American Football: Domination

The NFL, a professional league full of seasoned journalists, has seen its fair share of bold, eccentric, and explosive personalities. Reporters prided themselves on being battle-hardened, unfazed by trivialities.

But they had never seen anyone as audacious as Lance.

A rookie—on his very first postgame press conference—not only taunted the league's undisputed GOAT but also threw down the gauntlet to all the reporters present?

This?

The press room was momentarily stunned, ears ringing in the aftermath of Lance's verbal bombshell.

Finally, one reporter gathered their wits, and instead of stoking the fire, opted for a safer approach—likely because Lance's earlier comments were explosive enough.

"Do you truly not know who Tom Brady is?"

Lance, unwilling to dignify the question with a direct response, merely smiled—bright, confident, and carefree.

"Haha."

The answer hung in the air like a blank to be filled, left to the audience's imagination.

Online, the internet split into two camps:

Camp A: "Of course it's a joke! There's no way Lance doesn't know who Brady is. This was calculated—provocative, but in good humor!"

Camp B: "Lance is just playing it cool. It's a lighthearted jab, a clever way to diffuse tension."

Both sides, however, agreed on one thing: Lance definitely knows who Brady is.

To this, Lance would simply say: "Everyone is entitled to their imagination."

After a brief pause, another journalist took the bait and asked a follow-up question.

"So, do you at least know who Brady is now?"

"I'll remember this game," Lance replied with a nonchalant shrug.

The reporters thought: Oh, you mean you'll remember the win, right?

Before they could articulate their thoughts, Lance continued, "I'll remember this win."

Journalists: ... So arrogant! Does he not realize he's still standing in Gillette Stadium? Isn't he afraid he might not make it out of Foxborough alive?

Then, Lance pivoted smoothly.

"This wasn't an easy game, but we never gave up. We never lost faith, and we never stopped fighting—not just the offense, but the defense too."

"Football is a team sport. We stayed united, trusted one another, and fought until the end. The victory is our reward for that effort."

"I think this was an eye-opening lesson, a practical crash course in what it means to play in the pros. I've officially stepped onto the professional stage."

New England's offensive line: Wait, was that a dig at us? Or at Brady?

The press room buzzed with murmurs.

For a moment, it seemed like Lance was rubbing salt into the Patriots' wounds. Then, unexpectedly, he turned the conversation back toward the Chiefs, spotlighting their teamwork. Just when the journalists thought they had an angle to pounce on, Lance deftly redirected them.

Frustrating.

Another reporter tried a different tactic, asking a seemingly harmless but loaded question.

"This was your first professional game, Lance. How would you rate your performance? What score would you give yourself?"

A straightforward question on the surface, but one that could easily lead to sensational headlines. Whether Lance downplayed or boasted about his performance, the media would spin it either way.

Lance, however, answered with disarming sincerity:

"Sorry, I'm not that familiar with football yet. I don't really have a reference point to judge myself. I'll leave that to the fans and the experts. I'll just quietly hope their reviews aren't too harsh—after all, I'm just a rookie."

The room: … Is he mocking us?

That brilliant, boyish grin, those perfectly white teeth—Lance's sunny disposition radiated warmth, but to the reporters, it felt like an underhanded jab. Was he subtly pointing out how the media had hyped up the "Rookie vs. GOAT" storyline for months?

Journalists: We've been framed! Blame Roger Goodell!

Who could have predicted that the "rookie" label—intended as a diminishment—would become Lance's greatest weapon?

First, he humiliated Gillette Stadium.

Then, he teased Tom Brady.

Now, he was mocking the reporters.

Was this a verbal Swiss Army knife?

What truly baffled the journalists was Lance's demeanor throughout the press conference.

He wasn't evasive.

He wasn't hostile.

He was entirely cooperative.

Relaxed, charismatic, and effortlessly composed, Lance handled the reporters' questions like James Bond at a cocktail party. The press conference felt less like a grilling and more like a jovial soirée, leaving the journalists fumbling with blunt tools.

If anyone had come in expecting Marshawn Lynch 2.0, they'd be searching the floor for their shattered glasses by now.

Somewhere, Nick Saban was sighing in exasperation: "See? My media blackout was for your own good! But you didn't listen. Look what you've unleashed."

Amazingly, the press conference ended on a cheerful note.

The room was filled with laughter and camaraderie. As the journalists left the venue, many were still dazed, unsure of what had just transpired. It was as though they'd all been swept up in a pleasant but disorienting whirlwind.

With that, the 2017 NFL season opener officially concluded.

The game might be over, but the ripple effects were only just beginning. The waves Lance had created were growing into tsunamis.

Historically, quarterbacks dominate the spotlight in football. In 80% of games, the QB is the focal point, with exceptions being rare.

By all rights, the Chiefs-Patriots matchup should have been no different. The narrative should have centered on the quarterbacks:

Alex Smith: 35 completions on 28 attempts, 368 yards, 3 touchdowns.Tom Brady: 36 attempts, 18 completions, 267 yards, no touchdowns, 1 fumble.

The numbers painted a stark contrast. Smith delivered one of his best performances in recent years, showcasing efficiency and precision. Meanwhile, Brady had one of his worst games, struggling to find rhythm and committing a costly turnover.

Typically, the quarterbacks' performances would dominate headlines.

But this time?

Lance stole the show.

The rookie running back, the draft's third overall pick, the first-ever Chinese-American in the NFL, silenced critics with an unforgettable debut.

His fourth-quarter heroics cemented his status as the game's MVP. Lance's impact on the field electrified fans, and his effortless charm off the field amplified his appeal.

From the New York Times to the Los Angeles Times, from ESPN to social media, all eyes were on Lance.

One topic, in particular, spread like wildfire:

"They say every draft class has one bust among the top three picks. The third pick has already made his mark. So…"

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Powerstones?

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