Fouling Out?

Abstract 

A basketball head coach is faced with a difficult decision when he overhears a secret conversation
between his assistant coach and his most valuable player.

***

“Here’s what you asked for last week. That’s all I can give you for now,” whispered Toney James, the assistant coach of the SeaMonsters.

“Man, I knew you would come through, Coach! I really appreciate this!” Diego Salgado, the SeaMonsters’ starting point guard replied, a little too loudly.

“Shhhh! Keep it cool, Diego. You can’t tell anybody about this. You know that, right?”

“I know, Coach. You have my word.”

“And you know what happens if somebody finds out?”

“Yes, Coach. I could get suspended, lose my scholarship, get thrown out of the team, yada, yada, yada. I got it. Don’t worry about it.”

Seamus O’Healy, the SeaMonsters’ head coach, had gone back into his office to retrieve his playbook. As he crossed the team’s locker room, he heard some whispering near Diego’s locker. O’Healy had enough coaching experience to know that whispering in a
deserted locker room was usually a sign of trouble. He stayed back and hid behind another row of lockers where nobody would see him. He heard the entire exchange between Toney and Diego.

Oh God! No, Toney! Why are you doing this? And why in the world are you doing it now? thought O’Healy as he watched both men exit the locker room.