Chapter 106 105: Standing Out
The sky, once washed to a brilliant blue, was now stained a vibrant orange-red. Fiery clouds surged across the horizon where the heavens met the water, their colors churning as intensely as dripping blood. The rich hues spread slowly along the arc of the firmament, a magnificent and vast canvas on which Nature's brush freely sketched a breathtaking scene, rendering all flowery words pale in comparison.
August in San Francisco was always unreasonably beautiful.
Another day of tryouts came to an end. For Lu Ke, it felt like business as usual. Whether it was the team tryout or his own training, the content was different, but the rhythm was the same. This routine had all but become a part of his life, second nature to him.
In fact, with the 2011 preseason set to kick off in just three days, the hype and clamor for the new season were already spreading like wildfire. ESPN had even started producing a series of programs to welcome its arrival.
On the adjacent practice field, lighthearted chatter could still be heard, but a tense atmosphere was gradually spreading. There was excitement and anticipation, yes, but also timidity and nervousness—mostly the latter. The San Francisco 49ers hadn't made it to the playoffs for eight consecutive years, and no one wanted to see that streak continue.
But for Lu Ke and the other three quarterbacks at the tryout, none of that mattered. They still weren't part of the team; they were still fighting with all their might for a job. Not for victory, not for the games, not for honor—but for a job.
After training ended, Lu Ke grabbed the towel hanging from his waist to wipe away his sweat. He looked as if he'd just been fished out of the water. Standing not far away, Scott called out, "Today's training was killer. That balance drill, how did you do it? The moment I got on, my calves started trembling uncontrollably. It's a truly indescribable feeling."
The so-called balance drill first required a balance board—a flat platform on top of an inflatable ball, all one integrated piece. Just standing on it and maintaining your balance was incredibly difficult. And for athletes, it wasn't just about standing; they had to perform a half-squat, which made controlling their center of gravity and muscles even harder.
Second, it required a football, as the quarterbacks needed to complete passes. First came static throws to a fixed target, followed by dynamic throws to a receiver running a route. During the passing motion, the quarterback had to rely on his arm and upper body strength as much as possible. The moment he tried to use his lower body for power, the board would begin to shake violently, leading to massive deviations in his passing accuracy.
In this drill, improving balance was actually the smallest benefit. The primary goal was to train core strength and deep muscle groups. Additionally, it helped correct the finer details of a quarterback's throwing mechanics to ensure stability while passing on the move. Finally, it trained a quarterback's ability to pass while off-balance from interference, hits, or being tackled.
What looked like a simple, even comical drill was, for a quarterback, a comprehensive test.
One careless slip, and you'd fall flat on your back. Another, and you could injure yourself. It was incredibly awkward and embarrassing. Out on the practice field, you looked like a circus clown, becoming the center of attention for all the wrong reasons.
It was tough enough for young guys like Lu Ke and Scott, but even more difficult for the two veterans, Matt and Carson. Times were changing, technology was advancing, and training methods were constantly being updated. Keeping up wasn't easy.
All four quarterbacks faced a stern challenge, but overall, Lu Ke's performance was the most outstanding. "Yoga." Lu Ke didn't try to hide his secret; it wasn't like these training methods were proprietary anyway. "I've been doing yoga for over half a year. The results for my body's flexibility and balance, as well as my muscle elasticity and core strength, have been very obvious."
'When the system first added yoga to my training tasks, I was completely baffled too. But in the blink of an eye, after six months of sticking with it, it was now time to reap the rewards. Who would have thought that such a gentle, quiet exercise could have such a complementary effect on a sport so violent and aggressive?'
"Yoga?" Scott's eyes widened in surprise. "You mean, like, yoga from India?"
Before Lu Ke could answer, a voice called out from the distance. "Everyone, all tryout players, gather 'round." Bobby's voice was familiar enough that Lu Ke didn't need to turn around to know who it was. He just nodded at Scott in confirmation. "You could give it a try. It might not be for everyone, but it's worth a shot."
Bobby Engram didn't rush them, waiting leisurely in place. Today's training was over, so there was no need to hurry. After Matt Hasselbeck walked over, the two of them started chatting and laughing, and the atmosphere lightened up as a result.
Turning his head, Bobby saw that all four quarterbacks had gathered. He patted Matt's shoulder, scanned the group, and without insisting on any particular formation, got straight to the point. "The new season is only three days away. The team's preparations are heading into the final stretch, and we don't have a lot of time. So, I'll make this quick."
