MTL - NBA Backer King-Chapter 9 Chinese coolie
Chapter 9 Chinese Coolies
The next day, on the 25th, the Suns announced the signing of Wang Tiejun's short-term contract.
"Damn!"
After getting the news, Mark West, who was already preparing for his comeback, was very angry, but there was nothing he could do, he could only be himself.
"My hunch was finally successful. I didn't expect the management to have this idea. Damn it, since I was chosen, why did you pick up a Chinaman?"
There is also a person who is more angry than Mark West, and that is rookie Oliver Miller.
However, these two people are very low in the Suns, and they won't affect Wang Tiejun, let alone.
In less than half a day, because of his Chinese identity, the news immediately spread throughout the media, causing widespread heated discussions.
Even in New York, some reporters rushed to Chinatown and dug up all his information.
Illegal labor, Chinese coolies, sleeping in sewers, homeless, violent beating of bosses, etc., have become his labels.
At the same time, many reporters went to the training base and headquarters of the Suns to interview the management and players of the Suns.
Intimidated by Colangelo's prestige, the Suns didn't say much and dealt with the media with an official attitude.
At four o'clock in the afternoon, the Knicks arrived in Phoenix, checked into the hotel at five o'clock, and held a press conference.
"Patrick, what do you think of this signing by the Suns?" a local Phoenix reporter asked.
Ewing treats the media like a leper. What he hates most is journalists, so he said with a blunt and indifferent attitude: "That's their choice."
"So do you think a Chinese is qualified to join the NBA?" the reporter asked again.
"I've seen him, he's boasting the No. 1 center, he's a big mouth."
Speaking of this, Ewing said a little more: "Actually, I can't imagine what it would be like for a coolie to walk into the NBA, just because he has the strength? That's so funny, why? Why not go for a strongman who can deadlift a thousand pounds or more?"
"What, the Chinese call themselves the No. 1 center in the world?"
The reporter on the opposite side was obviously shocked, and then asked: "Then in the game tomorrow night, if the Chinese had a chance to play, what would you do to him?" The reporter asked.
"Oh, do you think he has a chance to play?" Ewing said in surprise.
"No, I mean if." The reporter explained.
"If I did, I would tell Mr. Colangelo, I'm sorry, you made a wrong signing decision." Ewing said.
December 26th, Christmas battle.
On this day, many media are making all kinds of cynicism about the Suns, characterizing the signing as the stupidest signing of the season.
Of course, Wang Tiejun is the first target of ridicule by the media. Big mouth, paranoid, Chinese coolie, trash, and the number one center in Chinatown are all labels given to him by the media.
At this moment, a basketball person from China has paid attention to the news of Wang Tiejun. He is Comrade Zhang Heli, a former member of the national men's basketball team, a famous Asian power forward, and a former national team coach.
Zhang Lili came to the United States in 1988. Because his ex-wife was studying at the University of Chicago, he also worked as a trainer for the men's basketball team at the University of Chicago.
Their old Zhang family is a famous family, their ancestors are Chengkang Youwei and Liang Qichao, and their grandfather’s family is also a famous family. Their mother and six aunts are all Ph.D. professors. There are three aunts in the United States, and the family conditions are very good.
The reason why he came to the United States that year was mainly because he failed to compete for the head coach of the national team. He originally wanted to continue his basketball career in the United States, but unfortunately it was too difficult to start from scratch here. The three aunts have some contacts in the education industry. But he doesn't have any connections in the sports world and can't help him. He basically has nothing to do with basketball now. He has just resigned and is planning the next step in life.
When he saw the news of Wang Tiejun, he was really shocked.
Yes, that is shock.
He is a former national player and is considered one of the best power forwards in Asia, but he still has no way to continue his basketball career in the United States, but now a little guy who works hard can actually enter the NBA team, which has to shock him. .
"Wang Tiejun, 19 years old, 215 cm tall, I have never heard of this person in the domestic basketball industry!" After thinking hard, he couldn't find any information about Wang Tiejun in his head.
"He came from China and worked as a coolie in Chinatown for almost five months. Maybe, at his age, he just came out of a sports school and didn't have the chance to play in China, so he came to the United States?"
After much deliberation, he decided to meet Wang Tiejun in person. There are players in China who can actually join the NBA, even if it is only a ten-day contract. understand.
And it happened that he and his ex-wife were going to Sanaria University to visit his ex-sister-in-law who was studying there. Tucson was only 200 kilometers away from Phoenix, so it happened to be on the way.
But before that, he still made a phone call to return to China and contacted Liu Yumin first, maybe he could learn something about Wang Tiejun from her.
He and Liu Yumin were considered national players for a period of time. Now Liu Yumin has served as the deputy director of the Basketball Division of the Sports Commission, which is much stronger than his development.
“ding ding…”
At ten o'clock in the evening, Liu Yumin was about to rest in a single room on the third floor of a tube building affiliated to the National Sports Commission, when the phone suddenly rang.
"Hello, who are you?" She hurried over to pick up the microphone and asked.
"Liu Chu, I'm Zhang Lili."
"Oh, old Zhang, you've been to the United States for several years, are you returning to China?" she asked in surprise.
"No, it's still in the United States. Liu Chu, this is such a matter, I want to inquire about someone..." Zhang Lili said over there.
"Oh, you said." International calls are very expensive, Liu Yumin said directly without talking nonsense.
"Wang Tiejun, he is only 19 years old this year. He should have come from a sports school in China. Do you know?" Zhang Heli asked.
"Wang Tiejun? How did you know about him here?"
Liu Yumin was startled, she really knew the name of this young man.
Zhang explained reasonably: "He is now in the United States to join an NBA team, I think..."
"What?" Liu Yumin was shocked.
"Liu Chu, do you know him?" Zhang Lili hurriedly asked.
"Yes, of course I do."
Liu Yumin sighed and explained: "He is from Cangzhou Sports School, his physical condition is very good, especially his wingspan is very good, and his strength is also very strong. It can be said that he is the best center seedling in China after Mu Tiezhu. In October, he was elected to the National Youth Team, but before he could get in, he was sentenced to prison for wounding people due to a fight and was sentenced to one year..."
"what?"
Zhang Lei heard it and immediately understood why Wang Tiejun appeared in the United States.
Having this experience in China, let alone the mixed system, even the A and B leagues can’t be played. Who would dare to let a labor prisoner play?
"Because the nature of the matter is relatively bad, I also know about his incident. I heard that he never admitted that it was a fight from beginning to end, saying that he fought with those hooligans to save a girl, but the public security department found Without that girl, he can't provide any clues, so..."
"What a pity!"
Zhang Hexian sighed.
After a few simple chats, the two ended the call.
Zhang Lili decided to meet Wang Tiejun, after all, this is the first Chinese to win an NBA contract, and he has resigned now, so he has nothing to do for the time being.
(end of this chapter)
