God of NBA point guards

Chapter 489 The Great Purge

After the executives argued for a while, Stern said coldly: "Gentlemen, in view of the sharp drop in operating income, I have decided that all executives, including myself, as well as the referee committee and all referees, will collectively reduce their salaries. 50%.”

"what?"

The executives turned around and looked at Stern, and everyone was instantly stunned.

The four executives were also a little dumbfounded. The previous losses in the alliance belonged to the boss and had nothing to do with them, but the salary was theirs. If they lost half of it, they couldn't be hated by their colleagues?

"President, why are you lowering our salary? Someone must stand up and take responsibility." An executive said angrily.

"Yes, fire them." Many people immediately echoed.

An hour later, the NBA announced that senior vice presidents Billy Ricker and Leo Rodriguez had made serious work mistakes and were dismissed.

Stern did not choose to fire because he hoped to reduce some resistance.

Now those eight executives are left with two heads of the referee committee. They have the support of the referees, which is the most difficult thing to handle.

……

"Michael Tyson: I fight the Iron Fist champion as easily as I fight my own sparring partner." Germany's Bild Times.

"King of Iron Fist vs. Iron Michael, the battle of the century!" French newspaper Le Monde.

"We'll have to wait and see who will be who's free sparring partner." New York Times.

"The contest between the two most popular world heavyweight boxing champions, one of the greatest world heavyweight boxing championship fights of this century." British BBC TV station.

"Hotel prices in major New York hotels have soared 350%." New York TV station.

“630 seven gambling companies around the world have already opened odds for the boxing championship match between Iron Fist King and Iron Michael. It is expected that more than [-] million people will participate in betting, and hundreds of billions of dollars will be invested in this huge gamble around the world. ."Washington post.

On the morning of the 29th, the front pages of major media outlets all over the world, not just in the United States, were full of news about boxing matches.

Starting from this day, many wealthy people flew to New York on their private jets from all over the United States and around the world.

The room prices of major hotels in New York have skyrocketed, especially those around Madison Square Garden, which have skyrocketed six to seven times, and have long been booked out.

With such great attention, dozens of brands endorsed by Zhou Quan have also been greatly affected, with sales skyrocketing.The stock prices of these dozens of companies are also rising steadily.

……

"The NBA announced that all executives and referees will cut their salaries by 50%. As of today, six executives have been fired or dismissed. It is said that these six executives are related to the retirement of the Iron Fist King. After the Iron Fist King retired, the NBA has been in dilapidation. Look." Los Angeles Times.

"The NBA officially announced and promised that the NBA will maintain zero tolerance for racial discrimination." New York Times.

"Under the supervision of the Iron Fist King, the NBA will conduct a large-scale purge." Seattle Times.

"According to data released by the NBA, operating income in the new season is expected to drop sharply, and most teams will fall into losses. A new round of labor negotiations will be held in the summer of 98, and there is expected to be a risk of a shutdown. From 98 /Starting from the 99 season, the salary cap will be reduced, and the average salary of players will be significantly reduced." Wall Street Journal.

"The NHL surpassed the NBA and became the third among the four major professional sports leagues." Detroit Daily News.

On this day, there was a lot of NBA news on the headlines of the sports pages of various media, but they were all very negative news.

At three o'clock in the afternoon that day, Magic Johnson appeared at New York's LaGuardia Airport and was interviewed after being discovered by several media reporters.

"Erwin, are you here to watch the championship match between Iron Fist King and Iron Michael?"

"Oh yes."

"It is said that your relationship with the Iron Fist King is very bad. Why are you willing to watch his boxing match?"

"No, it's not what you said. My relationship with him is just not that close. It's not as good as Karim's relationship with him. After all, they are schoolmates."

"So Iron Fist or Iron Michael, who do you support?"

"Of course Iron Fist."

"Do you welcome Iron Fist back to the NBA?"

"Oh, everything is so bad now! There is a big problem in the alliance, and it will be very difficult in the next few years. If the Iron Fist King comes back, that will be the best news." Hearing this question, the magician sighed.

……

Or LaGuardia Airport, which is one of the three major passenger airports in New York. It mainly handles domestic flights and has a small number of international flights.

