Invictus

Well I actually got to a movie theater and I saw the movie Invictus. I loved the movie that is about the Rugby World Cup in South Africa and how South Africa beat New Zealand. It also shows Nelson Mandela and how he lead South Africa. Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon are stars in the movie. Morgan Freeman is a great actor.

Anyway, the movie shows how sports can unite and bring people together. The final two lines of the poem Invictus (and of the movie) are inspirational. If your an athlete at UConn you should watch it, or atleast read the poem with a focus on the last two lines of the poem.

Here is the link to the poem

http://www.wordinfo.info/words/index/info/view_unit/3981/?letter=P&spage=10

Here is the trailer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9Ovkye6lac

One part of the movie also shows how stressful watching the game can be.

I can honestly say that I probably have never been more stressed than I was when I was on the sidelines of the 2009 Women's Soccer NCAA Tournament First Round game between Thee UC and Boston U. For the last 30 minutes my blood pressure was probably off of the charts. The end of the game was so nerve wracking. You knew the game was going to be a 1-0 affair so every shot taken by either team had me on edge. I was so anxious to get the ball cleared out of our defensive half of the field and I was somewhat relieved when the ball was in our offensive third.

I was so happy when Brittany Taylor scored and I must say that I knew Taylor was going to score based on how she was running down the field. The moment the ball hit the back of the net I was finally able to not be on edge. Even though I had all the confidence in the world that we would win I couldn't have watched Penalty Kicks if it had gotten that far. If we had to go to PK's I was going to go behind the bench. I planned that out well in advance of the last overtime.

I felt like reliving that play and moment, because that moment was awesome even for someone who doesn't play.

And here is a picture of a celebration.

http://mansfield.htnp.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/uconn-wins1.jpg

I must say that I had the exact opposite feeling after the other game that weekend. I didn't feel stressed. After the other game I felt sort of purposeless. I say that because when a season is over things change. There were no longer home games for me to work at. There were no longer practices for me to help out at several days a week (which considering my schedule helped bring structure to my day). Your so used to playing and practicing. Your so used to the routine that it's sort of hard when it hits you that it's over. It effects someone like me, who is a senior, harder. I still don't know what I'm doing next year. For all I know that could be the last time I'm ever working directly with a team. I may work in administration and not really be a part of a team, but rather work for a group of teams.

After the game I remember just staring into the crowd outside the gates. I didn't think. I just stared into oblivion. I didn't know what to say to anyone and I think it was a good thing that I had a 90 minute drive back to campus to just sit and think (and pay attention to traffic). I remember getting to campus and not wanting to get out of my car as if somehow staying in the car would mean that the season would continue. I think I sat in my parked car with my door open for 10 minutes debating about whether or not I should stay in or get out of my car.