Dance of a Lifetime

by Frank Downey

  "All this love," Tom said, "I can’t stand it. Where’s mine?"

  "At Harvard, studying like a good girl," Warren teased.

  "Yeah, I know," Tom grinned. "At least she’s coming the day after tomorrow, which is the first day I actually skate."

  "Yeah, she’s going to miss our first OD, though," Warren mock-grumbled. "Some sister."

  "I’m here," Eric said.

  "You’re not my brother," Warren teased.

  "Well, brother-in-law," Eric reminded him.

  "And, somehow, even though you are my brother, I don’t think you’re here to see me," Sophia added.

  "Why, Sophia, who else would he be here to see?" Amy grinned, then turned to Eric and batted her eyelashes. Eric blushed, leading to giggles all around the table.

  "Jeez," Evan grumped, "is there anyone here besides me that’s not going to be having sex tonight?"

  "I think we just established that I’m not," Tom said. "And, before you ask, no, I’m not bi!" Everyone cracked up at that.

  "I’m not going to be having sex tonight, either," Courtney said. "And, I have to tell you, skating with my period isn’t much fun."

  "I can see where it wouldn’t be," Warren said, "but why would that stop the other thing? You mean Shawna hasn’t earned her Red Wings yet?"

  "EEEEEWWWWWW!!!!" Courtney blurted.

  Shawna laughed. "Don’t blame me, I’m game for anything, but my sweetie’s a little squeamish."

  "Ah, it’s fun," Sophia maintained. "Courtney, you just put a tampon in. Then Shawna can have dessert and floss her teeth!"

  The laughter after that was so loud, it filled the whole restaurant.

  The closest competition for Warren and Sophia at Skate America were the Irish pair, Dunphy and O’Riordan, who had finished fifth at Worlds. The French couple were there, but they were on a downward trend.

  So, winning was almost a foregone conclusion. This was a place for them to show off the new programs in front of international judges and the TV audience.

  The Quickstep OD went over very well, with the audience and the judges. The Rock and Roll OD, done to the Ramones, simply had jaws dropping all over the arena. It got 7 6.0s for technical merit, and a raucous standing ovation. And the new Singing In The Rain free dance also got a standing O, plus great marks on both sets. The win was easy, and the programs were quickly being talked about.

  The upset was Amy and Ryan defeating the Irish couple for the silver, which shocked and delighted them. Evan and Courtney finished fourth, but weren’t upset with that. "We’re still gelling, we’re not worried," Evan told Warren.

  The next week, in Quebec City, the Canadian couple of Damphier and Gaudler started the defense of their World Championship at Skate Canada. They also won easily, with a young German couple, Lignau and Beicher, in second. The other Canadian couple, Ackerman and Sherrick, finished third. The big upset was that the Hungarians, Krasvalyi and Szubacsko, sixth in the World last year, only finished fourth.

  The next week, Sophia and Warren were in Marseille, France for Trophee Lalique. They won easily there, over the Russians, Kuznetsova and Vasilyevskiy. A new young Russian pair, Nina Nikolayeva and Mikhail Shlupin, finished third. That was an upset, as the beat the Ukrainians, who had finished 7th at worlds.

  The British couple, Brenneman and Watts, made their debut at Nations Cup the next week—and, in a huge upset, only finished third. They were defeated by the Irish couple, who won, and by Evan and Courtney, who were thrilled with their finish. The German team, competing at home, couldn’t match their great finish at Skate Canada and only finished fourth

  Damphier and Gaudler won again at Cup of Russia, with Kuzntesova and Vasilyevskiy in second. The young Russians were third and the other Canadian pair fourth.

  At the last competition of the Grand Prix, the NHK Cup in Osaka, Japan, Brenneman and Watts rebounded, winning the competition. Amy and Ryan again finished second, with the Hungarians third.

  That got the British pair into the top six, assuring their appearance at the Grand Prix final, a few weeks hence in Berlin. But it also, to their complete shock, got Ryan and Amy into the final. The Kellehers, Damphier and Gaudler, Kuznetsova and Vasilyevskiy, and Dunphy and O’Riordan also would be travelling to Berlin.

