Well, since you asked......
It obviously captures the moment right after Lee “lost” to DeSanto when going for his 4X state title and an undefeated HS career. Fighting on one leg, mono wore him out, he still wanted to go for it and push himself to a new height of achievement. You could even argue that the 2 was after the whistle, and I wouldn’t look at you sideways.
To me, this photo captures an inflection point for our program—the precise moment in time that our current lull of misfortune turns around. This is Lee’s Larry Owings moment—the burning seed of resentment that grew in Gable’s heart until it burst out in full bloom as he blew through the ‘72 Olympics and no one scored even a point on him. You don’t have the greatest tournament run in wrestling history without the sting of that final NCAA loss.
So Lee has a stinger in his soul now, too. That final last loss that he couldn’t quite (and no one could or should, let’s be clear) pull off. But he is savvy enough and driven enough to use it to fuel an incredible run through his NCAA career, and we’re all along for the ride. He doesn’t ever want to feel that way again.
So as terrible a moment and as bitter a defeat as it was for Spencer,and we mourn it right along with him, I think it was quite possibly the greatest thing that could have happened to the Hawks in a long while. So I celebrate it as the catalyst for our next title.
Go Hawks. FREE THE LEE.
(Copied from another thread)