When pride still matters

Chapter 294 The blood-stained crown

After the Christmas War, 2005 is coming to an end.

Yu Fei doesn’t care about the outside world’s comments and criticisms about the Christmas war. However, some media people who like to stir up trouble sensitively caught Yu Fei’s comments about James and said, “This is like a father who is proud of his child. ".

Especially sports writers like Bill Simmons, whose jokes have no boundaries, responded to readers' questions in his famous "Thoughts" column about "Why does Frye look like LeBron's dad?"

Simmons replied: "I'm glad you're as perceptive as I am. You're a great reader. This is a great entry point into everything that explains why Frye and LeBron, the big brother and the little brother. The reason why it seems so awkward. As the top 1 player of the new generation, Frye and LeBron should have been on fire. Even if they are not enemies, they should not be as close as brothers. But this is the situation. Frye claims to be LeBron’s The big brother, then scored 49 points on his little brother in the first game of LeBron's career. From then on, it was the same story every time they met. Frye won big, then emphasized. LeBron is his little brother, and he is proud of LeBron. Rather than saying that the older brother dominates the younger brother, it is better to say that Frye is a tolerant father. He easily defeats LeBron and tolerates everything about LeBron. He was just playing the role of father in the name of his brother."

As ESPN's most popular writer, Simmons' words and opinions are as popular as his concocted "Ewing's Law" and "Tyson Field."

Yu Fei could no longer complain about this man, and it was easier to accept hearing someone else say whose father he was than saying who his father was.

It's James' camp that's going to get angry about this.

This is the trouble of celebrities. Any slight disturbance may become the target of troublemakers.

Yu Fei's camp is indifferent to this. Compared with last season, the public opinion and environment this season are the best for Fei.

In the words of Fei’s confidant Anthony Lawson: “It feels like we’re back in the 2002-03 season now. The only difference is that now there are many fans who can confidently say that the Bucks will win back the franchise’s history next June. Fourth championship.”

It can be clearly seen that after the Christmas game, Yu Fei's team has focused on the playoffs, and the regular season is just a process for them.

And the answers Yu Fei gave during this process were also considered full marks.

So far, the Bucks' record ranks first in the league. Yu Fei is the best player in the Eastern Conference with an average of 31 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, 2 steals and 1 block per game, and has ranked third in every MVP simulation prediction since the beginning of the season. one.

If this was not enough, Yu Fei also became the first person to hire a personal stylist in the dress code era, thereby completely distinguishing the hip-hop and street style that Iverson detonated at the beginning of the century, and becoming the first NBA player to become famous in the fashion industry. players.

In the commercial field, Yu Fei's continuous improvement in performance has made his sales of the fifth generation of Tianxuan and jerseys rank first in the league.

Ranking first in a single category can be said to be commonplace, and being able to rank first in major lists regardless of strength, competitiveness or commercial value proves that he has transformed from a nominal superstar to a Michael Jordan-style pop culture figure. Idol marches on.

At the end of December, the Bucks challenged the Lakers away from home.

Due to recent injuries, Kobe officially started his crazy scoring performance.

In the recent game against the Mavericks, his individual scoring exceeded the opponent's team scoring in three quarters, which is a masterpiece of his season.

The Bucks had already tested Kobe's strength before he killed everyone. This time, they didn't go through the same process in the second round. From the first quarter, Kobe would be double-teamed whenever he got the ball.

The Bucks' extreme double-teaming strategy prevented Kobe from getting a comfortable singles opportunity throughout the game.

But the consequence of doing so is to force out the rational science of mythical beasts.

When Kobe began to actively pass the ball to his teammates, the Bucks did not adjust their strategy in time because the entire team believed that if Kobe was blocked, the game would be won.

The Bucks are currently on a fourteen-game winning streak and are extremely satisfied.

In other words, this is when they are most likely to flip over.

In the last half minute of the game, Yu hit a key three-pointer in the flying time, turning the Bucks from a tie to a 3-point lead. Then Kobe forced a shot under the double team, completed a four-point play, and made a free throw in the last few seconds, causing the Bucks to suffer their first defeat since December.

This was their last game in 2005 and now it had to end in defeat.

In this campaign, Yu Fei played like Kobe, scoring 44 points in a single game, while Kobe played like Yu Fei, scoring a triple-double of 24 points, 10 rebounds and 14 assists, helping the team end the Bucks' winning streak.

"I really don't want to hear people say that Kobe has no help anymore. Look at his teammates. They proved tonight that they can help. Don't say they are always holding Kobe back. They are also NBA players. Why do you always like to ignore their contributions?”