  Tom Bellamy also made it to the finals, joined by a young American male singles skater named Brian Joss. Liz, of course, made it, as did Allison Bowman. Andrea and Brett would also be there. As the last big international competition before the Olympics, they were all using it as a set-up.

  Chapter 161 - Whirlwind

  Before their Junior year in college, Kate and Chad decided to get an apartment together.

  A simple decision, really—for most people. But for Kate and Chad, it turned out to be the most complicated thing they could’ve considered.

  The reason, of course, was football. The first problem was Chad’s coaches at Boston College. They were not in favor of the idea. Yes, players could live off campus. That was no problem—with other players. A player deciding to live with his girlfriend was another matter entirely. But the coaches couldn’t really do much besides grumble about it. And since Chad’s spot on the team was secure—he’d been a starter since midway through his Freshman year and was considered a rising star—they got the apartment anyway.

  They found a nice place, close to BC and to Kate’s college, the Massachusetts College of Art. They found a spacious, clean two-bedroom—the second bedroom to be used by Kate for her painting. They settled in early in August, time enough for Chad to go to two-a-days, and plenty of time for Kate to set up her studio before school started.

  That happened in early September, as did the football season. That’s when everything changed.

  Boston College was a mid-level power in college football. They’d been one of those teams that consistently finished third or fourth in their conference—the Big East for many years and the ACC for the past few—and went to a ‘minor’ bowl game. Year in and year out. The previous year had been typical: 8-4 overall, 5-3 in the ACC, a victory in the Sun Bowl. Always good, never great.

  BC did have higher aspirations this year. That team that had gone 8-4 had been made up of mostly sophomores and juniors, including Chad, the Sophomore quarterback. Chad himself had made steady improvement, as had his team, so there were glimmers of higher aspirations this year. Nothing major, though. The pre-season polls had them at 23rd, most prognosticators picked them for fourth or so in the 12-team ACC.

  The sense that things were different, though, started right off the bat, in game one. It was an out-of-conference away game against their old Big East foe, Syracuse. Syracuse was ranked 10th in the pre-season polls, and was a 6-point favorite in the game. The Orangemen were clearly expecting a hard-fought victory against a quality opponent to open their season.

  Instead, they got to be front-row witnesses to the coming-out party of Chad Kozak. Chad threw for 343 yards and 4 touchdowns in a resounding 35-24 victory. Chad and the Eagles solidified that the next week in their opening conference game, shellacking Wake Forest 42-7. Chad threw for 447 yards that day. Wins over Connecticut and North Carolina State brought September to a successful close.

  It was the first three games in October, however, that really alerted the college football world that something special was brewing in Chestnut Hill. The first was against perennial power Florida State, a team BC hadn’t beaten since they joined the ACC. And this year, the Seminoles, geared by a terrific defense, were also undefeated and ranked 4th in the country. They were confident that their stifling defense could shut down Chad and the BC attack.

  And it did—for three quarters. Chad found his grove in the fourth, however, passing BC to two touchdowns, including a drive in the last three minutes of the game. The Eagles came out of Tallahassee with a come-from-behind 21-17 victory.

  The next week, they were at home against traditional rivals Virginia Tech. That was an easy one—35-14, with Chad going over 400 yards passing again.

  Then, they
traveled to South Bend to take on undefeated and second-ranked Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish’s long climb back to prominence had been a national story, and this team—which was being touted as National Championship contenders—had gotten much attention. Since BC was also undefeated, this was considered a ‘test’ game for the Irish—but they were still 7-point favorites. Plus, the game was nationally televised.

  And the national audience saw Chad throw for over 300 yards again, including yet another last-minute game-winning drive. BC won 28-24.

  They were 7-0. They were ranked 5th in the country, something that hadn’t been seen in Chestnut Hill since the Doug Flutie glory days. And the BC athletic department started making very serious "Chad Kozak for the Heisman Trophy" noises.

