"Dining room or club?"

Ben actually preferred the dining room, but if you wanted to party it was better to have food brought to you in the club.

In reply to Adam (the bomb)Bronk (msg # 933):

Celeste looked at the crowd as they came up to the club.

Guess we won, she said joking.  Whatever you think is easier.

She gave a shrug. I'm game for whatever.

Luke had picked up Ricky on the way to the club and had gotten in before the majority of the crowd had arrived.  They were at the bar and had grabbed something to drink already and Luke was talking with one of the servers.

He looked up as he saw Adam and Ben came in and gave them a wave.

"If you are in the party mood, the club's probably best. Oh, look, there's Luke.."

Ben returned the wave and headed in that direction.

"Cranberry juice and soda, please. What about you Lu-Ti?"

  the people on the  floor  were dancing, or taking, the Live Band  Mixed in Vids  for the Huge wall screen.

  Some times there would be  Videos  that went with the song, sometimes there would be   Game films  broken down  with Various   Dragons   Hitting or being hit, or make a  play here or there.

 Yuto was up on the stage  DAncing  with  a few  Girls  who he would call up on the stage...a new tradition he started, and  women, with or  with out  escorts , vied to get to be on the stage.

  Adam Grinned  as he waved to Luke. Mr  and Mrs Amota were sitting  in a private  Booth that was  slightly higher and in the back corner, they were smiling, a few 'suits and their  wives' were sitting with them Some in earnest conversations  others  talked   among themselves as they looked over the  goings on in the club

  Smokey came by, as loud  surfer's  shirt, shorts  and  sandels  as he drank some  colored  drink with a plastic palm tree in it... Hey Dudes and Dudettes.... did you see  at those fancy people   sitting with  Mr A?.... heard some of them are  other owners?  and some  big deals  from the  NFL  front offcies?

 Adam's frown showed as he glanced  at the  suits.don't like  other owners in our house... even worse to get the stuffed  shirts  from The front office here..

Ben grinned.

"Nothing wrong with letting them see how a real team parties, Adam. Don't you want them to have a glimpse of what they ought to be aspiring to be?"

  Adam's frown didn't go away as his eyes  gave the table a sidelong  Glance, not that the suits  could really see them from across the room, with all the Milling about.

 .....The front Office in Hamilton  were stand up folks... They let  me out of the last year of  my contract, so I could  come down here and try out...the  compromise was, they hold my rights in the CFL, if I ever get cut....The Amota's   are even better then they are, as far as  caring for their players....But the other owners?.. They draft and sign guys because  some talking heads  said they should...they  pay bums, and cut hard working players..and the  NFL Front office..the Commish...well..they just nod  and smile as long as the TV money keeps rolling in.... The jets, Chargers  and Lions , were they only owners to be in loud, full out support of the Amotas buying the   Jags...the rest who voted, did it because they owned  favors  and those  owners called in their markers.... The Bucs, Fins, Giants, redskins  and Cowboys didn't  want the Amota's here at all....

 He  gives  a disgusted wave of his had towards the hall way that leads out,...The Amotas rebuilt  Jacksonville.. pumped  tons of money into the area  with new Businesses  and   the stadiums... Youth Programs... The Hospital..all that stuff? and those  teams  still didn't  want them in.....so..yeah..I don't know those  folks over there...so?  i don't trust them.

"You're a bit serious for a party, particularly one after a win. What would you like to drink?" said Ben.

  Bronk just shook his head, ..a soda is good.... I just don't  just folks... you egtthat way, growing up like  i did....If you have a bad  feeling...there is a reason for it.

Ben went and got Adam a soda then came and sat beside him.

"OK, my dad always says he listens to his gut in the field. So what is yours telling you?"

 Adam leans  close so he can be heard over the Music, he  includes Lu-ti and Cel with looks as he talks.

 ..Think  about this? Brand new owners.... who have stepped in, made  thier  city a better place, and now thier  Team is 'up there' in the rankings...heck...we might  even be #1 on that power base..thingy? We have a Coach that never  coached  D1....never served as an assistant in the nFL, who has  hired  folks...just like him..and we're  grinding  up  NFL standards like a woodchipper....and?..everyone  knows, Coach Sims  won't stop....

 he  looks around again,..what happens , if they try to talk Mr Amota into ....toning us  down?

