Page 81 of Dirty Filthy Boy
I nod.
He takes off his cap and slams it on the desk. "Damn it. I knew she was going to cause problems. I thought you had more sense, though."
I shrug.
"You do realize the penalty for starting a fight in the locker room, don't you?"
I should. It gets drilled into each player every year. "Yes."
"You don't think I'm going to give you any special treatment, do you? Just because you're the top ranked league quarterback doesn't mean shit. Not to me. That locker room is sacred. You play as a team with the entire team or you don't play at all. You got me?"
"Yes, sir."
"You think this will be kept in-house, think again. There were newspaper reporters in the locker room. I'm sure the story has already made the news."
"He shouldn't have said what he said about MacKenna."
"What the fuck did he say?"
"That she was begging for it. From him."
"And what if she were? What's that to you? She's just a reporter, for heaven's sakes."
I rush to my feet. "She's more than that to me."
"Like what? A girlfriend?"
"No. She's just a . . . Friend. And even if she weren't, he shouldn't be talking about a woman that way."
"He's always had a problem with women. The way he treats them, talks about them. We've tried to rein him in as best we could. But he's a grown man."
"You can fine him."
"That's up to Oliver Lyons. He's the only one who can invoke the morals clause in his contract. Or any other player's. Taylor may step right up to the line, but he's never crossed it. And I wouldn't insist he do something about Taylor, if I were you. I know what goes in that Platinum club. And, you better believe it, so do the owner of the club."
"I'm not doing that any more."
"Well, good for you. Glad you got religion." He points to the chair. "Now sit, and I'll tell you what's going to happen."
I drop into the chair. Knowing what's coming doesn't make it sound any better.
"I'm going to fine you $10,000 for starting the fight."
"Right."
"And then I'm going to bench you for this week's game."
I jump to my feet. "What the fuck?"
"Sit. Down." Once I do, he continues. "I'd been thinking about doing just that. This little to do just helped me reach the decision."
"Why are you doing this? A fine would be more than enough."
"Who's the coach here, Mathews? You or me?"
"You, sir."
"You got that right. Now listen to me. Seeing how we've got the Division sewn up, I don't want to take chances with you. We can afford the loss. If it happens. Which it won't. The Los Angeles Firecrackers has a hard time finding the end zone. This way Pedro will get more play time, and you get to give that arm of yours a rest. We're going to need it during the playoffs."
