THE INVINCIBLES

This weekend the Arbor futsal team Monster Mash played its seventh and final game of the season. Monster Mash had won their previous six matches, and they held a five point insurmountable lead heading into the final match.

I was not concerned that these dynamic young men would be complacent heading into the last game, but a little inspiration never hurts.  Before the match we had our usual pre-game talk. However I borrowed from Pep Guardiola's famous speech before the 2009 Club World Cup for this momentous match. That day in 2009, Barca had a chance to win its sixth out of six possible trophies available to the club in that calendar year. No team had ever accomplished such a feat, and Guardiola needed something special to motivate his players.

Like him, I told the boys they would still be the best team in the league and win the Championship even if they lost today's game. However, I told them that they would be eternal if they won their seventh and final game to complete an undefeated season. The boys' eyes lit up. They realized what was at stake, and their had their eyes set high on the same prize - perfection!

We came out fired up and quickly took the lead. We were up 4-1 at halftime. Each boy played a major part in our lead, and our defensive pressure and counter-attacking were at their highest level of the season. In the second half, we quickly opened up a seven goal lead. This meant that the referee stopped counting our goals until the margin became less than seven. The boys continued their all-out assault, and when the referee blew the final whistle the scoreboard said 9-3.

In total, these boys had scored 71 goals while only conceding 32. They scored nine or more goals in every match and scored 14 in one. Monster Mash is now truly a team for the ages much like the Arsenal team of 2003-2004 that completed an unprecedented Premier League season without a single loss. That team was known as "The Invincibles." Count Monster Mash in that category, too, now.

The boys truly played their hearts out and how they won the league was much more important than the title itself. They played brilliant attacking, team football. Being with them provided me a bright spot in an otherwise very difficult month. That is because one month previously someone broke my leg while I was playing futsal at the exact same facility where Monster Mash had been so dominant.

I spent most of the previous month in bed, but I made it to the sideline for every one of Monster Mash's games. The boys were depending on me as their coach, but I was also depending on them to pick me up and bring joy and beauty to my otherwise boring and painful existence as an invalid.

This weekend I began the long road back to recovery. My cast is off now, and I have been given a boot.  My x-rays and my incision last week looked great.  I start physical therapy this week. I am buoyed by the resolve of the Monster Mash players. I, too, take joy in their undefeated season. This injury reminded me that I am mortal, but I will not let this injury keep me down for long. Here's to an eventful recovery, and here's to my heroes, the boys of Monster Mash!