Once I got to the site, I wondered who was running Technologies judging by the cars parked Kyle, Dillon, Riley and Major Jim were there and Major Jack pulled in behind me. I put my hard hat on and Jack asked, so how is football? I replied, a shit show and none of it matters, well unless we lose a game or two. Inside Jack and I went in different directions and I simply wandered around the first floor. Each floor, except the 4th floor would hold 200 people and had a common area where people could eat lunch or meet informally. There I found Jim and Kyle and as I approached, Jim said Mike, we knew you would be here and we need your input about tomorrow. Ok, what do you two have in mind? Jim said well the Herman Miller people will be here and need an hour of your time. Jim, they need an hour of Kyles time and after that a few minutes with me. Kyle just laughed and said, so you are sharing the spotlight? I looked at Jim and asked, what's next? He said a statement from you, lots of media and an open house. I said that works and my comments are outside and who will introduce me? Kyle said, well that would be me. Then Jim said, about thirty minutes after the open house has started here, in the common room, you, Kyle and the furniture people will take questions from the media. Mike we will start all this at noon so you have a chance to recover from football. Then Jim asked Mike, when did you shave last? I shrugged and said Sunday, I think. Even Kyle laughed and Jim said well do something about that. Then he said a suit would be nice. I said well, I'll shave but I'm not wearing a tie but khakis and a blazer would work. Kyle said thanks and as I like that image, I'll do the same. Jim laughed and said guys, senior is going to flip. I looked at Jim and said, don't push it, I am who I am.
I wanted to get to the office and as Jim was leaving as well we started for the cars. Jim asked about football and I said a shit show and he laughed. Mike, JJ thinks you guys take the coach to seriously. I just looked at him and Jim said, well according to JJ, you should just play football and when you win a few games coach will lighten up and relax. The constant drama isn't productive. I just shook my head and said Jim, coach needs to get out of our way, he was better last year when nothing was expected of us. With that I jumped into the car and drove to the office. Once there, I asked Amy to hold my calls and simply send them to voicemail. She said sure but please call this guy, he is so sweet and very upset. I looked at the message and it was Charlie. Amy, I'll call him immediately, thanks. Once settled in my office I called Charlie and he must have been anxious for the call as he answered immediately. I said hi Charlie, how is the wine business. He laughed and said, it hasn't been this good in years. Mike, David wants control of the Trust that I set up for Charlie, I'll used an attorney up here and I want to make sure it's legal and David can't fuck with it. Look Charlie, I will do what you want and David and I have issues about his dealing with my brother Cole and that's why he wants the change. I have already told him that it was your call. Mike, can you have one of your legal people look over the Trust, I really want it to hold up, you see David has changed and I think he very much resents you. Charlie, I'm sorry about that but I believe Jace is flying down for the weekend and if you give him the documents, I'll have my legal guys look it over but I'm sure it's fine. He said thanks and we hung up.
I called Tim and told him about Charlie and he laughed and said David is playing games but I'll look it over. I said thanks and started on an outline of my talk tomorrow and I wanted it short and hit all the points especially the Phoenix thing, with the building rising out of the ashes. This was the first time I was really, really excited as I could show off my vision to the world, well to the local world. I was just about finished when there was a knock on the doo and I simply said, come in. It was Zaid, who said I have been trying to get into see you for more than an hour but Amy said you were not to be disturbed. Hell, Mike I even said well I'm special and she laughed and said well that true but your not that special. I laughed and said Zaid, I was just about ready to go look for you. Remember the other day when you said the building looked like a Phoenix rising out of the ashes? He smiled and said yes and the road would be Phoenix View. I said correct so is it street, Avenue, boulevard, way or something else? Mike you already said no to alley so I think just Phoenix View. So Zaid, something like 100 Phoenix View. He thought for a bit and said 1,000. Sounds more impressive. Let the smaller building be 100. I said and the other building and he said, shit that's beyond me right now. So there is a third building in the works? I said well not yet and it is starting to form in my head. The question is weather to add on or an new one like the other one. Mike two is almost always better than one. I smiled and said correct. I told Zaid I would see him tomorrow and that he had a big impact on what I had to say. He smiled and said, I can't wait. Have a good evening practice. I said thanks and finished up what I was doing and left for home.
