"I'm just looking forward to playing on Sunday," Emma said to the reporter.  She'd let her play do the talking for her.  And it was true that the two defenses never saw each other.  Still, it'd put a target on her back in a couple of weeks.  But she wasn't going to worry about a game a couple weeks away.  She had to worry about this week's game first.

 Cindy  nodded  with a  Smile and goes off hunting again.

  Bing watches her go and shakes his  head, then turns to Emma. ..I meant that...you know... Horn wouldn't have  made this team.... to be fair? He would never have signed the contract...but he wouldn't have made it through Camp...

..................

 One of the Jacksonville writers  for  the New Jacksonville Times, corners   Ben,..Mr  Hope?..Its  plain to see you'er the security Blanket for the team?.....Do you think you'll see more double coverage  from the Jets?

Ben grinned.

"I'm not allowed to take a telescope onto the field, Miss Clarkson! No doubt they will try, but I shall be doing my level best to stay away from their defense," he said.

"It's all very simple. I run into holes in the coverage, then someone throws the ball to me. Then I head for the goal line."

  Cindy  laughs a  sportcaster's  laugh,..I see... well...  I will wish good luck to you  and the dragons....

  we  do have a  feed from New York... I'll cut to the studio?

 The Screen  shows the image Duce Maller the  'stellar  Safety,..Duce? can you tell us what you expect from the Dragons.... I am here  with Ben Hope....

 ( half the screens  showed  the  interaction )


 There was a bit of a delay as he  listened on a head set,..Yes... Hello Cindy, I just saw the  question.. For  My part, we, as a defense , know  we have our  work cut out for us... The Dragons have  piled up alot of points.... they don't  quit, no matter  what the score, or time on the clock says... so.. Yeah... We'll just have to keep Ben  out of the holes as much as we can...

 ..while i got Ben here?  you have anything to say?

 The grin  grew Bigger,..why  yes?... Ben, brother? Gonna try to shut you down man, no offense.. but we don't want to look like those other  teams!

"Hi, Duce," said Ben, also grinning.

"No offense? Thought I was the offense... you play defense, don't you? Enjoy looking at my face now, 'cos I'll do my best to show you a clean pair of heels come the game! Win or lose, let's make it a good game for all the fans, yeah?"

Ben knew what was expected, although trash talk didn't come naturally to him.

Sorry Cindy, Emma wasn't going to bite.  The new player on the team wasn't going to feed too much into the build-up for the game directly.

"Yeah?  Camp that tough?" Emma asked curiously.  "Or would it have more been an attitude thing?  Most of the players outside the room I only know from what they show on television, and there's no better way to misjudge somebody than by television."

  Bing Nodded,..hardest thing i ever went through, and i played  Highschool ball in Western PA...coal miners, steel workers from the old  days sent the  bar... hard work..gotta be tough...., still?  I came here? I couldn't believe it..i mean.. first couple days  you weed out the FAs  who shouldn't be here...but Sims  weeded out Vets who didn't want to be here.... hard, tough  work, but you know what?..my 40  time  improved by .5.... by vertical Jump  by 8 inches.... and i can play all day... i see other  teams   laying down  for  trainers to strech them out from cramps... i see  players  faking it to  give  thier defesne   a chance to rest.... doesn't work... nothing  more  intimindating they you taken  a knee  and  squirting  water in your mouth as the Offense  is lined  up  waiting for you  to lie up.... the  secind the  whistle blows  to wind the clock... we are firing off the line?... glad i don't have to play us!

.........................

 Duce  chuckles,..well my Man?.... gonna  try to keep the ball out of your hands..so we'll see.... were's that little guy?

 ..I'm trying to track him down... i think I see him..hang on...

 Not  far away, bronk was drinking  a soda  , watching Ben and Duce... next thing  he knows.. Cindy pops up.Adam... we got  Duce  on the other end... have anything you want to say?

 The lights were in  Adam's  eyes, he looked at the  screens, saw  Duce   laughing,..Naw..not  much this  time around.... Duce is a Good Player.... i'm hoping   he makes my highlight reel, more then i make his!

