Lu-Ti   just smiled  as  she  swayed away,..she is good test?  Yes?.. if you chase her.. then i should not be around!  I will call when  we  are in the air...  She walked out  greeting one of the maintenance people as  he came in pushin a  bucket of water  and  pulign a water vaccum.

Still giggling, Ben rolled onto his back and put in a couple of lengths of backstroke before climbing out, taking a shower and getting dressed. Once dry, he retrieved the notes that Lu-Ti had left for him.

He'd better go home and get changed to go see these pizza people, and review some of China Lo's work to see what would be appropriate dress for an interview with her. But first... breakfast.

He went to the canteen and treated himself to a pancake stack, then jogged back to the townhouse to change, find out where the pizza place was, and get himself there in good time. At least that was lunch sorted!

as he ate he found the directions in an Email from   the PR dept, for the pizza   gig.

 for the interview , He could dress 'how he felt , just not  'grunge'...

How well organised! Nice to be looked after.

Ben went home to change.

Later that day

Ben, now looking rather smarter in a Dragon green blazer, came into the Media Center and looked around.

"Hello. I'm Ben Hope, I think I'm expected?"

  They showed   Ben into  the  studio, back drops were set  with Pictures of Ben catching Passes  or   runnign the  ball as he was gettign tackled.

  China Lo apporached him, she was  a taller  Asian  woman  with high  heels and a sheath  dress she had her  Mic arlready  on, and carried  a few sheets of paper.

 she offered her  right hand and said  ..Hello?  I'm China,  we'll be doing  an interveiw about you and the dragons  with   your take on the Up comign Miami  game.. the  make up folks are over there?  so whenever you are ready. Let Lynn know, he's the  directors and we'll get things started.

Ben smiled.

"Pleased to meet you, Miss Lo. Do I need makeup?"

He wasn't too keen on the idea. He was a football player, not a TV presenter! He didn't even have aspirations to be a pundit.

  China looks him over  and gives him a sly look,It is up to you, Mr Hope?... do what you feel conmmfortable doing, its your face on the screen.

"I'll stay as I am, then."

He grinned.

"After all, I am a football player not a TV star. Shall we...?"

  after getting   Ben a big glass of ice  water,  and  getting him set, the show  started.

  Hello everyone..I am Cina Lo..and with me is the  Star Tight End  for the undefeated Dragons..Ben Hope..thanks  for  comign Ben.

  behind them  film showed  Ben making catches, running or throwing a Block.

 now?   It is no secrect  that you are runnign away with the Pro Bowl voting..it is
  projected, that you could  DOUBLE..the highest vote collected by a single player..we have seen in recent  weeks, other Dragons creeping up the ranks as well..but no where with  the
 onslaught you have going on!

Now.. my first two questions?....The first one is...how much  do you feel, is because of the records you..yourself have broken, as well as  the team?

 ..The second question?..do you feel  the Dragon's offcie has   cheapened the records, by how much  you folks are scoring

"It's all the team. Football is a team sport, remember, and whilst some positions in a football team are more high profile than others, you need all of them to be working well together to let the 'star' positions shine. I cannot put down yards or score if the rest of the team isn't doing its job."

Ben took a sip of the water.

"Football is a game played over the course of one hour. OK, you have time-outs and commercial breaks, but you get one single hour to actually play the game. The difference between the Dragons and other teams is that we play foorball for the entire hour. They could do what we do if they had the same commitment to play the game... we train to play full tilt for the entire game, so we can do it. Maybe they don't. Or maybe they do not want to play football for the entire hour for other reasons, I don't know. But when we are out there, we are there to play. Not to stand around. Who'd pay to watch that?"

  China  Smiled  and  nodded,so?  In your Opinion, the rest of the NFL...is what?... Just there to collect pay checks? Tell me Mr Hpe.. If you would get hurt i the last 5 months of a game that you were  winning by 35 points? Wouldn't your fans be  angry?..would you be angry ..maybe you can't play in the  Superbowl?...maybe your  team misses the Superbowl without you?

  and she adds another  Question.how do you get along with all the 'personalities' on the team... You Have Duke, who is the  career Journey,an... Bronk who is volitile ... Payne who seems  like a boarder line hit man?  You have a Punter  who seems ..really..really out there?  and  now you have  a lady Kicker to go with your Lady  Safety? aren't there   any.....heqd buttings  going on in that locker  room?

Ben grinned.

"It's a tough sport. Getting injured happens. Of course I'd be disappointed if I wasn't able to play - especially if it was a big game - I'd just have to cheer very loudly from the sidelines. It's the team that's important, not a single member of it, after all. It's a team sport."

He leaned forwards a bit.

"The team are a great bunch to get along with. We enjoy each other's company off the field as well as on. We each have our own strengths, which means there isn't much rivalry, each one has their own thing to offer. The composition of the team is such that we are stronger together than individually, and that's how it should be. A dragon needs its head, its heart, its paws, its tail and both wings!"

 her  shapely leg  bounced  as she   gave  Ben a look and a slight amile...you didn't answer my question about  the other teams...

