By Cory Franklin

Wednesday September 30^th, 2026

Scene: The magnificent top-floor office of world-class sports agent, Sheldrake. Sitting in a Birmingham leather chair at his priceless cherrywood desk, he surveys the city. On  his desk is a picture of him with the cast of the movie Jerry Maguire. The photo is personally autographed by Tom Cruise, Cuba Gooding Jr. and Renee Zellweger.  The office reeks of money.

His secretary buzzes in his first appointment, Luther “Boom Boom” Jackson, long-time college athlete, who shakes his hand vigorously.

“Sheldrake’s the name. What can I do for you?”

“You can call me Boom Boom. I need an agent.”

Sheldrake, surprised, says “I heard you were 29. Isn’t your college career over? What’s your story?”

“I was recruited out of high school by USC to be a quarterback. They paid me a lot of money and you know how SC girls dig quarterbacks.

“Yes. How much did they pay you?”

“Don’t ask. A lot.”

This interests Sheldrake and he asks, “What happened then?”

“Transferred to Texas my sophomore year. Got me some of that Texas oil money. Lots of oil money. More than USC gave me. They made me a wide receiver. That was OK. Less stress on the body.”

“Why did you leave Texas?

“The atmosphere in Austin wasn’t intellectual enough. I wanted to go somewhere there were people with big brains.  So, I moved to THE Ohio State in Columbus. That THE was a tip off it was a place with brains. Plus, those Big Ten Buckeye boosters really pay. They put me on defense, made me a safety.”

“How about your senior year?”

“I moved to South Bend, Notre Dame. You know you can’t go wrong with Touchdown Jesus. And those Notre Dame fans really like football. You’d be amazed how much they are willing to pay for a good team. More money than I’d ever seen. At that point, I was bulking up so they made me a tight end.”

“That’s four years. Wasn’t that the end of your college career?”

Boom Boom chuckled. “Not by a longshot. I became a fifth-year senior transfer at Alabama. Heart of the SEC and they sure pass out the cash in Dixie. Always have, they’re famous for it. Roll Tide. They turned me into a linebacker.”

“Was that it?”

“Nope. Got another year of eligibility. So, I transferred to Miami. South Florida has some big money boosters you wouldn’t believe. Only problem was my weight was going up and I had to become a kicker. They don’t get paid as much. But the sunshine and women in bikinis more than made up for it.

“So is your football career over now?”

“Maybe. I’m getting some feelers from LSU. They like players with experience and they know how to pull strings down there in the bayou. Love that Cajun food. We’ll see what pans out.”

“What are you doing now?”

“I’m taking classes at Harvard. Figured I’d polish my resume while I wait for LSU.”

“Interesting. Are you making any money?”

“These Ivy League guys are behind the times. Don’t pay athletes. But I’m picking up some spare cash attending protests in Harvard Yard. It doesn’t pay much but the girls love protestors.”

“What are you studying?”

“Studying? You weren’t listening. I said I was taking classes, not studying. That’s the great thing about Harvard- you don’t have to study to get credits. I’ve got professors giving me credits for going to protests. But since you ask, I’m taking some tough classes, stuff they don’t even offer at THE Ohio State.  “Chinese Imaginary Art” and “The Iconography of Harry Potter.”

“I’m still not sure why you want to hire me?”

“I’m glad you asked. In case the LSU football thing doesn’t work out, I’m planning on playing college basketball.”

“Basketball?”

“Yeah, I played some point guard in high school and I heard Florida is looking for a point guard. I’ll lose 40 pounds and I’ve got it all worked out. Florida is SEC,  lots of wealthy boosters in Gainesville willing to pay. And it’s Florida, more sunshine and pretty girls. Two years there,  then I plan on moving to the big time.”

“The big time? What’s the big time?”

“What else? Duke, of course. After that, I’ll be fixed for life. So will my grandkids.”

If nothing else, Sheldrake was impressed with Boom Boom’s initiative and his nakedly mercenary approach to the whole enterprise. This kid would probably make a great agent someday, he thought.

“Well, I’ll work on drawing up the papers.”

Boom Boom shook his hand to seal the deal. As he was leaving the office, Sheldrake asked him one last question.

“Boom Boom, I’ve got to ask you one thing. With all that football you’ve played, why didn’t you just turn pro, declare for the NFL and enter the draft?

His new client looked at him like he was from Mars.

“What? Are you crazy? Turn pro? And take a pay cut? “

As he closed the door behind Boom Boom, Sheldrake thought, “yep, someday that kid will make a helluva agent.”

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Cory Franklin, physician and writer, is a frequent contributor to johnkassnews.com. Director of Medical Intensive Care at Cook County (Illinois) Hospital for 25 years, before retiring he wrote over 80 medical articles, chapters, abstracts, and correspondences in books and professional journals, including the New England Journal of Medicine and JAMA. In 1999, he was awarded the Shubin-Weil Award, one of only fifty people ever honored as a national role model for the practice and teaching of intensive care medicine. 

Since retirement, Dr. Franklin has been a contributor to the Chicago Tribune op-ed page. His work has been published in the New York Times, New York Post, Washington Post, Chicago Sun-Times and excerpted in the New York Review of Books. Internationally, his work has appeared internationally in Spiked, The Guardian and The Jerusalem Post. For nine years he hosted a weekly audio podcast, Rememberingthepassed, which discusses the obituaries of notable people who have died recently. His 2015 book “Cook County ICU: 30 Years Of Unforgettable Patients and Odd Cases” was a medical history best-seller. In 2024, he co-authored The COVID Diaries: Anatomy of a Contagion As it Happened.

In 1993, he worked as a technical advisor to Harrison Ford and was a role model for the physician character Ford played in the film, The Fugitive.