This book is dedicated to a very nice young 5th grader, who has tried a lot of things, and done well in just as many
How Ben Saved The Olympics
2019 was coming to an end, and 2020 was set to be a big year for sports fans the world over. The Olympics would be returning to Tokyo, where they last were held in 1964. As 2019 turned into 2020, Ben thought to himself how fun it would be to get over to Japan, where his family had deep roots, and see the Olympics. It was a crazy dream, he thought.
After all, he was 11 years old, and Japan was a long way for anyone, particularly an 11-year-old who never had been away from home for very long, to go. He barely noticed when the story dashed across the News: "Budget cuts impact Olympic games, number of events reduced." Little did he know how this would come together in a crazy way to change his whole life.
Deep in the third paragraph of the story announcing the Olympic budget cuts was a zinger that he barely noticed at first glance. The Olympics were losing money and would have to cut the number of events. One of the proposals, even though it seemed a little crazy, was to combine several sports into one event. One of the options, deep down in the guts of the story was what everyone thought was a throwaway line; “A proposal we are seriously considering is to combine numerous sports into one, and reflect the culture
of the many nations who come to visit the games.” How could that ever work? Ben thought to himself as he got ready for his basketball game against the feeder team for Grandview High.
As the game approached, Ben felt more ready than he ever had. He tightened up his sneakers and began to shoot lay ups to get warm. Then he transitioned to short jumpers, began to move to mid-range, then finally started taking a few three pointers. Something was really strange today – no matter from where
he shot, he couldn’t miss! Everything was going down. As a good young shooter, Ben was used to making most of his shots, but this was really strange. He barely drew iron on any shot, they were all falling for him. When the game started it was much the same. The powerful Grandview team had taller and faster kids, but on this day, Ben just wouldn’t be denied. He made basket after basket and kept his team in the game. Despite his efforts, his team was down by a point with just a few seconds left. Ben looked in the Grandview huddle and thought he saw the coach spending a lot of time with the guy Ben was guarding.
He guessed Grandview would try to get him the ball. Turns out he was right. The in-bounder faked to his left then passed the ball to Ben’s man, but Ben was ready. He stole the ball and drove the length of the court. Just before the horn went off, he pulled up at the free throw line and swished a jumper, and the Chargers went home winners. Ben and his teammates were so happy they barely noticed Vic Fangio, the coach of the Broncos, consoling his grandson as the victorious Chargers went off to Pizza Hut to celebrate their big win.
Before you knew it, basketball ended. Ben had a lot more good games, but that was the best. Basketball was over now, and it was time for Ben to turn his interest to baseball. Ben was a real slugger now, and in one otherwise forgettable game, he really
got a hold of one. He blasted it over the left fielder’s head, and it was still flying when it hit a guy way beyond the outfield square in the back as he was warming up his grandson. Vic Fangio grabbed at his back as he looked to see a kid rounding third. He knew he looked familiar. Darned if it wasn’t the same guy who lit up the basketball court just a month ago.
Later that summer, Ben was playing flag football. Believe it or not their team was set to play Grandview in the league championship game. Ben was a speedy wide receiver, and he got loose down the sideline and caught a pass just beyond the out reached arms of Vic’s grandson to score the game winning touchdown. By now Vic knew exactly who Ben was but he was still
just a little surprised to see him scoring again in a third sport. “I’ve got to find out who that kid is” Vic thought to himself.
As it got later in the summer, Ben was playing lacrosse. As he waited for the game to start, he read a story in the newspaper that had a couple of things that caught his eye. First was a big headline, that read “Broncos Fangio Chosen to Oversee Combined North American Sports Contests.” Ben couldn’t help but read the article, which said the Olympic committee was concerned that North America was getting too much attention in the Games. The games would have a single event that combined basketball, football, lacrosse and baseball, the article went on to say.
MLB and the NFL, the NBA and Major League lacrosse were all furious and considering boycotting, but the Games held firm, and it was Fangio’s job to get a team together to take on the rest of the world. That was all well and good, but at present there was a lacrosse game to get ready for. The game went pretty much to form as the Renegades faced off against Grandview, and one of the fans groused at reporters crowding around him. “Get away from me!” complained Vic Fangio, “Can’t you see I’m trying to watch my grandson play?” As luck would have it, Grandview was tied with the Renegades as the clock wound down. Grandview tried a long crossing pass to get a game winning goal, but one of the Renegades had another idea.
Ben got in the passing lane and picked off the pass, and in one motion flicked the ball half the length of the field past the startled goalie. The Renegades won 12-11, and this time Vic couldn’t contain himself. “Young man what is your name? “He asked Ben, with a grin on his face. “This is the fourth time you’ve come up big in a big game, and you need to stop beating my grandson!” Ben could see the old coach was joking, but he couldn’t help but feel a little bit of pride in his accomplishment. Little did he know things were just about to get interesting.
Vic soon left for the Olympic try outs in Colorado Springs. The best Baseball, Football, Basketball, and Lacrosse players battled for 19 spots. The best of the best tried their hardest for a whole week, and Fangio had several tough choices to make as the final cuts loomed. When he arrived at his final 19 choices, there were 19 happy guys but a whole lot more who were not happy at all. In fact, as they crowded around the bulletin board to see the list of the 19 names, there were more than a few angry players. “Gentlemen” said coach Fangio “you put me in a tough position, and I appreciate how hard you all tried.” There were only 19 names I could put on this list, and these are the 19 I picked.” That did not sit well with the 100 guys who were cut. To a man they stomped out, and every one of them resolved never to speak to Coach
Fangio again. But the team was set, and all that was left was to call the US Olympic committee and register the names of the team. But the coach got a couple of surprises. “Coach, I know you’ve been busy” said the harried Olympic committee member “but you forgot a couple of things. First, you need to pick one high schooler, and second, you get 20 players, not 19. For Pete’s sakes can’t you read the rules?” Vic was in a real fix now. He had not tried out any high school players, and all the people who he cut had vowed never to speak to him again.” But the old coach had one more trick up his sleeve, and he reached deep to submit a final name.
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This book is dedicated to a very nice young 5th grader, who has tried a lot of things, and done well in just as many
How Ben Saved The Olympics
2019 was coming to an end, and 2020 was set to be a big year for sports fans the world over. The Olympics would be returning to Tokyo, where they last were held in 1964. As 2019 turned into 2020, Ben thought to himself how fun it would be to get over to Japan, where his family had deep roots, and see the Olympics. It was a crazy dream, he thought.
After all, he was 11 years old, and Japan was a long way for anyone, particularly an 11-year-old who never had been away from home for very long, to go. He barely noticed when the story dashed across the News: "Budget cuts impact Olympic games, number of events reduced." Little did he know how this would come together in a crazy way to change his whole life.
Deep in the third paragraph of the story announcing the Olympic budget cuts was a zinger that he barely noticed at first glance. The Olympics were losing money and would have to cut the number of events. One of the proposals, even though it seemed a little crazy, was to combine several sports into one event. One of the options, deep down in the guts of the story was what everyone thought was a throwaway line; “A proposal we are seriously considering is to combine numerous sports into one, and reflect the culture
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