As soon as O'Neal walked out of the exit with his big suitcase, he was surrounded by a group of reporters waiting here.

"Shaq, are you here to watch the boxing match?"

"Of course. You don't have to ask. Of course I support the Iron Fist King. I'm his brother." O'Neal said cheerfully.

"Shaq, what do you think of the current situation in the NBA?"

"Too bad, some people forced Iron Fist away, and now things are getting serious." O'Neal couldn't help but shook his head and sighed.

"Do you think the Iron Fist King should return to the NBA?"

"Let those guys who forced him to leave and those bastards who discriminated against him kneel down and beg him." O'Neal said unceremoniously.

……

That night, Zhou Quan arranged a big party at the Hilton Hotel and invited all the stars and celebrities who supported him to attend.

Originally, only more than 100 friends were invited, but in the end, more than 400 people attended the party, and two additional halls had to be temporarily opened.

Fortunately, the hotel organized the party very professionally and it went quite smoothly.

On the 29th, Zhou Quan still maintained a small training volume.

After lunch break, Philip came over and said: "Zhou, there is not much difference between you and Tyson in the handicap offered by gambling companies around the world. Some are more optimistic about you, and some are more optimistic about him, but The odds are not great, and the highest odds are no more than 1:1.15 US dollars.”

"What's the insider's opinion?" Zhou Quan asked.

"the same."

When Philip said this, he suddenly changed the topic and said in a gloating tone: "The NBA is very sad now. In the new season, there will be more small teams with increased losses. Especially next season, when the new TV broadcast contract is implemented In the future, this situation will definitely intensify. By the way, the NBA has just officially announced that it will convene a meeting of owners. I guess it is going to be purged."

"I heard that Hughes Blake has gone bankrupt, where is Adam Silver?" Zhou Quan asked curiously.

Philip smiled and said: "Blake is already living on the streets. He can't find a job at all. No sports league dares to ask him to be a referee.

As for Adam Silver, according to media reports, he is also in trouble now. Like Blake, he cannot find a job.

His mortgage and college loan bank has disclosed to the public that Xiao Hua's mortgage and student loans are already one month overdue.I don't think he can find a job anymore and he'll end up like Blake in two months.

In the United States, you can be racist in private, but you can't expose it. People who violate this rule will not end well. "

"Haha!" Zhou Quan laughed happily.

Philip smiled and added: "Of the eight executives targeting you, Stern has fired six in total. The other four are better than Adam Silver and Blake. They have worked for many years, especially as executives. It has been five years and I have savings.

Xiao Hua is only 35 years old and has only worked for 10 years. Before 92, he worked for a law firm. His level was not high enough, his income was not high, and his position in the NBA was not high. He had just been promoted to a special assistant, and with his student loan and housing loan, he had a lot of money on hand. I have no savings at all, can't find a job, and will be bankrupt in a short time. "

"Roger, find someone to take some photos of Hughes Blake and show them to me to make me happy." Zhou Quan said with some evil humor.

"Haha, OK. In two or three months, I will ask someone to take some photos of Adam Silver wandering on the streets to make you happy again." Philip laughed.

"Ha ha!"

……

On the 30th, the eve of the boxing match.

On this day, Zhou Quan's training increased, and his powerful body functions were fully activated by the large amount of training. With the adjustment of the Sleeping Pill Technique, his energy and spirit also reached its peak state.

On this day, more private planes arrived at various private airports in New York.

At two o'clock in the afternoon that day, the owners or their authorized representatives of the 29 NBA teams rushed to New York and participated in the meeting held by Stern.

After the meeting began, Stern sat at one end of the oval conference table with a heavy face and said in a firm tone:

"Gentlemen, no matter what your attitude is towards Iron Fist, no matter what your attitude is towards racial discrimination, I am telling you now that we must wage a war against racial discrimination."

Bosses, you look at me, I look at you, no one speaks for the time being, waiting for Stern's next words.

Stern continued: "It is in the interest of all of us to wage a war on racial discrimination. If not, this alliance will decline day by day, and all of you will suffer huge losses."

At this point, he began to list the data and said: "On the next TV broadcast contract alone, we will lose up to 15 to 17 billion U.S. dollars, and we will lose hundreds of millions of dollars every year.

