The Darkest Times Come Before the Dawn…

No one knows this old adage to be more true than this reporter. A lackluster effort, particularly on my part, in last night’s 5-4 OT loss to the Renegades has dropped this storied Weevil franchise to a lowly 6th place in the league with only 5 games to play in the regular season. It has been quite some time since said franchise has seen these depths of the overall standings and the feeling hasn’t gotten any better with age.

As far as the game summary goes, kudos go out to Ian for keeping our hopes alive from start to finish. It was an amazing effort in net that we weren’t able to collectively capitalize on. (Semi-kudos go out to the keepers of the Pointstreak data input, as the game results were actually updated the day after our game…finally!!) A solid effort up front, especially by Diddle (2 goals), Weber (1 goal), and Timmy (1 goal), kept us in the running as well. The remainder of our forwards played hard and were essential in keeping us competitive. Defensively, Myze was once again a powerhouse and provided a much needed boost to the defensive lines. CReed and Huevos were also solid in their efforts to thwart the Renegade onslaught. However, our downfall on this night appeared to be the excessive penalties, most notably a poorly played puck in the neutral zone by myself and the desperation hook to prevent the 1-on-1, which ultimately lead to the Renegays game tying power play goal. No excuses for that one, boys…completely my bad. The game would end in a 4-4 tie and the shoot-out would end in true Weevil style….with us on the short end of the proverbial stick.

But all of that means nothing….well, next to nothing. Sure, we once again lost to a team we should have beaten (not to mention losing to a team that let’s Gensch play for them!!). Sure, we dropped from 3rd to 6th in the standings. Sure, we seemingly appear to be only a shadow of our former selves. But lest we forget that from the fire, the Phoenix (or in this case, the Weevil) rises….lest we forget that it was the young boy, David, who slew the giant Philistine, Goliath….lest we forget that the tortoise beat the hare…lest we forget that the little engine made it up that mountain…lest we forget that a flush beats a straight….and lest we forget that Ike beat Tina. We need to reach down deep within ourselves to harness that inner Ike!!

The time is now upon us….our next opponent is the league leading Ringer organization. For those of you who may not know the history of Weevil Nation, this match up is like Apple vs. Microsoft….like Red Sox vs. Yankees….like Tyson vs. Holyfield….like Burger King vs. McDonalds….like Pee Slow vs. good hygiene…like Skatch vs. vice cops….like Diddle vs. spell check…like Neil vs. anger management…like Rocky vs. Mr. T.!!!! It’s time to bring back Weevil Pride!! It could very well be Godfather Weber’s last game against our franchise nemesis. This game means less about the overall standings…it’s about turning things around…it’s about reclaiming some bragging rights…and it’s about sending one of our Founding Father’s out with a solid “W” against the evil empire!! Do what needs to be done in this next week to prepare for next Wednesday’s battle….hit that gym hard, Regan….pump that breast milk, Weber….bang those hookers, Skatch….change that website (again), Diddle….put down those cookies and hit the treadmill, Cow….make it to that Tai Chi class, Myze…..reschedule that trip to the Himalaya’s, Huba….put down that keg of Labatt’s, Pat….quit changing jobs and buying new cars, Timmy….stop trying to seduce Char, Huevos….stop taking out restraining orders on Huevos, Char….change your hair color, Ian….put down the vat of vodka and tray of Chicken Kiev, Vlad….let us know you’re still alive, CReed….and become a naturalized U.S. citizen already, Zarby!! Whatever it takes!! Let’s get it done next week, Weevs!! It is a moral imperative!!!

“Throughout the centuries there were men who took first steps down new roads armed with nothing but their own vision.”
- Ayn Rand

“To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream, not only plan, but also believe.”
- Anatole France

“There are three types of people in this world: those who make things happen, those who watch things happen and those who wonder what happened. We all have a choice. You can decide which type of person you want to be. I have always chosen to be in the first group.”
- Mary Kay Ash

“Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all.”
- Dale Carnegie

“We will either find a way, or make one!”
- Hannibal

“An invincible determination can accomplish almost anything and in this lies the great distinction between great men and little men.”
- Dr. Thomas Fuller

“Nothing great will ever be achieved without great men, and men are great only if they are determined to be so.”
- Charles De Gaulle

“Within each of us is a hidden store of determination. Determination to keep us in the race when all seems lost.”
- Roger Dawson

“A man can be as great as he wants to be. If you believe in yourself and have the courage, the determination, the dedication, the competitive drive and if you are willing to sacrifice the little things in life and pay the price for the things that are worthwhile, it can be done.”
- Vince Lombardi

“What this power is I cannot say; all I know is that it exists and it becomes available only when a man is in that state of mind in which he knows exactly what he wants and is fully determined not to quit until he finds it.”
- Alexander Graham Bell

“The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a person’s determination.”
- Tommy Lasorda

“If not us, who? If not now, when?”
- Kennedy, John F.