It was once joked that compared to the dashing and handsome Tom Brady, the three Manning brothers looked rather ordinary, especially the second brother with his big forehead. However, if you had to choose among the three brothers, Eli was undoubtedly the most handsome.
Eli, with his baby face, still looked boyish, and his frequently dazed and confused expression was often comical. He didn't look at all like a thirty-year-old veteran—after eight years in the league, he could be called a veteran.
Even though they had met during the coin toss at the beginning of the game, and even though the two teams had been competing on the field for over four hours, and even though the entire game was over, seeing Eli Manning again, Lu Ke still felt a strange sense of wonder, because he was a Super Bowl-level quarterback, and even more so because he was a member of the Manning family.
However, this feeling only lasted for a moment. Lu Ke then saw Eli's dazed expression. It didn't seem like he couldn't get over the loss, but more like he couldn't recover from the zero-second drive at the end. This was truly hilarious. So, Lu Ke laughed heartily.
"Congratulations on winning that big gamble." Eli took the initiative to extend his right hand. After shaking Lu Ke's hand, he pulled back a little, and the two of them bumped shoulders affectionately and said with a smile, "Congratulations on winning that big gamble."
Lu Ke was stunned for a moment, not understanding at first. Then, seeing Eli's stunned expression, as if he was a child worried about saying the wrong thing, the scene was very comical. Lu Ke finally realized what Eli was talking about: Charles Davis' bet.
"Sorry, we had to step on your shoulders to move forward," Lu Ke said jokingly.
Eli laughed and shook his head helplessly. "Peyton warned me before that I should never underestimate the 49ers this year. Now it seems Peyton has proven himself right again."
In an instant, Lu Ke's eyes lit up. At this moment, he wasn't a quarterback standing on the field, but just a young fan with an excited heart. Hearing the name of his idol so suddenly, even a rookie quarterback who was unyielding in a zero-second drive couldn't help but get nervous and excited, and his palms even started to sweat. "Peyton, you mean, Peyton Manning?"
Sensing the excitement radiating from Lu Ke, Eli couldn't help but laugh out loud. "Yes, at our house, besides Eli, there's another guy named Peyton. Last Monday, we were chatting and your name came up." In fact, the Manning brothers rarely talked about games. Work was work, and life was life. Although they inevitably talked about it, after all, football was the most important part of their family, but during the season, they tried to avoid it. However, Lu Ke was an exception, a rare exception in NFL history. Even though Peyton was away from the field this year due to injury, he was always paying attention to the football he loved so much, and the first Chinese quarterback to come out of nowhere was naturally a topic not to be missed.
"He thinks you're a very smart quarterback," Eli said with a smile, looking at Lu Ke, who was eager to speak. This made people forget about the calm and wise assassin on the field and truly realize that Lu Ke was just a rookie this year, a young and energetic college graduate. Before Lu Ke could say anything else, Eli deliberately took a half-step back and said with a look of disdain, "Hey, man, I'm not Peyton."
Lu Ke was stunned for a moment. He initially thought Eli was really angry, after all, his behavior was indeed too rude. He hadn't considered Eli's feelings at all. But then he remembered that the Manning brothers were famous for their deadpan humor in the league. They often filmed some spoof videos and commercials, and the results were truly hilarious. Surprisingly, most of the ideas came from the older Manning, but the younger Manning was also very cooperative and fully enjoyed it. Lu Ke looked at Eli carefully and finally caught the hidden smile in his eyes. He had been so excited and thrilled that he had overlooked these details and was only now realizing it.
So, Lu Ke nodded frankly, admitting his rudeness, and then said easily, "I don't know what it feels like to play against Peyton, but I can say for sure that this game was definitely not easy. We fought until the last moment. So, trust me, I would never mistake you for anyone else." It was a generous and frank statement, but it was also full of confidence and humor. A simple conversation was enough to make people happy.
Eli also showed a big smile. "This is not an easy game to accept, so I'd better shut my mouth, and I won't say any more words of praise."