I wanted to talk with Cole but the fact that there were no cars parked in the driveway, I simply went to my place and ran right into Colleen. I asked why she was here on a Wednesday and she said her lads were home and she was taking a long weekend and she would see me Monday. She picked up a bundle of sheets and I said damn, I forgot as I was going to wash them. She said lad, that's ok and you can fetch them later and oh, I've seen worse. I laughed and said thanks. As she was leaving I handed her a $50 check she simply said thanks. Then added, I forgot there is dinner in the kitchen. I said goodnight and went looking for food. What I found made me really happy as it was Lemon Chicken with wild rice and I added a salad and iced tea. I had just cleaned up and was on my way to school when Megan came home. I immediately asked about Cole and golf and she said high school team. Well, Megan there is some concern about a competitive advantage. She laughed and said if they want to go down that path, they have no real idea about what a competitive advantage is. I simile and said and the football team has it covered as well. With that I drove to school.
It was an intense practice and the hitting for the live plays was intense. The upside was that there were very few mistakes and everyone was focused. About 30 minutes early Coach called us over and said I have a meeting and since the practice went so well we are done for the day. Josh said coach if that meeting is about a certain junior golfer and a competitive advantage understand that your captains will help level the football competitive advantage we currently have by not playing this year. Hell, Coach fair is fair. Coach smiled and said well nice try but you won't do that. Just then someone said I will. That was joined by a couple of others and now the media people were paying attention. Coach simply walked away. Immediately a microphone was put in front of me and I simply pointed to Josh and said, I would rather he explain as I'm personally involved as that golfer is my brother. Understand this, I simply won't play a down if they pull the plug on Cole. Then I was asked if they could talk with Cole? I said ask is mom and you can reach he at the federal courthouse, she is a Federal Judge. The reporter said well this school board meeting will be fun and trust me the local media will be there. I said please talk to Josh and showered and left for the school board meeting.
I got there just as the meeting was starting and found Dad, Megan and Cole sitting in the back row. I sat down and got a big smile from Cole and a thumbs up from dad and a thanks from Megan. We sat quietly through the stuff we had no real interest but I was thinking if I would ever want to be in politics this might be a good place to start. It finally got to Athletics and Coach gave a report on soccer, girls' volleyball and football saying camp was good well with a few problems and I heard a couple of laughs and behind me stood about 20 players and the other 4 captains. One of the board members said coach it seems like a few of the young men in the back disagree with how well things are going. Would anyone in the back have something to say? Josh immediately introduced him self as a Junior captain and said I'll speak up as I have the most to loose. You see the other captains being seniors have multiple offers from big time schools, don't need this. In February they simply fax a signed letter of intent and off they go. Sure I have a few offers, yet not from the school of my choice. Collectively the administration and this board ripped our team in half by the way you decided to deal with the sophomore QB, who was permitted to transfer days before practice started. A large portion of the team is unhappy because the kid isn't here and the rest are ticked off that he was permitted to simply walk away. If you guys and the coaches get out of our way we will be fine. I'm sorry he laughed and we are not here because of what I just discussed, we are here for the next topic you will discuss. We will be glad to weigh in on that at the appropriate time. You see we are willing to eliminate a competitive advantage in football. With that everyone found a seat. Megan looked at me and I whispered, I have no idea, hell I didn't even know I was coming here.
Up front there was some mumbling and a discussion about an executive session and when Josh realized that he was on his feet again and said excuse me, I may be out of order but before you go behind closed doors and decide things you need to consider a few things. My buddy the school board President said well son you are most certainly out of order and I personally doubt you have anything of interest to share. I immediately tensed and Megan put a hand on my knee and whispered, just sit, Josh has this and if not I do. I nodded and sat quietly. Josh simply explodes and said old man, I'm not your son or your grandson and I'm more that grateful for that. You can either hear us out or watch it on the evening news or on ESPN and definitely read about in the the morning paper, right before the law suit is filed. Lady and gentlemen you tell me, I'm up for either. There was some conversation amongst the board members and finally the solicitor said let's hear them out.
