| P R E - G A M E |

Leaning back I closed my eyes as the music played through my ears. I let J. Cole's song Middle Child drown out my surroundings for a quick second.

Letting out a calming breathe, I opened my eyes. Grabbing my cleats, I slid them on and began lacing them up.

When it came to moments like these, I really began to feel the pressure and everything starts to really sink in.

I've had many interviews this past week. Each interview seemed to ask the same question, "are you nervous?" or "do you get nervous?"

In which I respond with as much confidence I could muster up, "Chris Anthony doesn't get nervous"

But I know that's a lie. I, too, get nervous— I'm just better at hiding it.

This Super Bowl was different then the last in terms of who I was going up against this time.

Damarius Wilson of the Denver Broncos.

One of the all time best wide receivers who was currently on his seventh season starting.

I had to be at my best because I knew he was going to be at his best. If I didn't evenly match up with him, this was something the media would eat up. They'd compare our performances and began to say unnecessary ass shit.

As weird as it may sound, I thrive off of the media and what they say about me. Not necessarily in regards to my personal life because they could talk all the shit and I still wouldn't give a rat's ass. However, any talk about my career negative or positive—I was always looking out for.

Football was my life. Being in the league was something I strived for ever since I was a little kid playing pop warner.

It's different now though, I'm not playing for the enjoyment of the game, I'm playing to make my mark. I'm playing to be remembered—something my son could look back on and be proud of.

Don't get me wrong, I love the game—but I'm playing for something different now.

If we could secure this back to back Super Bowl win, our team could really be on the verge of creating a dynasty.

Feeling a tap on my shoulder, I instinctively looked up pushing one side of my bose headset behind my ear.

"You good?" Kellon Ford asked with a raised

"Yeah, I'm good. Why, whassup?" I asked

"You just looked real zoned out for a second" he said

"Nah, I'm good, I'm good. I was just thinking for a moment" I said back

"Get out your head and get in their's" he did pointedly

I nodded in agreement.

Patting me on my shoulder, Kellon spoke up once again "Alright, I'll meet you outside for warm ups"

"Alright" I said back as he began walking away.

Looking back down and making sure my cleats were secure, I got up off my locker room bench.

Making sure to fix my headset back over my ear, I made my way out the door and through the tunnel that lead to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome field.

When I got out towards the field, there was already so many people on it. From camera crew to the staff, to the news anchors doing broadcasting from the sidelines—there was so much going on.

Once I stepped onto that field, I began to really take in my surroundings.

I quickly walked over to where the wide receiver coach was warming up the other wide outs and began stretching along side them.

As I was stretching my legs, I looked up at the seats in the stadium to see they were already getting filled.

Fans have already began to show up setting me a bit on edge.

Looking back down, I finished up my stretches. The coach then signaled us to jog a bit to further warm us up.

Soon after that I was catching some passes from Hunter.

We've been throwing for the last fifteen minutes and so far I've made every catch.

As the ball launched, I began to run full speed to make the catch only for it to wiz right past me and hit the ground.

Slowing down my running, I picked up the ball and looked back at Hunter who was walking towards me.

"My bad, I overthrew the ball" he said as I huffed and threw it right at back at him.

"My bad won't be what your saying when the other team intercepts it and gains possession of the ball" I said back fairly harsh

"Chill" he said bumping my shoulder "I've been on this stage three times in a row for you that's twice. We have the experience they don't"

"Just cause it's their first time doesn't mean we slack" I said back walking past him to head back to the locker room

"Imma let that slide cause I know your ass is on some shit" he said chuckling

Shaking my head, I headed into the the tunnel towards the locker room.

He's right, I am on edge. There was a lot riding on this game.

That's what happens when you run your mouth.

| Y E S T E R D A Y |
E S P N I N T E R V I E W

"How do you feel going into tomorrow's game?" Sam Claflin from ESPN asked

Today was our so called resting day before the big game, but I've done everything but rest.

The Star players of the team each had individual interviews from the morning to the afternoon, then tonight we had our team Super Bowl press conference.

"I feel real confident. I'm confident in my abilities and my team's ability to win games, so yeah I'd say confident" I responded back

"So you're calling it now?" He asked raising a brow

"Calling what now?" I asked laughing lightly

"The game" he chuckled

"I mean yeah. Wouldn't bet against my team. I say we take this win and go back to back, is what I'm saying" I said shrugging as I clasped my hands together

"Spoken like a true champ" he smiled

"Yes, sir" I laughed lightly

"After your incredible 14-2 season, this team sure has a target on its back. Many are rooting against you, what do you have to say to them" he asked

Suck my dick?

