NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 352: Making Money (Daily Chapter)
July 2004, 7, Miami ushered in "Shaq Day" on this day.

Although many football critics are not optimistic about O'Neal's future and believe that the league's number one center is on the decline, O'Neal's influence is real, and the whole city is cheering for his arrival.

To welcome the arrival of the sharks, thousands of fans gathered near the American Airlines Arena in downtown Miami.

Helicopters were hovering overhead, and the TV station would not let this hot spot go, so it naturally had to broadcast the entire event.

"South Florida welcomes Shaq", remote control planes were also flying around, and the hanging slogans were particularly eye-catching.

A large number of fans wearing black and red T-shirts were waiting eagerly on the streets and lawns. As it approached 9 o'clock, the scene became particularly noisy.

Soon, screams came from the crowd, and a white 18-wheel super truck drove up from the other end of the road. As the vehicle slowed down, two sturdy bodyguards began to get out of the car in advance to maintain order.

The cheers grew louder, and as the bodyguard came to the passenger door, O'Neal, wearing a black T-shirt and white shorts, squeezed out of the car with difficulty.

In order to show off, the somewhat obese O'Neal squeezed into the somewhat cramped passenger seat and looked a bit funny.

But as the bodyguard handed over a water gun, O'Neal screamed and "fired" at the crowd, and the scene instantly boiled.

In order to welcome the arrival of the league's number one center, the stage had been set up long ago. As O'Neal took the stage, the host wearing a red Heat jersey couldn't stand it any longer. He took the microphone and said excitedly:
"Shaq, our mayor, Mr. Perez, plans to give you a gift!"

O'Neal, who was pretending to be a "Terminator" in front of the fans, shot water all over the nearby sports media, and then followed the police who were clearing the way and walked towards the arena.

“Here in Miami, we usually give a key to great people, but we thought you deserved a special, huge key!”

"Los Angeles is safe? Why do you guys only play in your garage?"

O'Neal smiled from ear to ear, and soon a staff member gave him another gift, one purple, one red, and two traditional Cuban T-shirts.

Miami Mayor Alex Pelez, wearing a light gray formal suit, took the velvet black box from the staff, took the microphone and said to O'Neill:

Los Angeles fans don't like New York. As a traditional powerhouse, the championship flag above the arena also gives fans a complete sense of superiority.

As the cheers resumed, a huge O'Neal poster appeared on the front wall of the American Airlines Arena:
"Shaq in Black!"

"We believe your arrival will have a huge impact on the Miami community, and we believe you will bring an NBA championship to Miami!"

Cultural differences prevent American sports media from understanding some official events, but tens of thousands of fans participate in every city they visit, which also makes many sports commentators realize Li You's influence.

After some bragging, everyone on the stage turned around together, and the host led thousands of fans to start counting down and shouting:

"On behalf of the Miami City Hall, I declare that today is Shaq Day for Superman and Disel Power!"

As a superstar, in addition to making money, you also have to pretend to be X!

The huge key made of plastic was very beautiful. After receiving this special gift, O'Neal smiled brightly and waved the key to greet the fans. Applause and cheers rang out again.

Fans in New York and Los Angeles started to fight on the map, and the two sides had another fierce battle.
This is not the first time that fans from both sides are at odds. Madison Square Garden is a basketball mecca, and New York fans are very proud of it. The city's basketball atmosphere is extremely strong.

"Quite simply, New York is not a safe city!"

Both sides dislike each other. Since the number of fans surfing the Internet has increased, the two sides often quarrel, one in the east and the other in the west, and map cannons are also common occurrences.
Li You who travels to Asia is usually received by local basketball association officials. This is different from Europe and the United States, where there are more official activities.

After getting the respect he wanted, O'Neal also expressed his attitude of wanting to integrate into the city, shouting loudly in somewhat jerky Spanish:
"thank you all!"

Taking advantage of the warm atmosphere at the scene, the staff of the city hall took another framed certificate and took this opportunity to introduce loudly:

The American sports media did not expect that the Heat would hold such a welcoming ceremony for O'Neal.

In recent days, apart from the news about O'Neal, the rest is about Li You's raid on Singapore's outdoor basketball court.

There are many Latinos in the area, and when they heard O'Neill's words, the crowd screamed even louder.

