NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 797 The Champion Will Speak for You (Daily Chapter)

On Monday, June 13, 2011, after the long-awaited Game 6 of the Finals, the number of controversial topics surged overnight.

Many Heat fans were devastated and afterwards lashed out at the NBA for rigging the game, saying the series should never have gone to seven games!
Many extreme fans even hoped that the "famous" referee Tim Donaghy would step forward and say something, preferably identifying Scott Foster.
There was actually a referee report after Game 4, which changed the series, because the controversy was so great that the league had to give an explanation:

No refereeing errors occurred in the final three minutes of the match.

The report nearly infuriated Heat fans. It wasn't about the last three minutes; it was about James being ejected, which was the key to changing the series.

The officiating in Game 7 was fine, but the idol lost the game, who can stand that!

What's even more unacceptable is that the "Big Three" lost to a "softie," and afterwards, they were subjected to passionate mockery by Artest, which made many fans who bought expensive tickets extremely upset.

The boomerang came so quickly that there were no more Miami fans making sarcastic remarks about New York's winning fans, and no one said that the Finals, which were "stomping the weak," were boring.

It turns out that people aren't that passionate about basketball; they only look forward to one thing when watching the Finals:

"win!"

No matter how they win, they're happy when they win. Tactical battles and basketball skills are just excuses. When they lose, they curse and swear. This is the reaction of the vast majority of ordinary fans.

The entertainment aspect of the NBA was amplified at this moment. Last night, most fans on Twitter did not discuss the game at all; almost all their personal posts were emotional outpourings.

Some extreme fans even started attacking Pat Riley, blaming him for sitting in the front row. They said if he had been holed up in the box like Mark Cuban, maybe God would have been on the Heat's side.
Around 9 p.m., ESPN's Sports Center program also revisited the post-game interviews from the previous night. The Heat's trio sat on the stage expressionless, their smiles completely gone.

Most of the questions asked by reporters in the audience were intended to incite conflict, and Fox Sports went even further, asking a very direct question:

"Two of the seven games in the series were won by buzzer-beaters. Is this related to the officiating? Will the Heat continue to appeal?"

Wade, already in a very bad mood, glared at the other person, tried to control his emotions, and answered the question relatively calmly:
"The game is over, there's no point in discussing it. I would never be 'smug' like some players who just make it to the finals."

"I don't care about the team's decision; all I know is that nobody wants to face us next season!"

Wearing a blue suit, Wade emotionally "loaned" the championship, but an ESPN reporter quickly countered, asking pointedly:
"Including the Knicks? I mean, you guys can beat Lee in the playoffs?"

Although LeBron James, who remained relatively calm, looked visibly upset, he began to present the facts and reason with the question, responding earnestly:
"This is our first season as a team, and I believe many people have witnessed the Heat's dominance!"

"Basketball is a team sport, and we're all championship contenders for the next few years. You know that's the reality of the league right now."

"We are still young, and that is our biggest advantage. The Heat are not the Celtics. The locker room is more united, and we are willing to make sacrifices for each other."

James, 26, Bosh, 27, and Wade, 29, are indeed young. Their trio is completely different from the Celtics. This reasoned and well-founded answer convinced many reporters.

Bosh, who was in tears after the loss, still looked extremely disappointed. After experiencing the Finals once, he realized how difficult the game was.

Unlike his two more talented teammates, Bosh wasn't as confident. He even thought that Pat Riley might trade him because of his rebounding issues.
Fortunately, the players had communicated before the press conference, and Bosh visibly relaxed when asked about his offseason plans by a TNT reporter.

"We'll throw ourselves into the gym! You know, we need to address our weaknesses. This offseason is incredibly important, and the Heat will be coming back with a burning desire next season!"

"."

Although some reporters stirred things up during the interview, the released footage was generally fine. Many commentators still believe the Heat are the better team, and losing Game 7 was indeed an unexpected result.

Only a very small number of fans are engaging in conspiracy theories, and James' performance in Game 7 was completely below expectations.

14中6，三分线外4中1，罚球8中5，出场45分钟的天选之子仅拿到18分5篮板8助攻2抢断4失误的数据。

Such a performance in a do-or-die game can only be described as lackluster. What fans find most unacceptable is that in several crucial games, James seemed to back down, shooting fewer and fewer three-pointers, a stark contrast to his previous performances.