  There were a few problems with all of this. Chad had not expected this, and was completely overwhelmed. Also, Chad—atypically for a big-time college quarterback—was publicity-shy. He just wanted to play the game and live his life. But he also knew that he owed a lot to BC, and owed a lot to his teammates. So, when the Sports Information department got requests from Sports Illustrated and ESPN to interview Chad, they pressured him to accept. Since the week after the Notre Dame game was an off week for BC, it was the perfect time. He had time off, plus he was ‘hot’ after the performance against the Irish.

  SI sent a reporter to Chad’s apartment, and ESPN did part of their interview there with a camera crew. And the viewers on ESPN and the readers in SI got a glimpse at Chad’s life—which only increased interest in him.

  Kate and Chad were talking about it after reading the SI article.

  "Boy, I didn’t realize you were so atypical," Kate laughed. "I mean, are you the only quarterback in the USA that has a girlfriend that isn’t a size-zero blonde ‘aspiring model-actress’ that has a brain of her own?"

  "Yeah," Chad laughed, "and it also seems that I’m the only one that doesn’t live with three other football players, have a posse, and wear lots of bling-bling. Of course, now you’re part of the story, that’s the part that worried me."

  "What, that I might embarrass you?"

  "Nah," Chad said. "Just that you got sucked into this. You’d never embarrass me."

  "Oh, really?" Kate laughed. "The guy from SI didn’t use the quote I gave him while you were in the bathroom."

  "Hmm?"

  "Yeah. He asked me if a non-athletic artist like myself could appreciate your athleticism anyway. I told him of course I could—it comes in very handy in the bedroom."

  Chad burst out laughing. "You didn’t!"

  "Of course I did. He didn’t use it, though."

  "I suppose that’s a good thing," Chad chuckled. "These guys expecting you to be the adoring girlfriend are in for a surprise."

  "Got that right!"

  Chad was right in that Kate became part of ‘the story.’ The TV cameras at subsequent games panned the audience looking for her. When she wasn’t at one game, the interviewer even asked Chad about it.

  "She’s got a showing tonight, at Mass Art, she’s getting ready for it. So, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go change so I can go to an art gallery."

  "Excuse me?" the interviewer said, confused.

  "Kate’s a painter. And a very good one. So it’s time for me to go be the adoring boyfriend and goo-goo at her painting," Chad laughed, then hurried off.

  BC plowed through the rest of their schedule. Clemson, Maryland, Duke, and Georgia Tech were quickly dispatched. That put them in the ACC championship game against their traditional nemesis, Miami.

  Miami was also undefeated. They were ranked first in the country. BC was third. The winner of the ACC championship would surely head towards the national championship game, which this year was the Orange Bowl. Second-ranked (and also undefeated) Michigan awaited them.

  The ACC championship was held the first Saturday in December, in Charlotte, NC.

  ABC, which was televising the game, had Chad sit for an interview a few days before, to be played during the pre-game show. He answered the standard questions. Then, because Kate had become part of ‘the story’, they called her over at the very end. She sat next to Chad.

  "Kate, do you have an inspirational pep talk for Chad?"

  "Hmm, let’s see," Kate said with a twinkle in her eye. "We live in Boston. It’s 12 degrees there. If BC wins this game, I get to spend New Year’s in Florida." She turned to Chad. "Sweetie? Here’s your pep talk. Win—or die!" Then she got up off the couch and sauntered out of camera range.

  Chad cracked up laughing to the interviewer. "And I’m supposed to be worried about Miami’s defensive line when I live with her?"

  The game started out as a disaster for BC. Miami scored on their first possession. Then a BC running back fumbled, and Miami scored again. By the end of the first half, it was 17-0.

  Then they got it in gear. Chad went to work and quickly drove down for a touchdown. He got them another one before halftime. Miami was only able to get a field goal in between. The halftime score was 20-14, Miami.

  BC got the ball to begin the second half, but was thwarted. Miami came back with another field goal to take a 23-14 lead. BC answered, and with a touchdown, to make it 23-21. Then the teams traded touchdowns, making the score 30-28 Miami. With three minutes left in the game, Miami was trying to score the clinching touchdown, but were stopped. They had to settle for another field goal. They led 33-28, with 3 minutes left.

