American Football: Domination

Refusal. A straightforward refusal.

And it came without hesitation.

Donald didn't show the slightest trace of struggle or doubt. Without batting an eye, he rejected a $20 million contract. This meant that Donald's expectations were far higher than that.

Stanley was stunned.

What kind of deal had Nike given Lance that made Donald so confident?

Stanley barely managed to maintain his composure, though he came dangerously close to losing it. This was the second—no, third—time today that his expectations had been completely overturned. He had to summon every ounce of self-control to remain calm.

"Donald, you should at least look at our initial offer."

Donald noticed Stanley's pointed gaze and decided not to refuse this time. He picked up the slip of paper from the table and unfolded it:

$1.5 million per year for three years.

In other words, Stanley had raised the offer by two tiers in one go, a clear demonstration of genuine intent.

Stanley also noticed Donald showing the paper to Lance. He quickly added, "I agree with what you said earlier—Lance is different. We should build a completely new image around him: youthful, fearless, courageous, radiant. Like creating a new video game protagonist—someone people want to follow as they level up and defeat challenges, someone they aspire to become."

"That's Lance's strength, and we should leverage it fully."

"Lance isn't just a spokesperson. We could craft an entire narrative around him, shoot a series of ads with him at the center, and have our other ambassadors fit into the story. I believe the market would go crazy for it."

"Of course, we'd still need to work out the details and leave them to the professionals. But I believe Lance could be the face of Pepsi's partnership with the NFL—a signature figure who appears in every game broadcast and during the Super Bowl halftime show. A presence that's 24/7, 365 days a year."

"Lance's vision and Pepsi's innovation—we can elevate each other."

"Without a doubt, Lance and Pepsi are the perfect match."

Stanley's pitch was passionate and urgent. Having decided to go all in, he held nothing back.

Donald, however, remained composed. He calmly refolded the slip of paper and replied, "Yes, I agree—Lance is a unique presence in the league. I believe the brand impact we're seeing now is just the tip of the iceberg. There's a vast world waiting for us to explore together."

"I share your opinion."

"Lance can be a hero that everyone admires and aspires to, but at the same time, he represents the everyday person. Lance is the dreamer within us all. Every step he takes can write a new legend and make history."

"What lies before us is an uncharted world, and Lance could partner with any brand to achieve greatness. But we hope that brand is Pepsi."

"So, $7 million per year, for five years."

Donald casually dropped the bombshell, delivering it as if he were talking about $7 and completely unbothered by the string of zeros that followed.

Stanley froze. Instead of panicking, however, he regained complete composure.

It was clear that Donald had come prepared. The so-called "coincidental" run-in with Coca-Cola earlier? It was part of a calculated, open strategy.

Donald understood Pepsi wouldn't want to miss out on Lance. He also knew that Pepsi's competition with Coca-Cola in the sports sponsorship space had reached a boiling point.

Pepsi had worked tirelessly to become the title sponsor of all four major North American sports leagues, finally surpassing Coca-Cola. There was no way they'd let Coca-Cola disrupt the balance they had worked so hard to achieve.

Moreover, Donald believed Pepsi's ambitions extended far beyond this. While he couldn't know the specifics of Pepsi's long-term plans (those were trade secrets), he was certain they weren't investing so much effort just to dominate the football market.

This was an open strategy.

Even if Stanley recognized the game being played, he had no choice but to step in and play. There was no avoiding a direct contest.

Stanley, now completely calm, began reflecting on the events of the day. Step by step, Donald had led him into this carefully constructed web. Stanley had never truly been in control.

But looking at it from another perspective, was Donald's intricate setup really just about securing a $35 million contract from Pepsi?

No, Stanley didn't think so.

He recalled Donald's first question at the start of their meeting:

"What does Pepsi think is Lance's brand identity in the market?"

The key phrase was: brand identity.

Stanley realized Donald was sifting through sponsorship offers with the goal of crafting Lance's brand identity.

Cars. Watches. Fashion. Wine. Beverages.

Brands from various industries would come together to shape a lifestyle:

The hardworking blue-collar worker who drives a pickup to the refinery and grabs a beer at the bar.

The jet-setting playboy who drives a Ferrari and dines at Michelin-starred restaurants.

The dedicated, talented athlete who drives a Chevy and spends his days at the training facility.

Each identity appealed to a different demographic.

It was like Roger Federer on the tennis court—a carefully curated image tailored to appeal across markets.

Pepsi, clearly, was one of Donald's key considerations for Lance's overall image.

If Pepsi's vision aligned with Donald's blueprint, their partnership could be transformative. Together, they could achieve synergy where the whole was far greater than the sum of its parts.

This made one thing clear: Pepsi could not afford to let Lance slip away.

Suddenly, Stanley found himself curious about the other brands Lance had met with today—not just Coca-Cola. Perhaps Pepsi needed to elevate its perspective. These other brands weren't competitors but potential collaborators in crafting Lance's identity.

Maybe Pepsi needed to think bigger.

All this passed through Stanley's mind in mere moments.

At first, Stanley's immediate reaction to "$7 million per year" had been disbelief. The number seemed absurd. Compared to Pepsi's initial $1.5 million or even the $4 million offer, Donald's counter sounded like a joke. Surely Coca-Cola wouldn't match such a proposal either.

But now, it was clear Donald wasn't bluffing.

This negotiation wouldn't be settled today.

Stanley realized he couldn't make a decision on the spot. Donald's proposal exceeded his authority. Furthermore, the situation was complex enough to require discussions at Pepsi's highest levels.

But this was the nature of negotiations. Rushing wasn't necessary.

Stanley reined in his thoughts and offered a smile, half-sincere and half-strategic.

"Apologies, this is beyond my authority. But I'll make sure to relay your request to headquarters."

After a few more polite exchanges, Stanley rose to leave. He couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration for Lance, who had remained calm and clear-eyed throughout the entire meeting.

"I look forward to working together in the future."

Lance smiled. "Of course. That's a big check."

His candidness, with a touch of humor, made Stanley laugh. Though no deal had been reached, this had been a productive and enjoyable meeting.

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Powerstones?

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