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Chapter 36 Fame in America (New book, please collect monthly tickets and recommend tickets!)

In May, with the help of Nike
Ira Berko, a columnist for The New York Times, conducted an exclusive interview with Qin Yue at the basketball training hall of Wake Forest University.

At this time, Qin Yue had just finished the first phase of training that Grover had given him.

From the appearance point of view, Berko noticed that compared with March Madness, Qin Yue looked more handsome and upright at this moment. The eight evenly symmetrical abdominal muscles hidden under his training shirt also fully proved how hard this raptor from the East had trained after the end of March Madness this year.

Before the interview began, Berco specifically sought out Grover to learn about Qin Yue's training situation.

As a Pulitzer Prize winner, Bercow knew that if he wanted to increase the credibility of his reporting, he had to collect intelligence from multiple sources and not just listen to one source.

"This kid has an insatiable hunger for basketball and his passion for training is like Michael Jordan's in the past," Grover said to Berko.

just
Berco felt that Grover's remarks were nothing new.

Because in recent years, whenever we talk about how hard basketball players train,
Almost all of their coaches and teammates would describe them as “no less than Jordan”.

It seems that since Jordan left the basketball world
Everyone in the NBA is like Jordan.

However, during the chat, Grover still revealed a very interesting piece of information to Berco.
"He said his talent came from God's reward for him after he lost his way and came back to the right path."

From this message, Bercow keenly realized the focus of his subsequent interview:
——Returning to the right path and receiving rewards from God.

In fact, after this year's March Madness, not only Bercow, but many people in the market are curious about
Why did Qin Yue, who had such outstanding dynamic and static talents, not get the opportunity to show his talents to the world until his sophomore year?

Berco had watched an interview with Qin Yue conducted by the local media in Winston-Salem, and learned about what kind of person he was through Qin Yue's classmates.

And now, as this information comes together.
Berco discovered that a report with a novel and eye-catching topic was right in front of him.

As the man behind the scenes who gave LeBron James the most famous exposure in the United States at that time
That year, after watching James' performance at the Adidas ABCD training camp, Berko immediately wrote an article in the New York Times the next day, saying that James could even enter the professional league immediately after the end of his senior season.

This report caused a frenzy in the American basketball world at the time and made James a household name in a sense.

Berco is well aware that the vast majority of readers don't care at all about how those geniuses evolved step by step.

Because readers who are interested in how geniuses evolve often learn about them in other ways.

For example, their future biographies.

Such as their future documentary.

Right now, people are curious about Qin Yue's story of returning to the right path.

What is of interest is the reward that God gives him after his self-redemption.

Although Bercow himself does not believe that God really exists in this world.

But many times, God is the best excuse in the world.

Just like many American capitalists, after they become rich, they use God to cover up the truth of their success.
The gift from God not only does not arouse envy, but it also brings you closer to ordinary people to the greatest extent.

“The most valuable lesson I’ve learned from many successful people is never to talk about your struggles and hard work when people ask you how you became successful.

Because you can't tell them what background you used and what shameful means you used to achieve your success.

The same is true for basketball. Michael Jordan can share his training methods with everyone, but not everyone can become Michael Jordan in the same way. "

After determining the idea of the interview, Berco quickly began the exclusive interview with Qin Yue.

The following interview process can only be described as relaxed and enjoyable.

During the interview with Qin Yue, Berko found that Qin Yue not only spoke calmly and logically, but also, unlike most of the Chinese people he had met,
This child always reveals his confidence to you inadvertently.

At the end of the interview, Berko looked at Qin Yue curiously and asked, "If you were asked to choose a player in the NBA as your role model, who would you choose?"

Although Qin Yue had previously stated in many public occasions that he was willing to be Barkley's successor.
But in Berko's eyes, it was just a stopgap measure by Qin Yue.

After all, no one would refuse the opportunity to be associated with a legendary NBA player at the beginning of their fame.

However, what Berco did not expect was
His question really stumped Qin Yue.

Because if Qin Yue had to choose a player as his template at this moment, the only one he could think of was Paul Bankero twenty years later.

