NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 486: Contempt of peers (5000 words chapter)
On Thursday, February 2007, 2, with only two games on that day, the NBA officially opened the All-Star Weekend.

Paradise, Nevada will be bustling this weekend. It's very close to Las Vegas, and it's the first time the All-Star Game is being held at a college venue, so young people prefer this atmosphere.

The Thomas and Mack Center, which has hosted summer leagues before, hosted a bigger All-Star game this time, and Mayor Oscar Goodman met with David Stern early on.

The publicity has never stopped since the beginning of the new season, but the league still has not relented and betting on the results of this game is not allowed in Nevada.

The Knicks only have five games in the first half of February and are already in holiday mode.

The weather in New York is still as cold as usual, but fortunately there is no blizzard this year. In order to enjoy the warmer weather, many players on the team will choose to leave early to have some fun.

Unlike the happy newbies, Li You, who has played in the NBA for 10 years, has long lost his excitement. David Lee took everyone over to participate in the Rookie Challenge last night.

Li You, who had slept until 7 o'clock, just woke up at this time. He took care of Ivana at the old woman's place on Valentine's Day. The two of them spent the night here last night.

Unlike Li You’s more modern villa, Ivana’s house has not been moved since it was renovated in the early 90s. Tang Nade’s new high-rise home was also renovated, but there has been no change here.

There was no elevator in the six-story house. Ivana, who had spent a sweet night in the guest room on the fifth floor, was in a very good mood. After waking up, she squeezed into Li You's arms and kneaded him from time to time:
"I don't know if it's a boy or a girl, honey, are we moving?"

Ivana knew that Li You and Bobby were paying attention to real estate news, and thought that they were going to buy another property, so she happily recommended Florida.

Playing with the swollen whiteness, Li You did not deny it. Instead, he whispered along with the words of the silly big-breasted girl and started to draw big pictures again:

"We can live in both places in the future. The children also need winter. But don't tell your mother about this. I don't want to continue this retro decoration style."

The house looks the same as it did when she was a child. Although the golden bedroom makes Ivana feel familiar, she still prefers the style of the villa on Street 82.

She lowered her head and laughed quietly, whispering interesting stories about her childhood. Her breathing became a little rapid due to the kneading. The shoulder straps that were in the way soon disappeared, and Ivana took the initiative to kiss her.

The two were so engrossed in the conversation that they didn't respond when the door opened. It was not until they heard a familiar exclamation that the blonde girl with a dazed look in her eyes finally let go.

Ivana, who had put on exquisite makeup early in the morning, climbed upstairs and saw the silk thread at the corner of her daughter's mouth. She covered her face and exclaimed:
"Oh! God! Ivana, you are crazy!"

Ivana called her mother in shame and anger, then came to her senses and quickly pulled up her shoulder straps, and at the same time covered Li You with her pajamas.

"I specially cooked breakfast for you, Li, you can't play around with her, you have to go for a physical examination in the morning."

"You guys should really move to Florida, New York is too cold!"

After pushing her mother out of the room, Ivana turned around and went to Li You again, continuing the deep kiss from before, until she was a little breathless and then she laughed softly:
"My dear, you seem to be stronger now."

[Manu Ginobili's extraordinary physical coordination] has been digested. On the talent panel, only the recently acquired physical talent is still in effect.

The naked upper body muscles are very obvious. Years of hard training have paid off. Li You is in a good mood. He carefully pulls up Ivana who still wants to move her body:

"It's time to go downstairs. Don't keep everyone waiting too long."

Ivana was in a good mood and had a big appetite during breakfast time. She continued to nag from time to time, and the old woman was very satisfied with Li You's attitude.

While Li You went downstairs to prepare the car, Ivana looked at her daughter whose chest was getting bigger and bigger, and said jokingly:
"Now I believe what you said. Isn't Donard going to invest in Las Vegas? Don't just focus on having a baby, prepare well!"

"I see, Mom, how much do you have now?"

Ivana saw that her mother only raised one finger and sighed regretfully. The money was not enough.

The two of them briefly discussed it, and Ivana, who was gently stroking her belly, was in a mess, but she finally made up her mind:
"We still have to tell Clay the news."

Li You accompanied Ivana for a physical examination in the morning, and took his clingy little follower for another checkup in the afternoon. Finally, the whole family was mobilized to take care of the four little ones together.

Most of the time there is someone to take care of the children, but weekly parent-child time is also important.

A room full of women chattering about their experiences in raising children, Li You's vacation was so boring.

On the evening of the 15th, the Cavaliers challenged the Lakers away and the two sides started the second game.

LeBron James did not miss the shot this time. With his outstanding athletic ability, he tore through the Lakers' defense.

114:108, the Cavaliers easily defeated the Lakers twice.

At the end of the game, there were constant boos in the Staples Center. They were crushed by their opponents tonight. It was a game of athleticism.

In the final moments, free throws from James and Gooden sealed the victory, which made the Lakers fans unhappy, and even the home team players booed.

