Chapter Two: The Closer to Defeat, the Stronger I Become

The first man waiting for Lin was Empire cornerback Derrick Hall. Hall was a three-time All-Star with a 4.38 forty. In a pregame interview, he had said the Storm’s backups “couldn’t catch his shadow.” Now he stood across from Lin without even lowering his hips. “What’s your name?” Hall asked. “Check the big screen in a minute.” Eli took the shotgun snap. The call was an ordinary eight-yard dig, but when Lin started forward, the world slowed. The slight dip of Hall’s left shoulder, the black rubber kicked up by his cleats, the safety’s half-step toward the middle—every detail separated into a clear frame. Lin had not simply become faster. Hesitation had vanished from every movement.