Clap! Clap!
"Yo, listen up!" the captain shouted while clapping his hands to get everyone's attention.
"If y'all don't shut up right now, I swear I'll smash your faces into shit! Now, we playin' no more, so bring that devil out! You give your all, you earn your pride. Ain't no price tag for that! You wanna be somebody? You fight for it!"
The locker room roared with laughter. He kept going, pacing like a preacher before Sunday mass.
"Get your shit together, boys, and we risEee" His voice cracked. "'Cause in this life, there ain't no damn luck! Together we stand! Divided—we're gone! So if we don't die today, we make those assholes wish we did!"
"Hoo-Hoo-Hooo!" The whole room exploded with cheers and howls. Helmets slammed together, lockers rattled, voices echoed. "Yeah~ Wooh!"
Brian grabbed his helmet and pulled it down tight. The captain, a big guy with a grin, jogged over and gave everyone a thump on the helmet as he passed. When he reached Brian last, he smirked.
"Man, without you up front, I'd be whacked outta of my mind. Ain't that right, Brian?"
Brian grinned, nodding. "Guess so. You guys might run without me, but hey—somebody's gotta have your back covered, right?"
The captain barked a laugh and clapped him on the shoulder. "Win this one, and I swear Kate's gonna say 'yes, Daddy' to you. A'ight, everyone—five min's! Gear up, stay hydrated but not too much, or you'll be spillin' your guts out mid-game. And if you piss yourself on the field—coach'll make you mop 'em up with your fuckin' tongue! K, Let's move!"
He let go of Brian's shoulder and charged toward the door, slamming it open with a burst of adrenaline. The locker room came alive as the players jumped, stretched, and hyped each other up.
Brian tied his shoelaces tighter. His jersey read #48, bold red with a hint of navy. The air was thick with sweat, rubber, and electricity.
As they marched up the tunnel, the roar of the crowd swelled like a storm.
"Let's go, let's go, let's go! Hoo! Hoo!" Voices thundered, shaking the ceiling and echoing down the hall. "ho-hoo-HOO-HOO-HOO!-HOOO!"
Let the game begins.....