NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 478: Expensive Respect. (Daily Chapter)
The 40/40 Club has been open in Manhattan's Flatiron District for two years and has always had a good reputation.

Thanks to Jay-Z's fame, this is almost the first choice for black sports fans to watch games and parties. Just like the name of the club, baseball fans can even see some out-of-print peripherals here.

On Sunday, 17:4 p.m. to : a.m. is the designated party time, and guests must wear casual formal attire.

Although there have been recent rumors that Li You and Michael Jordan will appear at the club on Sunday, the New York crowd thinks the news is false.

As we all know, after the Golden Club incident, Li You rarely appeared in public entertainment venues. In the past two years, he has focused on his family and had a bunch of children.
On Sunday the 17th, the club announced that it would not accept reservations for that day. When security personnel gathered at the door at around 20 p.m., the gossip-loving crowd discovered that the rumors seemed to be true.

Due to Christmas, the passenger flow in Manhattan has exploded recently. It is obviously a short distance, but it took more than 10 minutes to drive to Midtown Manhattan.

Sitting in the Rolls-Royce Phantom Extended Edition, Michael Jordan kept looking at the customized decorations. Some of the golden trims made him grin involuntarily:

"When I was your age, my family all had sports cars, and that's not your style. I thought you drove a Porsche."

The partition did not rise. Old Mike, who was sitting in the passenger seat, glanced at Michael behind him and raised his eyebrows in the rearview mirror. Michael's guess was correct.
The current one was Ivana's birthday gift this year, and the added parts were influenced by Donald.

Li You, who was wearing a black turtleneck sweater, sat in the back seat, glanced at the old man in a black T-shirt, and said casually:

"In order to take care of an old guy like you, I specially moved out the business car. I heard that you also want to invest in a fleet of cars? This thing is not profitable."

"The team also loses money, and I lost a lot of money in my divorce, but if I make money I should spend it, and I like to try new things."

Thinking about the Bobcats' current situation of struggling to win and losing, Michael Dunk feels a little uncomfortable. His investment has depreciated again.
"Sometimes I don't like to work closely with my compatriots. David told me a long time ago that business is business. I'm glad that at least the people around me didn't hold me back."

"You know when the hook was first created, Phil Knight went to Magic Johnson with a shoe and they wrote Magic on the heel."

"8 US dollars per year plus stocks. The stock price was less than 1 US dollar at the time. In the end, this offer was not successful. The person who helped Ma Ji manage his business at the time was a fellow villager, the father of the girl next to him."

Michael Jordan always feels gloating when talking about past events, and this is also something he is proud of. He made the right choice and is now making a lot of money.

"Black people are like this sometimes. Artest has a bunch of people on your team. Sooner or later, he will be dragged down."

"I've seen too many black people like this, but Jay-Z is different. At least he doesn't squander himself. CEO of Def Jam, I thought you two would get along well."

When Li You heard this, he knew that Michael admired this compatriot who had become a boss, but he was still not interested in this:
"Being compatible doesn't mean we have to make money together, but his club idea is good. Maybe I should consider investing in this direction in the future."

Someone has invested real money in this business model, and what Li You needs to do is to optimize it. Michael Jordan on the side smiled and shook his head, thinking that tonight's event is hopeless:
"Anyway, I'm here to consume. Whether you guys want to cooperate or not is none of my business."

It took more than 20 minutes to drive to the 40/40 Club. The entrance was very simple, with only a wooden door frame besides the 40/40 logo.

A red carpet was laid at the entrance. A group of strong black men who preferred style to warmth raised their walkie-talkies to make announcements, and soon Jay-Z, wearing fur and a white suit, appeared in front of everyone.

"Hey! Mike, great to see you!"

"Lee, it's been two years, and this is your first time here! Ron is already my diamond member. I swear, you'll love it here."

Jay-Z walked up to the two people who got off the car and hugged them. The security personnel did not check the entourage, and everyone walked quickly into the club.

The reporters who were waiting there only had time to press the shutter twice before Li You and his companions disappeared. Those who wanted to sneak in with them were stopped by the security personnel at the door.

