2008 Woodie Awards
Pilcher's Mound
A new passing play: Hail Montana
Erich Pilcher
Issue date: 10/13/05 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 1
"Say good night to the bad guy." - Tony Montana, "Scarface."
You know what I love about sports? It can always surprise you.
Just a month ago I asked where all heroic actions in sports had gone. There were zero acts of heroism depicted on ESPN this summer. Are the athletes to blame?
Yes, to some extent but consider this: When an athlete does something commendable, ESPN relegates it to a blurb on Sportscenter. Meanwhile NBA bad boy Allen Iverson's misdeeds can be a top story for days on end.
The fact is ESPN loves to shine a negative light on athletes because it makes them vulnerable.
Sept. 26 I woke up at 6 a.m. and was watching Mike and Mike in the morning - they started telling the feel-good sports story of the year.
Montana Mazurkiewicz was a 10-year-old boy with an inoperable brain tumor. The Mazurkiewiczes are major Notre Dame fans. Montana was named after football great Joe Montana; his brother Rockne was named for famed Irish coach Knute Rockne.
Notre Dame Head Coach Charlie Weis visited Montana at his home. The two talked about football, Montana's tumor and Weis' daughter with autism. Montana even badgered Weis a little about the Irish's loss to Michigan State.
As the meeting progressed, Weis noticed that Montana was trying to hide the pain of the tumor even though the pain was quite noticeable.
Weis signed a football for Montana and asked if there was anything he could do. Montana asked if he could call a play against Washington, Notre Dame's next opponent.
To my surprise, Weis said yes. They decided that the first play would be a pass to the right.
Sadly, Montana never had the opportunity to see the play; he died at his home the day before the game. However, Weis called Montana's mother and said they were still using Montana's play call.
Notre Dame's first possession of the game came after a Washington fumble on the Irish one-yard line. Irish quarterback Brady Quinn asked Weis for the play call. Weis, replying quickly and without any thought said, "We have no choice. We're throwing it right."
At the risk of a safety and two momentum-changing points, Weis showed heart and compassion. He let the chips fall just so he could honor the memory of one brave child.
The pass was complete for 13 yards and was just the beginning for Notre Dame. They won 36 -17.
Somewhere in the great beyond, little Montana sat without pain or worry, beaming while the Notre Dame fight song played all around him. I'm sure of it.
So the next time ESPN covers a coach's tirade or an athlete's act of stupidity, remember this: Heroes are still out there, you just have to know where to look.
Comments? Questions? E-mail Erich at: epilcher1@yahoo.com
You know what I love about sports? It can always surprise you.
Just a month ago I asked where all heroic actions in sports had gone. There were zero acts of heroism depicted on ESPN this summer. Are the athletes to blame?
Yes, to some extent but consider this: When an athlete does something commendable, ESPN relegates it to a blurb on Sportscenter. Meanwhile NBA bad boy Allen Iverson's misdeeds can be a top story for days on end.
The fact is ESPN loves to shine a negative light on athletes because it makes them vulnerable.
Sept. 26 I woke up at 6 a.m. and was watching Mike and Mike in the morning - they started telling the feel-good sports story of the year.
Montana Mazurkiewicz was a 10-year-old boy with an inoperable brain tumor. The Mazurkiewiczes are major Notre Dame fans. Montana was named after football great Joe Montana; his brother Rockne was named for famed Irish coach Knute Rockne.
Notre Dame Head Coach Charlie Weis visited Montana at his home. The two talked about football, Montana's tumor and Weis' daughter with autism. Montana even badgered Weis a little about the Irish's loss to Michigan State.
As the meeting progressed, Weis noticed that Montana was trying to hide the pain of the tumor even though the pain was quite noticeable.
Weis signed a football for Montana and asked if there was anything he could do. Montana asked if he could call a play against Washington, Notre Dame's next opponent.
To my surprise, Weis said yes. They decided that the first play would be a pass to the right.
Sadly, Montana never had the opportunity to see the play; he died at his home the day before the game. However, Weis called Montana's mother and said they were still using Montana's play call.
Notre Dame's first possession of the game came after a Washington fumble on the Irish one-yard line. Irish quarterback Brady Quinn asked Weis for the play call. Weis, replying quickly and without any thought said, "We have no choice. We're throwing it right."
At the risk of a safety and two momentum-changing points, Weis showed heart and compassion. He let the chips fall just so he could honor the memory of one brave child.
The pass was complete for 13 yards and was just the beginning for Notre Dame. They won 36 -17.
Somewhere in the great beyond, little Montana sat without pain or worry, beaming while the Notre Dame fight song played all around him. I'm sure of it.
So the next time ESPN covers a coach's tirade or an athlete's act of stupidity, remember this: Heroes are still out there, you just have to know where to look.
Comments? Questions? E-mail Erich at: epilcher1@yahoo.com