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Informationen zum Autor Tiki Barber is a record-holding retired running back for the New York Giants. He married and is the father of four children. Klappentext Through the course of a difficult season, Ronde learns that his coach is right about football being a mental game, as he tries to fill in as kicker while he and his identical twin, Tiki, help Adam improve his grades.Wild Card CHAPTER ONE SAVING THE DAY “THEY’RE GOING LONG, RONDE!” Ronde Barber heard the warning, shouted by his twin brother, Tiki, from the sidelines. Like he didn’t know. He was already backpedaling as Harrison Hochberg, star receiver for the Jefferson Junior High Panthers, ran straight at him. Hochberg’s red number 99, outlined in bright yellow, stood out from the black of his Jefferson Panthers jersey. 99—as in “miles per hour.” Ronde knew he had to keep pace, because this kid was fast. Really fast. Was he going to deke first, or would he just put it into high gear as he got by Ronde? To stay with his man, Ronde would have to guess, and guess right. Just like that, Hochberg’s eyes flicked back toward the line of scrimmage for an instant. Most cornerbacks would have taken it as a signal that the ball was about to be thrown. But Ronde was too smart for that. He knew it was third and long, with only ten minutes left in the game. He knew that the Panthers, with only a two-point lead, would be looking for a big gainer. He didn’t jump at the bait, and when the receiver kicked it into high gear, Ronde stayed with him step for step. He didn’t look back for the ball—not yet. He remembered Coach Wheeler saying, during one of their team video sessions, “You can’t keep up with someone fast if you’re looking behind you.” Ronde kept his eyes squarely on number 99. He waited till Hochberg turned his head to find the ball. When the receiver’s eyes grew as wide as saucers, Ronde finally turned, knowing the ball was about to arrive. His hands and the receiver’s hands reached out together. There was the ball! Ronde reached even higher . . . Suddenly his feet were caught up with the feet of the receiver! They both went down in a heap, tumbling over and over each other. “Interference!” number 99 yelled, getting back up and pointing at Ronde as he hopped up and down in frustration. “No way!” Ronde said. “I was going for the ball!” But the bright yellow flag was already sailing through the air, the whistle was blowing, and the ref was pointing straight at Ronde. “It was incidental contact!” Coach Wheeler yelled from the Eagles’ sideline. “No foul!” Of course, it didn’t matter what Coach Wheeler, or Ronde, or any of the Eagles said. The ref was the law, and he was motioning to the kids with the chains to come fifteen yards downfield. “First down, Panthers!” the ref said. He blew his whistle again, and pointed to the Eagles’ end zone. Ronde sniffed back the hurt and bit his lip hard. It was so unfair! He’d known what was coming, he’d played it perfectly—and how did he get rewarded? With a flag! “Come on, come on!” shouted Mr. Pellugi, the defensive coach. “Get back in the game, Barber!” Ronde jogged back to the huddle, but his heart was still out on the field, where it had just been stomped on by the ref. “Bad call, yo,” said Bill Reeves, the Eagles’ other corner, patting Ronde on the back. “Never mind. Let’s stiff ’em now.” Ronde nodded, shaking off his emotions. It didn’t matter how bad he felt. He had a job to do, and he meant to do it, no matter what. He watched his man line up, and thought, I’m gonna bump him right out of this play. But the Panthers’ receiver never...
