Chapter 180 178: Unbridled Celebration
Logan and Marcus put on serious faces, but they couldn't hide their goofy personalities. Immediately, however, they sensed something was off:
Lu Ke, along with all the reporters, had strange, indescribable expressions, like they were holding back laughter. Logan was the first to react, asking hesitantly, "Did we interrupt an important question? For example, about Bambi's... personal life or something?"
Logan had intended to ease the tension and tease Lu Ke a little.
But Lu Ke replied with a smile, "Since you know, why are you still here? Don't tell me you're curious too?"
Marcus tried to hold it in, then tried again, but finally couldn't help himself and burst out laughing. Immediately after, all the reporters roared with laughter too. With a speechless look on his face, Logan clenched his right fist and shook it at Lu Ke a couple of times before turning around and storming off. As he left, he added, "Marcus, so you're saying *you're* the one who's curious?"
Marcus's smile froze. Sticking his neck out, he yelled, "Hey, who said that! It was obviously you!" He chased after Logan as he spoke, and after a brief moment, they both disappeared.
From not too far away, a chorus of cheers erupted. "Bambi! WHOO! Bambi!" Logan and Marcus had joined in the celebration. David Akens, who had kicked the game-winning extra point today, also zipped past, dashing through the channel between Lu Ke and the reporters, shouting boisterously, "Bambi, Bambi!"
A victory. All it took was a single victory to push the locker room's conflicts and clashes aside—at least for now, at least for this moment. Competitive sports could be complex, but they could also be very simple.
All the reporters present could sense that this rookie quarterback was slowly blending into the locker room. It wasn't much, but it was a start.
"Excuse me, why is your nickname Bambi?" a reporter asked, raising his hand high.
Following the voice, Lu Ke saw a familiar face: Jay Fox.
His former roommate, his college classmate. After graduation, they had gone their separate ways, embarking on completely different career paths. Lu Ke hadn't heard any news from Jay in a long time. After the regular season started, everything had accelerated, and every minute of every day was packed to the brim. He didn't even have time to look for an apartment, so he was still living at home.
He never expected they would reunite in a place like this, and in such a surprising way. Being here meant that not only had Jay found a job, but he had also earned his employer's trust.
The smile on Lu Ke's lips paused for a moment, then grew wider. "It's because of my surname, Lu. In Chinese, it's a homophone for the word 'deer.' So, my childhood friends gave me this nickname."
Jay maintained a serious expression, as if this were his first time meeting Lu Ke, but the amusement in his eyes betrayed his playful teasing. "Bambi, isn't a nickname like that a little unsuitable for the football field? It's like a little deer walking into a pack of wolves, literally."
"This reporter is...?"
"Jay Fox."
"Jay, which media outlet are you with?"
"*Los Angeles Times*."
"Wow, Jay Fox from the *Los Angeles Times*." The back-and-forth was a simple exchange, but their tone and expressions filled it with a lighthearted air. "Don't you think it might be the perfect reflection of reality? A player of Chinese descent breaking into the world of football. To be honest, my parents' immigrant friends still can't understand my choice."
Little Deer Bambi, lost in a vast forest, surrounded by wolves and lions, besieged on all sides; just like a player of Chinese descent joining the Professional Alliance, becoming a unique presence on the field.
A reporter on the scene immediately whistled and nodded repeatedly in agreement. The description was just too fitting, too vivid. It was brilliant.
"Bambi—no, I mean, Lu Ke." The next reporter couldn't help but call out the nickname. "Bambi" was just so catchy. The animated film *Little Deer Bambi* was a household name in the United States, a part of everyone's childhood memories. After calling it out, the reporters let out some good-natured laughter.
After getting a nod from Lu Ke, the reporter continued his question. "Before this week's game, Charles Davis said on his show that if you managed to win again this week, he would swallow his microphone. Do you have any comment on that?"
"First, I don't know this Charles Davis. Second, I hope it's a chocolate microphone." Lu Ke's answer was concise and clear, yet rich with witty humor. All the reporters erupted in laughter, and the atmosphere became incredibly lively.
Kip Kester came over again to interrupt the reporters' interview. In just two weeks, Lu Ke had already become a media darling. This rookie quarterback was the center of so much attention and so many talking points that, to the reporters, he was a treasure trove.
But from within the crowd, before Kip could speak, a reporter jumped in, "You don't know Charles Davis?" just like how he didn't know Richard Sherman last week. "He's a guest commentator on ESPN's 'Inside the Alliance.' He has consistently said that he doesn't think you're a qualified quarterback and that you don't belong on the field. He also doesn't believe you can lead the team to victory."