The main floor can accommodate 300 people. Jay-Z introduced his masterpiece, pointing to the 18-foot-tall luminous champagne tower and said loudly:
“This is the best viewing experience. Look at the screens and walnut woodwork all around. Every member is full of praise.”

The crystal chandelier emits blurry colors, and the top-notch speakers are playing exciting songs on a loop. No reservations are accepted tonight, but at this moment, the first floor is filled with a large number of tall black girls dressed in cool clothes.

They twisted their bodies to the music and cheered in the direction of several people. The bold girls sitting around the bar even tore off their shoulder straps, raised their glasses and blew kisses, followed by screams and music.

Most of Maiko's followers were black. They were pulled over by the enthusiastic girls and soon started interacting boldly.

Old Mike frowned slightly. This club was not as serious as he had imagined. Nacho and the security personnel following behind were not affected and continued to stare at Jay-Z's followers with sour faces.

"They want to interfere with our business?!"

Nacho, who had just returned from Manchester, didn't know the details yet, and he didn't look happy when he asked in a low voice. Old Mike kept walking, just raised his eyebrows and whispered in a deep voice:
“No, they want to send money.”

Hearing this with a puzzled look on his face, Nacho tugged at his black suit and cursed in annoyance. Until now, he still had no idea where the conflict between the two sides lay.

The JAY-Z Lounge is the club's largest and most luxurious VIP lounge area. In addition to its good privacy, it can easily accommodate 80 people and the room is exceptionally spacious.

Luxurious custom seating surrounds a custom-made pool table, enhanced by oak panelling with silver leaf detailing and stately wooden floors, giving the room an extra-luxurious feel.

After introducing the collection of sports peripherals in the room, a group of black girls soon came here. With snacks, drinks and soothing music, everyone chatted casually and played ball at will.

After drinking almost enough, the reluctant girls left the stage. Jay-Z leaned back on the huge leather chair and pointed at the champagne on the table with a stiff tongue:
“I could have the club sell only Ace of Spades, and I could even redecorate and build a custom lounge just for this champagne.”

"Black people in New York will come to my shop to spend money. Believe me, Li, it's a win-win situation!"

Michael Jordan, with blurry eyes, was smoking a cigar. Maybe it was because he drank too much, he rolled up his sleeves, tilted his head back, and huddled on the sofa, looking like he was watching a show.

"That's good advice, I guarantee you'll get the best deal at Sovereign Brands."

The alcohol had no effect on Li You's body. He responded casually and then lit a cigar. This behavior made the black henchman on the other side stare.
“No, you know what I’m talking about. I don’t like beating around the bush. I need at least 40% of the shares!”

"With this cooperation, I can forget all the disrespect in the past!"

After Jay-Z said this, he tore off his white tie, raised the golden champagne, and tilted his head to stare at Li You:

"WF! You're drunk! Why should I sell you 40%? Disrespect? You and Beyoncé receive free tickets from me every year."

Seeing Li You also staring at him, Jay-Z got angry, put down the champagne, unbuttoned his collar, and then continued to rap and complain:

"Respect? In 99, Amadou Diallo was killed by the New York Police Department. I was actively speaking out at the time, but you didn't say anything!"

"When I was competing with Nas, this son of a bitch went to watch the game and you were still talking and laughing with him."

"In 03, Madison Square Garden, my retirement party concert! This is your territory, shit! You didn't even show up, do you know how they laughed at me?"

"Last month, Sean Bell was killed in Queens and you still didn't do anything. Black people supported you and you never gave back!"

"Damn respect! You could have been friends with Iverson, but now you've turned him into a clown that everyone laughs at."

Seeing Jay-Z standing up and getting more and more excited, constantly bringing up old scores, Michael Jordan, who was watching the show, couldn't help but wave his hand and interrupted:

"Sit down and talk slowly, OK? I have to say something on Lee's behalf. Athletes should not be involved in those civil rights topics. His foundation helps young black people who are worried about tuition fees."

“I don’t know about other issues, but at the University of Chicago, many young people have benefited from this.”

