How Reggie Evans Is Like Rudy

Posted on October 4, 2009 | No Comments

Rudy“I wish God would put your heart in some of my players bodies.”

I think it’s impossible for any guy to watch Rudy without tearing up, at least a little. When Rudy finally runs onto that field at the end, realizing his dream and showing everyone that anything is possible, I blubber like a preteen girl at a Twilight convention. I mean, how can you not love seeing how all his hard work has come to fruition?

Sure, the movie sometimes drags a little, and Rudy often seems like a complete moron without any grasp of reality and an incredibly unhealthy obsession that completely rules his life, but you gotta love the story of a guy who has no business being a football player making it on one of the best teams in college football. And keep in mind, I hate football, but I love this movie.

When Rudy finally makes it onto the team, he’s basically practice fodder for the starters…

“My job is to basically beat the shit out of you for the next 5 days, and whoever is still standing at the end, maybe we’ll use for our scout teams. You’ll be running the oppositions plays week in and week out. The greatest value to us is we don’t care whether you get hurt. Our first teams are going to pound on you like you’re their worst enemies. Like what you hear so far? Any of you wanna run home to momma?”

At first, Rudy’s drive and enthusiasm rub some of the players the wrong way, especially when he plays as hard as he can every practice. What he does, though, is make the starters play harder, just to keep up with him and not look bad. For all his lack of skill and physical ability, Rudy actually has a positive effect on the team.

ReggieNow, as I was reading the latest report from training camp, something occurred to me. Reggie Evans IS Rudy. He’s an undersized power forward who can’t shoot a lick and has almost no offensive ability, but I’m sure the coaches would love to put his heart in the body of a few of the Raptors. I mean, the guy doesn’t seem to give up, especially going after rebounds. In practice, Reggie has been going after Andrea Bargnani so hard on defense that Bargnani is having to prepare for it more, and is playing harder and tougher.

If nothing else, if Reggie can have the same effect on some of the Raptors that Rudy had with his Notre Dame teammates, then he’s certainly worth his salary. If Bargnani ever makes the All-Star team, he might have Reggie Evans to thank for it.

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