On the North American continent, racial discrimination against ethnic minorities is ubiquitous, and discrimination in the central region is extremely serious, even leading to conflict and violence; Comparatively speaking, the cross-strait region is more open, inclusive, and diverse. However, discrimination still exists, and in many cases, it is not an outward emotion such as ridicule, swearing, or contempt, but more of a deep inner question, disdain, and disparity.

This is the case, in competitive sports, which is more intense and more obvious. At the moment in 2011, Lu Ke is still the only Asian player on the current rugby field, and he is a lonely seedling, which is the best proof.

For ordinary rookies, two victories, one defeat of a sworn enemy in the same district and one defeat of an old enemy in the league, is bound to be praised by all fans; But for Lu Ke, two victories are still not enough, the fans are willing to praise and congratulate, and the fans are willing to join in the celebration and carnival, but deep down they still refuse to agree.

The barrier of suspicion is incomparably thick.

Jonathan shook his head with a wry smile on his face, "Chris, don't get too excited. We all know that the rookie quarterback has been doing really well over the past two weeks; But we just think he still has a lot to learn, and there's a reason why a rookie is a rookie. The rookie seasons of the elite four quarterbacks were also a mess. ”

"You mean, we're now giving up on a quarterback who led the team to victory for two weeks in a row, and instead of backing a quarterback who hasn't been able to turn the team around for six years in a row?" Chris's eyes widened, and his cheeks were clearly showing his anger and bewilderment.

"I'm just saying Alex Smith would be the better choice for next week's game. In the future, perhaps the quarterback could still be the 49ers' starting quarterback. Jonathan shrugged and explained.

"Jesus Christ." Chris laughed angrily, so angry that he couldn't speak.

I can't imagine it, Chris can't believe the scene unfolding in front of him. At the Candlestick Stadium just now, the madness and wanton scene are still vivid, and all the fans are feverishly celebrating today's victory; But back at "Joe's Bar", it was a bucket of cold water in front of them, and it was as if they had lost the game instead of winning today.

Jonathan also noticed Chris's surging emotions, and pressed his hands down again and again to express comfort, "Calm down, calm down, think about today's victory, it's a good thing." ”

"Do you know we won today? People who don't know, think we lost the game, and now we're criticizing the quarterbacks. Chris said sneeringly, not hiding his sharpness and angularity. Under the ecstasy, it was a mallet in front of him, and now Chris is also full of resentment.

Jonathan looked back at the others in the bar, "It seems that our attitude has Chris off. Immediately after that, everyone else was heckling, and Jonathan looked at Chris again, "Why, it's only been two games, and you've become a supporter of that quarterback?" I told you that the ups and downs of rookie players and everything is still unknown. This game can sweep the eight wildernesses, and the next game will throw away the armor. ”

"Yes, I'm a fan of him." Chris said reflexively, and after saying it, not only did he not relent, but he felt a burst of joy.

Recalling the bits and pieces of today's game, his mood began to get excited again, "He has a temperament that does not admit defeat, and a desire to win; At critical moments, he will never be relentless, and he will bravely step up and shoulder the whole burden of the team. This kind of competition temperament is exactly what Alex Smith does not have! ”

"So, yes, I'm behind him. I think the future of the 49ers lies in him! Chris said firmly, clenching his fist hard, accentuating his tone.

There was silence for a moment in the bar, and then the hall burst into laughter as if it were the most ridiculous joke of the year.

"What the hell is wrong with you? Perhaps, this is the first time in eight years that the team has playoff hopes......" Before Chris could finish his words, he was interrupted by a loud laugh of "haha", "At least, we have a good start......" and chris had to raise his voice, "and also have a good quarterback full of energy......"

The burst of laughter was completely out of control, and it seemed that the word "excellent quarterback" had poked at their soft underbelly, and the wild laughter couldn't stop at all.

"Chris!" In the midst of a roaring laugh, Anthony Tinozo raised his right hand and greeted him with a smile on his face, stepping over the raging noise.

"Show some respect, guys, hey, guys!" Anthony yelled, finally suppressing the laughter, "At least, this rookie quarterback, who has two wins for our team, deserves basic respect." As the bar gradually regained its calm, Anthony complained, "It's so much better than last year." ”

Laughter, real laughter. In the 2010 season, the San Francisco 49ers started with a five-game losing streak and lost two games in the regular season to the Seattle Seahawks and the New Orleans Saints.

