The Price Of Arrogance Part 2

The basketball arena resonated with jeers and taunts as the Hilsbury High students atttempted to intimidate the practising Lexton High players. Some sections of the crowd tried to affect them psychologically by displaying banners containing pictures of that fateful day. To further intensify the atmosphere surrounding the arena, a minority of the supporters present chanted the numbers 78 and 77, with greater emphasis being placed on the number 78. The aim was simple yet vicious. The number 78 may be an ordinary number to anyone found on the streets, but it was of no doubt, a number etched in the minds of those Lexton High players involved in the heartbreaking loss. Their efforts to derail the visiting team's preparation plans appeared futile as the Lexton High players knocked down shots after shots, which riled the boisterous Hilsbury supporters. It was a matter of seconds before the obstreperous crowd began bombarding their Lexton High counterparts with maledictions and flooding them with whatever words which came to their minds. To make matters worse, James remarked that such useless tactics, deployed only by the weaker and desperate teams, provided the motivation and encouragement for his team to secure victory over an arrogant team which relied on taunts for success.

James was unable to comprehend why the home fans were behaving and treating the visiting Lexton High players with disrespect. Incensed, which he already was, he intended to provoke them further, but was stopped by Nick who grabbed hold of his arm and dragged him out of the basketball arena.

"What are you doing Nick? I have the right to voice my comments and enrich those cocky barbarians who regard us as garbage."

"Think twice before opening that mouth of yours, will you? You will only aggravate the current situation if those needless comments of yours are to be heard by those so-called cocky barbarians."

"Look Nick, Coach just restricted my playing time to a miserable 2 quarters and I am rather peeved at that decision. Those uncivilised monkeys in there have to infuriate me further by insulting us, degrading us and calling us names. We come here to play basketball, not to be subjected to such abuse."

"James, please calm down and listen to me. Clashing head-on single-handedly against an army of nearly 500 is unintelligent. Inane remarks about their attitude and behaviour will only antagonise them and exacerbate the situation. The noise level in there is already unbearable, and I have no intention in worsening the noise pollution problem. More importantly, our opponent is the Hilsbury players, not those brainless loudspeakers who think that taunting and verbally abusing us will secure victory for a team in basketball."

James seemed mollified by Nick's explanation. His impetuousness would land him in hot water, if not for Nick's timely intervention. He wanted to apologise, but the words seemed to have been stopped by the immigration department located at the tip of his tongue. Instead, James bent his neck and lowered his head, preferring to admire a beetle making its way past him rather than placing his attention on Nick. Extending his arm with his palm facing upwards, Nick continued.

"Taunting is worthless, talent is priceless. We will see who will then have the last laugh."

Lifting his head, James stared at Nick before grinning at him.

"Hell yeah," exclaimed James, who also slapped Nick's palm in response.

"Come on, we better get back in before Coach or our teammates find us missing."

In fact, Nick had dragged the hot-headed James out of the basketball arena in full view of the practising Lexton High players who pretended to be optically disabled for that few seconds.