On the afternoon of August 24, 2008, the Olympic Games at China were drawing to a close.
The United States Mens National Basketball Team had successfully reached the NBA Finals, where they were set to face Spain.
In these Olympic Games, Captain America Kobe was very popular, but the fans here were also familiar with Gasol, Prince, Chandler, and others.
In the 2:30 PM game, as time passed, the United States Mens National Basketball Team, which usually only received cheers, received boos for the first time.
The game was somewhat tense, but a collision in the latter half of the fourth quarter was the "fuse" for the boos.
"Boo!"
In the American Airlines Arena, as Gasol was helped back to the bench by team staff, the boos grew louder, clearly some team fans were expressing their dissatisfaction.
Although Kobe had been very popular in Beijing recently, this did not mean there were few fans who disliked him.
In fact, the more they tried to promote Kobe, the greater the number of haters he gained.
It's like the Streisand Effect.
New generation aren't to be trifled with.
If CCTV had not actively interviewed Captain America, perhaps the "die-hard fans" would have been met with resistance long ago.
In the NBC broadcast studio, commentator Bob Fitzgerald did not talk much after watching the replay.
In slow motion, it was a knee-to-knee collision.
Kobe drove into the crowd, and his European step collided with Gasol's right knee.
The latter then fell to the ground in pain and currently appeared unable to continue the game.
"It seems Spain has encountered big trouble! Pau Gasol has brought his excellent NBA Finals form to the Olympic Games court, and I even see a shadow of the New York Knicks in this team."
"Their three-pointers are impressive, and they almost tied the score. Fortunately, we dominated the rebounds against our opponents. After Dwight Howard suffered a chest injury, it seems he can no longer return to the game."
In the third quarter, Marc Gasol's collision forced the injured Howard out of the game.
Both teams were playing with fire, and Bob Fitzgerald would not speak for the opponents at this time.
Doug Collins, as an analyst, had aged a bit compared to a few years ago.
He no longer had the heart to coach a team, but he still had plenty of work in "armchair strategizing":
"Yao suffered a foot injury in the knockout stage. I read a report that the current fast pace of the NBA potentially increases the risk of player injuries."
"Perhaps this report tells a truth. Yao, Dirk Nowitzki, Howard, and Gasol all suffered injuries in the game. Perhaps the long regular season truly affects the health of these big men."
Doug Collins did not over-evaluate Kobe's offensive choices either.
Without Gasol, the United States Mens National Basketball Team could more easily suppress the opponent's comeback.
Everyone hoped to regain the gold medal this year.
In the American Airlines Arena, Spanish players were still pressuring the referees, and some were shouting at Kobe.
Anthony and James protected their captain, while Kobe remained expressionless, waiting for the game to resume.
With only 5 minutes and 26 seconds left in the game, as play resumed, a series of defensive counterattacks completely overwhelmed Spain.
Wade and James's aerial connection once again drew cheers from the live audience.
The two players who scored even bumped chests in celebration as they returned to Defense.
The more aggressive the counterattack, the better they performed.
In these Olympic Games, "Tank" Wade became the team's leading scorer and received unanimous praise.
Ultimately, with a score of 121:101, thanks to a series of counterattacks in the final moments, the United States Mens National Basketball Team finally reached the top again.
Tyson Chandler raised his arms in celebration, a smile on his face.
With Howard sidelined by injury, he had more playing time, and his performance on the Defense end was widely recognized.
Kidd also smiled.
Orchestrating counterattacks was what he was best at.
Although his offense was poor again, he maintained his unbeaten record and once again became the Team USA's "lucky star."
"You did it, Bro! I knew we could win! Shit, this was easier than I thought!"
Amidst the cheers, Wade's smile was radiant, and he was exceptionally excited.
Compared to the NBA Playoffs, this was much easier, but his first championship in his professional career still made him incredibly happy.
James, who was being chest-bumped by his friend, also grinned.
