Chapter 13: Having a ball of a time!
In just two days the Animalympics would be over all ready, yet the best team events would be happening this day, basketball and volleyball. The Cooper Gang were big fans of both events, this would be a treat for all five of them. Sly and Carmelita joked a bit how they would do in either event should they do it. In the basketball event, Murray and Dimitri would be point guards, while they would get the forward positions, whereas in volleyball Sly and Carmelita would be the main strikers Dimitri and Murray would be the blockers.
Before either events could happen, the Cooper Gang were called over from their hotel rooms to do some interviewing on the talk segment of the Animalympics hosted by Barbara Warbler, like a daytime talk show. Everyone in the Gang felt a little nervous as they had never had any experience doing interviews or public speaking, Carmelita wasn't that comfortable to be on the camera, even though it did feel glorious to earn a few golds on live TV.
"I'm hewe with the Coopew Gang, as they have done us enouwmous favows in thwarted bad guys and had the oppowtoonity to compwete in a few events." Barbara announced on TV, the Cooper Gang were seated in a nice comfy couch opposite of her with neutral expressions, not expecting anything. "Sly Coopew, how does it feel to not only spectate, but compete as well?" she held the microphone up to Sly.
"Well Barbara, we just came here just to spectate as a little treat from our boss at Interpol, though he did tell us to be wary of any threats that could happen in the games." Sly replied.
"So faw you've got one gold medal, you thinking of getting one moe?"
"If I were to pick just one more event, I'd think I'd have to go with the fencing event, after all I'm a gentleman, and fencing is a gentleman's sport!" Sly smiled, which simultaneously aroused some laughter from the audience.
"Vewy inewesting Sly, how about you Carmelita Fox, suwely you wouldn't have expected to be competing as well as guawding now would you?" she then held the microphone up to her.
"I wasn't expecting anything either, though I'll say it's anyone's let alone an Interpol officer's unexpected dream to be competing in the events. I surprised myself with the two events I competed in High Jump and Sly makes a great Figure Skating partner. I think two gold medals is enough for me." Carmelita responded in a professional manner though, smiled at Sly at one point.
"Sounds gweat. How bout you Muway?"
"Well Barbara, to get a chance to compete in weightlifting felt great, I'm okay with silver, I wasn't expecting gold, all I had to do was go out there and do my best. I can take defeat."
"And you Dimitri?"
"Like a dance floor with many lights, don't try to understand the enigma that is Dimitri. The water's clean so I dove for the love baby! Any type of bling received like main man Murray is cool by me sis."
"And Bentely, you haven't competed in any events, but since you'we just the bwains of the gwoup any thoughts fow us?"
"I might be bound to this wheelchair you see, but I'm perfectly okay the way I am. I never was the athletic type, even when I could walk. The brains is just as important as brawn, athleticism, and other skills put together, and that's why we the Cooper Gang are unbeatable, through the power of teamwork!"
"Bwilliant notion tuwtle! Well that about waps up the intewview on this show, now back to the games!"
After doing the interviewing, the gang headed for the first event, Volleyball, in a rematch of the chickens against the lobsters, the lobsters won through their unsurpassed skill. The chickens were hoping to do better this games, having gone through some rigorous training during the years off. The lobsters were just as confident in their abilities that they would ace the event again like the last time. It was a very back and forth match in the first quarter most of the time, neither one making an edge over the other with every block, spike, and dig from either side.
Eventually in the 3rd quarter the favor turned to the lobsters with their big claws stopping the ball and setting up for some major spikes. The chickens tried their best, but the cluttered running around made them lose focus, causing them to lose the ball. By the 4th quarter, the spikes from the lobsters sent a few chickens out the door when the ball came their way. The final score was 20-0 for the lobsters earning another victory.
The next event of the day was a basketball game between the North American panthers led by Dr. Abdul Jones and the European storks. In the previous Animalympics, the panthers won over the Eurasion bears with all their fancy trick shots, passes, and fake outs. The storks were hoping to oust the panthers in this game with their own bag of tricks including their own heights and jumps. Like the volleyball game, it was an even bout, neither one team gaining an advantage over the other for about 3 quarters, as every team member added a trick to their play. It was in the 4th quarter that things started to take a turn in the panthers favor, when they were able to steal the ball from the storks, and after dribbling down the court, a trick pass to Dr. Jones himself, who got blocked by one stork, but he remained calm, spinning the ball on his finger, then slipped around to score a major slam dunk which gave the panthers a 2-0 lead to win the game just like the last time. The panthers all double high fived each other for winning the game.
After the game, Dr. Jones, making his random audience calls, and Carmelita was chosen, handing her the ball. With a smile on her face she dribbled her way through and then, with a great leap scored a slam dunk herself, to the delight of the rest of the Cooper Gang.