Sweaty Eyes

“I wonder why Coach T is calling me to his office,” thinks BJ.

As he enters, the brightly light office, he sees Coach T. sitting behind his desk with his feet propped on the desk, looking at some papers on his clipboard.

“Hi, BJ.” says Coach T, “ The team has had a number of injuries, and I was wondering if you could play tomorrow with the Jr. boys basketball team?”

“Coach T, I am in Grade Six and only 4’9!” says BJ.

“I know that, but the league rules allow us to play Grade Six students. You’re right, you will play against boys that will be bigger and older than you.” says Coach T.
“But, if you give me the same effort as any other player, by playing hard on defense, get the ball to the open player and don’t give up on yourself, you will do fine. I can’t promise you a lot of court time,” says Coach T. “But I wouldn’t ask you if I didn’t think you could help the team.”

BJ couldn’t believe his ears. Coach T. was giving him a chance to play with the Eagles! “It’s a deal,” says BJ, flashing a grin.

BJ was excited as he left Coach T’s office. He was only 4 ‘ 9”, 90 pounds, and only in grade six, but he had been asked to play with the juniors! The year before, BJ had been Coach T’s manager for the high school basketball team. During that season, BJ had learned all the team’s drills, had developed his dribbling, and passing skills along with his shooting abilities. Now Coach T. had asked him to play with the juniors!

That night BJ could hardly sleep. He would wake and look at the #10 Eagle’s jersey draped over his chair and then dream of playing basketball…

The next evening, BJ got to the game early, sat on the bench, and watched as the first half wound down, when he heard the official’s whistle.

Tweet! “Foul on number #5 Blue,” yells the official.

“That’s Nathan’s third foul,” says Coach T.

“BJ you have to go in for Nathan. Remember good defense and get the ball to the open player,” Coach T. tells BJ.

As BJ nervously approaches the foul line, he hears a voice.
“Hey, short stuff! I am going to blow your doors off!” sneers the huge opposing team’s center.

As the ball rolls around the rim, it suddenly falls away from the basket. The tall center jumps, catches it, and makes an easy lay-up.
“Told you I would blow your doors off,” says the center.

BJ grabs the ball, steps out of bounds, and throws it to Matt, the other guard. He runs up the court, gains the outside position just as Matt passes him the ball.

          Get the ball to the open player. BJ remembers Coach T’s words. Just then, the tall center comes out to get the ball. The center leaves his defensive position wide open, and a teammate of BJ’s fills it. As the center comes closer, BJ notices that the “redhead” has his legs separated. BJ bounces a pass through the open legs to Tyler, his teammate, who takes it and makes an easy lay-up.

“Great pass, BJ!” shouts Tyler and high fives BJ.

“Nice shot, Tyler,” replies BJ. “Now lets play defense!”

The other team quickly inbounds the ball and head back down the court.
         “BJ! Look out for Luke!” shouts Tyler.          
                                       
“Who is he?” asks BJ.

“The other team’s center!” responds Tyler. “He’s mad at you for embarrassing him with that pass!”

BJ turns to establish a defensive position as the opposing team’s guard begins to dribble past. Instinctively, BJ sticks out his arm to stop the player.

Tweet!  Goes the official’s whistle
“Foul on #10 Blue for holding!” shouts the official.

That is not playing hard on defense, that is what Coach T calls ‘Matador defense’, when you stick your arm out! thinks BJ. biting his lips in frustration.

On the inbound pass, the opposition runs a play. The sound of squealing runners is heard through out the gym. BJ steps in front of Luke to take a charge, but he is a bit late as Luke collides with him with a thud!          
                                                 
Tweet! “Foul on #10 for blocking,” calls the official. 
                                 
Rats! That is my second foul in less than a minute and Coach T. is calling a timeout! thinks BJ. He rubs one of his elbows as he trots to the bench. The hard collision has taken some skin off his left elbow and his disappointment in getting two quick fouls makes his eyes sting.

“BJ, what is wrong with your eyes?” asks Coach T.

“Nothing, Coach, they’re just sweaty,” BJ replies.

“Okay, BJ, you made an excellent pass, but remember, you need to move your feet, not your arms on defense. One more foul and you are on the bench,” says Coach T.

“I know coach,” says BJ.

“Now team, keep the ball away from their big center by playing tough D. When we have the ball, you guys have to pass to the open man. On three!” says Coach T.
                    “ONE!  TWO! THREE!  LET’S GO! EAGLES!” the team shouts.

Luke sinks both foul shots and the Rams take a four-point lead. BJ inbounds the ball  then receives a pass from Tyler. Once more, Luke heads for him. This time Luke’s legs are close together.

No pass here, thinks BJ, but he’s coming too fast!
BJ fakes the pass, puts his foot right along side of Luke’s, and begins to dribble.

Bam! This time it is Luke moving into BJ.

Tweet, “Foul on #10!” shouts the official.          
                                       
What? thinks BJ. How can he call that foul on me!          

“White!” continues the official. ”Blue ball!”

BJ inbounds the ball to Sammy. He quickly gets off the shot and everyone hears the swishing sound as the ball hits pure net, just as the horn goes. It’s the end of the first half. It is a two-point game and BJ has two assists to go with his two fouls.

