It was a hot summer day at approximately 7 o’clock a.m. At this time there were three kids in the park. You might wonder what are these kids doing at the park so early in the morning but they had their reasons. Apparently Charise, Naydene, and Jamal were conducting their own basketball drills amongst themselves. Jamal wanted to help Naydene and Charise with their skills so that when the basketball season came around in school, they would have a chance to make the team.
As they continued on with their play, the park became cloudy and cool. This forced them to pay attention because this was a sudden change in weather. Meantime, Charise was holding the basketball that disappeared into the air. All of them looked at each other with a shock on their faces. As they slowly started to recover from the shock an apparition appeared.
The apparition began to speak; “Greetings all sports lovers meaning you three, Charise, Jamal, and Naydene. I was sent here on a mission because word on the street is that you all are really close. I am willing to enshrine you all as the team Genesis. I chose the name Genesis because after this maze is completed, it will be the beginning of a new aspect of friendship and teamwork for you people. I will offer you all a proposition first. You will have to complete a difficult maze, which consists of the topic of football. Now I know this will be some sort of a challenge because you are basketball fans but I think you could handle it as a team.”
So Charise, Naydene, and Jamal had to complete the football course and then answer some sort of sports trivia to show teamwork and unity. The team contemplated whether they would be able to withstand such a task without demeaning their friendship. They partook in a discourse to decide if they should go on with it. Charise said, “We can do this even though we love basketball! If we work together to become team Genesis we will make it.”
Jamal said, “Come on Naydene. I know Charise is confident that we will make it through. I am waiting on you.”
“Yes, I am confident. Anything to finally bring the group together, I am willing to do”, said Naydene.
The apparition began to give out the instructions for the maze. “Okay people, it is time to get ready for the most grueling task. You now have access to the maze.” Slowly, they started to enter the maze together. A football and the apparition met them. The apparition began to give them instructions. “You have ample time to complete this maze. I am going to give you all about 30 minutes and no more. In the first stage, I am giving you about 15 minutes to gain at least 50 yards on the football field for a first down in the enemy’s territory. In order for this portion of the maze to be completed, one of you would have to cross that 50-yard line. You can only go on to the next portion if and only if the first stage is completed. In the second stage, I am giving you 15 minutes again. You have to answer 10 questions as a team. Jamal and Naydene has to answer 6 out of the 10 questions and Charise has to answer 4 questions. After you complete these stages successfully, you can go back to the park in your world of serenity. I will give you all a hint to complete this successfully: Complete a bulk of the tasks using communication. ”
Before the game began they received 2 minutes to create a strategy by the apparition. Charise began to speak of strategy, “We gain possession of the football at our own goal line. So Jamal, you are going to be the QB, Naydene should be the WR, and I will be the RB. Then we will try to get to midfield, but I know this apparition has a trick up his sleeve.”
“Then when it is time for the trivia questions, Naydene try to answer the first three or Charise. Well it doesn’t really matter. Remember this Charise and Naydene, work as a team,” Jamal chimed in. The two minutes were up and the apparition made them aware of this, “Time’s up. Oh yes, I nearly forgot, there are defenders on the field and you are provided with an offensive line but the only people who could advance the ball are the WR, QB, and RB which are Naydene, Jamal, and Charise. There is also a referee. Let the games begin.”
They began the first stage, which is the football game.
Jamal snapped the ball, which enabled Naydene to gain possession. Naydene was handed the ball from Jamal and she was able to gain some yardage before the referee stopped the play.
“Okay Jamal, snap the ball,” said Naydene.
“Naydene, watch out! There are two defenders there,” said Jamal.
“Thanks because now I can break the tackle,” said Naydene.
The referee blew his whistle to stop play.
“Offensive team, with a gain of 25 yards,” said the referee.
After the referee clarified his call Jamal snapped the ball to Charise. She gained a couple of yards on a RB carry.
“Okay Charise, Snap turn-around 62 cover,” Jamal said.
“Carry,” said Charise.
Then the referee stopped play again. The referee reminded the team of where they stood on the field. Then the play continued. Jamal wanted to complete this game with a bang so he told Charise that a carry was coming. Charise ran down the field for the last time. The referee blew his whistle and declared that the mission has been completed.
The referee blows his whistle to stop play again.
“RB has gained 5 yards. 20 more yards to go,” said the referee.
“All or nothing, Charise are you ready?” said Jamal.
