[00:00.96]9.Winners and Winners
[00:06.29]As a high school coach, I did all I could to help my boys win their games.
[00:11.63]I rooted as hard for victory as they did.
[00:14.89]A dramatic incident, however, following a game in which I officiated as a referee,
[00:20.56]changed my perspective on victories and defeats.
[00:23.83]I was refereeing a league championship basketball game in New Rochelle, New York, between New Rochelle and Yonkers High.
[00:32.97]New Rochelle was coached by Dan O’Brien, Yonkers by Les Beck.
[00:38.52]The gym was crowded to capacity, and the volume of noise made it impossible to hear.
[00:44.51]The game was well played and closely contested.
[00:48.11]Yonkers was leading by one point as I glanced at the clock and discovered there were but 30 seconds left to play.
[00:55.30]Yonkers, in possession of the ball, passed off—shot—missed.
[01:01.07]New Rochelle recovered—pushed the ball up court—shot.
[01:05.09]The ball rolled tantalizingly around the rim and off.
[01:09.23]The fans shrieked.
[01:11.08]New Rochelle, the home team, recovered the ball, and tapped it in for what looked like victory.
[01:16.53]The tumult was deafening.
[01:19.21]I glanced at the clock and saw that the game was over.
[01:22.70]I hadn’t heard the final buzzer because of the noise.
[01:26.18]I checked with the other official, but he could not help me.
[01:29.45]Still seeking help in this bedlam, I approached the timekeeper, a young man of 17 or so.
[01:35.87]He said, "Mr. Covino, the buzzer went off as the ball rolled off the rim, before the final tap-in was made."
[01:43.82]I was in the unenviable position of having to tell Coach O’Brien the sad news.
[01:48.61]"Dan," I said, "time ran out before the final basket was tapped in. Yonkers won the game."
[01:55.69]His face clouded over. The young timekeeper came up.
[02:00.38]He said, "I’m sorry, Dad. The time ran out before the final basket."
[02:04.64]Suddenly, like the sun coming out from behind a cloud, Coach O’Brien’s face lit up.
[02:10.76]He said, "That’s okay, Joe. You did what you had to do.
[02:15.03]I’m proud of you."
[02:16.45]Turning to me, he said, "Al, I want you to meet my son, Joe."
[02:21.05]The two of them then walked off the court together, the coach’s arm around his son’s shoulder.