Before Qin Yue traveled through time, Bankero, the 2022 NBA No. 208 draft pick, had just completed a new round of weight gain. He is 120 cm tall and weighs kg. In addition to his body shape being similar to Qin Yue's at the moment, his playing style also has many similarities with Qin Yue. (As shown in the picture)

However, in this era
Who is your template?
That day, considering that he still had to complete the task "The Dream That Has Not Yet Extinguished" issued by the system, Qin Yue gave Berko two different answers.

During the interview, Qin Yue expressed to Bercow without any surprise his desire to become Barkley's successor.

But privately, Qin Yue said to Berko: "I think there is no template for me in the NBA of this era.

I have chosen a path that no one has ever taken before, and I will be the most special one in the NBA of this era."

Berko was quite satisfied with the answer Qin Yue gave him in private.

But just as he promised Qin Yue, he would not announce the answer in the short term.

"This answer will only show its value after you prove that you are the most special one in the NBA in the future." Berco said to Qin Yue.

A week after the interview, Ira Berko officially published the interview article in the New York Times.

In the article, Berko uses Qin Yue's classmates, friends, and high school and college coaches to show people in detail what Qin Yue looks like from their perspectives.

In addition, under Berko's emphasized description, Qin Yue's image that leapt off the paper in the process of returning to the right path and self-redemption also touched countless readers.

Even later when Qin Yue finally received the gift from God after all the hardships.
Many people believe that this is the reward God should give him after experiencing such hardships.

He deserves his talent.

He deserves it all.

Of course, after this day, Qin Yue became a household name.
It has to be Bercow’s comment at the end of the report:

"It only took him nine months to find himself and prove himself. Now let's make an assumption. What if we give him another year?

It is no exaggeration to say that this 'Son of China' has become my favorite to be the No. 1 pick in the NBA next year!"

Thinking back then, since Berco dared to bet on James in just a few hours, why wouldn't he dare to go all in on Qin Yue today after conducting a comprehensive investigation on him?
Bercow believed that his judgment would never be wrong.

From March Madness to now, Qin Yue is the young player in American college basketball who has the greatest hope of changing the league's landscape in the future.

This summer, with the help of Grover, his dynamic talent will continue to be activated. After returning from his wrong path, he has an unparalleled heart.

He is confident, sunny and cheerful.

In Berko's eyes, if he only gave a conclusion to Qin Yue that he might be able to hit the lottery or top five next year, then he, the Pulitzer Prize winner, might as well go home and sell sweet potatoes.

In May of this year, Bercow's interview article, just like the one he wrote to James that year, successfully caused a frenzy in the outside world.

Especially in China, this time, even without the magical changes made by domestic media, this column article from the New York Times is still weighty enough.

The favorite for the top pick in 2005?

Is it really possible for Qin Yue to become another NBA No. 1 draft pick from China after Yao Ming?

China's son shines in American college basketball.

Qin Yue is famous throughout the United States.

When the above words that can make domestic basketball fans extremely crazy appear in the same report one after another
Just as Nike executive Lynn Merritt judged, Qin Yue unsurprisingly became the focus of the entire basketball world in May.

"He turned words into swords and made them put on armor to fight for us. This article by Ira is amazing, really amazing!"

That day, after reading Bercow's exclusive interview with Qin Yue, Merritt said ecstatically.

On the side, Merritt's assistant asked curiously, "So, next, should we continue to promote the packaging of Qin's 'Son of China' image?"

Hearing this, Merritt shook his head decisively and said, "No, the temperature is just right now."

As one of the driving forces behind James's status as the "chosen one", Merritt is well aware that packaging young players should not be blind, and more importantly, should not be rushed.

At this moment, Qin Yue has gained considerable popularity.

Merritt just had to wait for it to ferment.

As for the next packaging.
Of course, that will have to be after the new NCAA season officially starts.

Merritt knew very well that as long as Qin Yue's performance in the new NCAA season could meet people's fantasies and expectations of him, then he would only need to give a gentle push.
"Help me contact Sonny. I need to meet him." Merritt said, turning to look at his assistant.