Overseas operating income will lose about US$2.5 million every year starting from the new season. In addition to the loss of jersey sales, the most serious thing is that most overseas TV stations’ copyright purchase plans were canceled last season, including China Central Television.

This is the part that has cost us the most. We have been developing all over the world for so many years, and now all our efforts are in vain.

Other venue sponsorship revenue has lost about US$3 million.The hidden value loss is even more immeasurable.Wall Street's valuation of the NBA fell by more than [-]%. "

As soon as he finished speaking, the conference room erupted in discussion.

"Because of racial discrimination, we have suffered too much. Let's go to war. Just like Iron Fist said, there will be a big purge."

"We have to go to war and we have zero tolerance for racial discrimination."

"David, we support you."

"After cleaning, please bring back the Iron Fist King."

Many bosses couldn't help but nodded, with heavy expressions on their faces.

They are some owners with little net worth, perhaps the team is most of their net worth. These people are the most annoyed and the most supportive of Stern, because the current loss will hurt them the most.

Among these people is Lakers owner Jerry Buss.

Most of his net worth is the Lakers team. Although he sits in the big ball market of Los Angeles, he will also suffer a lot this time.

He said solemnly: "Our losses are too great, we should seek to bring the Iron Fist King back, we must rely on his influence to stop the losses.

As long as he comes back, the ratings will definitely come back. Although the TV broadcast contract has been signed, other operating income should also slowly come back. As long as it lasts five years, everything will get better. "

At this point, he said to the bosses who remained silent: "You should also take a stand. If you don't take a stand, you will also suffer a lot."

Although Clippers owner Sterling is a racist and sincerely discriminates against colored stars such as Zhou Quan and Magic, the losses are too great now. He calculated that he will lose [-] to [-] million US dollars in the next five years. , this is enough to break his muscles and bones. His current net worth is only a few hundred million dollars, which is not as good as Jerry Buss.

So when Jerry Buss looked over, he immediately raised his hands and said: "David, I support you, clean it up, drive those guys who caused us to lose a lot of money out of the NBA, and let them all go bankrupt. Go sleep on the street.”

"We need to spread the word and not allow companies to hire them." A small boss suggested.

"Yes, they should be made bankrupt." Someone immediately echoed.

"David, what are you going to do?" Jerry Buss asked.

Stern said: "Gentlemen, I publicly announced the day before yesterday that the NBA has zero tolerance for racial discrimination.

Next, I will follow what Iron Fist said and carry out a large-scale cleaning, from the league's top management to ordinary staff, including referees, and all your teams, starting from your boss to the lower staff. "

Sterling's mouth twitched, Stern, you old boy, are you here for me?Damn it, don’t talk nonsense anymore.

"Is the scope too big?" A boss asked worriedly.

"I can't care about it now. If this continues, the alliance may go bankrupt one day." Someone said.

"Then do it." More people said.

David Stern said: "My plan is to complete the cleaning before the start of the new season and face the world with a new look. Gentlemen, there is not much time. Let's start after you agree."

"OK."

Everyone said.

"Okay, here are two presidential orders that I have signed."

David Stern took out two pieces of paper, showed them to everyone, and said: "I want to fire the chairman of the referee committee, Lilo Dix, and the vice chairman of the committee, Betsy Wells. The two of them are the iron fists. The people who are most hostile to Iron Fist. If you agree, sign it."

After whispering to each other, the bosses all nodded and began to sign the president's order.

Subsequently, after the meeting, Stern officially issued these two presidential orders to the entire company.

With the signatures of 29 owners, no one dared to question the two committee chairmen even though they held high positions in the NBA, and no one on the referee committee dared to jump out.

Stern even came to the referee committee's office in person with the president's order, and said to all the middle and senior management of the referee committee with a very stern expression:
"Gentlemen, please remember that if Iron Fist does not come back, all of you will lose your jobs, including the referees under you. I don't mind replacing you all."

"..."

Everyone was stunned and looked at each other.

Next, Stern began a vigorous purge at the league headquarters.

After the 29 team owners returned, they also started purging, and all those who had racial discrimination were included in the purge.

"cheers!"

After receiving the news that the NBA league was undergoing a major purge, the happy Roger Philippe opened a bottle of champagne to celebrate.

……

(End of this chapter)