Some commentators believe that if the Heat win the championship, the Finals MVP will go to Wade, which is the reason for James's decline. This view has been shared by many casual fans.

Apart from Game 4, Wade's performance was even better. In the crucial Game 7, the Flash made a layup that almost ended the game!

出场43分钟，21中12，三分线外6中2，罚球7中4，30分11篮板4助攻1抢断1盖帽2失误，如果热火队赢球，韦德将捧起FMVP奖杯。

The camera returned to the studio, where the director once again displayed the two players' stats to viewers. Host Hannah Storm asked her partner for his opinion with a smile, while Grant Hill remained neutral as always.

Stephen A. Smith, who was invited back to the show, didn't hold back. Known for his outspokenness, he has always looked down on those who comment on sports via Twitter, and this time he confidently responded:

"Ladies and gentlemen, why make excuses for the losers? I have no doubt about both teams' desire for the championship, because this trophy means a great deal to both sides!"

"There are no excuses. In my opinion, James, like Kobe, has not performed as expected, which can only mean that he is not good enough."

"Why do Wade have such good stats, Bosh go 7-for-17 and bounced back in the second half, while James seems to prefer passing in crucial moments?"

"The reason is simple: he can't do it! The only thing that makes James better than Kobe is that he can recognize his own strength and choose to pass the ball to his teammates instead of stupidly missing shots."

"."

Stephen A. Smith, unleashing his full offensive power, directly categorized James as being on Kobe's side, making both of them representatives of "lack of skill." Not content with just a barrage of criticism, he concluded:
"Meta made a great game-winner, but I have to say he played a bit poorly last night, shooting 4-for-12 from the field and 1-for-4 from three-point range, for a shooting percentage of only 33.3%."

"Nowitzki scored a series-high 34 points under these circumstances, which is exactly the performance expected of an Finals MVP!"

"Li showed us what greatness is very early on. It's not about passing the ball or missing shots, but about putting the ball in the basket at crucial moments and leading the team to victory!"

"After this year's Finals, I will rank Nowitzki second among active players! He deserves all the praise."

Watching the impassioned Stephen A. Smith, Grant Hill struggled to control his expression. If he remembered correctly, it was this man who had led the charge in calling him a "softie" back then.

One championship can change the public's perception of a career. The German has become the biggest winner, and the champion will speak for him.

-

In the afternoon, TNT's program also reviewed this year's controversial Finals. Shaquille O'Neal recently announced his retirement on Twitter, and the old shark will officially join TNT next season.

The last few episodes featured four people working together. Today's topic was whether officiating would affect the outcome of the game. As soon as the show started, Charles Barkley and Shaquille O'Neal started arguing non-stop.

"I won't question the Mavericks' championship, but they definitely benefited in Game 4! In my opinion, the Heat are still the better team."

Charles Barkley, known for his outspokenness, kept harping on the officiating in Game 4, while Shaquille O'Neal remained unconcerned, offering further examples to refute his claims:

"The team that wins the championship is the better team! Man, the referees are part of the game too. Look at the Finals in recent years, if the Lakers weren't getting any special treatment, they would have lost by 60 points every game!"

"Why was Li able to achieve eight consecutive championships under such circumstances? Because he was strong enough; he is the greatest player in NBA history!"

"Only losers make excuses. If Dirk hadn't scored 34 points last night, the Mavericks would have lost. He was the best player on the court in the second half, so he won."

The old Shaq expressed his disdain for the loser in a deep voice, which immediately made Barkley uncomfortable. After all, he had excellent stats in the Finals but still lost. In his anger, he immediately said sarcastically:
"You won't get that ring without extra help."

No one can question Shaq's championship. O'Neal was so angry that his face turned black. He ignored the director and his two co-hosts and started exchanging heated words with Barkley.

"It was all thanks to his own hard work," "He practiced his free throws for several seasons," "Kobe would still have won the championship even if it were another All-Star," "God answered my prayers."
As O'Neal got more and more excited, he quickly filled the studio with a joyful atmosphere, and in the end, even Barkley laughed out loud.

Sitting in the middle, Ernie Johnson chuckled and changed the subject, suggesting that discussing the officiating was a way of catering to the fans, but everyone knew that the Finals couldn't be replayed and the champion was already decided.
"Kenny, after Nowitzki won the championship, where would you rank him among active players?"