"It's not showing off in front of the media that really helps, and business is business."

Li You, who was smoking, almost laughed at this moment. He had long forgotten some trivial matters. If he had paid attention to the gossip in detail, perhaps his experiences over the years could be written into a 300 million-word novel:

"Yee, maybe you are right. I don't want to explain. Just give a sincere number. You know that the revenue from this champagne can last for many years."

Jay-Z sat back on the sofa and regained his composure. For him, face is more important than anything else. Although there had been "long-standing grudges" before, he really liked the golden champagne of Ace of Spades:

"35%"

“No, 10% at most!”

Hearing Li You's interruption, the followers on the other side seemed to be very angry and stood up all of a sudden. Before they could even shout, Nacho held the leading burly man. Old Mike shook his head and said:

"Everyone sit down. No one wants to see what happened tonight appear in tomorrow's newspaper."

Sensing something behind him, the burly black man instinctively raised his hands, completely losing his previous ferocious look.

When he realized that this was his territory and saw the boss's gaze again, the black man pretended to glare at him again. After sitting down, there was still a hint of fear in his eyes.

Michael Jordan didn't like this style. He thought Jay-Z, who was in his 30s, had become a real businessman, but he didn't expect that he was still the same old guy:
"How about 25%? I think you can make more money together."

Feeling humiliated again, Jay-Z was so angry that he glared at Li You who was smoking, then turned around and said:

"35% is my bottom line. Have fun, Mike, and don't be polite to me!"

"Lee, if you respect me, remember to have your lawyer email me. I don't think we have anything more to talk about."

Li You, with a cigar in his mouth, smiled and made an "OK" gesture. Then he leaned back on the sofa and watched Jay-Z and his followers leave.

When the black girls returned to the room, the atmosphere became cheerful again. Li You looked down on these flesh and blood. When the two of them had almost finished their cigars, he said self-deprecatingly:
“It turns out that my success was all due to the support of black people. I thought it was all due to my own efforts.”

Michael also threw the dice aside and looked around the room. He seemed to think of his experiences when he was young and sighed:
"The winner has the right to laugh at his opponent. Do you know how they treated me when I lost?"

"For the winners, it's a competition. For the losers, all that awaits them is entertainment. So I don't like losing. I don't want them to point fingers at me."

TNT has been using McArthur every day lately. When Li You heard this, he knew that the petty deputy GOAT couldn't hold back anymore. In order to avoid a breakdown in their friendship, he decided to give them a heads-up:

"Times have changed. I really like those sports programs. They can help me save a lot of advertising costs."

The two did not stay for long. The cooking skills of the club's chef were really not that good. When they left, a large number of reporters had gathered at the door.

The cold weather did not affect the gossiping hearts of the onlookers. When they saw Jay-Z leaving with Big Face, they were all very happy. Now when they saw Li You's smiling face, they shouted loudly:
"Lee, are you guys having a conflict over Beyoncé?"

"A man's duel! Did you throw punches at each other?"

"."

While holding the camera, they also talked nonstop. Compared with the sports media, these music industry reporters have bigger imaginations and can associate everything with women.

Li You got into the Rolls-Royce and simply waved to everyone and closed the door. Maikou's night life had to continue, and he had been picked up by the driver.

As the car started, Nacho, who was sitting in the passenger seat, glanced at the rearview mirror, frowned and complained:
"What does that Nico want to do? Damn it! Why does he want to interfere in our business?"

Old Mike, who was sitting in the back row, shrugged his shoulders, pointed at his eyes, and joked about the mess that happened tonight:

"US dollars! You saw his club. He needs a new wine. As for why he wants shares, you have to ask Armand de Brignac. Maybe they are unwilling to give in."

Li You acquired the brand in full from Sovereign Brands for US$1200 million. This transaction was at a premium in the first few months, after all, "Ace of Spades" was not well-known.

However, it only took three months, starting from the Rome Film Festival, for this champagne to spread from Hollywood, and the golden "Ace of Spades" could always be seen at some parties and nightclubs. "Don't worry about these little things, how is the training camp at the club?"

