Chapter 858: Appreciation from the Elite
Although he had met many new faces today and his mind was still overwhelmed with information, Jerry Jones was undoubtedly a difficult person to ignore. He had a strong presence that even Goodell couldn't easily overlook, and he actively showed it.
Lu Ke was a little surprised. He was standing alone in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, enjoying a moment of peace amid the lively chatter, so why did Jones walk over to him? And the words he just said were filled with a profound philosophical meaning that seemed out of place for today's event.
"Many people don't like moments like this. Because after the noise, it gets quiet, and the huge contrast can create a sense of loneliness. In my opinion, this is an illusion. An unnecessary illusion."
That's what Jones said. After thinking about it, it was quite thought-provoking, and it was very different from Lu Ke's first impression of Jones. He couldn't help but smile and give a profound answer:
"Can this be understood as reason versus emotion? Reason tells you that you can slowly enjoy this quiet moment and truly feel your own existence, but emotion tells you that after a wild party, you need someone to accompany you in your loneliness."
Jones pondered for a moment, then nodded slightly. "I like that explanation. But I don't like the implications behind it."
Generally speaking, ordinary people are emotional creatures and are easily driven by their emotions. But for those in power, they must eliminate emotional influences and make all their judgments from a broader perspective, with reason. That's why they are often called cold-blooded. The tug-of-war between reason and emotion has always been a math problem with no correct answer.
Lu Ke frowned slightly and looked at Jones curiously. "I thought you'd like that compliment," because he was one of the most outstanding team managers in the league.
Jones pursed his lips and shook his head lightly. "No, no, no. I'm a loyal manager, as you can see from my team."
He didn't say it explicitly, but all his words pointed to Tony Romo.
The controversy surrounding Romo has never stopped in the league. Almost every year, experts or fans ask Jones to replace Romo, but Jones has never wavered and has always stood firmly behind Romo, giving him the most definitive and steadfast support.
"Managers like that are not very common in today's consumer society," Lu Ke said, with a double meaning.
The seemingly loyal Jones was also the most profit-savvy vampire in the league. From the perspective of reason versus emotion, the former was emotion, and the latter was reason. This was indeed a contradictory combination. Lu Ke's words couldn't help but contain a little teasing. It wasn't sarcasm; he had no grudges against Jones, and he didn't have a hostile attitude toward the rich, so there was no need to be sharp.
Jones immediately understood the deeper meaning behind Lu Ke's words, but he didn't say anything more. He just nodded slightly. "You know what? I admire you very much. You and Tony have a lot in common, but you're firmer and sharper than Tony. Sometimes that's a good thing, but sometimes it's a bad thing."
Lu Ke didn't say anything, just pursed his lips, because he felt that Jones wasn't done talking yet.
But this time, Lu Ke was wrong. As expected, the old fox's thoughts were not something an ordinary person could predict.
"However, that doesn't mean I liked your performance in the second week of the regular season last year." In that game, the San Francisco 49ers defeated the Dallas Cowboys. Jones changed the subject, not continuing with the previous topic, and went back to a normal topic of social conversation.
So, what was Jones doing? Why did he show up today? What did those words mean? Was it just polite chatter in a social setting?
Lu Ke didn't think too much and replied, "Shouldn't a true champion graciously accept the results of victory and defeat? Fight bravely, compete hard, and strive for victory until the last moment, refusing to have any regrets. But no matter what the result is, accept it."
"You mean you've accepted the loss in the NFC Championship Game?" Jones's words were very gentle, but the sharpness hidden within them was incredibly pointed.
Lu Ke nodded confidently. "Yes."
Sensing Jones's probing gaze, Lu Ke went on to explain, "It's difficult; I won't deny that. But I have to accept defeat to be able to move forward. There were many reasons for that loss, but that's what competitive sports are all about. There's victory, and there's defeat. We have to keep practicing for the next victory. Dwelling on that loss will never lead to progress. I'm learning."
Jones, however, smiled, as if he didn't believe Lu Ke's words, and threw out a sentence, "The other three opponents in the NFC West don't think so."
