Where the noise did not reach

Chapter 106 I have already forgiven him

New York, Fifth Avenue, NBA headquarters.

David Stern's office had a great view overlooking the bustling crowds of Midtown, but at this moment, everyone's attention was focused on the image frozen on the LCD screen—Eli Xu waving his finger at LeBron James.

A strange atmosphere permeated the air, a mixture of official seriousness and barely suppressed excitement.

“We must unequivocally condemn this behavior,” Stern began, his voice steady and in his signature tone. “It crosses the line of fierce competition and touches the very core of the spirit of sports—it is unacceptable.”

The NBA commissioner glanced around his office at his key deputies, including his carefully groomed successor, Adam Silver.

Everyone nodded, their expressions solemn, as if they were dealing with a major international diplomatic dispute.

“The league’s reputation is built on a high level of competition and a high standard of sportsmanship,” Stern continued. “Any behavior that could… well… tarnish that image must be dealt with swiftly and decisively. Adam, has the fine notice been sent out?”

“It’s ready, David,” Adam Silver responded loudly. “Eli Xu is fined $25000 for ‘public conduct that damages the league’s image.’ We’ve emphasized ‘disrespect for the opponent and the game’ in our announcement.”

"very good."

Stern nodded, but his gaze swept again across Xu Ling's cold, young face on the screen, and the stunned expression on James's face when he fell. A barely perceptible twitch appeared at the corner of his mouth.

As Stern's confidant, Xiao Hua knew that it wasn't anger, but a strange kind of appreciation.

The commissioner may genuinely care about the league's image, which is why he issued a dress code to eliminate the gangster atmosphere and street style that Allen Iverson brought into the league. For the NBA to become an international super sports league, players must maintain the high standards of conduct expected of aristocrats.

But is wagging a finger such an intolerable scandal? How does it compare to rape? How does it compare to chasing one's wife at gunpoint? How does it compare to feeding one's children alone? How does it compare to a referee openly admitting to betting on a match?

Compared to these things, even wagging your finger is a gentlemanly act.

Then, consider the two main figures involved. One is the most outstanding young player from a major Eastern country with 1.3 billion people. Since entering the league, he has constantly stirred up controversy and made headlines. He is the most hated player in the league, as well as the most watched, and has likely amassed a large fan base. The other is widely recognized as the best player under 23, hailed as a chosen one. In his fourth year, he led a struggling Cavaliers team to the NBA Finals, and people expected him to become even greater than Michael Jordan.

Is the CEO really not excited about something like this?

The brief silence in the office was broken by another marketing executive, whose cautious yet barely concealed excitement spoke volumes: "While... uh... the act itself is debatable, there's no denying, Sir, that this footage... it has a viral effect. From yesterday until now, it's been the headline of every sports media outlet, the pages of every major news website, and even entertainment channels are talking about it. Our viewership data shows that the number of viewers for the last half hour of last night's game was five times that of the regular time slot."

Adam Silver added at the opportune moment: "Yes, what Eli did has transcended the realm of basketball itself and become a global sports headline, sparking intense debate."

Stern leaned back in his expensive leather chair, his fingertips touching. He understood, of course. He knew better than anyone that the fuel for the NBA's global expansion, besides the godlike brilliance of players like Jordan, needed this kind of dramatic, saga of rivalries and rivalries. Bird and Magic, Jordan and the Bad Boys, the feud between New York and the Heat—these were the oldest and most effective catalysts in professional sports.

The global discussion and the resulting division caused by Xu Ling's finger-wagging last night are far more valuable than the mere $25,000 fine.

This is practically a divine gift to the league. A super genius from the East humiliatingly defeats America's carefully nurtured future champion—could there be a more perfect storyline?

Stern could hardly help but think of the Black and White Duo from the 80s.

Since the NBA lockout in the summer of 1998, the league has been plagued by scandals, with major incidents almost every year. Coupled with serious disagreements between labor and management, and several revisions to the labor agreement, all these repeated tug-of-wars and internal frictions have caused the league's development to stagnate since the mid-90s. They have never found a new point of publicity or a breakthrough, and there is no gimmick that can attract a large number of fans like the "Black and White Duo" or Jordan's dominance.

Now, it's here.
Just then, Stern's assistant gently pushed open the door: "Gentlemen, ESPN is broadcasting a press conference live from Cleveland, and LeBron James is about to make a statement."

“Put it on the big screen,” Stern said immediately.

