What is is about a last second victory that’s just so much more satisfying? A win’s a win after all, isn’t it? Not in my book.
I guess it’s that fantasy that little boys have that goes something like, “Frankie’s up in the bottom of the ninth. The bases are loaded and there are two outs. His team’s down by 3. The count’s 3 and 2. Here’s the pitch. He hits it. It’s flying – back, back, back. It’s outta there.” I never even came close to doing something like that, but I thought about it.
Yesterday, Steve’s high school soccer team won a hard-fought game with goal in the last 10 seconds. Fabulous. It would have been a good win at 2-1, but to score with seconds to go is just so dang exciting. My brother-in-law Steve (not the son, Steve) wrote this comment a few weeks ago that I think captures the last second victory in its exquisite essence:
Your nephew Ben had the key play for his 6th grade team on Saturday morning. With less than 2:00 to go in the game and the opponents pinned deep in their own territory he stripped the ball from the opposing QB and rumbled into the end zone (OK so it was only a couple of yards) for the only score of the game. The crowd went wild, his mother cried and he was mobbed by his team. Lynda’s reaction was a little delayed since they are all about the same size and are wearing helmets. But when the mob cleared from the end zone here came #2 (a defensive lineman with the number 2)…jumping up and down and getting high fives from everybody.
Without a doubt it is one of the coolest things in the world to see your child succeed through their own hard work and determination in what ever their endeavor they have chosen and to have that success recognized by someone other than their parents.
I’d still like to be up in the bottom of the ninth with the game on the line.
