Page 1 of Making the Call
Luke
For players,girls are a dime a dozen; the coaches, not so much. I must keep my eye on the game. I’ve worked for this my entire life. I played college ball and was even offered a pro contract. But when a misguided tackle ended my career by blowing out my knee, I changed gears, switched my focus and spent the last six years working my ass off. I became the assistant coach to one of the best in the nation. My entire life’s been devoted to learning what I can to help make my dream a reality. When Ray Carson chose to retire due to health reasons, my name was at the top of the list as his replacement. I never actually thought I’d be starting this next season as the head coach for the Rainier Renegades, a team I’ve always wanted to be a part of my entire life. But, in a matter of weeks, that’s what’s happening.
I’ll never forget the day I walked into the owner’s office. I rushed in to be early, unprepared to find everyone already waiting. I’d thought we were meeting to discuss the plans for summer camp. Little did I know they had something else in mind. Thank God, I’d been sitting down when I received my life-changing news.
“Hey, Luke,” Mike Townsend greets, shaking my hand as I enter his office and gestures to the large conference table where I find both Tony Marcelli, our team’s GM, and Ray Carson, the head coach, already sitting. “Why don’t you have a seat. I have some things I’d like to discuss with you.”
Instantly, my gut churns. Being under the impression we’re meeting to discuss the summer camp training schedule and the logistics of getting everyone to camp, the expectant looks on each of their faces makes me think otherwise.
“Okay,” I slowly draw out. “Aren’t we meeting to discuss training camp?” I look from person to person already seated at the table, seeking clarification. But all of their faces remain stoic, giving nothing away.The sorry fuckers. Couldn’t they at least give me a heads-up as to what was coming?
“We’ll get to that,” Mike bellows out as he takes a seat at the head of the table. He rubs a thick hand through his short, graying hair and rolls his chair forward to lean his elbows on the table. Okay, this is serious.
I take in a deep breath wondering where he’s going with this. “All right.”
I’m surprised to find Ray is the next to speak. “Son, you know I had a valve replaced last spring after the championship game, right?”
“How could I not? You nearly gave me a friggin’ heart attack right alongside you, when I found you that day,” I tease in return. Ray Carson has been my hero since I was a kid. To work with him has been a dream come true. I’ve followed his career since he took over for the Renegades. When I began coaching, he took me under his wings and showed me what it takes to coach a team to be champions.
Ray’s gravelly voice begins an explanation, “Well,” he draws in a long breath, “I thought I’d try to make it through another season, but my wife has other ideas. She wants to travel and make the most of the time we have left together.” Ray looks a little sheepish, which is completely out of character for him.
“You’re not going anywhere soon, Ray,” I eagerly remind him. “Your doctor gave you the green light months ago, and I know you work out, so you’re healthy. You have years left in you,” I argue to refute his response.
“Well, I have a couple of championship rings, and more money than I could ever spend. Who knows how much time we all have left? I could be hit by a bus tomorrow, you never know,” Ray states with a shrug. “You know I’m a hard-ass on the field, but when Vivian wants something, she’s ruthless. I’m smart enough to give her what she wants.”
Mike clears his throat. “That being said, I wanted to tell you how much we appreciated you stepping up to fill in for things last spring, while he was recovering.”
“It was nothing any of you wouldn’t do,” I respond automatically. “Just doing my job.”
“Well,” Tony Marcelli interjects, “it didn’t go unnoticed.”
“What would you say to being the youngest head coach in the league?” Mike’s deep voice suddenly fills the room.
The fuck? Did he really just say that? No fucking way.I. Am. Speechless. As my mama would say, I could catch flies with my mouth. Now that my jaw’s dropped to the floor, I may need a shovel to pick it up.Fuck… and CPR to catch my breath.Crickets could be heard from miles away; the room is that silent as they await my response.
“Luke?” Mike says as he places his arm on my shoulder, breaking me from my trance.
“Excuse me?” I manage to get out.There’s no fucking way he just offered me the head coach position. I’m only twenty-nine years old. I won’t even turn thirty until August.
“What do you say, Luke? Do you want to be the youngest head coach in the league?”
“Seriously?” Apparently, I say it aloud.
The room fills with laughter from everyone. “I think you shocked the shit out of him, Mikey,” Ray bellows out. “The boy doesn’t know what to do with himself.”
“I’m as serious as a heart attack,” Mike says again. “No offense, Ray.”
“None taken.”
“Wow. That would be an honor.” I finally manage to get my wits about me. “I thought it would be years before Ray retires. I love the Renegades.”
“We know you do, Luke,” Tony Marcelli states. “We’ve been thinking about this for the past few weeks, and you’re the only one we want to lead this team. You stand out above the rest.”
I take in another deep breath. This is certainly humbling. “Thank you for even considering me.”
“Do you not want this?” Ray asks in disbelief.
“Hell, no! I want this. I’m just thinking aloud, what an honor it is to be considered in the first place. There’s no way I’d pass up this offer!”
