NBA: Start with a three-point experience card

Chapter 259 The Sports Illustrated Curse
When Wang Yi heard the words "the cover of "Sports Illustrated", he couldn't help being moved.

Sports Illustrated is a weekly sports magazine owned by media giant Time Warner.

It is read by 2300 million adults every week and has more than 300 million subscribers.

It is the most influential sports magazine in the world.

In the United States, it is definitely an honor for an athlete to be on the cover of "Sports Illustrated".

The measure of an athlete's success is the number of times he is on the cover of Sports Illustrated.

Jordan climbed to the cover of "Sports Illustrated" 50 times;
James has 27 times;
And Harden only had 3 times.

It is worth mentioning that Yao Ming has also appeared on the cover of "Sports Illustrated" three times.

Now that Wang Yi has the opportunity to appear on the cover of "Sports Illustrated", this is undoubtedly a strong recognition of him.

But thinking of the cover of "Sports Illustrated", Wang Yi couldn't help but think of one thing.

"Sister Luo, have you heard of the curse on the cover of Sports Illustrated?"

When Rowling heard this, she was slightly worried: "I've heard it a little bit, but I'm not very clear."

Wang Yi picked up the mobile phone on the chair next to him, searched it, and read it:

"The first issue was launched on August 1954, 8, with the famous baseball player Matthews as the cover character of the issue. At that time, Matthews led the Milwaukee Braves to win 16 consecutive victories, but on the next day, August 1th , the team lost for the first time. It is even more regrettable that Matthews broke his wrist in the game a week later."

Rowling was a little surprised when she heard this, and asked, "Is there any more?"

"Then there was Jin Meng, the female alpine skier on the cover in January 1955. A week after appearing in "Sports Illustrated", she accidentally hit a big tree during a practice match and eventually caused her whole body to be paralyzed."

“1960年第4期的封面人物是著名女子100米仰泳选手科内，连续4年在该项目上保持不败。在成为《体育画报》“封面女郎”后，她在美国奥运选拔赛遭到了她比赛中的第1次失利。”

"November 1957, 11 Oklahoma won 18 consecutive college football games, longest streak at the time. When they hit the cover of Sports Illustrated, the headline read, "Why Oklahoma Can't Defeated". The result was defeated by Notre Dame in the next game."

……

Wang Yi finally said: "There are too many examples like this. The most surprising one is one of the 2002 issues, maybe Sports Illustrated to laugh at itself, the cover headline says about the curse they bring, and the cover is a black cat .”

"St. Louis Rams quarterback Kurt Varner wanted to be on the cover with the Black Cats, but the magazine turned him down. The Rams ended up winning two straight and becoming the NFC champions."

"If you are on the cover, you will lose, get injured or even die. Those who can't be on the cover can win and win the championship."

Rowling heard this and said:
"This...then why don't we reject them? The playoffs are about to start. Isn't it unlucky to shoot the cover of "Sports Illustrated" at this time?"

Wang Yi laughed loudly when he heard the words:
"Just treat this as an interesting talk. Jordan has been on the cover 50 times, and James has been on the cover 27 times. Shouldn't they still be named gods and gods, and they should be named kings. So as long as they are strong enough, any curses and the like will be fine. It's bullshit."

Rowling nodded: "You're right. Then when you have time, I'll ask them to come over for an interview."

Wang Yi said: "After training this afternoon."

"OK, I'll contact them right away."

At eight o'clock, James came to practice.

He also seemed very excited when he heard that Wang Yi was going to be on the cover of "Sports Illustrated":
"Brother, you're on fire!"

Wang Yi gasped and asked with a smile:

"Aren't you afraid of the cover curse?"

James laughed out loud, his white teeth shining brightly under the lights of the arena:
"Wang, if there is really a curse, man, I've been on it almost 30 times, shouldn't I be smashed to pieces?"

Wang Yi shook his head: "You are different, you are not human at all."

James laughed again, nodded and said: "You are right. By the way, the team has already complained to the league today about the blind referee. I guess that guy is involved in gambling. If the investigation reveals that he is really involved in gambling , he will definitely go to jail.”

Wang Yi simply responded, "Oh."

He didn't care how the guy turned out.

What matters is that the Lakers win in the end.

James said again: "Wang, the playoffs are about to start. I have a trick to eliminate external interference during the playoffs. Do you want to try it?"

"Is it a disconnection? Everyone on earth knows."

James nodded: "It's quite useful for me. I don't go online during the playoffs, and I don't pay attention to the messy information and voices on the Internet. It helps me stay absolutely focused on the game. Do you want to try it? "

Wang Yi thought for a while and said, "Well, it's worth a try."

James smiled and said, "I'm going to disconnect from the Internet from tonight, let's go together."

"Together."

……

That afternoon, "Sports Illustrated" reporters and photographers came to the training hall.

After they interviewed Wang Yi, they shot the cover of Sports Illustrated.

The cover of "Sports Illustrated" can choose a picture of a player in the game, or it can be shot separately.

What Wang Yi photographed was standing on the Lakers logo and shooting a super long three-pointer.

This is now his signature move.

That night, Sports Illustrated sent the finished cover to Wang Yi for final review.

On the cover, Wang Yi is standing on the Lakers LOGO, making a shooting action.

Next to it is a close-up of his face against the Hawks.

The sweat on his face shone like a diamond under the light.

His eyes were full of fighting spirit.

The background is a large "82 points" that occupies the entire cover.

On the top of the cover, there is a line of big characters: "Will this Asian surpass Kobe?"

Wang Yi is generally satisfied with the cover.

However, I have a small comment on the above text.

He contacted the editor of Sports Illustrated: "Overall, I am satisfied, but please change 'Asian' to 'Chinese'."

The editor at Sports Illustrated replied: "I have to ask the editor-in-chief for instructions."

Five minutes later, the editor called:
"The editor-in-chief agreed to change it to 'Huaxia People'. I will do it now and send it to you. If you think it's okay, you can see you on the cover of the latest issue of "Sports Illustrated" tomorrow."

"Well, thank you."

That night, Wang Yi made a phone call with his parents, saying that he would disconnect from the Internet and phone during the playoffs, and that he would contact his agent if there was anything wrong.

My father was quite supportive of this decision.

Early the next morning, the editor of "Sports Illustrated" personally delivered the latest issue of "Sports Illustrated".

Wang Yi looked at himself above, feeling a little emotional in his heart.

Finally got the approval of these people.

No one knows how much suffering, how much prejudice and discrimination they have gone through, to get such recognition.

Of course, prejudice and discrimination will not disappear so easily.

So I have to keep working hard.

This recognition is not the end.

Instead start.

(End of this chapter)