Reggie takes over. “Thanks for joining us. We’ll give you a quick intro and then launch into our questions. Anything off-limits?”
“I don’t discuss my personal life,” he says.
“We won’t ask. We’ll keep it focused on gameplay. Ready?” Reggie asks.
Maverick nods.
“Okay, going live in three…two…one. Hey athletic supporters, it’s your boy Reggie Bishop—”
“And Darren Vickers!” Darren interrupts.
Reggie picks up from there. “Coming at you from Detroit. Today we have Maverick Jennings with us, star quarterback formerly of the Cowboys and ready to start his first game coming off an injury with the Vegas Aces. Welcome, Maverick.”
“Thanks,” he grunts. I make eyes at him and wave my arm in agive them morekind of motion, and he grimaces a little as he adds, “Good to be here.”
I almost laugh out loud. It’s like pulling teeth around here just to have a normal conversation.
How is this the same guy who held me in his arms all night and told me about how hard it is to watch his mother’s memory deteriorate?
“Let’s get into this injury first,” Darren says. “What happened?”
I give him warning eyes that he seems to take to heart.
“Accident during practice that ended up fracturing a rib.” He pats his side. “Good as new, though, and I’m ready to take the field tomorrow.”
“Can you describe the accident?” Reggie presses.
“A teammate was overcompensating.”
“Which one?” Reggie asks.
Maverick sighs, and I get nervous for a second as I repeat the word in my head over and over.Pivot! Pivot!I feel like Ross onFriendsfor just a second. And then, miraculously, he pivots. “It’s not something I want to focus on.”
It’s clear he’s already struggling, though.
“Right,” Reggie says. “You’ve made a lot of headlines lately. Can we expect more, or would you care to comment on that?”
“I’m working on some new things and hope to make positive headlines going forward.” He glances up at me, and I nod with a bright smile and a thumbs-up.
“Tell us about it,” Darren says.
“I’m working with the Aces on a new foundation to benefit kids who have experienced trauma, for one. I’ve recently taken on some new sponsorship opportunities, including a partnership with Athlenergy, a new energy drink on the market that promotes hydration and muscle function.”
“Oh, send some of that shit my way,” Darren says, and he and Reggie laugh.
Maverick doesn’t crack a smile.
“Let’s talk about the headset incident in Cincinnati last weekend,” Reggie says.
I suck in a breath. Man, they’re not making this easy on him.
“What about it?” Maverick asks.
“Rumor has it Dallas shipped you off because of an attitude problem. Was that the kind of thing they were referring to?”
Oh God, oh God, oh God. What is he going to say?
“Dallas shipped me off becausetheyhad an attitude problem,” Maverick says.
