Chapter 882: Bearing a Heavy Responsibility
The shower of Durex condoms falling all over the ground officially marked the beginning of the party.
Joe Staley skillfully walked over to the side of the bar and tapped on the counter. "Fernando, alcohol, alcohol, how can a party not have alcohol? You're taking so many pictures now, you're not going to sell them, are you?"
"Don't worry, if I sell them, I'll only sell Bambi's. Only his are worth anything," Fernando said. He was a cheerful person with the passion and unrestrained nature unique to South Americans and quickly became good friends with all the San Francisco 49ers players. He immediately countered with a playful comeback.
Staley shook his head helplessly and spread his hands, lamenting, "The little shadows have no human rights." But he was just joking. He then turned to Lu Ke and asked, "Beer?"
Then, Goodwin came to the other side and added, "You can't refuse today. We all know that you don't usually drink to maintain your training routine and consistency, but today is a special day, whether it's..."
"A pint of beer," Lu Ke said, not letting Goodwin ramble on.
Indeed, Lu Ke was a very disciplined player and hardly ever smoked or drank. But he wasn't so abstinent that he would never touch alcohol. On special occasions, a little beer was fine. The key was that he never overdid it.
Compared to the big brand beers, the draft beer in this little bar was the most flavorful. The owner, Fernando, was very passionate about finding all kinds of small breweries in South America that brewed their own barrel beers and constantly updated his beer varieties. There were both surprises and disappointments, but he could always taste different flavors.
Staley and Goodwin both leaned back and gave each other a high-five behind Lu Ke, celebrating. Then Goodwin shouted, "Guys, Bambi is getting a beer. Aren't you going to follow?"
Instantly, all the players got excited and crowded around the bar, looking for their favorite type of alcohol.
Fernando opened the tap, poured a full glass of beer, and placed it in front of Lu Ke. He shouted, "The first round is on me, Bambi. You won beautifully today, and happy birthday!"
Lu Ke laughed happily, raised his glass as a toast, and took a big gulp. Then he said, "Everyone hurry up. The second round is on me." As he spoke, his pocket vibrated with the sound of a text message.
Amidst the cheers and noise, Lu Ke took out his phone and glanced at it. Then Staley immediately started to tease him. "No way? You're already looking at your phone? Our party has just begun tonight."
Lu Ke laughed and showed him the phone screen. "It's a text message from my mom."
Staley glanced at it. It was indeed "mom," but he still waved his hand dismissively. "Bringing up Annie won't work. Even if Annie were here, we'd still start the party."
Lu Ke quickly replied to the text, then turned off his phone and put it back in his pocket. He raised his glass high. "Listen up, all you Niners! Let's keep fighting! Cheers!"
The party had begun.
Jiang Younin: Little Ke, can you come back tonight after the post-game debriefing? Do you have time?
Lu Ke: Okay, Mom, I got it. I'll be back in a little bit.
Originally, Lu Ke was eager to go back to his own place. After all, today was a very, very special day. But now he had to change his mind.
It wasn't just because of Jiang Younin's call. It was also because he was in such a mess. His hair, clothes, and body were all covered in frosting. He felt that it would be a better choice to clean himself up at home first and then go back to his apartment.
The party ended earlier than expected, around ten o'clock.
Most of the San Francisco 49ers' offensive linemen were very disciplined. This was mainly because they had spent a lot of time with Lu Ke, and their lifestyle and training rhythm had become more regular. Only Anthony Davis had a little hobby of drinking, not excessively, but he liked to collect wine and whiskey and enjoyed a small drink on his days off, but he would not let it interfere with his work during training and games.
Although today was a celebration, everyone knew that they were in the middle of the season and it wasn't a bye week. If they didn't want to affect the next game, they still needed to control themselves.
What's more, with Lu Ke and Goodwin, two players with leadership on the field, present, it was even more impossible for them to completely lose control. When they were about half-drunk, everyone gradually put down their glasses and enjoyed the atmosphere more. The karaoke in the bar became their stage.
Karaoke in America is not in a private room. They are all open-stage. Any customer can go up on stage, but they have to wait in line and then sing in front of all the customers in the bar. So, there was a lot of fun with karaoke here. Those off-key performances would often receive "a standing ovation," and the cheers and boos were endless.
