Nobody believed that a Chinese American quarterback could lead the San Francisco 49ers out of their slump. Nobody even believed that a Chinese American quarterback could survive in the professional game.
Everyone was scrambling to show off their mocking skills, as if determined to see who was the best at it.
Among them, Charles Davis was undoubtedly a step above the rest. "After missing the playoffs for eight consecutive years, 49ers fans can already start preparing for next year."
It was the same throughout the league, and even the 49ers' home paper, the "San Francisco Chronicle," was no exception.
As the largest local newspaper, the "San Francisco Chronicle" was a dominant force. On the entire West Coast, it was the second-largest newspaper, right after the "Los Angeles Times," with sales and influence far ahead of its competitors and on par with the "Los Angeles Times."
Brian Westbrook was a senior sports columnist for the newspaper and a well-known professional commentator within the league.
After the 49ers officially announced Lu Ke as the starting quarterback, all eyes seemed to be on his "Chinese American" identity. The league's promotion of this fact only added fuel to the fire. Everyone started to mock him, as if not doing so would diminish their status as experts.
Even the most objective, calm, and rational professional commentators were at a loss to understand the 49ers' decision.
But as the official commentator for the home team, Brian couldn't and wouldn't just go on the attack. Even if he did, he had to have a good reason. Otherwise, if his own home base was on fire, the team's management would definitely not be happy.
Brian conducted a detailed investigation, even digging into Lu Ke's high school and pre-immigration life, trying to come to a relatively objective and comprehensive conclusion. The results were not optimistic.
In middle school and high school, Lu Ke attended George Washington High School, a public school. There was no official data for the football team. The only thing that could be confirmed was that Lu Ke was indeed the starting quarterback, but the stats were a complete mess. Basic stats like passing yards, touchdowns, and interceptions were all over the place, with huge variations in different versions, so they were of no use.
In college, he didn't even join the team in his first and second years. In his third year, he was a practice squad player, and in his fourth year, he was a backup but missed the entire season. His only game experience was in the last quarter against the University of Southern California and in the last two minutes of the Rose Bowl against the University of Wisconsin.
In those two games, Lu Ke's performance was amazing. He had twenty completions out of twenty-five passing attempts, a completion rate of eighty percent. He had five touchdowns and no interceptions. He led the team to two consecutive victories in difficult situations and brought the Rose Bowl back to UCLA for the first time in twenty-five years.
In the rookie training camp, his physical test results were very poor, not even at the college average, let alone for an undrafted rookie. His quarterback-specific skill tests were exceptionally good. He was especially impressive in a scrimmage game, showing an amazing feel for passing, not to mention his perfect Wonderlic test score.
In the draft, he went undrafted.
In the preseason, he only participated in seventeen offensive plays in four games, with six completions out of eleven passing attempts, no touchdowns, and one interception.
That was all there was. For an NFL professional player, and for a player who was about to become a starting quarterback, this reference data was pitifully small. Even a beggar's assets might be more abundant.
The lack of data meant that the reference value was low. It was impossible to accurately measure the player's true skill level, and it was even more impossible to accurately estimate the player's average level. The exaggerated high school stats, three years of not being a starter in college, and the physical test results that don't lie all added insult to injury, constantly showing that...
...the player's excellent performance was just a flash in the pan. Outside of those moments of talent, for most of the time, he was mediocre, or even bad. His performance was not even at the professional minimum, and even his college average was a concern.
All the clues and all the information suggested that this was a disaster, and one with no end in sight.
In the end, Brian wrote this in his "San Francisco Chronicle" sports column:
"This is a bold choice, but it's also a reckless one. We can't determine the consequences of this choice. The only thing we can do is cross our fingers and hope for a miracle. Fortunately, Alex Smith is on his way back from injury, and Colin Kaepernick's concussion might also be healed in four weeks."
Even Brian himself couldn't believe he was hoping for the return of Alex and Colin.
There was a time when they wanted to get rid of Alex so badly. For the past eight seasons, almost every offseason, loyal fans would beg the team's management to get rid of Alex and find someone new. They couldn't wait to get rid of the burden.
