CHAPTER 53

Right on time, a black SUV stopped in front of the dorm where Murray and Sooley were waiting eagerly. They tossed their gym bags in the back and hopped in. Reynard had said to pack lightly. They would be wearing tee shirts and shorts all weekend. It might be damp and chilly in Durham, but on South Beach it was all blue skies, string bikinis, and sunshine.

It was almost five on Friday afternoon. Sooley looked at his cell phone, frowned, and whispered, “It’s your mother. For the third time. I can’t ignore her calls. ”

“Ignore them, ” Murray said. “I am. They’re out of line, Sooley. Forgive them. ”

“They’re just concerned, that’s all. I’ll call her from the plane. ”

They arrived at the general aviation terminal and met a pilot in the lounge. He took their bags and escorted them onto the tarmac where a gorgeous private jet was waiting. He waved them up the stairs and said, “Off to Miami, gentlemen. ”

They bounded up and were met by Reynard, holding a bottle of beer. A pretty flight attendant took their jackets and drink orders. Beers all around. In the rear a comely blonde stood and walked forward with a perfect smile. Reynard said, “This is my girlfriend, Meg. Meg, Sooley and Murray. ” She shook their hands as they admired her deep blue eyes.

They settled into enormous leather chairs and absorbed the cabin’s rich detail. Meg, whose skirt was tight and short, crossed her legs and Sooley’s heart skipped a beat. Murray tried not to look and asked Reynard, “So, what kind of jet do we have here? ”

“A Falcon 900. ”

Murray nodded as if his tastes in private aircraft were quite discriminating. “What’s the range? ”

“Anywhere, really. We flew to Croatia last year to see a kid, a wasted trip. One stop, I believe. Arnie wants to stop handling players in Europe, though. He has enough here in the States. ”

The flight attendant appeared with a tray with two iced bottles of beer. Meg asked for a glass of wine. The airplane began to taxi as Murray kept asking about what the jet could and could not do. The flight attendant asked them to strap in for takeoff, then disappeared into the rear.

Fifteen minutes later she reappeared with fresh drinks and asked if anyone was hungry. The thought of eating at 40, 000 feet in such luxury was overwhelming, and the boys ordered small pizzas.

Meg proved to be quite the basketball buff and quizzed them on their run to the Final Four. Because of Reynard’s line of work, she watched a lot of basketball, college and pro, and knew all the players and coaches and even some of the refs. Reynard estimated that he personally attended at least seventy-five games each season, and Meg was often with him.

Not a bad life, Murray was thinking, and quizzed Reynard about his work. Sooley checked his cell phone, saw that there was coverage, and stepped to the rear to call Miss Ida. She did not answer.

· · ·

Arnie’s sprawling home was on a street near the ocean. It, along with its neighbors, had obviously been designed by cutting-edge architects trying mightily to shock each other. Front doors were taboo. Upper floors landed at odd angles. One was a series of three glass silos attached by what seemed like chrome gangplanks. Another was a grotesque bunker patterned after a peanut shell with no glass at all. After eight months in Durham, Sooley had never seen a house there that even remotely resembled these bizarre structures.

Arnie’s was one of the prettier ones, with three levels and plenty of views. The limo stopped in the circular drive and a barefoot butler greeted them. He showed them through the front opening, again no door, and to a vast open space with soaring ceilings and all manner of Calder-like mobiles dangling in the air.

“The party’s back there, ” the butler said, pointing to the rear lawn where a large well-lit pool welcomed the guests.

“We’re gonna change, ” Reynard said, and he and Meg disappeared. In well-worn jeans, sneakers, and tee shirts, Sooley and Murray almost felt overdressed. Everyone wore shorts. Some had shoes. They eased to a corner, found the bar, got another beer, and watched as two girls jumped in the pool. Soft rap barked from hidden speakers. Guests came and went into the house and back.

Someone said loudly, “Hey, it’s Sooley! ” The stranger walked over with a big smile and even bigger handshake. He introduced himself as Julian somebody and said he and Reynard worked together. Every guest had some connection to the game, and at that moment Samuel Sooleymon was the most famous college player in the country. A crowd soon gathered around him and he chattered away. Someone brought him a fresh beer. Some girls drifted over.

They were attractive and of all shades—black, white, and brown—and all appeared to be no older than twenty. Several strutted around in skimpy swimwear, others in tight shorts with revealing blouses. Murray, as always, began flirting.

