“Yeah, do you think it scares them, or do you think it’ll make them prepare even harder?”
“Why do you ask?” Jerold asked.
“I’m thinking in terms of football. If we outclass a team, should we hold back or crush them? Would we have an advantage over our future opponents if they saw game film of us destroying the opposition? The other side is, would it mean they would prepare even harder if they saw it?”
They both looked at each other.
“What makes you think you’re good enough to dominate your opponents like that?” Jack asked.
“David is currently the number one quarterback in the sophomore class,” Jerald said to my surprise; I had no idea he knew. “His high school team almost ran the table last year, with sophomores. Next year’s team will only lose three varsity players. The core group will be intact for the next two years. I predict by the time David graduates from Lincoln High, he will be a two-time and maybe a three-time State Champion.” That surprised me even more.
“I thought you were just a model and did a movie,” Jack said.
“He’s also a straight-‘A’ student, and Wesleyan would welcome him with open arms,” Jerald said as he made his pitch.
“So, should we crush them or not?” I asked.
“It all depends if you’re looking at the short term, or the long term,” Jack started. “I had to learn this early on in business. If I wanted to keep doing business with people, I couldn’t crush them, or they wouldn’t do deals with me down the road.
“This applies to sports as well. Back in the early 90s, the Detroit Pistons put together back-to-back championship seasons. They had a reputation they would do anything to win. They reveled in the nickname ‘Bad Boys.’ I personally believe their poor behavior tarnishes the whole city of Detroit to this day. At the time, though, teams feared them, and they won many a game just on reputation alone. Half the country celebrated when they lost. I mean, who can forget them walking off the court with time on the clock when the Bulls put them down?”
It was before I was born, so I kept my mouth shut.
“The last couple of years the Detroit Lions have started being better. People are quicker to judge them as being bad for football because of their unsportsmanlike play. I think it’s in part due to the Pistons,” Jack surmised.
“I agree. You shouldn’t embarrass the other team. I do think, though, you should play to the best of your ability. When you dominate, you need to be careful as to how you’re perceived. Don’t give them any reason to tear you down,” Jerald advised.
“I’d also suggest you break up with Harper now before she leads you astray and your name gets splashed in the news,” Jack suggested.
“I like how you worked that in. Do you mind if I borrow that for Jennie’s next questionable boyfriend?” Jerald asked.
“Oh, please do. We dads need to stick together.”
“Trust me, this all sounds good until your wives and daughters catch you,” I warned them.
“I think I need a beer,” Jack said as he got up.
I was surprised when he brought me one. I took it in the spirit it was given and drank it. Both dads seemed happy when my next drink was a soda. I had a good time with the guys for the rest of the afternoon.
JACK AND BEV TOOK HARPER and me to dinner. We went to the fancy restaurant Harper had wanted to take me to last night. Both Bev and Harper were happy to see Jack and I were getting along. They were a little shocked when he actually stood up for me a couple of times.
Harper and I didn’t get to spend as much time together as I wanted, and the beginning of the weekend sucked. Still, overall, I think it turned out well. I felt like I understood Harper better after getting to know her dad a little bit. I think he felt a lot better, getting to know me. He’d worried he had another ‘Ray’ on his hands. It didn’t help they’d done a background check on me and uncovered my middle school antics.
He just needed to meet me. It helped I had dated Jennie (well, kind of) and Jerald hadn’t needed to shoot me. By the end of the day, he’d taken it upon himself to be the lead recruiter for Notre Dame, his alma mater.
Mom talked to Bev at some point. I was not allowed to spend another night away from home. I expected I would need to explain everything to her. Plus, she wanted to get me to church. I knew better than to fight it, so told everyone goodbye after dinner.
Monday March 9
WHEN I WENT TO SCHOOL in the morning, it was nearly a repeat of last Monday: I had an extra bounce in my step; I had a girl whom I loved; my movie obligations were done for now; and best of all, we would play our first baseball game this week. I’d just finished lifting with Wolf when Jeff came in.
“Moose posted the varsity team on his door.”
Wolf and I followed Jeff and checked the list.
Varsity – Starters
Tim Foresee – Catcher
Wolf Tam – 1st Base / Right Field
Mike Herndon – 2nd Base / Pitcher
David Dawson – Shortstop / Pitcher
Jake Holcomb – 3rd Base / Center Field
Jim Ball – Right Field / 1st Base
Bill Callaway – Center Field
Jeff Rigger – Left Field
Varsity – Backups
Lou Davis – Catcher
Ed Pine – Center Field
Bryan Callahan – Catcher / Infield / Pitcher
Brock Callahan – 2nd Base / Pitcher
Trevor Millsap – Short Stop
Neil Presley – Outfield
Yuri Antakov – Infield / Outfield
Nick Rake – Shortstop
Wayne Turk – 2nd Base
Ray Quinn – 3rd Base
Bert Nelson – Pitcher / Outfield
Justin Tune – Pitcher / Infield
“Wow!” I exclaimed.
Moose had a roster that included first-year players and freshmen! I was shocked to see who was missing: every senior from last year’s team was gone! They’d been involved with steroids and had quit football. One of the conditions they agreed to, if they planned on playing a sport, was that their results had to be opened. If I were to guess, they didn’t pass their steroid tests.
“I can’t believe Moose would change his mind,” Jeff commented.
He clearly meant Moose’s rule about first-year players not being allowed to play on the varsity squad.
“I think we got the best ones, though,” Wolf added.
“I feel sorry for the JV team. I think we got most of their pitching. Shiggy and Coach Herndon are going to have their work cut out for them to get these guys ready for varsity ball,” I said.
Yuri and the Callahan brothers came up to check the JV list.
“The JV list is over there,” I said as I pointed to the sheet on the other side of the door.
They all looked at the list, and we kept straight faces as theirs fell because they couldn’t find their names.
“What the hell!” Yuri complained. “I thought we played good enough to make the team.”
“This sucks!” one of the twins said in agreement.
“Are you guys going to go out for track?” Jeff asked.
They all glared at us. Wolf, normally the comedian of the group, broke and started laughing. He pointed at the varsity sheet. One of the twins got brave and checked the list. Then he got a huge grin on his face.
“We made varsity!” he said and he danced around.
The other two didn’t believe him until they looked. The freshmen started to show up. Wolf, Jeff and I left so the trio of new varsity players could have fun with the freshmen who’d made varsity. Wolf and I went to take showers.
BEFORE WE GOT DRESSED for practice, Moose met us all in the locker room.
“I imagine some of you are wondering why I changed my policy on first-year players. I had a long talk with the coaching staff and we decided we’re seriously lacking in depth. They convinced me we could win some games this year with the help of the freshmen and transfers who were selected.
“I wasn’t for it, but I also don’t want to lose this year. We’ll be fielding a young team with a lot of potential. I plan to work you hard and making you better players and a better team. I’m also making coaching changes. Coach Haskins will be moving up to varsity assistant and Coach Diamond will take over as the JV coach. Coach Haskins brings years of experience to the table and a more aggressive playing style.