"As an undrafted rookie, how did you feel when the team decided that you would be the starting quarterback in the first game of the regular season, and you only had ten days to prepare?"
This is the first formal question raised by Brian. It is quite normal and expected. It can be said that it is a question that almost every rookie quarterback will inevitably face when starting the game.
However, if you think about it carefully, there is a hidden edge, and there are hidden traps that are difficult to guard against - being too arrogant or too humble may lead to you falling into a trap.
"Don't drop the ball?" Lu Ke's answer was in a humorous and self-deprecating tone. Brian couldn't help but be stunned, and then he reacted and chuckled.
Then, Lu Ke straightened his posture and answered the question seriously, "At that time, everything was too sudden and too fast. No one wants to see players injured. Any injury is detrimental to the game and the players. It was a heavy blow. At a certain moment, I was not sure whether this was luck or bad luck for me. I think the next team needs to be more cautious when considering signing with me."
At first, Kevin Press was injured unexpectedly, and Lu Ke got the chance to play; later, Alex Smith was injured unexpectedly, and Lu Ke got the chance to try out; finally, Colin Kaepernick was injured unexpectedly, Lu Ke became the team's starter.
In a sense, this seems to be a curse; but in fact, on the football field, accidents are normal.
The real curse in the NFL is Ryan Fitzpatrick, a quarterback who entered the league in 2005. As long as he serves as a backup quarterback for a certain team, the team starts four points. The guard will 100% be injured; if the starting quarterback is injured and Ryan is not replaced as the starter, other substitute starters will also be injured.
In 2005, Fitzpatrick was drafted by the St. Louis Rams. At that time, the Rams' starting quarterback Marc Bulger suffered a shoulder injury; he was replaced by starter Jamie Martin, who suffered a concussion and left the game.
In 2007, Fitzpatrick went to the Cincinnati Bengals, and starting quarterback Carson Palmer tore his elbow ligament.
In 2009, the Buffalo Bills became Fitzpatrick's next home. Starting quarterback Trent Edwards suffered a concussion, and then Fitzpatrick became the starter and stayed until this season.
"Fitzpatrick's Iron Law" has become a curse in the league. In comparison, Lu Ke's experience was not special at all on the rugby field, where confrontations were fierce and confrontations were fierce.
However, Lu Ke's wit and humor still succeeded in making Brian laugh happily.
"But the reality is that I became the starting quarterback and only had ten days to prepare. I believe that for any rookie player, this is a contradictory feeling." Lu Ke returned to the question Go on, keep talking.
"On the one hand, we are looking forward to playing, we are ready, we are eager to become a member of the league, we are gearing up and can't wait; but on the other hand, we are worried and anxious about our game, Worrying about my performance, after all, the professional arena is a whole new level, everything is different from college..."
Having said this, Lu Ke paused for a moment and added, "Of course, I didn't get many opportunities to play in college, so I guess the difficulty will increase exponentially if you get it right in one step."
Involuntarily and uncontrollably, the corners of Brian's mouth rose high. This is not the first time Lu Ke has dealt with the media. In the past two weeks, Lu Ke has shown his excellent eloquence many times; but today, Brian still felt surprised and novel.
Such self-complaining banter, such easy-to-find humor, such a calm and unhurried attitude, with the vigor of a young man and the maturity of an old fox, it is really eye-catching. The so-called exclusive interview was originally just a routine matter, but now it has become interesting.
"Then what?" Brian asked with a smile on his face, "How do you feel after you actually play?"
"Everything is a lie." Lu Ke's answer was once again unexpected, and Brian couldn't help but chuckle.
Interviewing is a complicated matter. You come and go, there is "you" and there is "I".
Both the interviewer and the interviewee are crucial. If only one party is working hard, it is impossible to establish a connection in the interview; at the same time, if both parties perform wonderfully but fail to find a tacit understanding, it will still fall short of expectations. Effect. Only when there is a chemical reaction between the two parties, both of which are indispensable, can an ordinary and boring interview burst out with sparks.
As an interviewee, Lu Ke performed exceptionally well today; as an interviewer, Brian needs to work harder.
"After I actually played, there was no time to think. All the excitement and all the worries disappeared without a trace." Lu Ke continued, "The game was like a high-speed train, whizzing by, 'boom' The ground hit me in the stomach, and all my energy was focused on avoiding vomiting. I thought passing the ball was no longer my biggest concern."
