Driven_589066

like this, not when you’ve done your best.” She takes in a deep breath. “So, as a team, we need to make a decision. Dylan is a legal player. She’s been on

our roster since she was hired, as a player-coach.” She held up a hand to still the cheering players. “But what I need to know from you guys, honestly and

without fear of anything hard feelings, is…do you want her to play in this game.”

“You crazy, right?” Chane asked. “Why the fuck would we turn something like this down! It’s a fucking gift, man!”

“Everyone might not think so, Shaniqua. What you’ve done this entire year has been done without a superstar, and that’s a damn good message to send to

the fans out there, especially the younger ones who think that unless they’ve got a Dylan Lambert or a Michael Jordon, they might not even bother playing.

You showed them what you could do without that kind of help. By god, ladies, you did it! And if we didn’t get hit with these damn injuries, I’m sure you’d

be doing it still!” She shrugged. “But…people talk. You know they do. And if we put Dylan in the game, they’re going to be claiming all sorts of things that

will effect you as a team.” She tossed a look to Chaney. “Sometimes, gifts come at a price higher than we might be willing to play, and you have to think

about that.”

“Fuck the fans. Fuck the newspapers. Fuck ESPN. Fuck the league. I came here to win, Coach, and that’s what I wanna do. Cap’n D here is our coach.

Without her we wouldn’t have gotten near as far as we’ve gotten, and everybody knows that. We need her help, like we always have, and I’m not gonna let

some stupid fear or pride stand in the way of that. No way, man. No fucking way.”

“Your opinion has been noted, Shaniqua. Anyone else have anything to add? Remember, nothing bad’s going to happen against you if you feel better just

going this alone. I swear it.”

The rest of the teammates looked at one another for a long moment of silence. Then Cat stepped forward, took Dylan’s hand, and placed her own atop it.

With giddy grins, one by one, the rest of the team put their hands in. “Badgers….Badgers….Badgers…BADGERS….BADGERS!!!!”

“Any last words of wisdom, Coach?” Chaney asked Dylan as they broke their mini huddle.

The game face was still on. “Let’s get it done.”

“Yeah!!!”

“Well, it seems like I’m at a rare loss for words, here, Lori.”

“You said it, or rather didn’t say it, Ted. As you can hear all around us, the arena is still buzzing over the unexpected addition of Dylan Lambert to the

Badgers’ playing ranks. To say I, myself, am surprised at this turn of events would be putting it mildly, Ted. It really doesn’t seem like Lambert’s style.”

“Well, the Badgers’ owner, Horace Johnson has, shall we say, been known to push his product memorably. Perhaps this is one of those times.”

On cue, one of the main TV cameras panned to the sky-box where Johnson was sitting. The owner rivaled the coach of the Lightning in facial redness and

looked very much like another ‘coronary event’ was very near in his future.

“Well, I suppose we can cross that theory off the list, Lori. Johnson doesn’t seem any happier over this particular turn of events than his counterpart on the

Lightning.”

“Be that as it may, Ted, the players from both teams have taken the court, so I suppose the reaction to this controversial move will have to wait until after

the game.”

“Sounds good to me, Lori. The head referee has just handed the ball to Lambert as the possession arrows were pointing the Badgers’ way when the half

ended. On the court with her for the Badgers are Hodges, Chaney, Anya, and Cooper. The Lightning are countering with Race and Blevins at guard, Toomey

at center, and Holloway and Gathers at forward.

“Toomey steps up to guard Lambert and the whistle blows, starting the second half of this semi-final game.

“Lambert waits as her team sets up, then dishes off to Chaney, who is immediately trapped by Holloway and Gathers. She sees an opening and bounce

passes to Hodges, who dribbles past half court and sets up the play. The Lightning look to be starting off in a man on man despite the backcourt trap.

Blevins steps up to guard Hodges, who does a nice crossover dribble around the pick set for her by Anya, then passes off to Chaney. Chaney dribbles once,

looking for an open shot, but she’s well guarded by Gathers in a real height mismatch.

“Lambert streaks into the paint and receives the pass from Chaney, then turns and puts up an eight footer that…oooh, Toomey got a piece of that one.

There’s a story the rookie will be able to tell her grandkids, Lori!”

“True, Ted. Gathers got the rebound and passed it off to Race who’s dribbling past half court. Quick pass to Toomey who…yipes! Lambert got all of that one!

Toomey’s gonna have to check her face for lines, I think. That ball came back at her at the speed of light!”

“Chaney grabs the ball and starts off downcourt, then passes off to Hodges on a three on two fast break with Lambert streaking down the center of the