Article and artwork by Phoenix writer Nicholas Cortese ’23:
Five years ago, I witnessed a display of glorious athleticism first-hand. I sat solemnly in the Yankee Stadium bleachers as Baltimore Oriole Mark Trumbo blasted a grand slam. The fans of the city that never sleeps nearly fell into slumber. Their beloved franchise faced a 9-1 deficit in the 6th inning, which sent a wave of despair over the crowd.
Where many teams would respond to the shortcoming with defeatist thoughts and negative body language, the Yankees in three short innings stormed back into the game.
In the bottom of the 10th, Matt Holliday stepped up to the plate with the game on the line. The pressure in the city sat higher than any of the skyscrapers, but Holliday refused to succumb. On the first pitch, the 7-time all-star launched the ball out of the park, solidifying an 8-run comeback and a 14-11 victory. It was a holiday in the Bronx, all thanks to Matt.
I couldn’t help but think as I was being thrust by mobs toward the exit that what I just witnessed was truly surreal. A man gifted solely with physical attributes would not have been able to blast that walk-off. There had to be another factor. He had to be clutch.
Clutch is undeniably one of the most riveting concepts in sports. For those unaware, the clutch factor is the idea that select people can perform under a spotlight better than others. The belief states that a clutch brain is wired to enter an uncomfortable situation and regulate the conflict. Problem solvers at heart, they love to be counted out because they revel in their doubters’ silence.
Despite offering an abundance of desirable qualities, the theory for the clutch gene is surrounded by controversy. Mentality can often be overshadowed by physical prowess largely due to the rise of media and highlight culture. A refresh on an Instagram timeline will always present home runs, touchdowns, and slam dunks, but whenever a mindset is thrown into the limelight, much of the discussion is flooded with speculation about if it even matters.
From a fan’s perspective, there are substantial uncertainties around the concept. The player, however, sees the subject from a bird’s eye view. Time and time again, athletes express the significance of being “locked in,” of being–clutch.
Whether it is Jesse Owens winning four gold Olympic track medals with an entire Nazi nation praying for his downfall, or Kobe’s ‘Mamba Mentality’ or Tom Brady’s 46 come from behind victories, one can argue that athletic prowess had little to do with the achievement.
As Owens wrote in his autobiography, “The struggles within yourself–the invisible, inevitable battles inside all of us–that’s where it’s at.”
The intangibles. The battles inside. The clutch.
While much has changed since the Yankee’s valiant comeback versus the Orioles, Matt Holliday still is viewed as a clutch icon. Holliday is now an assistant coach for Oklahoma State’s baseball program. They have seen a surge of victories since Holliday’s arrival.
OSU’s Marcus Brown credits his assistant coach with rubbing his clutch factor onto the roster.
The shortstop told me, “Some of the biggest things I learned from Matt are about approach and mentality in the batter’s box.”
The boost in mentality has produced a plethora of clutch moments on the Cowboy diamond. One such occurred in an elimination game versus Arkansas. Third baseman Aiden Meola trotted out of the dugout to pinch hit in the 10th inning of a 10-10 game. Meola knew to seal the deal, he had to act like he’d been there before.
According to Meola, “Nothing was different, I was just trying to make something happen. Having a consistent mindset and a clear mind is huge in spots like that.”
He drilled a single into center field to take the lead.
Magical moments like these repeatedly occur at Oklahoma State, which can only be contributed to the poise each slugger carries.
“When I step up to the plate, I have the mindset of me versus you,” says catcher Chase Adkison. “I walk up knowing I am better than whoever I am facing that day.”
Thoughts like these create the storybook comebacks that have earned Oklahoma State the title of the ‘Cardiac Cowboys’.
Though Holliday is thriving in the Sooner State and no longer with the Yankees, clutch remains in the Bronx air, albeit with Kellenberg’s Varsity Football team, not the Bronx Bombers.
On September 24, I returned to the borough for the first time in 5 years to watch the Firebirds face off against Cardinal Hayes in a varsity football game across the street from The House That Ruth Built.
Kellenberg’s 3-0 start quickly looked like it was going to be spoiled. The team entered the fourth quarter down 28-13. Similarly to Holliday’s heroics, the game’s fate rested in quarterback Devin Page’s hands.
I’ve been in this situation before. I knew better than to count the Firebirds out. Varsity Coach Meisse knew as well.
“Devin is the kind of player who can shift the momentum by himself. He wants the ball in his hands when we need it.”
Devin was wired for situations like this. He recorded two rushing touchdowns to bring the score within one. Instead of tying the game up with the extra point, Kellenberg took the risky decision to go for two and decide the outcome with a single play.
The decision was easy for Coach Meisse, who said, “We had a lot of momentum and I knew that Devin could convert it. You either have the mentality or you don’t, and I had full trust in Devin’s ability.”
Devin knew at that moment it was him against the world. He stayed calm and collected, snapped the ball, and tossed a check-down pass to Ethan Cumming. The game was over; the Firebirds won on the back of Devin Page. I couldn’t believe my eyes. I found myself in the same position 5 years apart. Holliday’s performance was no fluke — the clutch gene is real.
These clutch players are the ones who grant fans greatness. Mentality is surreal. Mentality is eternal. Mentality guides us to our true potential, and those with a passion so monumental are destined for greatness. But I’m just a sports writer, so what do I know?
