"Welcome back to ESPN, I am John Hundy."
"And I am Ted Hughes. Today is a sad day in sports, one of the greatest soccer managers
in history is on his death bed. We have gotten word this morning that Michael Espinosa was taken to Johns Hopkins Hospital after a heart attack.
Michael Espinosa is a name many in sports know,
especially in soccer. Pep Guardiola admires him and sees Michael as his mentor.
Barcelona fans and players are going to miss their manager, leaving some doubts
as to whether they would be able to stay on the top, for the rest of the
season."
"During his 5 years in Barcelona, he has brought them
three trebles. Having been done only twice before, by Pep Guardiola. Having
started his managerial coaching career with the Mexican soccer team Monterrey.
Arguably the best soccer team in North America of the past decade. During his
time there, Michael managed to win both the Apertura and the Clausura back to
back twice. Following that, he won the CONCACAF Champions League 4 times in a
row. After losing out on the FIFA Club World Cup twice, they managed to beat
Chelsea 2-1 on the extra time. But next year saw a semi-final defeat against
Liverpool earning a third place."
"After his defeat to Liverpool, Rayado's manager saw
himself signing a contract with Villareal who had ended previous season below
the mid table finish. He got 3rd place on La Liga during his first, and very
successful, season in Spain. His team qualified for the UEFA Champions League,
after losing in the final to Bayern Munich, Michael made some new signings and
finished first in La Liga after a last game win against rivals Atletico Madrid.
Going on to win the Copa del Rey, Supercopa de Espana, losing the final of UEFA
Cup Winners' Cup and failing to defeat Liverpool in the UEFA SuperCup."
"This tremendous success did not go unnoticed, having
not renewed his contract with Villareal, his fans wondered if he was planing on
moving on, and Michael Espinosa, not being a person that waits, told the media
he had signed a contract for 2 years with Tottenham. After another two great
years but sadly losing to his now personal rivals, Liverpool three times in his
two years there. He moved to Manchester City, where his 10 years there not only
granted him a knighthood from the queen, but arguably saw the best manager in
England since Sir Alex Fergusson."
"Having said he had had a great time in with the
Citizens, he wanted a change of scenery, and this saw his return to Spain after
12 years. He signed a 7 year contract with Barcelona, who had not been playing
their best the last four seasons. He has more thropies than I have silverware
John!"
"I know Ted, and not many know, but he was an amazing
soccer player himself having played and represented Mexico in the World Cup,
taking his team to the finals in a historic World Cup for Mexico. That earned
him both the Golden Boot and the Golden Ball, and this was at 18! He started
his soccer career for his home team of Monterrey at 15, turning pro at 16. His
talents for scoring and getting the crowds going was soon noticed and FC Porto
quickly snatched him up for a sum of 15 million USD."
"After an amazing two seasons for Porto, and his amazing
performance in the World Cup, he was bought by Atletico de Madrid for 40
million USD."
"Yes, he was having the best time of his life John, but
that season was, suffice to say, something he wanted to quickly forget. It took
him a while to adapt to Spanish soccer. Atletico loaned him out to Real
Sociedad, where he started the season running. Scoring 3 goals and having 2
assists against Sevilla, The next two seasons saw him winning 4 trophies with
the team. The best years Real Sociedad had ever had, they tried to invest 55
million dollars on the player, but Real Sociedad lost him to Barcelona for a
hefty sum of 64 million USD."
"Too bad, the best wonderkid to have ever come from
Mexico, was injured halfway through an amazing season. Having had gone through
countless knee surgeries to try and fix his leg. Michael decided to retire
after a year of on and off time in the hospital and the field."
"Coming back 35 years later, after a rough life
of..."
A middle aged man turned off the tv.
"Thank you Lionel, it's like they want me to die
already." He whispered through his re-breather. An old man said laying in
a hospital bed, machines attached to his body like tentacles.
He moved his re-breather to the side to speak properly.
"I appreciate all of you for coming, I thought I had a few more years, but
alas, my heart says no."
"Coach" Came the voices of the men surrounding him,
all trying to get their say.
"Coach don't say that, we still have half the season to
go." One of them said.
"Lionel, David, Sergio, Luis, Ousmane, and the rest of
you. Listen, I do not lament that my heart is taking me away from the field for
a second time, but no matter where I go, I want you all to promise me, promise
me that you will play to the utmost, and live your dreams, whether that is on
or off the field. It is ironic, that his happened to me half-way through the
season with the same team twice."
"I know you all play in different teams, but that does
not matter, the sports connects you all, and I know each of you have a lot left
to give to the world. I wish I had the chance to have done the same, so , do it
for me at least."
Michael turned to his right and eyed the man in the eye.
"Luis, don't waste your time partying and fighting other players. Only
dogs bite, okay?"
The man called luis looked chagrined and only nodded, a few tears falling down his face.
"As for the rest of you, I couldn't be mor-"
The old man got a pain like no other, and clutched his chest accidentally pulling out his IV.
He heard his players talking loudly, but he could not make out what was said. A loud buzzing filled his ears.
Michael
could see their mouths moving along with some
motion in the room as he watched in fascination, they scrambled like ants
without a queen.
'If this is how I go, I had a good life, I only regret not
fulfilling my dreams'
A far away light seem to creep closer and closer, until it
was all he saw.
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"Do you think I could go to dad's place for the school break mom?"
"Where did this come from Will?" She looked at her son next to her, taking her eyes of the road.
"I want to go to the beach, he lives in Tybee Island. We live in Suwanee, there is only Lake Lanier close to here!" Will whined to her.
"You want to stay at your father's for 2 months? You know he has a new family, would you even be comfortable there, without knowing them?"
She tried to look at him in the eyes as he mumbled under his breath.
"Look at me William, why do you want to go there?"
He turned around and screamed. "Because he let's me do what I want!! You keep telling me what to do and not to do, when to go and what time to come back. I am tired of it! I want to be with father, and instead I am stuck with you!"
She was so shocked at his outburst, trying to articulate a reply.
"Is that what you want? I don't give you enou- Oh Will!!" She yelled the last part as she saw a truck merging into their lane, zooming into their view.
CRASH
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"Vitals are stable. He has no visible fractures. Just a small gash on his head. We gave him IV fluids and got him to you guys as fast as we could. He is unconscious but reactive to pain."
"I want CT scans after you stop the bledding in his forehead. Put 250 mL of O negative in him just in case."
"Don't worry Mrs. Zahino, we just put him in a medical coma to monitor any brain damage. But CT scans so far show nothing. Aside from the 5 stitches in his forehead, there are no other wounds or anything damaged. He should be waking up in a day or two."
'What? Did they take me to another hospital? Who is Mrs. Zuhino? I don't have any players with that last name.'
He tried to open his eyes, but the light from the ceiling was blinding and it hurt.
He squinted and let his eyes adjust slowly.
'
Why would they move me to another hospital? Or another
room? Did I get surgery?'
He looked around his bed for the nurse button, but stopped as
he noticed a woman in her early 30s sleeping on the sofa to his left.
Looking at her features, she was white skinned with
dark-brown hair, she seemed a bit familiar almost like someone he forgot, but
he doesn't have a memory of ever meeting her before.
Staring more deeply, there was some kind of memory that
seemed just a little too far away, but close enough to see.
Then it hit him, rammed into his head with a thunderous
headache.