RoxyAngel- Always happy to provide a laugh! Didn't mean to be parentally unacceptable! LOL
Strangexbutxtrue- Wow, and she was drunk! LOL
Mae- No hurting Verchota! He is to stay HEALTHY! LOL And wouldn't making her his sister be punishing Georgy for nothing? LOL
Darkdestiny2000- Mac is a sweetie. I didn't realize the Johnson joke would be so popular.
BellaLou- No depression from my stories allowed! LOL I see you laughed at the Johnson joke as well. I am happy you are enjoying the story so much. I love super reviewers. They are fun. Thanks for all the kind comments.
Meadow567- Great review. I enjoyed you including your favorite quotes.
Lia06- Everyone seems to like a drunk Georgia. Phil was being a man. So thrill that you like the story. Hope you continue reviewing.
Anmerie-She was just trying to do her professional duties. LOL So glad you liked last chapter.
Emador- (Breathe) I just saw him in that role.
Moi- I can picture him doing it every time I watch the Norway scene. LOL I have two big brothers I'll loan you! LOL
Nikki- Glad my story is good medicine! (Well Georgia is supposed to be a nurse! LOL)
September, 1979 Norway
I was resting before the game in my hotel room. I had gone to lunch earlier with Buzz and Bah but decided I needed a nap more than I needed to listen to their ramblings about "hott Norwegian blondes". I had almost drifted off to sleep when I heard someone knocking on my door.
I walked over to the door. "Who is it?" I called out.
"Verchota."
I opened the door, wondering what in the world he could want. "Can I help you?" I asked.
"Can I talk to you for a few minutes?" Verchota asked. I motioned for him to come in the room.
"Georgia, I just wanted to apologize for what I did at the party. I had no right to give you anything to drink that you weren't aware of how strong it was." Verchota said. "Truth is, I think you're a great girl and I hope we can still be friends."
I looked at him. He looked sincere and since nothing had happened between us, I could put it behind us and move on.
"Thanks. I appreciate the apology. You may need to apologize to Johnson considering he won't let me anywhere near him as a nurse." I said with a laugh. "He told me that if he breaks his arm, he'll wait till dad is available to take care of him. Should make physicals interesting."
"So we're okay? You're not going to have McClanahan break my kneecaps or anything?" Verchota asked.
"Of course not. Mac always breaks necks to defend me!" I said with a wink. "Can I talk to you as a medical professional?" I asked sitting on the couch and patting a seat next to me.
"I guess so." Verchota said, sitting next to me.
"Now, I know it's the oldest trick in the world give a girl a few drinks and make her more…lovey-dovey. Adam probably did it to Eve. But it's not the smartest thing to do. The woman can dehydrate, suffer alcohol poisoning, or asphyxiate on her own vomit. Or she may wake up the next day and not have wanted to go quite so far with the guy giving her drinks." I said.
"I know. Bah and Pav gave me this long lecture on how to treat women. They said 'if all else fails, think if it was your mom or sister, how would you want a guy to treat her?'." Verchota said. "When I look at it that way, I can't blame Mac for going ballistic like he did."
"Phil, I think you're an okay guy. Nice smile, good sense of humor, great hockey ability. You don't need liquor to get girls. Just be nice and be yourself." I said. "You won't get laid as often, but when you do it'll mean more. You might actually find a girl you care about!"
"That all sounded good, except for the not getting laid as often part." Verchota said with a wink.
"Do I have to call Mac?" I asked sarcastically but gave Verchota a hug.
(USA Vs. Norway)
For our first game, I didn't think we did terrible. However, we could have done a lot better. No serious injuries so dad and I watched the game from the bench while Herb paced like a caged animal.
Towards the end of the game, I walked down the bench. To my surprise, Silk, Buzz, Bah and Verchota were checking out girls. Buzzy was always so involved in the game that I was shocked that he was busy looking at girls in the stands.
"Oh wow, dynamite." I heard Bah say to Buzz then turn to Verchota. I stood behind them. "Look over here Philly, section two about fours rows up. Two girls blonde."
