章 52: Advertisements
*Sound Effects*
**Language**
'Thoughts'
"Dialogue"
(Point of View)
| Setting |
[System]
| Location: HEB, San Antonio, Texas |
| Date: Tuesday January 9, 2006 1:45pm |
I was goofing around with Manu, Timmy, Tony, and Bruce as we geared up for the HEB commercial shoot scheduled for today. It was my first foray into advertisements, and the promise of a hefty paycheck definitely caught my attention. Each of us was offered $100k, which seemed like an astronomical amount to me, but it made sense given our status as contenders for the finals.
We waited eagerly for instructions on what to do, and it quickly became apparent that the theme was centered around my persona as 'Speedy' Morales. The camera would pan over various scenes where I'd appear instantly, showcasing my 'speed,' eliciting bewilderment from the others.
After wrapping up the initial scenes, we moved on to three more, each involving different scenarios. One scene featured Timmy's minimal reaction to my dunking, prompting unsuccessful attempts from the others to surprise him. Another had Bruce playing slow jazz music, the only thing that elicited a reaction from Timmy.
As the shoot progressed, I couldn't help but joke about Pop potentially faking the commercial again. However, the horrified looks from Tony, Timmy, and Manu made me wonder about Pop's past antics and whether they were captured on film.
Last week had been eventful, landing multiple photo shoots for various sports magazines like ESPN, Sports Illustrated, and SLAM. Despite some discomfort during shoots, mostly due to comments from a male photographer during a Vogue magazine shoot, the pay made it worthwhile. I vowed not to repeat the experience, even if it paid better, as it made me uneasy.
Nonetheless, it seemed like things were really starting to take off for me. The previous game against Kobe had been a spark, igniting a firestorm of media attention after I, a player under 6 feet tall, dunked on another player.
I still remember breaking out laughing, watching ESPN with Steven A. Smith...
........
"I don't even know what to say," Steven A. Smith remarked as he walked off camera while the scene of me dunking on Antonio McDyess played in the background.
........
It definitely seemed like our team would have an indefinite feud with the Pistons, as nobody wanted to shake hands or exchange any type of conversation after the game where they had been beaten by 18 points.
However, one of the biggest highlights for me wasn't the dunk on McDyess. Instead, it was as I headed to the locker room just as the 4th quarter had finished. Walking down the tunnel, I spotted a mom by herself with two kids who seemed to be about 8 or 9.
Reminded of my mom and my brothers, I couldn't help but do something. I immediately took off my shirt and asked Will Sevening if he had a pen. Thankfully he did, and as I wrote my signature, I handed it to a security guard and asked him to give it to the kids. The smile I saw from the family as the guard approached with the jersey was something I would never forget.
I was grateful in that moment for the position I was in, able to help and make people's days by doing what I loved.
Snapping myself out of my thoughts, I looked at my skills. I had finally unlocked 'On the Laces' after finishing the 50 consecutive passes in a game without turning the ball over once. However, I needed to wait until today to fulfill the 15-day requirement.
I couldn't wait for our next game to test things out. I then hit integrate on 'Pipen's Defensive Instinct,' sighing as I knew that this one might take longer.
"Maybe I should do the easier ones first," I thought, but I shook my head, knowing I really needed help defensively, as offense wasn't the issue with my other skills covering that end.
As I returned to my warm-up, I couldn't shake the feeling of excitement for what lay ahead.
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
| Location: SBC Center, San Antonio, Texas |
| Date: Wednesday January 18, 2006 8:30pm |
As I approached Manu, I couldn't help but wonder what he had in mind. He seemed unusually focused, which piqued my curiosity. Removing my headphones, I greeted him with a casual "What's up?"
"Let me try something," he said, beckoning for a trainer to pass him the ball. With a swift motion, the ball was in his hands, and he wasted no time in taking ten shots. The clang of the ball against the rim echoed in the gym as he made six out of ten.
"Alright, Javi, pass me the ball," he instructed, positioning himself to receive it. I obliged, sending him a crisp pass. This time, his shooting prowess seemed to improve, sinking eight out of ten shots.
"How do you pass the ball?" he asked, curiosity evident in his tone.
"I don't know, really. I just aim for the fingers to land on the laces. Somehow, I've gotten it down so I can do it every time," I replied.
"Every time?" he echoed, eyebrows raised in disbelief.
"Every time," I affirmed with a nod.
Eager to see if it was just a fluke, he gestured for another pass, and we engaged in a rapid-fire exchange of twenty passes. As the ball flew effortlessly between us, it was as if we were in perfect sync. When he looked at the ball and then back at me, his expression was one of astonishment.
"You have to teach me how to do that," he said, his eyes wide with excitement.
I nodded, hiding the fact that I honestly didn't understand how it worked either. It was almost like a subconscious talent that had developed over time.
"Tony! Timmy!" Manu called out, summoning other members of our team to join us. He wanted them to test out his theory, ensuring it wasn't just him experiencing the improved shooting. So, I repeated the passing routine with Tony, Timmy, and the others.
"Woah," Tony exclaimed, his eyes widening as he caught on to what was happening.
"You a witch?" Bruce joked, a playful grin on his face.
"No, I'm not a witch. Also, witches are female," I retorted with a laugh, enjoying the banter with my teammates.
"Same difference," he quipped back, eliciting chuckles from the group.
As I returned to finish warming up, a sense of satisfaction washed over me. It seemed like they'd probably be expecting more passes from me from now on.
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A/N: Hope you enjoyed the chapter! The Rookie All-Star chapter is coming soon, that one will be 2 parts! Let me know your thoughts so far!
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