Chapter 856: Unprecedented
"So... can I leave now?"
Lu Ke was still like a good student, sitting up straight with his chest out, looking directly at the dense crowd of reporters in front of him with a smile. His calm and composed demeanor showed no signs of nervousness or fear, even in what was likely one of the most significant press conferences in the history of the NFL.
In contrast, the reporters in front of him were restless and impatient, as if their seats had been turned into hedgehogs by a Harry Potter spell. Almost no one could sit still. In this back-and-forth, they were subtly losing ground, as if they were the ones at a disadvantage, completely lacking the composure of the "uncrowned kings."
The Q&A session had reached a dead end.
All the questions were familiar and recycled. All the attacks and probing were completely ineffective. Lu Ke's defense was watertight, and his unintentional counterattacks left the reporters speechless and at a loss.
Of course, the reporters could complain that brand endorsement press conferences lacked flair and highlights. All the angles were conventional and uninspired, and their room for attack was very limited. They couldn't bring up race, they had already brought up the undrafted topic too many times, the championship topic was too direct, and his qualifications were a sensitive subject. This meant their hands were tied, and they couldn't do anything.
But the reporters knew in their hearts that these were all just excuses.
"If I'm not mistaken, I already answered that question. Twice. If this reporter missed the key points because the press conference was too boring, I don't think I need to answer again, because the answer would still be just as boring."
This was Lu Ke's response to the question. It wasn't an angry or aggressive response. It was lighthearted, effortless, and full of smiles. It was a combination of teasing, joking, and self-deprecation, which left the reporters in an awkward position.
After a moment of silence in the room, Lu Ke showed a polite and proper smile and said the line he had just said. "So..." He deliberately paused for a long time, as if a high school student was giving a sly and clever look to his parents when he was about to leave the dinner table. "Can I leave now?"
He was so arrogant.
Lu Ke was clearly in the lead, but he was deliberately acting all cautious. The reporters were infuriated and didn't know whether to cry or laugh, but they couldn't say anything.
Then, Lu Ke bowed slightly, thanked them politely, waved, and turned to leave, returning the stage to Seacrest and Wolfgang, ending all his tasks for the day.
Seacrest, who was once again the focus of the reporters' attention, watched Lu Ke's back as he left. "Uh, I'm not sure if this is just my personal feeling, but to me, Lu Ke reminds me of Roger Federer."
"Ha." Wolfgang couldn't help but chuckle.
Seacrest gave him a questioning look, but Wolfgang just waved his hands to deny it and didn't explain further. Seacrest didn't push for an answer and returned to his job. "Of course, Federer has become one of the greatest tennis players in history. Lu Ke still has a very, very long way to go, but one thing is for sure: from today on, Rolex will accompany Lu Ke on his journey to write their story."
For Rolex, this was a story.
For football, this was a piece of history.
The world's top watch brand's first official partnership with one of the four major sports leagues, and Rolex chose Lu Ke.
Not Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, or even Andrew Luck or Robert Griffin III. Not any other superstar in the star-studded NFL. It was Lu Ke, a second-year player.
More importantly, it wasn't a partnership with the league. Rolex chose to partner with Lu Ke, not the NFL. This was a firm and sensational step, a bold and crazy one.
This was not only unprecedented, but also absolutely huge!
Before this, people had been speculating about Lu Ke's market value, but it was all just guesswork and estimates. Until today, Rolex's actions have proven their confidence to the world, bringing Lu Ke under their banner with a four-year contract without any hesitation.
After this, Lu Ke's market value would be immeasurable!
For an average professional athlete, their performance on the field determines their career, while their added value determines their market value. It's a given that athletic performance and achievements are important metrics. But for special athletes, this basic system may not apply.
Take the NBA as an example. Yao Ming had no championship rings, while Mengke Bateer had one. But in terms of market value, the former was leagues ahead.
Of course, the NBA and NFL are different, so this comparison may not be entirely accurate. However, it at least proves one thing: special situations must be handled in a special way. Lu Ke is one of those special cases.