'It's time. The decision is here.'
"This tryout ends today." Bobby's gaze landed on each of the four quarterbacks in turn. Matt and Carson were both veterans, their expressions calm and devoid of any particular tension. Lu Ke and Scott, however, were both rookies. No matter how hard they tried to control it, their muscles inevitably tensed up.
In the end, experience showed. But choosing experience over youth was always a double-edged sword. In the world of competitive sports, the winner takes all. Victory could justify anything, while failure could destroy everything.
So, Bobby wasn't particularly emotional. This was merely the announcement of a third-string quarterback joining the team. Jim Hubble hadn't even come himself, delegating the task to Bobby, an offensive assistant. Bobby's own feelings quickly settled back into calm.
"After a discussion with the coaching staff, the team has decided that the player who will be staying is…" Bobby's gaze fell on Matt. The two had been friends for nearly ten years and had even been a quarterback and Wide Receiver duo. A simple exchange of glances was all it took for them to understand. "Lu Ke. Welcome to the team. As for the other three players, thank you for coming to the tryout. We wish you all the best in your future careers."
There were no celebratory fireworks, no building of suspense, not even a deliberate pause. It was all said so matter-of-factly that Lu Ke didn't even react at first.
His first reaction was, 'The 49ers chose Matt. Of course. An experienced veteran with connections gets the first shot.' But then, Lu Ke saw Scott extend his right hand for a fist bump and pat his left shoulder. "Congrats, man."
Lu Ke reflexively took Scott's offered hand, and the two shared a hug. Scott was all smiles as he said, "You earned it. But watch your back. Maybe one day I'll be coming for your job." Behind the teasing words, however, was an unmistakable sense of loss and bitterness.
Next, Carson came over and patted Lu Ke's right arm. "Keep it up, young man." With that simple phrase, he turned and left without any further display.
Last was Matt. He gave Lu Ke a sincere hug, everything understood without a word spoken. He followed Carson, and the two NFL veterans headed for the parking lot, one after the other. There was no great sadness, no emotional turmoil—it was as if it were just the end of another practice.
"Well, hope to see you on the field next time," Scott said, bumping Lu Ke's shoulder once more before jogging to catch up with Carson and Matt. "So, you guys thinking of hitting a bar tonight?"
In just four short days, they had been competitors, but also comrades. Only those who had truly been through a tryout, who had truly faced the perilous edge of elimination, could understand the feeling. It wasn't a life-or-death struggle between them; it was more like they were mutually wishing each other well and offering encouragement.
Suddenly, three were cut, and one remained. It felt as if the farewell had arrived before he had any time to prepare for it. Before the rush of joy and happiness, the first thing he tasted was a faint trace of sorrow.
Beneath the setting sun, the shadows of the three men stretched long as they ambled slowly into the distance.
"Lu Ke?" Bobby's voice snapped Lu Ke out of his reverie. "Let's go. We're heading to the team facility. We've got a lot to get done today, and our schedule is really tight, so we need to hurry. More importantly, it's after business hours, so the lawyer's fees will be doubled."
"Oh, right." Lu Ke nodded, still a bit dazed, and hurried to keep pace with Bobby as they walked toward the team facility.
In the distance, a middle-aged man could be seen standing at the entrance to the ground-floor lobby. He was dressed in the team's coaching apparel, his hands clasped behind his back, watching Lu Ke intently. He had clearly been waiting anxiously for them.
Before Lu Ke could reach him, the man approached. "Tom Gamble, Director of Player Personnel. From now on, if you need anything—and I mean *anything*—you can come find me first. I'll take care of it." Before Lu Ke could respond, Tom nodded to Bobby, who then turned and left, the handover complete.
"The team is on a tight schedule, so I'll be brief; we can discuss any questions you have later," Tom said, leading the way with Lu Ke close behind. "First, we need to get the contract done. Do you have an agent? No? In that case, I'd recommend you speak thoroughly with the lawyer sent over by the union. He represents the players, which means he represents your interests. You can ask him anything. Once you've confirmed there are no issues with the contract, you can sign it…"
"Sorry, Mr. Gamble?" Lu Ke had to interrupt Tom, as the sheer volume of information was a bit overwhelming. "I just need to confirm… I'm a member of the 49ers now? I mean, I'm in the NFL?"
Tom broke into a wide grin. "Yes, Lu Ke. And please, call me Tom. Mr. Gamble is my father."