Page 24 of (La)Crosse My Heart

The mic goes in front of Clark. He looks so confident there, like he knows exactly what he’s supposed to be doing. So different from the man I photographed earlier.

“Uh, yeah, so I had the ball and—I mean, I didn’t really have the ball until I did, and then it was just, you know, go-go-go... turn off the brain and let the muscle memory take over. And then... goal! Yeah, we won. It was cool.”

Okay, so it was a little awkward. But he was probably talking himself through the process as he remembered it.

I scroll down to the comments, and that’s where it begins.

“He speaks fluent panic.”

“Is that what we’re calling zoning out these days?”

There are thousands of other responses, but my heart hurts for him. The Clark I know is just that passionate about lacrosse and I love him for it. Okay, definitely not love. I admire him for following his dream. I only wish I’d done that sooner.

I click out of the video to see he was made into a meme. I’m actually surprised I didn’t see this before.

This has to be why he’s so uncomfortable around cameras.

I stare at Clark’s face, trying to see his underlying feelings. The guy looks okay until the end, almost relieved that he’s been able to describe the play.

Was something said after the interview?

It takes a minute to find the longer video, but I watch the same footage as before and then it continues.

“That’s all? Maybe I need to try lacrosse,” the reporter says.

“Well, I mean, it takes some practice, but lacrosse is the perfect game for anyone who can take a hit.”

“How often do you get hit in the head?” the reporter asks, but there’s something different in his tone, like he’s steering this entire discussion to make fun of Clark.

“It’s illegal to hit someone in the head, but accidents happen.”

“You heard it here, folks,” the reporter says, turning to face the camera. “This sport isn’t for the weak in body.”

The clip shut off and I again went to the comments.

“That guy talks like he’s been hit in the head a few times.”

“Did you catch how the reporter mentioned ‘weak in body’ and not in mind?”

Of anything I’ve learned about Clark, he’s far from dumb. He obviously hasn’t had the training some of the more well-known athletes have had when dealing with lame questions from reporters.

I spend the next few hours studying the interviews of many athletes and celebrities, noting when to deflect, when to avoid, and when they were outright blunt. If it can be used to help prep Clark, I’ll use it.

I thought I was invested before, but it seems I’ve taken on second-hand revenge for what that reporter did to Clark and his confidence in front of a camera.

It’s late, and I’m thoroughly exhausted. I can’t help but smile though, because I’ve got a plan, one of the best I’ve had in a while.

11

Clark

“Did you really have to mention the video to Jessa?” I ask Burton as we make our way home. We carpooled together and had I known how much of my life could be ruined by that one video, and sharing it with Jessa, I would’ve gone by myself.

Burton reaches over and hits me on the shoulder, sending me into the door and my head knocking into the window.

“Are you an idiot?”

I frown and shake my head. “No, contrary to popular opinion. I’m just a guy who wants to play lacrosse.”

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