'Are you ready for this, champ?

photo courtesy Rob White (www.robwhitephotography.com)

By Brett Erasmus

Have you ever seen the movie Rudy? You know, the one about the Notre Dame student who lacks the talent and physical size to be a serious football player, but at the end of the last game in his final year he finally comes in - and sacks the opposing quarterback in a perfect ending. It is an inspiring story and every now and then you are lucky enough to stumble across an experience that moves you like this. This happened to me on Wednesday night...



Printing House were playing Cityview in the finals of the MSRA Men's 5.0 league. The whole season hung in the balance. The teams were neck and neck right down to the final match, with the winner effectively deciding the championship. These 2 players had faced each other before in the season and the more talented and experienced player had prevailed. This time the 'weaker' player was fired up (it was the league finals) and won the first game, but, the older player came into his own and went up 2-1 in games. In fact, he won the third game 11-3. He was totally in control and it looked like it was all over. The other matches were already decided and we were one game from the end of the season. Then a funny thing happened.

Up until this point 'Rudy' (not a fair analogy but permit me please) had been run ragged around the court. He was clearly exhausted and had nothing left to give, physically. But he also had nothing left to lose. The game was all but over. Nobody in the crowd expected him to win at this point; except perhaps one or two delusional teammates. He just got crushed in the prior game. The other matches were done and now the whole crowd moved over to watch the fourth game - when this happened, 'Rudy's' activation level went up, visibly. It appeared like he was giving himself one last desperate push.

He found new energy that he did not have a game earlier. He started running everything down and making impossible gets. He was digging balls out of the back corners that he had no business getting back. And he started hitting shots that he really should not have been going for at this point in the game. He was playing unbelievably well, hitting winners from every imaginable opportunity. It was uncanny. And up or down, no matter the outcome, he was just going for it. Some of the shots he hit in the next 2 games I swear John White would have been proud of. Every time he hit one of these dead winners his opponent would turn to the back wall and gaze at his teammates in disbelief. The crowd was agasp. I don't think anyone could believe how well this guy was playing. I don't think he could believe it himself. This gentleman showed desire and courage that is uncommon and, against all perceivable odds, he won the whole season for his team.

Never underestimate the heart of a champion.

Zach Stern was not carried off on the shoulders of his teammates on Wednesday evening; but he probably should have been.