Just before Cuba Gooding Jr. breaks down in the tunnel with every emotion in his body as he hugs Jerry Maguire, there’s a great shot just beforehand.
If you haven’t watched the film, don’t read the next two paragraphs.
Rod Tidwell – Gooding Jr’s character that won him an Oscar – is being ushered into the end of his contract before he has one of those moments. A season-defining play, an MVP game, and a moment that will be the hallmark of his career. It shows his mettle, his talent and it makes him more marketable than any player in the league there and then.
His agent, Jerry Maguire, has been having no luck convincing the club – or the franchise, if you insist – to extend his contract but when that game ends, Maguire has one of those looks for the coach as if to say, ‘now, hurry the f**k up or I’m taking this man elsewhere’. The coach acknowledges it and reassures him with a signal that he’ll sort out the contract they’ve been stalling over.
Good players find leverage.
Declan Rice played so good tonight, you know what’s happening now
On Thursday night, Declan Rice had another one of those nights but they only difference was that this was the day after Stephen’s Day when everyone was off work, lying around and there was one game of football on TV and on Sky Sports at that. Anyone with a half an interest in sport in Ireland and Britain had the Southampton-West Ham game on in the background at least and, there, Rice stood them all to attention.
He started a battle amongst fans, Irish and English, trying to hurry their respective management teams to get the 19-year-old signed up to their country. He peeked the interest of supporters of the best clubs in the Premier League who saw transfer windows coming up and 18 months left on this ridiculously talented teenager’s contract.
He caused a stir because of what he can do with a ball and what he can do off it as fans, pundits, fellow players and coaches marvelled.
“He’s better than him” – Ian Rush compares Rice to Man City star
So West Ham United couldn’t waste much more time.
At 19, Rice has become one of the hottest pieces of retail to own in world football now and his market price was only devaluing the longer the club allowed his contract to run down.
Bang! Five and a half years. 2024. Signed. Done.
He's signed! #RICE2024 🙏 pic.twitter.com/KGOQunMMBc
— West Ham United (@WestHam) December 28, 2018
“It’s been our intention to keep our best players,” join Hammers chairman David Sullivan said after signing Rice on until the summer of 2024, after watching him blossom through the club since joining at the age of 14.
And Rice explained his delight at signing in a statement issued by West Ham.
“Without a doubt, the plan was always to stay at West Ham,” he said.
“I’ve had the support from the fans, from the players and from the manager and now, to get it done and commit myself to this Club is a very special moment and I’m over the moon.
“I’ve now played 50 games for the first team and I’m progressing week-in, week-out, learning from a top manager and top players. I’m still young, so to put more years on my contract and keep developing here is the best thing for me to do now. With the support of the manager, the players, everyone, it was the right thing to do.”
