Sportswriter’s attempts at impartiality takes a season long respite
By Ken De Laat “They remind me of the 'Hoosiers' team,”- Country Day Coach Jerica Williams after Newaygo defeated her Yellowjackets I would have to agree with Coach Williams on her assessment. And with ‘Hoosiers' sitting atop my all time sports movie list I guess this is kind of a love letter. As one who has covered sports for many more years than any players on the current Lion team have been alive, my approach to the games I’ve been privileged to watch has not always been as detached and objective it might be for a sports journalist. . I’ve admittedly had a few favorite players over the many hoop seasons spent either sitting under a basket or (much more comfortably these days) at a press table. Some teams snared my interest more than others. Not always because of their success on the court but for the personalities of their players, their relationship to their coach and how they approached the game. But none have captivated me like this Lion team that just completed their elongated season. I wasn’t alone of course. As we said in our article on the final game the community enthusiasm for these girls was as impressive as it was expansive. Of course being a fan or family member and displaying overt partisanship for your team from the stands is one thing. Leaping to your feet and cheering a key basket, block, or rebound from the press table is quite another. As is expressing your displeasure to the striped shirt guys at a questionable call, one would imagine. And yet, guilty as charged. And while not historically a superstitious type, attending the games with N3 Editor (and apparent believer in supernatural forces) Alexis Mercer, caused me to fall into several pregame rituals as the tourney progressed, rituals I remain convinced helped spur the winning streak. Long before the current year, this team held my interest. I recall Jaylee Long and Lily Ruehmeier arriving as freshmen and finding their way on a team of upperclassmen. The welcome addition of Jaxi Long and Emmerson Goodin to the starting lineup. Kayla Fisk coming up from the JV’s last season and making an immediate impact on defense The emergence of Anna Brummel this season as a primary offensive weapon The reliability and flexibility Lily Swinehart and Grace Painter provided in their first year while promising more to come in expanded roles for next year's team. A fun group to watch but also a squad that made you feel as though they were your team. Likeable, generous, classy, selfless and possessing integrity on the court and off. A team one finds it easy to relate to and cheer for. Three from this group will graduate. Others will replace them and, as it happens to teams in transition, there will be a different feel to next season’s version. A lot of talent remains and they will continue to be fun to watch as Coach Thomasma’s teams always are. But I gotta tell you when it comes to chemistry with a crowd (as well as with certain aging reporters) this season’s version would be hard to top. And while other teams may provide excitement and success and entertainment on the hardcourts in the coming years... This one will be hard to forget. Well done Lions Well done indeed. "Five players on the floor functioning as one single unit. Team, team, team. Alright?"- Coach Norman Dale (Gene Hackman) in ‘Hoosiers’
0 Comments
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
Categories |