Relearning your ABCs

You know of the Lakers, the Cowboys and the New York Yankees, but I'd like to tell you about another team, a bunch of misfits and nerds who would forever change the landscape of sports.\nTrailing by four runs entering the last half-inning, the Sweaty ABC's softball team needed at least a tie to make the playoffs. Three runs or less and its season would come crashing down.\nWhat happened?\nABC magic, that's what happened.\nIn yet another game that year, the game was dead-locked going into the last half-inning, and once again, a loss would end the dream season. With a runner on second and two outs, the ABC's lightly popped the ball up to the third baseman. \nWhat happened?\nABC magic happened. \nThe same core group, this time in basketball, needed a win in the regular season finale to finish undefeated and capture the division crown. With only one minute remaining and the game tied, the ABC's tallest and go-to player fouled out. \nWhat happened this time?\nAgain, ABC magic.\nAnd wanting one more chance to play together as a team, the same troop of rascals formed a soccer team. Unfortunately, many of the ABC's hadn't played soccer since childhood, including a goalie who used Air Jordans as soccer cleats and was unaware of the rules regarding picking up the ball. \nAgain the same question is asked. What happened?\nIt's simple, nothin' but a bit of ABC magic. \nBut to call this group of fellas just a team would underscore and devalue what it was like to be a Sweaty ABC. \nTo put on that ABC jersey meant you had now become a member of a family. A family that ate together before games, walked together to the games singing the ABC fight song and after a win, would celebrate like Kobe getting room service.\nThe pioneer of the ABC's, a certain clone of Rick Moranis, did more than just reassure in his e-mails that every player knew the time and location of the game. \nIncluded in the press releases were projected lineups, injury reports, recent team news, a schedule, fan appreciation and scouting reports on the next opponent. \nWait, there were actually fans for this team?\nMore than fans, the "Coochie Corner" was a devoted congregation of girls who made signs and would out draw the opponents' fans tenfold. \nBut what made the Sweaty ABC's a family went far beyond the playing field. It went beyond the team dinners, the practices and post game celebrations. There was an undefinable camraderie that made every player proud to don the ABC logo -- not just on gamedays, but everyday of the week.\nIf you weren't playing, positions like coach, equipment manager, music coordinator, quality control coordinator and silent financial partner were created to ensure full inclusion in the ABC franchise.\nNo member of the two-year-old franchise will ever be a part of something as unique and memorable as this team. \nWith Sweet Sixteen appearances in basketball and football and Elite Eight appearances in both soccer and softball, the ABC's star shined brightly\nNever the greatest athletes or biggest guys, the ABC's had something more inspiring and substantial than pure athleticism. \nThe ABC's played like a team, hung out as a team and loved each other like brothers. \nYou probably wonder what planet these kids were from. \nWell, my friends look no further than the ground you're walking on. The Sweaty ABC's intramural franchise was born here at IU, played at IU and will forever live at IU.\nSo what is ABC magic? How did magic have anything to do with the outcome of the aforementioned games? \nWell, in the first softball game, the ABC's scored four runs in the last inning. The game-tying run sat on second when a base hit to left sent a lead-footed ABC scampering home, seemingly in slow motion, only to utilize an evasive manuever to avoid the tag by inches. \nIn the following softball tilt, the game-winning run was on second when a short pop up was hit to third. In a last ditch effort to save the game, the runner on second yelled, "I got it," confusing the third baseman, allowing the ball to drop safely. The ABC's would win the game on a single the very next at bat. \nAnd with the division title on the line for basketball, the same player responsible for the "I got it" miracle drove down the lane, spun to his left and lofted a fade away foul line shot to win the regular season division title.\nAnd that soccer team who couldn't play soccer? It fell one win shy of the Final Four, losing 1-0 in the Elite Eight -- the only goal it allowed all season. \nLike I said, ABC magic.