In light of the NCAA College Basketball tournament, we’ve been thinking a lot about Cinderella stories, those come-from-behind, unexpected victories that take our breath away. Tell us: in sports, books, art, life—what’s your favorite underdog story? Have YOU ever been the prevailing underdog?
Inspire us. Best underdog story wins a copy of our book. Click “comments” above. Winner announced April Fools…oops April 1st.
10 comments
Jennifer Woolslayer says:
Mar 22, 2010
My son’s 12 year old baseball team.
My son’s team are the “always underdogs”. We are shorter, smaller and some of them are not so quick with the feet. What they have is heart and teammwork. They will dive, throw themselves into the plays and never get down on themselves. This weekend was even more of a challenge as one child was throwing up, one was away on vacation and another might have had strep. We are short, short handed and sick!
We were in a tournament this weekend. After beating the “favorite” in extra innings by 1, their coaches said “didn’t see that coming and we’ll see you in the playoffs”. In the semi-finals, the other teams coach came up to my husband (the coach) and said “Remember when we beat you 10-0? That was my favorite game, we beat you in 52 minutes!”.
Our boys rallied against the 10-0 team to beat them 7-5. Their coaches were slack jawwed.
We made it to the championship game, undefeated, to match up with the tournament favorite. They walked up and said they just beat the last team 7-0 and they were ready for us. Their 12 year old pitcher had a mustache!!!! He is almost 6 feet tall and pitching to our 4.5 foot lead off hitter. A lot of little hits, some incredible defensive plays, and excellent teammwork later, we were the undefeated champions with a score of 6-2!!!! Our boys backed each other up and played like a team. No super stars, no standouts, just 12 kids playing for each other. Our kids played thru illness and sunburn and playing three games in one day to achive their come from behind underdoggedness!!! I’ve never been more proud.
I love an underdog, but would not mind a couple of growth spurts for our small and mighty guys!
rachel couch says:
Mar 22, 2010
I was about to drop out of high school, never went, or if I did go, I would get myself suspended somehow.I knew all the tricks. Smoking in the bathroom, skipping classes, getting into trouble however I could. My mother was completely fed up and filed charges against me in juvenille court and my high school filed truancy charges against me also.
Well the big change came when after months and months of court appearances and social workers I was ordered into a special education program run by Youth Opportunities Upheld Inc. (Y.O.U. Inc.) . It was basically a high school for kids who had been kicked out of public school.
At Y.O.U. Inc., I went from being a total delinquent with 120 absences and 13 suspensions to a near perfect attendance record and graduating valedictorian.
This is myunderdog story. My high schoolexperince changed my life forever. the staff that I encountered at Y.o.u.Inc. and the difference between there and public school for me was life changing. The love and commitment my mother showed to me bysticking by me and going to court with me a cajillion times for me proved to me that even through all our ups and downs that she still loved me no matter how crappy I was acting at the time. The fact that she would not let me dropout of school showed me a lot about her commitment to my future. My juvenille court judge ended up speaking for me at my graduation. It was sweet. Thank you.
Shauna Cooper says:
Mar 22, 2010
I dropped out of high school in tenth grade. I was supposed to graduate in 1994. In 2006 and two kids later, I decided I needed to go get my GED. I procratinated because I felt I would need to sit in a class a few times a week in order to study for the test. My mother had been telling me for years to “just go take the test”. The urgency came when I couldn’t get into a free program that was being offered to get a certificate which would further my career in adminstration. I took the pre test on a Thursday and passed. I was so excited. I took the actual test with no prep in April 2006 and was awarded The Harvard Book Club Award for being the ONLY graduate in my class with a perfect score in all areas. That was a great accomplishment. It gave me the opportunity to show my kids that if you put your mind to something and are determined to succeed, anything is possible. I am now taking my Bachelor’s in Business Management and am moving up.
Kayren says:
Mar 25, 2010
Beating the odds…sometimes it just seems like life is against you….
