The roar of the crowd, like a crashing wave, struck Lu Ke's eardrums, creating a buzzing sound. It was as if someone was ringing a bell in his head, and he could feel the distant echo of the "sound wave" throughout his body.
His heart was racing, he was ecstatic, and the adrenaline, freed from its restraints, flowed into his blood. The thunderous roar was endless, and the joy and happiness of victory were erupting at this very moment! The thrill and excitement of the comeback were exploding right now!
This moment was so beautiful that he couldn't help but lose himself in it, waving his fists wildly and roaring to his heart's content until his chest felt like it was on fire, his blood began to boil, and his body felt like it was going to burst.
God, he loved this field so much!
The frustration and pressure of the first half, the ups and downs of the second half, the close call at the end, the breathless moment of the game-winning play... all of it made the taste of victory sweeter and more moving. Right now, he just wanted to fully enjoy the thrill of winning. Everything else could wait.
"Bambi, Bambi!" Assistant coach Bobby Engram walked over with difficulty. It wasn't easy to get through the players who had lost their minds. Almost everyone was shouting, "Bobby! Victory! Victory!" Bobby couldn't hear anything at this point, but he still made it to Lu Ke. "Handshake! Post-game handshake!"
This was only Lu Ke's second game as a professional. After a difficult victory, his mind was like a wild horse, unable to be reined in. Even though it was just a regular-season game, for Lu Ke, it was more important than the Super Bowl. Only with a victory could his career continue. Otherwise, it could have very well been his last game.
Bobby's call finally brought Lu Ke back to his senses. He pushed away his teammates, who were holding him like octopuses, raised his hands, and called out, "Post-game handshake! Post-game handshake!" Not only did the quarterbacks need to shake hands after the game, but all the players, including the head coach, also needed to be polite after the game, just like in soccer.
Lu Ke quickly ran onto the field, and in the bustling crowd, he saw Tony Romo.
He was a tall, handsome man with a faint, light stubble on his chin. There was a lingering sense of loss and regret in his eyes, but a sunny smile on his face was warm and friendly. He stood on the field, smiling calmly, comforting his teammates after the loss, and then waited for Lu Ke to arrive.
Romo looked up and saw Lu Ke approaching. He walked forward to meet him, extending his right hand and opening his left. He not only shook hands but also gave Lu Ke a warm hug. The firm handshake was full of sincerity. He leaned close to Lu Ke's ear and said in a loud voice, "Excellent game, really excellent. To be honest, I don't know how you completed that last pass, but it was amazing!"
Lu Ke looked at Romo in surprise.
Last week, Travis Jackson had just gone through the motions, just a quick tap of their right hands. There was no real handshake or any conversation. They met for a second, and then he turned and left.
"Thank you," Lu Ke said, still a little surprised. "Today, luck was on my side."
He was being honest, not humble.
When he used Bullet Time, even with the skill activated, he was almost sacked at least three times. With Kyle Williams' fumble, Logan Newman only managed to get the ball by a half-hand advantage. In that last pass, if the arc had been just three or five centimeters higher, Michael Crabtree would not have been able to make the catch...
And this was just the luck he had on the last drive. Looking back, if the Dallas Cowboys hadn't missed two third-down conversions in the fourth quarter and turned over the ball, or if Lu Ke's bold and risky passing choices in his previous two touchdown drives had lacked a bit of luck, the outcome of the game would have been completely different.
As Lu Ke said, luck favored the San Francisco 49ers.
Romo chuckled. "As an NFL veteran, can I give you some advice?" A dimple appeared as his mouth turned up in a brilliant smile. Without his helmet and the intensity of the game, Romo looked like a neighbor. After Lu Ke nodded in affirmation, he continued, "Luck is also a part of skill."
Then, Romo patted Lu Ke's shoulder and said again, "As an undrafted rookie, you'll inevitably have a lot of pressure on you when you enter the league. We have more to prove, but remember that your own ability is your most important weapon. Good luck with your game next week! But for today, just enjoy the victory!"
There was a hint of bitterness in his smile, but it was mostly relief and calm. Romo's great demeanor truly impressed Lu Ke.