He hadn't expected his popularity across the ocean to be less than Kobe's, but fortunately, in terms of individual statistics, he was still superior:
"Yee! I love this feeling! This is the game I want!"
"Wow! Bro, you performed too well, you really should get a starting spot in New York."
James put an arm around Prince, who was waving to the fans.
The latter just chuckled at the remark and responded modestly:
"I just fit this tactical system better."
With a field goal percentage close to 60% and a three-point percentage close to 50%, Prince's performance showcased the style of a championship forward.
Although Kobe was also celebrating with his teammates, his mood was not as good as it had been at the beginning of the month.
The Olympic Games did not improve his public image, and as the tournament progressed, the demanding American media began to attack him again.
Coach Krzyzewski and the coaching staff all breathed a sigh of relief.
They had to win the gold medal.
No one would accept failure again.
The Team USA's total salary far surpassed the world, and second place would be a disgrace.
At the awards ceremony, Paul and Deron Williams smiled happily.
Their playing time was actually longer than Kidd's.
Boozer also beamed.
He had played a minor role.
Only Howard, wearing his gold medal, was not so happy.
The chest injury was a bit troublesome, and he had never expected to get injured at the Olympic Games.
In the NBC broadcast studio, Doug Collins noticed that Gasol did not appear on the awards podium and immediately said, like a "prophet of doom," on the program:
"Before the Olympic Games started, Spanish Basketball even refused to buy insurance for Gasol. It was only after the New York Knicks' strong insistence that both sides finally reached an agreement."
"I have to say, this is bad news for New York. Gasol has already suffered injuries twice in international competitions."
"I don't want to see them apply for an injury exception, but the New York Knicks also have to prepare for the worst."
Bob Fitzgerald did not want to be attacked by New York fans, so upon hearing the director's cue, he quickly changed the subject:
"We can listen to the post-game interviews. The boys performed brilliantly!"
Kobe, who attended the press conference, still wore his gold medal around his neck.
This was his first championship in so many years, and it held a special meaning for him.
Coach Krzyzewski, completely relaxed, was no longer as serious as he had been in previous days.
He spoke eloquently, constantly praising everyone on the team, and when talking about Kobe, he did not stint on his praise:
"Kobe's arrival changed the locker room. We have excellent talent, but we always fall into complacency. He woke the boys up!"
"I think for the next London Olympic Games, I will still choose Kobe. We need such a role model."
"..."
As captain, Kobe also continuously praised his teammates, until an NBC reporter in front suddenly asked a question that made both men on the stage frown:
"Kobe, who do you think performed the best on the team in these Olympic Games?"
This was a question full of malice.
If Kobe were to be as confident as before and say, "I am the best player," American sports commentators would mock him sarcastically the next day.
If he admitted that others performed better than him, it would imply that statistics were very important, as, simply looking at Excel, Kobe's performance was not as good as that of the new generation of players.
Chinese sports reporters, however, did not detect these "elements" and were somewhat confused by Kobe's silence, until he spoke in a low voice:
"Everyone on the team united. In these Olympic Games, everyone performed exceptionally well!"
"I am proud of my teammates! This gold medal signifies the resurgence of the Dream Team."
Averaging 23.5 minutes per game, Kobe's playing time within the Team USA was second only to LeBron James's 24.8 minutes.
Averaging 15.0 points, he ranked third on the team, behind Wade and James, but his average of 13.0 shot attempts led both of them, ranking first on the entire team.
With a 46.2% field goal percentage, Kobe was third to last on the team, only ahead of Rookie Deron Williams and Carmelo Anthony.
This Excel sheet would become the "original sin."
For days, sports commentators had been criticizing him for taking too many shots, and all these changes began with Charles Barkley's big mouth.
The NBC reporter seemed very satisfied with this answer and sat down with a smile.
The Chinese sports reporters were unclear what had happened.
Some were still secretly praising Kobe's leadership qualities.
They had no choice but to praise him otherwise, those officials would ban them.
The press conference was particularly harmonious, but Kobe gradually lost his smile.