Li You was too lazy to think about Jay-Z's attitude. The other party's respect was too expensive and he couldn't afford it. He was more concerned about Manchester United's youth training. If Neymar was sold, it would be a huge loss:
"That Brazilian vampire is quite trustworthy. No one in the club objects. Everyone is discussing the schedule."

Hearing Nacho's words, Li You breathed a sigh of relief. There weren't enough traitors planted so far. If Ferguson was determined to go against the grain, most people would applaud:
"It seems that the old man who is focused on paying off his debts is doing pretty well!"

On Monday, December 12, New York's onlookers quickly saw the relevant reports, and Li You, Jay-Z and Beyonce all appeared in the newspapers.

Led by the New York Times, many mainstream media outlets have spared no effort to promote gossip, and the killing of Sean Bell, which has frequently sparked protests, has been drowned out by entertainment news.

Meanwhile, ESPN reported last night's game, and Arenas mocked Kobe on the Sports Center show.

147:141, after a hard battle in overtime, the Wizards successfully defeated the Lakers, and their record came to 10 wins and 12 losses.

出场49分钟，阿里纳斯全场32中17，三分线外12中5，罚球27中21，砍下60分8篮板8助攻2抢断3失误；

出场47分钟，科比24中15，三分线外11中7，罚球10中8，拿到45分8篮板10助攻1抢断1盖帽4失误的准三双。

In overtime, Arenas shot 6 of 4 and scored 16 points. Kobe only scored 4 points in overtime and was ridiculed after the game:
"I don't know why people are talking about Kobe and comparing him to Lee!"

"The Wizards have gained more national broadcast opportunities this season, which will allow fans to get to know me. In fact, the difference between me and him is that I didn't meet O'Neal after entering the league."

"Look up my stats, my points per game average is not a fluke, and my playoff results are the same as Kobe's, we both lost in the first round."

"60 points is easy for me. Lee scored 53 points in the finals. That's what I'm working towards."

"As for Kobe, he shouldn't be on the Christmas game stage. He will be beaten by Lee, and it will be useless even if the league takes care of him."

"All players know the gap between Kobe and Lee. We don't want to see any more news about him. He is just an imitator of Michael Jordan. He is overrated!"

After being slashed by 60 points and mocked by his opponent, Kobe's face darkened when he heard the words on the megaphone. He almost gritted his teeth and responded at the press conference:

"Arenas should count the honors he has won. If he forgets, I want to remind him again that I have won a championship! I have a ring on my hand!"

"If he wants to get attention, he can win the championship, but he can't do that, so I don't care what he says."

ESPN reviewed last night's exciting matchup. Arenas' 60 points was also the highest score at the Staples Center. The competition between the two scorers was indeed very exciting.

As for the Lakers' Odom's absence due to injury, the commentators automatically ignored it, and instead mocked Phil Jackson's use of players in a sarcastic manner after the game:

"If Andrew Bynum could get more playing time, the Lakers wouldn't have lost at all. The youngsters tore apart the Wizards' inside line."

"Bias has caused the Lakers' record to decline, and Phil Jackson should be held responsible for his own willfulness."

Ever since Bynum failed to put on his jersey on time for a game in early December, Phil Jackson publicly criticized the rookie and took away his starting position.

Kupchak also had complaints within the Lakers about this, and with Buss selling the Sparks, Los Angeles fans have been having a lot of fun recently.

Many players in the league are dissatisfied with the treatment Kobe received. Although they both led the first round, the Lakers had more nationally televised games and received preferential treatment from whistles.

After entering December, the frequent publicity of the matchup between Kobe and Li You aroused public anger. Jealousy made people unrecognizable, and many players began to make sarcastic remarks about Kobe's high score.

81 points is no longer something to be respected. After the reversal of public opinion, Kobe once again became a data brush that hits hard against weak teams.
This situation happened a few years ago. The league kept promoting Iverson, who won the scoring title, and frequently warmed up for the playoffs that year. Everyone knows the final result.

Now that the Lakers have a good record and Kobe has become the league's favorite, the jealous people can't stand it anymore.

