March 5, 2008

By Jemele Hill
ESPN Page 2

There was no time to think, just enough time to act. Most of the 75 cross-country skiers were knotted together in one lane. Already, he could see a large pack distancing itself, and their opportunity lessening. their opportunity lessening.

He pushed his right ski pole toward his teammate.

"Which pole do you need?" he yelled. They weren't even through the first mile into the race.

His teammate was confused. "Dude, what are you doing?!"

He saw his teammate needed the right pole. He yelled at him again.

"Go! Go! Ray, just stick with the group!"

It was the good ol' give-and-go, but it's not a play we see in sports very often.

The goer was Ray Sabo. The giver, Einar Often. They are skiers for the University of Alaska-Fairbanks who entered last month's regional championships with the same dream and the same problem -- both desperately wanted to make the NCAAs, but both were stuck on the bubble. If this were Bracketology, Sabo and Often would be Maryland and Florida.

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