Chapter 8 #2
“Right. Inclusion, Integrity, and Ingenuity. I’ve heard you mention this before. Care to elaborate?”
“So many of the kids recruited for college teams, especially at the Division One schools, it’s all about stats and who looks most attractive on paper.
I want to find those athletes that are great at problem-solving, who come from different backgrounds, and who know how to improvise and support the team rather than try to be a hero.
There are three I’s in team as far as I’m concerned. ”
“And those strategies paid off for you during your time at UKC. Your standout players there were often never heard of before they played for you. Your coaching brought out the best in them and made a mediocre team on the books into a powerhouse.”
Leslie laughed. “Why, thank you, Malcolm. Maybe you should be writing my CV since I’m rejoining the academic world.”
“Come on, Les. You could take your skills virtually anywhere, including back to the NFL. You’re known as the thinking man’s quarterback. Why hide out in small-town middle America? Did you lose a bet with your brother?”
Les chuckled, but Malcolm’s words stung. He knew people felt that way, but Les made this move for his own well-being and to spend time with his family, especially his mom, and he told Malcolm as much.
“Right, your mother was very sick for some time.”
“Crohn’s Disease is very painful and requires constant monitoring. Agnes Payton isn’t one to sit down and relax. She’s busier than me, so sometimes she needs a nudge to remind her of her age and fragility.”
“Kind of like her son?”
Les froze, although he’d known the question would come up. He’d missed a couple of weeks of the last NFL season due to his migraines. He wasn’t about to lie.
“I wouldn’t call an affliction that millions of Americans live with daily being fragile.
Yes, I’m being monitored by doctors, but I’m perfectly fine.
Well, as fine as a forty-five-year-old former quarterback in need of a double knee replacement can be.
” He tried to laugh it off, but inside he was trembling.
Admitting there might be more to his headaches than migraines was a terrifying prospect.
He dreaded being compared to his father.
“Of course not. I have to ask, you understand. There will be questions. You coming clean about your TBI could go a long way in forcing the NFL to address the suffering many of your counterparts are experiencing.”
“I’m not doing this article to beat up the sport that’s given me an incredible life, Malcolm.”
Malcolm held up his hands. “Fair enough. Let’s talk more about this dream team of coaches your brother has lined up.”
The smile plastered on Les’s face couldn’t be avoided. He still couldn’t believe Joe was actually here, and that he hadn’t been scared off by the tornado.
“So far, we have the Payton brothers on football, plus Randy will be coaching baseball along with an unbelievably good candidate I can’t name at this time.
We’re also bringing back US Olympic medalist Bryce Danner for men’s volleyball and we’re interviewing candidates for women’s softball and coed wrestling. ”
“That’s great, but you know I want to hear how you nabbed celebrity dancer Joe Judd. To be honest, he’s even more of a shock than you.”
Tell me about it. “Joe is a legend at Greenvale. He was the driving force behind Greenvale’s first coed cheerleading team and he was on the first championship squad at Nationals. We’re grateful he’s agreed.” Especially after the tornado.
“Will he be sitting out this season of Dance Machine ?”
“Apparently he’s already choreographed what they needed from him, and he’ll fly out for a couple of the live shows.
” Which Les was trying not to think about.
Not that he wanted to keep Joe hostage here, but Leslie was counting on this time to implement his campaign to win Joe’s heart.
If Joe was going to be gone a lot, and still have his foot in his dance world, would it even be possible to convince him to stay?
“Leslie?”
“Sorry, what was your question?”
“It’s fine. I wondered how the tornado will affect your big plans this year? From what I understand, the sports programs were the most impacted.”
“That’s what we’ll find out this morning. In fact, I’m about to be late for our meeting with the adjuster. Can we schedule a follow-up?”
“Sure,” Malcolm said. “How about I call your brother? Manager? What are we calling Sandy Payton these days?”
“A pain in my—uh, my manager is good. Thank you.”
“Thank you, Leslie. This has all the makings of the feel-good story of the season.”
“Wish us luck.”
They disconnected and Les shoved the remainder of his cold food in his mouth. He left his dishes on the counter and kissed his mom.
“I’ll be back at some point.”
“Remember! Let me know when Joe is coming for dinner.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Les slid his wallet, phone, and keys into the back pockets of his black Levi’s and got a little pep in his steps out to the truck. “Today I get to see Joe. At work. The first of many. And today is one day closer to the day I can call him mine.”
Then he hit his head on the side mirror of the truck, and stomped around the garage cursing for a moment. When the pain subsided, he climbed inside and started the truck with a huge grin on his face.