More than a game.
The adage was shown to us all yet again yesterday, in the wake of Kevin Ware's heartbreaking injury. Passion. Heart. Courage. Tragedy. Triumph. All the reasons we play these games.
While on a routine defense of a three point shot, point guard Kevin Ware crumpled and shattered his tibia, leaving an exposed compound fracture. He scooted off the court, directly in front of his team's bench, before collapsing. Players immediately rushed to his aid. Nine minutes of pandemonium proceeded. Several players openly wept on the court.
Ware, a player who plays off the bench- in the face of months of rehabilitation and great personal loss, gathered his team before being carted off on a stretcher, and spoke. "Just go win this game for me. Don't worry about me. I'm fine. Just go win this game."
In the aftermath of the injury, the game changed. All who watched, felt it. The game showed its true power: as a medium. A medium to show the human capacity for greatness. The power of inspiration. The power of love, compassion and courage.
Louisville scored a whopping 50 points in the second half and ran away with the game, and ran away into the final four- and further, into the depths of sports history.
