"Su, can you tell us what the 'dribbling skill' you and Kobe used on the court today?"
As the saying goes, it is better to put your mouth down first, and then drink the soup. I saw Mills asked curiously while handing the recording equipment to Su Feng.
Looking at the two middle-aged white people on the left and right, who were wretched-looking, not tall, and had cameras hanging around their necks, Su Feng thought at first that he had encountered the legendary "pervert".
However, after Mills asked, Su Feng quickly responded.
I'm being interviewed right now
It looks like it is.
So, Su Feng subconsciously straightened his back, "Are you talking about the move to the right first, then the left?"
Mills and Maxson beside him nodded.
"This trick, Kobe and I learned this trick from a friend in New York. We all call this trick 'Sam Gold'," Su Feng replied.
"'Sam Gold'? That looks like a personal name?" Mills pressed.
"Yes, because the name of the friend who created this trick is Sam Gold-Wales, and he is the captain of the La Salle Academy basketball team." Su Feng replied.
"By the way, Su, the new season is about to start. What is your school's goal for this year?" Maxson, who had never had a chance to ask questions, saw that Mills was busy making records in his notebook, so he hurriedly said.
"Our goal this year is to win the state championship. As you know, we have a very talented player like Kobe, who is literally the 'Michael Jordan' of high school basketball." Su, who wanted to brag about himself. Feng hurriedly said solemnly after catching a glimpse of Kobe passing by out of the corner of his eye.
"What about your personal future goals?" Maxson asked casually.
"Me?" Su Feng scratched his head, then replied, "I want to fight NA."
Hearing Su Feng's answer, Maxson was stunned for a while, and then hurriedly glanced at Mills who was still recording.
fine!
Fortunately, this second goods did not hear!
Big news!
I didn't expect to ask such a big baby out of my casual question!
While Sam Gold is well worth reporting in Maxson's view,...
During the previous investigation, Maxson made the investigation of Su Feng's background clear.
After all, as a professional basketball reporter, in Maxson's view, if you interview an athlete, the first three sentences are "What's your name?", "Can you introduce yourself?", "What do you think your What are the characteristics?" …
It's better not to ask...
Because that's too amateur.
If the interviewer needs to answer everything, why should the reporter do it
Although his mouth is not as fast as Mills, Maxson, who has a very keen sense of news, knows that perhaps the really explosive news is in his hands at this time!
Because the Chinese student in front of me...he wants to play NA!
And in Maxson's view, it's not impossible.
After watching Su Feng's two games in a row, even Maxson is optimistic about Su Feng's future.
Although Su Feng wants to enter NA in the future, it will be difficult, but...
What if he did
As a photojournalist for the sports section of the Philadelphia Evening News, Maxson is well aware of the character of his editor-in-chief, Johansson.
Johansson is a complete gambler, willing to bet with a 1% chance.
"The editor-in-chief will definitely agree to release this news! Although this news is likely to be ridiculed by colleagues in a short period of time, if Su Weiwei really scores NA... Then, we will be the first to report this news. News media!"
Although he is 47 years old this year, the ideal of journalism has always been Maxson's lifelong pursuit.
Maxson is very clear that if this news becomes a reality in the future, the news published by the "Philadelphia Evening News" will be the first, exclusive, and a report that others cannot copy!
"Su, can I take a picture for you?" Maxson smiled at Su Feng.
For some reason, Su Feng always felt that the reporter's smile was quite wretched...
However, Su Feng didn't think much about it, because Maxson and Mills both reported their families during the interview.
These two newspapers, Su Feng, have read them after crossing the road, and they are all serious newspapers.
Shouldn't be messing around... eh
Click!
In this way, Maxson took a photo of Su Feng sitting on the bench holding a basketball.
On the other hand, Mills interviewed Kobe with the same question after interviewing Su Feng. Obviously, he was very interested in Sam Gold's trick.
"Alas... my precious first interview!"
There are always many firsts in life.
Su Feng originally thought that reporters would not pay attention to him until after the start of the main game. What he never expected was that reporters had already come to the door before the main game started.
"Don't think too much, they're not here to feature you, trust me, they're just interested in 'Sam Gold'."
Looking at Su Feng who was a little narcissistic, Kobe felt that he needed to tie Su Feng to wake him up.
"Yes." Su Feng nodded, feeling that what Kobe said made sense.
So, Kobe really deserves to be an essential tool for basketball practice... Cough, an essential partner.
Not only can I accompany you in special training, but also help you with psychological counseling to prevent you from being overly inflated and unable to see yourself clearly.
In his heart, Su Feng silently gave Kobe a big thumbs up.