Starting from the boos tonight, he had a feeling that he had woken up from a dream, and the past shadows returned to haunt him.
Coach Krzyzewski never participated in such "competition," nor did he want to displease Lee.
He once suspected that USA Basketball would compromise with Lee, remove him, replace him with D'Antoni, and then the two of them would work together to lead the Team USA.
Fortunately, none of this happened.
Thinking of Kobe's public opinion environment in the United States, after the press conference, before returning to the locker room, Coach K put his arm around the Captain and comforted him:
"Don't pay attention to those media reports. What they say isn't important. Settle down and play. I will always support you!"
"As long as I'm still with the Team USA, you will always be the Captain."
Recalling everything he had experienced in Beijing these days, Kobe felt as if he was dreaming.
This was the basketball he had imagined, where everyone recognized him and everyone respected him.
But now the dream was over.
There were indeed more and more news articles about him on his phone, but most of them were mocking him:
"Kobe Bryant isn't even the best player on this Team USA."
Charles Barkley's words were widely recognized.
The United States Mens National Basketball Team's talent was overwhelming, and even the gold medal couldn't earn Kobe Bryant respect, only brainless chinese fans getting fooled.
In the Men's National Basketball Team, Dwyane Wade and LeBron James were the ones who stole the show.
"I never care about those boring news stories. Thank you, Coach! It's my regret that I couldn't play for Duke!"
Kobe, regaining his composure, once again showed a confident smile.
Coach K also felt relieved, chuckled, and encouraged him again:
"That's it, Kobe! You're only 30 years old. I believe with your self-discipline, you'll be able to surpass Lee in two years!"
"I don't really like the current NBA. Many people don't actually like basketball. They just like winning. This restless atmosphere has affected the entire basketball world."
"Kobe, keep going! One day, they will realize they made a mistake!"
Lee has recently continuously participated in or hosted parties.
Axe Capital's revelry has been reported by Vanity Fair and the Wall Street Journal.
Buses kept bringing young models to Greenwich.
Although no one knew what the internal gatherings were like, some leaked photos gave a feeling of "indulgent revelry."
If it were other players, the big mouths would have collectively started criticizing, but time was always on Lee's side.
Years of championships made everyone collectively silent.
Dwight kept popularizing these news stories to everyone.
The "happy big boy" was envious.
Everyone seemed to think it was pretty good, but only Kobe felt increasingly annoyed after seeing the news.
When they returned to the locker room, everyone was still celebrating happily, except for Chandler and Prince who went to visit teammates.
At this moment, no one cared about Kobe anymore.
Their mission was over.
Dwyane Wade and LeBron James clapped their hands, and after everyone quieted down, they smiled and said loudly:
"We played great!"
"Our talent is unstoppable!"
"Oh!!"
To the sound of music, Dwight, who had a chest injury, danced with a wide grin.
Bosh also messed around with Dwyane Wade and LeBron James.
Kobe seemed out of place, but fortunately, Paul was understanding:
"Captain, I hope we can cooperate again next time!"
Looking at the Rookie's serious smile, Kobe let out a long breath.
No matter how much he liked it here, he had to return to Los Angeles to face the "challenge" again:
"Don't think I'll go easy on you. Next season, I'll blow you up, Rookie."
On Monday, August 25th, the New York Times and many other newspapers praised the successful Olympic Games, which set a record of 5 billion viewers.
This record will be difficult to break in the future.
The United States Mens National Basketball Team, who won back the gold medal, did not receive much praise because Phelps and the swimming team dominated the headlines during the Olympic Games!
Especially that record-breaking relay race, which has basically secured next year's ESPY award.
Even Obama wanted to introduce his daughter to this swimming genius who won multiple gold medals.
It's clear how explosive his popularity is now, and some talk shows have already eagerly extended invitations.
News from Spanish sports media made New York fans extremely angry.
Reports that "Pau Gasol might miss the regular season" made young fans start criticizing Kobe again.
Charles Barkley, that big mouth, was still very active.
