Chapter 612 - 612: Technology Hero?

On thursday, October 2, 2008, after the media days concluded, TNT's related programs resumed, and NBA TV also announced its broadcast guests for the new season.

Based on previous years' experience, media day was usually just for photos and interviews, but this year was different.

Many sports reporters were looking for fun, and they really found it!

The Phoenix Suns officially announced a change in Head Coach in mid-September.

At the media day at the end of the month, new coach Terry Porter didn't receive much attention.

Instead, O'Neal became the center of attention again.

Shaquille O'Neal toured everywhere during the offseason, with videos of him rapping at famous nightclubs constantly emerging each week.

As for the song content, Kobe fans would be instantly enraged upon hearing it:

Lyrics like "He can't do anything without me" were considered friendly.

Various elaborate insults were basically direct taunts.

And on media day, when asked about the matter, O'Neal even showed a confused expression, and in front of everyone, he said with utmost sincerity:

"I sent an apology text to my little brother a long time ago, but he never replied to me."

"But I know him. That means he has forgiven my free performance."

Many sports reporters were baffled.

What kind of logic is this?

No reply means forgiveness?

The arrival of a new coach meant a change in tactics, but the Phoenix Suns didn't give a definite answer.

Shaq was still the starting center, meaning they might start to slow down.

Originally, some wanted to discuss the tactical changes, but unfortunately, not many people were interested.

Most reporters, instead, were stirring up trouble and provoking Shaq:

"Shaq, Kobe believes the gold medal is more important than the Larry O'Brien. He never took off this medal on the plane back to the United States."

"It is said that the feeling of this championship far exceeded that of winning the award back then."

TNT reporters were very active on media day, leading the provocation.

Shaq shook his head and smiled continuously, and under everyone's gaze, he once again teased his little brother:

"I don't know why he would say that. He won championships with my help back then, and now my little brothers Dwyane Wade and LeBron are playing the same role!"

"Kobe is never the best player on the team!"

"The Team USA is like a bus full of superstars he is still just a passenger, he can never be the driver!"

"..."

In just two days, Shaq's "bus theory" became popular throughout the NBA circle.

Some fans even made funny pictures, with Kobe sitting in the back of a bus image virally spreading on the internet.

Some pranksters even dragged Lee into it.

Pictures of "tank driver" Lee crashing the "Lakers bus" spread even faster, with crying images of Kobe and Duncan constantly appearing in Reddit posts.

The first episode of TNT's new season aired that night.

Originally, the plan was to promote the overseas preseason games, but Shaq suddenly stirred things up, and the production team adjusted the broadcast schedule.

First, they gave fans a preview: the Knicks and the Hornets would hold a preseason game next Wednesday at the O2 Arena in the UK.

Then they talked about the China Games, but there wasn't much related content.

It wasn't until the trio commented on the latest gossip that a joyful atmosphere quickly filled the studio.

Kenny Smith clearly couldn't hold back.

The picture of Lee "destroying" the bus made many staff members laugh out loud.

Shaq's description was very apt.

"I want to apologize to Lakers fans. I really love this picture created by New York fans!"

"I respect every player, but I also want to share joy with the fans in front of the TV."

The constantly switching pictures made Charles Barkley grin widely, unable to stop laughing.

When he saw the director playing the Lakers' media day interview, he immediately commented with a laugh:

"The gold medal is great, but for the Dream Team, they should have easily won the game!"

"In Barcelona, we rarely trained back then. We went shopping, played cards, and fully displayed our talents in games. Superstars do these things."

"Kobe is the captain, and his salary is the highest on the team, but his performance is not the best."

"I agree with Phil Jackson's view that the Lakers have not completely gotten rid of their soft emotions. They played like a bunch of softies in the Finals."

"The Celtics performed better than them in some aspects. Kevin Garnett is a true tough guy!"

A few days ago, at the Celtics' media day, the "The Big Four" made a collective appearance.

Kevin Garnett vowed to "avenge" with a fierce look, and his tough demeanor earned unanimous praise from commentators.

Ernie Johnson had long known his partner was a flip-flopper.

A few years ago, he mocked Kevin Garnett, saying "big men shouldn't jump shot," but now he started speaking favorably of him:

"Do you think Boston has a chance to go further? I have to say, Stephon Marbury's hard training in the offseason has paid off. His physical condition looks excellent."