ESPN released a photo of Li You with thousands of fans. This news made some New York fans feel sour:
"Why doesn't Lee show off his skills at Rucker Park!"

"10, 9, 8, .1!"

The fans responded with shouts one after another. O'Neal was obviously very satisfied with the welcome ceremony. At this time, he blew X again:

"Yes, I will bring a championship to Miami, I promise you that!"

"Hooks will offer Lee a lifetime contract which will bring us closer together!"

Pepsi-Cola originally planned to have a show in China, but it was not approved until Singapore.

"Shaq, you are now officially welcome to Miami!"

"Hello Shaq!"

Looking at his huge poster, O'Neal's face was full of pride.

"Hello Miami! I said, hello - Miami!"

In a state of excitement, O'Neal took the phone and shouted:

After changing clothes on the spot, the happy O'Neal began to walk around the stage like a model, posing for photos, which made the cheers louder.

Pepsi's event was rarely very interesting. There was no script. Li You used makeup to sneak into the stadium. In the end, the melon-eating crowd gathered around and completely ignited the atmosphere of the scene.

"Thank you for welcoming me, I will remember this wonderful moment!"

Of course, the most talked about thing is the recent statement made by Hook founder Phil Knight to the media:
"Michael Jordan was the cornerstone of Hook's success, and Lee allowed us to expand our reach."

The "Shark Show" ended perfectly. After the grand welcome ceremony, O'Neal had to go to the arena to complete the press conference.

“Because we prefer to be active with our families!”

The same skin color brings more sense of identity. In short, the event was successful and it was a very good attempt.

During the Finals, although O'Neal was very efficient, he was stretched visibly on the defensive end.

Although Phil Knight plans to leave the CEO position this year, the founder's influence on the board of directors is unquestionable.

A beautiful knife is the best form of respect. When talking about this matter on the TNT program, Charles Barkley made sarcastic remarks, always thinking that he was born in the wrong era.

Personal news, national team news, at the end of July, as the US men's basketball warm-up match approached, people began to discuss the Olympics.

Kobe Bryant, who became the leader of the Lakers, did not get the attention he expected.

Most sports critics are not optimistic about them. Although the Lakers are very humane and provided Divac with a contract, for fans who want to win sports, this signing is just a stretch.
On July 7, the Celtics traded Chucky Atkins, Jumaine Jones, and Chris Mihm to the Lakers:
In the end, they got Rick Fox, Gary Payton, and a 2006 first-round draft pick.

Two veterans were cleared, and one of Kobe's old teammates was missing.

Kobe, who was immersed in training, was not satisfied with the deal, but recently he had to travel to Denver to continue solving the problem of illegal invasion, so he was in no mood to continue complaining about the Lakers.

On the evening of July 7, Li You, who had just returned to Manhattan, attended the charity star game that night.

Compared to the somewhat aloof Michael Jordan, Li You's Asia trip was quite down-to-earth.

Maikou went to Taipei to meet fans at the end of May, and only stayed for 5 hours in total;

I signed an autograph and met with the fans for two minutes. At the press conference, reporters were limited to asking only 4 questions.
It was the same when I went to Hong Kong. The local media used the term "whirlwind visit", which was obviously dissatisfied with Meiko.

Li You didn't have these worries, because he didn't go there at all. This was also to save face for Mai Qiao, otherwise the two would definitely be compared.

Madison Square Garden is not only the home of the Knicks, but also the home of the Rangers.

Tonight's event is to raise funds for the poor communities in downtown, and most of the attendees are local New York entertainers and sports stars.

Before the event started at 19 o'clock, a large number of sports media gathered in front of Li You.

Li You, who has been busy for most of the month, had to smile again. A New York Times reporter asked about the Heat in the new season:

"Lee, after O'Neal joined the Heat, did this affect the pattern of the Eastern Conference?"

Not only the Heat, as the new players gradually enter their peak period, the Cavaliers and Pistons are visibly increasing in strength.

Kenyon Martin was traded, and the Nets, an old rival, seemed to have weakened a lot, but as long as Kidd was there, they were still pretty sure of a playoff spot.

Li You still didn't know that Miami held a grand welcome ceremony for O'Neal, but after hearing the question, he immediately answered confidently:
"It won't be affected too much. Considering our age structure, the team has a huge advantage in terms of game experience."

