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9
3:14AM | posted by Larry Hawley | October 9, 2009 | comments: 0
Just As Manning, Tamika Must Have Defining Moment For Fever
There was a headline in the Indianapolis Star on the morning of January 21st, 2007, before the Colts AFC champions.
It read simply "The Biggest Game of His Life." It was powerful, simple, to the point, and was probably floating through fans and even the subject's mind himself.
That player was Peyton Manning.
The year before, the Colts had homefield through the playoffs and were in perfect position to run through the AFC to the Super Bowl. Then came the Steelers in a home playoff game, and bye bye went the Super Bowl hopes.
When the chance came a year later to do it over again at home, Manning responded by throwing for 349 yards, but more importantly leading the Colts 80 yards downfield in just 1:17 to score the game winning touchdown.It finally got the Colts past the Patriots 38-34 to go to Super Bowl XLI and eventually bring home a title.
The quarterback had finally brought the "Close, but no cigar" team to the top, and cemeted his own legend in Indiana. Now a fellow Volunteer sports alum must do the same, for her team and for herself.
It read simply "The Biggest Game of His Life." It was powerful, simple, to the point, and was probably floating through fans and even the subject's mind himself.
That player was Peyton Manning.
The year before, the Colts had homefield through the playoffs and were in perfect position to run through the AFC to the Super Bowl. Then came the Steelers in a home playoff game, and bye bye went the Super Bowl hopes.
When the chance came a year later to do it over again at home, Manning responded by throwing for 349 yards, but more importantly leading the Colts 80 yards downfield in just 1:17 to score the game winning touchdown.It finally got the Colts past the Patriots 38-34 to go to Super Bowl XLI and eventually bring home a title.
The quarterback had finally brought the "Close, but no cigar" team to the top, and cemeted his own legend in Indiana. Now a fellow Volunteer sports alum must do the same, for her team and for herself.
Tamika Catchings has been the face of the building of the Indiana Fever franchise since joining the team in 2000, and has been an icon for women's basketball players in the state ever since.
But like Manning, she has struggled to get her team over the hump battling injuries and pesky Detroit Shock team three times before getting to the WNBA Finals this season. As Manning had in 2005, Tamika and the Fever's big chance came Thursday, when it appeared things had finally come together.
Even with a sellout crowd, the series momentum shifted to their side, and the city in a buzz, the Fever delivered their worst performance of the finals, shooting 2-for-18 from the three point line in a 13 point loss to Phoenix. This all despite Catchings 24 points and 12 rebounds.
Now, like Manning had in that Patriots' game, Tamika gets that one more chance at redemption and glory. There are other teammates on the Fever like Katie Douglas and Ebony Hoffman (who probably is the series MVP through four games), but its her performance that will lead the way.
Its been Tamika's team for nearly a decade, and its time for her to take it into the history books, and herself into the ranks of Indianapolis' best professional athletes of all time.
So do you think its mainly on Tamika to help the Fever win Friday? Will she go down as one of the best in Indianapolis professional history if the Fever win, or even if the don't? As always, I welcome your comments.
But like Manning, she has struggled to get her team over the hump battling injuries and pesky Detroit Shock team three times before getting to the WNBA Finals this season. As Manning had in 2005, Tamika and the Fever's big chance came Thursday, when it appeared things had finally come together.
Even with a sellout crowd, the series momentum shifted to their side, and the city in a buzz, the Fever delivered their worst performance of the finals, shooting 2-for-18 from the three point line in a 13 point loss to Phoenix. This all despite Catchings 24 points and 12 rebounds.
Now, like Manning had in that Patriots' game, Tamika gets that one more chance at redemption and glory. There are other teammates on the Fever like Katie Douglas and Ebony Hoffman (who probably is the series MVP through four games), but its her performance that will lead the way.
Its been Tamika's team for nearly a decade, and its time for her to take it into the history books, and herself into the ranks of Indianapolis' best professional athletes of all time.
So do you think its mainly on Tamika to help the Fever win Friday? Will she go down as one of the best in Indianapolis professional history if the Fever win, or even if the don't? As always, I welcome your comments.
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