When pride still matters

Chapter 130 St. Francis

Although the first game of the new season against the 76ers is on the road, Yu Fei feels that he should be able to get eight tickets through Allen Iverson, provided that at the beginning of the new season, the head coach of his own company will give a Hall of Fame speech. Guys who can be absent can still be there.

Even if Iverson is away, Yu Fei has other channels. It is not difficult for him to get eight tickets.

Therefore, he agreed to Xiao Zhan and then asked each other about their current situation on the phone.

James revealed his plan to directly participate in the 2003 draft, and also excitedly said that he and Jordan had already met.

"Oh? What do you think of him?" Yu Fei asked.

"He is very nice and he taught me a lot!"

After hearing what James said about Jordan, Yu Fei inexplicably wanted to see the two of them as teammates, but the new season should be Jordan's last season, so there was no chance.

"Okay, I'll see you in Philadelphia then."

Yu Fei hung up the phone.

Although he attended the Hall of Fame ceremony today and also participated in Reebok's local activities, for him, this is already considered a rest.

The next day, Yu Fei rushed back to Milwaukee.

Calculating the time, he has been in Milwaukee for three or four months. This city known as the "most Midwestern" - this is how people in every Midwestern city view their city - gives him the same feeling as Washington. completely different.

He grew up in Kent, which is similar in style to Seattle, which can be said to be the opposite of Washington.Milwaukee is the opposite of these two cities. For example, people in Kent and Washington raise cats and dogs, while people here also raise animals, but they are more interested in hunting outside.The people in those two cities were dull and indifferent, while the people of Milwaukee had an unusual enthusiasm. When Yu Fei was jogging in the wealthy area where he was located, he was asked several times by nearby residents if he wanted to "take a ride."

This is not because Yu Fei was recognized, but because they felt that "Yu Fei needs help, and I can help him."

Yu Fei knew that this was a rare moment when an American urban legend came true - the "Friendly Midwest."

If the best scenery in Milwaukee is these warm-hearted people, then it actually implies that other than the people, nothing else is worth mentioning.There are few entertainment options here, the infrastructure is outdated, and the market is sluggish, which really makes Yu, who just moved from Washington, feel a little uncomfortable.

Fortunately, Yu Fei is not a person who is greedy for pleasure. The high-pressure life in his rookie season has made him accustomed to a reclusive lifestyle. Except for business activities and attending necessary team activities, he rarely goes out for entertainment.

9 April

On the second day of the pre-season training camp, Yu Fei brought Lawson and assistant Clark to the St. Francis Training Center.

The first thing Yu Fei saw when he walked into the court was Devin George who was practicing hard.

George greeted Yu Fei from a distance.

Yu Fei smiled and said, "See you later."

The main reason why Devin George chose the Bucks during the offseason was money, and the secondary reason was that he wanted to play with Yu Fei.

Before joining the Bucks, George called Yu Fei.

Yu Fei believes that an accurate three-point shooter like him is very suitable for him, so he is naturally welcome to join.

As for why George wanted to play with him, Yu Fei didn't care.

"See you later." Yu Fei said, carrying his small backpack and preparing to take a look at the locker room first.

It's still early at this point, and it's not the time when daily training starts, but George seems to have been practicing for a while.

His performance reminded Yu Fei of the first time he went to the Lakers home game to play, and he also went to the Staples Center to shoot in advance.

The Bucks' equipment manager led Yu Fei to the locker room, pointed to the cabinet marked No. 44 and said, "This cabinet is yours."

Yu Fei asked: "Has anyone used it before?"

"Glenn has used it," the equipment manager said with a smile, "but he can't use it now."

After the equipment manager left, Lawson said with a smile: "I actually gave you the big dog's cabinet. Doesn't this mean, eh, you know what I mean, right?"

Yu Fei has always felt that the leader of the Bucks is Ray Allen, but in terms of qualifications, it is indeed Glenn Robinson. But the problem is that neither of them has the temperament of the boss.

So it is very likely that the Bucks in the Ray/Big Dog/Alien era did not have an absolute boss.

Therefore, letting Yu Fei use Glenn Robinson's cabinet proves nothing.

Yu Fei changed his clothes, put all the things he would not use during training into the cabinet, and then prepared to warm up.

As a result, as soon as he walked out of the locker room, he saw someone wearing "fancy clothes" waiting for him outside.

Most of the staff at the St. Francis Training Center wore loose short-sleeved shorts, but this man was in formal attire.It can be said that suits are a strange thing in the training hall.