TNT had no related programs during the offseason, and Inside the NBA would not resume until October, but this did not prevent him from speaking out:
"I've said more than once that Dwyane Wade is the closest active player to Clay Lee!"
"Look at his performance in the Olympic Games. Dwyane Wade is obviously better than Kobe Bryant, but he never says he is 'the best player'."
"LeBron James also performed better than Kobe Bryant,but since he entered the NBA, he has always respected Clay Lee."
"Kobe is excellent. In the past, he needed O'Neal to win rings. Now, the Lakers have to find him 11 All-Star teammates for him to have a chance to bring a championship to Los Angeles!"
During a talk show on Monday night, Charles Barkley, in addition to expressing support for Obama, also blasted Kobe again, bringing a joyful atmosphere to the show.
Some of Kobe's chinese brainless fans were very confused as to why Charles Barkley would relentlessly pursue their idol.
The two should not have any personal grievances.
The big mouth naturally wouldn't tell everyone that he owed $750,000 due to gambling.
Some old friends didn't offer help, and only Mark Bartelstein sent him a check!
Although Charles Barkley didn't receive instructions, the fat man knew that there were people in the American public opinion who disliked Lee's refusal to be drafted, so he took the initiative to attack, divert the topic, and bring "joy" back into focus.
When multiple mainstream media began to tease the special Mamba, Kobe thought it was an Excel issue.
In reality, no matter how well he performed, someone would attack him.
Money had long corrupted these basketball commentators.
In an era where entertainment attributes were magnified, old-school basketball was outdated.
Praising God-Lee was the correct path.
On tuesday, the 26th, the Los Angeles Times was still fighting back, cheering for Kobe, and once again shouting, "Data doesn't matter, games with too large a strength gap cannot reflect Kobe's true strength."
Near noon, in a modern mansion in the Bel Air area of Los Angeles, the soon-to-be-bankrupt billionaire, with dark circles under his eyes, looked at the newspaper in his hand and anxiously tore it to shreds:
"Damn it! Motherfucker, these idiots! They only report this bullshit news!"
At the beginning of the month, after the third attempt to launch the Falcon 1 rocket failed, Elon Musk, unable to attract investment and with his wallet shrinking again, began to suffer from insomnia.
$30 million forced him to choose between two options.
Tesla also failed to deliver on time, and after kicking out the founder, he is currently facing litigation issues.
He had more than one problem.
The divorce lawsuit was still ongoing.
Elon Musk, who was stood up by Goldman Sachs, wished he could turn into a rocket and fly into space.
Another failure could mean the end of everything.
When the slender Talulah Riley returned home, seeing her boyfriend in a "lying dead" state, she felt a pang of heartache.
They had been dating for half a year, but after watching the rocket, she felt she had found "true love":
"I can borrow some money from my father and sell those gifts!"
"Maybe I can sell the house I own."
His girlfriend wanted to support him with all her might.
Elon Musk, with disheveled hair, was very moved.
He sat up and was about to speak when he noticed Talulah Riley's hair was "golden," and she had just gotten her hair done:
"Sorry, dear, I won't take your money! I can solve this problem. Your hair color is beautiful!"
Elon Musk, frowning, always felt that something was a little off.
It wasn't that he was being cheated on.
He believed his girlfriend wouldn't leave, after all, she was planning to use all her savings.
"I asked a friend to get an invitation to a party in New York, held at the Metropolitan Club. Clay Lee is the organizer, and it's said to be a banquet for Ken Griffin, celebrating their overcoming the crisis."
Looking at his girlfriend's beautiful figure and long golden hair, Elon Musk didn't wait for her to finish speaking and immediately jumped up and interrupted:
"Damn it! Stay away from them! Wall Street people are all garbage! They are a bunch of perverts!"
"You know how many startups they've… in recent years."
"You need this money! I just want you to succeed!"
Seeing his girlfriend shed tears, Elon Musk stopped talking.
His Mars dream was also over.
He needed money.
....
By the way, don't forget to throw power stones and leave a review to motivate me :)