1992 Duke vs. Kentucky - Quite possibly the NCAA game of the century

By Shea Fite, The Narrows March 25th, 2010

"But Coach K was a great coach, and he actually had us work on that play. It's called home run for us" - Christian Leattner

"The shot that will be remembered as long as the game is replayed is Laettner's last one, the one that just beats the overtime buzzer in Philadelphia. Kentucky had just taken a one-point lead on Sean Woods' bank shot with two seconds left.

After a timeout, Duke's Grant Hill is left unguarded (Kentucky coach Rick Pitino's decision) and he flings the inbounds pass some 80 feet to a leaping Laettner, who's near the foul line with his back to the basket. The 6-foot-11 senior takes one dribble, fakes right, turns to his left and hits a 17-foot jumper to give Duke a 104-103 victory and its fifth consecutive trip to the Final Four.

Laettner, who makes two field goals and four foul shots in the final two minutes, finishes with 31 points on 10-for-10 shooting from both the field (including one 3-pointer) and the foul line. " - Via ESPN Classic

The most interesting thing about this game was that Coach Mike Krzyzewski drilled them for the crucial moment.  Did you hear that?  These guys were drilled for the crucial moment.  A seemingly trick play.  Over hand the ball down court so a big guy can make a Hail Mary at the last second but even Laettner had to admit his success was based on the leadership of another.

Here we are 18 years later.  March Madness is here and I was enlightened to this moment by some friends who recall it from when they were just teenagers.  It made me think of something Paul wrote.

1 Timothy 4:7-10

Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance (and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe.

We as men don't really train for the everyday.  No, we learn the lesson from Paul and Coach K.  We train for the crucial moments.  And life will present them to us.  Some maybe painful.  They will be important.  The crucial moments become markers that we look back on years later as either failure or success. 

When we lock arms with like minded men and practice talking to God, hearing His words, confessing our sins and loving those around us by introducing them to Jesus something really special happens. We become friends, deep heart buds that know where one another are at.  And the intense moments in life appear: A new job decision that takes guts and risk, a marriage begins to disintegrate before our eyes or maybe a new baby arrives and one doesn't know where the extra finances are coming from.  Thankfully, the training moments have already taken place and you don't have to do it alone.

That is what makes it all worth it.  That's when others come up to you and say "how do you make it look so easy?"  You know in your heart heart you trained for the crucial moments.