"Don't worry, besides you, there should be plenty of people who can't wait to congratulate you on this victory," Lu Ke said seriously.
Looking at Lu Ke's confident expression, Eli couldn't help but laugh. He initially thought Lu Ke was talking about the news media, who were not stingy with their words of praise. But the next moment, the fans' cheers and shouts, which filled the entire stadium, grabbed all the attention. That vast red ocean made every player feel small. Eli and Lu Ke said goodbye to each other and then turned around, their backs to each other, and walked toward their respective teammates and teams.
After walking only a few steps, Eli stopped again and looked back at Lu Ke, who was walking toward the fan stands and sincerely expressing his gratitude. A thought flashed through his mind: Wait, was Lu Ke's comment actually aimed at those sycophantic reporters? From the numerous doubts at the beginning of the season to the unanimous praise that was now pouring in, it felt as if the previous accusations and provocations had never existed. The reporters' ability to turn on a dime was truly astonishing. After this game, even Eli himself was full of praise, not to mention those reporters. So, it was easy to imagine that at the post-game press conference, the reporters would once again give all the praise to Lu Ke. In that case, Lu Ke's sarcasm and teasing just now had a more precise target.
It was a simple sentence, but it was thought-provoking and full of countless possibilities, and it made people laugh. This Chinese quarterback had clearly overturned most of the prejudices against Asians and truly shown his personality and style. And, of course, his skill.
He laughed again, in a daze, as if recalling the shock and surprise of the final moments of the game. Eli looked away and jogged off the field. Eli sincerely felt that after Lu Ke joined the league, football games seemed to have become more interesting. Or rather, the diversity of the league seemed to have become more wonderful. This kind of change was really good.
If the fans at Candlestick Park knew about Eli's thoughts, they would surely nod in agreement and raise their hands and feet in support. The 2011 NFL season was indeed much more enjoyable. The five hundred fans from the Chinese community also had no objections.
Looking at the surging red ocean in the stadium, Li Monian could clearly feel the boiling passion and excitement in his chest. Perhaps all of this was destiny. The first time the San Francisco Chinese community was officially organized to watch a game at Candlestick Park, they witnessed a breathtaking game. They not only truly felt the fanaticism of the home fans but also truly witnessed the magic of a football game.
Although football is full of countless possibilities and every game between strong teams is thrilling, it is undeniable that, like all competitive sports, football has its highs and lows. Some games are incredibly boring and uninspiring, while others are bumpy, with yellow flags and fouls completely ruining the watchability of the game and even making laypeople drowsy.
Before the game started, Li Monian was not worried. But after arriving at Candlestick Park, he really started to worry. On the one hand, he was worried that the 49ers would lose this strong matchup, which would be a heavy blow to the enthusiasm of new fans who were just starting. On the other hand, he was worried that the game would fall into a boring rut, and all the Chinese fans would feel cheated.
There is a certain kind of fate between people, and the same goes for people and their hobbies. If the first game organized by the Chinese community was unsatisfactory, it would be a devastating blow. Even if the team's starting quarterback was Chinese, if the game couldn't be won or wasn't exciting, it would be difficult for new fans to get interested, let alone delve deeper. This was fate.
But now, all his worries had been swept away. Not only was there no need to worry, but he was also extremely excited. They had actually encountered a rare, thrilling matchup, with back-and-forth confrontations and a dramatic storyline that kept the suspense until the very last moment, and even a Hollywood-style comeback with a zero-second game-winner.
Even a layman, after watching this game live, would surely have all their passion ignited. Even a regular spectator, after experiencing the enthusiasm and joy of Candlestick Park, would surely become a part of it, cheering, shouting, and jumping along. Joy and sorrow had bound them together.
Li Monian thought that perhaps Lu Ke was truly a special presence, and his connection with football had quietly taken root and was now growing strong. He turned his head and saw the frenzy of the entire Chinese fan group. Everyone had let go of their restraints and self-consciousness, completely integrating into this red ocean and becoming a part of it. This was a beginning.
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