"I hope I'll have the same 'skill' in our next matchup," Lu Ke said, putting emphasis on the word skill and making a joke. This made Romo laugh heartily. He shook his head and then released his right hand, raising his right index finger and waving it back and forth. "No, no, that won't happen. Don't forget, I'm the captain of America's Team."
Then, Romo winked cheekily, didn't say anything else, and turned to leave.
Watching Tony Romo's retreating figure, Lu Ke felt a different kind of feeling about the same field, the same game, and the same victory. The charm of competitive sports was once again being interpreted with different meanings.
In the Dallas Cowboys' post-game press conference, Tony Romo was repeatedly asked about Lu Ke. The 31-year-old quarterback said, "Yes, it was a regrettable loss for us. We were in control for most of the game, but we couldn't keep it up until the end. As for the 49ers, Lu Ke's performance deserved this victory! I have to send him my congratulations."
"The Undrafted Quarterback Matchup" was the central topic of discussion in the media before the game, and naturally, it was raised again after the game.
"Competitive sports are cruel, and the NFL is no exception. People always have demanding expectations for players, especially quarterbacks. I've been through all of this, and I know what Lu Ke is going through," Romo said honestly, without avoiding the topic. "I think Lu Ke's performance couldn't have been any better. Not just for an undrafted rookie, but for any rookie, his performance deserves respect."
"For undrafted rookies, we often have to carry more pressure. In every game, we have to prove ourselves again. But I think Lu Ke has earned his respect," Romo emphasized his point again.
When the reporters brought up the San Francisco 49ers' starting quarterback competition—Alex Smith was returning from injury next week—Romo didn't beat around the bush. "Yes, I support Lu Ke. Alex Smith is a very good quarterback, but based on the performance of the last two games, Lu Ke is still more competitive."
There was no animosity, only respect and admiration. The reporters were bound to be disappointed. Similarly, on Lu Ke's side, the reporters also failed to get a breakthrough.
"Today's performance by Tony really made me feel the gap between us. As a rookie, I still have a lot to learn. I didn't see any hope of winning until the last 69 seconds of the game. But luckily, I didn't give up hope," Lu Ke said honestly.
The struggles of the first half and the ups and downs of the fourth quarter were things he needed to review. Even for elite quarterbacks, every season and every game is different, and they have to be well-prepared. Furthermore, Lu Ke was still just a rookie, and he had a long road ahead of him.
The first game, he won by surprise. The second game, he won by luck and the use of two special abilities, winning at the last second.
As the season progresses, Lu Ke's weaknesses would become more and more apparent, and the games would become more and more difficult. After a victory, it was okay to celebrate to the fullest, but he couldn't become arrogant. He was still far from having the right to be complacent.
Next, the reporters asked about the long conversation between Lu Ke and Romo after the game. This was uncommon in football unless the quarterbacks were close friends. Generally, quarterbacks don't talk much on the field. The post-game handshake is just a formality.
"Haha," Lu Ke chuckled. "Romo congratulated me and then looked forward to our next matchup. Personally, I would definitely hope for another matchup." The last part of his sentence was meaningful, and the unspoken meaning was clear: The starting position for the next game was still up in the air.
The reporters chuckled again. Interviewing Lu Ke was a pleasant experience. It wasn't just witty banter; more importantly, the entire conversation was pleasant and sparkling, with a bit of humor, a bit of teasing, and a bit of a bombshell. He had the youthful exuberance of a rookie and the cunning wisdom of a veteran.
For the media, these were the kinds of players they welcomed with open arms.
The rest of the interview was mainly focused on the game itself. The reporters wanted to know more about the slump in the first half, the tactical changes in the second half, and the last drive, especially the final pass. The reporters wanted to get a more comprehensive understanding of the game and the rookie quarterback in front of them.
After two consecutive victories, this undrafted Chinese-American rookie's news value was growing by the day.
"Lu Ke, before this week's game, Charles Davis said on a show that if you could win this week, he would swallow his microphone. What do you have to say about that..."
A reporter was asking a question, but at that moment, Logan and Marcus swaggered past Lu Ke, blocking the reporters' view. They imitated a military salute and said solemnly, "Reporting, Bambi! Private Newman/Lynch reporting for duty!"
The interview was immediately interrupted.
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