If he had accepted the loss, the San Francisco 49ers wouldn't have gone all out against the Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals.
The relentless feud between these two divisional rivals was mostly due to Lu Ke's ruthless nature. In just two seasons, they had formed an irreconcilable rivalry.
"Haha," Lu Ke laughed heartily. "Accepting defeat and forgetting defeat, or forgetting the pain and shame, are two completely different things."
Jones raised his chin slightly and gave a long "hmm..." He didn't comment, but his next words proved his attitude. "You're a very interesting young man. I think Los Angeles is actually very suitable for you. A big city like this can always bring out your unlimited potential."
Los Angeles? A big city? Why?
Although San Francisco isn't a huge city, it's still a top city on the West Coast. Why did those words sound contradictory? Something wasn't right.
But Jones didn't say anything more. He didn't even say goodbye. He just turned around and walked away from the floor-to-ceiling window, leaving Lu Ke standing there alone with a head full of questions.
What was that all about?
...
By the time he left Staples Center in the car, night had already fallen.
After a press conference and a party, Lu Ke had a brief meeting with fans at the stadium entrance to thank them for coming to show their support. There were photos and autographs, and the atmosphere was very lively. In the blink of an eye, three and a half hours had passed.
The fiery red sunset was burning on the distant horizon where the sky and the ocean met, leaving a lingering warmth. It outlined the large clouds in various shapes, as if Mother Nature, the painter, was creating a masterpiece, showing its last bit of grandeur before the navy blue night fell.
Lu Ke leaned back in the car seat, watching the sunset outside the window. His muscles slowly relaxed. He never expected that what he thought would be an easy press conference would end up being more exhausting than a training session of the same length.
"A dollar for your thoughts," Leigh said, breaking the silence in the car. This was a small American custom, a joke often used between close friends.
Lu Ke didn't say anything, just held out his right hand, palm up.
Leigh chuckled, but he didn't mind. He actually took out his wallet, found a dollar, and placed it in Lu Ke's hand.
This time, it was Lu Ke's turn to smile. Leigh's action was a counter-joke, leaving him in an awkward position, but Lu Ke didn't mind. He slowly took the dollar and put it in his suit jacket's inner pocket. "I was thinking about training."
Without turning his head, Lu Ke could imagine Leigh's expression right now, and it must have been very interesting.
"I'm serious." With the joke over, Lu Ke's shoulders completely relaxed. "Today was great. Everything was great. I'd even say it was perfect. My mouth can't stop smiling when I think about my signing bonus."
"Heh." Leigh shook his head. Even when he was this tired, Lu Ke still hadn't lost his sense of humor. This made him feel a little more relaxed as well.
"I like the moments when I leave reporters speechless, and I also like exchanging compliments with celebrities, but... at the end of the day, what I miss the most is the time on the training field. The sunlight, the sweat, the gasping for air. In those moments, I feel a sense of reality I've never felt before."
As he spoke, Lu Ke couldn't help but get excited again. His eager expression made it seem like he couldn't wait to get back to the training field right now.
He really was a training maniac.
But Leigh had no intention of stopping him. He liked this Lu Ke. "I thought you were reminiscing about Jerry Jones." This was Leigh's original intention when he asked for Lu Ke's thoughts for "a dollar." Although a lot of things happened today, Leigh was still most concerned about that old fox who was the focus of the entire league's attention.
Lu Ke was a little stunned, then he raised his chin in a sudden realization. "You think so too? I thought I was just overthinking things. There were a lot of guests here today, and more or less, I could guess the reason, but... Jerry Jones? I can't think of any connection between him and me."
During the conversation just now, Lu Ke had always felt a subtle strangeness, but he couldn't explain it. This feeling had never appeared before. Only after having a real interaction did he feel the difference. In front of the cunning Jones, Lu Ke's inexperience was on full display.
"What did you two talk about?" Leigh asked next.
More than Jones, Lu Ke was more curious about, "Hmm? You're interested too? Why?"
Things were getting interesting.
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