"Hail to the quarterback!" Jonathan raised his glass in celebration, and then all the other fans raised their glasses again and shouted, "Hail to that quarterback!" ”

The atmosphere at the bar is once again lively.

Anthony beckoned again, "Chris, come here, let's celebrate the victory together today." Come, I'll get you and your friends a beer, and I'll put it on the bar's account. ”

Chris didn't say anything more and walked in the direction of the bar; Jeff and Nate also followed, Danny fell behind, looking at Jonathan with burning eyes, still unwilling to move away, after hesitating again and again, he shouted, "That quarterback, he has a name, Lu Ke, his name is Lu Ke." ”

is not a casual quarterback, but Lu Ke, a unique Lu Ke.

With round eyes, Danny and Jonathan exchanged eyes, and between the momentum shifts, Danny slowly and slowly converges with his friends and comes to the bar; Jonathan, who stayed in place, rolled his eyes, raised his glass, and bowed and saluted the fans around him like a comedian, winning a round of applause again.

Standing in the bar, Anthony skillfully took out the tall beer glass, turned on the switch next to it, and the buttery beer began to fill, and the fluffy white foam seemed to have a faint wheat aroma, "Ignore them." Anthony's tone was extremely relaxed, "They're just a bunch of idiots, and when the game is live, they get harder and harder, and they scream like sixteen-year-old girls." ”

The sharp complaint made Jeff and the others laugh.

"Honestly, this quarterback is a really capable guy. The last sixty-six seconds, I don't want to exaggerate, but the truth is, I saw Aaron Rodgers. Anthony didn't hide his amazement, filling the beer and putting it on the bar one by one, "I can imagine how crazy the reaction of the Candlestick Stadium was. ”

"You really should be there." Chris sighed, "At the critical moment, Lu Ke's performance is a real big heart!" ”

"You should see how he does in college." Jeff excitedly joined the conversation, "In the first game of his career, the bench player, was called up, the team fell behind by three touchdowns, and after coming on, with less than a quarter of play left, he completed four touchdowns and achieved a shocking comeback. Compared to today's game, it was even better. ”

"Really?" It's not just Anthony, Chris is also curious, "I thought he was unknown in college. ”

"Yes." Jeff and Nate exchanged glances and nodded, "At that time, when Lu Ke came on the court, the first reaction in everyone's minds was: Who is this guy?" What exactly does the coach of the team think again? Throughout the stadium, more than two-thirds of the fans left the stadium, and no one had any hope at all. Danny also turned away. ”

Feeling the gaze falling on him, Danny nodded generously, "I'm leaving." At that time, the only thought in my mind was, this stupid game, I don't want to watch it anymore; But now, I followed that no-gun quarterback to San Francisco and became a 49ers fan. ”

Jeff, Nate, and Danny are all recent graduates.

After the end of the Rose Bowl, they temporarily got rid of their identities as fans and returned to real life, and the connection between them gradually broke off.

In early August, the news that Lu Ke had joined the San Francisco 49ers really made Jeff excited—by chance, Jeff found a job in San Francisco, and now he can return to the world of rugby, joining the city's carnival every game day.

After the big win in the first week, this week, Jeff first met Nate and then learned that Danny worked in Silicon Valley.

Going around and around, they gathered together again and became Lu Ke's first fans in the professional league. True fans.

"Tell me, what the hell was going on in that game?" Chris was incredibly excited, "This is his first fight? ”

"Yes, but he didn't panic in the slightest, as if he had been honing on that court for more than ten years." Nate and Jeff, you start to remember word by word.

Gradually, gradually, the other fans sitting near the bar also gathered, listened intently, and joined the discussion.

Everything about the Chinese-American quarterback is too mysterious and too magical, and fragments of information are not enough to piece together the thread of the story; Now, the loyal fans tell their own stories about the game, and it is definitely a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for other fans.

Under many gimmicks and names, the image of "Lu Ke" has gradually become rich and full. Not from rumors, not from the media, not from the Internet.

There are more and more fans around Jeff and others, three or five at first, and then more than a dozen, coming and going, so lively. As night fell, the excitement of the game was surging, and "Joe's Bar" was just the tip of the iceberg in San Francisco.