出场40分钟，16中10，罚球22中18，38分3篮板3助攻3抢断3失误，詹姆斯这次交手找回了面子。

Howard once again scored a double-double of 15 points and 14 rebounds, winning the game with a smile on his face. The "big boy" looked at Kobe, who had a dark complexion, and turned to brag to his teammates beside him:
"I really don't know why the league always promotes him? The All-Star warm-up is another showdown between Kobe and Lee."

"Look at how contemptuous he is. I'm going to teach him a lesson on Sunday!"

When he first entered the league, Howard was also dunked over by Kobe, but Li You dunked on him more times. Considering that the Lakers were a soft target, the "big boy" decided to target the soft ones first.

The heat of the Mamba incident has not yet dissipated, but James no longer wants to take advantage of the popularity. After the game, he said a few polite words and left the court early.

22中9，三分线外7中2，罚球15中14，拿到34分6篮板5助攻2抢断6失误的科比此时心情不佳。

When a Los Angeles reporter asked about the All-Star Game, Kobe, with a dark complexion, looked serious and responded emotionally:

"All-Star Weekend? I'm not going to let myself relax. I'm a competitor."

"If the opponent is not prepared, they will lose. The All-Stars are also a basketball war. I will go all out in the game!"

"."

On Friday, February 2, the Los Angeles Times stopped reporting on last night's loss and instead emphasized Kobe's "challenge."

“UNLV: A showdown of the league’s best scorers!”

Just looking at the title, I thought it was a college game at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, but the entire content is about the "grudge" between Kobe and Li You.

Perhaps because they felt that the two were not angry enough, a column even brought up the old matter again, bringing up the issue of Li You surpassing Kobe.

Kobe, who was preparing to leave early in the morning, was furious after reading the newspaper. Someone brought up this old story and he was humiliated again!

Vanessa noticed that Kobe's smile gradually disappeared after the Christmas game, and she felt a little depressed, but she didn't know how to comfort her husband. At breakfast, she could only say euphemistically:
"Stop reading these boring newspapers. Lee is not like what is written in the newspapers. Every time he goes to New York, he will give us tickets."

"He just wanted to laugh at my joke! When I got 81 points, I didn't receive any text messages from him. I knew he was jealous of me!"

Kobe spoke up to interrupt his wife's nagging, and then complained a few more times before he controlled his emotions. The "Mamba incident" made him lose respect, and he felt that it was all Li You's fault.

The breakfast ended unpleasantly, and Vanessa looked helpless, as she knew these reporters were exploiting her husband.

Many times, the result of the game is no longer important. As long as Kobe breaks the defense, the media reporters will usher in a carnival moment the next day. No one can change this situation unless the Lakers win another championship.

When boarding the plane with his staff, agent Pelinka immediately noticed that Kobe was in a bad mood:
"This is not a successful advertisement! Kobe, I reminded you that Carter had the tendency to leave the Nets, and you had the opportunity to join forces!"

"Black Mamba? We can come up with another nice nickname. Old Buss just agreed to write a check, and now you've missed the opportunity."

Kobe, who was flipping through Sports Illustrated, didn't look up when he heard his agent's words. He just frowned when he saw that a huge amount of space in this week's magazine was introducing Li You's income and personal brand.

"I don't want to team up with him. I need the chance to shoot. You should recruit players that suit me instead of looking for someone to go against me!"

Pelinka didn't explain further. In fact, there are only so many stars in the league. The market is sluggish. How can tickets be sold without stars? He couldn't find a better player: "Stephen Jackson? The Lakers had a chance to get him, but you refused."

"I'm not interested in playing with those wimps! Shit! I don't want to be associated with the New York guys!"

Speaking directly from his heart, Kobe glared at Pelinka. He could not tolerate those guys sharing their championship experience wantonly. That was the last thing he wanted to see.

The Pacers and the Lakers were about to reach a deal, but Kobe ultimately opposed it, which even angered old Buss.

The two were silent for a while. Pelinka wanted to say that the players from the Knicks performed well, but considering the mood of the big employer, he finally whispered:

"Don't worry about what the outside world thinks. We all know that those guys just want to use you to gain fame."

"If you need psychological counseling, I will provide you with a psychologist, and I will make sure no one knows about this!"

Without answering, Kobe made his attitude clear with his actions. He tore the Sports Illustrated in half, and then the cabin fell silent again.

The carnival event held by the NBA at the Las Vegas Convention Center attracted a large number of spectators early in the morning. In addition to fans, stars who participated in the celebrity game in the evening were also present.

The carnival activities are mainly to demonstrate the close integration between the league and the community and to promote the concept that we are all one family under the basketball umbrella.

In the afternoon, California Governor Schwarzenegger and his wife also appeared on the scene, and well-known actors Jonathan Silverman and Chris Tucker immediately came forward to greet them.

The famous TV personality Tony Potts also joined the party as soon as possible. In the friendly atmosphere, a spectator broke the friendly atmosphere.

The black man who shouted "I am gay, arrest me" at the governor was quickly taken away by security personnel.

Facing the reporters surrounding him, Schwarzenegger, who was dressed in formal attire, raised his eyebrows, smiled and simply joked:
"I don't think this gentleman poses a threat to me. Don't make things difficult for him. He has the right to protest."