James declined media interviews last night citing physical discomfort and has not revealed any information since. Even the league's top management wants to know how he will respond to the Memphis kingslayer after such a heavy blow.
The screen switched to the scene. LeBron James sat behind the interview area, dressed in a simple black training suit, his expression serious. He didn't look at the camera; his gaze was downcast, as if he were under immense pressure. The audience was packed with reporters holding their breath.

The silence that lasted a few seconds felt like an eternity of torment.

Then, the king raised his head, his eyes no longer displaying their usual arrogance and domineering presence, but instead filled with a heavy disappointment.

“It was a tough loss,” James said in a hoarse voice. “We fought to the very end, but congratulations to Memphis, they deserved the victory.”

Regarding what happened in the final moments of last night's game.

Look at the king's choice of words—"what happened last night"—skillfully avoiding specific words such as "swayed" and "wagging his finger," as if he did not want to recall the painful details too much.

"I've thought about this for a long time. To be honest, I feel very disappointed and sad."

Upon hearing the word "sadness," Stern, watching from the screen, raised an eyebrow slightly.

LeBron truly never disappoints in public relations.

Don't ask why public relations are needed. "I'm not disappointed by the loss, nor by any particular action. I'm disappointed that the best part of our sport—the mutual respect after competition—seems to be forgotten."

"There are so many talented young people in the league, and I welcome competition; it makes us all better. But there are things more important than winning. That is how we treat each other and how we treat this game itself."

“Eli is an extremely talented player with a bright future.” James then changed the subject, showing surprising “forgiveness,” “I believe he was just overwhelmed by his emotions at that moment, that wasn’t the real him. I have forgiven him.”

In the office, a young executive almost couldn't help but applaud the performance.

Stern wanted to laugh but didn't; as a seasoned actor, his self-control was beyond question.

"We all make mistakes when we're young," James concluded with an almost benevolent, senior-like tone. "I believe he'll learn from it, not just about basketball, but about how to become a true professional. It takes time."

Finally, James looked at the camera, his eyes regaining their resolve, transforming all his "sadness" and "disappointment" into a sense of responsibility he seemed to want the audience to feel: "As for me, this will only make me stronger. I'll bring all that emotion back to the gym, back to the court. This is my city, and my responsibility is to lead this team forward, not to dwell on the past. Thank you."

After finishing his speech, he did not give the reporters a chance to ask questions and got up to leave immediately.

The guests and commentators in the ESPN studio who were biased towards James immediately erupted in astonishment.

"This is a true leader! LeBron has shown why he is the face of this league!"

"By comparison, how childish and pathetic Eli's behavior seems!"

The television in Stern's office was muted.

A brief silence fell over the room.

“Wow,” Stern finally spoke, breaking the silence, “It seems LeBron knows very well how to fight this media war.”

Stern's tone was ambiguous, neither praising nor implying anything else.

Adam Silver smiled and said, "LeBron's team has always been one of the best in the league."

"The fines will proceed as usual," Stern gave the final instruction. "Our stance must be clear: disrespect for our opponents must have consequences."

Stern paused for a moment.

“But,” Stern added meaningfully, “inform the broadcasting department and our media partners. Give the Memphis Grizzlies, especially their away games, and particularly when they face Cleveland next season, the highest level of broadcast resources. Full-fledged trailers, features, data analysis. I want to see this storyline fully explored by the media.”

Xiao Hua and several senior executives nodded in agreement, understanding each other perfectly.

With the All-Star Weekend approaching, Xu Ling, who was selected for the All-Star team, will be heading to New Orleans tomorrow. Everyone else is on holiday, but he still decided to come to the training facility to train.

However, right outside the training hall, the reporters who had been waiting for a long time swarmed around, bombarding them with questions like a machine gun.

"Eli! LeBron said he has forgiven you. Will you apologize to him for your behavior?"

"James said he felt 'sad and disappointed,' and that you 'forgot about respect after the competition.' What's your response to that?"

"Are you aware that your behavior makes many people think you lack sportsmanship?"

How does it feel to be the Alliance's 'public enemy'? Is this what you want?

A Nike spokesperson stated, "Great players know how to win, and even more importantly, they know how to respect others." What are your thoughts on this?

Xu Ling stopped in his tracks, his gaze sweeping over the reporters present, as if he could see through their eyes. He ignored all the other noisy questions and only focused on the one that seemed most ridiculous to him.

"He forgave me?"

Xu Ling smiled slightly, revealing a playful expression.

"Forgive me for winning against him?"

After saying that, Xu Ling stopped looking at anyone and entered the training hall under the escort of his bodyguards.

(End of this chapter)