Chapter 757: The Charm of Competition
"Ginn! Ginn! Ted Ginn! Ginn is accelerating, oh my God, Lu Ke threw a super rainbow pass in an extremely dangerous situation, spanning half the field and finding a continuously accelerating Ted Ginn! It's a forty-three-yard pass that leaped over the defensive line, the linebackers, and the Detroit Lions' defensive blockade, entering an empty zone!"
"Brilliant! It's absolutely brilliant!"
"Ginn completes the catch! Ginn completes the catch near the thirty-five-yard line, the thirty-six-yard line of the opponent's half! But there are no defensive players around him anymore, the entire backfield is completely open!"
"Ginn! Ginn! The thirty-yard line! The twenty-five-yard line! Ted Ginn is still sprinting! The twenty-yard line! The fifteen-yard line! Oh my God, the San Francisco 49ers' number 10 wide receiver Ted Ginn is heading for the end zone, Ginn! Ginn crosses the end zone line! The Lions' defense is too late to cover, it's a touchdown, it's a touchdown!"
"Absolutely magnificent! Absolutely magnificent!"
"In the first drive of the new season's home game, the San Francisco 49ers' offense has shown a rare and excellent form! Facing a powerful rush from Ndamukong Suh, Lu Ke used his footwork to run out of the pocket, faked a run to attract the attention of the defensive players, and then moved sideways again to complete a pass while running, finding the open Ted Ginn and successfully connecting!"
"It's an eighty-yard passing touchdown! From their own twenty-yard line, with both passing and running, the San Francisco 49ers successfully completed an eighty-yard passing touchdown! Beautiful! Brilliant! Amazing!"
"Clearly, the San Francisco 49ers' offense has learned from last week's game. The offensive tactics are more decisive and versatile. This also reminds us of Lu Ke's debut in the NFL in the 2011 season! A super connection with a pass distance of sixty-six yards found tight end Logan Newman, who continued to run for a touchdown!"
"Today, Lu Ke has recreated that moment..."
Kirk in the studio was yelling hoarsely, but the roaring and shouting from the entire Candlestick Park poured down like one huge wave after another, instantly swallowing all other noise. There was only one sound left in the entire stadium:
Touchdown!
Touchdown!
Touchdown!
This was the first drive and the first pass of the 49ers' home game in the 2012 season, and they successfully scored their first touchdown of the home season!
Just seven seconds into the game, Candlestick Park successfully witnessed the first touchdown celebration of the season. Such a thrilling and brilliant offensive drive completely ignited the adrenaline of everyone in the stadium. Like a fireworks show, it erupted completely, setting off a massive red wave!
"Touchdown!" Candice's eyes and mouth radiated a brilliant light. She jumped and cheered excitedly, completely shedding her non-existent ladylike poise and becoming part of the party. Her high ponytail bounced and danced freely, drawing a stunning curve in the golden sunlight.
She turned her head and saw Curry, his mouth wide open, yelling freely. He was pounding his chest like a mountain, and the bulging veins on his flushed face were faintly visible. He was expressing his emotions without reservation, joining the rhythm of the crowd with one cheer after another. "Touchdown!"
Candice and Curry were like two small drops of water in a vast ocean. Surrounded by the turbulent waves, they jumped, cheered, and roared, their hands clenched into fists, joining the chorus of screams without reservation. They were releasing their emotions to the fullest, and their small efforts became an indispensable part of this storm.
Listen, that's the roar of Candlestick Park.
"Touchdown! Touchdown! Touchdown!"
Standing on the field, Randy Moss's eyes were complicated as he looked at the massive red wave in front of him, finally resting on Lu Ke.
With this pass play, Moss finally had a little more understanding of the discipline and framework that Lu Ke had talked about.
In fact, in the moment of crisis, both Moss and Ginn had gotten open.
The difference was that Moss was running according to his own style. He had indeed gotten open in the medium-pass area, but his footwork had led him into an encirclement. He could have completed the catch, but he wouldn't have been able to continue to advance. He would have had to turn around and face a difficult situation where a touchdown was a long shot.
Ginn, on the other hand, was well-versed in the playbook. After instantly finding an open space, he didn't hesitate to push his run to the deep area. After shaking off the defensive players, there was an open field in front of him. He was clearly a more suitable target for a pass, and the only concern was the accuracy of the deep ball.
But for Lu Ke, this was precisely his ace up his sleeve.