There was a time when they were so desperate. After each of the four preseason games, they became more and more disappointed. Colin's performance was like a bottomless pit with no end in sight, and the disaster was only getting worse.
But now, facing this unknown Chinese American quarterback, Alex and Colin suddenly looked like heaven.
At the very least, Alex was a former number one draft pick, and he could still lead the team forward steadily without completely falling apart. At the very least, Colin had unlimited potential. All he needed was time—more time to learn and grow.
And as for that unknown X factor... everything was unpredictable.
With the "San Francisco Chronicle" gone, it meant a complete collapse of public opinion, and the fans were wailing, heartbroken, and miserable.
Even the most optimistic fans were now filled with a sense of pessimism and despair that they couldn't get rid of. It wasn't because of Lu Ke's Chinese American identity but because from every angle, this undrafted rookie quarterback couldn't be the leader of the team, let alone a savior.
A survey by the "San Francisco Chronicle" showed that more than sixty percent of the fans had already given up on the season. The reason was simple: during the time Alex and Colin were out, they didn't believe Lu Ke could lead the team to a victory. And after the two injured quarterbacks returned, the team would already be so far behind their competitors that they wouldn't have a chance.
The remaining forty percent of the fans were divided into two groups.
Half of them were still hopeful. No matter how the team did, they would still support their team and be proud of it. The other half was angry, with an uncontrollable anger—not at Lu Ke, but at the team's management.
This offseason, the entire coaching staff and management team were completely changed. The fans supported the change, hoping the team would bring in a fresh start and make the playoffs again after eight years. But it was clear that Jim Harbaugh's decisions had disappointed them.
First, he signed back Alex Smith. Then, he prematurely pushed Colin Kaepernick into the starting position. Then, he passed on two veterans, Carson Palmer and Matt Hasselbeck, and chose Lu Ke. Finally, the team's plays in the four preseason games never seemed to get on track.
To make matters worse, the backup quarterback the team's management chose for Lu Ke was another undrafted rookie.
Every choice, every decision, and every step was absurd and bizarre. The disaster with no end in sight was slowly sliding into an even more terrifying abyss.
"Is Jim Harbaugh into young men? Why is the entire team full of young people who are overwhelmed, inexperienced, and can't handle the pressure? Why? In the professional game, experience is also important! What's wrong with this team? Have they lost their minds?"
Whether the team's management had lost their minds was unknown, but the angry fans were losing theirs. Over two thousand people gathered around Candlestick Park, expressing their heartbreaking questions through legitimate channels. Their protest signs spoke their minds:
"We want wins, not babies!"
"Give up the impossible fantasy and come back to reality. The team needs a leader, not a doll."
"Fire Lu Ke and replace the quarterback. Even Scott Tolzien is a smarter choice."
"Coaching staff, wake up! Lu Ke is not the future of this team!"
"A year ago, a number one draft pick was leading the team. A year later, an undrafted rookie is leading the team? What went wrong with us?"
"No! No! No! Just say 'no' to Lu Ke."
"We're not nannies! Our season tickets aren't for raising kids!"
...
Unintentionally, the roar of protest against Lu Ke was getting louder and louder, and the calls to replace the team's quarterback were getting more and more intense. Things were slowly getting out of control. The fans' anger could no longer stay in their chests, and they had to respond and let it out.
Three crazy fans went to Lu Ke's house. First, they dumped the contents of two garbage cans in his backyard. Then, they threw eggs and tomatoes at his front door.
Luckily, when it happened, Lu Zhengze and Jiang Youning were at work and were not scared. The police arrived at the scene immediately, took a report, and started an investigation. Unfortunately, this had crossed Lu Ke's line, and things were starting to get personal.
But no matter how much they protested, no matter how angry they were, the fact remained that the San Francisco 49ers didn't have much time left. Likewise, the 49ers didn't have much room for a buffer. Even if the coaching staff wanted to make a change, they had no other choice.
Amid the sound of pessimism, the wind and rain, and the fear and suspicion, the 2011 season began.
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