If we look back at history, this situation actually occurred in the early days of the NBA, and the conflict between Chamberlain and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was fueled for many years.

Initially, it was because Chamberlain supported the conservative Nixon, and the civil rights fighter Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was not happy with it, and the two sides started a war of words.
Later, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar became the historical scoring champion and was praised by the media. The former scoring champion Chamberlain couldn't stand it and continued to talk nonsense after retiring.

The two men continually disparaged each other through their autobiographies, which was one of the earliest joys of the early 90s.

The league has started hyping up the matchup between Kobe and Li You. Players who know the routine certainly don't buy it. Arenas is not the first to speak out. Ray Allen, who was absent due to injury, has already started to output.

That night, as a guest at Madison Square Garden, the Jazz players were also caught up in the turmoil before the game.

Although the Jazz currently ranks second in the league with 18 wins and 6 losses, Deron Williams, who was interviewed by the New York media, flattered the Jazz:
"I think the difference between Kobe and Lee is huge. 8 is greater than 1. We all know that!"

"Lee can do everything on the court, he has no weaknesses, he can make the game simple, while Kobe can only score, he can't make his teammates better."

"A top scorer is no match for an all-around leader. Lee is a role model for all young people. He has changed modern basketball and made it possible for small players to become core players."

Deron Williams, with his mustache, couldn't stop praising him. Even though some Salt Lake City reporters looked unhappy, they couldn't change their tone.
The bluffing paid off. After the game started at 19:30, coach Sloan found that the Knicks frequently gave the ball to Gasol, who had recently returned from injury.

Li You suddenly lost his aggressiveness. In the first quarter, both sides scored frequently on the offensive end, and Boozer and Gasol became the temporary protagonists.

34:36, during the intermission, Madison Square Garden was filled with jubilation, and Deron Williams, returning to his seat, breathed a sigh of relief. This was much better than expected.

During the rotation phase, Dee Brown and Gordon Giricek partnered in the backcourt, and the three people on the court became Matt Harpring, Paul Millsap and Jaylon Collins.

Jaylon Collins used to be the atmosphere group of the Knicks. He has now entered the rotation of the Jazz and steadily spread his championship experience.
The game had been going on for more than three minutes and the Jazz hadn't scored a single point. On the Knicks side, only Finley scored 3 points through transition offense. D'Antoni immediately requested a timeout while the opponent was shooting free throws.

Chandler, wearing a towel, stood up and high-fived his teammates, offering encouragement:

"Good job, Rajon! You didn't let the other team score easily!"

Rondo was not happy when he came off the court. He realized one thing: all the teams in the league were studying the Knicks, and any small flaws would be magnified. His unstable shooting had affected his teammates.

"Damn it! I'll make them pay."

Rondo, with a curse, was replaced by the guy with a mustache. The Knicks continued with one big and four small players, replacing them with Li You and Chandler.

On the Jazz side, Deron Williams and Okur came on the court, and both teams chose the same rotation strategy. Old coach Sloan stood on the sidelines with his arms folded, watching the new rookies come on the court.

"Let's go Knicks!."

The cheers rang out again. Looking at Li You receiving the ball at the baseline and slowly dribbling across half court, Deron Williams perked up again and kept reminding his teammates behind him.

After more than a month of running-in, Chandler has mastered the offensive rhythm. He moved to the top line early and then immediately stood on the right side of Li You's body.

Li You, holding the ball in his left hand, first went in and out quickly, then as his body swayed to the left front, he suddenly lowered his center of gravity and changed direction forward.

The deceived Deron Williams first slid to the right, then quickly squeezed through the screen, but was still delayed by Chandler.

Looking at Li You approaching the three-point line with the ball in his right hand, Okur, who had just entered the game, could only assist in defense. As soon as he stepped onto the three-point line, he was passed by Li You who pushed the ball and changed direction.

Amid the cheers of the fans, Okur tried to twist and pull, but Li You, who was flying close to the ground, switched to his left hand and broke through to the free throw line in the blink of an eye.