..also?  AFTER..you answer that question... I want to talk , Dynamics... You and Bronk work well out there...but therecomes  the   4th quarter and  Caoch Sims puts  him in  at 'wildcat.. Then  you are out there  with your..'2nd team' recivers... i mean..my gosh, you have your punter  running routes!... don't you think that hurts the team?.. Steele is losing  reps to a  Wide reciver  who, most probably , wouldn't be in the league, if he didn't beat Coach Sims in the DIII championship game

 So?... you have a Guy on the  team who is close friends  with the owner, who gets  some playtime because he played against your coach?...and.... You seem to have a Link in there too? with you ties to the Amota's through thier  daughter?..Doesn't this all make for a rather..thick stew?

 Steele's  agent is already   making comments  of a trade for   Steele to a team where he could  compete for the starting job

Ben grinned again.

"You want to know about other teams, you'll have to ask them! All I know about them is what I get from films and the coaches, about their play style and what we need to do to beat them. Oh, and what colour their uniforms are."

He settled more comfortably in his chair.

"Adam gets to play because he is good at what he does. Not because of who his friends are. I'm engaged to the owner's daughter, as you mentioned, but that is irrelevant when considering who plays. Every choice is made for the good of the team. We have a dynamic that works, through training and mutual respect, not nepotism."

  she gave Ben a Condescending  smile,..Now for the Good  part?..We have  questions  given us  my  some Dolphins, we do this every week for a team... And, You are challenged to answer them, as truthfully as you dare

  From  #17 Starting Safety Carlo Sangess.....he asks Ben...."do you feel your team has cheapened  the records by your style of play?

  from CB 'Boggy' Mudd..he  has a bit of a challenge ..he saw he will give 1000.00 to each  catch Bronk,above one, makes against him to your favorite charity.. but  if Bronk catches  1 or less,,you give 5,000 to his favorite charity

and Lastly... From  #53 MLB  Harry Banes? Do you think you'll 'Hang a Hundred' on the Dolphins?

Ben sat up straight, and ticked off the questions on his hand as he answered.

"Sangers: No, I don't. Records are there to be broken. Any method short of cheating is fair. Mudd: You're on. Make your check out to Amota Med, please. And send me the details of your charity, I'll give them a thousand anyway. Barnes: Well, we're going to try - it's up to you lot to stop us!"

  well. Mr Hope? we have one more  question..well? its a two parter, sent to us  my our female viewers..

 She leans closer  and  smiles, The ladies want to Know...  If you and  Lu-Ti Amota, will make it through the season, or will your   busy lives  keep you aprat?.... the 2nd part, mostly because of  Adam Bronk being your   roommate... How many more    famous  women, will Ada, try to use, to boast his populatity?

 she shows him the card,Real questions  from  real people!

Ben's grin widened.

"At least you're not asking me 'Boxers or Briefs'. Well, ladies, true love if you are lucky enough to find it doesn't care how far away your beloved is. We both have busy lives with work commitments that involve travel; that only makes the time together sweeter. As for Adam's love life, that's his business. I couldn't possibly comment on how his first lady proved she wasn't one by her behaviour."

    The director called Cut and said, 'its a wrap'... China  took off her Mic and smiled  at Ben.so?   Ben?... you have  time  for a bit  in  the   famous  'Lair"

 she looked him over.

Ben looked a bit confused.

"I'm sorry... Uh, would you like a coffee before you go?"

  China  waved to the people who were packing up, the   Stadium's people just needed to clean up, since the site would  , more then likely, be used  again.

 As  they  walked  down the  passages  towards the ramp that would take them to The Lair, She asked  Ben,..so... how long were you seeing   Lu-Ti  befor you two were officlal ?  I bet you have to worry  about the Gossip magazines  hunting you two down?

Ben laughed.

"Well, that's an advantage to the busy lifestyle you were asking me about. It's not easy for the gossip magazines to catch up with us... they have an easier time with celebrities, anyway, many of whom like to be featured. I first met Lu-Ti when I got here, she was cheerleading full-time then, and apart from being beautiful she was a lovely person, someone I wanted to spend time with as a friend. Then the whole thing blossomed, and I realised that I didn't want to live without her, that I love her to the stars and beyond."

They reached the Lair, and Ben saw China to a seat.

"How do you like your coffee? And do you want anything to eat?"

He got himself a Danish anyway.

"We were in New York when I realised I was serious about Lu-Ti, so I went to see her father, who was in town for the game, and asked for permission to court her. With his blessing, it wasn't long before I popped the question and I was lucky enough to be accepted. We're aiming to marry once the season is over, a small family ceremony in Japan and a bigger public affair here in Jacksonville. You'll be welcome to come to that if you wish."

Ben's phone pinged.

"Excuse me. I don't give out the number, so people who text me actually have something to say," he explained.

"Just an errand to run later, no worries."

He typed in a quick reply (OK, I'll get them, see you later).

 ..So?... Ben?.... what's the chances  of  a lowly reporter  getting a  few dances  at your party tonight?

 she smiled a coy little  smile.

  I have to  get some Angels  for the  Pregame show  sunday..people  keep talkign about the  Dragon's   Victory parties  and 'pep rallies "