  "OK, boys, more than enough time," Chad said as he entered the huddle. And he was right. He steadily and efficiently led BC down the field, bit by bit, in the remaining time. And, with 10 seconds left, he threw a perfect pass to his best friend Chad in the endzone. Once again Chad had lived up to the nickname he had picked up, Comeback Kozak. BC won, 35-33, and would be headed to the Orange Bowl to play for their very first national championship.

  "Miami in January. Gotta love it," Kate said to Chad with a grin after the game.

  "Better than Quebec City in February, though we’ll be there, too!"

  Chapter 162 - The Final Tune Up

  A week and a half before Christmas, the leading lights of the figure skating community landed in Berlin for the Grand Prix finals.

  Sophie and Warren were excited. Because this was their last year in skating, they were trying to savor everything. And they’d never been to Berlin, so this was an opportunity to check out a new city. They arrived early, with Betsy in tow, and did copious sightseeing. They checked out the Brandenberg Gate and strolled down the Unter Den Linden. They checked out the Berlin Wall Museum and Checkpoint Charlie. They took a tour of the Reichstag.

  "This is possibly the best thing about being a skater," Warren said. "We’ve seen so many places. It might be the part I miss the most."

  "Now we’ll just have to do it as tourists," Sophie laughed.

  "Maybe, maybe not," Warren said. "I’ve been thinking about my career."

  "How so?"

  "I was thinking about what the doc that operated on my knee said to me. About becoming an orthopedic surgeon with a specialty in sports medicine, instead of a pediatrician. He says he still works with mostly kids and teenagers. And it’d give me a way to stay connected with sports."

  "You mean like volunteering to be the doctor at competitions, stuff like that?" Sophie said.

  "Exactly," Warren said. "I have time to think about it, but I’m seriously thinking about it."

  "That would be cool, actually. You know how I feel—whatever you want to do. But, hey, you are an athlete. You know how an athlete’s body works. I think you’d be dynamite at it."

  "Yeah. And it’d be fun to go more places."

  "We’ve seen a lot, haven’t we?" Sophie said. "I mean, we’ve been all over the US and Canada, but, even outside of that, we’ve seen a lot."

  "Yeah. Paris, London, Moscow, now Berlin. We’ve seen Switzerland and Norway."

  "Beijing. Nagano, Japan. Don’t forget Amsterdam," Sophie grinned.

  "How could I forget Amsterdam?" Warren laughed. "And if we go to World
s this year, we’ll get to see Budapest."

  "That’s the best reason for going to Worlds," Sophia laughed.

  The schedule for the Grand Prix Final was thus: the short programs (or original dance) on Thursday; the first free program on Friday; the second free program on Saturday. The second free, which was the current year’s free, was worth half the score. The original program and the other free were worth one fourth each.

  Since there are two OD’s in ice dancing now, one would be drawn for the Final. Warren and Sophia were kind of hoping to rip off their rock and roll OD, but it was the quickstep that was drawn. That was OK, too, they were confident in that.

  The order of skaters was the same as the Olympics: Pairs, Men, Dance, then Ladies. So, the pairs started out with their short program. The battle seemed to be between Andrea and Brett and the Canadian champs, Sellers and Poulin. However, at least in the short program, that battle was pre-empted, as both the top teams had problems. The leaders after the short program were the Czechs, Trogonickova and Kepul, who had finished fourth at last years’ Worlds. Second were the young Russian pair of Yaskovarina and Chebinskiy. Andrea and Brett were third, Sellers and Poulin fourth. The defending world bronze medallists, Yin and Li of China, plummeted to sixth after major difficulties.

  No surprises in the men. Three-time World Champion Lavrenti Bladanikov won, with Tom in second.

  Then it was time for Warren and Sophia, who romped. Their Scott Joplin quickstep was almost unbeatable when skated clean—and skate it clean they did. The big surprise was the Brits beating the Canadians for second; and Amy and Ryan beating the Russians for fourth.

  Also no surprise in the Ladies: Liz first, Allison second, the rest fighting for third.

  The first free skate was the next night. This was to be the ‘second’ free skate, the one not from this year.