A writer's tribute to the Sharks

By Tom Schreier

Members of the media are not supposed to cheer during a sporting event, but at Game 7 of the Western Conference Semifinals, I couldn't help it.

As the time on the scoreboard entered single digits, San Jose Sharks forward Patrick Marleau cleared the puck out of the zone, forcing the Detroit Red Wings, who were down a goal, to chase the puck out of the zone.

The crowd was ecstatic. Noise erupted from deep within them, their vibrations entering through my ears and shaking my soul. It gave me a rush that produced tremors in my heart, goosebumps on my arms and a tear in my eye.

I turned and gave a fist pump to the man who was sitting next to me, Ryan Moses of the Santa Cruz Sentinel, and screamed, "they just did it!" But the crowd was too loud for him to hear me.

The Sharks had just staved off a come-from-behind surge from the Detroit Red Wings, a team that had dug their way back from a 0-3 hole in the series to force Game 7.

Minutes earlier, Marleau had just scored his first goal of the series, which put the Sharks in the lead.

In only a few minutes I would have to rush down a crowded stairwell to the locker room to conduct interviews.

My cell phone was exploding with text messages from people who had been watching the game.

However, there was only one thought going through my mind: this is what I was born to do.

There is a phrase posted in the locker rooms of both the Sharks and Wings: "to whom much is given, much is expected."

It is meant to be a message to the players; however, it has a direct application to my life. I have always had great expectations for myself.

Ever since I was a child I have loved sports, and I have always wanted to keep them a part of my life.

When I began writing for The Santa Clara, my first story, a piece on the women's water polo team, was recognized by local writer Ted Robinson. Robinson put me in contact with Dave Finocchio, the founder of Bleacher Report, a San Francisco-based startup website, where I worked as an intern this past summer.

Aron Glatzer, the credential manager at Bleacher Report put me in contact with Roger Ross and Scott Emmert of the Sharks organization, who reserved a seat for me at Game 7.

And the Sharks fans and players provided me with one of the greatest experiences of my life.

A lot has been given to anyone who is reading this.

Expect great things of yourself.