Dominate the Super Bowl-Chapter 996 - 995 Changing the Wind Direction

"Li Wei: Holding onto a fist for too long can make letting go just as painful."

"Li Wei: We need to appreciate Andrew Luck’s determination and spirit for his comeback in the 2018 season, and equally commend Andrew Luck’s decisiveness and courage in turning away in the 2019 season."

"Li Wei: Sometimes, it takes the same courage to turn away as it does to fight to the end."

As the interviews concluded, the headlines from major news media were unmistakable—

A detail, are any media still pursuing rumors of the Kansas City Chiefs’ locker room?

No.

Netizens generally believe that it is now a thing of the past, no one cares; but only the reporters themselves know that Li Wei’s rebuttal left them humiliated, who would expose themselves now?

Right now, all the news focus is on Luck, so…

Go with the flow.

From social networks to print media, Li Wei’s face is everywhere—

After all, it’s Li Wei’s first formal appearance and interview since the New York Fifth Avenue frenzy, sending the media into a frenzy.

Li Wei’s memorable quotes are everywhere, filling every corner.

Moreover, Lawson expressed a viewpoint on ESPN’s "Inside the League" special show.

From Berry to Houston to Smith, within Li Wei’s brief two-season career, he repeatedly witnessed players struggling against injuries; and earlier this year, the Kansas City Chiefs mourned the death of the fan Annie Galas due to cancer, which became a wound for the city.

Thus, Li Wei is well aware of what injuries mean.

With Li Wei’s character, he would undoubtedly choose to confront and fight to the end, regardless of the outcome, he yearns to leave all his energy on the field; but at the same time, Li Wei also deeply understands the helplessness and sigh of desiring to continue fighting yet being powerless.

In Luck, once a prodigy, Li Wei sees the bitterness and sorrow of destiny, which is why Li Wei is willing to call Luck a "warrior."

As the news broke, the entire social network was abuzz, with waves of fervor.

The trend of public opinion evidently shifted—

Voices supporting Li Wei, responding to Li Wei, and acknowledging Li Wei surged vigorously, more and more netizens expressed understanding and support for Luck’s decision.

Perhaps Luck has been trying, fighting, and hoping to continue competing throughout the preseason.

The pleas from the Indianapolis Colts tugged at his heart.

Luck knows he still owes Indianapolis so much.

Yet, ultimately unable to persist, he regretfully announced his withdrawal.

This chaos reflects Luck’s inner struggle.

At this point, voices supporting Luck have overwhelmingly gained the upper hand, completely overturning the situation, and the social media clamor finally settled down.

This scene, hard to believe—

Everything originates from Li Wei.

Li Wei now seemingly possesses the power to shift the tides of public opinion. While the groundwork by other players and professionals cannot be ignored, Li Wei’s earnest, empathetic words during the interview had a potent impact, which is the driving force behind the change in public opinion.

Following this, teams spoke out.

Including the Kansas City Chiefs, all expressed respect for Luck’s decision.

Finally, the Indianapolis Colts, who actually had wished Luck well immediately, now seeing the trend has changed, once again wished Luck all the best in retirement.

Amidst the uproar, the bustle, the noise, ultimately, everything came to an end—

Luck, true to his word, completely vanished from the football world.

Not as a commentator, not attempting coaching, not appearing in any TV shows or interview articles, completely fading from public view.

Like a comet, sweeping flamboyantly across the sky, burning all his energy, vanishing completely from the night sky.

Luck continued residing in Indianapolis, later returned to his alma mater Stanford University to complete his studies, received his diploma, and then seamlessly relocated to the Bay Area, settling there.

Luck highly values privacy, not only without any social network accounts, but he even persistently uses an old flip phone, rejecting smartphones.

Until years later, an ESPN report brought Luck back into the public eye.

Luck stated that injury was undoubtedly the main reason for retiring at that time, but it was only part of the reason, another key factor was his wife.

In March 2019, he married his longtime girlfriend, and then in June, he confirmed his wife’s pregnancy, they were about to welcome their first child.

However, becoming a top quarterback wasn’t as easy as imagined, requiring vast amounts of time on the training ground and in the office, causing crises in his marriage, especially during his wife’s early pregnancy.

The injury happened at that wrong time.

"Rather than saying I retired due to injury, it’s more accurate to say I chose marriage over career."

Luck expressed to the reporter.

Fortunately, Luck’s marriage didn’t encounter problems afterward.

This article garnered attention mostly because of Brady—

In 2022, Brady announced retirement, formally bidding farewell to the football field; however, the retirement lasted only weeks before Brady announced a comeback.

For Brady’s wife Gisele Bundchen, she had urged Brady to retire for years, undergoing numerous arguments, and Brady’s change of heart became the last straw.

Soon afterward, Gisele Bundchen and Brady officially announced their divorce.

This incident made Brady the target of collective mockery on social networks and in the ensuing season, provided the best material for attacking Brady.

Career and family, some choose the former, others the latter; sometimes women face challenges, other times men face tests, life is fair to everyone.

Time pulls us back to the present.

Luck retired, decisively, with no regrets.

But the season continues, and the pace of the preseason won’t stop.

Subsequently, the Indianapolis Colts announced backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett to take over the starting position—

Selected as 91st pick in the third round by the New England Patriots in 2016 but joined the Indianapolis Colts as a backup in 2017, stepping in for the injured Luck that year.

Unbelievable things happened.

Amidst chaos and impact, the Indianapolis Colts actually defeated the Cincinnati Bengals to win the last preseason game.

Unexpected, 100% unexpected, everyone thought the Indianapolis Colts might be in disarray and the season canceled, but they proved once again.

In the NFL, anything is possible, football is a team sport, no team collapses because of one player missing.

The Indianapolis Colts won, finding footing amidst chaos.

However, once again the reigning champion Kansas City Chiefs lost.