Legendary Football Superstar

So, the seven-round draft is finally over. The 2011 draft wrapped up after three days of non-stop action. It was a wild ride, but now the dust has settled.

This year, UCLA had five guys in the mix, and four of them got picked. Not too shabby, right? Rahim Moore went in the second round, Logan Newman in the third, and both Marcus Lynch and David Carter got scooped up in the sixth.

But here's the kicker: Luke didn't get picked.

Yeah, even in the seventh round, Luke's name was nowhere to be found. And get this, the New York Jets picked a quarterback named Greg McElroy in the seventh round. Why's that ironic? Well, Greg's rookie camp performance was pretty forgettable. Greg's got the size-6'2" and 220 pounds, a bit more balanced than Luke. But other than that, his physical tests were meh. In the 40-yard dash, 20-yard shuttle, broad jump, vertical jump, and three-cone drill, his numbers were almost the same as Luke's. And when it came to skill tests, Greg was just okay, completing 20 out of 30 passes. In the training game, he barely moved the ball 30 yards and ended with an interception.

Basically, aside from his weight, Greg didn't have much on Luke. Sure, a seventh-round pick isn't expected to be a superstar, but between Greg and Luke, the Jets went with Greg. Luke, who was better at passing, offense, and on-field command, got snubbed.

In the seventh round, it was a toss-up, and the Jets made their call. But it also shows the NFL's reality: it's tough for any team to take a chance on an Asian American quarterback, or even an Asian American player. This is true even in a big, diverse market like New York, let alone other places.

Racial discrimination isn't just about nasty slurs or obvious exclusion. It's the deep- seated beliefs and ideologies that keep races apart, and that's the scariest kind of discrimination because it's almost impossible to change. African Americans have been fighting for half a century, and women for two centuries, and the battle's still on.

So what about Asian Americans?noveldrama

Alright, let's give this a more chill, web fiction twist:

This is the mountain Luke's gotta climb, the big ol' gap in front of him.

Bottom line, the New York Jets picked Greg in the seventh round, not Luke.

Thing is, Luke barely had any chances to show his stuff in college-no game footage, no highlights, no scouting reports. Just fifteen minutes and a couple of minutes of game time, plus his up-and-down performance in rookie camp. Not enough to smash through the racial barrier.

So, the draft ended, and Luke got left out in the cold.

After saying goodbye to Logan's family and the heartbroken Logan, the house finally went quiet. Jack and Annie headed back inside, walked through the hall, and saw Luke standing in the backyard.

Right then, Luke had his back to them, standing on the porch. The wind chimes were tinkling beside him, their sound clear and distant. The cold moonlight and the warm yellow porch light cast a lonely, confused shadow of him.

Looking at Luke's back, Annie felt a lump in her throat but didn't know what to say. She knew better than anyone how much blood, sweat, and tears Luke had poured into getting this far.

She still remembered back in ninth grade, Luke was too scrawny to keep up in team training. His stamina, endurance, and explosiveness were all lacking. To catch up with his teammates, Luke trained like a madman every day, never slacking off.

One day, Luke caught a slight fever from getting drenched in the rain, but he still didn't want to miss practice. He insisted on joining the team's daily grind. Halfway through, he snuck off to a spot where no one could see him and puked his guts out until he was dry heaving. Then he acted like nothing happened and snuck back to keep training.

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When he got back, Luke's face was ghostly pale, and he collapsed on the porch. If it weren't for Tiffany from across the street noticing and rushing him to the hospital, who knows what could've happened. The doc later said Luke had a fever of 103 degrees and bronchitis, with the infection spreading to his lungs. If it hadn't been treated right, it could've been real bad.

When Annie got to the hospital, she was a wreck, crying her eyes out. It was Luke, who had just woken up, who tried to comfort her, "Mom, now I get to slack off a bit, and you won't worry anymore." He only got halfway through before passing out again, probably delirious from the fever.

