The North Shore Garden Arena is one of the NBA's notoriously difficult home courts. While Boston is a major center for education, among basketball fanbases across the United States, this city has the most 'basketball hooligans'.
Su Xi sat on the bench, and this decision led to Syracuse University being met with boos and curses every time they had possession.
Thanks to the frenzied coverage from the American Cable Network and other media outlets, the vast majority of fans who came to the arena were here to see Su Xi.
Some were there to see Su Xi's stunning good looks. Many female fans were screaming even before the game started, acting as if they were at a rock star's concert.
As Su Xi sat on the sidelines, the nearby female fans could barely keep their legs together. When a Columbia Television camera panned across them, it captured many women staring infatuatedly at Su Xi, their gazes smoldering.
The television announcer joked, "This 'arrogant' sophomore player seems better suited for a career in acting. All his talent is in his face. With a handsome face like that, he might be able to make it in Hollywood. That would be much easier for him than getting into the NBA."
"Coach Jim Boham has clearly noticed this, as he's kept the guy who draws so much hate on the bench."
The Columbia Broadcasting System, or CBS for short, has a long history. It was the first broadcast network established in the United States and is one of America's big three television networks.
CBS was broadcasting this marquee matchup live, partly because Carmeron Anthony was the biggest star player in the NCAA, with his every move followed by countless basketball fans. Another reason was Su Xi's fighting words on the American Cable Network.
Everyone wanted to see what this arrogant yet handsome guy was really made of.
But the fans had come full of anticipation, only to see Su Xi kept firmly on the bench by Jim.
Syracuse University's starting point guard today was Kusduan, a senior who had previously been on the bench but was very familiar with Syracuse University's tactics.
The game started with Carmeron Anthony making a strong drive. He used a spin move to get past Jason Carter, but his shot was just a little off.
The rebound was grabbed by Manhattan's center.
The ball was passed to Louis Flores. Flores brought it past half-court, slowing the pace. As Kusduan moved up to defend, Flores simply powered through him with his body. He drove to the free-throw line and sank a pull-up jumper before McNamara could arrive with help defense... SWISH!
He scored.
After scoring, Flores was ecstatic. He pumped his fist, saluting the surrounding fans. Then he shouted, "I'm here! Where is Little Sheep Su Xi?"
His roar drew a response from the Boston fans around him, who erupted in cheers. Others hurled insults and curses.
Su Xi remained seated, perfectly calm.
'Though he was furious inside, he kept it under control. He kept telling himself: 'I need to forge my mentality. I'm going to be a protagonist who goes through all sorts of adventures in the future. I can't let some nobody like this provoke me.'
Duanni was a point guard who strictly executed set plays, but the current style of play was, in fact, completely different from Jim's previous system. He had always led the second unit, and now, suddenly playing alongside Antonio and McNamara, he was still just going by the book. The rhythm was completely off.
He passed the ball to McNamara, who was out of position.
After two dribbles, McNamara took a pull-up jumper and missed.
On the other end, Flores once again blew past Duanni's defense. Duanni was physically outmatched and couldn't stop Flores's drive.
Flores hit another pull-up jumper.
4-0.
Right from the start, the 14th seed in the East District gave the 3rd seed a rude awakening.
CBS commentator Rick Barry said bluntly, "Is Carmeron Anthony going to be upset by some nobody? He looks completely helpless. The NBA has no need for a college superstar like that. He looks more helpless than my stupid little dog at home."
He'd always been like this. Once, while commentating on the 1981 NBA finals, he showed an old Olympic photo of his colleague Bill Russell and blurted out, "Who's that guy in the back row grinning like a big watermelon?"
That comment nearly made the good-tempered Russell beat the hell out of him. Everyone knows about the connection between African Americans and watermelons. After that incident, Rick Barry never appeared on a CBS NBA broadcast again; he now works in the NCAA department.
But he never learned to shut his mouth.
After scoring, Flores shouted at Su Xi on the bench, "Coward!"
Su Xi's expression remained impassive.
At that moment, there was a commotion in the arena.
People saw Kobe Bryant, dressed in a suit, enter the arena. He had twisted his ankle the previous night during a game against the Boston Celtics while fighting O'Neal for a defensive rebound. After leaving the game, he had disappeared from the public eye, so no one expected him to return to the arena right now.
'He must be here to see Carmeron Anthony, right?'
That's what all the fans were thinking. It seemed only Carmeron Anthony had the star power to motivate Kobe to come watch a game in person.
CLANG!
Cameron disappointed Kobe; his step-back jumper missed. He still hadn't found his touch.
Manhattan's center got the rebound and passed it to Flores.
Flores raced down the court with the ball. This time, McNamara went to defend him; McNamara had a bit more defensive experience than Duanni.
However, as Flores drove inside the three-point line, he executed a sudden spin, raising his elbow as he turned... and THWACK! He caught McNamara hard on the left cheek. McNamara immediately clutched his face, crying out in pain.
But Flores didn't stop his play; he sank a jumper for his third basket of the game.
6-0.
As he raised both hands high, the crowd went wild, and Boston seemed to transform into Manhattan College's home court. The fans who were just there for the spectacle cheered wildly for Flores.
At that moment, Flores turned and made a slanted-eye gesture toward the Syracuse University bench.
He also let out a mocking cry, "Little Sheep Su Xi, are you grazing? Baa, baa, baa!"
WHOOSH!
Su Xi shot up from the bench. He couldn't take it anymore. Flores's gesture had crossed a line.
'Fuck this. If I keep putting up with this, I'm going to lose my shit sooner or later.'
"I'm going in."
Su Xi announced to Coach Jim Boham before walking straight onto the court and subbing out Duanni.
Duanni breathed a sigh of relief.
Finally, he didn't have to endure the physical punishment from a near-NBA-level player like Flores.
Jim Boham shook his head helplessly. He knew he couldn't stop Su Xi.
Su Xi was the type of guy who was usually quiet, but once he got fired up, ten Antonios couldn't hold him back.
When Su Xi received the ball from Antonio, the entire North Shore Garden Arena buzzed with excitement.
'Finally, finally, is that arrogant guy going to show what he's made of?'
'Will he get crushed by the unstoppable Flores?'
'Or does he have some real skills to embarrass his opponent?'
In the arena, many sharp eyes were locked onto Su Xi.
To them, it seemed Su Xi was the real star of the show.
Su Xi quickly reached the frontcourt and stopped at the top of the three-point arc. He then pointed a finger at Flores and beckoned.
He was taunting him like a dog.
Come.
Su Xi's gesture fired up the Boston fans who had previously been cursing him. They let out a huge roar of approval.
They didn't have a true allegiance, which was why the game had been scheduled here.
They screamed for whoever was more impressive.
They cheered for whoever had more swagger.
And right now, Su Xi's posture was as imposing as a tiger, ready to devour everything in his path.
Many of the women who had come for his looks felt their thighs tremble at the sight... They desperately wished that after the game, Jack would beckon to them with his finger.
...