Archie Manning......

Hugo couldn't help but be stunned, his memory of the name had always been very vague, and for a long time he couldn't even remember Samora's name - until now he couldn't remember Samora's surname, but the surname "Manning" had a special meaning for Hugo. If Kurt Warner is the reason why Hugo loves rugby, then Peyton Manning is the reason why Hugo is crazy about rugby.

At this time, Hugo's memory was finally awakened, and he remembered that Joseph's younger brother Paul entered the football team of the University of Tennessee, and Peyton became college football teammates. I just didn't expect that Peyton's father, Archie, would actually call him.

"Hello, this is Archie Manning, Mr. Lancaster." A calm and slightly hoarse voice came from the receiver of the phone, humble and polite, but not at all nervous, and its calm attitude made people feel that everything was just right.

"Mr. Manning, please call me Hugo." Hugo came back to his senses and said politely, which made Archie stunned, and Hugo explained with a smile, "I'm a football fan, and although my favorite is not the New Orleans Saints, I still know the name 'Archie Manning'. ”

"Oh, that's a lucky thing, and it's comforted me a little bit by my abrupt behavior." Archie's tone became a little more relaxed, and from this slight change, he could feel that Archie was still slightly tense just now, "I know all this seems too incredible, but I'm thinking, I wonder if you'll be able to meet my son, I mean, my second son, Peyton." ”

Archie didn't go around in circles, he said his request directly as soon as he came up, did not hide the fact that he was asking for others, nor did he escape the fact that he acted abruptly, and his honest attitude made things much smoother.

Hugo raised his eyebrows slightly, and glanced back at Joseph, his face was full of surprise, he could never have imagined that the idol he admired most in his heart would take the initiative to meet him in such a way - even if he had already met Kurt Warner, he still couldn't imagine the context of the development of things.

Joseph shrugged innocently, revealing that he knew nothing.

"I'm listening." Hugo didn't say yes - it would have seemed too strange - otherwise it would have been too strange, but motioned for Archie to continue.

Archie breathed a sigh of relief in his heart, at least his abrupt behavior had a good start, "Here's the thing, Payton is a junior this year, and he can now choose to stay in his senior year and play in the college league for another year; Or choose to enter the NFL to participate in the draft and move into the professional arena. He has never been able to make a decision at the moment, he has a lot of different ideas in his heart, and I know that he has always been mature, but after all, he has not really experienced the cruelty of society, so I hope that some role models can give him some advice and let him have a clear idea to make a decision. ”

Payton is a very professional athlete, perhaps in the eyes of outsiders, he is too rational and too calm, meticulously planning his life, strict with himself, even to the point of being strict, but for professional athletes, it is precisely the necessary conditions for his sports career to reach the peak.

Peyton always knew what he was working towards, so when it came time to choose a college, he gave up the University of Mississippi, where his father had created countless glories, and chose the University of Tennessee, a decision that almost drove the Manning family into madness when they became Mississippi. But the trajectory of his later career proved that he made the right choice.

Therefore, today Hugo suddenly heard Archie say that Peyton was at a loss and hesitated when facing the future, and couldn't help but be a little surprised.

But putting that aside, Hugo's first reaction was, "But...... Why me? Hugo chuckled, "Forgive me for being blunt, but I don't see any direct connection between me and Peyton." To be precise, I don't have much connection with rugby, other than that I'm a fan. ”

"Mr. Lancaster...... I'm sorry, Hugo," Archie relaxed a little at this point, as things were going according to plan, "In fact, I've arranged for a number of professional players to meet with Payton, hoping that they can have a serious conversation with Payton. "It's the right choice, it's the right choice," but life is never that simple, the life of a professional athlete is too narrow, what they can see is too limited, and I think Peyton needs some other advice. ”

"I thought a lot about it before I called you. In fact, Peyton's spare time life is not much, he does not have much interest in movies, music or anything, and his life can even be said to be boring except for training. Archie smiled self-deprecatingly, "But when he mobilizes before the game, he always likes to listen to songs of glory to death, which he says calms him down and can also get him excited at the same time." After losing to the University of Florida last fall, he was sluggish, but it was the song 'Sail' that got him back on his feet. ”

Hugo's mood at this time is indescribable, although he has long realized that he is now living in the glorious nineties that he once remembered, and is making his own history step by step; But to truly feel that he is fitting into American culture in his own way, and even inspiring a generation, that sense of pride and satisfaction fills his chest, and the inner impassioned heart is hard to find a precise word to express.

