unfinished glory

Chapter 26
It was early morning at Yao Ming's house. After eating something, Yao Ming brought Li Chongxiao to the study.

The two chatted about today's game, especially Li Chongxiao dunked McGrady's goal, which made Yao Ming marvel at Li Chongxiao's physical fitness.

At the same time, let Li Chongxiao pay attention to protecting himself on the court, and make less dangerous moves to prevent injuries.

Then Yao Ming taught Li Chongxiao some NBA experience, how to deal with the relationship with his teammates, how to overcome various problems such as fatigue and minor injuries during the long season, how to deal with the interference of opponents and referees on the field, and so on.

Then the two talked about some commercial endorsements. Yao Ming admired Li Chongxiao's way of only accepting a sneaker contract and not having other commercial endorsements, and concentrating on playing.

Li Chongxiao said modestly that his strength still does not allow it.If he is also the No. [-] pick, I am afraid that he will receive more endorsements.

But this made Yao Ming a little puzzled about Li Chongxiao's sneaker contract.Since the money is not bad, why would you choose a less famous brand?

Reebok is not very optimistic about Li Chongxiao's future in the NBA, and the offer is $120 million for two years, or $200 million for four years.

As for Nike, the contract amount they offered was similar to that of Reebok after investigation. After learning that Li Chongxiao had already signed the contract, they didn't even contact him.

Naturally, Li Chongxiao would not tell the news that his family is a shareholder of Under Armor, but replied that the sports company was introduced by some of his father's friends.Anyway, it's a two-year contract, everyone has to try something.

After chatting like this for a while, seeing that it was getting late, Yao Ming, who was on a mission, began to ask Li Chongxiao what he thought of the national team.

"If it is necessary for the 08 Beijing Olympic Games, I am obliged to do so." Li Chongxiao said, and then told Yao Ming directly:
"But I have to consider some other competitions. Like the Asian Championships, I basically won't participate."

Yao Ming smiled wryly: "Growing up outside the system like you, you have full confidence, unlike me, alas."

Then he went on to say: "Have you considered the attitude of the Basketball Association?"

"I grew up savagely, I didn't get along with them before, why should I care about their attitude?" Li Chongxiao looked indifferent.

"You're not afraid of what happened to Da Zhi, they control a lot of sports media." The Wang Zhizhi incident made Yao Ming terrified. Remind.

"I'm not afraid, I can fight my father!" Li Chongxiao said proudly: "My father is also a committee member, if some people really want to play tricks, hehe."

Yao Ming was a little speechless now. Apart from his grandfather being a member of the sports system, Li Chongxiao had nothing to do with the Basketball Association.What's more, now that I'm retired, it's even more irrelevant.

The most important thing is that people have no desires, no desires, and money and power, and the Basketball Association dare not engage in some crooked ways, far-fetched to create a father who pays off his debts.

It's really making a fuss, does the Basketball Association still think that its name is not loud enough?
Yao Ming found out sadly that he wanted to have a companion at first, but who knows that in the future some national team games will still have to be carried by himself.

Li Chongxiao looked at the thoughtful Yao Ming, and persuaded him not to play all national team games at any level.

What warm-up matches, Asian Championships, World Championships, Olympic Games, every NBA offseason is exhausting.

Some minor injuries and fatigue caused by the NBA arena not only failed to recover during the offseason, but also aggravated by miscellaneous games.

And ambitious players are actively training and improving during this period of time to increase their skills, while Yao Ming can only make up for it during the regular season games while eating his laurels.

Li Chongxiao also gave Yao Ming a ready-made example - Yao Ming's best rookie in the same class, Amare Stoudemire.

Through training in the offseason in 2003, he enhanced his offensive methods, and in the following season, his scoring reached 20+ in an instant.

As for Yao Ming, he returned to China to participate in the Asian Championships, missed precious training time, and only scored 17.5 points in the second year.

This year I led the team to the Olympics, next year there will be the Asian Championships, and the year after that there will be the World Championships. . .

Li Chongxiao deliberately ran on, saying: "Brother Yao, you are a person who wants to inherit the great tradition of the center forward, and you can't make slow progress like this.

If your average score this year can't break through 20 points, let alone be comparable to the four major centers, it is far behind Mourning. "

The four major centers in the 90s, plus the fifth center Alonzo Mourning, all scored 20+ points in the first season, emerged and became the team's top card.

But Yao Ming, the next-generation giant recognized by many celebrities, has not grown up as expected.In addition to physical problems, are there institutional problems?

Yao Ming certainly hopes to have a full offseason to rest and improve, but he is an athlete trained by the country, and some things are beyond his control.

And the matter of Wang Zhizhi is a warning.

What's more, Yao Ming is sincerely patriotic and eager to lead the national team to win honors.

"Brother Yao, you used to be alone, and those who were with you were also within the system, and there was nothing you could resist."

Li Chongxiao looked like he was afraid that the world would not be chaotic: "It's different now, with me. I'm not so easy to talk, and I'm not afraid of them.

Although you use me as a shield, your status in the country is much higher than mine, why can't you have the treatment I have? "

"You're not part of the system, it's really different."

"Extravagant price, pay back the money on the spot. Even if you get a discount, you still make money, right?"

Yao Ming looked confused, and blurted out: "What about the 08 Olympics, they won't..."

"My brother Yao, if you care about it, you will cause chaos." Li Chongxiao looked defeated: "Are you still afraid that they won't let you participate?

Do you think you are the only one in a hurry?Some people will be more anxious than you! "

Of course Yao Ming knew it in his heart, but it was difficult to make a decision.

Looking at Li Chongxiao who was talking so eloquently, Yao Ming suddenly wanted to laugh again: "You really don't look like this."

"Brother Yao, I'm not like you. I became famous when I was young, and I was the No. [-] pick in the NBA." Li Chongxiao replied calmly: "I couldn't even play when I was at Duke University. But this year's draft, I ran all the players I could. Trial camp, I tried my best, and I was extremely lucky to be selected by the Spurs."

Although Yao Ming has not experienced the brutal competition in the NBA draft, he can imagine the hardships involved.This is true for ordinary American college students, not to mention the little-known visitors from China.

If Li Chongxiao was not a person with mature ideas, firm thinking, and hard training, it would be impossible to be selected.

"Brother Yao, with your current fame and strength, you can easily play in the NBA for ten years. My chance may only be ten months or ten days." Li Chongxiao stood up: "Whether you think How about it, I will not give up a single chance to improve myself. I have come here, so I must stay, even if I give up some things."

"My ambition to play in the 08 Olympics is no weaker than yours." He put his hands on the table, looked out the window, and continued: "It is my dream to show our country's basketball on the big stage, and it is my dream." Grandpa, my dad's dream."

He paused for a moment, then turned his head to stare at Yao Ming, "There is indeed no better stage than the Imperial Capital Olympics. But, without strength, how can we support our dreams?!"

Yao Ming was thoughtful.

"Those Asian games are quite boring. We have been the hegemony of Asia for many years." Li Chongxiao pressed Yao Ming's shoulder.

"Only those stinky old ladies next door are tirelessly pursuing the so-called breaking out of Asia." Then he walked to the door and turned around and said: "We should stand on the highest stage to perform, in the NBA, in the Olympics."

(End of this chapter)