- November 23, 2024
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Growing up, I was a Michael Jordan fan like everyone else. There was nothing better than watching him boldly take the last shot of the game—and make it. Although I never cared for Kobe or Tom Brady, I can’t deny their similar greatness to come up big in the final moments of the biggest games. I can’t think of anyone else who has exhibited better talent at the end of games than these three, but what I saw FPC’s Mike Astrologo accomplish on his final career lift blows any of their feats away.
After he and the No. 1 lifter in his division separated themselves from the rest of competition, Astrologo trailed the other lifter by 20 pounds, heading to the final event, clean and jerk. Up for his first attempt to win the 4A state heavyweight lifting championship, Astrologo needed to clean and jerk 350 pounds. At no other time in his life has he ever lifted more than 330 pounds, which he had only completed once at a practice.
“I said to him before he had ever lifted anything, ‘I want you to make me a promise that whatever I tell you to put on the bar, you’re going to trust that I have the faith in your ability to do it,’ and he said, ‘Yes sir.’”
After jerking the weight up to his shoulders, Astrologo was seeking to hold it over his head, but the weight dropped, and he begin to fall back until he fell tot he ground unconscious for roughly 10 seconds.
From there, he gets back up, uses a little over four minutes to get back focused, and, on what would be the last lift of his entire four-year high school career, wins on a PR that far exceeded anything he had ever done before, just after failing miserably.
I tried, but I’m not sure I can put that into perspective. Yes, Kobe did put up 60 points in his final game, and Jordan did score 40 points after turning 40, but what Astrologo accomplished is greater than Jordan’s “Flu game.” He had never even attempted to reach 350 pounds, and he didn’t get any chances to warm up to it! Forgive me if I seem a bit shocked — because I am!
You can try convincing me otherwise. Email me at [email protected], or follow me on Twitter @PCOsports.
