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12th man to Cricket legend. It's a cricket book for cricket lovers only.
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***
On Saturday, June 23, 2007, New York's annual championship parade once again swept through Broadway in Manhattan early in the morning.
In the past, the Yankees always celebrated championships in November, but in recent years, the Knicks have taken over, making the championship parade a grand event like the Halloween Parade and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
At the end of last month, New York just held a dance carnival parade, which attracted many people, making this month's championship parade even more participated.
Regardless of whether they liked basketball or not, when orange and blue confetti began to fall from the sky over the streets, even onlookers would join in the cheers.
As for New York fans, they had long since changed into New York Knicks merchandise, and many had taken up positions early, constantly pressing their camera shutters.
The honking of the parade floats, the cheers of the fans around, coupled with the shouts of the excited crowd, transformed Manhattan into a sea of joy.
Eleven glittering trophies were placed on the lead float, and on top of this bus, which had been repainted in New York Knicks colors, James Dolan posed, wearing this year's white championship T-shirt.
With his head tilted back and arms raised, his hands motionless, perhaps he had too much to drink, his face flushed, James Dolan seemed to be "stuck," immersed in the cheers.
Perhaps it was the atmosphere team that the curly-haired boss had arranged in advance, as soon enough, shouts rang out from the scene:
"Dolan is our King!"
The shouts were endless, and although Lee found the situation awkwardly cringeworthy, James Dolan enjoyed it immensely.
He hadn't drunk much champagne but was already "drunk" prematurely.
Soon, the shouts shifted, and the cry of "Lee is our King" grew louder and louder, forcing Lee to maintain a smile and wave to the fans.
General Manager Donnie Walsh still had his slicked-back hair, but his usually serious face now wore a smile.
The old man also wore a championship T-shirt, happy but also only able to sigh:
"This is what success feels like."
The coaching staff and staff would not have such complex feelings.
They had been "lying low" for many years and were already used to it.
Only scouts like Jeff Nix would be busy.
Those responsible for the team's operations just needed to clock in as usual, advertisers were plentiful, and season tickets were in short supply.
Next season's courtside seats have already been booked by agencies, and even the cheerleading squad has started to "inner roll," with non-pretty girls being optimized out.
In contrast, those in charge of MSG's sports business would only worry about the New York Rangers.
Ever since James Dolan became deeply involved, this hockey team's performance has gradually declined.
The staff dared not voice too many opinions, as local New York fans supported James Dolan, and poor performance became the players' fault.
JR Smith, shirtless, had been high for over half a month, and upon hearing fans call out his name, he once again let out a strange excited cry:
"It's amazing, I can sleep with the trophy for a month! I love this feeling!"
Ron Artest, also with his shirt off, wore a championship hat and also received "heroic cheers."
There were even many fans holding up posters of him "swinging his elbow".
Troublemakers, as always, deeply loved Ron Artest, and the shouts made this big star, who only played two Finals games, even more excited:
"Fight!"
Shouting at the top of his lungs, Ron Artest, feeling increasingly relieved, felt as if his heart condition had improved, and his restless emotions were gone.
Winning once again healed his body and mind.
Under the falling confetti, the few people on the bus with their families were in great spirits.
Grant Hill looked at Chandler, who was grinning widely, and teased him again:
"Your agent must be unhappy, but attending training camp is a good choice!"
The Knicks will hold a mini-training camp in early July to prepare for the Summer League and scout players.
Chandler actively participated in training and also accepted the national team's call-up.
At the end of next month, Chandler will also participate in the open tryouts with Tayshaun Prince.
Two seemed unaffected by more competitions, still full of energy.
Receiving an invitation is indeed an honor for ordinary players.
Although agent Schwartz strongly opposed it, Chandler still chose to continue playing:
"I know he's worried about me getting injured, but right now I feel great, 16:0, the playoffs were easier than I imagined!"
Tyson Chandler, who took off his hat to get some air, grinned.
Without needing to create his own offense, he could easily achieve 10 points whenever he wanted, and a double-double was a given.
He didn't get such treatment with the Chicago Bulls.
Although Barea and Novak never made it onto the active roster, they also enjoyed the festive atmosphere; "Towel Master" Diow noticed another Rookie wasn't as happy and put his arm around him, saying casually:
"Smile, buddy! You really should go to a bad team like the Atlanta Hawks and experience what losing feels like!"
"I lost for two years, now I just want to win, and we can get another bonus, do you know how many people envy you?"
Looking at the bobbing Diaw, Rajon Rondo forced a smile.
The championship didn't bring him much sense of accomplishment, and he didn't know how to respond, but fortunately, Pau Gasol on the other side helped him out:
"This is only your first year in your career, in the future you will have the opportunity to become the team's tactical core!"
"Don't think too much, winning is always a good thing, losing the Finals really sucks."
