The outlook wasn't brilliant for Team USA that day,
The score stood seven and nine with but one more round to play,
And then when Nikos choked up first, and Niels soon did the same,
A pall-like silence fell upon the patrons of the game.
A straggling few got up to go, down in deep despair. The rest
Clung to the hope which springs eternal in the human breast;
"If only Mikey could but get a turn” their champion of fable,
We'd put up even money now, with Mikey at the table."
But Johnny preceded Mikey, as did also Brandon Shuff,
While the former was a champion, the latter had not enough;
So upon that stricken multitude grim melancholy lay,
For there seemed little chance Mikey would get to play.
But Dennis let the shaft out, to the wonderment of all,
Hatch, despised in Europe, made every single ball;
And when the dust had lifted, and men saw what had occurred,
Johnny roared in the second, while Shane drilled Daz the third!
Then from five thousand throats, there rose a lusty yell;
It rumbled through the valley, it rattled in the dell;
It pounded on the mountain and echoed like a roar,
For Mikey, mighty Mikey, was advancing through the door.
There was ease in Mikey’s manner as he stepped into his place;
There was pride in Mikey’s bearing and a smile lit Mikey’s face.
When, responding to the cheers,massive forearms tipped his cue,
No stranger in the crowd would doubt that Mikey would come through..
Ten thousand eyes were on him as he rubbed his hands with dirt ,
Five thousand men applauded when he wiped them on Nick’s shirt.
Then while the lanky Dutchman won the lag for the first break,
Mikey raised his bushy eyebrows and ordered up a steak.
While the resin-covered sphere came hurtling through the air,
Mikey stood a-watching it in haughty grandeur there.
Close by the sturdy cueman, the ball unpotted sped —
"Ain't my style," said Mikey. "Game to Nick!" the ref then said.
From the benches, black with people, there went up a muffled roar,
Like the beating of the storm-waves on a stern and distant shore;
"Kill him! Kill the ref" shouted someone on the stand;
And it's likely they'd have killed him had not Mikey raised his hand.
With a smile of Christian charity great Mikey’s visage shone;
He stilled the rising tumult; he bade the game go on;
He signaled to the player, and once more the spheres flew;
But Mikey hung another and the umpire said, "Yer down two!"
Nick while on the Hill but hooked, elected to push out,
But one scornful look from Mikey caused the audience to shout,
They saw his face grow stern and cold, they saw his muscles strain,
The knew Mikey would shoot and just run out the frame!
The sneer is gone from Mikey’s lip, his teeth are clenched in hate,
He pounds with cruel violence his cue upon the slate;
Nick has pushed out to a combo and now all will know,
As the London air is shattered by the force of Mikey's blow.
Oh, somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright,
The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light;
And somewhere men are laughing, and somewhere children shout,
But There is no joy in Waterville Maine — for Mighty Mikey has struck out.
The score stood seven and nine with but one more round to play,
And then when Nikos choked up first, and Niels soon did the same,
A pall-like silence fell upon the patrons of the game.
A straggling few got up to go, down in deep despair. The rest
Clung to the hope which springs eternal in the human breast;
"If only Mikey could but get a turn” their champion of fable,
We'd put up even money now, with Mikey at the table."
But Johnny preceded Mikey, as did also Brandon Shuff,
While the former was a champion, the latter had not enough;
So upon that stricken multitude grim melancholy lay,
For there seemed little chance Mikey would get to play.
But Dennis let the shaft out, to the wonderment of all,
Hatch, despised in Europe, made every single ball;
And when the dust had lifted, and men saw what had occurred,
Johnny roared in the second, while Shane drilled Daz the third!
Then from five thousand throats, there rose a lusty yell;
It rumbled through the valley, it rattled in the dell;
It pounded on the mountain and echoed like a roar,
For Mikey, mighty Mikey, was advancing through the door.
There was ease in Mikey’s manner as he stepped into his place;
There was pride in Mikey’s bearing and a smile lit Mikey’s face.
When, responding to the cheers,massive forearms tipped his cue,
No stranger in the crowd would doubt that Mikey would come through..
Ten thousand eyes were on him as he rubbed his hands with dirt ,
Five thousand men applauded when he wiped them on Nick’s shirt.
Then while the lanky Dutchman won the lag for the first break,
Mikey raised his bushy eyebrows and ordered up a steak.
While the resin-covered sphere came hurtling through the air,
Mikey stood a-watching it in haughty grandeur there.
Close by the sturdy cueman, the ball unpotted sped —
"Ain't my style," said Mikey. "Game to Nick!" the ref then said.
From the benches, black with people, there went up a muffled roar,
Like the beating of the storm-waves on a stern and distant shore;
"Kill him! Kill the ref" shouted someone on the stand;
And it's likely they'd have killed him had not Mikey raised his hand.
With a smile of Christian charity great Mikey’s visage shone;
He stilled the rising tumult; he bade the game go on;
He signaled to the player, and once more the spheres flew;
But Mikey hung another and the umpire said, "Yer down two!"
Nick while on the Hill but hooked, elected to push out,
But one scornful look from Mikey caused the audience to shout,
They saw his face grow stern and cold, they saw his muscles strain,
The knew Mikey would shoot and just run out the frame!
The sneer is gone from Mikey’s lip, his teeth are clenched in hate,
He pounds with cruel violence his cue upon the slate;
Nick has pushed out to a combo and now all will know,
As the London air is shattered by the force of Mikey's blow.
Oh, somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright,
The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light;
And somewhere men are laughing, and somewhere children shout,
But There is no joy in Waterville Maine — for Mighty Mikey has struck out.
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