Lion's Pride

Chapter 6

J . a . h . ' . e . i . m

"THROW THE DAMN BALL ELI!" COACH BEN YELLS OVER THE wide field of roughly 52 players on his team while looking on incredulously. "Get after it and make the goddamn catch Sterling!"

It was hot out today, very hot. The sun beaming high in the sky and sweat showing on majority of the 52 football players working on the field. Glacier Cherry flavored Gatorade is being poured into medium sized orange cups for the tired players left to right and gobbled down. The small amount of drink was no match for the tired men. I had been sitting on a nearby bench in comfortable clothing, feet spread wide and arms stretched out. Giggling when the players who are also like family become frustrated within themselves had been found as my new hobby. My white shirt with a pocket in the corner gave me enough coolness to last the whole day under the brutal sun. Down below, I wore dark black cargo shorts and a pair of classic high top Vans. I was most definitely comfortable for the moment in my own world but every once in a while a specific thought never failed to keep popping into my mind repeatedly.

I could potentially never play football again.

Just last year, I was making passes and receiving them from my teammates with a big koolaid smile on my face. Life was good and I was deeply happy. Then, like all good things do when they stay around for too long, everything was ripped away from my grasp more than unexpectedly. Football is what I feel like is my destined sport. Born into it, studied it, nurtured with it, and became it. It's the moment when I actually got to play the game in the wide stadium I was now sitting in, with all of my fans behind me and all the love felt, that I knew this was going to be my life. Playing football comes natural to me, just like it came natural to my father who is also my senior. I was trained and molded into the player I am today by that man so to not play the one thing that I unconditionally love and grew up on, hurts me beyond words.

I sit and watch every single practice that the team has each week. That being, Monday cardio warm ups, Tuesday leg day, Thursday resistance testing, and lastly Friday free game. Sometimes we would practice on weekends as well but that had become very rare. Coach decided these would be family and testing my days a long time ago. I have been coming here to watch them for the past year, never missing a day. Ever since I got injured and forced to forfeit myself out of the sport, is the day I started coming like I never left and was still on the team. I represented the NY Giants like every white girl represented Starbucks. I was their star and the football field was the galaxy I floated freely in.

Most of my publicity came from being on this very team and when I made that famous one handed catch, I was immediately labeled as Mr. I Think I'm Better Than Everyone Else. Being that I am young and new to the game, I really got bashed around by all the 'OG' players whom had already been here before my time. Though, that isn't my problem or fault. Sounded like a personal issue to me because if they felt some type of way that a newly recruited wide receiver took their shine, that means something within them had to change. I don't aim to steal shine, it is and never was my goal to take away food from somebody else mouth but like I said, it came naturally to me.

"Goddamn it! How could you drop the ball like that Sterling! Do you want the team to run laps?!" Coach Ben continued to scream. I could see Sterling shake is head no. I noted that he seemed exasperated and needed a break, or just to go home and have a nice shower with a hot, home cooked meal right after. I use to be that way too, I know how my man feels right now. The players look between one another, defeated.

"Then make the fuckin' catch for chrissakes! The whole team will be here all damn day if we have to be to get you to make the catch Sterling!" I watched as he threw his clipboard to the ground. The papers instantly catching mud on them and soiling some of his plays that I already knew by heart. Everyone on the team groans and gives Sterling some of the encouragement that he will need. Sterling was a big guy, tall and cocky in every way. He resembled a prime Morris Chestnut but 100 pounds of more muscle. His face falls as he wipes sweat from his drenched forehead. I look away briefly and up at the sky, seeing the warmness in it. I could tell that the sun was finally beginning to set and it made an array of colors now.