 ..well?...Little man?   we'll see what happens... I sure  don't  want film of me chasing you down the sidelines!

 Adam Grins,...we'll see you sunday...keep yourself  healthy!

   Cindy shut down the Vids  after  waving good bye to  Duce...what the  hell? since  when are you 'joe happy guy'

 ..look?... Jets helped Amotas when it came voting time.... as far as i know, none opf the Jets have said  anything bad  about us...so?..yeah..we're going in to beat them.. and they know  we won't  let up.... but  you'll know when there is a team we want to crush.....Like the Texans?....but, that's a couple weeks away... we  got to worry about the green and white this week.

"I don't know.  It might be fun to play a team that plays like the Dragons do.  It'd be an interesting challenge.  The whole 'You can dish it out but can you take it?' sort of think," Emma said as she took a sip of her drink.  "We get a taste of it in practice, but imagine sixty minutes of it.  Of course, I'll get my first taste of what pro football teams, in general, are like to face in a couple days.  I kind of imagine it to be an amped up version of facing a top tier college team, but I might be completely wrong on that," she added.

   He chuckles,..bit different, indeed.... guys up here? they don't have anything to worry  about, except  thier job... no classes, no frat parties ...no summer vacation  at home.

 then he held up the hand  that held his  drink, the  pointing  finger pointing in the  air,..now?... i will qualify that by saying, you'll see alot of  guys  who don't  belong in the league... and they'll be made to look good until they  really screw up in a big game, and some talking head calls them out.

 Turning to look over his shoulder he  adds,...of  course,  if  anyone listened , most of us wouldn't be  here... bronk...Mik...Santos..well..maybe Santos shouldn't be here... but you get what i'm saying.

 the party settled in..not quite as  ramped up as the Victory parties.    some folks were leaving, Adam decided it seems like a good time to go as well.

  ... Hey Guys  we're going home..anyone need a ride to the townhouses?

"Lu-Ti, it's quieting down a bit here. How about a prawn curry at my place?" suggested Ben.

"pep ralley  party for going to Houston...

   Going through the Hallway, there are a couple new  Pictures in the 'last game" area. Emma  and Ben have a couple,  Duke in the pocket and Payne Lighting up a Je players  split between  going into the   dinning   side of the club to get a meal  ( with or  without  DAtes).. others  choose  to go into  the  Club  part where Muisc is already  blasting  and finger food  is served along with the  BAr offerings.

Ben arrived in the Dragon green truck, hoping that Lu-Ti was already here, she tended to show up early.

He parked up and went inside.

  The Security was there... the  Media  Vans   had been there for an Hour  as   TV and Netwrok folks showed up  to what theleague  made fun of  as the " Dragons Pep Rally "...

 other cities    newspapers  made Fun of the parties...but thus far, no one has  made fun of thier Victory parties

...............

 Inside the  Club the  V-jay was on the stage    and the  whole back wall showed  Vids  from whatever   song he  had  cued up.. He was a bit geeky looking with a  white Dragon's  Hat on sideways, but the guy knew what he was doing with lights  and  vids.

 Some of the Dragonettes  were there are ready  dressed in   one of thie rmany  'interesting'  uniforms.

 Adam Pulled in to a spot  a few  cars  down  from Ben's  truck, he would be  about   5 minutes 'late'. saw  he waited  to see if anyone needed  at ide, then  left at 1 minute  til

  He signed  some  Pictures and Books  for fans who were outside. They started  to get used to ..'Media and  Players the  first hour "..thing. Knowing ,  so many folks  would be allowed  in  after the Media ws....'asked to leave"

  Bing  Pulled into a spot  by streetlight. there  was a pair of  Security guards  cruising  in a golfcart.

 he Got out, he  would go around to open the Door  for Emma  unless she beat him to it.

  As they  walked to the   Club, people were shouting thier  Names, some waving   pictures or programs or  autograph books.

"Bah, give me a solid truck any day of the week," Emma said. She liked larger vehicles herself, but she'd grown up with them. A nod was given. "Media, in general, isn't that bad. A few rotten apples, but that's true of any industry," the woman added with a shrug as Bing drove towards the party.

