06-10-2022, 05:35 PM
(This post was last modified: 06-20-2022, 10:12 AM by allbetsonjames. Edited 1 time in total.)
The Ultimus is a hotspot for media presence and stories every year. After all, it is the penultimate event of the League, and it represents a full season of blood, sweat, and tears. Interviews are requested with whoever sportswriters can get their hands on. From the Front Office to the players to their families, the media savors whatever answers they can get out of it. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that Asher "The Monster" Montain, the most tenured veteran on the Honolulu Hahalua have his moment. He has been here before and could provide a perspective that may be unique. After all, the excitement of rookies is predictable.
Montain made his way to table, sat in front of the microphrones, and answered all of the softball questions, "How does it feel to be back?", "What have you told rookies?", "Are you approaching the game differently?". Montain gave the "public relations" answers, but recited the real answers in his head: It feels amazing to be back. I have told them to savor the moment, because there have been supremely talented rosters that have never made it here. Yes, I am approaching it differently because instead of enjoying the lights I am going to enjoy my teammates who may not be be back next year. He k--
Montain's inner monologue was cut off by another question, "Your contract is up at the end of the season. Is this your last game as a Hahalua?," asked Ray Didinger. The paddock of journalists laughed. Montain smiled. Ray was a Philadelphia sportswriter who had been a staple of sports reporting for five decades. No surprise that he wanted to cut directly to the juicey details. Montain quipped, "What about you, Ray?" knowing that Ray had just announced his retirement last month. The paddock laughed more. Montain waited for silence to answer, "When I was drafted by Honolulu, the organization was not one that Vegas was ever foreseeing to be on this stage, let alone multiple times over the last decade. I had every opportunity to leave. I honestly considered playing with my brother in Austin, but something kept pulling me back. But, it is a fair question because I know how much you guys swarm when a contract extension isn't signed the first day available." He smirked.
Montain leaned back in his chair, "I've lived in one of the most... beautiful places on the planet Earth. And as much as I may have yearned to play elsewhere at times, I stayed here for a reason, and I've done well for doing so. So, to answer your question, Ray... No. This is not my last game as a Hahalua. This is my last game as a player in the ISFL."
The camera flashes exploded. Montain continued, "What a better way to walk away from this beautiful game than as a champion? And that is what I intend to do. Thank you." Asher smiled for the cameras, knowing it would be what would be plastered across news sites within the hour. He began to stand up.
Didinger managed to speak above the noise, "Asher, what will you do next?"
Asher froze in thought as though he was pondering it for the first time. A moment went by. Asher turned to Ray and said, "Ray, I have no idea." He smiled the biggest smile of the night, "How exciting is that?"
Honolulu has boasted one of the most dominant defenses this season. While Montain has slowly been relegated to a role player in recent years, he still has had the speed to create mismatches and record sacks while starters have rested, and it has helped create a solid defensive rotation allowing Honolulu to outlast the battle in the trenches more easily than other teams. No doubt that Honolulu's defense will continue to be a featured player in today's Ultimus. Asher Montain will no doubt try to bring down Gimmy Jaroppolo Jr. for one final display of what made him a 3rd overall pick.
For one more night, for one more game... Honolulu will unleash "The Monster."
Montain made his way to table, sat in front of the microphrones, and answered all of the softball questions, "How does it feel to be back?", "What have you told rookies?", "Are you approaching the game differently?". Montain gave the "public relations" answers, but recited the real answers in his head: It feels amazing to be back. I have told them to savor the moment, because there have been supremely talented rosters that have never made it here. Yes, I am approaching it differently because instead of enjoying the lights I am going to enjoy my teammates who may not be be back next year. He k--
Montain's inner monologue was cut off by another question, "Your contract is up at the end of the season. Is this your last game as a Hahalua?," asked Ray Didinger. The paddock of journalists laughed. Montain smiled. Ray was a Philadelphia sportswriter who had been a staple of sports reporting for five decades. No surprise that he wanted to cut directly to the juicey details. Montain quipped, "What about you, Ray?" knowing that Ray had just announced his retirement last month. The paddock laughed more. Montain waited for silence to answer, "When I was drafted by Honolulu, the organization was not one that Vegas was ever foreseeing to be on this stage, let alone multiple times over the last decade. I had every opportunity to leave. I honestly considered playing with my brother in Austin, but something kept pulling me back. But, it is a fair question because I know how much you guys swarm when a contract extension isn't signed the first day available." He smirked.
Montain leaned back in his chair, "I've lived in one of the most... beautiful places on the planet Earth. And as much as I may have yearned to play elsewhere at times, I stayed here for a reason, and I've done well for doing so. So, to answer your question, Ray... No. This is not my last game as a Hahalua. This is my last game as a player in the ISFL."
The camera flashes exploded. Montain continued, "What a better way to walk away from this beautiful game than as a champion? And that is what I intend to do. Thank you." Asher smiled for the cameras, knowing it would be what would be plastered across news sites within the hour. He began to stand up.
Didinger managed to speak above the noise, "Asher, what will you do next?"
Asher froze in thought as though he was pondering it for the first time. A moment went by. Asher turned to Ray and said, "Ray, I have no idea." He smiled the biggest smile of the night, "How exciting is that?"
Honolulu has boasted one of the most dominant defenses this season. While Montain has slowly been relegated to a role player in recent years, he still has had the speed to create mismatches and record sacks while starters have rested, and it has helped create a solid defensive rotation allowing Honolulu to outlast the battle in the trenches more easily than other teams. No doubt that Honolulu's defense will continue to be a featured player in today's Ultimus. Asher Montain will no doubt try to bring down Gimmy Jaroppolo Jr. for one final display of what made him a 3rd overall pick.
For one more night, for one more game... Honolulu will unleash "The Monster."