In that last minute of the game, something just clicked'-Tracy Mcgrady.
These were his words after his superhuman performance in that famous match; let's look back....
Salty streams of sweat slithered down his face.But he didn't care. The only thing on his mind was victory. The dark clouds which had previously encroached his mind cleared leaving a serene blue sky in their wake. His body temperature,his heartbeat, even the rhythm of his breaths were controlled and focused; like each and every deep breath served a purpose and contributed towards the incredible phenomena he was about to enveloped by ........ .. . .. . .
THE ZONE
In this state of extreme focus, an athlete becomes total immersed in their sport, it is a state of flow;the ultimate domain, open only to the chosen few.
With only 69 seconds left the game resumed. Disappointed sighs of fans hung heavy in the air like a dense stench; or rather a thick fog beginning to clear.They were more concerned with how they would get home and with the cataclysmic traffic that awaited but for those who had already left . . . IT WAS TOO LATE
because Mcgrady hadn't seen the looks of anguish or despair, nor had he heard melancholy sighs emanating from every angle of the court, all he saw was the net; it felt larger, wider, deeper. He could do anything! the possibilities were limitless.
'Once I hit the first three, I knew it was over'. He bolted up the court,eyes fixed on his objective; his fiery spirit contrasting the depressed,downtrodden fans gazing on in despair. A quick cross overbehind his back shook one defender and his teammate swiftly responded with a screen to support him. He had reached his golden zone.
The ball felt light as he gently ascended into the air just as another npc came to block the shot, a deadly mistake which would be the first of many in this deadly exchange. His feet hadn't left the ground. A perfect four point play. Gracefully,eloquently,mercilessly, the ball rocketted through the net sending ripples through the air itself.6 points to draw, 9 points to win. The threads of hope which were seemingly lost to the insurmountable lead were beginning to recover.
The air vibrated with ferocious vigour, overzealous cries burst forth from the stands as rivals turned their heads in sheer disbelief,shock and horror.
24 seconds left . 7 points to win.
TBC in part 2
What were we thinking