I could feel my mom's chaos through the phone. On one hand, sports agents were a field she was unfamiliar with, and on the other hand, the sudden appearance of six agents caught her off guard. The most important thing was that she was worried and flustered.
My mom also understood the importance of a top agent. Although changing agents is a common occurrence in modern society, everyone hopes to choose an excellent agent to accompany a player through a long and difficult career, so the player can truly focus on the ga and avoid the drama and gossip off the field.
"Mom, mom, calm down," I said in a low voice to comfort her. "Just think of them as salespeople. If you don't like them, just tell them to leave. After all, I'm the person in charge, and I'm not even ho."
"How can you do that?" My mom shook her head repeatedly. "You're officially in the league now. You have to choose a reliable agent. I'm telling you, those bad, greedy agents are not just a waste of money. The main thing is that they always encourage players to do strange things or make unreasonable demands, and good players end up ruining their careers."
"Mom, did you read so tabloid again?" I couldn't help but rub my forehead and laugh out loud.
Tabloids refer to the free newspapers distributed in supermarkets in the United States. The stories are bizarre and unfounded and can be read as fiction. They are even more exaggerated than "Story Magazine," but they are quite popular with housewives who can use them to line their grocery baskets or pass the ti.
These newspapers survive on advertising sponsors and don't care about the truthfulness of the stories. They just go for whatever is most explosive. They have also caused a lot of commotion, such as the news that a "mummy got pregnant" and that "Hillary Clinton had an affair with an alien."
"No," My mom was also amused by . While denying it, she chuckled. "You, kid, I'm just worried about you. How important a good agent is, is an undeniable fact."
Listening to my mom's words, my gaze couldn't help but turn toward Leigh.
Leigh sat calmly on the bench, not showing any signs of anxiety, tension, or a desire to rush . When he noticed my gaze, he smiled in acknowledgnt, then looked at the garden beside him instead of taking out his phone and constantly being busy. He looked a little too leisurely.
I looked down at the hundred-dollar bill in my hand.
Suddenly, I understood the aning of the bill. It was the hundred-dollar bill from the Washington Redskins. I had put it in an envelope and returned it to the Redskins, showing my determination.
I had almost forgotten about it, but now that I think back to it, it feels like a lifeti ago. But I believe that Leigh wouldn't have just taken out a hundred-dollar bill casually. It must have a deeper aning, and the Washington Redskins are the best explanation.
This ans that over the past two weeks, or even longer, Leigh has been carefully and seriously observing . Today's invitation wasn't a random whim. Just like Leigh's reputation, he only takes one ladle from the three thousand rivers.
"Mom, tell those agents that I already have an agent," I said, making my decision.
My mom was stunned. "Huh? When did that happen? How co I don't know? Does your dad know?"
"Just now," I laughed. "Mom, don't worry. You know . I'm not impulsive. This agent has been in contact with
for a while now. I just decided that he might be the best choice." I could still feel her worry and doubt. I shrugged. "He's very famous."
My mom couldn't help but laugh. "We don't know if he's famous or not. The point is, is he good? Will he take good care of you? Will he force you to do things you don't like?"
I thought about it seriously. "Mom, he's a very humanistic agent."
Humanistic. China loves to talk about humanism because that's how people build relationships with each other—between neighbors, friends, and family. Although the United States also talks about and values family and friends, humanism is much weaker and relationships are maintained in other ways.
As my mom, Jiang Youning understood her son. I am a person with my own opinions and am very smart. They have never had to worry about . I am calm in the face of things and don't panic. Sotis I'm even calr than they are.
After all, here in the United States, young people adapt faster than they do. So, I also know better how to deal with problems in life using Arican ways.
It was the sa when I chose football and the sa when I chose to beco a professional player. What's even rarer is that I didn't neglect my studies in college and even graduated with excellent grades.
So, Jiang Youning thought for a mont and just asked, "Have you thought it through?"
"Yes. I've thought it through," I nodded heavily, showing my certainty.
