The story involves a developing rivalry between a team from DeKalb, IL and Milwaukee Madison High School. One of the Madison players lost his mom suddenly the day of the game. The DeKalb team offered to cancel the game, but the Madison coach said that their opponents had driven 2-1/2 hours to the game, and his players wanted to play, so the game would go on. DeKalb told them to take their time, and when the Madison team was ready, they had only 8 players and it was over 2 hours late.
To everyone's surprise, in the 2nd quarter, the player whose mother had passed away appeared and wanted to do more than sit on the bench and cheer. He wanted to play. The problem is, since he wasn't on the pre-game roster, it would cost a technical foul, and two free throws. The Madison coach understood, and was willing to take the technical to put the grieving player in the game.
The player entered during a time out, and soon the Madison coach was arguing with the referees, that they didn't want the technical foul. But the rule are the rules. So, he asked for a volunteer to take the free throws... and miss them on purpose. A senior volunteered, and his two free throws travelled a few feet in the air and rolled across the end line.
Madison went on to win, but that wasn't the story line, and isn't what the players and fans at the game will remember. They'll remember a gesture of respect in a moment of grief, and they'll remember the friendship of rivals that grew around the postgame pizzas, each pizza shared by 2 players from each team.
Rivals who are friends, and who respect the sorrow of their opponents. That's something rare. If only all rivalries were shared by friends who could share pizza together... and miss free throws when it's the right thing to do.
1 comment:
Good to see you posting on your blog again...touching story and one that really shows well what a rivalry is all about. I bet God was smiling in heaven when He saw that happen--sports the way they were meant to be played. Thanks for sharing!
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