The 72,500 men, women and children sat in an uncomfortable silence, no one daring to cough, no one daring to speak, each one focussed on the young 27 year old. Each one knowing, this was the start of the impossible dream. The dream they had had for 27 years. A dream they had dreamed every year of this boys life. Now it could become reality. Now it was possible.
And then: failure. The dream was dashed. The young man had missed the first opportunity to put their team ahead in the annual battle against an old enemy. He missed a sitter was the gasp around the crowd. Men turned to friends and compatriots and said, Were going to lose again. How long do we have to wait?
Some wiped a tear away. The game has already restarted. There was a heavy feeling amongst the crowd.
The kicking king had missed what he would consider to be a sitter. As he looked up he saw the ball wasnt going straight. He had miscued. He had missed the opportunity to calm the crowd, his team mates and put the opposition on the back foot.
His reaction was not that of defeat or self flagellation instead he reminded himself:
Its all about the method. The process.
Kicking a...