A portable coach's  stand stood on the  Dragon's sideline at The  Dragon's  stadium. Atop stood  a smallish Japanese fellow with  a clipboard and  some markers...now and again he would write  something on the  clip board with one color or the other.

  Standing next to him was Bart Sims. A Dragon's  ball cap on, he wore shorts and a Dragon's football T-shirt  a Younger Japanese woman would  point to someone in the milling crowd, Sims  would say something and Amota  would use a marker

  Sims  held up a Bull horn and shoutedwelcome to Dragon's Football...You have an hour or so before you try out....again..Draftees..vets  and free
agents..it doesn't matter...you have to show me , why you  think you should be here..."

   A short, but well muscled fellow, wearing a t-shirt that  said BC Lions on it. stood off to the side. He watched folks as they gathered into thier groups, Vets  from the old jags..not many of them left, looked at the  others folks as if they were  assassins.

  Draftees strutted back  and forth, many a cocky smile faded after Sims  blared message. The owners had found a way around the caps, besides the waiver the NFL gave them...if you did not make it to camp..you did not have a contract...if you did not sign the paper that said so? You did not come to Camp, thus, you did not make the team. Holdouts got fined..heavy...the RightTackle from lastyears team, former Probowlerwas out on the street now, beacuse he did not wish to sign that sheet...

   A girl dressed in  Dragon's colors cam past  the fellow, she asked his name, "Adam...Adam  Bronk....

  The Girl nodded, and  a fellow pulling  a hand cart fished out a Green jersey that said "...WR...19.." and they moved on thier way,

  an older fellow setting up  a sportsdrink and water  station said,"...put it on now lad. They don't know who you are...you go out the door..they aren't messin around..not no more...Jacksonville means business this year.."

Ivan nodded as the girl that had just given the smaller guy next to him a jersey gave him one too. She left to hand out more, to which Ivan checked her out from behind. He heard the old man give the other guy some words of wisdom and decided to follow them himself. Ivan trotted up next to the guy and held out a hand. "Ivan Chevalier."

Katelyn stared up at the goal posts at the far end of the field. She'd gotten her early, been one of the first to receive their jerseys. She'd also had to get ready in one of the VIP bathrooms, given that the locker rooms were probably a bad idea at this juncture. Scratch that, they were a terrible idea for her to get changed in.

She was terse.

There was trepidation in knowing that she'd have to beat out the former team's kicker to get the job for herself. Toss in the media wanting to ask her questions about being the first female in the NFL, and having to ignore the catcalls from half the idiots here to try out, and Katelyn was ready to be downright laconic. She simply glared up at the goalposts, football in her hands, almost as if she was matching wills with the giant, yellow, inanimate object..

Her green jersey had a number 2 on it.

  The smaller man Smiles, taking  the hand in a firm grip, hi, ...Adam..Adam Bronk...Wideout..Kickreturned...nickel back..whatever they need me to do..." his grin is infectious as  he  points to the woamn with the '2' on her jersey.....you know who that is?... Kat..." he snaps his fingers,...something...she was drafted  as a kicker...come..let's go meet her..we have a bit before things get going..."

  As he and the Big fellow begins to walk over  towards the woman..they see two other  fellows walking over to her as well....

  Two men stopped off to the side of Kat, the taller one wore a jersey that had a #1, the smaller  fellow  had a Number #4.

  " well now..look what we  have here..the  first LAdy Kicker...well girl..you really think you can beat us out?"

  Number 4  just smiled  and  was about to say something when two other  fellows walked over towards KAt..One small , the other fellow  bigger  and well muscled.

  "look Ivan...there is our new kicker!". The smaller man grins as the two kickers  look at each other  and the  new arrivals,You are Milfred...right? Oh Kat....you are going to have some competion alright...this fellow has  kicked for....4...no...5 teams...2 differant ones last year...lets see..what was the name of that second team...ah...the Richmond Iceflows of the  Indoor league..right?"

 Number 4 scowled and the little fellow looked at #1,I remember you as well...I think i returned a rouge against you , that set up  BC's  kicker's  winning fieldgoal...didn't like  it in Canada huh?"

