Finally, the journey before the All-Star Weekend is over. The Eagles locker room is quite relaxed. After the All-Star Weekend, the Eagles only need to win three games to ensure that the winning rate will still reach 50% before the end of February, so it is very exciting.

It was so easy that Kevin Wesley couldn't help but sing a North African folk song in the locker room.

The relaxing and enjoyable seven-day All-Star Weekend vacation is coming! February 12th and February 13th are the two days of rest before the All-Star Weekend, then the three-day All-Star Weekend, and the two days after the All-Star Weekend.

It's a training day for the Eagles. Except for Liu Mang, Raheem, and Ratliff who will participate in the All-Star game, Liu Mang, Jason Terry, Prince, and Boozer will participate in the first two days of small games.

Everyone rested and had five days off. During this period, Ratliff also wanted to treat guests, and the team members were very happy.

Except for Liu Mang, he was worried about how to tell Jordan so that Jordan could accept the position he gave up.

Although this guy's character has improved a lot as he got older, at his core, he is still the same as the little blacksmith who is probably staring at Liu Mang's video clips in the hotel room again, like a smelly stone blocking the middle of a ferocious river.

It has been polished by the torrent of society and become smoother, but the smelly and hard pride in my bones will not change.

However, Liu Mang thought too much.

Liu Mang found Jordan in the parking lot after the game and told Jordan face to face that he wanted to give up his position to him. Jordan agreed without hesitation.

"Uh... Michael, don't you have any intention of refusing?" Liu Mang couldn't help but ask.

"What? Ace, do you regret it? This is not okay. I have already informed my agent and asked him to announce that he will accept the position you gave up." Jordan said, don't try to cheat.

"No, I'm just curious, there are so many people to give up to you." Liu Mang breathed a sigh of relief. This All-Star weekend, not counting the regular season and playoffs, will definitely reduce his ability a little bit. Although in the 24th All-Star Weekend,

Among the stars, even if he triggers the bench gangsters, he is still the weakest group, but it is good to be able to help Jordan, even if it is not for the relationship between master and apprentice, but for the sake of the star card.

"Haha, Ace, not everyone is as sincere to others as you are. Some people just say something in front of the media, but you are the only one who said this to me face to face. Although I don't care who I choose,

They will not refuse out of face, but who knows what they will think privately? It is difficult to guess the human heart. You are at your best now, everything you see, everything is beautiful, everyone

Everyone will accommodate you because you are the best now and they need you, but they cannot underestimate anyone." Jordan shared some life experience.

Liu Mang seemed to understand. When did he become the best? But it was still a little bit. Suddenly, Liu Mang's strange mind thought of a question: "By the way, Michael, when did you tell you?"

Agent, do you accept my offer?"

"In ten seconds."

"...Is it too late for me to regret it now? I think I can still win another All-Star MVP."

"No, I've already dialed the number."

"..."

…

…

All-Star Weekend is off!

However, the holidays are not so easy for Liu Mang and most of his teammates. It is also difficult to achieve the promised five days in a nightclub.

On February 12th, the first day of the All-Star break, everyone in the Hawks except for the three All-Stars received a notice from the team to attend a ceremony held at the imperial court with other players from the Houston Rockets except Francis and Yao Ming.

The basketball training camp lasted only one morning. Some wealthy children from China paid money to come to Atlanta to see the stars.

Of course, stars like Liu Mang, Yao Ming, Raheem, Francis, and Jason Terry, who have formal endorsement contracts with big contracts, cannot participate in commercial contracts other than those for the sneakers they endorse, so they did not participate.

During this year's All-Star Weekend, Liu Mang was not as free as last year, and even had to squeeze in time.

Since I have signed so many endorsement contracts, I no longer have the concept. From a promotional event for sneakers, to a very cool American promotion, to a promotional event for a well-known domestic thermal underwear brand... and then to an American promotional event for a domestic aluminum iron tool.

