When pride still matters

Chapter 18 Cowardly Lizard
It is quite a long journey from Washington State, where Yu Fei is located, to New Jersey.The distance between the two states is approximately 2 miles (approximately 800 kilometers), a distance that spans the entire continental United States.

On March 2001, 3, Yu Fei and Quint DeMeo took a flight to New Jersey at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

As an invited player, Yu Fei got two tickets.One for him and one for the guardian.

This is a help to Dimeo, he can save money on air tickets to New Jersey.

"You know, I've never flown business class in my life," DeMeo said excitedly, "and I've never been to New Jersey."

Yu Fei dragged his luggage and said casually: "Then I am honored to take your business class virginity and New Jersey virginity."

Yu Fei and Dimeo put down their luggage and sat down.

Just when the two were about to say something, a voice came from the crew radio:
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome aboard the XYZ Airlines flight from Seattle to Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey. I am your captain. First of all, on behalf of all the crew members, I would like to express my sincere welcome and Thankfully our flight time was expected to be 5 hours and the weather conditions were good.”

"Thank you again for choosing to fly with XYZ Airlines. If you have any questions or need any assistance, please ask our crew for assistance. We wish you a pleasant journey."

Demeo composed himself, "I have to take a nap, this really feels like a dream."

Yu Fei said nothing.

He suddenly felt that if he were the protagonist in a movie, the journey would either end in the next shot or cut into a montage with a soundtrack. If it was the latter, he hoped that his soundtrack would be Kafe.Hu's "Economy" cabin".Even though he was traveling business class, the lyrics still apply.

What, who is Kafe.Hu you ask?Why is the soundtrack here not "Sunny" by Jay Chou or "Broader Sea and Sky" by Beyond?Hey, it’s like this after Dandan. Yu Fei has already restrained himself by not recommending “The Lonely Warrior”.Moreover, this song should belong to those born in the 10s, and should be reserved for those born in the 10s.

After a five-hour flight, Yu Fei and Dimeo successfully arrived at Newark Liberty International Airport.

As soon as Yu Fei walked out of the airport, he saw a group of media not far away from them, interviewing a certain famous star.

The most annoying thing is that person's follower, the person with a voice as loud as a trumpet, like the press officer of an NBA team, loudly pointing out who can and cannot ask questions.

If it's just a loud voice, forget it, he also has a horse face that makes Lonzo Ball and Rajon Rondo inferior. If Benedict Cumberbatch proves that a horse face can also be handsome If so, then this person is a negative example.

He proves how ugly a horse's face can be.

It is difficult for Yu Fei to use positive words to evaluate this person's appearance, but ugliness also has its advantages. Being ugly like Ewing can still leave the circle.

What surprised Yu Fei was the real master behind the follower.

In addition to a group of media who are interested in him, the followers behind him are also working very hard. Some people are carrying portable cameras to film everywhere, and shout loudly: "ABCD training camp, Gilo is here!"

"Who is that?" Yu Fei asked.

Since joining Yu Fei's team, Dimeo has been interested in paying attention to information about high school stars. Now, after careful identification, he recognized the person: "DeAngelo Collins (DeAngelo Collins PF), the fifth-ranked high school in the country." student, and it is said that he is also the highest-ranked high school student in the country participating in the ABCD training camp."

"Aren't the top four participating?" Yu Fei asked unexpectedly.

DiMeo shook his head and said: "They participated last year and have proven their strength in the training camp. For Kwame Brown, Eddie Curry, Tyson Chandler, the most important thing now It’s about keeping training and trying not to take risks because if they get injured in a game, that’s it.”

"so."

"Yes, compared to opponents of the same age group, the 11th graders are usually more impactful, but with D'Angelo Collins participating this year, the 12th graders will also be very competitive."

Yu Fei looked at the guy strangely.

If he was ranked fifth in the country, he wouldn't come to ABCD training camp.

Because it doesn't make sense.

Even if he becomes the best in the training camp, it is natural.

You are ranked fifth in the United States. If you are not the best, who is the best?
But if he is beaten up by the 11th graders, or even by the 12th graders who come to participate in the training camp, then it will be a serious problem.

Collins is a loudmouth. When the media asked him what his goal was for participating in the ABCD training camp, he loudly said without thinking: "I will be ranked first at the end of the training camp, and I will win the MVP. I am not here to play. I’m here to show my talent, I love to compete, you know that’s who I am, no one can stop me!”

Then the younger brother next to him started to echo, and the whole scene became extremely lively.

"Since he is ranked fifth in the United States, what is he doing here?" Yu Fei asked.