George Karl's remarks are not an attack on Kobe, but a confusing argument has suddenly appeared recently: Kobe led the team to maintain the lead in the Western Conference with less help, so Kobe is better than Fei. More qualified to be elected MVP.

In Karl's view, as long as Yu Fei maintains his current performance, he will definitely win the MVP for two consecutive years.

Therefore, this kind of "fallacy" must be refuted.

Yu Fei is not that sensitive about this matter, because he knows that Kobe did not win the MVP in the end. He also knows that Kobe only has one MVP in his career. Although he has never seen Kobe in his peak in his previous life, the "big brother" on the Internet "Fans" have enough energy to teach young people like him how Kobe stole Paul's MVP.

What made Yu Fei most nervous was what Kobe said to him at the end of the game: "I know you are unhappy. See you in the finals."

Yu Fei asked back: "Are you sure the Lakers can advance to the finals?" Kobe, who beat the Bucks, tried his best to restrain his pride, but his true thoughts were exposed under Yu Fei's question.

Kobe turned around confidently and shook his finger, as if he was mocking Yu Fei: Is this considered a problem? Who do you look down on?

It's unpleasant to lose, but taking off the burden of a winning streak is not a bad thing for the Bucks.

After that, Yu Fei decided to stay in Los Angeles for his birthday.

On December 12, Yu Fei's 31rd birthday, "Sports Illustrated" sent its chief writer Gary Smith to "collect stories" from him.

Smith will not only get the opportunity to interview Yu Fei, but also participate in Yu Fei's birthday party as a member of the team.

"Sports Illustrated" also has a special place in Yu Fei's heart. As a high school basketball star in Washington State, he had very limited national influence. It was Gary Smith, the chief writer of the magazine, who wrote the book "The Chosen". , wrote a long article specifically for him.

From then on, the gears of fate began to turn, and Yu Fei was given the most difficult mission in history: to become the chosen one who can change the world as mentioned in the article.

"Do you still have a tattoo on your back?" Smith asked with a smile.

"Of course." Yu Fei said, "But I usually don't show it to others."

Smith carefully observed Yu Fei and the people around him. He wanted to know how these people got along. As the hottest superstar in the NBA, what was the difference between this young man and the immature high school student four years ago.

Lawson is the most distinctive member of Yu Fei's team. He is the microphone and creates more than 70% of the topics.

Lin Kaiwen is very reserved and always meticulous in doing things.

Quint DiMeo, who is responsible for Yu Fei's branding and image marketing as well as business negotiations, could spend all day talking about the results of his work.

Then there is Christian Laettner. This man has changed unexpectedly. Smith can no longer compare the white elite Laettner in front of him with the devil prince who dominated the NCAA more than 20 years ago.

"Damn, Chris, I really didn't think you would be sitting here one day, reporting to Fry like me!" Lawson shouted, "I still can't forget the day Fry beat you..."

Smith asked curiously: "When?"

The person who answered this question was Yu Fei.

"When I was a rookie." Yu Fei said, "At that time, I was still in DC."

Smith asked in surprise: "You really did it?"

"Yes, Kwame and I were both rookies at the time, and some old guys wanted to test us, so Chris acted as a thug, you know, Gary." When Yu Fei said this, everyone thought Images emerged of him fighting with people on the field, "I'm not a submissive person."

"That was the best thing that ever happened to me," Laettner said self-deprecatingly.

Smith believes the conflict between Yu Fei and Leitner was far more intense than they let on.

But that doesn't matter anymore, because Leitner is now a member of the "Chosen Empire" just like Lawson and the others.

Smith asked Yu Fei many questions, many of which were of interest to the outside world.

For example, Yu Fei's feud with Jordan, his feud with O'Neal, and his relationship with James.

Especially for James' part, Smith believes that Yu Fei's answer can be used as a quote for this article.

"If one day, LeBron becomes your biggest obstacle on the way to the championship, do you think your relationship will become an obstacle for you to reach the top?"

"No, Gary." Yu Fei said excitedly like a hunter who saw his prey, "I will use his blood to dye my crown red."

That night, the moment the crystal ball landed, the New Year officially arrived.

Yu Fei called James, and the two wished each other Happy New Year.

Gary Smith sat aside. If the Frye who wanted LeBron's blood to stain his crown was real, what about the Frye who sincerely sent New Year's greetings to LeBron?

Like those keen observers out there, Gary Smith wonders how this relationship will play out, he wonders how Frye will blood-stain James' crown, but until that day comes, he'll have to wait.

Just like LeBron, he will have to wait before he can step up to Frye and formally challenge.

(End of this chapter)