A long table was set up in the main room and dinner was served. The guests were other agents who worked with Arnie, a couple of executives with the Heat, some coaches in the area, some friends from the neighborhood. The casual gathering gave the impression that in Arnie’s world a party such as this could materialize at a moment’s notice.

Where was Arnie? Murray asked Reynard, who said the boss was flying in and should arrive anytime now.

Other guests were arriving. Murray recognized Lynn Korby, a guard for the Heat, who had been injured for the past month. The team was on the road finishing up the season. The playoffs would begin in a week. The sighting of Korby made Sooley wonder if Niollo might show up, but Murray didn’t think so.

After dinner, a DJ appeared and cranked up the music. A dance floor emerged from the landscaping beside the pool and was soon crowded with gyrating couples. Behind a row of hedges a smaller party was under way in a large hot tub where half a dozen young ladies skinny-dipped and splashed around while balancing flutes of champagne. Sooley and Murray fell into lawn chairs and watched the show. Murray said, “Sooley, old boy, we’re a long way from Durham. ”

They hung out, danced, drank beers, and otherwise partied until after midnight. With no end in sight, Sooley said he’d had enough. A porter showed them to their bedroom on the second floor, on a wing that resembled a designer dormitory. They retired to matching single beds and fell asleep with the sounds of the party still rocking below.

· · ·

Reynard fetched them late the following morning and led them to a deck near the pool. A large canopy shielded the sun and a fan cooled the pleasant air. Arnie Savage was on the phone and jumped to his feet when he saw them. The phone disappeared. He introduced himself, shook hands warmly, and apologized for missing his party the night before. He offered them seats and within seconds a young lady was waiting to take their orders. Omelets, pancakes, ham and eggs, avocado toast, you name it.

Murray looked at Reynard and asked, “What are you having? ”

“Poached eggs on avocado toast is always good. ”

“The best, ” Arnie said. “I’ll take that too. ”

Murray said, “I like waffles and bacon. ”

“Me too, ” Sooley said quickly.

Coffee and juice all around.

Sooley had read so much about Arnie that he felt like he’d known him for years. He was usually rated in the top ten NBA agents, and with his impressive list of clients he was considered one of the most powerful. They were expecting a high-octane salesman, one ready to promise everything. Instead, they were immediately disarmed by Arnie’s deliberate cadence and soft voice. He spoke at three-quarter speed and seemed to dwell on each word. He wanted them to talk, and he hung on every word and never blinked.

They talked about their miracle season, the adventures at the Final Four. Of course he had been there. He hadn’t missed one in years.

The food arrived and they dug in. Arnie had played in college and still looked game-ready; said he ran ten miles a day and played a lot of tennis. Between bites, he said, “So, Sooley, I guess it’s okay to call you that, right? I mean, half the world knows you as ‘Sooley’ but do you prefer Samuel? ”

Murray blurted, “Sooley’s fine. ” Samuel nodded.

“Then Sooley it is. Mind if I ask about the process in selecting an agent? How far along are you? ”

“Just getting started, ” Sooley said. “You’re the first. Me and my consultant here thought we would pick out two or three and say hello. Is that the way it’s normally done? ”

“There’s no set way to do things. That’ll work just fine. ”

Murray, now the consultant, said, “So tell us where you see him in the draft? ”

“Sure. My team and I have watched you play, live and on a lot of film, and we’ve talked to scouts at every level. On the plus side, and there are far more positives than negatives, there is the obvious size, speed, quickness, leaping, shooting, everything really. In my opinion you’re the perfect age. You’re a team player, you smile a lot, and as we all watched, the entire world caught a good case of Sooleymania. You handled it beautifully and every pro team would love to draft you. ”

“And the downside? ” Murray asked, attacking another waffle.

Arnie smiled and sipped his coffee. “Lack of experience. No high school ball. Only one year of college, or half a year really. Virtually every other player that will go in the first two rounds has been well known for years. Those four at Duke played on a national team when they were fifteen and everybody saw them. I don’t have to remind you that in the world of sports there are many stories of athletes who came out of nowhere, lit it up for a short time, then faded, never to be seen again. Are you a bolt of lightning, Sooley? Some worry about that. I don’t. There is also concern about your last game. You didn’t play well against Villanova and some critics couldn’t wait to pounce and say you choked under pressure. ”

Murray said, “He scored fifty-eight against Duke. ”

“I know. You asked about the downside. There it is. None of it bothers me, Sooley. I’m convinced you have the body, talent, and brains for a long NBA career. ”

“So where do I fit? ”

Without hesitation, Arnie said, “You’ve seen the projections. Lots of experts out there. We do a mock draft every day in my office and spend hours moving names up and down. There are the four at Duke, two at Kentucky, Nkeke at Oregon, Dokafur at Minnesota, all first years. Then Darrell Whitley at Villanova, Long at San Diego, the big Russian at Gonzaga, and Barber at Kansas. That’s twelve, and somewhere around there is when your name gets called. ”

Arnie rattled these off as if he had every stat memorized and knew what every GM was thinking.

