环球英语—954:Brad Thorn: A Changed Life

Voice 1
Hello and welcome to Spotlight. I'm Liz Waid.
Voice 2
And I'm Ruby Jones. This programme uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.
Voice 3
"Suddenly, you have got money. You can buy a house. You have got a car. People are congratulating you. You feel really great about yourself. And the women notice you more!"
Voice 1
These are the words of Brad Thorn. Brad is a top sportsman in his home country of New Zealand. He plays the game of rugby. This sport is very popular in New Zealand. In fact, some would say it is the country's national sport! There are two kinds of rugby - league and union. And both kinds of game are extremely hard and physical. Brad Thorn has played rugby league and rugby union. And he is a star at both! Today, we tell Brad's story of how success affected his life in negative and positive ways.
Voice 2
Brad is originally from New Zealand. But when he was nine years old, his family moved to Australia. It was there that Brad first experienced success as a sportsman. He was only nineteen years old when he started playing for a major rugby league team called the Brisbane Broncos. And only two years later, he was playing for his local State team. One year after that, the Australian national team manager chose him to play for Australia. Brad was proud to accept this chance to play rugby at the highest level, even if his first game was against the country of his birth - New Zealand!
Voice 1
Before he knew what was happening, Brad had become a rich and famous sports star! And many things came with his success: money, being famous, parties, girls. At first, Brad found all this difficult to deal with. He remembers:
Voice 3
"It is a very intense thing. And you cannot prepare yourself for that. If you receive that sort of money when you are still a young boy at school - it can test your character."
Voice 1
Brad remembers how he was at that time of his life. He says:
Voice 3
"I was a pretty wild character. I did not always concentrate on playing rugby. I would drink and go and out with lots of women and behave badly."
Voice 2
However, Brad was still chosen to represent Australia. And in 1997, he went with the national team to the United Kingdom. The team played three games against the UK's national side. During their stay, most of the team members behaved in a way they thought was normal for rugby players - drinking lots of alcohol, going to parties. However, one of the Australian players did not behave like this. His name was Jason Stevens. Brad noticed that:
Voice 3
"Jason was different from the rest of the team. When we travelled away from home as a team, we behaved wildly. But Jason did not do that. I talked to him a lot. Everyone says that you are weak to not drink loads of alcohol. You are weak if you do not have sex with any women. But it is the opposite. Saying ‘No' involves character."
Voice 2
Brad discovered why Jason was different. Jason was a Christian - a follower of Jesus Christ. Jason lived a life that demonstrated Jesus' values and teaching. Part of this was showing respect to yourself by taking care of your physical body. And Jesus also taught how important it is to be faithful to people you have promised to love.
Voice 1
Brad knew that he was drinking too much alcohol. And it was having a negative effect in many areas of his life - playing rugby, relationships with his girlfriend and family. He wanted his life to change. So he talked to Jason Stevens about it. Brad remembers:
Voice 3
"Jason said that I should ask Jesus to forgive me for the things that I had done. And that I should ask Jesus Christ to teach me how to live well and follow him. One day, back home, I decided to do what Jason said. I said a prayer. I told Jesus I regretted the things I had done. I asked him to forgive me and help me turn my life around."
Voice 1
Brad prayed that prayer in 1998. And since that time, he believes that his life has changed for the better. Alcohol no longer controls his behaviour in the way it once did. He can now think much more clearly about what is important in life. He says:
Voice 3
"I do feel now I have a purpose. I believe that there is a God who loves me. I want to be a good husband and father. And I want to give my best on the rugby field."
Voice 2
Brad moved back to his birth country of New Zealand in 2001. He got married the year after. These were not the only changes for him! He decided to start playing rugby union instead of rugby league. And, as before, he experienced great success! He achieved the dreams he had when he was a boy. He always wanted to be an All-Black - a member of the New Zealand national rugby team. The players wear black shirts and shorts. And their skill brings fear to every team that faces them! Brad became an All-Black in 2003. And he played for them twenty-four times.
Voice 1
Brad returned to rugby league briefly for two years in 2005. But he decided to spend the remaining years of his sporting life playing rugby union. This pleased the New Zealand rugby authorities. Steve Tew is the head of the New Zealand Rugby Union. He said:
Voice 4
"We are very happy Brad is staying...He is a special man who works extremely hard and who has a high set of values."
Voice 1
Brad hopes that his life will continue to have a positive effect on people both on and off the rugby field. He says:
Voice 3
"I am not someone who pushes his faith on other people. I hope that by just living my life, people will notice the change in me. God has blessed me with being able to play rugby. Every time before I play I just really thank him. It gets hard sometimes. But God has put me here. It is where I am supposed to be."
Voice 1
The writer and producer of today's programme was Ruby Jones. The voices you heard were from the United Kingdom, the United States and New Zealand. All quotes were adapted and voiced by Spotlight. You can hear more Spotlight programmes on our website at www.radio.english.net. This programme is called "Brad Thorn - A Changed Life."
Voice 2
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