Josh started with I guess you are wondering why the football team is here supporting a golfer. Well we have a motto, ONE FOR ALL AND ALL FOR ONE. That is in our motto for every student athlete and every program, we have as a group attended many games and matches in every sport. Some of us didn't miss a basketball game and we have been at soccer, lacrosse, volleyball. So when we see a student who meats all the eligibilities requirements and you don't want to let him play the sport he loved on his high school team we react. He will make you too competitive? That's rolling on the floor laughing funny. So if that applied to football, a number of us would be stopped from playing. Sitting in this room tonight we have 5 very highly rated high school players at their position. So if you need to level the playing field in golf, we will in all likelihood need to honor that and level the playing field in football. The President said is that a threat? Josh looked right at him and said, if you see it that way, well I guess it is. The more intelligent of us in the room would see it as a manifestation of what we believe. Candidly, collectively the athletes at our school are tired of you all playing fast and loose with the rules. In our opinion you have no reason to stop Cole from playing high school golf. He is a student who is in good standing and who has protected his amateur status at a cost of hundreds of thousand dollars and He sat brown.
Then the board President said, Simmons you have been very quiet, what do you have to say? I just sat there and dad was on his feet and he said well sir, I am Michael James Simmons, Sr. and my son is Michael James Simmons, Jr. you may address me as Mr. Simmons and my son usually answered to Mike. So with that understood whom would you like to speak with? The President pointed and said that one. I simply sat there and finally the only woman on the board asked Mike, do have anything you wanted to say? I stood up and said, I planned to come here tonight and sit quietly and support my brother and let the adults deal with the situation. Then if necessary react. The problem I now have is that this board has only 8 adults and the other member is a pompous jerk. This is the second time he has insulted me and let me ask you did I deserve that? I have been attending school in this district since kindergarten, I am currently academically number one in my class, I am an elite athlete and currently the number 1 ranked high school linebacker in the country and have had over 30 scholarship offers. Do I deserve to be treated rudely by a member of this board? I wasn't going to say this but besides all that I mentioned, I am building two buildings and trying to manage a large technology company and taking classes at CMU. Oh, I pay more in wage tax than anyone in this room, except for my dad. You guys need to elect a new board President. I started to sit down and someone asked Mike, what do you have to say about Josh's comments? I stood back up and said, UNUS PRO OMNIBUS, OMNES PRO UNO and sat down. The entire team laughed as did the solicitor and everyone else just looked. Then at that point there was a brief discussion and they went into Executive Session.
They returned after about thirty minutes. Cole had spent the entire time thanking the football team and chatting with Josh and I thought a friend in his class something he needed. Once things settled down and the board members were in their place, the Superintendent stood up and said Judge Simmons, Mr. Simmons and Cole we, are sorry, and I mean everyone of us to have put you through this, for no reason. Cole, your transfer into our district was approved for athletic competition a while ago, that should have been enough, sadly political issues clouded our vision. We all hope you have a great golf season with us. Then he took a deep breath and said as for the rest of you, please understand no threat, vailed or otherwise will influence what we do. We appreciate your enthusiasm and willingness to stick together and take a stand. With that we all departed.
I asked Cole if he wanted a ride home and he replied, fuck yes. I laughed and when we got home I asked if he wanted to stop at my place. He smiled and said, absolutely. Inside I handed him a beer and I poured myself an iced tea. We were sitting on the loveseat and I asked about what he thought about tonight and he said a waste of time as they had no choice but Josh was awesome and he took all the pressure off you. Also was the support of some of football team, I will always remember that. So Cole, why high school golf? MJ, it will be fun and no pressure and I can just hit the ball and relax. I need the break. Ok, I get that and what about Liam? MJ, he is great and also needs the break as he has almost as much pressure on him as I do. Then he is more than flush with cash as he has no school bills and you pay him 5% of what I would have won. He has a nice apartment and a new car. Hell I'm considering becoming a caddy. He got another beer and asked about football. I said Josh pretty much laid it all out and understated the issues. We will be good if the coach goes back to the way he was last season.
Then he said, I understand you have a big day tomorrow at work? I said yup, the media, the furniture people all sandwiched in between football. He said, well I am planning on being there and it's about time you met Jessica. I laughed and said who? MJ, that girl I have been dating and she is a Junior and smoking hot. MJ, she has become very special to me and gets the golf and all that pressure. So when does serious golf start again? He said January in Hawaii. I laughed and said Cole you have to watch your attendance for high school golf? He laughed and said well that's a one and done. MJ, the golf is Hawaii in January, then 2 tournaments in March and one tournament and the Masters in April. MJ, Fred and AP are good with that and we will discuss things from there. Also, I have discussed all this with the PGA people. Cole, what about Liam's schedule? MJ, we have discussed all this in detail. He will work his school schedule around the golf, second semester. Then he said MJ, I really need to get to mom before it gets late, I really wish I could stay.