Murray said, “So, twelve at the highest. ”

“Nine, maybe ten at the highest, fifteen at the lowest. Definitely first round, Sooley. I’ll negotiate a four-year contract with two years guaranteed. ”

“How much? ” Sooley asked.

“You know the Rookie Scale, and you know it depends on where you land. But something like ten to fifteen million is realistic. ”

Sooley couldn’t suppress a smile, nor could his consultant. Reynard watched him closely and saw the usual signs of disbelief. Dreaming was unavoidable, but hearing the numbers from a veteran like Arnie was always a shock.

Sooley put down his fork and took a sip of orange juice. His mouth was suddenly dry. His late father had earned about $200 a month as a schoolteacher, and for only eight months out of the year.

Arnie waited, took a bite, then continued, “I’ll take my four percent off the top, standard. When the endorsements start coming, and little will happen the first year or so, I’ll guide you through them and take ten percent. Again, that’s pretty standard. And I guard the money, Sooley. I could write a book about pro athletes who’ve squandered millions and left the game broke. Not my clients. I have an investment team and we work hard to protect you and your money. My clients do well on the court, off the court, and in the markets. ”

Murray asked, “So you manage the money? ”

“I do. My rookie players get some cash up front to adjust to the lifestyle. You’re in the NBA now and certain upgrades are expected. Wardrobe, a sports car, gifts for family and friends, a nice condo. I strongly advise against purchasing real estate until there is a long-term contract and trades look unlikely, though I can’t always control the trades. Once you’re on your feet and all properly equipped, we decide on how much you need each month. We’ll set up an allowance but it’s determined by what you want. We never lose sight of the fact that it’s your money, not mine. However, if you decide to take all of it, then you can find another agent. Again, Sooley, I protect my clients. If they decide they don’t want my protection, then I’m wasting my time. ”

Sooley had lost his appetite and was nodding along.

Arnie took another bite and gave him plenty of time to ask questions. Hearing none, he continued, “The biggest problem is the entourage. You’ll attract all manner of friends, new and old, and everybody will want something. You’re lucky to have a friend like Murray. ”

Sooley laughed and said, “He ain’t gettin’ nothin’. ”

They shared a good laugh. Arnie said, “You’ll need him. And you’ll need his mother. ”

“My mother? ”

“Yes. Ida. I had a long chat with her this morning. ”

“No! You gotta be kidding. Don’t tell me she called you. ” Murray was shaking his head, humiliated.

“She did. ”

“I’m so sorry, Arnie. So sorry. ”

“Sorry for what? ”

“She’s just butting in. I can’t believe this. ”

“Relax, Murray. We had a good talk. She considers you two to be her boys and she’s just being protective. ”

“I’m sorry. ”

“Don’t be. My mother died when I was ten years old. Be thankful she’s there. ”

Murray and Sooley exchanged confused looks. “What does she want? ” Sooley asked.

“Well, she asked to see the agency agreement you and I will sign. Fine with me. I’m an open book, Sooley. There are no secrets, no hidden language. She’s a lawyer and it’s a good thing for her to take a look. Any objections? ”

Sooley raised both hands, palms up, and said, “Look, whatever Miss Ida wants is fine with me. I can’t say no to her. ”

Murray said, “She’s tough. She’ll probably want to cut your four percent. ”

Arnie laughed and said, “That’s not gonna happen. I’m sure Miss Ida and I can find plenty of common ground. I’ve been negotiating with GMs and owners and shoe companies for almost twenty years. ”

Murray said, “And I’ve been negotiating with her for twenty years. Guess who usually wins. ”

“Well, she did say she wants you two home in one piece. And I promised. ”

Sooley asked, “Can we stay till tomorrow? ”

“Sure. Got an idea. I have a sixty-foot boat, nice little rig. Let’s take it out this morning and catch some fish. ”

“Awesome. ”

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