GAME DAY, PART 5: CHAD EARNS HIS FIRST CAP

Contributed by: Dave

Originally, we had been told we could go into the locker room with the team to film Kei getting ready. But since we had fallen so far behind the bus in the chaos, the federation thought that we might be disruptive. Instead of filming their final preparations, we were guided out to a space under the stadium where the Leone Stars would enter before making their way down the tunnel to the pitch.

Energy coursed through the building. Above us, the stands shook. Even from where we were, we could see that fans were crammed into every space available. It was hard to believe it was the same place we had spent the last several days.

Chad hadn’t planned on using the elaborate steadicam system that we had huffed to the stadium (quick note for the non-techies out there: the steadicam allows the user to run alongside action while keeping the motion silky smooth, but it also requires a vest that looks like a flak jacket and a swing arm that makes its wearer look a bit like a three-armed cop from the future). When he saw opportunity, though, he took it. He began ripping stuff out of our bag and assembling the equipment faster than I’ve ever seen him do it. He finished with no time to spare—no sooner had he stood up than the door to the locker room swung open.

The Leone Stars were about to take the pitch.

Chad was too.

As Kei came out, Chad started following him from the side, but decided to hop behind him for a better angle. Not knowing what the hell else to do, I followed the two of them, the entire time expecting Chad to peel off.

Didn’t happen. Chad followed Kei into the tunnel and I followed Chad.

We’ve mentioned we’re former athletes. We’d be lying if we said we didn’t fantasize about running out of a darkened tunnel to be greeted by blinding light and the screams of thousands of fans. Thanks to Kei Kamara, we lived that dream.

Chad took it a bit further. As Kei ran out, the fans started to see the Leone Stars. The intensity grew. And grew. And grew. And then suddenly, Kei was running out onto the field, clapping for his fans. Chad didn’t stop. He followed him across the pitch, steadicam in hand, looking every bit the part. It was epic. Later, when we regained our sanity, we realized that Chad probably could’ve been tackled by security. But damn, it was cool. That kid’s a baller.