Chapter 862: The Leadership Test
Lu Ke opened his gear bag, rummaged through the side pocket for a pair of gold wristbands, and put one on his left wrist. This was Lu Ke's "gold gear" for today.
After Lu Ke and Leigh had a formal discussion and finalized the support event, Leigh contacted Under Armour, who then worked tirelessly to specially produce ten pairs of gold wristbands for Lu Ke.
On one hand, the league has strict rules for home and away jerseys. The colors cannot be changed or added casually. Choosing gold, which is part of the San Francisco 49ers' official color scheme, was a well-thought-out decision. On the other hand, football is a very intense sport, and you can't just add any gear. A wristband was undoubtedly the smallest and most convenient choice.
In the face of such a sudden request, Under Armour showed full cooperation and proactively created custom-made gold wristbands for Lu Ke, doing their best to ensure that Lu Ke's charity event could proceed smoothly in a limited amount of time.
After he finished practice and got home yesterday, ten pairs of gold wristbands were neatly laid out on the living room table.
Lu Ke usually didn't wear wristbands during practice and games to avoid affecting his performance, so he only wore one on his left wrist, keeping his right throwing hand light as usual.
This game was not only to fight for victory and for the second half of the season but also to fight for Ryan!
Besides this event, there was a small off-field incident.
After Lu Ke officially posted the long article on social media, a group of haters and trolls appeared online. They claimed that this charity event was just a cover-up for a promotional event arranged by Rolex. After the official signing, they were using charity as a way to further enhance the off-field impact of the partnership.
They argued that the so-called gold color was nothing but Rolex's traditional gold color.
But these negative comments were quickly shot down by angry Niners fans:
Ryan Baldwin was a real fan, and everything could be traced back to a specific timeline. The relationship between Lu Ke and Ryan had started more than a year ago, and everything could be verified. Only those with dark hearts would think that this was a carefully orchestrated scam.
Jonathan Baldwin went on a rampage on Twitter, cursing at the trolls and venting all his pent-up frustration and anger from the last few weeks.
The saying "the more famous, the more gossip" applies here. Lu Ke had been on a roll lately, and almost no one in the entire league could compare to him.
Whether it was the outstanding veterans or the rising rookies, no one could be compared to Lu Ke. Even the incredibly great Matt Ryan this season seemed a little inferior after the powerful news of the Rolex signing came out last week. Because of this, the number of envious and jealous eyes started to grow.
However, this negative news didn't gain much traction. It only caused a small stir before it gradually calmed down.
On the other hand, when Rolex found out about the situation, they showed great appreciation and support for Lu Ke's good deed. They officially endorsed his post by retweeting it on their social media platform.
First, Under Armour, and then Rolex. Both sponsors showed their full sincerity in their partnership and fully supported Lu Ke's ideas and actions. This was a rare sight, as no brand has only one sponsor. They can't put all their energy and resources into just one person. It also showed the good relationship between Lu Ke and the two sponsors.
After putting on his gear, Lu Ke stood up straight and looked around the locker room, hesitant to speak.
Before he wrote the long article, Lu Ke's idea was very simple. It was just an agreement between him and Ryan. It would be enough for him to wear a gold or other colored accessory and play the game carrying Ryan's dream and hope.
But Leigh vetoed Lu Ke's idea.
It shouldn't be a matter between one player and one fan, but rather a matter between the entire team and all the fans.
For the San Francisco 49ers, they wanted to have a closer relationship with their fans. For the fans, they wanted to be a complete whole, encouraging each other with the team. In other words, this was about Ryan as a fan and the team, not a private agreement between Lu Ke and Ryan.
What's more, for Ryan, this was a battle with a predetermined outcome. He needed more energy and more support. At this moment, there was strength in numbers. The team and the fans should unite to reawaken Ryan's fighting spirit and the close bond between all Niners fans.