The MVP of the night was definitely Mike Iupati. His heartfelt rendition of "My Heart Will Go On" was so off-key it was a miracle, and Lu Ke was laughing so hard that tears were streaming down his face.
Lu Ke and Goodwin were the last ones to leave. They called a taxi company through the bar owner and had nine taxis sent over. After escorting all their teammates into the taxis one by one, it was finally their turn.
Looking at Goodwin, whose steps were a little shaky, Lu Ke quickly held his arm. "Stand still. If you fall here, I won't be able to carry you by myself. I might even break a bone." After making a joke, Lu Ke paused for a moment and then said formally, "Jonathan, thank you."
Goodwin's contribution to the success of tonight's party was indispensable.
As a center, the understanding between Goodwin and Lu Ke was already extraordinary. After handing over the leadership to Lu Ke, Goodwin gave him his full support and cooperation, quickly helping Lu Ke establish himself on the offense.
This thirty-four-year-old player, who entered the league in 2002, was nearing the end of his career. Most of the time, he was a silent, hard-working player, and fans would not even notice his existence. Victory and defeat seemed to have nothing to do with him. But for Lu Ke, Goodwin was one of his most important comrades in arms.
Goodwin didn't act humble. Instead, he gave Lu Ke a big hug. "Bambi, I know you're under a lot of pressure and are bearing the weight of the entire team, but... what can you do? You're the quarterback. I don't have much of my career left, and I'm counting on you to lead me to the highest stage. So, this party is nothing. The reward I'm asking for is much bigger."
His humorous words carried a hint of sadness. Lu Ke couldn't help but think of David Akers, Kyle Williams, and Justin Smith. He also showed a big smile and joked back, "Although this deal is not very profitable, I'll think about it."
Goodwin didn't drink much tonight, but his emotions were high. He gave Lu Ke a strong bear hug that almost made him gasp for air. Then he said in a low voice, "Bambi, thank you."
The same words, but when spoken by two different people, they had completely different meanings.
Then, Goodwin returned to normal, turned around, got into a taxi, and drove away, leaving Lu Ke alone, watching the taillights fade into the distance.
For some reason, Lu Ke once again remembered the loss in the NFC Championship game at the beginning of the year. After the game, the thirty-two-year-old veteran defensive end, Justin Smith, sat helplessly and blankly on the grass with tears in his eyes.
Lu Ke let out a long sigh, turned around, and got into a taxi, slowly disappearing into the night.
Although the San Francisco 49ers were a very young team, a professional football player's career is prone to many accidents and twists. Age is not the only measure. There are just too many factors that affect a professional lifespan.
In this current team, Patrick Willis, NaVorro Bowman, Dashon Goldson, Carlos Rogers, Donte Whitner, and Justin Smith, all of whom are starting defensive players, are actually in the second half of their careers, or even at the end.
And in the relatively young offense, Jonathan Goodwin, Vernon Davis, Randy Moss, and the special teams player David Akers are all veterans who have been on the field for many years and could end their careers at any time.
Justin Smith was a perfect example of this. His performance this season had declined noticeably, and he was also affected by some minor injuries. His ability to pressure the opposing offensive line had also fluctuated a lot. In today's game against the St. Louis Rams, his performance was not very good, and the defense as a whole was not at its best. Otherwise, the offense led by Sam Bradford would not have scored thirty points.
The cruelty of competitive sports always makes people sigh and feel helpless.
Lu Ke could feel the heavy burden on his shoulders, from the team, from the fans, from himself, and from the comrades he fought alongside. As Goodwin said just now, he was now carrying the weight of too much pressure.
After a nine-game winning streak, the Super Bowl no longer seemed like a distant dream. They were now truly qualified to make a run for it. But there were still eleven games to go, eleven long games. Who could say what variables would occur during that time?
When he arrived at his parents' house, the lights were still on. Lu Ke got out of the car and stood on the street in front of the house, quietly looking at the yellowish light. He felt a little warmth slowly spreading in his chest, which eased some of the sadness and bitterness.
Lu Ke laughed at himself. He wasn't sure if it was because of the alcohol. First, Boone was crying while hugging him as he drank. Then, Goodwin gave him a hug as he was leaving. And Iupati awkwardly toasted him three times in a row, which made him feel a little sentimental.
The night was just right.
Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/MistaQuartz
On Patreon, you can explore Extra Chapters in advance!