"We know how to win championships and we know how to play the right way."

"The Heat still need to solve the rotation problem, and by the way, maybe they have to consider injuries. Next season, the Knicks will continue to win the championship!"

At the press conference two days ago, local Miami sports media also asked about O'Neal's physical condition.

O'Neal's weight has reached 345 pounds. A fat man weighing more than 300 pounds declared in front of the media that he would not lose weight. He plausibly said:

"I was in the best physical condition at 345 pounds. I must have enough muscle and fat on my body because I need to fight on the inside!"

"No one can force me to eat salad, cucumbers, and chicken breasts all day long. Don't ask me to lose weight, otherwise I will definitely kill him!"

The Knicks' attendance rate has been very good in recent years, which is related to the depth of the lineup. Therefore, when Li You talked about health and injury issues, everyone looked convinced.

Although many sports commentators are saying that the new generation will defeat the Knicks, considering Li You's age, no one believes this.

Since the mid-level exception has been used up, it has been difficult for the Knicks to make reinforcements. However, there are still sports media issues regarding the lineup for the new season.

"Derek is outstanding. We have played against each other many times in the Finals. He has the ability to serve as the starting point guard for any team!"

"He's coming in to help the bench, and I don't think any team can match the rotation the Knicks have."

Li You praised Fisher, who had just joined the team, and "Little Fish" sent him a text message after the finals, expressing his willingness to play as a substitute.

Everyone could see that Li You was very satisfied with the deal. After thinking about it, he felt that Fisher was indeed good. After all, he had been the starting point guard of the Lakers for many years.

Before the event started, Ken Griffin also brought his wife Anne Dias forward to greet Li You.

Li You pulled Jin and Milinda forward to greet them. They were talking and laughing, and their relationship seemed very close.

The reporter from the Chicago Tribune did not bother him, but just talked bitterly to his colleagues beside him:

“Last year’s Forbes 400, both Lee and Griffin’s net worths were estimated to be over $6.5 million.” “No wonder New York game tickets are so expensive, there are not many opportunities to watch billionaires play on the court!”

Every year, Forbes magazine releases a list of the 400 richest Americans. After it was released in September last year, Li You appeared on the list.

It was this list that made Li You reject most interviews and talk shows.

There are many people who hate the rich. Li You has no interest in talking about personal wealth issues on the show.
Perhaps this sentence resonated with everyone. Most sports reporters were sour. Several people from the Los Angeles Times suddenly whispered:
"I have long said that Li is not a pure basketball player at all. He lacks love for this sport!"

"But Lee won 6 championships, he is the best in history!"

"Hell, one champion is enough, the fans focus on the process of chasing victory!"

"No wonder you keep losing. New York fans are used to attending championship parades in June. We don't care about the process. We just like to party in victory."

This kind of rhetoric has happened many times, Willis Reed defeated Chamberlain, Walter Frazier defeated West;
The wins in the past few years are like going back to the 70s last season, when the East Coast once again defeated the West Coast.

On Friday the 23rd, the New York media were reporting on the charity event held at Madison Square Garden last night, which raised more than 200 million for the poor communities in downtown.

The money will be used to improve the educational environment for young people. Li You personally donated US$50 and won the title of "Great Benevolent Person".

Heading into the weekend, the Cavaliers made another trade:
Kedrick Brown and Kevin Ollie were traded from the 76ers to acquire Eric Snow.

This transaction is obviously an implementation of coach Van Gundy's tactical philosophy. The Cavaliers must become a defensive team!

Most ball commentators still gave favorable reviews to this deal. After all, Eric Snow proved himself with the 76ers.

A 31-year-old point guard with experience in the Eastern Conference Finals, Eric Snow has a high probability of helping the team.

Some people don't like this deal. As Van Gundy's confidant, Charlie Ward only feels aggrieved. There is a high probability that his starting point guard position will be gone again.

However, in an interview with local sports media in Cleveland, Charlie Ward stated his position very generously:
"I am willing to take on any role in the team. In the Cavaliers, we play for each other and our relationship is like family!"

Van Gundy was busy replenishing the team's lineup, and naturally he had no time to comfort Charlie Ward, whose physical condition was declining.

