Dominate the Super Bowl

Chapter 468: 467 Fighting Side by Side Chapter 468: 467 Fighting Side by Side Buzz, buzz buzz.

The air was burning.

In the locker room, the Kansas City Chiefs players were already fully prepared, each standing up, either nervous or jubilant, expectant or stupefied, all looking towards Coach Reed in the center.@@novelbin@@

Reed maintained his usual appearance, his plump pale cheeks bearing no special expression, quietly scanning the room, and then, he spoke loudly.

“No one believed we could make it to the Super Bowl, but here we stand.”

“No one believed we could reach the summit and win the championship, but we are ready to give it a try.”

“Some say that football is a sport all about money, that in the end, it’s all about who has the deeper salary cap, the better players, the more elaborate strategies, going higher, faster, and farther, just like all competitive sports; but I say, it’s not like that.”

“Football is a sport about belief.”

“At the end of the game, what is tested is this belief, who believes in themselves more, who believes in the tactics more, who believes in their teammates more, who is more passionate, who loves more, who is more dedicated, staying focused and keeping the belief and fighting until the last moment, that is the only way to achieve a football championship.”

“And now…”

Reed scanned the room again, paused, and when he spoke again, it was resounding.

“I believe.”

Then, his gaze fell upon a figure, intense and fully concentrated.

“We might be lacking confidence, but we will win.”

Whoosh whoosh whoosh.

The entire locker room’s gaze turned towards Li Wei—

Indeed, the Kansas City Chiefs were the underdogs, from the first game of the season to the last, this young and still developing team with evident shortcomings was not favored.

They had stumbled and fumbled their way here, standing on the stage at U.S.

Bank Stadium facing another dark horse, they remained the weaker side.

Thus, there was no confidence.

This was not modesty or being low-profile, but a fact.

From analyzing tactics and strength on paper, the Kansas City Chiefs indeed had no advantages to speak of.

But they would win.

Because of the belief Reed spoke of, because they would unite and fight side by side, because they would give their all and fight till the end until all their strength was burned up.

Then,

Li Wei clenched his fists and raised his arms high to shout—

“Soar!”

Instantly, as if a storm had begun, all fifty-three players in the locker room raised their arms and roared in unison.

“Soar!”

One phrase, then another, united and striding boldly, they stepped into battle.

Finally—

It was time to take the field.

Li Wei and Kelsey followed the team forward, bustling and preparing to enter the game, and then they saw a figure standing quietly at the exit of the player’s tunnel, looking up towards the sealed light blue cloud-like canopy above.

Coming up beside that confident, upright figure, they could see the surging crowd below sending a tidal wave of heat crashing down.

Not just red.

Not just black and blue.

Not just white.

A splendid array of colors burst like an overturned palette, crashing together and then gathering amidst the noise.

The red waves roared and bellowed, the white hurricane ravaged and howled.

Today, as the home team, the Kansas City Chiefs hesitated not at all in choosing red jerseys, naturally, the Philadelphia Eagles had to opt for their away white jerseys.

Fervent fans also made it clear early on with their jerseys where their allegiances lay, stirring up a storm before the game even began.

Thump, thump.

The heartbeats wouldn’t stop racing.

Despite having been through countless games, the Super Bowl was ultimately different in every way – the atmosphere, the feelings, the emotions; everything was unique.

More tense.

More exhilarating.

More frenzied.

Gently exhaling, the figure turned to Li Wei, revealing a smile, “Are you ready?”

He, clad in the number twenty-nine jersey and wearing bulky protective footwear, had come to fulfill a promise—

Eric Berry, captain of the defensive team of the Kansas City Chiefs, unable to play yet still present in Minneapolis, coming to the field to stand side by side in battle with them.

Li Wei looked at Berry and for a brief moment felt detached, as if seeing Berry prepared and ready to set off in full gear; he too was ready to fight, to streak across the field unrestrained, the wind whooshing beneath his spread arms, nearly ready to fly.

“Anytime,” said Li Wei.

Berry clasped Li Wei’s right hand and bumped his shoulder, a thousand words swirling in his throat, but ultimately unspoken.

Instead, it was Li Wei who held onto Berry, “Remember, we fight together.

No matter where you are, we stand side by side.”

Berry’s voice hesitated in his throat, and this time he couldn’t hold back, “Rookie, I want to win once.”

“I just…”

“I want to win once.

Really.

Just once.”

No sooner had he spoken than Berry almost crumbled, but he quickly took a deep breath, regaining his composure and hurriedly masking the panic and disarray in his eyes, patting Li Wei’s shoulder and pushing him onto the field before turning to smile and look back at the others.

Li Wei turned and immediately saw Berry, who was cheering and supporting his teammates one by one.

He couldn’t imagine how much energy and spirit it took for Berry, who inherently yearned to be on the field battling, to stand by and watch his teammates go on; yet, Berry was still there, personally escorting his teammates onto the field.

Then, let the battle begin.

Turning back around, Li Wei took a deep breath and boldly stepped forward.

“Ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen, we are now at U.S.

Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, with only the last five minutes to go before the start of the fifty-second Super Bowl.”

“I am Chris Collinsworth, and I’ll be joined by Al Michaels today to bring you the ultimate showdown of the 2017 season.”

Collinsworth took a deep breath, trying to control himself, only to find—

His heartbeat pounded like a drum, his blood vessels throbbing.

Despite his best efforts to suppress it, he still couldn’t control the relentless surge of excitement and jubilation, his temples swelling and his brain buzzing incessantly.

Exactly a year ago, while commentating NCAA, Collinsworth unexpectedly discovered the gem that was Li Wei.

Surprised.

Amazed.

Astonished.

Back then, Collinsworth wished he could awaken the entire league’s attention to this Chinese running back’s performance.

Yet, even so, he had not anticipated the rapid pace of Li Wei’s development, from a complete novice rookie to leading his team to the Super Bowl in just two seasons.

Indeed, the sky was his only limit.

Now, Collinsworth couldn’t help but be excited about Li Wei’s performance, looking forward to the course of this game—

No matter who ultimately clinches the championship, Foles or Li Wei, Eagles or Chiefs, they would all be witnessing history.

“I’ve got the starting lineups of both teams in my hand, and although Philadelphia and Kansas City faced off in week two of the regular season, that was six months ago.

After a long season, the starting lineups of both teams have changed significantly, making this a whole new ball game.”

“Next, let me introduce you to the starting lineups…”