Sleeves Magazine March-April 2017 | Page 11

was about to begin , right in the middle of Hachikō Square , between the Mannix Magic and the World Whirl , a team specially formed for this one legendary fundraising game , made up of the best players ( besides Mannix and his friends ) anywhere in the world .

Foto : Jose Emilio de Veyra

There was Armani Versace , the smooth Italian dreamboat , known globally for his tight trousers and his forehand flick . Lauren Hilfiger had completed more passes than any player in history , partly because she played seven games a week in three different leagues in the USA , but partly because she was so damn good . And the most imposing defender on Earth , the six-foot-nine-inch Brit , Westwood McCartney , bulked out the team with his frightening scowl , and his unbeatable scoober .

But Mannix was unafraid . He knew whatever the outcome the spirit of the game would prevail , and the hundreds of thousands of people watching from the specially built hovering stands surrounding the square , and the millions of people watching on holovision at home , would feel joy in their hearts at the spectacle of The Pizza Cup . But boy did he want to win !

.... his intangible charm and authority uniting humankind and soothing people from all walks of life through the admittedly uncomfortable transition .

The game began badly for Mannix and his team , however . The crowd cheered for both teams , and gasped at the speed and skill on display as the World Whirl took the lead . McCartney used his height to make a spectacular interception and threw in the blink of an eye , picking out Versace who was languidly twirling his moustache in the end-zone . The Whirl continued to play with wild abandon , excited by the new combinations their fresh teammates provided , foxing Mannix and his brilliant but predictable friends at every turn , and by half time they led by five points .

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