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RainMaker.....harp music......back to 1968. It's my Junior year in HS. I'm the last guy on the bench. I see about 30 seconds action in games we are up by 20 or down by 20. I HAVEN'T scored a point all year. (You can take a lot of shots in 30 seconds, too.)
Every darn turnaround I've taken all year has been in and out or rolled around and out. My Coach is tough. He keeps me on the Team to serve as a bad example to better players. Plus, nobody takes verbal abuse better than me.
Last regular season game. We are up by 22. I'm in and the other Team is fc pressing. I get a great pass from some guard that busted his hump to break the press and lay it in!!! 2-points. GLORY! I've finally scored a varsity point!
Next time we have the ball, another fc press. I get another long pass. A defender sticks his finger in my right eye up to the third hairy knuckle. Arrrghh....I'm totally blinded. Both eyes tear up, immediately. I take two dribbles and shoot a 15-foot fadeway. I think it hit the Concession Stand. I'm blind. The Ref calls time out and they have to lead me off the court into the locker room.
Pretty bad injury. Eye cut. Takes a week to get clear vision back. When I return to practice the Coach who was a tough guy says,
"John, good to have you back but I have a question. Why did you shoot that shot if you couldn't see?"
My reply was,
"Coach....I was hot."
Pivot players are born......not made.
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