This is how human life on Earth is wired. Setbacks are prerequisites for comebacks. The meaning of the past and the trajectory of the future change every time a comeback occurs. Each one of them has explored and altered the universe. I was determined to be a multiyear college starter at Bowdoin, and with lots of help along the way, I pulled it off. Although the process was filled with setbacks, highs, lows, and lots of work, it never occurred to me to stop playing. Never during those three years was the result certain. It is the pinnacle of my basketball comeback from not one but two devastating injuries.īetween the moment of crashing to the floor at Deering High School with a torn ACL and sinking that shot in the final game of my junior-year season at Bowdoin came thousands of hours of rehab, recovery, and practice. It is my 30th point of the game, and Bowdoin wins, 91–88. Everything goes into slow motion and then the ball backspins its way through the hoop.
As soon as I’ve caught it I’m airborne, releasing my jump shot. My defender leaves for a split second to help. Either we score at the buzzer, or the game goes into overtime.Ĭhris penetrates the gap in front of me. All the other Bowdoin players are on the left-hand side of the court. I’m in the right corner behind the 3-point line. Our point guard Chris has the ball out beyond the top of the key. The game is tied at 88 as the final seconds tick off the clock. Morrell Gymnasium is full as it always is for Colby vs. I would miss my entire senior season.īowdoin College-February 1987. Knees are pretty important for basketball. I would learn three days later that I had a complete tear of my ACL.
The next thing I know, I’m lying on the court, clutching my right knee in extreme pain. I am ahead of the pack and my brother lofts a strong and accurate pass my way. My team (Lake Region) secures a rebound and we’re off on a fast break. It’s the last quarter of the final preseason game of my senior year. As it turned out, I would miss the final month of my junior-year season before rejoining the team for a deep play-off run.ĭeering High School-November 1983. Shoulders are pretty important for basketball. I would learn an hour later at the hospital that I’d dislocated my shoulder. The next thing I know, I’m lying on the court, clutching my right shoulder in extreme pain.
“To have a comeback you have to have a setback.”įalmouth High School-January 1983.
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