Jiang Youning didn't hesitate any longer. "Okay, I understand. What do your dad and I need to do? Should we do so research?"
"If Dad is interested, he can ask around," I said, knowing that my parents were still worried about . "As for those agents, just tell them that my agent is Leigh Steinberg."
"Leigh Steinberg?" Jiang Youning repeated. "Okay, then that's that. Rember to eat on ti, and rember to get massages and relax." After another reminder, she hung up the phone.
Back in the living room, Jiang Youning called my dad aside. After whispering to each other for a bit, they turned to the six agents and said politely, "Sorry, Ke has already signed with an agent, so I don't think he needs any help in this area for now."
"He's already signed?" one of the agents looked confused. He looked at his colleagues and was sure that everyone was just as confused. There was no news about this in the industry before today. How could I have suddenly signed with an agent? "Excuse , who did Ke sign with?"
But he couldn't think of a reason why I would fool them, so he could only ask for confirmation.
"Leigh Steinberg," Jiang Youning said the na. Then she saw the six agents stand there like stumps, with their mouths agape, not reacting at all.
Jiang Youning looked at my dad in confusion, asking with her eyes, "What, is sothing wrong?"
"Who?" one of the agents asked again.
"Leigh Steinberg," Jiang Youning said again. "What's wrong? Is that na... you haven't heard of him? But I'm sure that Ke has already signed," At least that's what I said.
"No, no, of course not." The six agents waved their hands and shook their heads. If Leigh was a nobody, then there would be no big nas in the sports agent industry. "Congratulations to Ke. Leigh is a... very excellent agent. Well then, I'll be taking my leave."
The six agents frantically and eagerly left the house. The sight of them running away in a panic left my parents with many questions.
anwhile, on the other side of the North Arican continent, I returned to the bench. After apologizing to Leigh, I handed the hundred-dollar bill back to him, but he shook his head. "Give it to
after you win a Super Bowl."
As expected, Leigh had asked about the Washington Redskins.
The smile at the corner of my mouth grew. We exchanged a look and didn't say anything, but we had already established a mutual understanding and trust. This was a good start.
But before I officially agreed, I had one more question. "Excuse , do you believe that report from 2009?"
"Yes, I believe it," Leigh said without hesitation or concealnt. He looked at
with a straightforward gaze. That report was truly concerned about the players' health and future.
"So, do you have any suggestions?" I asked further.
Leigh shook his head honestly. "No. Football is a sport about collisions and confrontations. Any sport can't avoid injuries, and football is the sa. My only suggestion is: don't hide injuries, not even a cold or a muscle ache. You must, you must tell , and you must tell the team doctor. Take good care of yourself, and we'll talk about the rest later."
At this point, Leigh raised his right hand, extended his index finger, and gently tapped my forehead. "If you beco my client, I have only one request: what happened today cannot happen again. You can play with an injury, but it must be decided by
and the doctor. You are not allowed to lie or make your own decisions. If necessary, I will hire a personal doctor. This is the only request."
I pursed my lips and nodded slightly. "That's fair."
Leigh gave a big smile. "Deal?"
"Deal," I also gave a big smile. Then I extended my right hand, and Leigh also extended his. We shook hands, officially reaching a cooperation agreent.
"Great. Now, the first thing we need to do is have lunch," Leigh imdiately started to take over my life. "After lunch, we need to have a phone call with a lawyer to go over the contract and then complete the signing. After that's done, we'll go over everything else. Any questions?"
I paused for a mont and couldn't help but smile. This feeling was a little strange and a new experience. "No, no questions." We stood up and walked toward the restaurant. "So, we're partners now?"
"Yes, partners."
The original English title of the movie "Jerry Maguire" is the na of the main character. But when it was brought to China, the movie title was translated as "Mr. Sweetheart." The reason is simple: in today's comrcial economy, an agent like Jerry Maguire who focuses on one player is indeed a sweetheart.
Besides charity, no one would do that.
Now, I have beco the next football player chosen by the real-life prototype of Jerry Maguire.
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