As a fellow champion and supporter of the "championship theory," Kenny Smith, seeing everyone looking at him, shrugged and quickly replied:

"Among active players, Dirk is the second player to win both the MVP and Finals MVP awards. Without a doubt, I would rank him after Lee."

"The Heat are definitely a more talented team, but Dirk is a stronger player, guys. Look at his fadeaway jumper. I think it's an underrated weapon!"

Because of the blame-shifting by the "championship team," Nowitzki played under pressure throughout the series and was questioned by various commentators.

A fair evaluation didn't emerge until the end of the Finals. Nowitzki's breakthroughs and turnaround fadeaway jumpers were lauded overnight.
Having finally reached a consensus, Charles Barkley refrained from his previous sarcastic remarks and instead playfully stirred things up, saying:

Do you think Nowitzki is better than Tim Duncan or Kevin Garnett?

"I support the champion! Although Nowitzki's opponent is not Lee, he has already proven his strength after this year's Finals."

Kenny Smith immediately gave an affirmative answer, and Ernie Johnson, standing beside him, nodded with a smile, then looked at the old shark again and continued to fan the flames:
"Shaq, we all know Kobe has been to seven NBA Finals. In your opinion, if we only consider individual ability, who is the better player, him or Nowitzki?"

"Kobe? Where is Kobe?"

O'Neal feigned surprise, stood up, and looked around the studio, his comical antics eliciting laughter from everyone. Back in his seat, the old shark quipped in a strange tone:

"Today we're talking about MVP and championships! Ernie, this is a serious topic!"

"I like what McGrady said: 'Dirk Nowitzki' is the core of a team, and my little brother is just a 'passenger.' His career was 'over' when he left the Lakers."

-

ESPN and TNT have a huge influence among sports fans, and both have praised the new Finals MVP Nowitzki, saying that the German has completely shed the "soft" label.

On Tuesday, June 14th, mainstream media outlets across the United States simultaneously began publishing lengthy reports on Nowitzki's struggles. Influenced by the championship win, almost all columnists began reviewing the German's career, highlighting his outstanding performances from his entry into the league.

The unfortunate Garnett earned the nickname "softie," and many fans only then realized that Nowitzki had already dominated Garnett in the Western Conference playoffs.
No one is questioning or laughing. Even Nowitzki's shooting coach, Holger, has become a sensation. The training methods he used to look down on have suddenly become "really appealing"!
In the morning, Mavericks fans flocked to the airport to welcome their city hero, and the scene erupted when Mark Cuban stepped off the plane holding the gold trophy.

A dazed Nowitzki suddenly found life wonderful. After becoming the winner, all the doubts disappeared, and those unscrupulous commentators began to speak for him and then belittle his opponents.
The Mavericks players grinned as they saw the enthusiastic fans, and even Jason Kidd seemed to have become a few years younger, cheering along with the young players in the arena.

Sports reporters quickly crowded around, and many people gathered around Nowitzki, offering their congratulations while asking very friendly questions:

"This was truly an incredible final! I just did my job, you know, without everyone's support I wouldn't have been able to win the championship."

A beaming Nowitzki, wearing a white championship T-shirt, bowed his head to answer reporters' questions. On the other side, Artest, Chandler, and Barea were all smoking cigars, striking a pose of "worldly wisdom."

He waved to the fans with a smile, no one cared about the champion striker's poor performance before the game-winning goal, and many people were chanting "World Peace".

Bare-chested Artest also wore an expression of enjoyment, deliberately showing off his numerous rings. Some reporters, understanding the unspoken message, asked:
"Mehta, what are your special feelings about winning your 9th championship ring?"

Upon hearing the question, Artest shook his head, giving a "you've miscalculated" look, and answered confidently:
"Not nine rings, man, ten! Before I retire, I'll go back to the Knicks, that's my home, and Lee will lead me to a championship!"

"Those softies should understand now what championship experience really is."

When you win, everything is right, and no one questions Artest's "loan" of money. In fact, the intense and complicated situation in the series was also due to the contributions of the championship forward, but after the win, all you hear are praises.

In Game 7, Barea also had a poor performance, going 2-for-8 from the field and 1-for-5 from three-point range, scoring 10 points from free throws. However, the smaller player didn't seem to care, confidently boasting while hugging his girlfriend:

"I knew Dirk could do it! The arrival of Mehta and Tyson has energized me, and I'm thrilled to have won the Mavericks' first championship in franchise history!"