"You know, your experience is a legend for a lot of people, especially for the pros, and there's an indescribable charm about your music. Not long ago, Payton told me that this year's Super Bowl should put you on the halftime stage. Archie laughed himself after speaking, because it was not easy to get Peyton to mention these "entertainment industry" things.

This year's Super Bowl was played on January 26 at the home of the Louisiana Saints, with the Green Bay Packers defeating the New England Patriots, while the halftime show was played by the Bruce Brothers. Blues。 Brothers), the Redbeard Orchestra (ZZ. Top), James Brown (James. Brown), Catherine Claire (Catherine. Crier) joined forces to give.

"But, as you say, you're too far away for Mississippi. I'm just thinking about it. But unexpectedly, Paul said that his brother is your manager, so ......" Archie took a deep and nervous breath, "That's why I called you so abruptly, hoping to talk to you." ”

Hugo thought it was all amazing, and although he knew that Hollywood was a place where miracles were made, life always surprised him in different ways. For example, today's phone call. "Mr. Manning...... You know, it's an honor to be able to receive this call......" Hugo opened his mouth slightly, but he didn't know what he was thinking, he just thought it was crazy, "but I'm leaving Los Angeles the day after tomorrow, I ......"

Time does not allow.

"I know, I know." "Paul told me about you, that's why I chose to call you today." If you want, I can take Peyton to Los Angeles tomorrow, maybe take an hour of your time and meet once. I know it's rude to ask, and you have important things to do tomorrow, but ...... I thought, I always have to try to see, don't I? ”

The deadline for draft entries for the new NFL season is March 5, and there isn't much time left for Payton to make a decision.

For Payton's career, Archie can be described as painstaking, and later Hugo learned that Archie arranged for Payton to meet with many professional players, and the star-studded roster included NBA superstar Michael Jordan, Hall of Fame quarterback Viking legend Fran Tackenton. Tarkenton), Cowboys' current quarterback Troy Aikman (Troy. Aikman), Patriots active quarterback Drew Bledsoe (Drew. Bledsoe), Cowboy legend quarterback Hall of Famer "Captain America" Roger Stobach (Roger. Staubach) and Hall of Fame coach Hank Stram. Stram) and so on.

In the end, he chose to call Hugo, and Archie was also deliberate. Obviously, Archie put Hugo on the same level as those professional players, and even thought that Hugo could be Hugo's life coach. This undoubtedly requires courage - after all, artists are still far from the image of "mentors" in the eyes of ordinary people, and they also need courage.

"To be honest, I don't know what I can tell Payton or what I'm supposed to talk to him, but as a football fan, it's definitely an honor for me to be part of a professional footballer's career." After Hugo finished speaking, a self-deprecating smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, he didn't know if he was capable of the important role of "life coach". "But if you don't mind, I think, an hour is no problem."

Archie thought Hugo had refused, and had to speak again to try to persuade, "I know that you must have received such rude requests all the time. It's true that I'm reckless, but I still want you to think about it, and that's crucial for Payton. ”

Hugo couldn't help laughing, "Mr. Manning, I just said that there will be no problem with tomorrow's meeting. ”

"But......" Archie was about to argue, but then Hugo replied in the affirmative, which made him choke, "Oh, God! Thank you, thank you very much, I hope it won't disturb your work tomorrow, but ...... Thank you, thank you! ”

Hugo could clearly feel Archie's excitement, and the smile on the corner of his mouth was also outlined, "You can discuss the specific time with Joe, I think he will arrange it." Well, I'm looking forward to tomorrow's meeting, and if my father knows about it, he'll be excited. ”

From Sally to the young Volcano, from Michael Jackson to Peyton Manning, Hugo's pursuit of his dreams is quietly changing many different lives little by little.