If you have not yet heard about Anthony Johnson from the Montana Grizzlies basketball team I am sure you will in the upcoming NCAA basketball tourney. To sum it up, Montana was down by 20 at the half in last night's Big Sky tournament final to Weber State. The game seemed over. But the second half spelled a different story. Anthony Johnson who 4 years ago was washing dishes having given up on his basketball career after high school. He met a girl who also played basketball and watched him play pickup at the YMCA.  Shaunte Nance was playing basketball at another school but moved to Tacoma, WA in order to be closer to Johnson. Seeing the basketball potential in him she brokered a deal with the Community College that she wold play basketball for them only if her boyfriend Johnson could also play.  Well Johnson excelled at Yakima Valley Community College and D-1 offers came flooding in at which point he returned the favor to his now wife, he would come play only if his wife would also play. Finally Montana accepted the deal and look at what happened. Johnson brought the Montana Grizzilies back from a 20 point half-time deficit. Scored 42 points of his team's 66 total. And hit the winning shot with seconds left in the game.

I am writing this post for several reasons. First the whole thing moved me. I am sucker for down and out type stories.  Secondly I love stories about friendship and compassion. Putting yourself on the line for someone else to me is amazing. I wish more people would act like that. And thirdly who doens't like a cinderella story. A nice guy who worked hard, got a good break from a friend (or wife) and took advantage of the opporunity.

Here are the game highlights: