Chapter 10

That evening at the Lake South Hotel another plan of action was being discussed. Pros owner Chuck Morgan had flown into town from Los Angeles, having suspended his business activities as board chairman of a gigantic supermarket chain. He was there to personally supervise the plot to oust Hank Collins as head coach. Morgan's council of war included Hank's arch-enemy, Los Angeles newspaper reporter John Jackson and club publicist Jerry Thomas. Also present was the highly ambitious assistant coach, Jess Henderson.

Main difficulty facing the group was the popularity of Coach Hank Collins-both with the Los Angeles Fans and players alike.

"We can't tie the sack to the big oaf just now," declared Monroe, his skinny arms flailing the air awkwardly, emphatically.

"What complicates our timetable," he said to the group which now was meeting behind bolted doors in the publicity man's suite, "is the championship race. Those L.A. fans are steamed out there, and let me tell you Hank is a hero to them. What the hell do they know about the real situation."

"Try to tell them that Jess is the brains, the man who makes the team click and win! You, Jackson, are the only reporter who does tell them. Those other writers know, but they like the guy so much they won't say it. Hank is the Pros image. We can't attack him at this time. Christ, I almost wish we weren't having a winning season!"

"I hate to say this", he continued, "but it looks very much to me as if we can't fire Collins until the end of the season. Then if we win the title, it'll be mighty tough to justify letting him go to the rest of the press and the public. The guy has us where the hair is short. It's not fair to Jess, who's supplying the brains. It's not fair to any of us who know the real story. But here we are!"

"There does seem to be one hope, though," continued Morgan as gloom spread over the group. "He could be goaded into doing something rash-like resigning." He paused and the conspirators stirred with anticipation.

"What would that be?" asked gimlet-eyed Jackson, pointing at Morgan with the stem of his tooth-scarred pipe.

"You," Morgan fairly exploded at Jackson, "gave me the clue last Sunday. They tell me that Hank was near to socking you because of something you wrote. Well, if he does ... need I say more? I can go to him and, in the best interests of the club, ask him to step down. He'll have to do it."

Jackson was intrigued but also frightened by the suggestion. "But under your plan it will be necessary for Hank to knock my teeth out, or something just as bad!"

"We could stop him after the first poke," offered Morgan.

"Oh, my, yes," said Jess. "We could all stop Hank the moment he raised his arm to strike you."

"No, not then," said Morgan. "I'd like to have him actually hit you, Jackson. Not a hard punch, mind you, but something tangible that you could feel. That way he would convict himself beyond appeal. It would be mandatory then for me to remove him in the best interests of the club. If we stepped in and stopped it before he swung, then maybe it would be a little harder to unload the guy."

Jackson agreed, for he knew Hank couldn't do too much damage because Jess and the other burly Pros aides would swiftly come to his rescue. And he wanted Hank's scalp. Hank's insults and public demeaning of his ability still stung Jackson. He was also helped by a sense of duty, a self-serving feeling of loyalty to the club.

After all, in seeking Hank's coaching demise, he was merely helping everyone take a long overdue step. There was, too, the sense of personal obligation deriving from a household of furniture procured by Morgan in exchange for a continuing sports column line which echoed the correct Pros approach and prepared the public for certain of Morgan's decisions.

Jackson already had helped prepare the way for Hank's rise to power through the artful deployment of words-a circumstance which greased the skids for the prior incumbent coach. Morgan had wanted Hank because he felt the big, good natured buffoon would carry out Morgan's policies to the last detail from a sense of gratitude.

When Hank came up with some ideas of his own and stubbornly refused to accept Morgan's suggestions he unwittingly undermined his own job. Morgan, for instance, wanted Ron out as No. 1 quarterback, and Jim O'Flanagan in his place. Hank opposed the idea. This led to the rapid rise of Jess Henderson who Morgan knew could be counted on to reflect his views.

"Hank almost attacked me last Sunday night," mused Jackson. "Maybe we can get him to charge me at Milwaukee this Sunday."

"That's what I thought," agreed Morgan. "Now, you know how Jess has rigged the offense to make Ron look bad and Jim to smell like a rose. Why don't you rub that in? Let Collins have it for being dumb and starting the wrong quarterback all the time. It will look like a legitimate charge. Hank will see red-a few well chosen insults and when he hits you, I hit him. He suddenly gets stomach ulcers, the pressure has been too much, the doctor orders rest and a milk diet. Jess takes over the club as head coach. We can do it. And the public won't have to know one thing to the contrary."

At that moment, there was a violent pounding outside and a moment later, the door burst open.

Framed inside the door was a red-faced Hank Collins, his eyes smoking with anger.