From Dallas Texas, designer,art teacher for 9 years.

Play footballbasketball soccer and track.

Came to China inAugust 2017.

Join ShanghaiTitans in November 2017.

來自美國達拉斯的設計師，教齡9年的藝術老師

玩轉橄欖球，籃球，足球和田徑

2017年8月來到中國

同年11月加入上海泰坦

16號Jibril是泰坦的外接手兼安全衛。

第一眼見到他，你也許會被他的大鬍子和酷酷的裝扮嚇到，但他其實是有一點點小內向的大暖男一枚。他辭掉了安穩優越的工作，抱着一顆追尋藝術和時尚的心來到中國。

目前在一所中學當藝術老師，還創立了自己設計的時尚品牌。

雖然Jibril來自美國的橄欖球大州德克薩斯，中學時還和現役的NFL球員一起在校隊打球，其實打橄欖球不在他的中國計劃之內

直到他遇見了泰坦

E: Howdid you start playing football?

你的橄欖球之路是怎麼開始的？

J: I started playing football at 4or 5 years old till college. During my middle school, I played with VonMiller(Denver Broncos) and Cyrus Gray(Kansas City Chiefs). Then I played at oneof the best high schools in Dallas, Texas. My high school is very competitive likecollege, it’s the same school as in the movie “Friday Night Lights”. I playedunderneath Michael Crabtree(Baltimore Ravens). That composition really built metough enough to be able to handle anything outside of Dallas limits.

我從四五歲開始練習橄欖球，一直打到大學。初中時，Von Miller（丹佛野馬）和Cyrus Gray（堪薩斯城船長）與我同校，我有幸和他們一起打球。後來我去了達拉斯最好的高中之一，在那裏打球激烈程度已經趕上了大學橄欖球，我的學校就像電影《勝利之光》裏的高中一樣。當時我和Michael Crabtree（巴爾的摩烏鴉）打同一個位置。高中的橄欖球經歷讓我變得強大，幫助我在離開達拉斯後保持高水準的表現。

E: Howdo you practice in college?

大學裏的橄欖球訓練是怎樣的？

J: I went to the college inAtlanta, Georgia, played football during my first year in college, because Iwas given a scholarship in track, so I switched to track and field later. Wepractice 16 times a week, 2-3 times a day. Early morning we wake up at 1amstarting at 3am to 5am, and then in the middle of the day like 2-5pm, and thenlater 7-9pm, depends on your position.

我在亞特蘭大唸的大學，當時因爲拿的是田徑類獎學金，所以大一打完橄欖球之後就轉去練習田徑了。我們一週訓練16次，平均一天2-3次。通常凌晨1點起牀，晨訓從3點到5點；日訓從下午2點到5點；晚上從7點到9點，取決於你的位置。

E: Whatposition do you play?

你通常打什麼位置？

J: I played as receiver, safety andalso corner back. Actually my favorite position is safety.

我是外接手，安全衛，也是角衛。其實我最喜歡的位置是安全衛。

E: What’sthe challenge of playing football in China?

在中國打球有什麼挑戰嗎？

J: For me it’s hard because the(rival) teams know about me and they figure out who I am, then they have theirplayers stick me, not just 1 but 3. That makes it hard for me to do what I cando , even though the team is amateur. Another challenge is not letting my teamdown, a lot of pressure.

對我來說有難度，因爲對方球隊知道我是誰，他們有時會讓好幾個人來防守我。因此即使對方球隊實力很業餘，我也很難去做一些平時能做的動作。另一個挑戰來自於我給自己的壓力，就是不能讓我的隊友們失望。

E: WhyAmericans are so crazy about football?

爲什麼美國人這麼熱愛橄欖球？

J: I grew up with this culture soit’s natural..But for me that’s the only sport that you can do to take out youranger. It's like doing it through sports instead of doing it through violence.A lot of my culture, football is the only way out (of people’s poor situation).Many players come from families with no food no money, so they go to NFL tosupport their family. That’s why it’s so competitive and fun.

我從小在橄欖球文化的環境中長大，所以喜歡打球是很自然的。但是對我來說，這是唯一可以釋放自己憤怒情緒的運動。用運動來取代暴力的方式。在我的文化中，橄欖球是許多（家境艱難的）人的唯一出路，不少球員都希望通過進入NFL打球來改善家庭狀況。這也是爲什麼橄欖球的競爭如此激烈有趣。

E: Who’syour favorite player?

你最喜歡的球員是誰？

J: Players..one is Michael Crabtreeand the other is Odell Beckham. I grew up with Michael Crabtree, we went to thesame high school. I like the fact that he doesn’t forget who he is. People goto nfl and forget everybody, but Crabtree still keeps his personality, doingthings regardless of how much money he makes. He is still humble about enteringNFL at a young age.