After having an unbeatable rookie season and an MVP-caliber mid-season in his second year, Lu Ke has proven that he is not a fleeting star. This is a groundbreaking milestone. In the future, no matter what his performance and achievements are, he will be the absolute benchmark for Asian players in the NFL.
This alone is enough to secure Lu Ke's market value.
What's more, if Lu Ke's on-field performance and achievements continue to improve, his market value will definitely rise, and this is what Rolex is betting on.
In other words, this is the beginning of a new chapter in history.
After the press conference ended—to be precise, while it was still going on, the news had already been eagerly posted on Twitter. The entire league was in an uproar. Whether they were Lu Ke's friends or the San Francisco 49ers' enemies, all eyes were on them.
The sensationalism of the news was even comparable to the quarterback contracts that were constantly setting new records in the off-season. In just under an hour, the keywords "Rolex/Lu Ke" had swept across social media and search engines. It was definitely the most explosive endorsement deal in history.
Following his continuous excellent performances in the Thursday and Monday night games, Lu Ke once again captured the spotlight with an off-field topic. Everyone was talking about the unbelievable Rolex endorsement deal, and everyone was amazed at Lu Ke's incredible upward trajectory, which was arguably the greatest in the history of the league. Even Kurt Warner back in the day couldn't compare.
When Kurt Warner came out of nowhere, he was unfortunately limited by injuries and couldn't take his career to the next level to create his own dynasty. So, what about Lu Ke now? What will his future be like?
One thing is for sure: step by step, Lu Ke is steadily showing his superstar qualities.
When Seacrest and Wolfgang left the stage, officially declaring the end of the press conference, Jay couldn't help but shake his head. He turned around, ready to complain to his colleagues, and then he saw an incredibly strange scene:
All eyes were on Jay. The fiery red eyes, like a pack of wolves, were all aimed at the one and only prey, an innocent little white lamb. The slightly opened bloody mouths were drooling, as if they couldn't wait to have their dinner.
Jay's hair stood on end. He couldn't help but swallow.
"Uh... uh..." Jay tried to explain, but his words started to stutter. He couldn't explain things clearly right now.
"Tell us, did you know about this all along?"
Jay shook his head repeatedly. "No, no, no, no. Really, I really didn't know." He used his whole body to express his denial, but it didn't seem to be enough. The aggressive aura didn't retreat but instead came closer and closer, almost suffocating him.
"You're lying! You got the exclusive interview with Bambi at Candlestick Park without any hesitation."
"Exactly. If I'm not mistaken, you and Bambi are alumni, right?"
"I heard you were roommates? He and Bambi and Logan were roommates."
"Then that's it! Bambi must have let something slip."
"He was so secretive and refused to say a word."
"Uncrowned Kings, we have a traitor among us."
More and more people, not just his colleagues from the Los Angeles Times, but other sports reporters around him, rushed over immediately. It was clear that everyone had the same thought: that guy, Jay Fox, must know some inside information, and they couldn't miss it. They absolutely couldn't miss it so easily.
So, in a bustling crowd, everyone started to gather, and with the bystanders who came to join in on the fun, the scene became even more exaggerated. They surrounded Jay completely, three layers deep on the inside and three on the outside. This was no longer a "three-person trial" but a "hundred-person trial." Just the sharp and heated gazes were enough to kill Jay.
Waving his hands and shaking his head. Jay was trying to prove his innocence, but the aggressive aura didn't give him much room to breathe. This made Jay cry out: "That damn Bambi! What a terrible friend! He decided that from today on, he and Bambi were officially over. Yes, over!"
"We're over!"
...
Three hours later, Jay, like a homeless beggar, quietly took out his phone and secretly sent a text message to that familiar number:
"You owe me an exclusive interview. You know it! Otherwise, I'll sell the picture of you doing the splits in yoga to TMZ! Did you hear me?! Ah! Did you hear me?! Waah, what a terrible friend. Someone just tore my clothes! My butt hurts, my arm hurts, and my hair is almost all pulled out. Damn it, I don't want to be bald!"
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