High school drop out, pregnant at 16, baby at 17, miscarriage at 19, stillborn at 21, 2nd child at 26…. unwed mom of 2, a few odd jobs, addicted to alcohol & drugs from age of 14 to 24, everyone pretty much gave up on me at that point, I went thru bout after bout while with my first husband, i cheated & he cheated, we drank, we did drugs, we battled with each other thru 18 years of pure hell…we tried to raise our kids right tho & we tried to keep our problems from them, but we all know how well that works. I managed to pull myself out of the gutter tho, and get back on track of my life, I got my GED & a job in healthcare that I loved… Then due to an accident & medical issues i am no longer able to work. i have been thru cancer twice, and now am battling diabetes, heart disease and a few other problems, including slowly losing my hearing. I finally met the love of my life about 6 years ago…he has been my saving grace. He showed me what it truly means to be loved, and I would give my life for him as he would me. He has helped me thru so many things & is always there for me. I thought I had finally made it… Due to a heart attack in 2007 (his 3rd) He is now in very bad health & has only 35% of his heart pumping action working, so I now fear losing him too. Sometimes it seems like life is just against you. I know I will have to go on without him at some point, and i just dont know if i can face that or not, Guess i will just have to wait & see. But for now, i am the happiest I have ever been in life, even with all the problems we have. Because I know I am truly loved.
Rhonda says:
Mar 25, 2010
“Contest #8: Beating The Odds”
OK not a HUGE deal, but it’s about food and cooking so it was HUGE for me!
I live in the greatest neighborhood, if you can call it that. We are in a rural area and each neighbor owns from 5 to 15 acres of land. We have BBQ’s and Neighborhood Game Night and, my favorite, Neighborhood Cook-Offs. We are all very competitive (but friendly about it, of course), and everyone wants to have the winner bragging rights. Also, there is a certain expectation that certain people will do well at cook offs and if we don’t, well it can feel pretty humiliating. Each cook-off has a food theme and this one was Chocolate. I decided I was going to make my Death By Chocolate cake with dark chocolate ganache and raspberries. I worked hard on my recipe, and carefully made my cake. At the last moment the entire thing fell apart. Just. Crumbled. So I threw the whole thing on a beautiful platter and slathered it with chocolate ganache, raspberries and homemade whipped cream. I shaped it like a volcano and called it “the Volcanic Explosion Cake.” I won ‘First Prize Judge’s Choice.’ I took ‘Second Prize People’s Choice.’ Sorry But the recipe is top secret. 😉 PS We live in Volcano, CA. 🙂
Kim Nored says:
Mar 26, 2010
How I overcame the stereotype and made my Cinderella story come true
I have always had a troubled life, my parents divorced early, I was exposed to sexual abuse by an uncle, I dropped out of school and got pregnant at 16, moved around a lot, had another child at 19, and made it out of a horrible abusive relationship and found love with my prince, which completed my Cinderella story. I met my ex when I was only 16, he was 23, and it was almost immediate that the physical abuse started. It was so bad there was not a day that I didn’t go without bruises from beatings from him. When I decided to leave I found out I was pregnant and was so naive that I stayed with him thinking he would change. The beatings continued throughout my pregnancy and for over 3 more years. After the birth of my second child I realized that I didn’t want my daughters growing up in such an abusive environment and decided to leave for good this time. I had left before but was always bullied into getting back with him by horrible threats. This time though I knew I had to do it for my daughters. I fled in the middle of the night one time and drove 12 hours straight to get to family where I could be protected. I was tired of hiding and getting beat over the smallest things such as a small water spot on a glass or on the counter or if the floor wasn’t swept to his standards. Only 6 months after I fled and returned to my family I ran into an old friend who turned out to be my savior prince. As we began to hang out more we realized that we loved each other and wanted to be together. He kept my ex away from me and helped with my mental issues from the 4 years of horrible mental and physical abuse. I went from a tattered and beaten mother of 2 to a happily married, proud mother of 3 that just graduated college and has finally gotten my happily ever after. We have now been married for almost 7 years (in June) and I feel like a real life Cinderella.
Viktoriya Dubovus says:
Mar 28, 2010
I came to the States in October of 1993 with $ 80.00 to my name, some clothes and not speaking English. I went to the Social Security office on Monday (I “landed” on Saturday) and started working two weeks after I came to the US – that’s how long it took to get my SSN. I’ve never received any government assistance, my first pay check was a little over $ 60.00.. I started out as a temp on production line making $ 6.20 / hr. Now I am a bilingual supply chain professional. You can do anything as long as you believe in yourself!
