after the clash : interviewing coach Lode Maes

Dear readers, dear Michael- and Lyrafans,
May 31, 2009, the match of the year, Michaels versus daughters Lyra megaminiemen, it is still fresh in our memories.
The LMBA (Lyra Michaels Basket Association) Magazine was able to take an interview with the winning Michaels coach, Lode Maes, but first, we had to promise that we would not ask him any stupid question....

LMBA : Lode, congratulations with the victory of your team. 45-47, that was tight....
Lode : Taaid ? What do you mean with that ? Is 't al taaid om te stoppen ?
LMBA : I will rephrase it, the victory, it was close, only 2 points.
Lode : Oh yes, it was tight, but we did win. My mother always said : The prices are distributed at the arrival....
LMBA : It was really superhot today in the Pallieterhall, how did your team manage that, because it must not have been simple.
Lode : Acclimatisation, my good friend. Thanks to our great sponsor, MARVECO, we had professional team outfits, specially developed for working into greenhouses, and you know, it can be very hot in a greenhouse.... Thanks to this outfit, my team was completely cool....
Unfortunately, the lyra girls did have their hot red outfit, really too hot, for example the number 9, that was a real hot Marieke....
LMBA : You could not select all Michaels this year, was it a big handicap ? What did happen ?
Lode : Well, first of all, I had some injured Michaels, for example Serge. Then also a late forfait, because an appointment in the Ardennes, and also a problem with a Bomma ...
LMBA : What is a Bomma ?
Lode : Well, it is a Bijzonder Oncooperatieve Michaels-MA, despite all our efforts, interventions, begging on our knees, etc...., we could not convince her to give half-a-day free to her son and granddaughter to play in the match... Offcourse, it was her birthday, so let's say, sand on it. Forgotten and forgiven......
From the other side, also our daughters had similar problems, so we were standing even.
LMBA : What made the difference then this year ? Some weeks ago, the result of the Michaels team against the Musketeers was not very promising.
Lode : Ah, dear friend, that match was a part of the BIG PLAN !
LMBA : The big plan ?
Lode : Yes, simple as it is, the big plan ! By loosing our first match overthere, we have taken our first steps towards the victory of the clash.
LMBA : Please explain yourself.
Lode : Tactical planning. We have thrown sand in the eyes of our daughter opponents, by loosing that first match, we have lifted a curtain of fog.... How did we manage ? We did do the bucket defense just as last year, but not that good. I also asked some players to spare themselves and not to show all their power. I asked to Roggen, my topscorer of today, to pretend being out of shape and to miss everything that match. Well, we had 6 or 7 daughters who were looking at that match, and who were thinking : yes, yes, yes, we'll beat them this year, those old grumpy men....
LMBA : And....?
Lode : Today, it was time for the second part of the big plan. It's all a question of tactics. Come with a surprise, something which they surely would not have expected. I had some big surprises. First of all : our secret weapon Luc, father of Eline. It was a top secret, no one did know that he would show up, he had not participated to our trainings and did not play the first match. Bam ! There he was ! Surprise. No one did know how good he was, and he was very good.
Surprise 2 : Two minutes before the beginning of the match of today, We changed our defense strategy, we skipped the bucket zone defense, and we changed to father on daughter personal defense. Unexpected, and it worked out very well.
LMBA : But the girls were also very good...
Lode : yes, they were absolutely, but offcourse, it is very difficult to beat a coach with such an excellent tactical planning as myself. I think anyway, it was a top match, and the public must have enjoyed it very much......, a high five also for the organisation ! Great job !
LMBA : You also did play yourself for some minutes in the second half ?
Lode : Absolutely.... Also the girls coach, Kim, did show up on the field, and I could not stay away, ok, I' m a coach, but also a Michael, therefore...... All for one, one for all....
LMBA : Congratulations with the fantastic cup. Last question, Lode, who is your idol ?
Lode : aaah, that's Tommy Cooper ! Really, he's my star. There is only one difference between him and myself, his tricks never work out succesfully, my tactics always do.....
ACTION AND REACTION ! Michaels, one beer !!!!!

for Lmba magazine,
Michael Fast Devil....