  You guys  have more guts  then I do though...just think..in a half hour or so you will be booting  field Goals against a woman who put her team on the college map....I mean think of it....if you out kick her...you werre supposed to...but..if you miss and she kicks it through...."  he shakes his head,Nope...would not  want that kind of pressue on me..eben if she wasn't  any good...but..lets see.."

 He turns to KatSI had you on the cover  when you won the bowl game...right?....and  Sporting news had you on right before draft day...and you were on ESPN a few times.." . He turns to the kickers,"..you ever on a magazine?"

  Go screw yerself midget..." the two kickers  walked  away..talking about holders  and wind  and such.

   Bronk  smiles as they walk away,Sorry...old  tryout  trick...vets  try to psych out  rookies...they don't  expect to get it back...I am Adam..Bronk..this is Ivan wanted to come over to meet  you before all the fun starts.."

James walked out onto the field with a certain reverance, his eyes taking in the sights of the stadium from behind a pair of designer shades.  This was it... the big time... the Show.

Well, not quite.  From what Sims had indicated, a lot of the guys Jim saw milling about probably wouldn't be there by the time the season got underway.  No matter - he thrived on competition.  The very thought of it brought a big smile to his face.

Soon he was walking across the field, heading for the smallish Japanese man and Mr. Sims.  He caught sight of a small crowd near one endzone... the girl Kicker - Dawlish - flanked by Chevaleir and Bronk.  He made a mental note to introduce himself.

Yet his agent had asked him - forced him, really - to listen to tapes concerning Japanese etiquette, and he didn't want to break protocol.  He moved straight to the Japanese man with the clipboard, removed his sunglasses and stood a respectful distance away.  When the man's eyes flashed toward him, he kept his eyes down and gave a deep bow.  He expected no acknowledgement from this - it was just the proper thing to do.

Then looking to Bart, he offered his hand.  "Mr. Sims, Sir, an honor to meet you."
This message was last edited by the player at 00:08, Thu 22 Apr 2010.

  Sims Looked over at James. His eyes took in the number of the tryout jersey and nodded, Hello...James....Steele. This is  Mr Amota...and his  wife, Nilie Amota. He is the chief owner and GM. Hope your arm is loose..we have 7 Quarterbacks here today...by the time 6;00 tolls around..we will have 4...

  Sims Voice  was not threatening, nor was it harsh. But there was a certain coolness in it. This was not you run-of-the-mill minicamp..they were going to weed folks out, before they worried  about  working folks in.

Katelyn hadn't noticed the two idiots walk up to her, or rather, saunter. She had been a bit shocked by how upfront they had been with their taunts, then again, it just reminded her of college again. She had been about to bite back when two other players walked over, the smaller of the two basically cutting both men's balls off while remembering every accolade Kat had managed to garner while in college.

She waved a sarcastically cheery goodbye to the two as they walked away and looked back at the other two.

"Kat Dawlish. Nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you. Name's Ivan. I likely be protecting you on field goals." He offered his hand to the woman, turning to make sure the creeps had slinked off back to their holes. "What do you think they have for us? The Combine was brutal enough but these japs have crazy ideas about physical activity."

 he smiles  with a nod and offer his hand, You need a holder? give  a yell. Used to spot our kickers  at Mellon St.

  He jerks his head in the direction of the two kickers,I have 5 bucks  says they don't make anything outside the 40 today...

"Ohayo gozaimasu, Mr. Amota," James said, showing off the tiny bit of Japanese he had learned and bowing again to the owner.  He gave a third bow to Nilie.  "Mrs. Amota.  I am honored to meet you both."

The smile returned to the young quarterback's face at Bart's words, though he fought to wipe it off.  "Yes, Sir!  I won't disappoint.  If you'll excuse me?"

Moving away from the brass, he grabbed the first football he could find and tested his grip.  Slipping the sunglasses back on he made his way toward the endzone.  He flashed a bright smile toward Kat as he drew near.

"Ice," he said by way of greeting, offering his hand.  "Good to see you again!"

His hand also went out to Adam and Ivan.  "Jim Steele, pleasure to meet you!"