DiMeo laughed and said: "Actually, he had been ranked around the top 30 in the country until last month's state championship game when he defeated the team of Desagena Diop, who was ranked seventh in the country, and he won the championship in that game. To 44 points and 14 rebounds, his ranking soared like a rocket."

For people who improve their rankings by defeating high-ranking players, if they are not so arrogant that they think they are invincible at their own age, then they have bigger intentions.

For example, in the ABCD training camp, he won the MVP with his dominant strength, and the momentum created by this can be used to increase the draft market.After all, players whose high school rankings skyrocket in such a short period of time are usually ranked at inflated positions.If you don't continue to hype yourself up, even if you go to the draft with the title of the fifth high school student in the country, it is difficult to guarantee that you will be selected high.

"Let's go," Yu Fei said mockingly, "there aren't a bunch of media here specially coming to interview me."

Demeo rolled his eyes: "If you need it, I can help you arrange it."

Yu Fei glanced at the media surrounding Collins for an interview with his peripheral vision, "Did those people also arrange it?"

"It's hard to say, but after all, he is the newly promoted No. [-] player in the country. Maybe he is really more popular."

"Forget it, I don't want the media following me wherever I go."

Yu Fei and Dimeo called a taxi and headed to the Marriott Hotel they had booked early.

Yu Fei's mother originally chose another hotel for him, but later Yu Fei and Roy decided to live together, and received corporate sponsorship from an AAU game, so they were able to stay in a five-star hotel like Marriott.

Yu Fei checked in smoothly and went to find Brandon Roy immediately.

Roy booked the same hotel as Yu Fei, except that their rooms were separated by one floor.

In order to adapt to the environment in New Jersey, Roy arrived a day early.

Yu Fei commented on this matter: "I feel sorry for your parents. They have to pay one more day's rent for you, a prodigal son."

What's there to get used to?He doesn't understand. This is not a home and away game. This is a training camp. Even if there are spectators, they are friendly spectators who speak nicely.

"Hey, Fulai, do you know who is the strongest player in this ABCD training camp?"

Roy looked confident.

If Yu Fei hadn't seen DeAngelo Collins at the airport, he might not have known.

Now he rolls his eyes and asks, "D'Angelo Collins?"

"You know him?"

"I just found out today." Yu Fei said, "I saw a large group of media surrounding him outside the airport."

"Hope God, don't let me meet him in a training camp game." Roy transformed into a timid lizard. "Did you know? He is called the 6-foot-9 Shaquille O'Neal."

"what?"

"He completely defeated Desagena Diop in the state championship final. That man is known as the second Dikembe Mutombo!"

"Ok?"

Yu Fei wanted to know if there was any way he could make Roy sober up?Hey, Chinese fans call you Contra, can you be tougher?

"No, I think we have to take action! Let's do this. We will take the initiative to show our kindness to him tomorrow and invite him to form a team. I believe he will not refuse." Roy seemed to have thought of a great idea. He was beaming, "You are ranked 16th in the country, and I was ranked 58th in the country last year. Will he refuse two helpers who are in the top 60 in the country? Even Shaquille O'Neal needs the help of Kobe Bryant to win the championship. !”

Yu Fei looked caring for the mentally retarded.

Roy asked proudly: "Is this a good idea?"

"Brandon, I feel more and more now that there is a reason why you couldn't go to college." Yu Fei shook his head regretfully, "You spent so much money on air tickets and stayed in such a good hotel just to give to that Are you just a bastard? You're crazy, but you dare to ask me to join you? How could I, a high school student ranked 16th in the United States, hug that idiot's thigh? I tell you, it's impossible, and don't even think about it. Go hug his thigh. If you want to hug him, hug my thigh!"

"He's the so-called 6-foot-9 Shaquille."

"Then I'm 6-foot-9 fucking Hakeem Olajuwon!"

The topic is over, but Roy is still unwilling: "When you are injured by him on the court, you will know how great my idea is!"

Yu Fei didn't know what was going on in the world. How could Brandon Roy be such a coward?However, if he could travel to a world where Kobe was praised as the perfect team player, then he could accept that Roy was a coward.

Moreover, compared with the basis for those who claim that Kobe is a perfect team player - occasionally watching movies with teammates, joking on planes and buses - the evidence that Roy is a coward is more direct and irrefutable.

Yu Feite wanted to find a tape recorder to ask Roy to repeat what he had just said. He promised that this fool would one day regret having said such words.

Ask for follow-up, ask for tickets
(End of this chapter)