Randomly came across this video on Slate. Though I played soccer my entire life, I also dabbled a little bit in other sports growing up, and kicking in football was one of my adventures. Because my team was so terrible I basically only punted, but I did get the chance to attempt one field goal. As the fates would have it, I also missed mine and like this guy, there was a penalty on the play. The difference was mine was legitimate and I have the badge of honor of being roughed on a play. The coaches didn’t give me the chance to kick another one. They figured that we could get a yard and half and get a two point conversion; we didn’t.
I can’t say the pressure on me was as bad as sports writer Stefan Fatsis when he attempted a field goal at Broncos training camp for a book he was writing, but I’m willing to bet taking the last penalty in a shootout to win a soccer game (which I’ve done) could probably compare. Check out the video. Its a pretty entertaining story and it gives you a little glimpse of what athletes sometimes go through during competition.
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