Chandler grinned, even though his stats had actually declined since joining the Mavericks.

Although Old Kidd could provide assists, his offensive threat was still far inferior to Li You's. He was questioned before, but no one mentioned him again after winning the championship.

More importantly, winning the championship secured a long-term contract—a six-year deal. Even when facing reporters and fans, Chandler didn't forget to demonstrate his "loyalty."
"Dirk is outstanding! I will continue to help him in the coming years. You know, the Mavericks have a chance to win more championships!"

"Oh!!"

The thought of winning another championship in the future has made Dallas fans excited, and their outrageous remarks from the past two days have become "championship experience".

Jason Terry, still visibly emotional, was surrounded by fans before boarding the team bus. He was the Mavericks' second-leading scorer in the Finals, and could be described as having saved the team from dire situations on multiple occasions.

Terry also received two votes in the Finals MVP voting, and his dream came true as he accepted both trophies, shouting happily amidst the cheers of the fans:
"The championship belongs to Dallas!"

-

On Thursday, June 16th, the mainstream media in New York had stopped writing about the championship team members, and Knicks fans didn't care about that at all.

New York fans have high expectations and look down on the performances of the two teams in the Finals. They are used to Li You's average of 40+ points per game in the Finals, and this year's performances are definitely "clumsy".

The Wall Street Journal has been following Li You's newly established family studio for some time now, and this month it has produced several sensational articles.

According to an unnamed source, General Growth Properties (GGP) is expected to have a market capitalization exceeding $100 billion following its bankruptcy restructuring.

When Lee bought up GGP in 09, the stock price was less than $1, easily acquiring a 30% ownership stake.

As the second largest shopping mall in the United States, after several years of operation, Li You's profits may be close to 10 billion US dollars, a phenomenal achievement that has stunned many onlookers.

Many people have only read about GGP's bankruptcy filing in a New York court in the newspaper, and have no chance to "get on board" if they want to participate in buying at the bottom.

As for why Li You was able to buy $1 million worth of stock at the time, the Wall Street Journal did not give a definite answer, but it implied that it might involve insider trading.

Not only GGP, but according to unnamed sources, many other companies have also seen rapid growth in value over the past few years. In short, Li You has made a fortune; he can't possibly spend all the US dollars!
Blackstone, a well-known investment bank, has recently released some news. Some observant people have discovered that Li You's family studio and Blackstone will jointly invest $70 billion to optimize GGP.

An unnamed source indicated that Li You invested 26 billion yuan and also received some assets spun off from GGP.
A columnist for The Wall Street Journal confirmed the news, stating that Howard Hughes Holdings changed its CEO in April, and the name Ivana is very familiar to the public.

The assets of the divested company mainly consist of pre-GGP planning areas, mixed-use development projects, and undeveloped land.

The fact that this news was leaked is naturally because there was an "insider," and Wall Street people have been paying close attention to this "battle of wits" recently.

Bobby Axe launched a Twitter attack on another well-known hedge fund manager, Bill Ackman, and the two have escalated into personal attacks, with Bobby referring to Ackman as:
"A charlatan who deceives and swindles"

Bill Ackman also participated in buying up GGP assets at the bottom, but did not get the desired returns when he divested the assets.

If you can't have it, destroy it. And with so many people protesting Wall Street lately, now is the perfect time to add fuel to the fire.

Another reason for the conflict between the two sides is their background.

Bill Ackerman is considered a second-generation rich kid, a descendant of the German YT family, while Li You and Bobby are "nobodies," tracing their ancestors back a few generations back to "peasants."
There are also conflicts in their business, and the Southern District of the United States has changed prosecutors. The conflict has become irreconcilable, and they have even exchanged barbs on Fox News.

New York media outlets have been trying to interview Li You, but unfortunately, they have been unable to reach him. Li You spends most of his time in the UK at the Carrington training center.

Manchester United is set to relist at the end of this month, and Li You and Sky Sports are locked in a heated discussion, leaving no room for related reporters to follow the juicy gossip.

It was a rare treat to wait until the Champions League ended, only to find out that he had disappeared again. It was only thanks to British journalists that his whereabouts were discovered; Li You was on holiday at Carnegie Club in Scotland.

