Saturday, December 11, 2021

NRG were the better side for 75% of the series but Sand Rock was better in the last 30-60 seconds of Game 6...until NRG scored the match and series winner with 3 seconds left. I was despondent, truly. I thought Sand Rock were going to pull it out in regulation or overtime. 

NRG won the first three games and were going for the sweep, which would have been humiliating. They got to 3-0 by challenging Sand Rock for everything, everywhere; they controlled possession, won 50-50's, were strategically patient with their opportunities and clinical in finishing them; they were better prepared and as consequence of all, didn't let the Sand Rock desert storm get up any momentum. But, against the run of play, Sand Rock won game 4 in OT. They were better than NRG in Game 5 and had NRG wobbling, winning that one in OT also. Sand Rock were winning Game 6, 0-0, and then...Squishy with :03 left.

People are saying "Great showing for first time on LAN, SRG!," but the boys do not feel that way and neither do I. NRG's emergency substitute, the legendary Musty, of the eponymous "Musty Flip", predicted on the set before the match that Sand Rock would win. A member of NRG! So it doesn't feel like "Good show!", it just feels like defeat.