霸道！重庆橄榄球队要上美国好莱坞了

□ 文/本刊记者 李静

“‘在中国的美式橄榄球’这样一个运动与地点的组合一开始听起来像是玩笑话，就好像‘牙买加大雪橇队’一样。但想到在这个拥有十三亿人口的国家里，任何事都有可能在某地发生，那中国美式橄榄球的存在也算合理的了。2007年，NFL（美国职业橄榄球联盟）在中国设立第一个办事处，并且组建了一个青少年橄榄球联赛，成长到今天超过36支球队的规模。与此同时，也涌现了一批业余美式橄榄球俱乐部，这其中就包括成立于2012年夏天的重庆码头工队。”——2014年4月，美国《新共和》新闻杂志将一篇关于在重庆的橄榄球队的报道刊登发表，杂志记者Christopher Beam先后10次往返美国与重庆，实地采访这个球队的每个成员，用诙谐幽默，却又不乏深思的语言，大篇幅地讲述了这个橄榄球队的故事。

让人意想不到的是，这样一篇看似普通的都市体育类文章一经发表竟被好莱坞的制片人看上，并找到了文章中多次提到的球队核心人物——美国人麦卓文（Christopher McLaurin），希望将他所在的球队的故事翻拍成一部美国好莱坞电影。对于麦卓文来说，这远远超过了他的预期，兴奋、激动和自豪……各种复杂的感情难以言表。

白宫实习生奋斗重庆

来自美国密歇根州，谈话中透着开朗与乐观，麦卓文身上散发着典型美国年轻人的自信与积极，虽然身材高大，他却更像是美国学者与运动员相结合的范本。父亲是黑人，母亲是白人，父母都是警察。他是当地一所天主教高中的明星橄榄球员，随后进入密歇根大学校队打强侧边锋。

和印象中的体育学生不同，麦卓文的学习非常好，2009年他进入密歇根大学攻读历史专业，此后又申请加入富布赖特项目（Fulbright），跟随非政府组织到南非当志愿者帮助孤儿，研究关于社会政策与环境对孩子的影响。此后他又凭借优异的成绩进入伦敦政经学院深造，修读社会政策与规划方面的硕士。并在2012年得到了一个白宫实习生的职位，协助总统助手，在医疗、低保、教育等领域工作。

对于麦卓文来说，在白宫实习让他了解到了政府的难处，也更加理解政治，却也让他对中国产生了兴趣。“中国与美国有着不一样的体制与模式，我一直都想了解亚洲，但我认为目前中国在世界的影响力是不能小看的，有着不同的社会制度，却发展成为一个实力强劲的国家，这让我更想了解中国。”2012年12月，凭借亨利卢斯奖学金（Henry R. Luce）的支持，麦卓文如愿以偿来到了中国重庆，并在重庆两江新区的一个投资公司任职项目经理，负责公司的国际事务。

从美国到中国，从政府部门到金融企业，进入一个完全陌生的专业和工作领域，麦卓文充满了新鲜感，也需要时间适应。在他看来，这就是他的风格，喜欢尝试不同的事和经验。

重庆橄榄球队的美国教练

在重庆的生活刚刚开始，麦卓文便开始寻找让自己的闲暇时间更加丰富的事情来做。通过微博的朋友联系介绍，他得知在重庆也有一个橄榄球队，这让他兴趣大增，“能在中国打橄榄球似乎是一件让我很激动的事情。”麦卓文笑着说。

2012年秋，他出现在了训练场上，因为球队是由本地的重庆年轻人组建的，似乎对橄榄球没有什么意识，只是试图模仿在电视上看到的。队员们也没有护垫和专业的行头。虽然完全不明白到底是什么激励了这群队员学习这项与当地文化毫无联系的运动，但他们的学习热情很高，而麦卓文刚到重庆，需要朋友，也期待在中国打打自己最在行的橄榄球。于是，他被聘为了主教练。

因为队伍里就他一个美国人，又真正懂橄榄球，麦卓文和队伍之间也产生了不少的语言障碍和文化障碍。好在球队里都是年轻人，一点点英语再配上肢体语言，和球队里的技术翻译的帮助，一切开始上了轨道。麦卓文尽职尽责地向队员传授橄榄球的要点，带领球队坚持训练，为了让训练达到效果，他还制定了很严格的考勤规则，队员如果想上场比赛，就必须参加一定数量的训练。

作为一个教练，麦卓文的确非常严格，但他对每件事情认真的态度让球队队员对他十分尊敬，都积极地听从指挥参加训练。慢慢地，球队也开始发生了变化，球员越来越多，不同国籍的年轻人也陆续加入，球队变成了一个国际化的队伍，球员们也比以前更快更强。而麦卓文也不满于这只球队只是简单的训练打发时间，他开始在中国各个城市奔走，与当地的橄榄球队接触，组建了一个中国美式橄榄球联盟，并组织了一个盛大的全国性的联赛，短短一年的时间，麦卓文带领的码头工队远赴成都、上海、香港等大城市参加比赛，并赢得了联赛冠军。

