Unit 4 Me and My Big Mouth

Terry Bradshaw with David Fisher

Background Information

Terry Bradshaw Soccer rugby

Terry Bradshaw

Quarterback (1970-83)

Terry Bradshaw won four Super Bowl Rings as quarterback四分卫 for the Pittsburgh Steelers, dabbled 浅尝 ; 涉足 [(+at/in)] in movies, has had a successful recording career, made numerous commercials and is one of the most popular public speakers in America. He is also one of the hosts of the Fox Pre-game

NFL Football show.

Rugbyinflated ellipsoid

Soccer

Structural Analysis of the Text

The text is a narration. Narrative writing is usually organized in a chronological order. In the text the writer recounts a series of happenings, which consist of an introduction, the conflict, the climax and a solution to the conflict. Basically, the story falls into four parts. The first paragraph serves as the first part; the second part is made up of paragraph 2 to 13; the third part includes paragraph 14 to 27; the last part is paragraph 28.

Structure analysis

1 Part One (para1)---introduction or beginning main idea : to give reasons for his job transfer. function: to provide the setting of the story (introdu

ctory information about whom, where, when, and why. )

Part Two (para 2-13)---conflict or development main idea: to recount his frustrating experiences a

s a toupee model. function: to raise the first conflict and its climax.

Part Three ( para 14-27)---climax main idea: to describe his problems, his pr

ogress and success in broadcasting function: to develop the second conflict, b

uild up the climax and reach the solution. Part Four (para 28)---solution or end Main idea: to comment on his successful

career transition. function: to elicit 得出 the theme of the sto

ry (conclusive remark)

Part I (para1) Introduction to give reasons for his job transfer

A. Setting (when, who, what)

When I who used to be a football player ended my football-playing career, I had to have my job transfer.

B. What is the meaning of “fine tradition ” and why does the writer talk about the “fine tradition ” of this country in this paragraph?

Answers to the questions: 1 The expression “fine tradition” refers to

people’s social value. Terry Bradshaw lives in a society that worships idols. It is common practice to follow the idols’ life-styles. People try to imitate them, such as wearing the same brand of jeans, having the same hair style, etc. In this way the y feel they are more or less accepted as successful people too.

2 The writer’s mentioning of the fine tradition serves to justify his acceptance of the job as a toupee model.

1 fumble one’s way to do sth: attempt to do sth 2 have no idea 3 athlete n. 运动员 performer n. 表演者 , 执行

者

Part 2 The frustrating experiences (para2-13)

(2) job ;why; feeling

toupee model; bald; worst

(3) company’s strategy and concepts The toupee company attempts to make use of

the writer’s fame to attract potential customers.

(4-7) first episode---making of a plastic model

(8-9) parents’ reaction to his modeled head

shocked, yell, bothered

(10) second episode: the making of the film commercial which damaged his personal image.

(11-13) third episode: to wear the toupee in public which was the intolerable annoyance and frustration

Language points: get/be involved in: to take part in an activity or event, or to

be connected with it in some waye.g. The President was involved in the political scandal. 丑闻 endorsement toupee company/model he-man (infml, humor) : a strong man with powerful muscl

es 肌肉 be embarrassed (to do sth; by sth ) potential customer distribute to have trouble/difficulty (in) doing sth suffocate : to (cause to ) die because of lack of air duplicate: to copy high on the list : near the top of the list mass-produced :to make large quantities of sth

deal n. : agreementa big deal [ 美 , 口 ] 要人 ; 重要的事call it a deal [ 俚 ] 就这样决定 ; 一言为定close a deal 达成一项协议 ; 完成一项交易 robust adj. 强壮的；健壮的 ; 直爽的 ; a robust y

oung man 一个精力充沛的年轻人浓的 robust coffee 浓咖啡 surface (with : ） To emerge after concealment.