"You know Mr Amota better than just about anyone, Adam. Do you really think he'd let his standards slip to appease the other teams' owners?" asked Ben.

  Adam  Looks at Lu-ti as  Ben says this,  then replies ,I dunno? I mean.. in Japan he wouldn't have..but  in Japan , they would not have asked....he's made alot of  enemies in the  business world, but paying good  wages, and  taking care of employees..so folks have to keep up, or look bad..

  ...we have a long  way to go...but  what happens if we reach the playoffs?..or for that matter..the Super bowl? The NFL copies  anything , that is successful..can you imagine ... high priced  stars, that the Media  and   NFL made heroes...being tossed aside by people  who just work hard and play hard...as far as coaches go?.. they won't find too many  Simms out there...and they know it....if  we continue  on the path we are on...we are goign to turn the league , inside out...which is  excatly what Coach Sims  wants to do...

"Guess it's up to the rest of them to draw deep and put in the hard work then," said Ben.

"As a football fan, I find the Dragons' approach refreshing and it makes for good games to watch - you get your money's worth, the action doesn't stop. I think the fans would have something to say if they eased off. And so will we!"

   Yuto came up on stage..his   tie  was very loose, his top buttons of his   white shirt undone.

 Welcome all to the  Rising Son!...This night..to celebrate our lastest win!


 Adam?.. You and  Your friends?..lets  get this started!

 then..the Music  started  with the  tiny Dragon  approaching on the huge  screen...

  Adma  sworte  under his breath but  smiled  as he  went  onto the Floor as  some of the Dragonettes  wh were  working,  waited in line...The..The Dragon Stomp..started.

  Mr  and Mrs Yuto  stood up and began to clap..the other  owners  watching with Keen interest...at first, the look on the face  seemed to be comic..but slowly truend to amazement as the   Club started to jump... and the Dragon got  bigger, and louder...

Ben jumped up and joined in the Stomp, grinning broadly.

Lu-Ti and Cel had gotten up into their own bit of conversation regarding some new cheer routines and had turned to look when the Amotas announced Adam to come to the front and center to start the celebrations.

She looked between the three at the table and nodded.  Guess the fun begins now, she says.  I'm ready when you are.

She looks to Adam and sees the seriousness etched firmly in his eyes.  I think the Amotas will know what is best.  I don't think they will settled into changing anything any time soon.  If they do, they'll have an uprising of their fans and much more to follow.

The Dragon Stomp heralded the start of the party, The  owners  that were with  the Amotas, laughed at the Players and Dragonettes  who took part, Until they noticed  some  of the FAns Join in.... By the Time the 'Dragon' filled the giant screen and Roared, they were..somewhat , impressed.

 The Reporters tried to get some sound bites from players and coaches, and even fans.

  The Fans were over the top, as most fans were, talking of superbowl and records.

  Kane was Interviewed , and said,..This  is a damn good team... and we have a great team concept. Somewhere down the road, a Team  might cpome up with somethign that may slow  down our offense, but they will never  be able to duplicate what we have here...

 As  dance music  started  and  folks took the floor,  The Reporter  approached the players asking them all the same questions...

 The Dragons sit at the top of the AFC South..one  game ahead of the Colts....do you think you can hold on?

 Duke  Relied,..Don't see why not..i'm sure there may be some tough times ahead...but i am also sure there are going to be tough times ahead  for our rivals..

 Miles answered,..have you seen our Offense?..I've been in this league 8 years...a low scoring game for us, will be..like 50 points?  You want to beat us...score more then 50 points!


 When Adam was approached the   woman smiled  and   tried to make sure there was more FAce time with him and her on  the CAmera,.... Can we Lose?..sure we can..anyone can....but..can we be ebaten?..No....If we lose... thatv is what it will be..it will be us...losing..not someone beating us..... Coach Sims has  us challeneging oursleves  every practice, every meeting...we don't have Buffoons dressing up like clowns, or doing   dumb dances to try to get a pro bowl vote....Folks what to vote for me?.. they'll vote on my play...but? the Pro Bowl isn't important...the Superbowl is.... and that's were we want to be...

