The sky, a brilliant blue, was painted in vibrant orange and red. All over the horizon, where the sky met the sea, great clouds of red rolled in. The intense, blood-like colors swirled and faded across the arc of the sky like a grand and wild canvas. Nature's brush freely painted a breathtaking scene, making all flowery words seem pale in comparison.
San Francisco in August is always breathtakingly beautiful.
Another day of tryouts had ended. For Lu Ke, nothing seemed to have changed. Whether it was the team tryouts or his own training, the content was different, but the rhythm was the same. It had become a normal part of his life.
In fact, there were only three days left until the start of the 2011 preseason. The anticipation and excitement for the new season had already begun to spread. ESPN was already producing a series of programs to welcome the preseason.
In the adjacent practice field, there was still some joking around, but a tense atmosphere was slowly spreading. There was excitement and anticipation, but there was also fear and nervousness. The latter was more prevalent—the San Francisco 49ers hadn't made the playoffs in eight years, and no one wanted to extend that record.
But for Lu Ke and the other three quarterbacks at the tryout, none of that mattered. They were still not part of the team. They were still fighting for a job. Not for victory, not for the game, not for honor, but for a job.
After practice, Lu Ke grabbed the towel hanging from his waist and wiped off the sweat. He was drenched as if he had just been pulled from the water. From a short distance away, Scott called out, "Today's practice was killer. How did you do that balance drill? When I stood on it, my calves started shaking, and it was an indescribable feeling."
The balance drill required a balance board, which had a flat surface on top and a bouncy ball underneath. The two were one single piece, and it was incredibly difficult to stand on it. For athletes, it wasn't just about standing; they also had to be in a half-squat, which made controlling their center of gravity and muscles even harder.
Next, a football was needed, as a quarterback had to complete passes, first from a fixed point and then to a receiver on a dynamic route. The quarterback had to use their arm and upper body strength as much as possible. But as soon as the lower body exerted any force, the board would start to shake violently, causing a huge deviation in the pass's accuracy.
In this drill, balance was the least important part of the training. The main purpose was to train core muscle strength and deep muscles. In addition, it also helped to correct a quarterback's passing motion details to ensure stability while moving. And finally, it trained a quarterback's ability to pass while being interfered with, hit, or tackled and losing their balance.
The drill might seem simple or even comical, but it was a comprehensive test for a quarterback.
One wrong move and they would fall flat on their face. Another wrong move and they could injure themselves. It was embarrassing and humiliating. On the practice field, they looked like clowns in a circus, and they were the center of attention—the kind that brought shame.
This was the case for the two young men, Lu Ke and Scott. It was even more difficult for the two veterans, Matt and Carson. Times were changing, technology was developing, and training methods were constantly being updated. Keeping up with the times was not easy.
All four quarterbacks faced a serious challenge, but overall, Lu Ke's performance was the most outstanding. "Yoga," Lu Ke said, without holding anything back. After all, these training methods weren't some exclusive secret. "I've been doing yoga for more than half a year, and it has had a significant effect on my body's flexibility and balance, as well as my muscle endurance and core."
When the system first added the yoga training task, Lu Ke was also confused. But in the blink of an eye, after half a year of persistence, it was time to reap the rewards. Who would have thought that such a gentle and peaceful exercise could help with such a violent and aggressive sport?
"Yoga?" Scott's eyes widened with surprise. "You mean, Indian yoga?"
Before Lu Ke could answer, a voice called out from a distance, "Everyone, gather around. All tryout players, gather up." Bobby's voice was very familiar. Lu Ke didn't need to turn around to know who it was. He nodded at Scott, confirming, "You can try it. It might not be for everyone, but it's worth a shot."
Bobby Engram didn't rush them and waited patiently. After all, today's practice was over, so there was no need to hurry. When Matt Hasselbeck walked over, they started chatting and laughing, which made the atmosphere more relaxed.
Turning his head, Bobby noticed that all four quarterbacks had gathered. So, he patted Matt on the shoulder, looked around, and without telling them where to stand, he said, "There are only three days left until the new season. The team's preparations are in the final stages, and we don't have much time. So, I'll keep it short."