The Jazz's defense had no time to shrink, and Li You, flying close to the ground, broke through into the paint area, took three steps forward and soared into the air. With no one to help defend him, he grabbed the ball with his right hand, pulled his arm sideways, and slammed it down!
"boom!"

The basket exploded, and the cheers could not stop for a while as Li You touched his chest after landing.

36:40, the Knicks' offense became smooth again.

The Jazz were on offense, and Deron Williams passed the ball to Okur at the top of the arc just after crossing half court. He then dribbled without the ball and accelerated to cut into the basket from the right side of his teammate's body.

Near the left baseline, Millsap tried to screen his teammate, but Prince immediately switched defense and followed Deron Williams to the left wing.

Facing Li You's defense, Millsap directly asked for the ball with his back to the basket in the low post on the left side. Deron Williams, who received the ball again, was disturbed by Prince's long arms, and his pass was also affected.

The ball was too slow, and Millsap realized something was wrong and tried to trap Li You behind him, but he was not only pushed to the upper line by pulling and tugging, but was finally bypassed by Li You.

The two men tried to grab the ball at the same time, and finally Li You poked the ball over Millsap's head, completed the steal, and immediately accelerated along the right sideline.

Deron Williams followed Prince to the right wing. For a moment, Li You was unguarded. After hesitating, the rookie decided to stop and try to delay, but the basketball flew directly to the upper right side of the basket.

While moving, Li You's slightly casual pass was just right. Prince, who was following closely, got the ball, grabbed the ball with his right hand in the air, and pushed the ball into the basket!
"Oh!"

It was another attack with less than 8 seconds left. D'Antoni on the sidelines clapped his hands with a smile, then turned to look at Rondo who was holding his chin, and reminded him:
"Rajon! Learn how Lee handles the ball! You have to play like him and activate your teammates!"

Rondo nodded obediently when he heard the coach's words. D'Antoni treated him very well, but his requirements were too high.
The Jazz attacked, and this time Matt Harpring broke through Finley and attracted the defense. Okur received the ball at the top of the arc outside the three-point line, but his jump shot still missed.

Li You, who caught the long rebound, rushed up again. His visible acceleration made the New York fans at the scene cheer loudly.

Jazz players Gordon Giricek and Harpring were both trying hard to retreat on defense, but after Li You pushed the ball and changed direction to dodge Deron, he rushed faster and faster with the ball in his left hand.

Near the center line, Gordon Giricek, who was running hard, watched Li You pass by him.

On the other side, when Harpring chased to the top of the arc, Li You had already rushed to the left elbow area, with no one defending in front of him. Amid the cheers of the fans, he took off again after passing the ball.

Harpring, who was defending, felt as if Li You had pressed the fast-forward button, and watched Li You glide and dunk from a long distance!

When the Jazz team stopped, Li You, who had just completed the dunk, was already jogging back to defense.
"Incredible! Maybe Li can win the championship if he participates in sprinting! His speed exceeds that of all the players in the league!"

In the MSG commentary booth, Mike Breen was boasting loudly, and Walter Frazier on the side thought of Rondo during the rotation phase, and sighed for a moment:
“Our rookie still has a lot to learn, and hopefully he can absorb the championship experience from Lee.”

"."

Clapping along with the atmosphere group, Rondo saw D'Antoni's gaze again and secretly groaned in his heart for a moment. He couldn't learn this speed that was like being equipped with a rocket.

With 24 seconds left, after Deron Williams missed a three-pointer, Li You picked up a long rebound at the free throw line.

Rondo stood up and cheered as he watched Li You shake off the crowd again. He squeezed past Millsap who was retreating to the three-point line with an in and out while moving. For a moment, he felt helpless:

"How do you learn this?"

Li You's left-handed slam dunk in the counterattack once again ignited the arena. Returning to his seat, Rondo soon heard Barea's flattery. The little guy was now shouting excitedly:

"That's so cool! I should play like Lee!"

On the bench filled with flattery, Rondo was speechless for a moment. The opponent missed shots, the Knicks launched a series of counterattacks, and D'Antoni soon sat back on the bench:
"How's it going? Rajon! This is the offensive rhythm the Knicks need."

"."

(End of this chapter)