"Teamwork is what the Green Bay Packers were all about. They didn't do it for individual glory. They did it because they loved one another..." - Vince Lombardi
"Look at that poor man, Mona, he sure looks funny just lying there."
"Big Earl, I've told you time and again not to make fun of people in distress!" Mona replied, "Gosh! You know, he is an odd color of green. You reckon he's breathing?"
Suddenly, the man moaned as a small crowd began to gather,"Ohhhh, not Mari....ohhhhh!"
"Well, I guess that answers that question - c'mon, Mona, lets go get some nachos," said the well-named Big Earl.
"We can't just leave him lying there, Big Earl!"
"The knee, always the knee," the prostrate man mumbled, unconsciously quoting the legendary Packer coach, Vince Lombardi.
"That's it, I'm getting an usher," Mona said as she headed off toward the front of Coleman Coliseum, Big Earl in tow.
Right at that moment, PBA1 came around the concourse and saw the knot of fans gathered around the man, who had managed to sit up, holding the sides of his head with his hands."Omigosh, that's Salto!", thought PBA1, hurrying forward. "What happened?"demanded PBA1, surveying the crowd gathered around Salto.
"We don't know," said a little girl with an 'A' painted on her cheek, "He was like that when we walked up. He keeps saying something about a knee and Mari."
"Where's Salsa?" asked PBA1, "Has anybody seen Salto's wife?"
"She was helping with the Tide Tykes march out," said the little girl, "I saw her down at one of the lower portals."
"Well, run go get her, maybe she has his balance beam smelling salts with her," said PBA1. The little girl's eyes got big as saucers and she skipped away toward the portal. "I guess after the close calls with Ashley and Jeana, the strain was just too much for him when Mari got hurt during vault warm-ups," thought PBA1. "C'mon, Salto," said PBA1, helping him to his feet,"You big baby, Mari just got a little sprain, she'll be good as gold in just a few weeks!"
"Huh?...Wha-what's that...Mari...OK?" said Salto, his eyes rolling around.
"Yes, yes, she's going to be fine," said PBA1, getting exasperated now, "Good grief, Salto, the meet hasn't even started yet!"
At that moment, Salsa came trotting up, opening Salto's industrial-strength bottle of balance beam smelling salts as she came. "Here, give him a whiff of this, PBA1, it usually brings him around!" said Salsa.
After a quick smell of the salts, Salto shook his head and rubbed his hands over his face.
"Thanks, but I was OK," said Salto, "I knew it was no big deal...Uh, I was just resting, that's all, I've had a long day."
"Sure, Salto, sure," said PBA1, smiling and shaking her head.
Looks like it's going to be a long day for all of us," said Salsa, "We still have to get Salto through balance beam rotation!"*
*Some portions of this account may have been fictionalized for emphasis...and how.
--//--
Yes, it's true, I'm only so-so with adversity. The Tide, however, has turned into 'The Little Engine That Could™' in leotards. Now, I can't actually interview the whole team at once. But if I could, I imagine it might go something like this:
| Salto: |
I'll tell you what, GymTide - unlike me - you are one tough-minded bunch. Of course, you need to be! I mean, hey, I'm sorry, ladies, but you'll have to start the season without floor and vault All-American Alexis Brion. |
| GymTide: |
That's OK, Salto, we'll just stay in the top five in both of those events until she's ready to go. |
| Salto: |
Tough break, Bama, having to start the season on the road in front of a 'hostile' UGA crowd and then having trouble staying on the balance beam. |
| GymTide: |
Eh, no big deal, we'll just go back the very next week in front of the very same crowd and post a team total on beam that is within 0.175 of the Alabama and NCAA record. |
| Salto: |
Ooh, hard luck, you have to go on the road for back to back meets way off in Arkansas and Nebraska - and, by the way, you only get to use Jeana Rice's scores for two events of the Nebraska meet because of a sprained ankle. |
| GymTide: |
Oh, Ye of little faith, we'll just set our season-high score of 197.200 at Arkansas and then come within 0.025 of that two days later at Nebraska. |
| Salto: |
Sure, but then you have to compete in your home opener against Michigan after losing 'freshman phenom' Ashley Miles for a few weeks due to an injury in practice - and remember Jeana's sore ankle. |
| GymTide: |
Yeah, yeah, yeah...we'll show you by tying our season high 197.200 and, oh by the way, Jeana will win the All-Around with a personal best 49.750. |
| Salto: |
But, how about losing yet another 'freshman phenom', Mari-Christine Bayer, for two or three weeks due to an injury during the pre-meet warm up for the LSU meet, now that's got to set you back a bit. |
| GymTide: |
What, is this some kind of a joke, Salto? Us? Let Mari down after she got hurt? How about if we just reset the season high at 197.400? |
--//--
All things being equal, a little adversity goes a long way with me. I think the Tide has proven they can handle it. I am reminded of the donkey in George Orwell's Animal Farm who said that, although he was glad to have a tail to keep the flies away, he would sooner have no tail and no flies. Yes, I think I would like to try a little good fortune and prosperity for a change. Perhaps that change has already begun. The prospects for all of our 'walking wounded' seem much improved. Kristen Sterner, on the strength of her sparkling 39.650 All-Around score and several other accomplishments, was named SEC gymnast of the week. The Tide continues to build depth with, seemingly, new performers and/or new skills on the various events each week.
So, it's on to Gainesville, then, where the #6 Gators are lying in wait. Florida seems to be at the top of their game just now, having scored a 197.475 last week. Somehow, I think the GymTide will be ready. Roll Tide!!!
|
