Against All Odds: My Story by Chuck Norris, Abraham Norris, Ken Chuck, Chuck Ken; Norris Abraham, Ken Abraham Page A
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much forgotten about the movie until it began showing in theaters everywhere. Indeed, Bruce Lee had discovered a winning formula in films. People were packing in theaters all across the continent to watch the action movie. Return of the Dragon had cost only $240,000 to make, and the film ultimately earned more than eighty million dollars worldwide!
When I returned home, Dianne and I decided to reconcile and give our marriage another chance. We worked hard at improving our relationship, and I poured myself into being a better husband and father. I deeply desired to have a better relationship with my sons, Eric and Mike, than I'd had with my father. I made a conscious effort to put my family first in my life. Naturally, I taught them karate, but I also attended all of their Little League games and was along the sidelines at every one of their football games and for every soccer game too.
We were an affectionate family, and even our boys were unashamed to show it. For instance, Mike was a star running back on his high school football team, but after every football game he'd run up into the stands where I was sitting and give me a kiss.
Once as I dropped Eric off at school, I noticed four of his friends standing on the curb. Eric leaned over and gave me a kiss before grabbing his books and hopping out of the car. As I started to pull the car away, I heard one of Eric's buddies taunting him, “Do you still kiss your daddy?”
I turned around to see Eric grab the kid by the collar and lift him off the ground. “Yeah, what of it?” he said.
“Oh, nothing, nothing at all.…”
Even today, as grown men, Eric and Mike are still affectionate to me. When we're together, we are quick to hug and kiss each other. We never end a telephone conversation without saying, “I love you.”
One afternoon Bob and I went to see On Any Sunday , a motorcycle-racing documentary starring Steve McQueen. When the film was over, I told Bob, “That Steve McQueen is one actor I really would like to meet.” I admired Steve McQueen immensely. He was my kind of man, a doer. He radiated strength and a strong image. Beyond that, I knew that in his off-screen life, Steve raced cars as well as motorcycles, and that intrigued me.
Bob nodded in agreement, and we let the subject drop. Yeah, right. Meet Steve McQueen. Even though we lived in Los Angeles, home to many film stars, it was rare to actually meet a famous actor in Hollywood.
Maybe someday … , I thought.
Soon after I returned home, I received word that my father had been killed in a car accident in Oklahoma. I sent a telegram to Aaron, who was still serving in the army in Korea. He arranged for an emergency leave, and he met me for the funeral in Wilson, Oklahoma. It was only then that we learned that our father had had cancer. Part of his throat and chin had been removed, and a tube had been inserted in his trachea to help him breathe. During the car crash, he had been thrown from his vehicle, and the tube in his throat had been dislodged. Although he survived the smashup, he died on the ground—due to suffocation because no one at the accident site was aware that the tube lying on the ground near my father was necessary for him to breathe.
It was a sad time for Aaron and me. Even though Aaron had been only five years old when Mom left Dad, and it had been years since the last time we had seen him, he was still our father. For the first time in a long while, I couldn't help wondering what an empty life our dad must have known. I determined in my heart and mind that I wanted to be there for my kids.
Following the funeral arrangements, I flew home to California, and Aaron returned to Korea. We both had a lot to think about on the planes that night.
CHAPTER 12
TRUE FRIENDS
I was about to start a class one day when the telephone rang. I picked it up and heard, “Hi, this is Steve McQueen. I'd like to bring my son, Chad, in for some private lessons.” I suspected someone was putting
When I returned home, Dianne and I decided to reconcile and give our marriage another chance. We worked hard at improving our relationship, and I poured myself into being a better husband and father. I deeply desired to have a better relationship with my sons, Eric and Mike, than I'd had with my father. I made a conscious effort to put my family first in my life. Naturally, I taught them karate, but I also attended all of their Little League games and was along the sidelines at every one of their football games and for every soccer game too.
We were an affectionate family, and even our boys were unashamed to show it. For instance, Mike was a star running back on his high school football team, but after every football game he'd run up into the stands where I was sitting and give me a kiss.
Once as I dropped Eric off at school, I noticed four of his friends standing on the curb. Eric leaned over and gave me a kiss before grabbing his books and hopping out of the car. As I started to pull the car away, I heard one of Eric's buddies taunting him, “Do you still kiss your daddy?”
I turned around to see Eric grab the kid by the collar and lift him off the ground. “Yeah, what of it?” he said.
“Oh, nothing, nothing at all.…”
Even today, as grown men, Eric and Mike are still affectionate to me. When we're together, we are quick to hug and kiss each other. We never end a telephone conversation without saying, “I love you.”
One afternoon Bob and I went to see On Any Sunday , a motorcycle-racing documentary starring Steve McQueen. When the film was over, I told Bob, “That Steve McQueen is one actor I really would like to meet.” I admired Steve McQueen immensely. He was my kind of man, a doer. He radiated strength and a strong image. Beyond that, I knew that in his off-screen life, Steve raced cars as well as motorcycles, and that intrigued me.
Bob nodded in agreement, and we let the subject drop. Yeah, right. Meet Steve McQueen. Even though we lived in Los Angeles, home to many film stars, it was rare to actually meet a famous actor in Hollywood.
Maybe someday … , I thought.
Soon after I returned home, I received word that my father had been killed in a car accident in Oklahoma. I sent a telegram to Aaron, who was still serving in the army in Korea. He arranged for an emergency leave, and he met me for the funeral in Wilson, Oklahoma. It was only then that we learned that our father had had cancer. Part of his throat and chin had been removed, and a tube had been inserted in his trachea to help him breathe. During the car crash, he had been thrown from his vehicle, and the tube in his throat had been dislodged. Although he survived the smashup, he died on the ground—due to suffocation because no one at the accident site was aware that the tube lying on the ground near my father was necessary for him to breathe.
It was a sad time for Aaron and me. Even though Aaron had been only five years old when Mom left Dad, and it had been years since the last time we had seen him, he was still our father. For the first time in a long while, I couldn't help wondering what an empty life our dad must have known. I determined in my heart and mind that I wanted to be there for my kids.
Following the funeral arrangements, I flew home to California, and Aaron returned to Korea. We both had a lot to think about on the planes that night.
CHAPTER 12
TRUE FRIENDS
I was about to start a class one day when the telephone rang. I picked it up and heard, “Hi, this is Steve McQueen. I'd like to bring my son, Chad, in for some private lessons.” I suspected someone was putting
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