“Yeah, hand it over, I am ready,” said Charise to Jamal.
The referee blows his whistle for the final time.
“RB has gained 23 yards for a final position of 47 yards on the opposing team’s territory. Mission complete,” said the referee.
The apparition appeared again, “Great job guys. Stage one was completed in 10 minutes. Now you have about 20 minutes for the trivia portion which is stage two.” After they were displaced from stage one by a strange force, a setting of a classroom where the trivia game was going to be played suddenly surrounded them. The apparition appeared again to speak, “Now this is your final stage. Answer 10 questions as a team and the mission is complete. I just have one suggestion for you guys; you have 20 minutes for the whole game so try to take 2 minutes per a question. Good luck. I will be asking you the questions. And it starts, now.”
The apparition dished out the first question.
“Question number one, name two quarterbacks that have been a substantial influence in the modern day era of the NFL? When I say modern day era, I mean post 1970 and please mention the teams to receive full credit. Charise it is your turn to answer,” said the Apparition.
“Dan Marino from the Miami Dolphins and Steve Young from the San Francisco 49ers," answered Charise.
“Correct,” said the Apparition spookily.
“Question number two, can somebody tell me one of the achievements of one of these quarterbacks previously mentioned? Try to state the achievement and the era in which it was achievement. Jamal, take this question,” said the Apparition.
“Steve Young has a Superbowl win under his belt and he won it in the late 1980’s,” said Jamal with self-confidence.
“Correct,” said the Apparition.
“Next question. Can you somebody name one of the wide receivers on that San Francisco 49er Superbowl team. Naydene,” the Apparition said.
“Is the wide receiver Jerry Rice?”
“Correct,” said the Apparition.
“True or False. Does the NFL have at least 4 new expansion teams since 1995, Charise?”
“Yes,” said Charise with the least amount of doubt.
“Correct.”
“Can you name at least 4 of them for me Jamal?"
“Jacksonville Jaguars, Carolina Panthers, Baltimore Ravens, and the Houston Texans.”
“Correct.”
“I am going to change the theme now. Name one of the most hated teams in all of the NFL, Jamal?”
“Is it the Oakland Raiders?”
“This is correct Jamal.”
“Okay Jamal, you are not allowed to answer anymore questions because you have answered three already. Naydene and Charise are the only ones who are allowed to continue in the trivia. There are only two questions remaining and a lot of time left over. Next question is to Charise. Name one reason why the Raiders would be hated in all of football?” said the Apparition.
“Because of their owner.”
“Correct Charise.”
“This question goes out to Naydene. What is the name of their owner and give a description of his common wardrobe.”
“I think his name is Al Davis and he is known to wear glasses that are out of style and a black leather jacket. He can mostly be found wearing silver and black which are the Raiders colors.”
“Correct.”
“This question could be lethal to your chances of winning. Charise it is up to you. What is the name of the commissioner of the NFL?” said the Apparition with caution.
“Let’s see, I have heard his name before, is it Paul Tagliabue.”
“And that is absolutely correct.”
“And this question is for all the marbles. Charise, since you seem to be the strongest member of the group, I left this one question for you to answer because I figured that you could take the pressure. The question is what system does Division 1-A NCAA football use to determine a champion at the end of a season?
“Is it called the BCS or otherwise known as the Bowl Championship Series?”
“Just as I thought. You did it. This mission is complete,” said the Apparition with pride.
At the end of the maze, the apparition gave an original and official speech. “Charise, Jamal, and Naydene, you have demonstrated the essence of teamwork. Now you can mold as one in spirit and officially refer to yourselves as team Genesis. This maze was an integral part for the friendship to survive and shine through. Go back to the park and do not tell a sole of this experience. When you do return it will be just as you left before I arrived. The day will be sunny and hot. Please, word is bond. It has been nice working with you people and you all have taught me a lot. Bye now and enjoy team Genesis.” The apparition left for good.
Their lives went back to normal. They seemed to be closer to each other after this. Before Jamal opened his mouth to tell one of his other buddies about what just happened to them, the apparition appeared and casted a spell on Charise, Jamal, and Naydene so they would forget that the event happened. Charise said, “What just happened? I just became dizzy and I know it is not this heat that is causing it.”
“I’ll tell you what just happened, we were playing basketball, and I just did a quick crossover,” said Jamal.
“Okay then, let’s keep on playing!” said Naydene. That is what they did, they kept on playing like nothing ever happened.