, Liu Mang's morning started at 7:30 and was divided into 7 parts. He spent almost all of it in the car, then went to occupy the stage for a few minutes, promoted a wave, and left immediately.

It was not until 11:30 noon that Liu Mang held a large domestic hammer and gave the last promotion of the morning. He could finally rest for an hour at noon. Liu Mang breathed a sigh of relief, and then began to think wildly again.

Domestic aluminum and iron tools are sold very well in the United States due to their low price. In order to expand the influence of the company, it spent US$2 million a year to sign Liu Mang as its image spokesperson.

Liu Mang held the big hammer in his hand and couldn't help but sigh that the Chinese people are really ignorant. For this kind of endorsement, he should find the blacksmith brother who promoted Adidas next door to the one where he promoted Nike just now!

Chinese people just haven't seen the world and don't know that the best blacksmith is next door.

In the afternoon, it was NBA official promotion again. As the popular host team of this All-Star Weekend, Liu Mang took on a lot of promotion tasks.

Exclusive interviews with Chaotingdai, Xinhua News Agency, Time Magazine Asia Edition, NBA official press conference, makeup photos...

Liu Mang occasionally meets Tracy McGrady, the leading superstar of Adidas, and occasionally meets Jordan, who is still promoting Air Jordan at an old age. He is a little envious of that little blacksmith because he has such a good life. Neither the team nor the sneakers are top-notch.

It's not like I'm only in second grade and have to bear the beauty and talent that my age shouldn't have... No, it's responsibility.

At this time, Liu Mang couldn't wait to see James enter the NBA as soon as possible. When he came in, the number 23 who was old but never old at heart was probably the number one player.

Now Carter has begun to enter a period of decline in popularity, mainly because he was injured for half a season, his influence has been reduced a lot, and coupled with aesthetic fatigue, everyone thinks that Carter is just a dunker, even if in the original time and space, he was competing with Kidd

When they were paired together, they had the best statistics and the best efficiency of their careers. After losing their invincible explosiveness and jumping power, they became very eager to win. However, starting from the 2006-07 season, they were never selected again.

Even though he was an All-Star for the first and only time in his career that year, he played in 82 games, averaging 25 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists at his peak.

Carter is not a magician. Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and James are almost inherited superstars of the era who have accumulated a lot of popularity. At a certain time, Carter may be the most popular in the league, but more people voted for him to make him the vote king.

, most of them voted for him not because they liked his game, but simply because of his dunks.

Just like most superstars, their popularity declines over time. Even stars such as O'Neal, McGrady, and Wade who once exploded in popularity have missed the All-Stars in the last few seasons.

This is why Carter is so determined to participate in the dunk contest. He has discussed it with his agent and must participate in this dunk contest.

On the one hand, Carter really wants to compete with Liu Mang, but on the other hand, the most important aspect is that he has begun to lose a lot of endorsements. The rise of two new Eastern stars, Tracy McGrady and Liu Mang, has made Carter, who was originally on par with Iverson in terms of popularity,

He has lost a lot of popularity. Although the skinny camel is bigger than a horse, Carter is still an absolute candidate for the All-Stars, but the gap from when he first won the slam dunk title in the previous two seasons can be clearly seen.

Therefore, even if there is a conflict with the management, Carter will still participate in this dunk contest.

Most people in the outside world think that Carter is making unreasonable troubles in order to affect the team's plan for a "personal duel", but in fact Carter is smart and wants to take this opportunity and Liu Mang's current popularity to return himself to the peak of popularity again.

.

It even feels like a last-ditch battle. Carter's title of dunker has been deeply ingrained in the fans' minds. It wasn't until he was in his late 30s that people discovered that he was not just a dunker. But by that time, it was already too late. Now Carter,

There is only one way to reach darkness.

If he wins this dunk showdown, Carter's negative news will be swept away and he will once again prove that he is the best dunk player. If he loses, his title as the best dunk king will also be affected.

However, it is better to have a quick death than a slow death, and maybe there is still a chance to make a comeback.