The second half begins with BJ on the bench as Nathan returns to the game. Tweet! “Foul #5 Blue, two shots!” says the official.

“BJ, there is just under five minutes left in the game. Go in for Nathan, remember look for the open man!” says Coach T.

“Right!  Coach,” BJ replies.

BJ subs in and watches as Luke sinks one of two foul shots. This gives the Rams another four-point advantage.  BJ inbounds the ball and quickly moves down court.  Matt, the Eagle’s point guard, passes to BJ. This time Luke plays defense, leaving BJ wide open, daring him to shoot. BJ looks for an open man. He sees that all his teammates are covered and remembers Coach T’s words, if nobody is open closer to the basket than you, SHOOT!

S-W-I-S-H! The crowd roars! Now it is a two-point game!

Matt knocks the ball out of the Ram’s point guard hands, but the ball rolls out of bounds.

“White ball!” calls the official.

The Rams set up their out of bounds play.  Before you know it, there is BJ in the
center of the lane with BIG Luke bearing down on him. BJ braces for the impact he knows is coming..

BAM! … BJ goes flying across the floor!

TWEET! “Foul! #10 White, Charging! Blue ball!” calls the official.

BJ’s chest is burning and much of the air has gone out of his lungs. As he opens his eyes, he discovers a TALL redheaded player looking down at him with cold burning black eyes.

“You got lucky short stuff!” snarls Luke.

“Maybe” responds BJ, “but we got the ball!”

BJ inbounds to Matt. Three passes later BJ has the ball. Again, nobody is open, but this time Luke moves in on BJ. BJ gives him a head fake.  Luke jumps up to block the shot and knocks it out of bounds. As he lands, he collides with BJ.

Tweet goes the official’s whistle.

“Foul #10 White. Two shots!” calls the official.

A blocked shot has become a shooting foul!
As BJ lines up on the foul line, he takes a deep breath to calm his nerves. Then he rubs the calves of his sox to remove the sweat from his palms. He thinks, Bend knees, elbow in, and put your hand in the cookie jar, all the things Coach T. had taught him about shooting a ball. Picture the ball going in the basket!
The ball goes cleanly through the net making it a one-point game.                    
As the official hands BJ the ball for his second shot, BJ thinks, this can tie the game; I can not miss this one!

The ball rolls around the rim, but it slowly rolls away.

With less than two minutes, remaining Coach T. calls a timeout.          

“BJ, you have done a great job, but we need to put Nathan back in the game,” says Coach T.          
                                                                                         
Substitute #5 for #10!” Coach T. tells the score table.

Nathan scores right away to give the Eagles a one-point advantage. With only seconds to go , the Rams use their size advantage and score giving them the lead back,. As the game winds down, Tyler quickly, takes a shot. The ball rolls around the rim as the horn goes, but refuses to drop into the basket. Rams win! The Eagle players slowly head for their bench with their heads hung low while the Rams are jumping and shouting in joy!

BJ and the rest of the team huddle around Coach T. as he tells them. “Guys, I am real proud of each and everyone of you. You played the best team in the league to a stand still. Never be ashamed of giving your best effort, no matter what the outcome! Now line up and shake their hands!”

BJ joins his teammates in the lineup. As they shake hands, big Luke grabs BJ’s hand in a tight grip and says, “Short stuff, you played a heck of a game.
Afterward, Coach T. asks, “BJ what is wrong with your eyes?”

“Coach they’re still sweaty,” says BJ.

“Why?” asks Coach T.                    
                                       
“Because Luke said I played a good game!” says BJ.

“Well, I told you that you played well,” Coach T says.

“Right. But you have to because you’re the coach, Luke’s the best player in the league!” says BJ.          

Coach T. grins and says, “Luke should know what he’s talking about!”          

The next day BJ lays his uniform on Coach T’s desk and says, “Here’s the uniform.”                                                                      
“BJ, the boys asked me if you could finish the season playing with the team.”  says Coach T.

“But I lost the game for them?’ says BJ.

“Why do you think that?” asks Coach T.

“Because I missed my last foul shot and that would have tied the game!” says BJ

“BJ, I asked you to do three things. Did you play hard on defense? asks Coach T.

“Yes!’ says BJ

“Did you get the ball to the open player?” asks Coach T

“Yes!” BJ says.

“Did you give up?” Coach T asks.

“No! But I should have made my last foul shot!” says BJ.

“Maybe, but BJ, you played the game with heart and desire and determination. That is what your teammates see in you. Sure, they want to win, but they also want to play with a teammate that works with them and makes them better. They see that in you. Luke saw it too! I do not know if you will ever be on a winning team, BJ, but I do know that you are a winner!” says Coach T.          

BJ walks away from Coach T’s office thinking about Coach’s words and wondering if he should play for the Eagles, when he runs into Nathan, Tyler, Sammy, and Matt.
“Well are you going to play for us?” asks Nathan.

“Do you guys really want a shorty like me on the team?” asks BJ.

“Hey, BJ you maybe short but there’s nothing small about the way you play, and besides you’ll grow,” laughs Sammy.

BJ has a big grin on his face when Matt asks, “What’s the matter with your eyes?”