"Man their gorgeous." Verchota answered. I rolled my eyes and caught that Herb was also eavesdropping on their girl watching.
"Twins about seventh row up." Verchota and Silk told Bah.
"Lovely blonde girls." Bah said to Buzz.
No wonder we were only tied in this game. The boys would rather watch girls than focus on the game. 'Maybe they do need to get laid!' I thought with mild amusement.
When the final buzzer ended the game, I walked over to the ice to wait on the boys. I was going back to the locker room with them in case anyone had something that required medical attention.
I watched as the boys shook hands with the Norway team and then I watched Coach Craig meet them out on the ice. "Hold up, hold up hold up." Craig said to the boys as the reach the edge of the ice. "Get back out on the ice. Let's go"
"What for?" Bah asked.
"We'll find out soon enough. Let's go, back on the ice. Come on boys." Craig told them.
"What for?" Mac asked this time.
"We'll find out in a minute won't we? Let's go. Come on." Craig said and walked out onto the ice with them. I noticed he had a whistle in his hand.
Then I saw Herb crossing the ice and knew that the team was in trouble. The look on his face said it all. I walked over to dad, who looked as anxious to see what would happen as the team did.
"You guys don't want to work during the game. No problem, we'll work now. Goal line, that one." Herb said and pointed for the boys to line up for Herbies.
As the team grumbled and moaned while lining up, Craig came to stand with dad and me. I noticed most of the fans clearing out of the arena. The Norway team had left the ice completely.
Craig blew the whistle and the boys began skating across the ice. Even Janny and Jimmy were out there in all their goalie gear.
"You think you can win on talent alone…gentlemen you don't have enough talent to win on talent alone!" Herb told them. "Again."
Craig blew the whistle, the boys took off again. I looked at my watch wondering how long this would take.
"You think you can come in here and play the Norwegian National team and tie em, and then go to the Olympics and win! You got another thing coming!"
Craig blew the whistle again and again the boys took off skating.
"You better think about something else, each and every one of you." Herb told them. "When you pull on that jersey, you represent yourself and your teammates. And the name on the front is a hell of a lot more important than the one on the back. GET THAT THROUGH YOUR HEAD! Again!"
Whistle blew and off the skated again. I sat down on the bench to wait this out. I thought 10-15 minutes, Herb will yell and make his point then we can clean up and go home. Although I was feeling sorry for Jimmy and Janny in that equipment.
I watched Herb rant and the boys skate a few more minutes then the rink manager approached dad and me. I couldn't understand what he was saying, but dad knew enough of the language to know what he needed.
"The rink manager wants to finish his work and go home." Dad said. "I have to go tell Herb."
"Herb!" Dad called out, walking across the ice. "The rink manager, he wants to clean the ice and then go home."
"Tell him to leave me the keys, I'll lock up. Again" Herb said
Craig hesitated but blew the whistle sending the boys skating again. I was shocked. Dad went to speak with the rink manager who looked upset. I was beginning to think Herb was going too far and that he had made his point, it was time to go. But Herb just kept the boys skating.
"You keep playing this way and you won't beat anybody who's even good let alone great." Herb yelled at the boys as the skated back to the line. "YOU WANT TO MAKE THIS TEAM; YOU BETTER START PLAYING AT A LEVEL THAT IS GOING TO FORCE ME TO KEEP YOU HERE! Again!"
The lights in the arena went out. The rink manager must have been determined to get us out of there. Some of the boys started to skate off the ice. Herb made them line up again. Now Herb was going too far. The boys were so tired and I was worried that someone would get hurt or sick.
Herb made Craig blow the whistle and the boys started skating again.
"Dad, someone is going to get sick." I told my dad. "Those boys are going to start vomiting on the ice!"
"I know, Georgia. Herb is going too far!" dad said.
"How about it Silky, you gonna be the first one to quit on me?" Herb yelled as the boys made to back to the line. A few of them falling on their knees. "How about you OC, you ready to go down? I think I got my money on you Verchota. Course you got a hot date in about an hour, but you're not looking to good for that right about now, now are you? Send them."
