Osaka, May 23rd 2008
WHAT WOULD GOD SAY IF HE CALLED ON THE PHONE?
Last week it was all confidence and assurances soaring into Korea and now heading into Japan uncertainty was the main theme. "Do we play the event in Osaka or ensure team health for the next important tournaments coming up in Europe? Are we focussing on the big picture or getting caught up in the short term fear of missing out?" With each question came another and another…it was exhausting! My (Sarah's) back health had proved more serious than previous incidences and playing in Korea had really inflamed the injury. Was I in any condition to win matches and create a great result for our Olympic qualification? That was the major question mark plaguing us all.
Each team member wanted to do the RIGHT thing…but what was that? It was so unclear. The more we sought a guarantee of a definitive way of proceeding, the more indecisive we all became. It all came down to a phone call…
Sitting in our hotel room moments before the technical meeting (where we are officially entered into the tournament), William read out calculations from his computer as to the point ratios depending on what scenarios we chose and how that figured into our Olympic ranking (good old Will…always the practical one!), while Marie and I shared our varying concerns and emotions and feelings about each possibility. As the question "So, will we play in Osaka or not?" echoed in the room, the phone rang and Marie exclaimed "Well, that must be God calling!" My curious mind wanted to know who was playing God out here in Osaka??? Funny enough, it was Vince (the coach of the other Canadian team who is making a run for Beijing) and so we blindly asked him: "What would you do?" Having no idea what we were talking about (yet always a good sport for our silly little games), he never hesitated: "TAKE A CHANCE!" Within that silly moment, the team realized there was no right way to proceed, only the one we would choose. In this life, there are NO guarantees or promises of a sure thing…just living on the edge and observing while you fall. It sort of sums up our quest for the Olympic Games…no guarantees, lots of uncertainties, tons of trust, a truck load of guts and determination and a willingness to try for something that billions on the planet wouldn't even dare! So, we played!
We had opportunity on our side in Osaka, scoring a "bye" in the first round which meant only one match to qualify for the Main Draw of the tournament. Facing the top Japanese team in the qualifier on center court proved to be a great match-up. Team MtotheMax struggled from the beginning and then never closed it out. Moments of creative brilliance shone through but the muddy waters it fought against were stronger. Japan made the critical adjustments required to win on the day. We risked it, we lost and that's just what's so!
After debriefing the match, it was straight into action on how to get to Barcelona ASAP. On the practice schedule from Coach William: clean up our sideout, tighten up our offensive plays, and re-invigorate this unit that is foaming at the bit!
Having the team at almost 100% health is something to relish in after two weeks of pain and discomfort. We have not been able to practice together for some time and so there is excitement to get out there and feel that connection once again. Our tool boxes are full to the brim with learnings. It is time to get sandy and "get 'er done" (as my Mother likes to say!)
A new chapter opens up as we head from Asia to Europe. This message is being sent to you from above…way above in the clouds somewhere above Siberia (where the heck is that anyway? The flight screen says that is where we are but the map cuts the world off when it gets that far up North! How rude!)
Our website updating has been challenging up until now but it has been rectified and BLOG updates will now be online days after each event. No guarantee (haha!) but it is our commitment to you. We appreciate your choosing to read into the HEART of our journey and not just settle for the scoreboard! I hope that our adventures speak to your own lives in some small way. You can now add comments and feedback to these entries if you so desire. We look forward to hearing from you. Signing off from the skies up above,
Team MtotheMax
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