The Handshake

What they really say after the game

The two best quarterbacks in the league had just battled it out in double overtime on the field. Only one could come out on top even though the teams were evenly matched. Both quarterbacks set records for number of yards passed in a single game for their conferences.

Numbers 12 and 9 met at the center of the field in the midst of expensive cameras and eager interviewers. Boom microphones hovered overhead to try to catch the most intimate of moments in professional sports, the congratulations between two fierce opponents.

The victor, number 12, man-hugged 9 and whispered, “Your buy for the steak next week. How’s Kate and the girls?”

Number 9 broke the man-hug and looked 12 in the face and nodded, “Good. Very good.”

It was his turn to embrace and then whisper the secrets that only professional athletes hear. “Sandra’s starting to walk now. You should see her.”

“Ooo boy. Won’t be long now before she’s dating jocks like us. Gotta watch out for her, my friend. Suzie and I’ll pray for her.”

Both quarterbacks broke their grip, grabbed the backs of each other’s necks as if it were in the script to do so, patted each other on the tops of the shoulder pads and mingled among the press, crowd, and players to greet and congratulate other opponents.

The camera and audio equipment captured the moments for their news organizations to be broadcast for the next few hours.

All except the most important parts, the parts not meant for public consumption.

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