Sidelines
THERE it was, shining out of the television at us with the light of a thousand watts. The million-dollar smile, bigger and brighter than Melissa Stark's engagement ring. He came across as innocent and humble and happy, someone you'd want to have around. The good-natured "Mr. Luau" had arrived. The smile that hasn’t
stopped since FresnoThis was affirmation. This was success. More so than approval at the combine or from the scouts or even words of acknowledgment from Mr. Mousse himself, Mel Kiper Jr. This was something.
The video game people were saying that Ashley Lelie was going to be a star.
And in the first round, just like everyone said, he was taken by the Mastermind, another offensive aficionado, to be paired with mentors who are hard-working and brilliant and tough. It had really happened. There had been no Hawaii drop, and the Rainbows (hey, Chris Berman said it) had finally produced a first-round pick.
At long last, it was real.
And the guy who promised to catch the pineapple beamed with a smile that was natural and pure.
This story began long ago, and there are a number of fairy tale starting points to choose from. They're all good, and equally magical. Like young Ashley going out for football at Radford when not everyone would in a Here One Day Gone The Next military lifestyle. Or his decision to walk on to the football team at Hawaii when many might wonder why he even bothered.
Or the time he escaped the ax, when June Jones, who sees pro potential in everyone who has half a chance at making honorable mention all-conference, took a second look at the gangly jumble of arms, legs and energy and said, "Hmmm ..."
Maybe you'd start the story there. Because the old saying goes that you can't coach 4.3, but somehow Jones' staff did.
And out of a guy who almost didn't make the team, and what a tale that would be to tell on this day of all days.
But no, let's begin somewhere else. Let's start at another beginning. To where the reality of the dream really started. To the point when it became more than talk, to the instant it all became possible.
There -- freeze time with me now. It's third-and-4 and Lelie hasn't done a thing all night. In fact, he's looked downright awkward. Check that. He's been too lifeless to look awkward. He can't find the ball. He runs right up to defenders, he stumbles into coverage. The TV commentators keep talking him up, but nothing happens. But now it's third down, fourth quarter, the game on the line. They go to Lelie.
And he DROPS THE BALL. It's right in his hands and he drops it and he deflates, striding on, head down, one, two, three, four -- bam!
A defender drills him, blind side, cheap shot, late hit, and Lelie flops backward like a rag doll. Arms tumble, legs splatter. In slow motion, as the background is blurred into a collage of faces, there is a flash of teeth as he grimaces in mid-air.
Ashley Lelie: Wide receiver, Hawaii, 6-258, 197, Junior NFL DRAFT: ROUND 1
Denver BroncosThird-team All-American had 84 receptions for 1,713 yards (20.4 average) and 19 TDs last season. Late riser owns eight school records.
Strengths: Outstanding athlete. Tall and agile. True deep threat. Sharp in and out of cuts. Impressive leaping ability. Snatches the ball at highest point. Terrific body control and ball skills. Makes the spectacular catch. Improved throughout career. Adjusts to the ball well. Deceptive, fluid speed. Played in a pro-style offense.
Weaknesses: Often faced subpar competition, although he did have big games against Fresno State and BYU last year. Thin for his height. Doesn't always get quick separation. Could run crisper routes. Drops too many balls despite good hands.
Then he is down, his face buried in the turf. It was a mere second then, before he looked up and punched the ground in disgust, but it may well have been an eternity. Stop the tape here. This is the moment. This is where it all began. This is where he became a football player.
You remember this night.
Of course, he'd been good before this, before this unnecessary roughness penalty against Fresno State. There had been big plays and afterburners and a lot of hot air. There were highlights and hype, and he was good, yes, but he was unpolished and inconsistent, a fourth-rounder with a lot of promise.
But lying face down in the artificial dirt, that was when yesterday's magic was born.
His long sleeve was ripped and his body throbbed and he got up and made plays that told the world he was real. And then he was, as weeks went on, tough and smart and in time he would become unstoppable. He was a different player, in that fourth quarter and since, a more complete one. He was everything they promised. He was as good as all the talk.
He was better.
And after his second touchdown that pivotal night against Fresno State, the touchdown in which the replay looks like he is reaching higher than the crossbar of the goal post for a pass in the center of the end zone, he came down hard but got up harder, sprinting, World Cup soccer style, with celebration and fire. Hawaii had taken its first lead, and anything was possible.
Minutes later, teammate Keiki Misipeka grabbed Lelie off the team bench and pulled him up, up until Lelie was standing on the top of it, up until Lelie was offered to the cheering fans. The two stood there, for a moment, shouting at the chanting crowd, lost in the madness, Lelie waving his arms in a frenzy and asking for more.
For the first time, it was a million-dollar smile.
Kalani Simpson can be reached at ksimpson@starbulletin.com