Fans who hadn't followed the newspapers now saw Stephon Marbury's bulging muscles on TNT's show.

He had completely shed his "tanking demeanor" and was completely different from his time with the Atlanta Hawks.

"Hard to say! But Stephon Marbury's condition makes me believe in the Celtics' efforts during the offseason."

"Kevin Garnett's arrival indeed transformed this team."

Kenny Smith didn't comment much.

He could guess that Stephon Marbury used "technology."

From the released training footage, the former star's reaction speed and strength had changed.

Boston fans called the hardworking Stephon Marbury a "hero" fighting against "evil," and many were very moved.

After all, Stephon Marbury's salary was not high, yet he worked so hard for a championship, which showed that he had completely integrated into the Celtics' team culture.

Some meticulous fans even dug up comparison photos, showing Stephon Marbury and Dwyane Wade's swollen physiques looking abnormal, but these voices were quickly drowned out.

Most fans would automatically ignore these details.

What they looked forward to were "superheroes" who transcended human limits, not "techno-warriors."

No fan would actively break this beautiful fantasy.

Charles Barkley also quickly changed the subject, not wanting to talk much.

There was too much material.

The show couldn't cover it all:

"Kenny is right, I also want to praise those players who trained hard in the offseason, but some guys don't get my respect, Tracy McGrady, he's still injured!"

"I don't know why he would say, 'I don't need to play any preseason games, I don't know when I'll be back on the court.'"

"He should apologize to the fans! After coming to Houston, he disappointed the fans' expectations."

Tracy McGrady's shoulder injury had recovered 80%, and now he was saying on media day that he was still bothered by a knee injury.

Coupled with Yao Ming's foot injury, after the Houston Rockets' media day ended, some fans started selling tickets, and many no longer had expectations for the new season.

The trio began introducing the situations of various teams to the fans, making it easier for everyone to understand the inside story:

The Washington Wizards became the first team to be fined in the new season.

In mid-September, Gilbert Arenas underwent knee surgery and refused interviews on media day, ultimately being fined $15,000.

The team's management was also stunned by this bewildering operation, and what made fans feel even more outrageous was that Gilbert Arenas didn't communicate with his teammates after the surgery.

Antawn Jamison and others finally complained publicly:

"We must know if Gilbert will return to the court this season!"

6 years, $110 million —although Gilbert Arenas didn't get a max contract, it wasn't cheap.

Considering his bold words before signing, fans who saw this news felt they had been deceived.

The Celtics were still working hard in the free market.

Perkins underwent left shoulder surgery during the offseason and was very likely to miss the opening game against the New York Knicks.

Lamar Odom publicly stated to the media that he accepted Duncan's suggestion and was willing to be the team's Sixth Man.

Los Angeles media unanimously praised this move, but on Media Day, Kobe did not talk much about his teammate's sacrifice.

Instead, he proactively stated his desire:

"I long to meet New York again in the Finals. You know, after one failure, there is usually extra motivation!"

"After the surgery, I recovered very well, and we will get home-court advantage."

Regarding Kobe's bold words, the trio just smiled.

Like most basketball commentators, everyone didn't believe Mamba's words, but Duncan was too low-key, which also disappointed the onlookers.

Most teams were just making minor adjustments, but the Grizzlies made a heavy strike.

Unlike the low-key Thunder, they continuously offered bids in the free market.

Although they ultimately only traded for Mark Gasol from the San Antonio Spurs, fans were very satisfied with the team's active attitude in strengthening the roster.

They had already accumulated excellent talent!

At the end of the TNT program, Ernie Johnson suddenly announced a piece of news that surprised New York fans:

"Rajon Rondo has postponed contract negotiations."

"He is very likely to become a restricted free agent after his rookie contract ends, and agent Bill Duffy said Rajon Rondo needs a starting commitment."

"David Lee is also seeking a trade. Currently, the closest to him is San Francisco, but the Warriors have not officially responded."

On Friday, October 3rd, at the Axe Capital headquarters in Greenwich, Lee leisurely read the newspaper in his office early in the morning.

Before 9 o'clock, most of the seats outside were already filled, and his family members were all working hard.

Since they were flying to the UK on sunday, the team ended their training session early.

For the New York Knicks, the purpose of the preseason was to find and select starters.

Attitude was more important than results.

The glass door of the office was knocked, and soon Wendy Rhoades, in a white professional suit, poked her head in.