-------------------------------------------------------

"Yeah, it's a bit different this time. More people here this time," Emma noted before they got out of the car. She was perceptive enough to notice Bing going to get the door for her, so she let him do so. "Thanks," she said with an easy smile to the man.

Emma signed some pictures and autograph books along the way, though she didn't linger too long. It was always good to please the fans. Without them, there wasn't exactly a league to play in.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:36, Thu 22 Mar 2018.

   Lu-Ti  had  entered from the Back, she was still in  her  'power Suit' and  had  her  hair up with  sticks.

   Yuto  Smiled  as he saw   Adam Come in a bit LAte,..AHHH!..Not it is Time..Yes!!!

  The Crowd ,which was mostly players  ,Families and  dates shouted back.

Adamwaved embarrassed as he was  and  went out  on the Floor lining up behind one of the Dragonettes,and another   onepur her Hand On his  HIps..Lu_ti stepped  down in her   heels to take upaspot in Line.

 Cindy was there filming it... on a Video feed she  had Mosh who was watching,he was laughing his   rear  end offalong  with the DB Alker...The  The Dragon  Stompstarted,and Mosh and Alker  really began to laugh. asthe tiny Dragon grew  bigger and bigger in the back round.

Ben sidled over to Yuto and asked quietly "I have to ask Lu-Ti what she wants, of course, but as far as the team is concerned, do you want our engagement to become public? I have a ring for her..."

Once he has Yuto's answer, he goes and joins the lineup.

  Yuto looked stunned,..I do not know how to answer this? The  team can always use Publicity... But  i think...it  may  be wise.....to ask My Sister?

"I shall, thank you."

Ben went over to the line-up that was forming and slipped in beside Lu-Ti.

"You look wonderful tonight. I need to ask you, do you want to make our engagement public or do you prefer to keep it in the family?"

  Lu-Ti  smiled,..this is  my  work clothes!...    She Looked  pensive  as the Dragon Stomp started.

  ///Let us wait  until the Media  leaves.. it will be a much better thing... and?.. It  will cause them to be  very angry!  she grinned.

 ..................

  Adam was getting better at 'The Stomp' The  Dragonettes  were  giggling    as he   added  some  facial expressions   each time the  Dragon on the Vid  screen roared.


...........

 Miles and  His  Wife   were clapping  along    'roaring' with the dragon.


.....

 Bing chuckled and Pointed  at the Line of Dragonettes  and   'brave' players,..Game week  has started....The Stomp is here..

  Cindy  was  By   Worth   and  Kane as they looked   at the   Laptop she  had with Mosh and Alker laughing thier   butts off at the  Dragon Stomp... Mosh said (  knowing he was on TV)....This...this is  the Lamest thing i have  ever seen!


   The reporter smiled   at Bing and   Emma,... Mosh's head  moved  back and forth....hey!.. is that the Dragon Chick?

"Certainly, my love. They'd only turn it into a circus... and they ought to be concentrating on our game with Texas!"

Ben joined in the Stomp, grinning widely.

Emma had considered, this week, being one of those brave players trying the Stomp.

But then she heard Mosh's voice. There was no way she was going to give him the satisfaction of witnessing such a thing. "Definitely is." She dropped her voice so the reporter and Mosh wouldn't hear, pretending as though she hadn't heard Mosh's statement about her. "Now, I may be new to all this, but I don't think Mosh was on the guest list, was he?" she said to Bing.

  Bing shook his head,..not unless someone  wanted a punching bag....

 Cindy   giggled,ESPN thought it would be  cute... there are some  Utobe  Videos  of the Dragon Stomp..and  kids  doing it on playgrounds  and stuff... Most of the  NFL  Makes  fun of it though...

 ..Yeah?  I bet they laugh a whole lot  everytime  we score  and the Stomp starts...

 ..I'm goign to  get Bronk over  here when he's  done, gotta get as much milage out of my  1 hour that  i can!

 Mosh is shouting  as him an Alkers   are hanging all over   each other laughing,..hey!   Dragon Girl?  ain't you gonna  say  hi to the Mosh Man...