(Scene opens on a lone figure, Harvard hockey Coach Bill Cleary, pacing the mushy ice of Bright Center in late August. Cleary is contemplating the upcoming 1987-'88 Crimson season. He's smiling.)

A voice: "Job?...Job?...I mean, Billy? Billy Cleary?"

Cleary (looking up): "Hello?"

Voice: "Billy?"

Cleary: "Mom?"

Voice: "No, no, it's God."

Cleary: "Oh, hey God, what's up?"

Voice: "It's about this season..."

Cleary: "Yah, I was just thinking about it. It's going to be great. We've got Allen Bourbeau and Lane MacDonald, our top two scorers coming back. Our first line is going to be the best in the league."

Voice: "About Bourbeau and MacDonald..."

Cleary: "Huh?"

Voice: "They won't be playing for you this year."

Cleary: "Huh?"

Voice: "They're playing for the Olympic Team."

Cleary: "What?"