…
Five days have passed since Lower Merion's game against Chester High School.
New York, Fifth Avenue, Olympic Building, NA Headquarters.
"David, I suggest you look at our financial statements, financial estimates..."
"David, if the ratings continue to drop, I'm afraid we won't be able to..."
"David..."
"Okay, let's go here first."
After scolding the United States in his heart, NA President David Stern rubbed his temples and glanced out the window for a long time...
Alas, another difficult year!
If I had to use one sentence to describe the mood of the little Jewish old man Stern at this time, it would probably be:
I'm....too.....difficult... too!
You know, for NA, who is in the middle of the other three major sports leagues in North America at this time, how difficult is NA's situation
Because the players are constantly on the field with bad actions and swear words, even many American parents have publicly expressed their desire to boycott NA to prevent their children from learning badly.
At this time, Stern knew better than anyone that basketball was no match for football or even baseball in the United States.
NA needs new audiences.
A huge overseas market is needed.
Therefore, in 1992, after professional players could play in the Olympics, Stern immediately called on the stars to play for the country.
It can be said that in Barcelona, the demeanor of the Dream Team allowed countries around the world to experience the charm of NA for the first time.
but... ...
Everything that happened next, Stern always felt that he had taken the wrong script.
Because it was agreed that the line will be pushed horizontally next, NA will lead a simple and boring life under his leadership
No!
Not at all!
In the 1990s, this time was no different than the future. Except for a few players, most European basketball players were not interested in joining NA.
One of the most famous is the king of Europe, the "white magician" - Bodi Loga.
Because in the eyes of Bodi Loga, I can make a lot of money playing in Europe, why do I have to go to NA
As one of the representatives of basketball in Europe at this time, even Bodiloga has such an idea. It is conceivable how limited the appeal of NA is to European players.
So Stern is too hard.
But it doesn't matter, as a vigorous president, even if the European market is temporarily closed, Stern will not give up.
Because Stern discovered a new continent in NA's overseas market—
China.
When studying China's basketball history, Stern found that China's history of playing basketball is almost as long as that of North America, and even in the 1936 Berlin Olympics, the old China at that time also sent a basketball team.
And these histories made Stern realize that China has a far better basketball foundation than Europe.
Because the center of world football is in Europe, even if NA can intervene in the European market, its influence is very limited.
But China is different.
So, in 1986, despite everyone's opposition, Stern, who insisted that China would become the largest basketball market outside the United States in the future, mailed a few boxes of NA video tapes to China's Datianchao TV station.
In Stern's view, although China was still in a state of waste at that time, he firmly believed that China would rise, and NA must enter the Chinese market as soon as possible.
In 1989, in order to further promote NA to China, Stern once again defied all opposition.
This time, the little old Jewish man took NA's video tape again and went to China alone.
Outside the Datianchao TV building, which was still very old at the time, Stern waited for two hours because he didn't make an appointment, and the young Jewish old man met the sports leader of Datianchao TV at that time.
In the end, Stern moved Datianchao TV with his sincerity, and if Stern's experience is described in a more modern way, it should probably be like this:
Stern: Our NA here is pretty good, with Jordan, big dreams, sharks...
Datianchao TV: But our programs are all arranged.
Stern: That's okay, it really doesn't work, you can broadcast it as a commercial!
Datianchao TV: Advertising? If you talk about this, I won't be sleepy. By the way, when it comes to advertising, how much are you going to pay
Stern: ORZ.
It can be said that Stern's process of opening the entire Chinese market is very difficult, but at the same time, all this also proves Stern's vision.
In Su Feng's previous life, this little old Jewish man was basically correct except that he didn't take into account the various decisions made by the emperor.
Stern does not have the ability to see foretells, but he is full of sincerity.
In the early days of the cooperation with Datianchao TV, in Stern's own words: Don't talk to me about money, talk about money, hurt feelings.
So, just like this, in the 93/94 season, NA officially invited Datianchao TV to broadcast the NA All-Star Weekend.
After that, every year Datianchao TV will broadcast the NA All-Star Game live.
until... ...
In the future, some mental retardation who thinks that all this is insignificant and can be avoided will appear...
"Alas, although the cooperation with China has taken shape, there is still a lack of a bridge between us and China."
Although Stern has never seen China's Internet, the president knows better than anyone that if he wants to really open up the Chinese market, then NA must have Chinese players.
Because Stern, who has worked hard in Chinese culture, knows that this... is called a sense of substitution.
Just like a certain author named Shui Shortqiao always likes to write handsome protagonists, isn't that all to make readers feel more immersive
In Su Feng's previous life, in addition to the well-known Wang Zhizhi, Battelle, and Yao Ming, in fact, during this period, the NA team also sent an invitation to Hu Weidong, nicknamed "China Jordan".