"Fry, I'm the commercial director of the Bucks, my name is Will Forte, can we talk?"

"It's inconvenient. I'm already one day late. I should start training immediately."

"It doesn't matter," Ford smiled, "you are the one who inherited Glenn's wardrobe, no one will care."

By the way, is there really anything to say about Glenn Robinson's wardrobe?

"Since you say so, then fine."

Yu Fei and Ford came to the "tea room" on the second floor. It is said that this is a place where the boss often comes.

"The Bucks have been training at St. Francis for 30 years, and during that time, there is one closet that is the most special." After the two sat down, Ford began to say, "That's Lew Alcindor's closet. He's special. Perhaps the most unique person in the history of professional basketball, he did not allow anyone to touch his closet, because there was always a holy Quran inside, and Lou would not allow teammates who liked blasphemy to touch them. From Since then, Lu’s closet has become a restricted area in St. Francis. Even if he leaves, it is still a restricted area, and whoever owns it is the owner of the Bucks.”

Because of this, the person who owns it should be the boss.Does a bad guy dare to say that he is the owner of the team?

Also, who the hell is Lou Alcindor?
Yu Fei asked: "So, do you think I am the owner of the Bucks?"

"I don't know, because the symbolism ends with Glenn Robinson, who was an unmotivated guy who got a big contract too early, a long contract that guaranteed him ten years, and he had no motivation, and he There's nothing to defend," Ford said, "but I believe the team gave you this wardrobe for a reason."

Well, there must be a reason for it, but it is definitely not the main reason why you, the commercial director, come to me to talk nonsense.

Yu Fei said straight away: "Is that why you came to me to talk about this?"

"One more thing."

"You said."

"It's weird to say that since Big Lew, the owner of that closet, although he is the owner of the team, has no connection with Milwaukee because they don't like being the face of the team. Can we see a change in you? Frye?”

Yu Fei almost fell asleep after hearing this: "Just tell me what to do."

"At the beginning of the new season, the team will create a radio program for you to talk to the fans, once a week."

"anything else?"

"The team will fully resume its external charity activities, and we hope that as a representative of the team, you will try not to miss it."

"anything else?"

"Of course there will be some commercial activities, which will be inevitable if we have a good record in the new season."

"Any more?"

"That's all for now."

"Okay," Yu Fei said, "I can consider the radio station, and the rest depends on whether I have time."

※※※

For Latrell Sprewell, leaving New York was both a loss and a relief.

What he lost was his commercial influence and value, which were New York's unique advantages. What he was relieved about was that he no longer had to listen to the criticism of mean New Yorkers and the critical New York media.

As a Milwaukee native, it's nice to be able to come back to your hometown later in your career and play for your hometown team.

So when he came to Milwaukee, he told the media he was excited for the new season.

That's true, he does.

He drove the SUV he just bought into the parking lot of the St. Francis Training Center. He came earlier than usual today, and then he drove the car into parking lot 34.

Although the parking spaces are arranged according to the players' jersey numbers, the players do not care about these when parking.

In other words, most players don't care.

This is just a parking space, who doesn’t want to park?First come, first served is the only rule.

Just as Sprewell got out of the car, a BMW drove in.

Obviously, it was heading towards parking space 34. This was not a random choice, it was just a habit.

When the owner of the BMW discovered that parking space No. 34 was already occupied, he excitedly pressed the horn.

Then he got out of the car.

"That's my parking space!" he shouted angrily.

Sprewell took off his headphones. He recognized the other person - Bucks player No. 34 Ray Allen - but he didn't hear what the other person said clearly, "What did you say?"

Ray Allen said seriously: "This is my parking space!"

"Did you buy this parking space?"

"No, but it says No. 34." Ray Allen said stubbornly, "Everyone has his own number, and you should park in your own parking space!"

Sprewell smiled sarcastically, "Since you didn't buy it, it's not yours."

"For six years, every time I come here I park my car at No. 34. You say he's not mine?" Ray Allen looked furious.

"I can't help you man, if you wanted it you should have come to training earlier than I did, it's mine now."

After speaking, Sprewell took his belongings and left, leaving behind a resentful Ray Allen.

For someone with OCD, having certain habits suddenly disrupted can be scary.

Glenn Robinson, who had been with the team since he joined, left and was replaced by Yu Fei.

Latrell Sprewell took the parking space he had occupied for six years right in front of him.

It all adds up to a feeling that his time in Milwaukee may be numbered.

(End of this chapter)