Fans didn't react much after reading the report. During the bad period, Charlie Ward was a dribbling defender. Naturally, such a role is not worthy of fans' attention.

Charlie Ward, who did not get the comfort he expected and threw himself in the training hall, was very depressed. He really wanted to shout to the coaching staff:
"I played a role in the Cavaliers' failure!"

Before the weekend, many sports media began to report on the US men's basketball team.

Due to some differences in the rules of international basketball and the NBA, in less than a month, the coaching staff did not emphasize these issues too much, but allowed the players to become familiar with each other.

When asked by reporters about rules, Larry Brown put on airs again:
"I have no interest in educating players about the rules in such a short period of time!"

"Instead of learning the rules, it's better to think about how to activate the players' physical condition. Adding shooting training is much more useful than introducing the rules."

Since Larry Brown has emphasized more than once that he will use more experienced veterans, Hill and Duncan naturally received more attention.

In the training camp, Hill was very popular, Iverson always had a bitter look on his face, and Marbury was still worried about his contract.

The two stars of the 96 class failed to take on the leadership task, and Hill naturally had the say in the team.

During the interview, when he heard Larry Brown’s plan to fight against the main force, Hill just laughed in a low voice, and then said confidently:
"We completely obey the instructions of the coaching staff. Through these few days of training, the young players have gradually won the trust of the head coach."

"If I need to take on more tasks in key games, I am willing to accept such a challenge!"

In addition to Hill and Duncan, Dwyane Wade has attracted much attention recently.

O'Neal emphasized many times during the interview at the press conference:
"The Heat is Wade's team, I'm just his brother, I will help him become a superstar like Lee!"

"Wade is a better player than Kobe. Maybe we can win more than one championship after working together."

Wade, who is the younger brother of the US men's basketball team, was a little excited after watching the news. Recently, his popularity has surpassed that of LeBron James.

The Cavaliers have a bright future, but the Heat obviously want to seize the tail of O'Neal's peak and win the championship within three years.

Wade may not get too many opportunities in the Olympics. Most sports media will still ask more questions about his new partner when interviewing him:
"Wade, Shaq believes that the Heat will win at least 50 games in the new season and then reach the Eastern Conference Finals. What do you think of this?"

Suddenly becoming the center of attention, Wade still couldn't let go, but he was very satisfied with O'Neal's attitude, so he said very humbly:

"It's hard for me to predict. I couldn't be happier these days. Shaq is the best big man in the league and I think he's right."

"I want to go further in the playoffs. Shaq has rich experience in the finals. He can help the team!"

Wearing a white training jersey, Wade still looks very green, and he doesn't answer questions as confidently as a veteran.

James and Anthony on the other side were a little envious when they saw Wade surrounded. The league's number one center, maybe the Heat can reach the conference finals in the new season!

Larry Brown doesn't like this atmosphere, but tomorrow is Saturday and the players have to rest. This team is more difficult to lead than he thought.
Iverson deeply understood what it means to be a "balloon star".

Although joining the national team at a time when many stars declined call-ups improved his reputation, the sports media was still not interested in interviewing him.

The reason is also very simple. The 76ers are in trouble. They have lost to Li You for many years in a row. No one thinks that Iverson can turn around.

Rookie players have a bright future, but Iverson, who has entered his peak period, has been plagued by injuries and begun to decline. Under this situation, no one pays attention to him except for routine interviews.

The Yahoo Sports reporter did not occupy a good position and was unable to interview Wade immediately. After looking around for a week, he finally got in front of Iverson.

Seeing that a reporter finally thought of him, Iverson hurriedly smiled and put on the airs of a superstar, but immediately broke his guard after hearing the question:

"Allen! How would you evaluate the strength of this U.S. men's basketball team?
"Facing the Knicks led by Lee in the new season, can the 76ers get a victory?"

"."

After hearing the question, Iverson turned around and left, while angrily glaring at the half-bald white reporter.

Wade is considered a fan of Iverson. When he saw his idol leaving in anger, and the annoying questions came to his ears, he felt a little unhappy:

"Wade, Shaq thinks you can become the next Lee. In the next few years, can you fulfill your talent?"

"I won't be the next Lee. I just want to be myself. You know, I like the Bulls. Among the current players, I prefer Iverson!"