Of course Odell Beckham is another whole story. He has acertain trait about himself that no one else has. He doesn’t care what youthink about him. I like his confidence, his knowledge of football, and he howhe gives motivation speech. I literally mimic a lot of things from him.

Before every single game, on the bus, I was listening allhis speeches.

Because your imagination is your destiny. So you imagine it, you do it.

球員們..一個是MichaelCrabtree,另一個是Odell Beckham。我和Michael一起唸的高中，他在進入NFL後還是保持初心和自己的行事方式，沒有因爲金錢而變得驕傲自大。OdellBeckham又是完全不同的一個人了。他有一些獨一無二的特點，比如完全不在乎別人的看法。我欣賞他的自信，他對橄欖球的理解，還有他的熱血勵志演講。很多時候我都在模仿他。每次比賽前，我都會在大巴上聽他的演講。

因爲你的命運和你的想象力密不可分。當你一直想象自己做成一件事時，你很有可能就做到了。

E: Whybrought you to China?

爲什麼來中國？

J: As a designer I want tounderstand how the manufacturing is in China. I want to open up a business formy family back home to run. In order to have a better future, you need to gothrough some roughness. I believe that the harder you struggle, the sweeter theresult will be.

身爲設計師，我想了解中國的製造業是什麼樣的。我想在這裏找到機會，讓我的家人在美國能夠運作我們自己的生意。正所謂先苦後甜。

E: Youlike taking photo with random people on the street?

我發現你很喜歡在街上和路人聊天合影？

J: Hahaha, because I’m a people’sperson. I don’t want the culture here to be scared of when an African Americanman walks up to them. So I want to be able to give a good presentation.Sometimes due to Asian culture, it’s rare for them to be up close to somebodywho is black.

哈哈哈，因爲我很平易近人。我不想這裏的人們看到非裔美國人靠近他們時會很慌，所以我要做出好的榜樣。可能因爲亞洲文化的關係，這裏的人很少會和黑人走得近。

E: Tellme about your family

說說你的家庭？

J: I have 7 brothers no sister. I’mthe second to last, yeah I know, one of the babies…I’m the first one to leaveUS and live in another country. My father is Muslim, my mother is Christian. Myfather tole me to go out loud, don’t hold back in whatever you do. they told meif I don’t come on top, I’m wasting my time. My parents are strict, and I’mglad they are as we are 8 brothers. I always try to retire my parents early, createwealth and support family. Everything I’ve done is mostly for my family.

我家有8個男孩，我排倒數第二...對..就是家裏的小屁孩兒。我是家裏第一個離開美國去國外生活的孩子。我的父親是穆斯林，母親是基督徒。他們對我們很嚴格，我很慶幸他們這麼教育我們，畢竟我們是8個男孩啊。我父親告訴我，無論做什麼事都要百分百投入，包括打橄欖球。如果我無法做到優秀，那就是在浪費時間。我一直想盡我所能給家裏提供經濟支持，創造更多財富，讓父母早點退休，享受天倫之樂。所有我在這裏做的一切幾乎都是爲了家庭。

E: What’s your favorite Chinese food?

最喜歡的中國食物是？

J: Lamb noodles and lamb sandwich. Alot of Chinese food is cooked with pork grease, I cannot eat pork at allbecause I’m muslim.

（清真餐廳的）羊肉面和羊肉餡餅。中國菜很多都放豬油，作爲穆斯林的我完全不能碰。

E: How do you train? Secret to get body in shape?

平時你自己怎麼訓練呢？有沒有保持好身材的祕密？

J:I run 6 miles a week with 40-poundweight vest. I go to weight room 5 times a week, doing intensive training.After training, I eat lamb noodles and lamb sandwich..and a hamburger..and thena protein shake with fruits. I don’t eat candies.

我每週都會穿着40磅的負重背心跑大約10公里，每週去健身房擼鐵5次。訓練結束，我會喫（最愛的）羊肉面和羊肉餡餅..再加一個漢堡..還有一杯自制蛋白粉果昔。我不喫糖果甜食。

E: Youare writing a book?

聽說你在寫一本書？

J: It is about how everybody shouldexperience (a form of) poverty to become successful. It’s important that allmen go through hard struggle in order to be able to handle this type ofpressure when they get older with their families. How do you respond to that ifyou have never been under pressure? So in order for me to experience that, Ihave to go to somewhere nobody knows me and parents cannot save me,

是的，這邊書是關於每個人該如何經歷某種形式的貧窮後獲得成功。所有人都有必要在早期經歷一些困境，這樣當他們建立家庭後就有能力處理生活中的一些壓力和重擔。如果你一直順風順水，從未遇過曲折，你要怎麼去面對這些壓力呢？對我而言，想要擁有這樣的經歷，我必須（跳出舒適圈），去一個沒人認識我的地方，一個父母無法保護我的地方。

E: Whydid you choose Titans?