In fact, the ability to attack vertically was one of Moss's strengths, but without understanding and reading the playbook, he had no way of understanding Lu Ke's pass layout. This also caused his threat on offense to drop significantly. What's more, as he got older, Moss could no longer rely solely on his talent to beat his opponents. He was starting to feel overwhelmed in head-to-head matchups.
So, was he really wrong?
He let out a long breath and completely put the idea of self-doubt out of his mind.
Relying on his own way and sticking to his own style, Moss had been in the league for twelve years. This was his means of survival, his foundation, and his signature weapon. Even Tom Brady had successfully adapted to his style of play and achieved unparalleled glory, so what about a second-year quarterback?
This was just one play, one tactic, for a touchdown. What he needed to do wasn't to change, but to focus and truly play his part. As long as he could use his talent and running to get open, he believed that the second-year quarterback would throw the ball to him.
After the incident in the last game, Moss knew that the guy was a man of integrity and would never trip him up. At least not during a game. For the sake of victory, that guy was willing to give it his all, and this was the one thing he appreciated about him the most.
Just one.
In a single breath, Moss's mind had already gone through a sea of change. He refocused and applauded Ginn, joining the celebration of the crowd. Starting a game with a touchdown was undoubtedly a pleasant feeling. Moss wouldn't be petty enough to refuse to congratulate him out of envy or jealousy.
The home atmosphere at Candlestick Park was truly captivating, something he hadn't felt at the home stadiums of the New England Patriots or the Minnesota Vikings. One day, these cheers and shouts would be for him.
"Touchdown! Touchdown! Touchdown!"
Not only Candlestick Park, not only the commentators in the studio, and not only the fans in front of their televisions, but also the special guests in the VIP suite. No one was an exception. The insignificance in front of the grandeur and the humility in front of the magnificence made everyone present open their mouths slightly, and a deep shock was revealed in the depths of their eyes.
Even Goodell was no exception.
Roger Goodell was not a rookie who had never seen the world. He had witnessed the frenzy of a Super Bowl win, had been to the surge of the Lambeau Field, and had experienced the shock of CenturyLink Field. But at this moment, the tsunami of shouts at Candlestick Park still made him feel a shock deep in his soul.
In just one season, this stadium had become one of the most unique and powerful home fields in the league.
On the field, the number 14 quarterback clenched his fists and roared wildly, releasing all his passion for playing at home. That seemingly ordinary small figure contained a powerful force that could overturn the entire league.
Goodell, who was standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows, couldn't help but nod slightly, revealing a look of satisfaction.
Emma, who was also standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows, couldn't move. She stood there, her entire body rigid.
She quietly watched the number 14 on the field, who was completely unleashed. That surging passion and fierce spirit erupted strongly and fiercely, truly showcasing the charm of competitive sports, making people's blood boil involuntarily.
The drive that just happened, from reading the defense before the snap to the final powerful sprint for a touchdown, showed the power and intelligence of football. In addition to the clash of two powerful forces, there was also a tactical plan and an on-the-spot game of wits.
Attack and defense, strategy and change, execution and drive. The ever-changing situation on the field tightly grabbed her heart, contracting and contracting again. That suffocating feeling of being unable to breathe was something she couldn't hate.
Even though she didn't understand football at all, she was completely immersed in it.
Most importantly, the performance of that number 14 was simply too brilliant. It was so brilliant that she couldn't help but want to... scream. That wasn't the guy she knew. How was that possible? How was that possible! How did all of this happen? Something was wrong, completely wrong, but she couldn't say what it was.
It was just excitement.
"My God, what just happened?" The surging emotions and excitement completely caught Emma off guard. Her mind was in a chaotic mess, and she had almost lost her ability to think. She had completely disappeared into this vast red ocean, and it seemed as if she couldn't even feel her own existence anymore.
"How was that? Was it shocking?" Leonardo's voice was trembling slightly, revealing the excitement and exhilaration deep in his heart. But compared to Emma, he wasn't nervous. He was enjoying it more. From the Staples Center of the Los Angeles Lakers to the Candlestick Park of the San Francisco 49ers, the most captivating moments of competitive sports were happening.
Emma raised her head in a daze, trying to hide her embarrassment, but she failed in the end. "...Is it always like this?"
The countless thoughts in her mind were bubbling, and in the end, she asked such a stupid question. Emma tried to bite her own tongue, but her slow reaction made it impossible for her to move. She was like an idiot now.
Damn it!
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