Lafayette College Athletics

Dec. 10, 2002

EDITOR'S NOTE: In just two full seasons on College Hill, junior power forward Mike Farrell has turned in himself into the Leopards' most consistent player. Farrell, an American Studies major, has agreed to provide www.goleopards.com with a weekly journal entry, talking about his life as a student-athlete. Farrell came to Lafayette from DeLand, Fla. where he attended Father Lopez High School. He is the first non-senior team captain since 1997-98. 

I guess that the best area to begin is with the season. It has been a tough start. Guys have been injured and/or sick, and we have yet to chalk up a notch in the W column (so Big Boy and E-Mac get yourselves healthy, you hear?).

But the new Sports Illustrated has a great article by Steve Rushin that has kept me hopeful about the season. It is entitled "I Believe in B-ball," and talks about the history of the game and how it compares to religion.

Mike Farrell's Journal Archive   2003-2004 Season  • April 14, 2004  • April 9, 2004  • February 23, 2004  • January 26, 2004  • January 5, 2004  • December 11, 2003  • November 20, 2003   2002-2003 Season  • February 21, 2003  • February 2, 2003  • January 23, 2003  • January 14, 2003  • December 31, 2002  • December 10, 2002 Mike Farrell

At the end of his story, he says: "I believe that the Truth (Drew Gooden) and the Answer (Allen Iverson) are out there; if we simply follow the bouncing ball. I believe that we, the basketball faithful, speak in tongues: the red, wagging tongue of Michael Jordan and the red, wagging tongue of our unlaced Chuck Taylors. I believe that Larry Bird's crooked right index finger - which he raised in triumph before his winning shot fell in the 1988 All-Star weekend three-point contest - resembles, almost exactly, God's crooked right index finger, as depicted on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Which would make sense, if God made man in His image. For I believe, above all, in what G.K. Chesterton wrote, and what Rick Telander echoed in the title of a book: Earth is a task garden. But heaven is a playground."

That is what basketball is all about; believing in yourself and your teammates. And I believe that this team is going to be really good.

I was lucky enough to have my mom come up for a visit this weekend. She was hoping to get a chance to see three games, but she had to settle with two (not to worry, the other game was made up with her dunking my laundry at the Laundromat). It is a rare treat to have her come up, with us living in Florida and all, and it was great to hear her up in the stands again. Thanks for coming to visit mom.

That's all I have for now.

Peace Feezy