Groomed by his father, former National Football League quarterback Sebastian Brody, Hugo Brody is a natural athlete with a cannon for an arm and a wealth of raw talent. When Hugo joins the San Diego Chargers, he delivers-manifesting win after win for his team. His performance on the field exceeds expectations. His performance off the field becomes more legendary by the day. With his flashy persona and good looks, Hugo pursues a luxurious lifestyle of drinking and partying that offends his father, who warns him that his sin and betrayal could ignite some bad karma. Hugo is unnerved when strange events occur at his mansion. He relies on his behemoth bodyguard to protect him from everything, including the most obsessive fans. As society incessantly fuels his arrogance, stardom consumes him. Hugo turns to a cast of characters who inevitably steer him downward. Someone is seeking to destroy not only his career but him as well. Hugo soon learns that the higher one rises the further and faster one falls.

Hugo Read This!

By Brandon Swarrow

iUniverse, Inc.

Copyright © 2009 Brandon Swarrow
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4401-4274-1

Chapter One

When number six ran out onto the football field on that humid Monday night in San Diego, every person in the crowd stood up and screamed. Some fans rubbed their eyes in disbelief. They have eagerly anticipated this moment for a very long time. The passionate fans were shocked and excited as they pumped their fists into the air for the first time all evening. After a first half filled with mistakes, the crafty veteran quarterback put a towel on the back of his neck and took a seat near end of the bench with his team facing a 31-7 deficit. The impatient crowd would have been ecstatic to see any change at the quarterback position at this point. But this wasn't just any ordinary signal caller entering the game.

His name was Hugo Brody and he was born and raised in the sunshine state. He was groomed to be a great quarterback by his father, former NFL quarterback, Sebastian Brody. Hugo shattered many records throughout his high school and college careers, and the San Diego Chargers rewarded his efforts by making him the first player selected in this past year's professional football draft. He signed the largest contract ever given to an NFL player despite never competing in a single game, thus further enhancing his celebrity status. Hugo Brody's name was a common topic of discussion throughout our proud country. Men and women in California, as well as the rest of the United States, talked mostly about his natural skills and ability, his cannon arm, his raw talent, and when the Chargers will hand him the reigns. However, he was also making a name for himself off the field with his flashy persona, male model looks, and luxurious lifestyle.

He wore the number six to remind all of his fans of the prediction he made live on national television just seconds after being selected number one at the professional football draft. Hugo quietly walked up to the microphone stand after he was selected, held up a Charger jersey and said, "I will bring the city of San Diego six Super Bowl rings while I'm here." The replay of his incredibly bold comments aired continuously on sports channels for several weeks. Some sports analysts laughed at his notion and publicly called him out, while other reporters and advanced scouts said that he was one of the most talented players they've ever seen come out of college, and that they wouldn't bet against him.

The media circus that followed Hugo Brody, and all of the hype that had been built up since the beginning of the season, had made the moment when he took the field even more extravagant. Even though the score was 31 - 7 at halftime, and Hugo was basically coming into the game for "mop up duty," it was the first real action the Chargers young star quarterback had seen. He hadn't taken a single snap and this was already San Diego's seventh game of the season.

He trotted out to greet his teammates in the huddle like a proud trophy whitetail buck who knew his antlers were the most spectacular. His long dark hair poured out from the back of his helmet and waved to and fro as he jogged. The linemen welcomed Hugo into the huddle and the semicircle closed around him. One of the announcers broadcasting live on national television said, "You could just feel the electricity in the stadium." The young, confident quarterback flapped his arms in a downward motion as he broke from the huddle to silence the roaring crowd. Hugo placed his hands under center to receive the snap and calmly scanned the left and right sides of his line. His voice echoed powerfully, "Twenty-one, twenty-one, hut, go!" The center snapped the ball with fury and within seconds, Hugo Brody fired a bullet ten yards to his tall, speedy wide receiver. He completed his first professional football pass and from that point on Hugo never viewed another game from the sidelines.

He orchestrated one of the National Football League's most memorable comebacks that night in his inaugural game. He looked masterful completing pass after pass. Confidence and determination dripped from his chin strap in the form of perspiration. His wide receivers continuously glanced at their hands after making catches to see that they now resembled swollen plums. The team celebrated the incredible win by hoisting the young quarterback onto their shoulders, but even as they enjoyed that invigorating moment, the team was already anticipating moving forward with this unearthly talent.

Hugo smiled and celebrated with his teammates. However, as he sat upon their broad shoulders, it seemed almost as if he had foreseen the very moment. He did not seem over zealous. Hugo just sat above his teammates relishing the victory with a deliberate grin on his face. The crowd continued at a constant roar even until well after the game was over. Hugo Brody began his professional football career just the way he knew he would; victorious. The television broadcast crew pronounced the game "The Monday Night Miracle," and from that day on the Chargers knew that they had found their guy.

Chapter Two

Hugo and the Chargers played exceptionally well for the remainder of the season and made the playoff s for the first time in quite a long time. Hugo never cooled off . He was unstoppable, breaking rookie records set by some of the all-time greats. He quickly became the face of the franchise, and in many ways the face of the National Football League. Although the Chargers did not make it to the Super Bowl in the young quarterback's first season, the team won its final ten games and gained valuable playoff experience that they could hopefully build upon. Football fans across the country eagerly anticipated Hugo's first full season as the starting quarterback. They saw what he was capable of in the small ten game sample season and were salivating for more Hugo Brody.

The 23-year-old athlete won his first ten consecutive games in his second season as a starter and made good on the first Super Bowl promise. In an extremely close title game, Hugo threw his fourth touchdown pass in overtime to win the championship in dramatic fashion. He was voted the Most Valuable Player of the Super Bowl, and in that same season the phenom went on to receive various honors such as league MVP. He was even awarded a trip to Hawaii to represent the AFC as their starting QB on the All Pro team. He was sitting on top of the world with his feet dangling just out of the reach of the other professional quarterbacks of his time. To the Hispanic population in San Diego he quickly became known as "Hugo El Milagro," which translates into Hugo "The Miracle" Brody.

Expectations for Hugo's second full season as a starter could not be any higher. Anyone who follows the game of football was interested in his every move. Six Super Bowl titles didn't look all that unrealistic anymore. His performance on the field continued to exceed everyone's expectations. His performance off the field was becoming more and more legendary by the day.

His celebrity status exploded, and ascended higher than some of the most elite movie stars. His handsome face was exploited heavily by advertisement agencies, and was highly sought for endorsements. He was a young, fearless, sophisticate who was mysteriously new to the entertainment scene. Women began to form a rabble hoping to catch a glimpse of their future husband hours before and after his games. He received hundreds of letters and emails per day, most of them containing phone numbers or wedding proposals. Beautiful women would even go as far as...