创立中美橄榄球领导者基金

2014年，麦卓文从球队在中国的发展找到灵感，和他的朋友Zach Brown一起在美国创立了中美橄榄球领导者基金计划，他通过各种渠道，与一些曾就读同一所大学的校友的社会人士、政府官员等洽谈，期望得到资金捐助，支持他的这一基金项目，将具有领导者潜力的美国教练带到中国。项目刚启动，就有以前和他一起曾在大学橄榄球队打球的美国友人捐赠了2万美金支持他的基金项目。这让麦卓文对之后球队的发展更加充满信心。

带领重庆码头工队从默默无闻到被人所知，麦卓文真正将一个爱好发展成了一项事业，而他的队友们也已将这个美国人看成了他们的精神支柱，“麦卓文成为我们的主教练，让我们真正了解了橄榄球。打一开始，他就无数次地告诉我们：‘我要把你们打造成中国最强的橄榄球队！’每一次，我都说，‘没错！！！’但我心里还是有些怀疑。…… 然后，在2013年，他又说，‘我要组建一个中国美式橄榄球联盟，在全中国打比赛！’这一次我还是想，‘这太难了，这么多城市，又都是业余球队。还要制定规则，筹集旅行经费，好多好多问题！’但他做到了。每一件事，他都做到了。他组织起了联赛，并带领我们夺得了全国冠军！”队员们都对他充满了敬意。

如今，重庆码头工队正在积极备战他们的下一场全国比赛，麦卓文一边忙着自己的工作，一边将剩余的精力投入在了球队和基金会上，他当然期望好莱坞的制片商能真正将他的球队的故事拍成一部电影，让全世界见识重庆，见识中美橄榄球队。作为一个在重庆奋斗的美国人，麦卓文让我们知道：如果你有一个梦想，你应当保护它，努力奋斗，并一直坚持到梦想实现的时刻。

● 图片由受访者本人提供

Chongqing US Football Team’s Story Goes Hollywood

In April, 2014, the New Republic published an article about an American football team in Chongqing. The reporter, Christopher Beam traveled 10 times between Chongqing and the US to interview each member of the team, telling the story of this unlikely team.

Surprisingly, this seemingly ordinary urban sports article was read by a Hollywood producer, who became interested in the story. He was fascinated by the team’s organizer, Christopher McLaurin, and hopes to retell his story in an American Hollywood movie. As for McLaurin, this is far beyond his wildest expectations, with feelings of excitement, pride and emotions beyond words.

White House Intern Came to Chongqing

Christopher McLaurin grew up in Michigan, a typical young American, conf i dent and positive. He was a product of the American scholar/athletic system. In Catholic high school he was a star football player and at the University of Michigan played offensive end on the varsity football team in 2009. He then applied for a Fulbright scholarship, volunteered to go to South Africa to help orphans and to study the impact of social policy and the environment on children. He then earned his Master’s Degree in Social Policy and Planning from the London School of Economics with honors. Following his studies, he obtained a position as a White House intern in 2012, assisting presidential aides on medical care, subsistence allowances, education and other government programs.

Working in the White House made McLauren understand the government’s difficulties and the politics involved, but it also got him interested in China. “China and the United States have different systems and models, but at present, China’s influence in the world cannot be underestimated. It has developed into a powerful country with a different social system, which made me want to learn more about China.” In December, 2012, Christopher came to Chongqing on a Henry Luce scholarship and works in an investment company as a project manager in Chongqing, in charge of international affairs.

From the United States to China, from a governmental department to private enterprise, McLaurin brings fresh energy to a new profession. In his view, this is his style and he enjoys trying different experiences and exploring new areas.

Coach of the American Football Team in Chongqing

When McLaurin first learned there was a football team in Chongqing, the Dockers, he expressed great interest, “Thinking about playing American football in China made me very excited.” he said with a big smile. One day in 2012, McLaurin showed up at a practice. Since the team was made up of young people from Chongqing, they didn’t really know how to play, just tried to emulate what they had seen on TV. McLaurin, who had just arrived in Chongqing and wanted to make new friends, was immediately made head coach, despite some language and cultural barriers to overcome. It was a good thing the players were all young. Between their limited English and a lot of body language, with technical help from an interpreter, things quickly got on track. McLaurin urged the team to train and practice every day, with one strict attendance rule—team members who wanted to play must receive a certain amount of training.

As a coach, McLaurin is very strict, but his general attitude toward everything gained great respect from the players. The team gradually began to change, with more and more players from different countries joining the team. It has become an international team and the players are faster and stronger than ever. McLaurin began to travel all over China, formed the Chinese National Football League and organized a national championship game. McLaurin led the Dockers to play in different cities—Chengdu, Shanghai and Hong Kong. They emerged victorious, winning the national championship.

The China-US Gridiron Leaders Fellowship Program

In 2014 McLaurin and his friend, Zach Brown established the China Gridiron Leaders Fellowship Program in America, bringing American coaches with potential leadership to China. McLaurin has made the Dockers more popular and famous, has developed a hobby into a career and his teammates see him as the spirit of the team.

Now the Dockers are preparing for their next national competition. McLaurin is focusing on the team and the Fellowship Program, while also busy with his work. He has high expectations Hollywood studios can really make his team’s story into a movie, letting the whole world see Chongqing, see the Chongqing American football team’s story. As an American struggling in Chongqing, McLaurin has taught us; if you have a dream, you should protect it, work hard and pursue it until your dream comes true.