Brian lowered his jaw with interest, "You mean, as an undrafted rookie and the first Chinese-American player in the league, as the starting quarterback, you didn't feel anything at all when you walked onto Candlestick Stadium. The excitement and excitement of making history?" As an interviewer, Brian also began to exert his strength.
"Of course. I mean, I'm the only Chinese face on the entire court, or even the only Asian face. Even if I want to ignore it, it's not an easy thing." Lu Ke calmly faced Bu Ryan’s question, “But here’s the thing, it’s not just the first game, it’s not just the first season, I’m the focus until the next Asian player comes into the pros, so I think, It's been a long journey, and I've had a long...long time to get excited and excited."
The emphatic adjective, "very long," prolonged the ending, giving a sense of joking. Brian couldn't help but smile. He strongly suspected that Lu Ke was a talk show host whose career was delayed by football.
"Creating history is a neutral word. When every player steps onto the court, he hopes that he can win and go down in history. But the cruel fact is that only very few players can achieve their goals." Lu Ke shows a maturity that belies his age, but if you think about it seriously——
At the age of ten, Lu Ke decided to step onto the rugby field. Along the way, he faced the challenges and impacts brought by "Chinese players" at every moment.
Perhaps, as a professional player, Lu Ke does not spend much time on the court; but as a history maker, Lu Ke has long been accustomed to the pressure and burden.
"If I throw five interceptions in the first game, it will be history. Believe me, no one wants to go down in history like this." Behind the simple words, there was a burst of complaints. and ridicule, Lu Ke's calm posture truly demonstrated his personality charm.
Brian couldn't help laughing, "Fortunately, we have witnessed another version of history. Otherwise, the atmosphere of today's interview may have been different." Five touchdowns, this is the history written by Lu Ke. "So, at the end of the game, the team won by a big score, how do you feel? Or are you disappointed?"
Brian's tone also added a little joking, which even made Lu Ke laugh.
"No, of course not. No one will be disappointed with a victory." Lu Ke shook his head in denial, "Excitement and excitement, after the game is over, there are those vulgar things, blah blah... I believe, these clichés, you I’m tired of hearing it. It’s the same thing over and over again, so I won’t repeat it.”
Brian raised his eyebrows, feeling Lu Ke's difference again, "No, no, let's listen to the clichés. Why do we always like to win, why do we always like happy endings, why do we always like to have feelings People end up getting married, because those old times are the best parts.”
"Haha, is this a line from Oprah Winfrey's autobiography?" Lu Ke teased, making a mockery of the "Oprah Talk Show" style chicken soup for the soul, and Brian couldn't help but fall into deep confusion. In deep contemplation, "After the game, the sense of reality came in. I realized that I had made the first start of my career, and at the same time, I also won. So, party time."
Simple but vivid, Brian seemed to have relived the joy of victory again, "Everything is incredible, right?" After receiving Lu Ke's approval, Brian continued his question, "After experiencing such a wonderful and such After a fierce game, what is the most unforgettable moment? For many people, the first long touchdown is definitely the most exciting moment!"
This time, Lu Ke did not answer in a hurry, but recalled it seriously.
The first game did have countless classic and unforgettable moments. First pass, yes; yellow flag, yes; Jim Hubble's trust, yes; shotgun fire, yes. but……
"Actually, it was the moment when I got my jersey and helmet for the first time." Lu Ke gave a strange answer. Brian showed a puzzled look, but the light in Lu Ke's eyes was not at all. Brighten up little by little.
"It sounds a little ridiculous and a little ridiculous. But that's the reality." Lu Ke paused for a moment and fell into memories. Concentration and immersion appeared between his brows again, and excitement and excitement could be faintly captured in his eyes. " ... That was the first time in my life that I got my jersey."
In elementary school and middle school, the school did not have formal game uniforms at all; in college, Lu Ke was not able to get his own jersey in time. This situation continues until the professional league. As Lu Ke said, it is absurd and uninhibited, but it is true.
"At that moment, the dream became real. I really became a professional player, I really stood on the court, and I really had my own place." The smile on the corner of Lu Ke's mouth bloomed brightly, "I once again It’s clear to me why I chose rugby, it’s been such a long journey and more importantly, it’s just the starting point.”
