Taking inspiration from a Stick Jockey column a few weeks ago, encouraging sports gamers to take overcome their on-field setbacks without quitting or reloading from a previous save, as the game will ultimately deliver a reward. One readerâs pursuit of comprehensive greatness fell short, but embodied the lesson.
Following a superb freshman campaign in NCAA Football 12âs âRoad to Gloryâ mode, in which he tallied 1,747 yards rushing despite not starting until week 7, Drgnmstr366 became determined to capture the NCAAâs all-time rushing record, and the Heisman Trophy. Statistically, he appeared to have little problem, rushing for 250 yards against Notre Dame, then two straight 300-yard games, then a record-busting 423 yards against a Division I-AA opponent.
And yet none of these redounded to a quality team victory, so crucial in the voting for the Heisman. Indeed, at the end of his sophomore year, despite 2,983 yards rushing and 39 touchdowns, the Heisman went to a running back from Iowa, with 1,374 yards and 19 touchdowns. Worse, Drgnmster366 only got 16 first place votes.
Blaming traditional voting biases against West Coast players and underclassmen, he returned for his junior year convinced that, with Stanford as a preseason No. 1, he would be a lock for the Heisman. Indeed, he starred in an undefeated season whose closest victory was by 10. And yet still no Heisman.
âI honestly donât remember who won because when I saw the screen pop up and it didnât say my name, I raged through the menu and shut the game off and didnât play the BCS Championship game until the next day,â he writes. âI won.â
Playing out the string in his senior year, Stanford loses a close game to Oregon State primarily because Drgnmster366 is phoning it in. The team reaches No. 2 in the BCS by the end of the year. Convinced heâll be screwed by the game again, Drgnmster366 advances the week and, through the notoriously long loading time, goes to the kitchen to reheat some dinner. âI hear the âbleep bloopâ of an achievement unlocking and turn around and ⊠Oh my God, I just won the Heisman Trophy!â
Hereâs the proof:
Remember, all you have to do to get yourself featured in Box Scoresâ Game of the Week is take a picture of whatever sports video game been playing â crappy cell picture will do â write up a couple sentences about why it was so compelling, and email it to me, owenATkotakuDOTcom, with âBox Scoresâ in the subject header. Be sure to include include your commenter page URL so I can properly credit the entry.
Now the Kotaku Sports open thread commences with the sports TV highlights for today and tomorrow. All times are U.S. Eastern.
Baseball
Weâre in the doldrums of the sports calendar, so thereâs little on the tube this weekend. MLBâs games are the Braves at Reds, Padres at Phillies, or Tigers at Twins, on Fox at 4 p.m., check local listings. WGN has the White Sox at Cleveland at 7. Tomorrow, TBS has Seattle at Boston at 1:30; WGN features the Astros at Cubs, 2:10, and ESPNâs game of the week is the Braves at Reds, 8 p.m.
Other Stuff
The WNBAâs All-Star Game is Saturday at 3:30, ABC. The Tour de Franceâs Final Stage is live on Versus at 8 a.m. Sunday, on tape-dealy on CBS at 2. Soccerâs World Football Challenge sees Manchester United at the Chicago Fire, ESPN2 at 5 p.m. Saturday; Manchester City faces Los Angeles on ESPN at 4, Sunday.
Remember, you may send your sports Game of the Week nominations to owenATkotakuDOTcom, and flag it âBox Scoresâ in the subject header. Please include your commenter handle for proper credit.
(Top photo by Getty)