Alright, let's give this a more laid-back, web fiction twist:

That wasn't the only time something like that happened. Every time Annie saw Luke pushing himself so hard, it broke her heart. But Luke always found a way to keep going. When he didn't make the team for two years in college, he didn't quit. When he was just a practice squad player in his junior year, he didn't quit. He fought his way to where he is now.

But now, all his hard work feels like it's been for nothing.

Annie felt a lump in her throat, and tears were about to spill. Then she felt an arm around her. She looked up and saw Jack's eyes, a bit red. "Luke's the one who's really hurting. What he needs most is our support. He won't go down easy. Even if we can't hold on, he won't give up. So, we can't be weak before he does."

"I'm just so heartbroken for him," Annie said, covering her mouth and wiping her tears. If she could, she'd rather see Luke become a journalist than fight on the football field. As a mom, no matter what Luke achieves, she's proud of him!

"I know," Jack said, hugging her and patting her back. "I'll go talk to Luke. Remember, he needs our support."

Jack took a deep breath and walked outside. The April monsoon, crossing the ocean and hills, brought a hint of moisture and a bit of chill, waking him up instantly. Jack stopped beside Luke and looked up at his son, who was taller and stronger than him, wanting to speak but not knowing where to start.

Lost in the world of this story? Make sure you're on Ñe5s.com to catch every twist and turn. The next chapter awaits, exclusively on our site. Dive in now! "Dad, I want to keep trying," Luke spoke first, drawing Jack's gaze to his face.

On that face, which was gradually shedding its youthfulness and beginning to mature, there was no disappointment or sadness, no pain or resentment, just a faint smile, a confident and determined smile.

"I went undrafted, but I'm still an undrafted rookie," Luke said calmly, meeting Jack's gaze. "I know I've worked hard for so many years, even to the point of exhaustion, but I still went undrafted. Given that, knowing when to give up is the smart thing to do. I think my brain is still pretty good; I can solve this equation."

Luke chuckled, jokingly, "The most logical thing would be to give up football and start looking for a job as a journalist. There's still four months left; before September, it's the peak job-hunting season. San Francisco, Los Angeles, even New York-I should send out resumes everywhere and look for more opportunities. Before the title of 'recent graduate' fades, I should make plans for the future."

"But, Dad, I want to try harder," Luke said sincerely, looking at Jack. "I know it's silly and irrational. But I don't want to give up now. Not because I'm unwilling, but because I feel I still have untapped potential. I hope a coach can see that, and I believe I can earn a place on that field."

The Football Superstar System is one of Luke's sources of confidence; but beyond the system, in the years before he got the system, Luke never gave up easily. His confidence comes from the system, but even more from himself.

Before Seven, at least six others had received the system, but not everyone succeeded. Ultimately, in the competitive arena, the key to victory lies in oneself.

Jack didn't answer immediately. He carefully observed Luke, feeling a slight touch of emotion. In Luke, he saw his younger self, full of vigor. Immigrating to the U.S. in the mid-90s wasn't as beautiful as imagined. The challenges and difficulties they faced were far beyond imagination, but he and Annie gritted their teeth and persevered, step by step, creating a life of their own.

They encountered opportunities and seized them. Now, it's Luke's turn.

"In America, isn't there a concept of a gap year?" Jack finally spoke. "After graduating from college, before starting a formal job, give yourself a year to explore the world, to explore the unknown, to seek what you truly pursue in your heart. Maybe it's a dream, maybe it's freedom, maybe it's wealth."

Jack patted Luke's shoulder. "I hope you can find it. On the sports field, your mom and I can't help much, but you just need to remember, we always support you. In our hearts, you are the best quarterback." Exhaling a long breath, Jack also smiled. "So, go for it. Even as an undrafted rookie, you still have opportunities. I believe in you."

A dream is called a "dream" not because it's too beautiful or because it can be realized, but because it transcends life and reality. The road to a dream involves facing difficulties far beyond imagination, even requiring a bit of foolish courage. Giving up a dream is not difficult; persisting in chasing it is the hardest part.