Hearing Lee's laughter, she immediately pushed the door open:

"Don't laugh at my clothes, Lee, do you have time? Let's talk about recent investments."

Wendy, feigning anger, quickly sat down at the desk.

After giving birth, her attire became more conservative, completely different from the vibrant young women in the company, which was also due to her family.

While the girls pursued fashion, she dressed like a "middle-aged woman," but since her husband was about to be promoted, Wendy could only cooperate by presenting the image of a "virtuous wife and good mother."

"Congratulations, Wendy, the election is over, and Chuck is the Special Prosecutor for the Southern District of the Federation! It's a pity we can't send a gift."

In a black shirt and black trousers, Lee put down the newspaper and stood up to pour her a cup of coffee.

Having known her for almost 8 years, Wendy was not polite, but said regretfully:

"Is Kim leaving? That's a shame. She's done so well in Bronx all these years."

Lee shook his head.

No matter how good the work performance, if the identity was wrong, it wouldn't work.

Public opinion was one-sided, Obama would replace people after winning the election, and the Special Prosecutor's Office would naturally be affected:

"Have you done the assessment?

"Everyone's enthusiasm for work is higher than I imagined, maybe you are right, there will be a bonus for you at Christmas."

Wendy's face flushed slightly, and she unnaturally tucked her black hair behind her ear.

Because she had been under immense pressure these past two years, assessing the psychological state of employees was particularly important.

To help relax, Lee had long suggested music and fitness, but Wendy, as a psychologist, objected and also offered her own suggestion:

"Sex."

Facts proved that Wendy's suggestion was very effective for young employees.

Those silver parties indeed released pressure and had now become regular events, with various forms.

"You can look at the report when you have time. What I want to say is about the assessment of Elon Musk. From his experience, he has always been wary of capital like ours."

"On the day the rocket launch was successful, I was also there. I think he is more inclined to cooperate with his former colleagues. He still lacks trust in us."

Assessing the psychological state of founders was also Wendy's responsibility.

These years, she had helped the company avoid some risks, which was why she could receive a high salary and trust.

Lee merely raised an eyebrow.

Last month, on the 28th, the Falcon rocket successfully launched, and Space X achieved great success.

Elon Musk's persistence in his dream paid off, making him a "superhero in aerospace technology."

"We just need to gain a voice on the board of directors. Do you think he will be influenced by women?"

Wendy was already accustomed to Lee's somewhat erratic questions.

After stating that more contact and assessment were needed, she gave her answer.

Seeing her somewhat unnatural expression, Lee merely chuckled.

Using beautiful women to bring down competitors was a common tactic in the past, but now they had to keep up with the times:

"We are really optimistic about him. Now everyone is just worried that Goldman Sachs might try to squeeze us out in the future."

Large investment banks wield immense influence.

Sometimes, investing does not mean gaining profit, as they can always use financial means to push some investors out.

The two soon discussed moving.

The company would expand next year and would need to re-select a location.

Lee was indifferent to this, but his family was already used to Greenwich, so changing headquarters would be a bit troublesome.

Wendy, leaving the office, breathed a sigh of relief and smiled as she greeted everyone.

She was far from as relaxed as she appeared.

To release pressure, she even played "bondage" with her husband after returning home.

On the other side, Lee was again reading the newspaper in his office.

Seeing Nacho, wearing a floral shirt, enter, he immediately chuckled:

"Find a few girls to approach them. We'll prepare in advance!"

The more mature Nacho frowned slightly.

Wendy's husband's promotion, he thought, was a good thing, but he didn't expect Lee to already be guarding against her:

"Will she betray the company?"

"No, she just knows too much. I don't want to be jointly searched by the Special Prosecutor's Office and the SEC in a few years! In the future, we'll return to New Mexico!"

Lee glanced at his true good brother, who understood immediately and no longer hesitated.

He was responsible for the company's security, and no one wanted to see their good days disappear.

On sunday, October 5th, a large number of New York reporters surrounded Rajon Rondo before he boarded the plane.

Since the news broke, many fans were angry, considering it a betrayal.

Rajon Rondo, dressed in athletic wear and carrying a small bag, heard the crowd's questions and finally explained with his head held high:

"I thank Clay Lee for his guidance, but I want a starting position more. I believe I have the ability to lead the team to contend for a championship!"

"During my rookie contract, I will give my all."

....

By the way, don't forget to throw power stones and leave a review to motivate me :)