"So, with this system, I can become a top football superstar in real life?"
Dazzling, incredible—it all felt too fantastic, too much like a dream to be real. If it weren't for the faint aches in his muscles and bones, constantly reminding Lu Ke that everything was real, he might have pinched himself to see if he could wake up.
"Yes," Little Seven's voice returned. "Provided you complete all daily training and all assigned tasks."
"You mean, people who got the system before me failed? Didn't become top superstars? Because... they were lazy?" Lu Ke keenly sensed the meaning behind the words. His excitement hadn't even had a chance to fully ignite before it was doused with a bucket of cold water.
"Yes," Little Seven affirmed.
This made Lu Ke sigh with emotion. It was true: one percent inspiration was incredibly important, but ninety-nine percent perspiration was just as, if not more, crucial. People with talent who squander their time and never reach the pinnacle have existed in every era.
"Host, please select your position and jersey number."
"Can I change systems? Change the Football Superstar System to... soccer or something? I think soccer might be more popular. Or basketball, I was always a basketball guy before." Lu Ke asked in a serious tone. He was met with silence, but he didn't mind, laughing to himself both in his mind and with a corresponding smile on his face.
Lu Ke was a second-generation immigrant, having moved to San Francisco with his parents at the age of eight. Even in the 21st century, racial discrimination in the U.S. was still a serious issue. Although San Francisco was one of the most successful cities for ethnic integration, Lu Ke still faced exclusion and isolation from his schoolmates. For a long time, he couldn't even make friends with other children of immigrants.
Lu Ke was never one to sit idly by or give up. To change the situation, he turned to sports, a universal language, especially for boys. Competing fiercely on the field, whether as teammates or opponents, was all about skill, with no room for schemes or fancy tricks.
Back in China, Lu Ke was on his school's basketball team, but basketball wasn't popular at his new school, which didn't even have a team. So, Lu Ke chose American football, the number one sport in the country. Here, football, baseball, hockey, and basketball were the "Big Four," with football being the undisputed king.
At first, it was just a way to fit into local life, but gradually, Lu Ke genuinely fell in love with the sport. To an outsider, football might seem nothing but violence. In reality, it is a sport that demands teamwork and strategic design. A professional football team's playbook can be seven or eight hundred pages long, and some players are even cut for failing to memorize the playbook or keep up with tactical changes.
Incidentally, before going pro, American football players must have their IQ measured.
On the field, every position is filled with intelligence and skill, like a finely tuned instrument. From the offense to the defense, special teams, and coaching staff, every part and every link must work together meticulously to achieve victory. It is a sport that values individuals, teamwork, and, most importantly, intelligence, which is truly fascinating.
Lu Ke fell deeply in love with the sport. Unfortunately, his physical talents were limited. Combined with the racial discrimination in football—to this day, there has never been an Asian player who has officially played a regular-season game in the NFL, not even as a registered substitute—Lu Ke used football to break down social barriers, but he couldn't take it to the next level.
After graduating from high school, Lu Ke was accepted to UCLA and voluntarily joined the football team.
However, he was rejected twice during the rookie tryouts in his freshman and sophomore years. Physical contact was his weakness, and that's an unavoidable part of football. He was tall enough, but his muscle mass was too low, and his explosive power and ability to withstand contact were insufficient to make it onto a college team.
It wasn't until his junior year that his sincerity, perseverance, and hard work finally moved the coaching staff. They agreed to let him join the team—as a practice player, not a formal member, with no guarantees, and subject to being replaced at any time.
He stuck with it for a year. In the blink of an eye, the new semester of his senior year had begun, leaving him with only one year left to become a professional athlete.
Because of his lack of talent and ability, he had to work harder and be more persistent than others. Every time he stepped onto the field could be his last. That's why Lu Ke was always the first to arrive and the last to leave the practice field every day. He was always the most dedicated and hardworking, giving his all even in the most ordinary training drills.
He cherished every minute he spent on the field! This was his dream, his youth, and his life! Eleven years—a full eleven years—he had run, fought, and worked hard on this field. Now he finally had an opportunity. How could he possibly miss it?
Football was his first choice!
American football is quite similar to soccer in many ways: one side attacks, one side defends, and the ultimate goal is to get the ball into the opponent's "goal" to score. However, the execution is different.
