The Last Dance: Episode 9

Until your very last breath. Although the life of an athlete is not meant for everyone, it is truly something to witness. Where humans are tested to the highest of their abilities. As Michael competes in this set of playoffs, episode 9 showcased the power of perseverance. I can relate to Michael's struggle, to an extent, because I have also played in an important playoff game with a bad sickness. 

When I was in high school, my teammates and I were on our way to potentially win a championship for the first time in school history. So, the focus and drive united us. The training was very serious and we all knew our roles as players. We have our final season game. We tied first with a multi-championship team. They were very good and have a history of great performances. That game determined our final seeding and progression of playoffs. It was that important.

Luckily for me, I ended up getting a case of pneumonia. I only had a few days until game day to recover. But, you don't recover that quickly when it comes to the flu, pneumonia, stomach bug, etc.

I was still weak and had a fever, but capable of playing through it. Even though I was feeling on and off faint sweat, I knew that I had to play because I was our point guard. We all shared the same dream and I couldn't just quit. Because of that decision, it made all the difference. I got the ball to my teammate at the perfect moment, allowing her to finish on the right side for a layup. There was only a few seconds left on the board. They tried throwing a wild shot and luckily, it missed. We won by 1pt. I sat down in the middle of the floor, staring at the ceiling. I gave it everything I had for this moment.

Michael's journey has inspired many of us to fight for what we want to achieve. Nothing easy is every worth it. As he fought through his flu and won that game, it was a pure test of his talents. There is a difference between being good vs great. Good players play the game of basketball. Great players play through the toughest of obstacles and keep trying, even if they fail. A great player isn't defined by a stat sheet, but by the heart, determination, and sacrifice for the win.