霸道！重慶橄欖球隊要上美國好萊塢了

□ 文/本刊記者 李靜

“‘在中國的美式橄欖球’這樣一個運動與地點的組合一開始聽起來像是玩笑話，就好像‘牙買加大雪橇隊’一樣。但想到在這個擁有十三億人口的國家里，任何事都有可能在某地發生，那中國美式橄欖球的存在也算合理的了。2007年，NFL（美國職業橄欖球聯盟）在中國設立第一個辦事處，并且組建了一個青少年橄欖球聯賽，成長到今天超過36支球隊的規模。與此同時，也涌現了一批業余美式橄欖球俱樂部，這其中就包括成立于2012年夏天的重慶碼頭工隊。”——2014年4月，美國《新共和》新聞雜志將一篇關于在重慶的橄欖球隊的報道刊登發表，雜志記者Christopher Beam先后10次往返美國與重慶，實地采訪這個球隊的每個成員，用詼諧幽默，卻又不乏深思的語言，大篇幅地講述了這個橄欖球隊的故事。

讓人意想不到的是，這樣一篇看似普通的都市體育類文章一經發表竟被好萊塢的制片人看上，并找到了文章中多次提到的球隊核心人物——美國人麥卓文（Christopher McLaurin），希望將他所在的球隊的故事翻拍成一部美國好萊塢電影。對于麥卓文來說，這遠遠超過了他的預期，興奮、激動和自豪……各種復雜的感情難以言表。

白宮實習生奮斗重慶

來自美國密歇根州，談話中透著開朗與樂觀，麥卓文身上散發著典型美國年輕人的自信與積極，雖然身材高大，他卻更像是美國學者與運動員相結合的范本。父親是黑人，母親是白人，父母都是警察。他是當地一所天主教高中的明星橄欖球員，隨后進入密歇根大學校隊打強側邊鋒。

和印象中的體育學生不同，麥卓文的學習非常好，2009年他進入密歇根大學攻讀歷史專業，此后又申請加入富布賴特項目（Fulbright），跟隨非政府組織到南非當志愿者幫助孤兒，研究關于社會政策與環境對孩子的影響。此后他又憑借優異的成績進入倫敦政經學院深造，修讀社會政策與規劃方面的碩士。并在2012年得到了一個白宮實習生的職位，協助總統助手，在醫療、低保、教育等領域工作。

對于麥卓文來說，在白宮實習讓他了解到了政府的難處，也更加理解政治，卻也讓他對中國產生了興趣。“中國與美國有著不一樣的體制與模式，我一直都想了解亞洲，但我認為目前中國在世界的影響力是不能小看的，有著不同的社會制度，卻發展成為一個實力強勁的國家，這讓我更想了解中國。”2012年12月，憑借亨利盧斯獎學金（Henry R. Luce）的支持，麥卓文如愿以償來到了中國重慶，并在重慶兩江新區的一個投資公司任職項目經理，負責公司的國際事務。

從美國到中國，從政府部門到金融企業，進入一個完全陌生的專業和工作領域，麥卓文充滿了新鮮感，也需要時間適應。在他看來，這就是他的風格，喜歡嘗試不同的事和經驗。

重慶橄欖球隊的美國教練

在重慶的生活剛剛開始，麥卓文便開始尋找讓自己的閑暇時間更加豐富的事情來做。通過微博的朋友聯系介紹，他得知在重慶也有一個橄欖球隊，這讓他興趣大增，“能在中國打橄欖球似乎是一件讓我很激動的事情。”麥卓文笑著說。

2012年秋，他出現在了訓練場上，因為球隊是由本地的重慶年輕人組建的，似乎對橄欖球沒有什么意識，只是試圖模仿在電視上看到的。隊員們也沒有護墊和專業的行頭。雖然完全不明白到底是什么激勵了這群隊員學習這項與當地文化毫無聯系的運動，但他們的學習熱情很高，而麥卓文剛到重慶，需要朋友，也期待在中國打打自己最在行的橄欖球。于是，他被聘為了主教練。

因為隊伍里就他一個美國人，又真正懂橄欖球，麥卓文和隊伍之間也產生了不少的語言障礙和文化障礙。好在球隊里都是年輕人，一點點英語再配上肢體語言，和球隊里的技術翻譯的幫助，一切開始上了軌道。麥卓文盡職盡責地向隊員傳授橄欖球的要點，帶領球隊堅持訓練，為了讓訓練達到效果，他還制定了很嚴格的考勤規則，隊員如果想上場比賽，就必須參加一定數量的訓練。

作為一個教練，麥卓文的確非常嚴格，但他對每件事情認真的態度讓球隊隊員對他十分尊敬，都積極地聽從指揮參加訓練。慢慢地，球隊也開始發生了變化，球員越來越多，不同國籍的年輕人也陸續加入，球隊變成了一個國際化的隊伍，球員們也比以前更快更強。而麥卓文也不滿于這只球隊只是簡單的訓練打發時間，他開始在中國各個城市奔走，與當地的橄欖球隊接觸，組建了一個中國美式橄欖球聯盟，并組織了一個盛大的全國性的聯賽，短短一年的時間，麥卓文帶領的碼頭工隊遠赴成都、上海、香港等大城市參加比賽，并贏得了聯賽冠軍。

創立中美橄欖球領導者基金

2014年，麥卓文從球隊在中國的發展找到靈感，和他的朋友Zach Brown一起在美國創立了中美橄欖球領導者基金計劃，他通過各種渠道，與一些曾就讀同一所大學的校友的社會人士、政府官員等洽談，期望得到資金捐助，支持他的這一基金項目，將具有領導者潛力的美國教練帶到中國。項目剛啟動，就有以前和他一起曾在大學橄欖球隊打球的美國友人捐贈了2萬美金支持他的基金項目。這讓麥卓文對之后球隊的發展更加充滿信心。

帶領重慶碼頭工隊從默默無聞到被人所知，麥卓文真正將一個愛好發展成了一項事業，而他的隊友們也已將這個美國人看成了他們的精神支柱，“麥卓文成為我們的主教練，讓我們真正了解了橄欖球。打一開始，他就無數次地告訴我們：‘我要把你們打造成中國最強的橄欖球隊！’每一次，我都說，‘沒錯！！！’但我心里還是有些懷疑。…… 然后，在2013年，他又說，‘我要組建一個中國美式橄欖球聯盟，在全中國打比賽！’這一次我還是想，‘這太難了，這么多城市，又都是業余球隊。還要制定規則，籌集旅行經費，好多好多問題！’但他做到了。每一件事，他都做到了。他組織起了聯賽，并帶領我們奪得了全國冠軍！”隊員們都對他充滿了敬意。

如今，重慶碼頭工隊正在積極備戰他們的下一場全國比賽，麥卓文一邊忙著自己的工作，一邊將剩余的精力投入在了球隊和基金會上，他當然期望好萊塢的制片商能真正將他的球隊的故事拍成一部電影，讓全世界見識重慶，見識中美橄欖球隊。作為一個在重慶奮斗的美國人，麥卓文讓我們知道：如果你有一個夢想，你應當保護它，努力奮斗，并一直堅持到夢想實現的時刻。

● 圖片由受訪者本人提供

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.