On a Friday night, the air on Coney Island Avenue was thick with the smell of cheap hot dogs, sweat, and old turf.
Li Wei stood at the very center of the team, casually adjusting his arm guard while listening to the heavy breathing of his teammates and the sound of Coach Miller's furious yelling.
You couldn't blame them. After all, Franklin K. Lane High School had never beaten Erasmus High School in a Public School Athletic League game. With a losing streak spanning over twenty years against the titans of Brooklyn, it was no wonder they lacked confidence.
"Look at the state of you! Are you here for a game, or are you in a breadline after starving for three days?!"
