High School Basketball Team's Show of Sportsmanship

Oron · 02-20-2009, 05:34 PM

http://highschool.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=914609

Quote:

Early in the second quarter, Womack saw someone out of the corner of his eye. It was Franklin, who came there directly from the hospital to root his teammates on.

The Knights had possession, so Womack called a time out. His players went over and hugged their grieving teammate. Fans came out of the stands to do the same.

"We got back to playing the game and I asked if he wanted to come and sit on the bench," Womack said during a telephone interview.

"No," Franklin replied. "I want to play."

There was just one problem. Since Franklin wasn't on the pre-game roster, putting him in meant drawing a technical foul that would give DeKalb two free throws.

Though it was a tight game, Womack was willing to give up the two points. It was more important to help his senior guard and co-captain deal with his grief by playing.

Over on the other bench, though, Rohlman wasn't so willing to take them. He told the referees to forget the technical and just let Franklin play.

"I could hear them arguing for five to seven minutes, saying, `We're not taking it, we're not taking it," Womack said. "The refs told them, no, that's the rule. You have to take them."

That's when Rohlman asked for volunteers, and McNeal's hand went up.

He went alone to the free throw line, dribbled the ball a couple of times, and looked at the rim.

His first attempt went about two feet, bouncing a couple of times as it rolled toward the end line. The second barely left his hand.

It didn't take long for the Milwaukee players to figure out what was going on.

phil_ · 02-20-2009, 05:53 PM

Wait, wait, wait. A discussion about something other than massive corruption and/or ignorance? Not only that, but about a simple, relatable story about a noble gesture that demonstrates compassion and sportsmanship?

It's almost enough to make you think humanity isn't entirely made up of heartless monsters who would club you over the head and eat you were it not for the threat of someone more powerful clubbing them over the head and eating them. I might cry. Well done, free-throw guy. Way to be the role model you're ideally supposed to be, coach.

Marelo · 02-20-2009, 06:00 PM

There's almost no room for discussion on this topic... it's awesome and heartwarming no matter how you look at it.

Buddha Fett · 02-20-2009, 08:29 PM

I'm saddened by the fact that my first thought was 'I wonder which movie this is from...'

It's nice to see someone willing to do this kind of thing nowadays, it really is.

Mirai Gen · 02-21-2009, 02:24 AM

Wow. Really awesome.

I'm not sure if there's much more Discussion to be had.

The Wizard Who Did It · 02-21-2009, 03:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mirai Gen

I'm not sure if there's much more Discussion to be had.

We can discuss why the media doesn't show these stories more, or why they're not discussed as much?

That said, this is awesome and it reminds me more of competitions I've actually been in. I was starting to wonder if I was just lucky.

Zilla · 02-22-2009, 01:19 AM

"If it bleeds, it leads."

That's why the media doesn't cover this stuff more. It's kind of a shame, really.

Azisien · 02-22-2009, 01:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zilla

"If it bleeds, it leads."

That's why the media doesn't cover this stuff more. It's kind of a shame, really.

But...the link is from a media site?

Fifthfiend · 02-22-2009, 02:04 AM

It's not exactly black and white in all cases ever but I am gonna say that it involves high school goddamn sports it probably doesn't go in the discussion forum.

And even if it were Odel we don't do "link/quote/nothing else" you actually have to like, DISCUSS the thing you're ostensibly discussing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Wizard Who Did It

We can discuss why the media doesn't show these stories more, or why they're not discussed as much?

Because the cornpone podunk crapfest of a movie they make out of them four times a year is generally considered sufficient?

02-20-2009, 05:53 PM	#2
phil_ Just sleeping Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: At home, probably in bed. Posts: 6,482	Wait, wait, wait. A discussion about something other than massive corruption and/or ignorance? Not only that, but about a simple, relatable story about a noble gesture that demonstrates compassion and sportsmanship? It's almost enough to make you think humanity isn't entirely made up of heartless monsters who would club you over the head and eat you were it not for the threat of someone more powerful clubbing them over the head and eating them. I might cry. Well done, free-throw guy. Way to be the role model you're ideally supposed to be, coach. __________________ Be T-Rexcellent to each other, tako.

02-20-2009, 08:29 PM	#4
Buddha Fett Pretty Sweet Hat. Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Behind You Posts: 353	I'm saddened by the fact that my first thought was 'I wonder which movie this is from...' It's nice to see someone willing to do this kind of thing nowadays, it really is. __________________ "I think perhaps the most important problem is that we are trying to understand the fundamental workings of the universe via a language devised for telling one another when the best fruit is." -Terry Pratchett

02-21-2009, 02:24 AM	#5
Mirai Gen We are Geth. Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 14,032	Wow. Really awesome. I'm not sure if there's much more Discussion to be had. __________________

02-22-2009, 01:19 AM	#7
Zilla Lakitu Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 2,378	"If it bleeds, it leads." That's why the media doesn't cover this stuff more. It's kind of a shame, really. __________________ MENCHI Pink It's cowboy time, I'm so MENCHI right now. Metroid is a great man because his friends don't rape him.

02-20-2009, 06:00 PM	#3
Marelo Napoleon Impersonator Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Kansas Posts: 816	There's almost no room for discussion on this topic... it's awesome and heartwarming no matter how you look at it.