爲什麼選擇泰坦？

J: I met someone from Titans in ansocial event when I first got here. He invited me to their game againstNighthawks. As the game was going, I was comparing both teams. I love red, Nighthawksis red, but family is more important than color. When I saw Titans play, I sawa lot of family bonding going on, that attracted me. On the same day, I askedwhen their practice is, then I went to the practice and that’s it.

I enjoy being humble about the game.I enjoy the teaching opportunity and watching each individual grow allthe time.

我剛到上海時在一個社交活動上遇到一個泰坦球員，後來他邀請我去看泰坦和夜鷹隊的比賽。在觀賽時，我一直在比較兩支球隊。紅色是我最愛的顏色，夜鷹隊是紅色隊服，但是家庭的感覺比顏色更重要。泰坦的球員有很多家人般的默契和聯結，這吸引了我。就在那天，我詢問了泰坦的訓練時間，後來就開始參加訓練，加入球隊了。

我享受在每一場比賽中都保持謙虛的態度。我享受泰坦給予我教學的機會，看着每一個隊友成長。

E: HowTitans changed you? Impact on you?

泰坦給你帶來了什麼變化？

J: Confidence. Once been askedquestions by local Chinese players, it was so thrill. Once experienced theculture of the team and my Chinese brothers, it gave me more confidence beforeI joined the team. It gives me consistency, because I don’t want to let themdown. It allows me to build my own schedule, I have to work out now, I have tostudy more playbooks. I’m trying to teach the team how to improve, I want themto be better than me. If I haven’t done that job, then I technically failmyself.

自信。每次隊友請教我問題時，我簡直開心到飛起。在加入泰坦之後我變得更自信了，這種自信讓我在球場上表現更穩定，因爲我不想讓我的兄弟們失望。我變得更主動要求自己，必須去鍛鍊，必須花更多時間學習戰術。我想幫助隊友們提高技術，我希望他們可以做得比我更好。如果沒能做好這個工作，那我就是失敗的。

E: Have you thought about giving up playing?

你想過放棄打球嗎？

J: When I gothurt..I don’t have medical insurance, and I’m afraid to see Chinese doctors....butwhen I want to give up, I automatically think of my family. If they were inthis situation, will they give up? Of course they won’t. The Titans family along withDatong keep me encouraged to give more than I can bear. It will bedisgrace and embarrassment to give up.

在我打球受傷時..我在中國沒有醫保，而且很怕看中國醫生。但是當我想要放棄時，我的家人就會出現在腦海中。我想象如果他們在我的處境會放棄嗎？當然不會。大同和泰坦大家庭的氛圍也讓我想要付出更多，即使有時候已經超出了我能承受的範圍。

E: Somethingto say to the team?

有什麼話要對球隊說的？

J: Everyone plays a role. But thehuge inquiry is do they know what role they play? Why they play that role?Until those questions are answered, our team will be more balanced.

Another thing is self-discipline. Self-discipline is the maker orthe breaker to finishing a plan of action.It starts with small things,such as smoking, drinking, candies…it can be a smallest candy, but if you eatthat candy, then eventually you’ll doing something big and break your plan.

每個人都在球隊裏扮演一個角色。問題是他們是否知道自己的角色？爲什麼他們是這個角色？如果大家這些問題想明白了，我們球隊會更加平衡。另一點是關於自律，所有事的成敗都是能歸結於此。對自己要求自律可以表現在任何小事上，比如抽菸，喝酒，甜食..即使你只喫了很小一顆糖，但這以後你會放任自己破壞更多規矩，最後打亂了自己的計劃。

又到了大家喜聞樂見的彩蛋問題

THA HARDEST QUESTION

在橄欖球和女朋友之間怎麼選擇？

How do you choose between girlfriend and football?

I have been a nerd all my life, no girlfriends at all untilmy sophomore year of my college. My parents were very strict with me going tocollege. In college, then I joined fraternity and became popular and thingsstart to happen. I don’t feel there’s confrontation between football andgirlfriend, but you have to make sure she knows it’s cool to have her boyfriendplaying football. Who doesn’t want to be afootball star’s girl?

我一直都是個書呆子，一直到大二才交了第一個女朋友。父母在我進大學前對我非常嚴格。進大學後，我加入了兄弟會，然後生活就不一樣了。我不覺得橄欖球和女朋友會有衝突，但是要讓她明白做一個橄欖球員的女朋友是一件很酷的事兒。誰不想當橄欖球明星身邊的女孩兒呢。