Sherri Powell says:
Mar 30, 2010
Keeping your head up high when the cards are stacked against you is hard work. Every time I’m in a bind, I think of this story, one I lived through, to keep me focused on my end goal.
In the Spring of 2002, my boyfriend and I decided to take a snowboarding trip to Brianhead, Utah. The trip was supposed to be a blast, but ended in tragedy. The day we were preparing to leave, it had warmed up in the morning but the temperature dropped around noon. As a result, the snow had melted on the road and had frozen back into black ice. It was impossible to know what was on the road and as we came around a sharp corner; he over-corrected as we started to slide. That over-correction changed my life permanently. My head became the impact point of our vehicle, and Isuzu Rodeo and a Ford F350 diesel refrigeration truck. I was knocked unconscious and suffered severe brain damage. They had to use the jaws of life to get me out of the completely totally vehicle.
I awoke in the hospital the next day and I was age 6. I had lost 19 years of memory and 19 years of my life. An optimistic 6-year-old Sherri stepped into the bathroom and looked into the mirror to be greeted by a 25-year-old face. The nurse was called to come and get me out of the bathroom as I was hysterical and scared to death. I would never be the same person again.
At a point in your life where you are faced with a major challenge, you have two choices. You either let the challenge define you, or you define it. I had been an Honor’s college straight A student, I had worked 2 jobs, both of which I was praised in, and had many activities to keep me busy prior to this accident. After the accident, I would wake every morning and have to remember where I was, who I was, and what had happened to me. I would go to school and have the conversation with my teachers day after day. The conversation was always the same, “You don’t know me, I’m a student of yours. I was in a car accident and I have suffered brain damage so I may be a little slow, but I’m determined.” The thing was, they did know me; I had said the same thing to them the day before and the day before that and the day before that. I’d lose my short-term memory capacity every night while I slept.
Still confused, I went to a neuropsychologist who informed me ever so pleasantly that I would, “never recover” and that I would, “always be the same”. I was so furious about what she had said that she and her statement stuck in my long-term memory. The next morning, as I awoke, I remembered her and her statement. I remembered! I realized that what she had said hurt me and it was something I had wanted to remember forever. As this realization came over me; I became determined. Everything I did, everything I said, and every interaction with people would have to go into long-term memory. I would have to make everything permanent in my head if I wanted to remember it. From that day forward, I played simple matching games to help improve my memory, I wrote myself notes to remind me that everything was to be stored into my long term memory. I was focused, I worked hard, and I was committed to defining this challenge; not letting it define me.
3 years later, I graduated from college. I graduated with both Univeristy and Departmental Honors. I graduated cum laude. I graduated giving the Honor’s College Commencement Speech. During that speech, I didn’t talk about a tragedy that had threatened to make me mentally challenged the rest of my life. I talked about inspiration and where it comes from and believing in yourself. Because beating the odds at all times, during all challenges means believing in yourself and knowing you can accomplish and overcome anything that life has to throw at you. It means that even if things don’t turn out perfectly you must have the courage to define the challenge, don’t let it define you.
Lisa says:
Mar 30, 2010
Well, my underdog story isn’t about doing without or starting with nothing. In fact, I have had a very blessed life, at least that’s how I look at it. My Cinderella story is one of being happy in spite of life’s circumstances.
I was in an emotionally abusive marriage for 13 years. I didn’t realize how much my self-esteem was beat down until my husband left for Iraq and I was away from the negativity that had invaded my own psyche.
While he was in Iraq, I found a purpose as the head of our Family Support Group for the National Guard, the soldiers and families. We did a great job rallying support, raising funds and providing love to our deployed soldiers.
My husband had put me on a strict allowance and the rest of the money he was making was to be socked away for a new house for my husband, our son and myself.
The soldiers were scheduled to come home in February 2005. On Christmas Day 2004, my husband told me he would not be coming home, that our marriage was over. I knew that our marriage was not the best, but I was trying the best I could and did not want a divorce. However, after writing my husband a heartfelt letter on New Year’s Eve only to find out it had been the joke with all of the soldiers overseas, I knew I could no longer fight for my marriage. Yet, I had to lay eyes on my husband before I knew I could say goodbye. Six weeks later, the soldiers returned home to great fanfare and the celebration I organized, knowing my husband was not coming home to me. Once I saw him, I knew it was over.