Lu Ke then realized that his thinking wasn't thorough enough. As a team leader, there was still a lot he needed to learn and accumulate. Luckily, he had enough time.
So, Lu Ke first had a face-to-face conversation with Jim Harbaugh and Trent Baalke to ask for the team's official opinion. Harbaugh had a nonchalant attitude, but Trent was a little more cautious. He didn't say much, just told Lu Ke to post the long article first and see the online reaction before making a final decision.
After practice, Lu Ke called all his teammates together for the first time to fulfill his duty as a captain outside of the stadium. He told them Ryan's story, his own thoughts, and his expectations: he hoped the entire team could unite and join this event.
But the players' reactions weren't that enthusiastic. They seemed a bit bored. The name "Ryan Baldwin" was still quite unfamiliar to them.
Even so, everyone said they would "definitely support it," but their half-hearted attitude made Lu Ke a little hesitant.
Lu Ke knew that Asian culture was more about collective action. Everything was arranged and executed as a group, like Japanese tour groups wearing the same uniform at famous European landmarks, which was a common sight. But Western culture was more about individuality and self-respect. Even when participating in group activities, they would try their best to maintain their individuality.
So, after he made the call, Lu Ke remained silent and didn't rush anyone.
Today was game day, but Lu Ke hadn't noticed any change in the team's atmosphere. Just before the game, it was still calm and peaceful, which made Lu Ke a little nervous.
"Bambi, what's wrong?" Aldon, who had just walked by, seemed to notice Lu Ke's expression and asked him curiously.
Lu Ke's words were stuck in his throat. He was so nervous and anxious, something he didn't even feel during a game.
One second. Two seconds.
Finally, Logan, the impatient one, couldn't hold back. "Bambi, say it. Tell us what's on your mind." Then he saw Lu Ke's surprised expression, and Logan shook his head helplessly. "You idiot. You've never been so hesitant and uncertain on the field or at practice. Why are you suddenly stuttering? This isn't like you! This isn't you!"
Aldon even jumped up. "Guys! Let's show our quarterback!"
In an instant, the entire locker room became noisy. Everyone started waving their gold accessories—gold shoelaces, gold ribbons, gold gloves, gold socks, and so on. They were waving them and yelling, creating a noisy and overwhelming scene.
There were even gold balloons that appeared out of nowhere.
Lu Ke's mouth was slightly agape. He was stunned by the scene in front of him. More than ever before, he deeply felt that he was one with the team. He wasn't just a part of the offense, and he wasn't just the captain of the offense. They were all standing side-by-side, becoming each other's most steadfast and solid support for the same goal and the same dream.
This kind of camaraderie between men was unbreakable!
Aldon even opened Lu Ke's gear bag and took out the remaining wristbands. "Guys, guys! Our gear doesn't look as good as Bambi's. If anyone wants to wear the special gold wristbands from Under Armour, come and get one now! There are still nineteen spots left, nineteen!"
The shout, like a street vendor hawking his goods, made Lu Ke laugh heartily.
Logan ran over, put his arm around Lu Ke's neck, and shouted, "Bambi, you should be a man and say: 'Guys! I need every one of you to wear a gold accessory for this week's game! I need all of you to unite and show our support for Ryan Baldwin! I need you to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Niners and show the team's unity!'"
"Bambi, you're our quarterback, and you're also our leader. You should be bolder and show your presence more actively. Trust me, you deserve all of this!" Logan squeezed Lu Ke's cheeks hard and shouted excitedly, "Do you understand now? Huh? You need to be stronger and tougher! This is your team!"
From Randy Moss to Michael Crabtree, from the second-string offense to Ryan Baldwin, Lu Ke's second season was a learning journey to become a leader. Not just on the field, but also off the field. He had to shoulder more responsibility to live up to the title of "leader."
This event was supposed to be for Ryan, but it unexpectedly brought the San Francisco 49ers together:
This was the first time in the team's history that all the players united to play a prank on their starting quarterback, and the prank was a huge success.
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