He was unbreakable. Or so others thought. He was almost certain that Robby McClanahan wouldn't look him in the eyes. Once, he had creamed Steve Christoff in a fight at the 1978 Sports Festival, and escaped without a scratch. The scar down his cheek, earned at a bar as opposed to a hockey rink, usually led others to believe his 'tough guy' persona. A couple of missing teeth formed a smile that showed a whopping mix of emotion and intensity.
But today, he certainly was not smiling. Today, he was indeed broken. Not just his dream, but his entire morale. And now in just a few short minutes, he would find out if his knee faced a similar fate.
Looking around the room, he wondered why doctors offices always had paintings on the walls. Perhaps it was an attempt to cheer up a patient after their misfortune. Yet, he knew nothing but five words would be able to have such an effect on him.
"It's just a stretched ligament."
Unsure of whether or not he had heard correctly, he confirmed, "So you're saying I can play in the Olympics?"
Putting a firm hand on his shoulder, the doctor replied, "I'm saying you have a chance, Jack."