Craig hesitated, but blew the whistle. "Doc, you know this is madness right?" Craig said to Dad. Dad and I nodded in agreement.
I stood there, wanting to do something, but not quite sure of what. I looked at dad who eyes reflected as much concern as mine did.
"This cannot be a team of common men, because common men go nowhere." Herb said. "You have to be uncommon. Again!"
"Herb, this has gone on long enough!" Dad called out to Herb.
"Everybody on that line!" Herb told the team.
"Somebody's going to get hurt!" Dad yelled.
"Everybody get on that line!" Herb said. I heard the boys struggling to get to their feet and line up. I couldn't believe that Herb would ignore his own medical staff. "Again."
Craig looked down and I could tell that he did not want to blow the whistle.
"Again." Herb said.
"Herb…" Craig started but couldn't find the words to say what he wanted.
"Come on Craig, blow the whistle. Again!" Herb said.
I watched Craig shake his head and slowly started to lift the whistle to his mouth.
"MIKE ERUZIONE!"
I heard Rizzo's voice yelling his own name out. I looked over to where Rizzo was bent down in agony. Silky was clinging onto the net trying to stand up. Others were holding onto each other. I saw Rizzo trying to breathe.
"WINTHROP, MASSACHUSSETTS!" Rizzo yelled out.
"Who do you play for?" Herb asked him.
Rizzo struggled and stood up. "I PLAY FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!"
Herb looked at the team, "That's all gentlemen." He said and began walking off the ice. I couldn't believe that that was the whole lesson. I guess it made sense though.
Dad and I headed out onto the ice to help the boys. Most of them had collapsed to the ice. Even Coach Craig was coming to help us. I ran to Mac who looked ready to vomit at any minute. I knew that dad and I were going to be busy with all these injuries tonight.
"Mac, are you okay?" I asked. Mac nodded. "Can you get to the locker room?"
I helped pull him to his feet and watched to make sure that he was able to skate off the ice. I looked down the ice and saw Jim lying on the ice. I ran over to him.
"Jimmy, do you need help?" I asked.
"Tired…I'm so tired, Georgy." Jimmy said and I helped him sit up.
"I know. Here, let's get you into the locker room and out of this equipment." I said and started pulling him up.
I held onto Jimmy as we made our way off the ice and towards the locker room. He was breathing heavily. I walked right into the locker room with him.
"Cover your crotches, I'm coming in!" I yelled as I walked Jimmy over to an empty bench and helped him sit down.
"My legs hurt!" Jim said.
"I know, here I'll help you get out of this equipment." I said and started undoing his leg pads.
"You're stripping me?" Jimmy said. I looked up to see he was smiling.
"I guess so." I said with a wink.
"Can I strip you next?" Jim asked.
"JIM-MY!" I said and felt myself blush.
"You're right, not here. Too many others I'd have to fight off!" Jim said.
"You're such a flirt." I told him.
"Only when the girl is smart, funny, pretty and likes swimming in my toilet." Jim said.
"Can we please leave that in the past?" I asked with a laugh.
"But you're so cute when you smile, and that story makes you laugh." Jimmy said.
"There's always a catch!" I said and rolled my eyes. I saw that Jimmy had gotten his jersey off and was working on his pads.
"Thanks for the help. I appreciate it. I am so tired." Jim said.
"Oh, it's no trouble. I just wish I could do more to help all the guys. I know you're all hurting and sore." I said.
I got the pads off his legs. I started on his skates. I was glad that he didn't make any jokes about me being on my knees. I would have blushed so red, I may have never returned to normal!
"I can take it from here." Jim said once I pulled his skates off. He had taken his upper body pads off.
"Okay, if you need anything else let me know." I said and looked up at Jim.
"I will." Jim said.
I stood up and gave Jim a hug. Jim kissed my cheek.
"What was that for?" I asked.
"Because you stripped me!" Jim said with a wink!
I laughed as I went to help dad with those complaining of sore muscles and cramps.