On the afternoon of the 16th, Li You was busy taking photos with Ivana. Perhaps because she had recently seen Talulah Riley's wedding photos, the mature girl was unusually willful.

A rainbow appeared on the water feature not far from the castle, a rare sight. Ivana, who had been waiting for half a day, excitedly pulled Li You to pose for a photo. Without the photographer's prompting, she stood on tiptoe and gave him a kiss.

The mature woman in the white dress seemed particularly excited until Li You pulled her into his arms with a slight pull. Only then did Ivana, slightly blushing, resume her pose.

"How are you, darling?"

He leaned up and whispered in her ear. Ivana was very happy after the shoot. Lee Woo, dressed in a smart black suit, hugged her again and patiently praised her:

"Perfect! You are the most beautiful girl in the castle!"

Blue skies, white clouds, lush green lawns, and rainbows appearing in the water features, with the historic castle in the background serving as a perfect backdrop—at this moment, Ivana had completely forgotten about her eldest son who was still in New York.

Ivana, who had been taking photos at various locations, reluctantly ended the shoot as the sun was about to set. Li You, of course, knew the girl's little secret: many of the photos looked like wedding photos.
There were some members in the club during this period, but most of them were older players. Only Musk and his wife, who had returned to England, were relatively young.

During dinner, Ivana, in high spirits, started discussing dresses with Talulah Riley again. The two chattered on and on, giving Musk, who was sitting at the table, a headache.

If it weren't for true love, he would have given up long ago. Every time he returned to England, he felt uncomfortable. It wasn't until after dinner, when only Li Youshi was left, that a disheveled Musk muttered under his breath:

"I'd rather buy her a sports car than spend any more time running around with her. I have no interest in watching those boring movies she makes!"

After getting married, Talulah Riley didn't give up her film career, which Musk didn't quite like. He stammered and tried to change the subject for a while, but when he noticed Li You smiling and not saying anything, he reluctantly asked:

"How did you manage to get Johansson to give up on the film?"

Scarlett Johansson was a child star, but her career took a wrong turn. The older she got, the fewer movies she made. Even though Iron Man 2 did well at the box office, Marvel wasn't interested in her subsequent offers, which left industry insiders feeling somewhat helpless.

“Scarlett was probably only 14 years old when we met in The Horse Whisperer.”

Li You was only halfway through his sentence when Musk across from him coughed, as if he were seeing Li You for the first time. He stood up and muttered something under his breath:
"Why haven't you been taken to court?!"

Li You shrugged and fell silent again. In fact, most of the girls around him were people he had met before they turned 18. From that perspective, no one was more devoted than him.
The study had a very retro feel, with dim, warm lighting. After rambling on and on for a while, Musk finally couldn't hold back any longer and got down to business:
“My friends in Silicon Valley told me that many people want to target you, and Bill Ackman is just the beginning!”

After much beating around the bush, Musk finally revealed his concerns in a roundabout way: as Tesla's second-largest shareholder, he was worried that Ax Capital might collapse.

Some people wanted him to give up this stake, but after nearly going bankrupt a few years ago, Musk was unwilling to accept those investments.

Seeing the other person pacing back and forth, and starting to chatter on about his gossip again, Li You stopped teasing the impatient Musk and said with a smile:

"You're worried someone's shorting Tesla? Dude, we've never taken that rich kid seriously. If he keeps going, he'll learn his lesson soon enough!"

Musk looked conflicted, as if he wanted to say something more, but Li You said nonchalantly:
“I’ve been in New York for over 10 years, and often I get the news before you do. We have people in the SEC, and we also have people in the Southern District of the United States.”

"We also have people speaking up for us in the House of Representatives. Besides the Senate, Ax Capital has many friends. A 30% return on investment—you don't think we're stock market gurus, do you?"

Having fully regained his senses, Musk finally realized that someone had misled him. If Ax Capital were so easy to collapse, Li You and the others would have been in jail long ago.
"What the hell!"

Musk cursed under his breath, wanting to call his Silicon Valley friend right now. The friend, clearly not in a good mood, saw Li You pull out his phone and type away, and couldn't help but ask curiously:

What are you editing?

Seeing Musk approaching, Li You generously showed off, smiling as he said:

"I almost forgot to congratulate the new champion! Dude, you really need to get some exercise."

(End of this chapter)