Once I was alone I checked my messages and saw one from Patty from KDKA asking for a return call. I dialed the number and when she answered I apologize for the late call and she said, well good job tonight only fighting with one board member. Read the PG in the morning, you will be pleased. I said, sure but what's up? She asked your press event tomorrow is that worth my time or is it another vintage MJS show? I laughed and said well that's up to you and no breaking news, if that's what you mean. She said thanks, I'll see how my day goes. The other message was from David and I simply sent it to Tim. With that I made the coffee for tomorrow and set the alarm. I needed to think about clothes for the event tomorrow and took out a blue blazer and shook my head and put it back in the closet. I decided on a black and gold Technologies polo shirt and charcoal slacks black belt and shoes. I was happy with that knowing a bunch of people will be posted off. Hell it will be outside, sunny and mid 80's with humidity you could drink. This would work for me and I would have Zaid pass the message along to the Herman Miller people. Then I sent a group email to dad, Major Jim and Tim filling them in on my dress and saying have on whatever makes you comfortable. Then I added respect the dress code for the new building. With all that done, I jumped into bed and was instantly asleep.
I was excited for the day and was up early and immediately went for the paper. Damn, there was a front page story about the meeting. CONTENTIOUS BOARD MEETING RESULTS IN RESIGNATION. The article went on to say that the football team weighed in on the eligibility of a golfer and then went into Cole's resume as a golfer. Final decision was the only one possible as there was no reason except ability to keep a PGA Tour champion off the high school team. The Board president resigned and a special election would be held in November. I thought damn, I'll be 18 and can run.
I changed into close for football loaded the car with the other clothes filled my coffee cup and drove to school, wondering what the fallout would be from last night. At school, it was full pads and now it was obvious that the depth chart was set and JJ was playing wide out and safety. Josh was middle backer and tight end and I found that funny. Then I realized he was a blocking tight end and that we would be running the ball a lot. I was right outside backer and halfback. Todd was my replacement on offense. Jim was QB1 and Wyatt was the backup. It was a simulated game and the vast majority of the plays were running plays and I knew it was to protect Jim. I could see the tension building in Jim and he had called every play that was sent in. Then there was a play which was a screen to me and Jim talked with JJ and when the ball was snapped he faked to me and hit JJ 30 yards down the field for an easy completion. Coach screamed, what was that and Jim stood there with his hands on his hips and said, I'm not an invalid so open up the playbook or I will. Immediately, Wyatt was in at QB and JJ and I were moved to defense. Wyatt didn't make any waves and at some point JJ and I along with Josh were back on offense. Damn the full play book was available and I felt sorry for Jim. Wyatt to his credit senses that and when coach sent in a long pass play Wyatt fell to the ground with a cramp. It was all I could bo not to laugh and as Wyatt was being helped off the field he gave Jim the play. Jim simply called the play and completed a long pass and Wyatt jumped to his feet celebrating. Coach just stood there and I think he actually figured it out, we will cooperate to a point but ........ we are in control on the field. Well at 10:00 we were gathered together and told what a good job we did today and he would see us for a walk thru tomorrow at 8:00 and we would be on our way by 10:00 and be back here at 5:30 for a scrimmage and a packed house.
As I was jogging to the locker room and the reported asked for a minute and I said please let me shower first, I can't wait in line, busy day. He said well, I'll see you there and can I have 5 minutes? I said sure and thanks and sprinter to the shower. I dressed quickly and noticed that people seemed better dressed that usual but put that out of my mind going over the outline of my talk in my head. When I pulled into the parking lot, it was over half full and I laughed thinking I need a parking space. I put the roof up on the car and was in the trunk looking for my hard hat and sensed someone behind me and it was Josh. We exchanged high fives and I asked, what you doing here? He simply said I wanted to see the other Mike Simmons. I laughed and said, well let's be to it. The reporter from school tracked me down and I answered inane questions with inane answers and left him with Josh. There was a 30 minute meeting with the furniture people and in the distance, I saw dad and damn he had a Technologies polo shirt on and except for my hair, fuck I looked a lot like him. As soon as I was free I went up to dad and gave him a big hug and said thanks. He laughed and said Mike, I simply gave up and have discovered you have a point. I turned and ran into Major Jim and Kyle and we looked at each other and I said let's get this over with.
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