Ben turned to the reporter with a smile.

"Well, ma'am, as a rookie it's probably not for me to say. But we certainly shall do our utmost to 'hang on' as you put it. We play to win, and to win as big as we can. Yes, as Adam says, we might lose, but we shall not be defeated. We will get up and battle on. We don't intend to 'hang on', we intend to be victorious. But win or lose, when the final whistle blows we'll be shaking hands with our opponents and applauding their efforts. That's football, ma'am."

  The reporter made her  way through  the rest of the players  and cheerleaders ,  asking the  questions  and  taping answrs, while the Music played and players  partied.

  The party was  in full swing, Players , Dragonettes, family members of the married  players, and those   fans who were lucky enough to get in.

 The Door  men would let folks  in as some folks left. It was testament to the fan base, that  there would be people outside , until it closed. All hoping for a chance to get in and party with the dragons.

Ben asked Lu-Ti if she wanted a snack in the bar or to go and dine.

  The PArty  carried on, the  reporters  asked   a few Players  about the team and the season, before they finally left to get their  deadlines met.

  The owners  got  Up from their  table , approaching   Bronk, Cel, Ben and Lu-ti.

 Bronk got up  right  away  and bowed his head  slightly To Mr  Amota. The  Chargers Own smiled,..well, Son? you turned Native over there?

 Bronk smiled, knowing the Chargers  owner, ( Ed  Willins), was a friend of  the Amota's,..spent a little over a year there, before they let me go, so i could play for Hamilton... you learn to respect those who  don't mind helping you along.

  Ed  smiles,..i spent most of the night, trying to get Mr Amota to trade you or   Hope to my team for  some high draft picks..we have 2  #1s from last year's dealings..but?..he  wants to keep you...

 ..well?   I lucked out in Hamliton , they ran  an offesne i could get into..don't know  how  many Coaches  would let me on the field , like the Dragons do...

 Wilins  wife  speaks up,..you sell yourself  short, Mr  Bronk. You have made  alot of waves in the league.

 Thank you ma'am..but..i am ...rather  short...  he rgisn, the others laugh.

 what about you, Mr Hope..San Diego is  nice year round...no  Hurricanes there!

Ben also rose and nodded his head to the Amotas. He hadn't quite gotten the hang of Japanese-style bowing, but gave it a go anyway.

"Thank you, Mr Willens... but my contract is here. And we don't get earthquakes."

He grinned.

  Mr Amota Smiles, as did  his wife, who remained  silent...You See, Ed. There are things  Money cannot buy. Loyality  for one. The Players Union wanted to stand against  our contract format. But, once they saw the computer models of a cross  section, of  players  from free agents  to top picks..they saw, that players  could, indeed make more money, AND, the teams would be less hurt by The Cap...

 Willens Nodded  with a smile,..Indeed.. my people are working on this as well.. we will be  trying  to get The payers we sign Next year, to  use this format..we may have to cut or trade those who do not wish to change.

 ....I think the thing here, The players see that guaranteed  money, and want it... your  contract  fornat says, they have to  work for it..not only do they need to do well, but the team must do well...

 Me Amota   smiled  and held up a Finger as if in victory,..and that, is what we are looking  for  Lane? We want  players who wish to play the game, who want to do well, as well..as aiding the Team....this is not to say, a team will win most of its games?..it still comes to player  Vs Player, Coach vs Coach... Coach Sims and i have found, that once you weed out selfish players..you have a team.

..Well It will take  us a few years until we can get this  contract format set in San Diego..but from what in see, Your team could be once of the highest paid, while being the lowest, in form of the caps!

 Lane   looked at Lu-Ti and Cel,...what of you Ladies?...The  former ehad Cheerleader , moved to LA ...took some of your ladies  with them...you ever thing of  finding..'greener pastures?'