I'm sure you were as disappointed as I was in not playing the Predator 'A' team. Sometimes scheduling 'glitches' do occur and we must make the most of them. I'm not sure where or with whom we mis-communicated, but again, we had an opportunity to improve our plus-minus. Most of us did. I was a little concerned again, that even in those games when we score a few more goals than 'normal', we also give up a few more than 'normal'. Defense doesn't require the same individual skills required of offensively-gifted athletes. It does however, require a different kind of individual skill -- yes, we must be able to win one-on-one battles -- and that does require skill -- however, it all starts with EFFORT! With enthusiastic forechecking, with tenacious backchecking and with a passion for defensive zone play, we can overcome many teams with more gifted players. This, historically, is what Upland players have been able to 'hang their hat on'. We must too.

When I was a kid in Louisville I had a job sacking groceries. I found a secondhand, but really sharp bicycle I just had to have. It was blue and beautiful. I didn't make much money at the grocery but I finally saved up enough to get that secondhand bike. I parked it behind the store, proud and happy. I worked hard for it. Then somebody stole it. Just about broke my heart. I walked all over Louisville that summer, looking for that bicycle. I walked and looked, looked and walked. Never found it to this day. But, every time I got into the ring, I looked across at the other fighter and I told myself, "Hey, that's the guy who stole my bicycle!" -- Mohammed Ali