在隐藏后出现e.g. 真相开始露出来。 The truth began to surface. tournament n. 比赛 , 锦标赛 , 联赛群众性比赛 mass tournament 公开赛 open tournament

rip off : tear away quickly and violently

e.g. They ripped us off at that hotel. 那家旅馆敲了我们竹杠。敲诈

shove: to push (forward) rudely to shove a boat into the water 把船推到水里

Part 3 The progress and success in broadcasting (para14-27)

(14): transition---mark the end of the first conflict (toupee model) and the beginning of another one (talking)

(15-16)beginnig: how he enters the broadcasting business and begins a new career.

(17) first broad casting(18-22) challengesA. lacks experience and preparationB. high expectations from other people (23-27): progress(23) hard and enduring effort (nervous, sweat)(24-27) better---move from CBS to Fox

sound bites: say sth. in a brief but interesting and sensible way

As a quarterback, the big picture had been the only thing that mattered to me, but as a broadcaster I soon learned it was the small frames hat made up the big picture.

1)quarterback n. [ 橄榄球 ] 四分卫 2) matter vi. 有重要性 It doesn't matter. 3) the small frames: refers to a series of actions taking

place at particular moments (ie details) 4)“the big picture” refers to the general situation of the

game (ie whether the team is winning or losing).

understate: v. 打著折扣说 , 保守地说 , 少说 e.g. They understate the seriousness of the crime. in addition to 除 ... 之外 ( 还 ) a bunch of: (an informal expression ) a lot of (people or things) go on/off the air 开始 / 停止播音 knock sb. out 击倒 to talk hurt: to talk when I was hurt offensive a. 令人不快的 , 侮辱的 , 攻击用的e.g. His hasty temper made him offensive. 他的急躁的脾气使他令人讨厌。 all of a sudden: (ad.) suddenly lure n. 饵 , 诱惑 v. 引诱 , 诱惑

这本旅游小册子诱使我去加勒比地区度假。e.g. The travel brochure lured me into taking a Caribbean vacation. when the defensive isn’t biting: when the defensives is not effective biting: (a) sharply painful to the body or minde.g. It is a cold and biting wind.

Part 4 Comment on the successful career transition

Question: How would you interpret the writer’s own

remark in the last paragraph? The writer thought his only talent was

playing American football, but now he realizes that his real talent lies in how to make the best use of his potential and adapt himself to the changed situation.

inflated adj. 膨胀 ellipsoid [i'lipsɔid] : is a substitute term for American football

an inflated estimate; an inflated ego. 夸大的估计；得意自满的自我

Oral topic With the professionalism of football playing,

players’ incomes have dramatically increased in recent years. Some people do not think they have proved themselves worthy of so much money, while others think that they have contributed a lot. What’s your opinion and give your reasons.

Words and expressions suggested for this topic:

the significant professionalism of football playing

make great contribution to material life spiritual life the elites [ei'li:t] 精英 of the society deserve the reward

A sample discussion The recent years have witnessed the significant pr

ofessionalism of football playing, which brings about the dramatic increase in players’ income. Confronted with this phenomenon, people’s opinions are various. Some people do not consider these players worthy of the money they earn. However, we should acknowledge that their seemingly exaggerated incomes are reasonable in several aspects.

First of all, the football players are making great contributions to the society, though their achievement may be not as salient 显著的 ; 突出的as that in other fields. What they are working for does not provide material products, but spiritual accomplishments are definitely realized. Therefore, we cannot justify ourselves by thinking that football playing is not as important as other sections of the society, such as factories, companies, hospitals and so on.

Secondly, to be worthy of the money they get, the players have to suffer a lot. Like the elites in other fields, they are supposed to work hard before they gain outstanding social status and respect from others. They have to conquer the difficulties that most of us cannot bear at all. What’s more, it is inevitable that only a small portion of them can get renowned [ri'naund] 知 名 的 ， 著 名 的. Thus, they deserve the reward they have got.

Like other great men, football players are a

lso the heroes in our hearts. Both the respect and fortune enjoyed by them need to be deemed as natural.