■ことばのチカラ～世界で戦い抜くために～　渡邊雄太

NBA選手の渡邊雄太さんのエッセイです。彼とご両親とのやりとり、その他必読です。英語版もあります。

With those words, I let my parents know my honest thoughts.

I texted them: "I'm in a critical moment in my basketball career and I don't need any negative words that dampen my determination. Both of you guys understand me more than anyone else, and ever since I started to play basketball, you've been my biggest supporters. That's why I need you to have my back until I make it to the NBA."

My parents called me straight away. Familiar voices from my homeland ... their first words were, "Sorry, son."

I remember my chest tightening when I heard those words.