"I'll say to that...watch us win another one"

Saying some bold shit like that in an interview will come back to haunt you. I was hoping I was right.

| S U P E R B O W L |

My breathing was heavy as sweat dripped down my face.

We were passed the initial first quarter and well into the second quarter at the moment.

The score was tied 7-7 with Denver.

I looked towards Hunter under center one last time to hear the play being called.

Looking back forward, I concentrated on the safety defending me. He seemed shaky as if ready to pounce at the sound of the ball snapping.

"Down! Set....Hut!" Hunter called before the ball was snapped into his hand.

I let the adrenaline coursing through my veins carry me as I dodged the opposing team's defenders to get open in the right spot.

The safety from the other team, Jackson Michaels, was right on my tail.

Looking back quickly, I saw Hunter launch the ball in the air in my direction.

The safety began to really crowd me, leaving me little to no space.

Pushing off of him, he fell to the ground as I was finally able to catch the oncoming ball.

As I was just about to race down to the end zone, the referee threw a flag and a whistle was blown.

Confused I watch as the referee who threw the flag make his way to the center of the field.

I looked on waiting for what the call was about.

"Offensive pass interference. Number thirteen. Five yard penalty. Third down" he said before walking towards the sidelines.

"Awe come the fuck on bruh!" I yelled sucking my teeth.

I ran up to the ref as I let the football fall to the ground, "how is that an offensive pass interference?!"

"You pushed off the defender" he said back

"Awe come on man! That dude was crowding me, why you ain't call that?!" I said back feeling my blood pressure rising

"The call stands" he said dismissing me

"Yo this is some-" I was cut off by someone pulling me back

"Chris, let it go man" Hunter said in all seriousness

"Nah man! You know they do this shit on purpose, dude was all up on me!" I said back

"I know, but we got a game to play. Brush this shit off and let's go" he said

Huffing in annoyance, Hunter and I made our way back to our teammates who were already  circled around.

Jogging over to them, I joined them and we huddled up waiting for Hunter to call the next play.

"Alright Gun BROWN Right 74 HOSS X-FOLLOW" Hunter said looking down at his play-call wristband

We all nodded in understanding.

This was a play we ran many times in practice.

"Break" Hunter said before clapping his hand as we all dispersed and got into our formation.

I was position on the far left and once again was met with Jackson right across from me.

"Try not to push on me this time" he said smirking

"Quit being a bitch and play" I said as I heard the snap of the ball.

Faking left, I ran full speed right past him.

The sound of my cleats hitting the grass and my hard labored breathing was all I could hear in the moment.

The ball was thrown at me once again.

Anticipating the catch, I stopped amidst running my route and stuck my hands out ready to grab the ball.

As the ball reached the tip of my fingers, I felt a hard push from behind causing me to fall forward losing the touch I had on the ball.

You gotta be fucking kidding.

Pounding my hand on the ground a couple times, before standing up.

"Yo where my flag at?!" I said rolling up to the ref pissed

This man and all the other useless ass referees on the field are really trying me acting like they don't see this.

"That was a clean hit" he said as he walked to the side line

"That was a defensive pass interference!" I yelled through my hands up

"That's not what we saw" he said back dismissively

"Then what the hell were you looking at?! The damn sky?!" I questioned wrathfully.

"Aye aye chill" Cody said as him and Luke tried to lead me to the bench.

Cody Howard was our team's Center, who was in charge of snapping the ball to Hunter. That wasn't his only job though. He was coined the nick name "the mediator" because he always seem to de-escalate problems that happened on and off the field—such as a situation like this.

After that play it was fourth down, meaning we had to get off the field and it was Denver's offense taking the field.

"Nah man you see that shit" I said pointing my hand at the ref.

"You tryna get fined?" Luke asked as he lead me to the team's bench

"He can fine me all he wants, I throw the money right at that mans face" I said seething.

Once we got to the bench, I grabbed a Gatorade cup and sat down.

My heart was already racing really fast as I tried to control my breathing and utter annoyance.

As I was focusing on the other team taking the field, the Wide Receiver coach, Eric Barns, approached me.

I already knew he was gonna have some shit to say to me about what just happened.

"Anthony what was that?" He said from in front of me.

"The refs are trash that's what" I said casually as I took another sip of my Gatorade.

