The Muse's Corner
By the Philosopher of Arena Football
April 13, 2007
To Comeback or Not - That is the Question
While watching one particular game last week, I splattered my Turkey and
Gravy from the confines of the silver TV dinner compartments as I leapt
up to hurl insults in ancient Greek at the unbelievable events unfolding
before my eyes. Let me explain. I had placed a little friendly wager on
the outcome of the Dallas - Destroyer matchup earlier in the week. I had
a vision that the Destroyers were going to win the game, and as usual I
naturally acted upon this tragic impulse. And to my amazement, just before
the half, the Destroyers were beating Dallas 37-7. I felt assured I would
win.
But then the great wheel of Fortuna began to revolve--there was the rest
of the game to be played. And when the final tick of the clock had struck
the score was 53-51, with the Desperados somehow on top. Dallas climbed out
of a 30 point hole. Yes, I said 30 points!
How could this be?
Of course, the Desperados acheived almost as remarkable a feat the previous
week, coming back from an amazing 23 points down to beat their cross-state
rivals the Austin
Wranglers 68-64.
But it is not only Dallas doing the spooky work here. In week 4, for example,
the Kansas City Brigade were down against the Arizona Rattlers twenty-one
points
41-20
with four minutes left in the third quarter. Yet somehow the Brigade clawed
their way back to win 62-61.
What is the mindset of a team twenty or even thirty points down? Where do
they get the strength to continue? Where the strength to not only continue,
but to triumph? What must it be like to sit in the darkness at the bottom
of that pit of points, so deep undercover that the light of victory is just
a vague memory—and yet, and yet....
The Muse of course, must finish the rest of this test of philosophic espionage.
And she sang thus:
“To be, or not to be: that is the question:
Whether 'tis nobler in the Arena to suffer
The dings and flags of outrageous fortune,
Or to flail Hail Marys against a sea of DBs
And as secret ironmen, oppose them.
Nay, there are those who resist the good night
And seek the undiscover'd country
from whose glorious heights no ordinary player returns,
Where the will is not shaken nor stirred
but
is yoked with bands of steel to action
And rides spikeshod over the artifical turf of doubt.
Like confetti released prematurely from aerie heights--
Their hearts licensed, not to kill, but overflow with fantasy points.
In contest these rare few find transcendent delights
By punching the impossible straight through the uprights.”
Once again, it is not easy to find the drift of the Muse. But the answer
will be revealed by any team that dares make a 35-point comeback this week.
Watch to discover who has it within. There will be de-concealed something
for us all to learn.
Paul Celmer, aka The Philosopher of Arena Football, is a member of the Arena Football League Writers Association and a founding member of Arena Football Online. Contact Paul at pcelmer@arenafootballonline.com
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