ from the NFL

Transcript²

Quarterback Tom Brady has announced he's retiring from professional football. He retired⁴ from the sport a year ago - but returned for one more season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

A MART?NEZ, HOST:

Quarterback Tom Brady has announced his retirement from pro³ football again. He retired a year ago, but returned for one more season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. But today, he said he means it this time, and his playing career is indeed over. NPR sports correspondent Tom Goldman is not retired, so he's going to join us to talk about Tom Brady's legacy⁵. Tom, a very simple, to-the-point 53-second video message on Twitter. What did he have to say?

TOM GOLDMAN, BYLINE⁶: Well, you said it. Tom Brady is retiring. That's what he said. He appeared to have recorded the message on a beach - no notes, just a man and his phone. The essence, right? Sitting in front of some high-rise buildings, he looked relaxed. There was a hint of emotion. Here he is.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

TOM BRADY: I won't be long-winded. You only get one super-emotional retirement essay, and I used mine up last year. So I really thank you guys so much, to every single one of you, for supporting me - my family, my friends, teammates, my competitors. I could go on forever. There's too many. Thank you guys for allowing me to live my absolute dream. I wouldn't change a thing. I love you all.

MART?NEZ: You know, Tom, seeing Brady retire today made me remember what Yankees Hall-of-Famer Yogi Berra once said. It's like deja vu all over again. So what can you tell us about retirement No. 1?

GOLDMAN: Well, it happened exactly a year ago. So Tom Brady does have a sense of symmetry. His essay at the time talked about the need for a football player to have a 100% committed - competitive commitment and that he didn't have it anymore. And then about 40 days later, he rediscovered it because he unretired. Many football fans rejoiced, but it is said that was a major factor in breaking up his long-time marriage to supermodel Gisele Bundchen.

MART?NEZ: All right, so tell us about his resume, because I'm sure he's going to be in the Hall of Fame. So who are the NFL fans losing?

GOLDMAN: Pretty much agreed that he's the GOAT, the greatest of all time. A great story of a guy who got drafted by New England in the sixth round, 199th overall, got his chance when New England's starting quarterback got injured and Brady was off. He and New England head coach Bill Belichick dominated the NFL during most of his 23-year career. They won six Super Bowls together. He won one Super Bowl with Tampa Bay, giving him a total of seven. But, yeah, that resume is bulging⁷. And it includes three times NFL MVP, five times Super Bowl MVP, named to the NFL's 100th Anniversary All-Time Team, No. 1 in pass completions, passing yards, passing touchdowns, quarterback wins. Now, A, of course, for legions of New England haters out there, we have to throw in that he served a four-game suspension in 2016 for the scandal known as Deflategate. The NFL decided⁸ Brady was, quote, "generally aware" that his team deflated⁹ footballs to get an advantage in a playoff game the year before.

MART?NEZ: You know, I used to hear from old Mets fans from the '60s who couldn't stand seeing Willie Mays at 40 kind of stumble around the center field at Shea Stadium.

GOLDMAN: Yeah.

MART?NEZ: So a lot of famous athletes retire way too long or at least didn't retire early enough. What about Brady?

GOLDMAN: Seems like he did OK. He made it to 45 as an NFL quarterback, which is remarkable¹⁰. And he stayed relevant. He threw for the third-most passing yards in the league this season, completed nearly 70% of his passes. But Tampa Bay finished with a losing record - Brady's first in his career. Certainly, he does know the NFL is becoming, for quarterbacks, no place for old men. In this past weekend's Conference Championship games, the average age of the four starting QBs was 25 years old.

MART?NEZ: That's NPR sports correspondent Tom Goldman. Tom, thanks.

GOLDMAN: You're welcome.

1 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。

2 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

3 pro   

n.赞成，赞成的意见，赞成者

参考例句：

• The two debating teams argued the question pro and con.辩论的两组从赞成与反对两方面辩这一问题。
• Are you pro or con nuclear disarmament?你是赞成还是反对核裁军？

4 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。

5 legacy   

n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西

参考例句：

• They are the most precious cultural legacy our forefathers left.它们是我们祖先留下来的最宝贵的文化遗产。
• He thinks the legacy is a gift from the Gods.他认为这笔遗产是天赐之物。

6 byline   

n.署名；v.署名

参考例句：

• His byline was absent as well.他的署名也不见了。
• We wish to thank the author of this article which carries no byline.我们要感谢这篇文章的那位没有署名的作者。

7 bulging   

膨胀； 凸出（部）； 打气； 折皱

参考例句：

• Her pockets were bulging with presents. 她的口袋里装满了礼物。
• Conscious of the bulging red folder, Nim told her,"Ask if it's important." 尼姆想到那个鼓鼓囊囊的红色文件夹便告诉她：“问问是不是重要的事。”

8 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

9 deflated   

adj. 灰心丧气的

参考例句：

• I was quite deflated by her lack of interest in my suggestions.他对我的建议兴趣不大，令我感到十分气馁。
• He was deflated by the news.这消息令他泄气。

10 remarkable   

adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的

参考例句：

• She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
• These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。