Because Datianchao TV felt that it should have a relationship with NA, so after CA was established, Datianchao TV also mailed a collection video of CA to NA.
Later, after the video was broadcast, Americans became interested in the tall and thin Chinese defender.
Because of his gorgeous style of play, he can fly and dunk.
Ahem... that seems to be going too far.
Let's be honest.
worry!
worry!
worry!
Who can know the sorrow in my heart
And just as Stern was drinking bitter coffee and feeling the depression in his heart, suddenly...
Someone knocked on the door.
"Please come in." Stern sorted out his emotions. After all, as a president, you have to have a president fan. How can you be depressed
"David...I have a newspaper here, would you like to read it?" A senior executive in a gray suit who looked a bit Asian said to Stern with a newspaper in his hand.
"Mark, I don't think I'm in the mood to read the newspaper right now," Stern said, looking at Mark.
"No, no, I think you have to take a look." Mark put the newspaper in front of Stern regardless of Stern's objection.
"Huh?" Looking at the headline of the newspaper, Stern was stunned for a while...
"China's first NA player? 》
Stern felt that his eyes seemed to be flowered, but... He said obviously wearing glasses.
The Philadelphia Evening News
"Isn't it a player of the Chinese men's basketball national team?"
"Su, Su Feng? Pennsylvania... Lower Merion?"
Looking at Stern who kept sending him various question mark emojis, Mark smiled: "This report is about a Chinese student at Lower Merion High School in Philadelphia."
"The newspaper mainly introduced some deeds of the Chinese student, as well as his playing characteristics and the data of the last few friendly matches."
Hearing what Mark said, Stern frowned, "Friendly match? What about his data for the first and second year of high school? Why isn't there on that."
"David, this Chinese player named Su, has never played in a high school league before," Mark said.
"If they didn't show up, they dared to..."
Originally, Stern wanted to say that a player who did not even make an official appearance, this newspaper dared to write that
"It's strange here, because according to my investigation, the Philadelphia Evening News is a fairly serious newspaper."
"But almost the entire industry laughed at them after they made this report."
"Because in the eyes of peers in the industry, no matter how good the Chinese genius is, they should report on him after he has played a full season."
"And the writer of this article, Maxson, used nine consecutive "I think" in the last paragraph at the end of the article to affirm the strength of the Chinese student."
"As a result, the industry feels even more that this report is unrealistic and just wants to hype." Mark told Stern.
actually... ...
Not only these so-called industry insiders feel that...
Stern felt the same way after reading the entire report and listening to Markle's explanation...
"So, Mark, today is not April Fool's Day." Stern said weakly looking at Mark.
"No, David, if it's just like this, I don't find it strange. After all, this kind of hype can often be seen." As he said, Mark took out another newspaper.
"Pennsylvania High School Basketball League's Amazing Skill - Sam Gold"
"This is also a very popular report in the past two days, and ESN has broadcast this video yesterday afternoon." As he said, Mark took out another box of videotapes. (Are you a robot cat?)
Soon, in Stern's office, Stern watched this scene on videotape:
In the picture, a yellow guard swayed his opponent with a dribbling technique that Stern had never seen before and completed a three-point shot, and then a black guard completed the offense in the same way just now. …
"I remember this kid at No. 33, it's called Kobe, right? His dad's name is Joe, and he's a former NA player." Stern looked at Mark and said.
"Yes, that's right, David, do you know who the player who appeared first in this video is?" Mark asked rhetorically.
Stern shook his head, then immediately opened his eyes.
"He is Su, the Chinese genius high school student Su mentioned in the report written by Maxson."
"Although I don't know if he can play NA, after all, there is too little information that can be obtained just by watching this video."
"But David...I think, this may be an opportunity." Mark said, looking at Stern.
Stern knew what Mark meant.
NA and the Chinese market have always lacked a bridge.
And now...
What if this talented high school student named Su Feng could build this bridge
In Stern's view, it doesn't matter if he can't play NA in the future.
Find a way to open a back door for him, let him come to NA for trial training, and find a team to let him play in the summer league is also a way!
Stern felt his mood suddenly improved.
And at this moment, Su Feng, who was training hard one-on-one with Kobe in Philadelphia, never dreamed of it...
The big guy has already written down his name in his notebook.
…
S: There are a lot of pits in this chapter, so it is relatively long. The next chapter will explain it in detail. Continue to ask for recommended tickets, collections, and, are there any big guys who have a crush on me? Um? Chimi