That Kid


vince young may not be God, but he sure as hell gave us a good look at what He might look like if He strapped on a helmet, shoulderpads, and donned Texas' glorious all white uni's. A few days removed, anything that i might say here would just be retread of what has already been said about vince young. but in this age of hyperbole and "instant classics", it was hard not to feel like you were witnessing a little piece of something that no one had ever seen before. driving up to work yesterday morning, i heard a perfect analogy (and one that had entered my mind wednesday night) as it related to vince's exploits in the rose bowl. the talking head said something along the lines of, "you remember that kid in the neighborhood that nobody could stop when you were playing backyard football? well, vince young was that kid last night on the biggest stage that there is in college football." the guy was right. like i said, it had crossed my mind too. vince young was just better than everyone he was playing against. i never was that kid when i was growing up. i was good. sometimes even close to the best, but never the kid that no one could stop. i don't guess i had that kid on my street when i was growing up. but i played against that kid in rec parks growing up. it just wasn't fair, but it was fun to watch.

i am sure usc felt that way wednesday night. or will soon. yeah, it sucked that they lost. but someday they will get to tell their wives, their kids, and their grandkids that they went toe to toe with that kid, with vince young, and almost came out on top.

but isn't that the funny part? almost doesn't count. no, "i am going to be gino torretta in the pros" leinart. your team wasn't the better team. almost doesn't count in football. in sports.

reggie bush has "it". the wow factor. he's going to be awesome. but on wednesday night, he wasn't that kid.

vince young was.

what i wouldn't give to be that kid.