The Jook
by Gary Phillips

Zelmont Raines has slid a long way since first gaining his ability to jook?to out maneuver his opponents on the field?which made him a Super Bowl?winning wide receiver and earned him lucrative endorsement deals, not to mention more than his share of female attention. Because he hasn’t always been good at saying no, however, a series of missteps involving drugs, a paternity suit or two, legal entanglements, shaky investments, and chronic injuries have virtually sidelined his career. Now that Los Angeles has a new pro franchise, the Barons, Zelmont has one last chance at the big time he dearly misses. Just as it seems he might be getting back in the flow, he’s enraptured by Wilma Wells, the leggy and brainy lawyer for the team who has a ruthless game plan all her own?and this time it’s Zelmont who might get jooked.