"Winning is not my only pursuit. Just like Iverson, I enjoy the process of chasing victory. This is why I chose the No. 3 jersey."

As a "fake fan" of Li You, Wade has long since stopped pretending, no longer maintains his pre-draft persona, and has begun to "believe in the process."

Many sports reporters nodded with satisfaction after hearing this answer. When the weekend was over, they turned into megaphones and prepared to send messages to Li You.

Everyone is looking forward to the match between the Knicks and Heat in the new season.

Sunday, July 7th, a rare weekend, ended up raining for two days in a row.

There are too many trees in Peninsula Manor, plus there are no neighbors around, and the butler's house near the gate is far away, making the environment extremely quiet.

This summer suddenly became a little humid, which ruined Li You's plan to sunbathe when he returned home.

There was no sun during the day and a few days of intense exercise at night. It was almost noon and everyone on the big bed was still asleep.

This huge bedroom has been renovated. While maintaining the original style, a lot of furniture has been added. The custom-made large bed has passed the test. There is no abnormal sound after a night of tossing, and it has received unanimous praise.

It was after 11 o'clock that Li You woke up. Scarlett, who was squeezed into his arms, confirmed what he said. The soft white flesh had indeed grown in size.
Milinda, who had been running with Li You for half a month, was still sleeping, her whole body buried in Jin's chest. The two of them had no reaction to Li You's movements.

Christen Ritter's long legs were wrapped around Scarlett's waist. When Li You stood up, he was also woken up by the touch.

The little follower was still a little confused. He drank too much last night and had a headache at this time. He subconsciously touched the smooth skin in his hand, which immediately made Scarlett wake up.

Scarlett, who also raised her upper body, soon got tired of being in Li You's arms and unconsciously whispered in a hoarse voice:

"It's still early, Clay, sleep a little longer!"

Soon the girl let out a low cry. After being held softly, she was double-teamed. As the sound of frolic rang out, and amid the low calls of several people, Li You started his morning exercise again.

In the afternoon, Jin's face was still a little rosy after having lunch. Milinda in the study was only wearing a very thin pajamas and was checking the contract for Li You.

Jin, who was wearing a blue shirt, saw Li You looking through recent emails from Ax Capital. After adjusting his mood, he introduced in a low voice:
"Our neighbor Amaranth has shifted its investment focus to the natural gas market."

"Brian Henke is currently the star trader of this company. He has made a lot of profits in energy trading."

"However, the other party has attracted the attention of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, and there seems to be a problem with their earnings."

Li You, who entered sage mode, looked at the drizzle outside the window and shook his head helplessly when he heard Jin's introduction.

There were too many smart people, and the other party entered energy futures at just the right time, giving Li You the illusion that the other party was also a time traveler.

"It doesn't matter. We started preparing for energy trading very early. The market is huge. There is no need to get nervous just because our opponents are keeping up."

As soon as Li You finished speaking, Milinda raised her head and reminded in a low voice:
"Could it be that the other party got the news from within Ax Capital and expanded its employees? Maybe Bobby was negligent."

Amaranth has recently grown with Akers Capital. Both parties have grown from small hedge funds to now, with assets under control exceeding US$80 billion.

However, the investment strategies of both parties are different. Akers Capital is a well-known "short seller" in the industry, while Good Neighbor has more inside information.

Thinking of the overlapping investment directions of the two parties recently, Li You just smiled, shrugged Milinda's doubts, returned to Jin's side, and whispered:

"The timing of departure is also very important. Maybe we will have the opportunity to acquire Amaranth in the future."

"Bobby robbed the San Diego County Employees' Retirement Association's pension fund. Don't blame the other party for losing such a client."

"But we have to prepare for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's charges in advance. Jin, remember to help us pay attention to the commission's news."

Faced with these innocuous accusations under the high profits, the three of them smiled at each other, everything was ready, just waiting for God's help.

If Hurricane Katrina comes as planned, Li You will make a lot of money.

Making money is to enjoy a better life. Big houses, yachts, etc. all cost money.

Listening to Jin and Milinda beside him talking about possible accusations, Li You hugged the girl who had been with him for many years. Although he had donated a lot of dollars recently, he still felt that he needed to increase his efforts:

"Just pray for the future!"

(End of this chapter)