Playing to Win(35)

Luke shook his head. He'd been so wrapped up in his guilt, so blinded  by his insistence on protecting the team that he'd lost sight of what  was important. "You think this is putting the team first? You crossed  the line, man. You deserted your team, and as the captain, I can't let  that stand."

"What, you're going to tell on me? Is that it, Luke? After all we've  been through together, you're going to end our friendship and torpedo my  career over a few goals that, in the grand scheme of things, don't even  matter?"

Luke looked at his teammate, his friend, and saw a stranger staring back at him. "You're goddamn right I am."





17

"GOOD EVENING AND welcome to the eleven o'clock sports wrap-up. I'm  Corey Baniuk and I'd like to introduce you to the newest addition to our  team, Holly Evans. Usually, she'll be on the scene, covering games as  they happen," he said. "But tonight we're happy to have her joining us  in studio so that you, our viewers, can meet her properly. Holly, good  to have you here."

"Thanks, Corey. And congratulations on your promotion." Holly smiled  big and turned to the camera. "Hi, everyone. Let's start with hockey,  where earlier tonight the captain of the Portland Storm, Luke Maguire,  finally broke a nineteen-game scoreless streak with this beauty less  than two minutes into their game against the Wyoming Stallions..."

Holly did the entire segment and it was incredible. She nailed the  scores, the camera changes, every word that came out of her mouth was  crisp and precise. It was a triumphant moment, but not quite as  triumphant as the moment that followed it.

"Thank you, Holly. And now-"

"Actually, Corey, I'm not quite finished."

She'd never seen the golden voice of sports at a loss for words.  Apparently it wasn't good for business, because the camera operators  bobbled for a quick moment before every single one of them turned to  focus on her.

"When I made the Women's Hockey Network video, I was being a smart-ass.  I was frustrated that people would discount opinions on sports just  because they came from a woman. So I created a satirical look at how  women in the sports world are perceived.

"Except when my video hit YouTube, it went viral. The Portland Storm  hired me for their play-off run, and everything changed. The Women's  Hockey Network grew into something unstoppable, and I was just along for  the ride. For a while, I thought I was making mockery of everything I  loved. Then I heard from you, the people watching, and I realized that  together, we had something special.

"I want to thank everyone at this station and you, the viewers, for  welcoming me with open arms. This job was a childhood dream come true  and I will remember this night for the rest of my life. But my  priorities have changed, which is why tonight will be my only show with  News Now. Effective immediately, I'm tendering my resignation.

"But if you liked the Women's Hockey Network, then I invite you to join  me on XT Satellite Radio, where I will be hosting The Women's Sport  Network every weekday from one to three on Sports Talk Radio. It's going  to be a show where women can congregate and talk about sports. Where we  can teach what we know, or learn what we need to know."                       
       
           


       

Holly could feel her smile warming as she spoke. "It's going to be real  women asking real questions. If you don't understand the rules of the  game, ask me. If you don't understand why the GM of your home team isn't  moving on signing that free agent who lit up the field last year, we'll  discuss it. And if you want to hear what cologne your favorite player  wears, I'll find out for you.

"Because there are no stupid questions. I want to help every woman,  every person, find the part of the game that appeals to him or her,  because when it comes right down to it, sports are about having a good  time. I lost sight of that for a while, but I finally found it again.  And now I want to share it with you." Holly tucked her hair behind her  right ear. "I'm Holly Evans, for Portland News Now. Thank you and good  night."

Holly strode out of the studio without a single doubt that she'd made  her mother proud. It was a great feeling, one she reveled in all the way  to the lobby, until she glanced over at the security station and  noticed a certain hockey highlight. She beelined toward the desk.

"Can you rewind that?" she asked.

The security guard grabbed a remote off the desk and turned to the monitor.

"Thanks, just run it back to the last goal that Wisconsin scored on the Storm. Yes. There."

Her skin prickled as she watched Keith Johnson walk in and score a  top-shelf backhand on J.C. LaCroix, who was sprawled across the crease.

"Son of a-"

It all made sense now. The awful goal, the lackluster baby  announcement, the vehicle downgrade and the purse-wielding psycho  fiancée.

It had been J.C. she'd heard in the bathroom that day. He was the mole.  She had to tell Luke! And if he wouldn't listen, well, she'd make him  listen.

She'd just pulled out of the parking lot, formulating a plan to get  Luke to let her explain herself when the radio announcer's voice  penetrated her single focus.

"And we take you now live to a surprise press conference involving key  members of the Portland Storm. We've confirmed that Captain Luke  Maguire, Coach Randy Taggert and GM Ron Lougheed are all present, as is  League Commissioner Grant McDavid. McDavid was seen during tonight's  game sitting with former Blades centerman and national hero Ethan  Maguire. Needless to say, the sports community is buzzing with  speculation over what the big announcement is. We now go live to the  Portland Dome."

Ethan had shown up?

Her grip tightened on the steering wheel, and she changed her course  from Luke's apartment to the arena.But what could they possibly be  talking about at a press conference? The post-game interviews had ended  hours ago.

Holly shook her head. The biggest damn story of the day was unfolding  while she'd been looking pretty on TV. And instead of sending her or  Corey Baniuk, Portland News Now had probably sent some intern to cover  it. Thank the hockey gods she'd quit.

"Thank you, everyone, for coming tonight. I'm afraid we're here with bad news."

Her stomach flipped at the sound of Luke's deep voice filling the airwaves.

"As the captain of this team, I would like to begin by saying the Storm  organization has always prided itself on stressing the importance of  sportsmanship and integrity. However, thanks to some incredible  undercover work by sports reporter Holly Evans, it has recently come to  my attention that there is an individual on this team who has not been  living up to the code that we, the Portland Storm, have sought to play  by.

"This individual has been involved in betting, and when his debt got  too big, he agreed to manipulate game results during our play-off run.  As the captain of a phenomenal team, I have spoken with my teammates and  we have decided, after consulting with the league, to withdraw from  this year's play-off run and wish the Wyoming Stallions the best of luck  as they take on the winner of the Eastern Conference."

The gasps in the auditorium were audible even through the radio, and  Holly sped up as she approached the turnoff that would get her closer to  the Portland Dome.

"We, as a team, in conjunction with our coach and management, feel this  is the best way to keep one person's actions from tainting the entire  team."                       
       
           


       

He knows. Oh God. She wondered how Luke was taking the devastating  betrayal of his best friend's actions. His voice sounded even, if a  little somber, but she'd need to look into his eyes to be sure.

"And with the league's support, we hope to earn our way back to next  year's play-offs and claim our chance to win the championship.

"I personally would like to apologize to Holly Evans and thank her for her diligent work."

The car swerved a bit at that, as Holly tried to process the shock of Luke's very public words of praise.

"I love this game with all my heart and I could not have lived with  myself if I had been part of sullying its good reputation, however  unwittingly. The truth has come to light, and that's exactly how it  should be. And for that reason, effective immediately, Jean-Claude  LaCroix is no longer a member of the Portland Storm. Thank you. Coach  Taggert will now say a few words."

Questions exploded throughout the press room, and Holly could hardly  breathe as she pulled into the parking lot. She was relieved the  attendant at the gate recognized her and let her through without a  hassle, because she was having a hard time forming words.