Schwarzenegger did not accept any more interviews and left quickly with his wife, and the convention center was in an uproar afterwards.

Although Schwarzenegger won the gubernatorial election again at the end of last year, his approval rating has begun to decline.

Two years ago, Schwarzenegger vetoed the same-sex marriage bill that had been passed by the state House of Representatives and opposed the legalization of same-sex marriage. The impact of this incident is growing.

Many retired NBA players were also present. Tim Hardaway, dressed in hip-hop, didn't seem to realize there was anything wrong with this. He took the initiative to accept the interview and expressed his attitude carelessly:

"I don't like homosexuals. You know, the NBA is a man's sport. No one wants to be stared at in the locker room!"

"."

Pulling the gold chain around his neck, Tim Hardaway quickly found NFL black star Reggie Bush and others to continue bragging, and by the evening he had completely put the matter behind him.

At 19 p.m., more than 1 people poured into the Thomas and Mack Center. Before the game officially started, NBA Commissioner David Stern held a press conference and apologized immediately:

"We will ban Tim Hardaway from participating in any activities during All-Star Weekend!"

"NBA is an inclusive league and we respect everyone's right to express their ideas"

It only took one afternoon for Tim Hardaway to become a celebrity. It was not correct to openly oppose homosexuality, and the NBA was also attacked.

The impact of this incident was that Li You had just arrived at the scene and was surrounded by a large number of reporters before he had time to greet others:
"Lee, are you also against the legalization of same-sex marriage?"

“What are you going to do if there’s a homosexual in the Knicks locker room?”

"If your son's future sexual orientation is male, will you support him?"

"."

Most of them are not sports reporters. They want to put the microphone into Li You's mouth. No matter how he answers the relevant questions, he will be accused.

"I fully respect personal wishes."

Li You smiled and gave a simple answer. The staff on the scene rushed over, pulled the reporter away, and hurriedly led him to Schwarzenegger.

In the United States, personal political inclinations are very private. Maria Shriver was dressed very formally tonight, wearing a sleeveless gray dress. She stood up and hugged Li You:
"Sorry, Li, there was some trouble this afternoon. Those reporters were coming for Arnold."

"That's not a bad thing! Maybe I'll be in more papers this weekend."

Li You winked and joked about the experience just now. After hugging Schwarzenegger again, the governor seemed a little melancholy. After sitting down, he whispered:
"They only remember mistakes. No matter how many good things you did before, once you make a mistake, it's all gone to zero."

Feeling the lively atmosphere of the stadium, Li You did not take up the topic. The "gentle" Elephant Party member in front of him was not as miserable as he claimed.

Because Li You arrived too late, most of the stars who came to watch the game took their seats early.

Sitting in the front row near the baseline, Wade, wearing a loose gray casual suit, watched Chris Paul go to greet Li You, and secretly curled his lips while greeting his friend:

"I knew Chris would do this. This guy lacks a competitive spirit."

"Maybe he thought Lee would take care of him during the game. He should really let him come to the East to experience the playoffs!"

After suffering a concussion during last year's match, Wade completely joined the "anti-Lee alliance". LeBron James, who was standing next to him, was wearing a brown three-piece suit and was turning his head to look in the direction of Li You.

After being elbowed by his friend, James finally came to his senses. He looked at the time and saw that Anthony had not arrived yet. He then complained in a low voice:

"Mero is late again! Damn it, this guy forgot about us."

Wade interrupted James halfway through his words, not giving him a chance to change the subject. He covered his mouth and whispered:
"You know, I might be chasing the prize this year, not the skills challenge!"

Wade regretted wasting the AMVP opportunity last year for a long time. James looked embarrassed when he heard his friend's words, and then whispered:

“We need to ask Lee’s opinion.”

"Damn it! Bosh has already promised me, go tell Howard!"

Wade glared and told them his plan. The two of them whispered to each other. Suddenly, Shawn Marion poked his head out from behind and teased the two who seemed to be dividing the trophy:

"This is the first time I've heard this. What if you lose? Kobe played with anger this year."

The sudden voice startled the two of them, but when they heard Kobe and the loss, Wade and James retreated tactically at the same time, grinning:

"Forget it, man! As long as Li wants to win, the trophy can only come from us."

James' words were quite tactful, but Wade, who was influenced by O'Neal every day, had long lost his respect for him. He took over the conversation and joked again:
"Kobe? What are you talking about? He hasn't won a single time without Shaq!"

"LeBron and I easily beat him this year. If it weren't for the league's care, how could the Lakers get so many opportunities for national live broadcasts?"

The Heat also defeated the Lakers twice this year. In the absence of O'Neal, Wade scored 40 points once and easily got 32 points another time.

Stoudemire smiled and patted Marion beside him, sharing his championship experience involuntarily:
"We all know Kobe is just a lucky guy!"

"When I was playing for the Knicks, Lee never considered him a rival. He didn't know how to win the championship!"

Kobe, who was also at the scene, did not join the crowd. He sneezed a few times involuntarily. Looking at Li You who was talking and laughing, he was secretly annoyed:

"Don't even think about having an easy time this time!"

(End of this chapter)