Michael Finley's dark face showed a look of agreement upon hearing this, and he immediately took over the conversation, waving to the fans while reminiscing:
"Working hard for a season, if you stop in the playoffs at the very end, that feeling is even worse!"
"Many teams lack a winning culture, and young players cannot develop good playing habits in that environment, which is why many players leave the league after their contracts end."
By the time Grant also joined the "recalling past bitterness and reflecting on present sweetness" topic, Rajon Rondo couldn't interject, only Tayshaun Prince patted the Rookie's shoulder, comforting him again:
"Don't worry about the stats, even if I play off the bench, I can get a national team invitation. You won't lack opportunities to prove yourself here."
As they approached City Hall, the few people got off the bus and stopped chatting.
Everyone waved to the New York fans present, and Rajon Rondo noticed some fans wearing his jersey, which immediately brightened his mood.
Before he could even greet his fans, Rajon Rondo helplessly found that they weren't looking at him at all, jumping and shouting at the top of their lungs towards Lee at the very front:
"Lee!!"
Seeing this, and thinking about the words of his "Good Brother"s, Rajon Rondo no longer dwelled on it, and once again cheered himself on:
"It won't be long before I get a starting position."
The Rookie didn't notice that among the fans, someone was looking at the Knicks with complex eyes.
Stephon Marbury, wearing a Knicks hat, pulled his brim very low, so many fans didn't notice him.
As Grant Hill was about to officially leave the league, Mayor Bloomberg and City Hall staff jointly delivered a speech, and also presented Grant with a key to the city.
"Grant has always helped our community, he is a good husband, a good father, a good role model."
"..."
Marbury felt even more bitter when he heard the Mayor praise this All-Star who joined the Knicks midway.
It seemed no one remembered "New Yorks Son" anymore, now he was just a "bad team stat-padder."
"Of course we will continue to win, I hope the Knicks can surpass the Celtics and become the team with the most championships in the league!"
"The winning culture will continue, and this is inseparable from your support! It is your cheers that made the Knicks create an undefeated home record."
When Lee took the microphone and simply praised them, the scene completely erupted.
Some excited fans shouted "GOAT," and many others yelled "MVP."
Marbury found that no one noticed him at all.
The crowd gathered in front of City Hall were all fervent fans, and everyone was happily shouting.
Facing a player option after a 4-year contract, Stephon Marbury, who had been wavering, made up his mind at that moment.
He stopped observing, pushed through the crowd, and felt an increasing pang of sadness:
"This should belong to me."
(A/N: My blud is borderline delusional lol.)
On Monday, June 25th, ESPN once again reviewed the New York Knicks' championship parade early in the morning.
The carnival of hundreds of thousands of people and the confetti filling the sky made many Rookies preparing for the draft envious.
Yi Jianlian, who was preparing for a press conference in Manhattan with his agent Dan Fegan, truly understood Lee's influence in this city.
Clay Lee's presence had been seen in NBC news for several consecutive days, not just in sports.
The news of him expecting his 6th child had also recently attracted widespread attention in New York.
Some newspapers even gossiped about Lee and Donald having a falling out and punching each other in the hospital, a dizzying array of chaotic news.
The press conference was scheduled for 10 AM at the hotel.
Dan Fegan noticed Yi Jianlian was a bit nervous and immediately comforted him:
"Don't worry, I've already taken care of everything. Just enjoy this moment! You only get this once in your professional career."
In March, before the draft, Fegan specifically invited officials from seven NBA teams to Dongguan to watch Yi Jianlian participate in the 2006-07 CBA Finals.
The big man's excellent athletic talent instantly attracted much attention, and Yi Jianlian's poster dunk was even selected as ESPN's best play of the day.
In April, Fegan also arranged for Yi Jianlian to fly to Los Angeles, USA, for pre-draft training, hiring six coaches for this purpose and helping him gain weight.
Although he didn't show much during the tryouts, Fegan knew his big client didn't lack market appeal.
Chinese fans across the ocean were very much looking forward to Yi Jianlian surpassing Yao Ming and becoming as successful as Clay Lee.
"I'm worried the tryouts will affect my draft position."
Yi Jianlian was still a bit nervous, his youthful face devoid of a smile, as he whispered.
The accompanying translator and staff also began to communicate with Dan Fegan.
"Starting position? No, if you get picked by New York, you don't need to worry about that."
"Playing in Los Angeles or San Francisco is also a good option. There are Yi's compatriots there. If he can play in Phoenix, Head Coach Alvin Gentry will also like Yi."
"Tonight I have an appointment with Clay Lee's agent. Then Yi should speak more. Lee should appear, so we need to prepare well!"
Dan Fegan rambled on.
After arriving in the United States, he arranged everything, including not participating in the public tryouts in Orlando and showcasing talent using the "chair training method," which were his proud achievements.
Famous draft expert Chad Ford specifically wrote an article for Yi Jianlian, emphasizing that age was not an issue.
