November 1979, Minneapolis
My dad had been agitated all morning about something. Herb had been in his office most of the morning. Doc and I walked out to the ice as the boys were in a circle doing stretches. I heard them joking with Rizzo about his meatballs. I had to smile at that one myself. Dad and Herb were busy talking about something. I heard my dad call for Tim. I was confused by this as there was no one on the team named Tim. I looked up and saw a boy wearing a Gophers helmet climbing over the boards and onto the ice. 'Who the hell is this?' I thought. I noticed on the ice that most of the team was also watching this stranger.
I watched as this "Tim" person took out onto the ice. The team looked confused and upset. I could see a mixture of emotions in their faces. Dad walked over to where I was standing.
"Dad, who is that guy? What is he doing here?" I asked.
"That's Tim Harrer; he plays for the Gophers and is having a big season. Herb wants him to join the team." Dad said.
"HE WHAT?" I yelled. My dad jumped back a bit and Doc was completely surprised. I lowered my voice, "How can he do that? This guy isn't part of our team."
"He is now. Tim was at try-outs in Colorado and now Herb thinks we need him." Dad said.
As dad went out onto the ice to start the boys in some drills, I sat down on the bench my mind spinning. 'Now we'll have to cut two of the guys rather than just one. This is going to kill Rizzo's chance of making the team.' I winced at myself for thinking like that, but there was no denying how Rizzo had been playing. I looked out onto the ice and saw Rizzo with his teammates. I had to look away to keep myself from crying. I knew how badly he wanted to make this team; how close he was to the other players.
When practice was over the boys all kind of trudged into the locker room. I wished I could've been a fly in that locker room to hear what the team had to say about Tim. I decided to ask Rizzo that night when I went to visit him at the dorms.
That night, I went to Rizzo's room at the U. I was surprised that someone didn't come to meet me. The team almost always sent someone to walk with me, but no one was there so I walked alone. I knocked on Rizzo's door. No one answered me, so I tried the knob and found it unlocked.
"Rizzo?" I asked as I poked my head in the door. I saw Rizzo lying on the couch. "Hey, didn't you hear me knocking? Where is OC?"
I walked across the room to him but when I leaned down to kiss him he turned away. "Is something wrong?"
Rizzo didn't answer me. "Is everything okay? Talk to me, what is going on?"
"You should have told us, more than that you should have told me." Rizzo snapped and sat up.
"Told you what?" I asked not following what was upsetting him.
"You know damn well what. You should have told us that Herb was going to bring in someone else to take yet another roster spot away from us." Rizzo yelled.
"WHAT? You're blaming me for Herb bringing in Tim Harrer?" I asked in disbelief.
"I am not mad at you because he is there. I am furious at you for not telling us he was coming. We had a right to know, you know? We have worked out asses off for almost six months and now this outsider comes in and will more than likely get a spot!" Rizzo argued.
I was stunned, Rizzo had never raised his voice in anger the entire time I had known him and had never been anything but gentle with me. But my temper flared up. "I had no clue that Herb was bringing in Tim until I saw him at practice today. I was as surprised as the rest of the team." I yelled at him.
"Don't give me that, you're the coach's daughter and you work with the coaching staff. You expect me to believe that you had no clue!" Rizzo yelled and stood up.
"I DIDN'T KNOW!" I screamed at him, frustrated that he wouldn't believe me. "My dad didn't even know until this morning when Herb told him. Bringing in Tim was something Herb did on his own without telling or asking anybody!"
Rizzo just stared at me I couldn't read his face which infuriated me further. "And how dare you accuse me of not telling you something. I tell you everything, you're my boyfriend, I would do anything for you, or any of the team. And how could you ever accuse me of lying? If you honestly think for one second that I would lie to you…then you don't know me at all." I turned and started to leave.
"Chevon, you just don't understand the hell all of us are going through, how scared I am of not making the team." Rizzo snapped and I turned back to face him.
"What? Is that the only reason you are dating me? To ensure yourself a spot on the team? What is this Eruzione, your game is suffering so date the coach's daughter to ensure a roster spot?" I asked through clenched teeth.
"No, you know better than that!" Rizzo yelled.
"Oh do I? Funny because the person I thought I knew would never accuse me of being deceitful." I yelled. "And if you think for one second that I don't understand being scared that you won't make the team then SCREW YOU! Every time Herb decides to cut a player, I walk into that office scared to death that it's going to be you. I love you; I don't want to see you cut from the team, sent home. I don't want to go to the Olympics without you."
"What did you say?" Rizzo walked over to me and grabbed me by the shoulders. I realized what I had said. 'Think fast, maybe he won't notice.'
"I said: I don't want to see you get cut and not go to the Olympics with us." I said softly and looked down.
Rizzo put his fingers under my chin and raised my face so that I was looking into his eyes. "I love you too." He said softly.
I started to cry. Rizzo leaned down and kissed me softly. I held him tight never wanting to let go.
"I'm sorry." Rizzo said. "I know that you would never do anything to hurt me or the team and that you would never lie." He leaned his forehead against mine.
"It's okay. I know it was just your frustration getting the better of you for a few minutes." I said and rubbed my nose against his.
"And I would never date you just to get a roster spot. I couldn't use you that way." Rizzo said.
"I hate fighting with you, makes me hurt all over." I said and Rizzo pulled me into a tight hug.
"I'm sorry. I don't wanna fight either." Rizzo said and walked back till we could both sit on the couch. He pulled me into his arms and I was never more content.
"You really love me?" I asked, trying to rid myself of that nagging voice that said 'you're the coach's daughter and he is the struggling player.'
Rizzo made me look at him. "Yes, I love you. I have wanted to tell you for awhile now but never had the nerve."
I smiled and kissed him. "I have loved you since you took me out on my 'perfect date'." I told him. "I was always afraid to tell you because part of me feared you were only with me because I was the coach's daughter or that you would forget me when the Olympics were over."
"No, it's nothing like that. I have never felt this way about anyone before. I have felt this since the night we saw 'Alien'. I can't explain it." Rizzo said.
"Mike, I swear I didn't know this Tim guy was coming. I would never do anything to hurt you or the team." I said.
"I know. I am so sorry that I accused you." Rizzo said. "Its just with the way I have been playing and now Herb bringing in this all-star……well I might as well start packing to head back to Winthrop."
"Don't say things like that." I said and looked right at him. "You don't know that. I believe in you."
"I know you do." Rizzo said and kissed me.
I was so excited Rizzo had told me that he loved me and I loved him. But I was filled with fear that now Rizzo would be cut from the team and we would be separated.