Well, the money that was to be socked away ($28,000) mysteriously disappeared. Two weeks after our divorce, my ex-husband got remarried, to a female soldier he had met in Iraq. Turned out he was cheating on me the whole time. A month after our divorce, my ex-husband and his new wife had their son. When I asked him about the fact that I was told he didn’t want more children, he responded “no, I didn’t want more children with you.”
This was the man over whom I had cried, worried, fretted and supported and now he was remarried, $28,000 richer and I didn’t know how to buy a gallon of milk for our son.
Three months after our divorce, we had a catastrophic house fire. When I called my ex-husband to inform him, he just said that he assumed I couldn’t keep our son that weekend then. Because it was so soon after our divorce, I had not yet refinanced the house and so the insurance was still in both of our names. My ex-husband refused to allow the insurance company to release any monies for my son and me to have a place to live, toys or even underwear for our son. It took months of legal wrangling to have my home rebuilt and the money distributed, as he felt he was entitled to a share of the insurance proceeds.
Through all of this, I know of many others who would have become ugly and bitter. I feel that I am exactly the opposite. These have been growth opportunities for me, and I am a better, stronger person. I am a better parent. I have found the love of my life and I look forward to what everyday will bring.
My Cinderella story is that even though bad things may happen, it does not have to make your life bad or your outlook on life bad. Life is to be lived, enjoyed and cherished. Happiness is a choice, and I am so glad that in the face of adversity, I chose happiness and not bitterness or anger.
I am not angry with my ex-husband for the events of the past, although they do remind me of his moral character. I have chosen to forgive. I choose love, happiness and he and his wife are in my prayers daily. He continues to be the same person of low character, but that’s okay. I can’t change him, I can only control myself.
Deb says:
Mar 30, 2010
My story is one that many women go through, so I don’t feel particularly different or ‘special’. What I do feel is pride in myself. I married a wonderful man in 1989. I was quite sure he was grounded, mature and a man of integrity. I had 3 babies in 3 1/2 years plus a move from one city to another thrown in there. Let’s just say I lost myself somewhere along the way. I promoted his career choices, took care of our children and had a part time job throughout. Fast forward 20 years…..my 3 children are teenagers and are not home as much so I have more time to myself and thought my husband and I would reconnect. Turns out….he ‘no longer loves me’ and – what a surprise- “has spent a lot of time with another woman and has even kissed her” according to a letter he wrote me. This was devastating to me because I have lived with a selfish man that let me do everything while he golfed or whatever and I thought this was our time to reconnect.
Now after 8 months have gone by I look back at the person he told about divorce and the other woman and I KNOW I am not that person any longer. I am so proud that I have handled myself with class (except for the one time I called him a lying, cheating bastard in front of a lot of people!) and I have made myself better and will continue to do so. I have discovered who I am….the person I was before putting 4 others ahead of myself for so long. I have lost almost 50 pds and work out daily now. I have run 2 5K’s and will run another in 3 weeks. I have become physically stronger and know that makes me mentally stronger. I am one determined lady and tell myself daily that I will be BETTER…..better than I was, better than him and better than the tramp that got divorced and 4 months later was after my husband.
I am living and raising our 3 teenagers and I feel blessed to have them. There are times I get angry that he just pops in and takes them out to eat and enjoys them while I am the parent that makes them do chores and homework, but I realize everyday how blessed I am.
I have had many people tell me I am an inspiration to them whether it be my physical strength or my positive outlook. I have leaned on my Faith and God during this time and feel that it has been a very special time for me. I have learned a lot and know there are many things I will learn throughout this process. I have chosen not to date or really even look for a year. This is MY time for ME and I’m going to make the most of it.
I have found that I like me and have done things I didn’t think I could do and have found out just how much strength I do have. I never thought I was as committed as I am, but I admire my commitment to my family and my husband. In the end I know I have made the right choices in my life as a wife and mother and I will be the one who has peace.
I want to write a book about my journey that could help others. I have a great title and I have many notes for when I get started. I am almost 49 and my goal is to be better when I’m 50 than when I was 30…..I’m on my way.
Truthfully…….the ‘Bitch’ in me keeps me going!!!
Good luck to everyone : )