You should have seen their faces. In fact maybe you did. The clock showed just ten minutes left and their team were losing by three goals to one, the winner promoted to a higher league and the loser destined to another season in the lowest division. A mixture of despair, hopelessness and resignation written in their eyes, most probably divided in thoughts between waiting to cheer their team at the final whistle and leaving early to avoid the lap of honour by the victors. Then from nowhere, the ball fell to one of their players and seconds later was bulging in the net. Frowns changed to smiles, silence became cheers of encouragement and somewhere in their thoughts, a revival was not out of the question. Across the ground on the opposing terrace, songs of victory and undeniable support became muted, tension that had seemed to vanish with the third goal, returned and that element of doubt in their team's ability reflected in their less than convincing cheering. They needn't have worried, for the players on the pitch had more faith in their own ability than the supporters on the terrace and when it was over, they still had that goal to spare. Such was the excitement and the passion of all concerned, you would have thought this was a Champions League Final, but it was only the second division play off decider between Stockport and Rochdale, to decide who would get out of the old fourth division into the hardly millionaire row of division three, or in its modern, less demeaning reincarnation as division one.Less than a week ago, like millions around the world, I had remained fixed on the television screen until late, though not as late as those at the game in Moscow, watching the thickness of a post deprive one team of victory in the penalty shoot out and a goalkeeper's glove secure victory for their opponents. A good friend, who supports the winners with a passion which still allows him to be objective in his opinions about his own and opposing teams, was already on his way out of the door, assuming that the game was over, when the cheer made him return to victory. In truth, all of us who follow sport, should know better than to believe any game is ended before the final whistle. Only weeks ago, I gazed in disbelief as Arsenal score a late equaliser at Liverpool to take them through to the semi final but in the few seconds that I left the room in despair, a penalty at the other end had totally changed the game again. It took me back almost twenty years to the night at the same ground when the same two teams battled for the league title but on that occasion, the Londoners scored in the last minute to claim the trophy. Or the night AC Milan had the Champions League won at half time but still contrived to lose it to the mighty Reds. Like I say, in sport, a game, a contest or a race is never over till it's over. Just remember Jonny Wilkinson, Red Rum, Wasps, Munster, Henman and yes, Manchester United, in Europe.
But when it is over, then it really is over and the sporting world is full of players, athletes, competitors and fans, for whom the words, 'if only' bring back memories of what might have been. Reporters, journalists, panel experts and commentators make a living out of analysing what might have been, where it all went wrong and how it could have been so different but all the discussion and arguments the recriminations and blame, the excuses and protesting will never change a thing for when the game is over, the result stands.
I'm always moved by that song, 'when it's all been said and done' ans while the lyrics reflect those of a believer who ponders whether they have given enough to Jesus, it is equally appropriate to those who as yet find themselves outside of God's kingdom. On that day when our life on earth is over and we stand before the risen King, all the excuses, blame shifting and pleading will not alter the result one little bit for the great Judge will already have decided our destiny. Jesus says, 'There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day.' And John the disciple in his vision of the end days in the Book of revelation, records, 'And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.'
When it is over, it will truly be over. You know, nobody knows exactly the moment when a referee blows that final whistle and while he waits, there is always time to change the result. Don't wait till it's over.