His presence was already ticking me off.

"There's no time to arguing with the refs when we got a game to play. Stay focused" he said

"Alright Coach. I'm cool" I said quickly to get him out of my face

He looked at me for a second before nodding his head, "Okay" he said before leaving me alone.

I began to focus my attention on the field, more-so my focus was on Damarius Wilson.
He was making play after play as the other team was moving the chains gaining yardage left and right making me antsy.

I knew Damarius was great, but watching him play was something else. This was the first time our two teams have played each other so seeing him first hand was shocking to say the least.

He ran so effortlessly and it was almost as if his hands were magnets—the ball always seemed to float right into them.

I watched intently—my leg bouncing up and down nervously.

When they finally made it to the end zone with their second touchdown, I couldn't help but be disappointed.

That was Wilson's second touchdown and I have yet to get one.

Right after that play, it was signaled the end of the second quarter heading into the third.

The score was now 14-7, the Broncos having the lead.

When the fourth quarter came around, the sense of urgency between the two teams were heightened.

The third quarter brought us to another tie as we were at 14-14. Late in the third however, we were able to move down the field but we only were able to score a field goal leaving us with a three point lead currently at 14-17.

"Your old ass looks tired" I joked to Jackson Michaels who was yet again positioned across from me.

Jackson was a veteran in this league at the age of thirty- three.

"Only thing tired is that beard you tryna rock" he said back right as I heard Hunter called the play.

My face immediately got serious.

He got jokes now.

"Green 80, Green 80...Hut-Hut!" He yelled out as the ball was snapped into his hands.

Running the quick route, Hunter threw me the ball and this time I completed the catch.

Side stepping Jackson, I made him miss as I ran down the field an extra twenty yards before being tackled down to the ground.

1st and goal.

The team jogged to the ten yard line to get ready to line up once again.

"Like I said before—Tired" I said to Jackson as he was once again positioned across from me to defend the goal.

Rolling his eyes, he remained focused.

"Down! Set...Hut!" The words I was oh so familiar with were called once again.

Springing into action, I ran into the end zone hoping to get open for the touchdown. However, Jackson was relentless this time as he stayed right on me.

I watched as Hunter looked around seeing who was open.

I made eye contact with him giving him a curt nod.

The nod meaning to throw it a bit high. I had a couple inches on Jackson—by a couple, I meant three—so I knew I could jump higher than him.

When I saw the football coming my way, I leaped up in the air making the catch.

I knew the come down was going to be hard so I braced for the impact.

The hard ground and my body came in full contact causing me to momentarily have the air knocked out of me.

I held on to the ball tightly making sure I heard the whistle blow signaling the touchdown before I let it go.

After I heard it in combination with the crowds cheers, I sighed in relief as my teammates helped me up and patted my back.

I could barely breath, but shit it was worth it.

"Let's fucking go!" Hunter said patting my back hyped up.

Walking to the sidelines, I was able to catch my breath some.

My first touchdown in my second Super Bowl was in the books.

Sitting on the bench, I looked up at the scoreboard to see the score change to 14-24.

"Sick play. Good job" our team Head Coach said to me as drank some Gatorade to calm down

"Thanks Coach" I nodded with a smile

That's when Coach Barns walked up to our Head Coach and whispered something into his ear.

I looked away knowing I shouldn't be looking as it was none of my business.

That was until out of nowhere, they both turned and look at me with worry.

"You tell him" Coach said loud enough that I heard.

Right after Coach Barns walked up to me "Anthony we got some news"

"What news?" I asked raising my brow

"We got word that your girlfriend is going into Labor" I immediately froze for a second.

I didn't even bother to correct him as I looked at him in shock

"Right now?" I asked putting my cup down beside me

"Yes. If you want to you can go, but..." he said drifting off as he went tight lipped

"Fuck" I mumbled as I wiped my hand down my face

Out of all days, why the fuck does it have to be today?!

"You can leave if you want Chris, I know that an important moment" he said somberly

"This is an important moment!" I said back frustratedly

"Whatever you want to do, we support you. Coach already knows and he's ready for either scenario" he said patting my shoulder

I sat there for a moment—frozen yet again.

I looked to the field and saw Denver's offense coming off the field.

I looked from the field and back to Coach Barns.

Standing up, I grabbed my helmet.

"I'm not gonna leave until this game is over."

With that being said, I jogged my way back on to the field.

| A U T H O R ' S N O T E