"Fellas, fellas, the player has to get back to the locker room and change," Kip interrupted. "Lu Ke just went through a tough game, he needs to rest."
The reporters didn't give up, though. They looked at Lu Ke with pleading eyes full of earnest expectation, which made him chuckle. He answered, "Please forgive me. I'm surrounded by a pack of wolves right now, and there are far too many detractors. I don't have time to read all the criticism, otherwise, I'd have no time left to train."
After saying that, Lu Ke didn't linger and left with Kip.
Charles Davis. This time, Lu Ke wasn't being sarcastic or ironic. He genuinely hadn't heard the name. Over the past two weeks, the waves of opposition and criticism had been innumerable. Lu Ke had no interest in and no intention of reading them all one by one, so naturally, he wouldn't have paid special attention to any single critic's name.
But today, Lu Ke heard it for the first time. Clearly, for a reporter to bring him up specifically, this Charles was no nobody.
However, "Mr. Charles Davis" would have to wait for now, because today belonged to victory.
Upon entering the locker room, Michael Crabtree was the first to rush over. He slammed his shoulder hard against Lu Ke's, his face alight with excitement and joy. "You madman, you're a real madman!" That final pass—so bold, so crazy, so... full of imagination. It truly showcased the allure of a quarterback.
In today's game, three different players had scored the three touchdowns: Logan Newman, Vernon Davis, and Michael Crabtree. The entire offense had been in a desperate situation, but at the same time, they had managed to turn things around.
As the one who made "the catch," Crabtree had joined Lu Ke in the history books, truly leaving their names in the team history of the San Francisco 49ers.
Crabtree was naturally ecstatic and couldn't contain himself, using all his strength to express his joy and happiness. In that moment, all barriers of seniority and estrangement vanished. They shared a common name: teammate.
"Thanks," Lu Ke accepted the praise with a grin, then laughed heartily and bumped Crabtree's shoulder. "And thanks for making the catch."
In his line of sight, he could see Vernon Davis standing not far away. Their eyes met for a moment. Davis's expression was complex, his gaze unreadable. He seemed to have something to say but ultimately remained silent, averting his eyes and joining the other players' celebration.
The entire locker room was a scene of jubilation, with everyone cheering, singing, and dancing. At the same time, the celebration at Candlestick Park was also underway.
Chris Wilson was still roaring, even though his throat was dry and his voice was so hoarse he'd almost lost it. He was still roaring; every cell in his body was roaring with abandon.
A victory brings joy. A comeback victory brings euphoria. But a comeback victory against an arch-rival? That drives you insane!
"Bambi!" Chris heard the shout. He didn't know what it meant, but he didn't care. He immediately joined in, shouting, "Bambi!"
Once the shouting started, other fans in the vicinity gradually joined in. The sound of the chant grew louder and more tumultuous. "Bambi! Bambi!" It wasn't a synchronized chant, but a wave of voices rising and falling, like a high-energy dance party where everyone moved to their own rhythm, hummed their own tune, and lost themselves in their own world of unbridled enjoyment.
Chris leaned in and laughed. "Why are we shouting 'Bambi'? Does it mean something?"
"Because Number 14 of the 49ers, his nickname is Bambi!" Amidst the deafening noise, the other person had to lean close to Chris's ear and shout. "You know, at the Rose Bowl earlier this year, when the team was behind, during the two-minute warning, the entire stadium started chanting 'Bambi,' hoping he would get on the field and lead the team to victory."
"And then what?" Chris pressed.
"He did it." The person's simple reply made Chris throw his arms in the air and cheer loudly, "Bambi!"
Immediately, a large circle of fans nearby joined in the cheer, "Bambi!"
Chris started jumping up and down with joy. "I'm Chris Wilson, a die-hard 49ers fan!"
"I'm Jeff Locke, and these are my friends, Nate Chandler and Danny Rice. We're all die-hard Bambi fans," the young men in front of him introduced themselves in return.
Chris extended his right hand and shook each of theirs. "Great to meet you all. Starting today, I'm a firm supporter of Bambi too! I'm about to head to a bar for a celebratory drink. How about it, you guys want to join?"
"Of course!"
Inside Candlestick Park, the roar of the crowd was deafening. No one was in a hurry to leave. Of the fifty thousand fans, at least half lingered in their seats, singing songs, shouting for victory, and crying out in celebration. The game was over, and at the same time, the party had just begun.