unfinished glory

Chapter 9 Contradictions
Li Chongxiao celebrated on the court for a while before returning to the locker room. When he walked to the door, he found that it was very noisy inside, and it didn't look like he was celebrating.

He leaned against the door curiously, listening to the voices of Redick and Sheldon Williams.

They were talking about the game just now, criticizing Li Chongxiao, a newcomer, thinking that he likes to show off, but his performance was poor, and he dragged the team back several times.Several other teammates also echoed.

Li Chongxiao shook his head, and was about to push the door open, when he heard Redick say a word - chink, his face suddenly sank, and then heard the word repeated several times.

He kicked the door open and saw Redick sitting with Sheldon Williams, surrounded by Melchioni and Patrick Davidson.

Duhon, Andy Borman, and Joe Pagliuca did not speak on the other side, and Luol Deng and Nick Horvath were also doing their own things in silence without participating.

"You have the guts to repeat what you just said!" Li Chongxiao was furious, pointing at Redick's nose and scolding: "Bi Qi (sound), try saying it again!"

Redick knocked off Li Chongxiao's hand, and Du Hong, Luol Deng and Horvath rushed over.

Luol Deng hugged Li Chongxiao, Horvat pulled Redick, and Du Hong stood between them.

"Trash, I said you are a trash on the court, are you not convinced?"

"You don't deserve to comment on whether I'm a piece of rubbish. I'll let you see it carefully in the future." Li Chongxiao has always responded to others' belittling, and he always expressed it through actions.

But he couldn't stand racist remarks: "You have the guts to say that word again and see if you can walk straight out."

"Which word?" Redick just finished speaking, his face changed, he realized it, and stopped talking.

The others also reacted at once, looking at each other in blank dismay.

The issue of racial discrimination is also a very serious incident at present.

If it is spread, it will be a blow to Redick personally, the team, and even Duke University.

Everyone stopped talking, only Sheldon Williams was still yelling: "Which word? Which word? I can say it ten times, or a hundred times for you."

Du Hong quickly pushed him, and shouted seriously: "Shut up!" He is the leader of the team's locker room, and only he stood up at this time:

"Daye, I know you're angry. But I think it was a misunderstanding, and Redick probably didn't mean it. I asked him to apologize to you in front of everyone."

"Redick" Duhon stared at Redick, putting pressure on him.Luol Deng also said to Redick: "You should apologize, otherwise this matter...".

Redick understood what Luol Deng meant, and he was very uncomfortable. He usually said that he was used to it, and he didn't think it was a problem.It's just that this time, by accident, Li Chongxiao overheard it.

But he understands the consequences of this matter. If it is not resolved, the team's reputation and his own future will have a major impact.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean it, I just said those words casually, and I'm not a racist. I promise you that I will never do it again. I apologize and hope you can forgive me."

Li Chongxiao stared at Redick expressionlessly, and said after a few seconds: "There will be another time, it won't be so easy to talk about." After speaking, he packed up his clothes and went out.

Duhon gave Horvath a wink, and then hurriedly followed.

Li Chongxiao didn't go anywhere, and went straight to the training room.Du Hong followed him all the way to the gym, comforting him cautiously while walking.

After Li Chongxiao put away his things, he said to Du Hong:

"Chris, I know what you mean. Since he apologized, let's forget about today's matter, and I won't spread it to the outside world.

The coach has given me a great opportunity, Duke has given me room to grow, and I don't want the team to be criticized because of Redick's personal behavior.As long as he remembers his promise today, I will take this matter as the past. "

"It's good if you can think like this." Du Hong smiled wryly: "Speaking of which, we are the ones who are sorry for you, you..."

"I understand," Li Chongxiao interrupted Du Hong: "After all, Redick is much more important to the team. If today I am the core and he is just a bench player, maybe he will be suspended or even fired .”

When Du Hong wanted to say something else, Li Chongxiao ignored him and said first, "Okay, Chris, don't worry. I'm going to start training."

Du Hong patted him on the shoulder, then sighed and walked away.

Li Chongxiao was calm on the surface, finished training as usual, and then returned to the dormitory.

When he lay down, his heart was turbulent.He only said that Redick usually looked down on him because he was playing big names, but he had never flattered him, who knew it was because of racial discrimination.

This annoyed him so much that he vowed to make Redick look good one day.

And the performance of his teammates made him realize the reality. Everyone was trying to calm himself down, even Du Hong, who usually took good care of him.

Why?Not because everyone hates me, but because I am weak, and only the weak need to take care of the overall situation.

If one day he becomes the core of the team, then the sacrifice will be someone else.

On the third day, Li Chongxiao went to training as usual.Only Du Hong and Luol Deng came over to say hello, Pagliuka evaded and did not dare to come up, and the others ignored him.

Old coach K knew what happened in the locker room yesterday, and he also felt powerless.

Redick is wrong about this matter, but the crucial playoffs are coming soon, and he cannot punish the core players for suspension.

Verbal criticism, not only cannot solve the problem, but may even arouse the rebellious psychology of the old players.Then the only way is to wrong Li Chongxiao.

The old coach K pretended not to know anything, acquiesced to let the players handle this matter by themselves, but only asked Du Hong to help Li Chongxiao more.

After today's tactical training, there will be a 10-minute intra-team match, with the main force versus the substitute.Throughout the game, Li Chongxiao was running back and forth, his teammates ignored him, and he didn't pass a single ball to him.

The old coach K looked serious on the sidelines. He knew that the problem was serious, and the players were rejecting Li Chongxiao.

Although he can force the players to pass the ball to Li Chongxiao, this does not change anything, it only makes the players more hostile.

After the training was over, the old coach K called Li Chongxiao to the office again. After deliberating for a long time, he told Li Chongxiao that the next training might change a bit. The previous individual training would still continue, but the intra-team competition would be reduced.

Li Chongxiao silently agreed.

In all the subsequent training, he was mostly alone, only occasionally Luol Deng would pull him to do some confrontation and offensive and defensive training, and Du Hong would instruct him on some ball-handling and passing skills.

He even spent the next playoffs on the bench, which made Redick and his team very happy. Several players even made sarcastic remarks in the locker room.

This behavior continued until the end of the playoffs at Duke, where the Blue Devils lost to the Maryland Terrapins in the Finals.The old coach K took advantage of the problem and severely criticized the whole team, only to dispel this trend.

(End of this chapter)