The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
UMBC upset is great example for youths
“As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground.”
— 1 Samuel 17: 48-49
Whether it was the days of David vs. Goliath or now, the narrative of the underdog is timeless.
Out of 100 times, there may be only one during which the underdog reigns. But when it does, what a story it can be.
More specifically, what an example it can be.
Hopefully, as the Maryland-Baltimore County men’s basketball team authored the biggest upset in college basketball history March 16 over Virginia, high school athletes across the country were watching and were emboldened by its meaning.
Virtually no one who watches March Madness could comprehend a No. 16 beating a No. 1 in their lifetimes. The odds were — seemingly — too astronomical for such a thing.
Virginia was the overall No. 1 seed — ACC regular-season and tournament champions who played historically good defense.
UMBC was second in the America East — the only reason it made
the tournament at all was because of a buzzer-beating 3-pointer in the conference tournament final against Vermont. Not talented enough. Not deep enough. Not capable enough. Enough already. The Retrievers didn’t listen to outside noise. They executed. They believed they could accomplish something no one else ever had. And they did. Yes, it’s cliched. Yes, it’s simplifying to an extent.
But to any team with any kind of instilled belief, it should be a reminder of what’s possible for an underdog.
If a basketball team with a losing record plays the 2-3 zone of its life and confounds a 20-win foe, you never know.
If a soccer team puts four in the back with a holding midfielder, keeps a consistent shape and pounces on a counterattack against an unbeaten side averaging five goals a match, you never know.
If a swimmer sheds seconds and puts up a time at district good enough in a ‘B’ final in their best event to contend for a state berth, you never know.
If a wrestler takes a gamble against a reigning state champion that the opponent isn’t expecting, you never know.
And in its essence, that’s why we love sports.
Coaches love when a team buys in with optimal effort, hoping maybe that one time out of 100 comes in their next game.
Fans love when they can watch those moments culminate, a little in shock perhaps but overwhelmed by what their athletes just did for their community to shock everyone else.
Athletes love when it all comes together, regardless of the moments that had come previously.
And we all love seeing that journey — even when it may not reap all the rewards it deserves.
As track and field season comes up here in a couple of weeks, one of my favorite stories of going underdog to favorite to sage of wisdom was Paris Campbell. It’s a story I’ve mentioned before, but bears repeating here.
She was a two-time Division I state qualifier for Euclid in 100-meter hurdles in 2007 and 2008. As a freshman, teammates jokingly nicknamed her “Grandma” because she was so slow in the event, initially over 20 seconds.
By the back half of her career, she was one of the best D-I hurdlers in Ohio.
In 2008, Campbell was D-I state runner-up — by one one-hundreth of a second — in 14.32.
Afterward, I couldn’t help but wonder if she felt like something was missing after coming so far and coming so close to a state title. I’ll never forget her answer:
“Well, I just know this isn’t the last you’re going to see of me,” she told me. “I think the next race I run, I’ll be running with a vengeance.
“It kind of stinks, but I’m just glad I didn’t fall. I’m glad I finished strong, and that’s what matters to me the most is finishing strong.”
As an underdog, finishing strong is trying to find that 1 percent chance somehow, some way.
As a favorite, finishing strong is not by pouting or anger — it’s by accepting someone else was a little better than you on a given day and using it as a teachable moment in sports and in life.
Virginia coach Tony Bennett, by the way, did that with immaculate class after the UMBC loss. That’s really the point. There are going to be those days. It’s what keeps us coming back for more.
Here’s to hoping UMBC reminded the next generation, in the right circumstances, they can find theirs, too.
David can have his day.
Lillstrung can be reached at CLillstrung@NewsHerald.com; @CLillstrungNH on Twitter.