……

Although Qin Yue knew in advance that Berco was a powerful journalist, he obviously underestimated Berco's ability and Nike's determination to establish itself as the face of the future Chinese market.
In late May, before the official start of the next phase of special training, Qin Yue's many outside attributes saw a substantial increase.

In the visualization data provided by the [Mountain Peak] system, Qin Yue's dribbling ability value has now skyrocketed to 67, while mid-range shots and three-pointers have increased to 65 and 63 respectively.

In addition, under Grover's extreme exploitation, Qin Yue's strength attribute also increased to the current 84, while speed, agility, and jumping ability increased to 73, 70, and 74 respectively.

Before the start of next season's NCAA regular season, Qin Yue is absolutely confident that he can complete the transformation through special training this summer.

However, although Qin Yue is eager to continue to grow through training.
But Grover still granted him a few days of vacation.

Because.
"Even Michael Jordan needed a balance between work and rest.

Training is to help you grow, not to hurt you through torture. "That day, looking at Qin Yue who couldn't wait to continue being tortured by him, Grover said seriously.

As a legendary trainer, if the future of a young player with great potential is ruined due to over-intensity training, where will Grover's future reputation be?
When Grover was making a training plan for Qin Yue, he divided the training content into several large stages and N small stages because he knew very well that Qin Yue's body needed to recover through the rest period between each stage.

So, that's it
During the vacation approved by Grover, Qin Yue, who couldn't resist Paul, had to follow his good schoolmate to the Bahamas.

And there, waiting for him and Paul.
It turned out to be the initiator of this Bahamas gathering:
LeBron James.

And
Carmelo Anthony was invited by James to relax.

On the day when he and Paul arrived in the Bahamas, after being carried on a banana boat by James and Anthony, Qin Yue asked curiously, "Didn't you invite Dwayne Wade to this party?"

By this time in 2004, Wade's friendship with James and Anthony was no longer a secret.

So James and Anthony were not surprised by Qin Yue's curiosity, but said in unison: "Because Dwayne is not sociable, we deliberately excluded him from this party."

At this moment, Qin Yue still looked confused.

Because he doesn't understand
What evil things did "Cheeks" Wade do to be labeled as a loner?

Looking at Qin Yue, Anthony, who had just met him today, tried his hand on his firm abdominal muscles and said, "That guy actually made it all the way to the semifinals in this year's playoffs.
A guy like him should stay in Miami and reflect on himself!"

Hearing this, James, who didn't even get to play in the playoffs this year, laughed and said, "That's right, he should be left alone in Miami!"

In fact, the reason why James did not invite Wade to the party this time was mainly because the Cheeky Man, who had just finished the playoff journey with the Heat, needed some personal time to adjust.

However, because Qin Yue was not considered an outsider.
That's why James and Anthony complained to Qin Yue in front of him about Wade making it to the second round of the playoffs despite the fact that one of them was in the first round of the playoffs and the other didn't even make it to the playoffs.

“Hey man, I read about you in the paper.

But... to be honest, your strength is beyond my imagination." Anthony commented, looking at Qin Yue's muscles that seemed to be cut out by a knife.

Compared with the future offensive kaleidoscope in Qin Yue's memory
Anthony, who just finished his rookie season, can definitely be described as slim.

Coupled with Qin Yue's genuine height, Anthony is in front of Qin Yue at this moment.
It looked like a melon seedling.

Like Anthony, James during this period was not as strong as the future him in Qin Yue's memory.

The only difference from Anthony's focus is
What made James even happier today was that Qin Yue finally accepted his invitation.

Before going to Wake Forest to support Paul, James intended to win over Qin Yue.

At this moment, James' intention to win over Qin Yue was even more obvious.

Because after the article in the New York Times came out, Qin Yue is no longer the same person as before.

James knew the potential of the Chinese market behind Qin Yue, and he was even more aware of the importance of making friends with these contemporary geniuses.

"Qin, whatever you need next.
Whether you want to learn about the NBA or just want to talk to a friend when you are bored, I am happy to serve you. "

That day, on the banana boat, James spoke to Qin Yue with a big brother look on his face.

……

PS: I’m begging for collection, monthly tickets, and recommendation tickets for my new book!

(End of this chapter)