This story appeared in the December 1995 issue of 'Zone 9', a print publication.
Professional football players rarely mix with PhD's in Para- Psychology. This is not because
the two groups hold any animosity towards each other. In fact, Dr. Henry enjoys watching a
good NFL football game on a Sunday afternoon. And David Applegate's favorite TV show
concerns an off-beat, yet dedicated psychologist and his loony patients.
So,
maybe there was no need to take notice of David
Applegate's visit to Dr. Henry's office at 6:00 P.M. sharp on a quiet Monday evening. But, Dr.
Henry was surprised to see the league's top rated quarterback standing in his lobby, talking
with his receptionist.
"May I help you?"
"Yeah," said the athlete. "You
can. Just like you've helped me before."
Ten minutes later, Dr. Henry was sitting
in his office with the man, trying to digest what he had just been told. "You say
you've tried my life regression technique before?"
"I told you, I was a journeyman quarterback, perpetual backup to the stars and not making a
quarter of what I was worth."
"Look. Nobody believes in my technique. I've been . . .
"'called a quack a thousand times'. You don't have to
convince me, Dr. Henry. You did it for me. I came in a thirty- six-year-old washed-up nobody
quarterback, took your drugs and chanted your chants, and found myself
twenty-two-years-old again, at my first try-out with the Rams."
"And you became
the league's rookie-of-the year and went on to a record breaking career. All because of
me?"
"Exactly. When I went back, I knew what to avoid--what not to do. So, I
didn't throw three interceptions in my first two games. I didn't get benched. Instead I went
on to stardom. Thanks to you."
"And that's why you're here--to thank
me?"
"No, Doc. Listen. I'm thirty-six-years-old again and I'm a star. But I've
never played in the Super Bowl; I don't have a championship ring. And my best days are
gone. Knees are shot, throwing arm's shot. I'm ready to retire. But it's too soon, Dr. Henry.
I need to go back again."
"The-the procedure is experimental
and--and--theoretical. It may not work at all. Don't you understand?"
"That's
what you said the first time, Doc. But you did what you did and you're going to do it again.
Only this time, you don't have to regress me back so far. Just send me back to age
twenty-four, right before my first playoff season. That ought to do the
trick."
"I'm--I'm not sure this is wise."
"You said that last time too,
Doc. Spare me. Just do your magic."
Twelve years earlier, David Applegate did
not throw an
interception in the fourth quarter of the playoff game. Instead, he handed off the ball to his
talented running back, who
scrambled twenty yards for a touchdown.
But twelve years later, he was again
sitting in the office with Dr. Henry. And again, he was confounding the good doctor with
news that he had already undergone the life regression procedure.
"Well, this
time I made the Super Bowl, Doc. But I lost it. Twice. Could have won it the second
time."
"If you hadn't thrown that interception. I saw the game."
"Yeah. Yet another badly thrown ball. My fault. I let the team down. So you gotta send me
back. Just a few years. Back to before that Super Bowl."
Two years earlier,
David didn't throw an interception. He ran the ball into the end zone, himself, scoring a
touchdown, getting smashed under the huge body of a middle linebacker, and losing
consciousness after a kick in the head. Then, two weeks later, after a few days at the
hospital, he was playing in the Super Bowl. And he played brilliantly, almost won the game
singlehandedly.
Everyone already knew he was a tremendous quarterback and
athlete. But now, he was considered more. He was thought of as a wily field general, the
man to beat. And beat him, they did. David suffered four concussions that season and
finished the year with several torn ligaments. And sometime after that, David
Applegate was again sitting in Dr. Henry's office.
"I'm curious, why are you
interested in life regression?
You've achieved everything an athlete could possibly achieve. Dozens of passing
records."
"Don't forget my Super Bowl ring."
"And a Super Bowl ring,
to boot. What do you want to change in your life?"
"All those injuries, Doc. I'm a
physical wreck. My arms and legs always hurt. And I've had so many nasty concussions
that the team docs say it'll be a miracle if I don't develop
Alzheimer's over the next twenty years. And that's assuming I retire right now, before the
start of the next season. So, maybe if I were young again, I could stay in better shape
through the years, avoid the injuries and just generally age better."
Fourteen
years earlier, David Applegate had a try-out with the Rams. But his relationship with a local
college girl ruined his concentration, he didn't show his talents on the field, and he was cut
from the team. So, he married the girl, found a job in her father's auto dealership and had
three kids.
When he turned thirty-six, David made an appointment with Dr.
Henry.
"You see Doc, I had a try-out with the Rams when I was twenty- two. But
I didn't give 'em my best effort. I was lazy and uninterested in the game. And it showed on
the field. If I could go back--back to when I was twenty-two, I know I could make the team
and become a top-rated NFL quarterback."
"Well, the-the procedure is
experimental and--and--
theoretical. It may not work at all. Don't you understand?"
"Yes, Doc, I understand. Nevertheless, let's give it the old college try, OK?"
"OK.
Mr. Applegate. If you insist."
At that moment, David's seven-year-old son burst
into the
office. The little, blond-haired tyke was full of pre-adolescent anger.
"Dad. How
long do I have to wait in the car? You promised me ice cream. I want ice
cream!"
David looked at Dr. Henry, then he looked at his
son.
"Good-looking kid you have there, Mr. Applegate."
"Thanks,
Doc," David replied. "He takes after his mother."
"Dad, I want ice cream--now!" insisted the boy.
"I know," said his father. "I
know."
And fifteen minutes later, David Applegate was in a local ice cream parlor,
handing his boy a double-dip cone of Rocky Road and Chocolate ice cream, with
multi-colored sprinkles.
end