In American football, each team is divided into three units: offense, defense, and special teams. When one team's offense is on the field, the other team's defense is on the field to oppose them. In other situations, such as failed attacks, field goals, or kickoffs, both teams' special teams units come out to play.
After the kickoff, when the offense begins its attack, they have four chances, called "downs," to advance ten yards. If they successfully advance ten yards, they get another four downs to continue moving forward. If they fail to advance, possession of the ball is turned over to the opponent.
First, there's the offense, which has two main methods: passing and running.
The quarterback is the core of the offense and the player the defense keeps a close eye on. They are arguably the most important player on any team. After the snap, the players in front of the quarterback, called the offensive line, are responsible for blocking the defense to give the quarterback enough time to survey the field and decide whether to run or pass.
A pass is like throwing a basketball, but with an American football, to a teammate who has run out, in order to advance the ball. A run is when the quarterback hands the ball to a running back, who tightly clutches the ball and runs through, around, or over defenders to advance the ball.
In the offense, every move, every block, every route, and every play requires precise teamwork. The purpose of the offensive line isn't just to protect the quarterback; it's also to clear a path for the running back and to allow receivers to get open, ultimately to advance the ball.
Professional teams can have as many as twenty thousand different plays designed.
Next, there's scoring. A football field is one hundred yards long, and the scoring areas are at each end. Unlike soccer, the "goal" in football is the end zone, which is the full seventy-five-yard width of the field and ten yards deep.
During a game, if an offensive player carries the ball across the goal line or catches a pass in the end zone, a touchdown is scored, which is worth six points. After a touchdown, the team gets a chance for an extra point, where the special teams unit comes out. They try to kick the ball through the goalposts at the back of the end zone from a position thirty-five yards away for an additional point.
There is another situation. If the offense has used three downs without advancing ten yards but is close enough to the end zone to be in field goal range, they have a choice.
They could try for a fourth down, but if they fail to gain the ten yards, the ball is turned over immediately. So, the offense can choose to give up the fourth down and instead have the special teams unit come out to kick the ball through the goalposts. This is similar to a free kick in soccer. If the kick is successful, the team gets three points.
Ultimately, football and soccer are the same in that the goal is to advance the ball and score points.
Throughout the game, the quarterback is undoubtedly the core of the core.
For the offense, the quarterback controls the entire game, even more so than a midfielder in soccer. The quarterback's understanding, use, and execution of plays, their reading of the defense, and their judgment of the situation on the field are the keys to determining the outcome of the game. For the defense, the entire game revolves around reading the opposing quarterback's strategic choices and stopping the offensive onslaught they orchestrate.
In soccer, star players might be forwards, midfielders, or goalkeepers. But in American football, the quarterback is always the focus of attention, the absolute heart and soul of the team.
In soccer, basketball, and hockey, physical contact is paramount. American football is no exception, and perhaps even more so. However, the quarterback is a special position.
During a game, there is a protective barrier in front of the quarterback: the offensive line.
The offensive line's job is to block the defense, creating a "pocket" to give the quarterback more time to make strategic decisions and pass selections. They bear the brunt of the hits and contact. Only when the pocket is breached does the quarterback have to face physical contact directly.
Additionally, in modern football, numerous rules have been established to protect the quarterback, giving them more space. For example, it's illegal to tackle the quarterback by their head or below the knee. Also, they cannot be tackled or hit in any way after they've released the ball, unless they have left the pocket on their own. Otherwise, the penalty is severe.
Therefore, the physical contact a quarterback faces is not as intense. Generally, a quarterback's physical stats are not the best on the team; they might not even be at the average level.
Compared to physical stats, a quarterback's ability to make strategic decisions, control the game, and have a sense for opportunities is more important. Their passing choices, throwing skills, and footwork are also crucial technical skills.
An excellent quarterback doesn't necessarily have a strong body but has a great tactical mind and superb passing ability. Similarly, a strong body can help a quarterback withstand hits, but it won't help them complete a pass. This makes the quarterback a unique position that demands more intelligence and mental capacity. Of course, a quarterback with great physical stats is a bonus.
In high school, Lu Ke played as a quarterback. Although his physical talent was lacking, his tactical knowledge, observation skills, and adaptability were outstanding—at least in his high school. But in college, Lu Ke couldn't even secure a regular position, let alone a star position like quarterback. He was just a practice player.
Now, with a chance to become a football superstar, did he even need to think about the position?
"Quarterback," Lu Ke said without hesitation. "Of course, quarterback!"
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