Moreover, Carter does have enough ability to complete the comeback, because his jumping has not been affected by injuries. At the age of 26, he is still the best at dunking.

Now that Nike is out of business, it can only use Liu Mang to death. The propaganda of China and the United States has fallen on Liu Mang.

Although the signed contract stipulates a limited number of promotions per year, and additional advertising fees will be paid for more, Nike is also willing to pay. Reebok relied on the center Yao Ming to quickly make a name for itself in the Chinese market, which made Nike

I regret it endlessly. Although the center does not sell sneakers, the sportswear worn by Yao Ming sells very well in the Chinese market. The copycat market is even more popular. There are middle-aged uncles everywhere wearing the same sportswear worn by Yao Ming and running under the sunset.

…

…

"Jeff, I think our strategy is wrong. We can't sign so many endorsements. I can't stand it anymore!"

"Ace, your career only lasts so long, why don't you take advantage of this moment to make more money..." Schwartz advised Liu Mang to just be patient and let it pass. There are only a few days in a year.

Schwartz really wasn't just looking for his own commission. His commission was only 5%, and Liu Mang was the one who got the absolute majority.

As an agent, I have seen too many examples of people who make a lot of money during their peak years, but then lose money after their peak. Now that Liu Mang’s popularity is on the rise, Schwartz wants to take advantage of this period to help Liu Mang make more money.

Of course you can make more money yourself.

"No, no, no, Jeff, it's not that I don't think it's a lot of money, but there are some endorsements that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and there's no need to sign them. Look at these endorsements, they add up to less than the number of endorsements from Nike. You can increase the price, but you can't sign if you like.

Sign!" Although Liu Mang loves money, he is not a luxurious person. Having enough money is enough. He has no intention of leaving a pile of money in the coffin.

Moreover, these many endorsement fees are too low! Nike’s endorsement fees are close to 13 million, while other endorsements add up to just over 8 million.

During the two days of rest, Liu Mang did not get a chance to rest at all. Instead, it became a nightmare for two days. Liu Mang felt that it was necessary to reduce some endorsements next season. The quantity of deals is far less important than the quality!

After the last promotional event ended on the afternoon of February 13, Liu Mang called Schwartz over just to talk about this matter.

Fortunately, except for soda, fast food, and sneakers, which are the three major sources of endorsement fees, for most endorsements, Liu Mang's authorization is to only sign a one-year short-term contract. After one year of endorsement, he will have to re-sign or stop the endorsement.

Seeing Liu Mang's firm request to reduce the number of endorsements, Schwartz had no choice. He was just a part-time agent, and he was not one of those who could influence a player's decision or even influence the decisions of a team or several teams.

The ability of a gold medal agent.

However...both Liu Mang and Schwartz still underestimated Liu Mang's commercial value. Liu Mang will continue to cry next year...

…

…

Finally, the long-awaited All-Star Weekend is here!

On February 14th, this beautiful day, the 2003 Atlanta All-Star Weekend officially kicked off.

This is the first major event held in Atlanta since 1996. It took the 1996 Olympics. The Hawks' home arena can be so advanced. Of course, it is limited to this era. The Hawks' Phillips Arena has the most complete facilities in the league.

One of the arenas.

Atlanta has ushered in another wave of economic upsurge. Just as the 2006 All-Star Weekend in Houston doubled the market value of the Rockets, the All-Star Weekend hosted by the Hawks at home caused the market value of the Hawks to rise sharply.

This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! Atlanta is the ninth largest city in the United States and is world-famous. However, there are no super popular superstars in history, and the market has not been fully developed. This All-Star Weekend, nearly 100,000 Chinese people

Tourists and tens of thousands from other parts of Asia come to Atlanta to watch the All-Star Weekend games.

It's a pity that even if Phillips Arena fills up the seats and adds as many seats as possible, there are only 37,000 seats. Many tourists come to Atlanta and cannot watch the game.
To be continued...