Facing skepticism, this basketball critic also gave a positive answer, believing that Yi Jianlian could definitely play in the NBA.
Having worked so hard for so long, Dan Fegan didn't want any last-minute mistakes, but he still heard:
"At least 10 minutes of playing time!"
"Why play off the bench?"
Someone in the team quickly questioned, and ultimately, Dan Fegan could only patiently explain that a championship team wouldn't give a Rookie too much playing time.
New York offers big money, higher attention, and a better environment.
When the invited Rookies appeared before the media on time, most reporters were still more focused on Greg Oden, Kevin Durant, and Al Horford.
The relatively low-key Yi Jianlian simply answered questions, not saying much.
Joakim Noah, on the other hand, was exceptionally active.
This Rookie, who attended high school in New York and New Jersey, proactively stated:
"Although I think I'll be drafted in the top 10, I wouldn't mind playing in New York."
"When I was a kid, my idol was Kevin Garnett, but as I grew up, I realized Clay Lee's greatness. He changed modern basketball, and no one can refuse to be his teammate."
Noah, with his long hair, shamelessly flattered in front of the media.
In fact, the big man would be benched if he came to the New York Knicks.
This Rookie was clearly trying to gain favor, especially since New York only had the 11th pick.
Kevin Durant tried to maintain his cool, unlike Greg Oden, who engaged in commercial banter with his teammates.
When asked about his future career plans, the Rookie seriously stated:
"I hope to grow with excellent young players and win a championship by the end of my 4-year Rookie contract!
That is my goal, and I will give everything for it."
Hearing such a response, many reporters felt something was off.
Considering that the Seattle SuperSonics recently claimed Rashard Lewis and Ray Allen were both in the team's plans, someone on either side must be lying.
Ignoring the subsequent gossip, after Yi Jianlian finished his interview, Dan Fegan began making arrangements again in the afternoon.
That evening, at Daniel, a French restaurant in the Upper East Side, Dan Fegan sat somewhat nervously at the table.
The restaurant was booked for the night, and Chef Daniel was serving only Clay Lee and his party.
Soon, French voices were heard at the door.
Lee casually patted Scarlett, indicating that the succubus could take her "plastic" sisters to enjoy dinner.
"My dear, you don't mind if I taste Daniel's recommended wine tonight, do you?"
Scarlett, wearing a white form-fitting dress, squeezed into Lee's arms and looked up, pouting.
After being kissed, the ugly girls nearby started to chime in quietly:
"Lee loves you."
Soon, Scarlett, surrounded by her "plastic" sisters, went to the pre-dinner bar to have a drink.
How much the meal cost was never within her consideration.
Mark Bartelstein noticed Dan Fegan and his entourage looking over, so he immediately moved closer and greeted them with a smile:
"ISE Company is so lucky! Signing Yi was absolutely the right choice!"
Among this year's Rookies, Mark Bartelstein only signed Michael Conley.
Competition among agencies was fierce, and Rookies' demands were growing higher.
"I just got luckier. With Clay Lee around, you don't have to worry about clients at all."
After some commercial banter, Dan Fegan quickly bent down to shake Lee's hand, a bright smile on his face, and congratulated him again:
"Congratulations, Clay! Your 9th championship in your professional career."
"This year's Finals was the most dominant game I've ever witnessed!"
Yi Jianlian and others also stood up.
Lee smiled and waved, inviting everyone to sit down, then began his commercial banter, casually saying:
"A championship is nice, but my friends at ABC complained about viewership issues. If I were a fan, I wouldn't be interested in watching the 4th quarter either."
"..."
Yi Jianlian secretly observed Clay Lee: a casual black suit, a dark gray T-shirt, stylishly disheveled black hair, and heavy stubble.
He looked younger than in the newspapers.
"The draft is a numbers game. Rookies need the floor time to maintain market value regardless," Lee said, his voice perfunctory and professional.
"Top 10 is the current consensus. Chad Ford has released the projections, and Fegan has handled the logistics as expected."
Lee gave them a curt, business-like nod, already checking his watch.
Dan Fegan, hearing this clinical praise, maintained a controlled, smug smile.
To him, this wasn't friendship.
It was a successful transaction.
This level of public relations was exactly what Nike paid for.
Nike knew Chinese officials were obstructing some news on Lee and Lee wasn't a pushover too, so they wanted to maintain whatever fragile relationship was there.
All for that huge market, even though they were already happy with reactions from India, another big market unexplored.
....
The dishes were exquisite and tasted excellent, but the nervous Yi Jianlian didn't say much, only nodding when instructed.
The accompanying staff wanted to step forward and offer a few toasts, but the atmosphere was simply not suitable, so they could only quietly enjoy the food, listening to Dan Fegan lavish praises on Clay Lee.
By the time dinner ended, Yi Jianlian also let out a long breath.
The inexplicable pressure made him speechless.
...
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