This was it. The decision was here.
"This tryout ends today." Bobby's eyes fell on all four quarterbacks. Matt and Carson were veterans, so they were calm and not particularly nervous. But Lu Ke and Scott were rookies, and even if they tried to control it, their muscles were still inevitably tensed up.
Experience, after all, was something that was noticed. But choosing between experience and youth was a double-edged sword. Victory makes you a king. In sports, victory can explain everything, while defeat can destroy everything.
So, Bobby didn't get too emotional. He was only announcing the signing of a third-string quarterback. Jim Harbaugh didn't even come in person and left it to Bobby, the assistant offensive coach, to make the announcement. Bobby's mood quickly returned to normal.
"After a discussion with the coaching staff, the team has decided that the person we're keeping is..." Bobby's eyes went to Matt. They had been friends for almost ten years and were a quarterback and receiver duo. Just a glance was enough for them to understand. "Lu Ke. Welcome to the team. As for the other three players, thank you for coming to the tryout, and we wish you all the best in your future careers."
There were no fireworks, no suspense, and no intentional pause. He said it so casually that Lu Ke didn't react for a moment.
His first reaction was: The 49ers chose Matt. Sure enough, an experienced veteran with connections gets the job. But then, Lu Ke saw Scott reach out his right hand, making a gesture to cross his fist, and then patted his left shoulder. "Congratulations, buddy."
Lu Ke reflexively grabbed Scott's hand, and they hugged. Scott said with a big smile, "You deserve it. But be careful. One day, I might come back to take your job." Behind the joking words, there was a sense of disappointment and bitterness that couldn't be hidden.
Then, Carson came up and patted Lu Ke's right arm. "Good luck, young man." After saying that, Carson didn't say much more and turned to leave. He followed Matt out, and the two NFL veterans, one after the other, walked towards the parking lot. There wasn't much sadness or emotion, as if today was just another day of practice that had ended.
"Well, I hope to see you on the field next time." Scott bumped Lu Ke's shoulder again and then jogged to catch up to Carson and Matt. "So, you guys wanna go to a bar tonight?"
In just four days, they were competitors but also comrades. Only when you're in the middle of a tryout and on the verge of being eliminated can you truly understand that feeling. Instead of being ruthless with each other, they wished each other well and encouraged one another.
Suddenly, three people were eliminated, and one was left. It seemed like there was no time to prepare before the goodbyes. Before the happiness and excitement could rush in, the first thing he tasted was a hint of sadness.
Under the sunset, the three men's shadows were stretched long, and they slowly walked farther and farther away.
"Lu Ke?" Bobby's voice brought Lu Ke back from his thoughts. "Come on, let's go to the team building now. There are a series of things to do today, and our time is really tight. We need to hurry. More importantly, it's after work hours, and the lawyer's fees will be double."
"Oh, okay," Lu Ke said blankly, nodding and quickly walking next to Bobby toward the team building.
From a distance, he could see a middle-aged man standing at the entrance to the lobby. He was wearing the team's coaching uniform, with his hands behind his back, and he was staring intently at Lu Ke. It was clear that he was waiting for their arrival.
Before Lu Ke could walk over, the man approached him. "Tom Gamble, director of player personnel. If you have any questions in the future—and I mean any questions—you can come to me first. I'll be responsible for answering them." Before Lu Ke could respond, Tom nodded to Bobby, and Bobby turned and left, completing the handoff.
"Time is tight for the team right now, so I'll keep it short. If you have any questions later, we can discuss them slowly," Tom said, leading the way with Lu Ke right behind him. "First, we need to get you signed. Do you have an agent? No? Then I would advise you to communicate more with the lawyer sent by the players' association. He's representing the players, which means he's representing your interests. You can ask him any questions you have. Once you confirm that the contract is okay, you can sign it..."
"Excuse me, Mr. Gamble?" Lu Ke had to interrupt Tom because the amount of information was a bit too much. "I just need to confirm, I'm a member of the 49ers now, right? I mean, I'm in the league?"
Tom gave a big smile. "Yes, Lu Ke. And please call me Tom. 'Mr. Gamble' is my father."
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