Reject tens of millions of endorsements, Spring Festival war
After winning against the Hawks, the Suns flew to Houston non-stop. The team had no time to rest. They had back-to-back games against the Rockets on the 26th.
Flying back-to-back from the east to the west, this schedule is not reasonable. The Spring Festival game is more like a game that was added temporarily to please Chinese fans after the schedule was completed.
David Stern is very good at pleasing fans. This shrewd little old man has always known what the fans want. Now there are billions of fans in more than 200 countries around the world watching basketball. Basketball can be promoted to this extent.
David Stern has made a huge contribution, and it is not an exaggeration to say that he is the number one contributor.
Earlier in the NBA, it was not what people see now. In the late O'Brien era, the development of the NBA was almost at a standstill. Players were not self-disciplined and engaged in drug abuse, alcoholism, and fights, which resulted in the lack of performance on the court.
It was such an exciting game that the NBA could only watch helplessly as MLB and NFL thrived next door.
In addition, in the international arena, the level of the Soviet Union and other European strong teams has also improved, while American basketball is a desert.
It was in this uncertain environment that David Stern joined the NBA. At that time, David Stern, who was helping ‘Big O’ Robertson litigate a lawsuit, joined the professional basketball field he loved by chance.
Many people know that David Stern is the NBA president, but they don’t know his past. This little old man’s previous career was promoting
A lawyer for free agent development, he joined the league in 1978, became executive vice president in 1980 and served as the fourth NBA commissioner in 1984.
David Stern changed the image of the NBA after taking office. He knew that a group of drug addicts and alcoholics would not be on the stage. If the NBA wants to go global, it must rectify the league's atmosphere.
So David Stern and his assistant Rick Weitz got to work.
They first carried out "anti-drug" work and imposed the most severe "lifetime ban" on players who take drugs. They urged the players union to promote the regulation of regular drug testing. Those who are tested for drug reactions three times in a row will be removed from the league.
This is done to scare the monkeys and set an example. If the players who take drugs are just suspended for a few games or a few months, these black people will not remember it long.
Then, they reshaped the authority of referees. In the past, referees were only the judge of the rules. Under David Stern's rule, they had greater rights and became a sacrosanct member of the court.
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The most classic thing about David Stern is the "zero tolerance" regulation, which stipulates the distance between players, referees and fans, which allows the conflicts of the game to be controlled within appropriate limits. With David Stern
With Tern's presence, the scene of Barkley chasing Bill Laimbeer all over the field in the 1990s became a swan song.
The last and most difficult thing was David Stern's "clothing ban."
Before that, there were no restrictions on players' clothing. We often saw them wearing large T-shirts and baggy trousers at formal occasions, coupled with a furrow on their head and an exaggerated gold necklace. People who didn't know thought they were big brothers.
This is absolutely unacceptable to David Stern, who wants to create basketball without borders. David Stern’s original intention is to bring basketball to every household. Which parent is willing to let their children regard these guys wearing hip-hop as
Idol?
Of course, the most important and correct decision David Stern made was to shift the NBA's focus to market stars.
This is the so-called star-making movement. From Jordan to Kobe and now Chen Yan, David Stern has continued this policy. This has also directly promoted the development of the NBA and allowed the league to achieve its current brilliant development.
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David Stern now wants Chen Yan to succeed Kobe Bryant and become the number one star. This is very difficult because Chen Yan’s skin color is different from that of the previous superstars, but David Stern is confident.
He likes to do challenging things like this.
Chen Yan represents international players. If he takes over, it means that NBA can be further promoted around the world. This will be of great benefit to the NBA market. The potential of the North American market has basically been tapped. What Stern has been doing these years is also to develop
international market.
Moreover, Chen Yan has strength and potential, and he is not promoted by force. Americans all admire strength and strength, and the fans here will also accept Chen Yan.
The game between the Suns and the Hawks ended relatively early. After getting off the plane, Chen Yan went straight to Yao's home.
January 25th is New Year's Eve. According to Chinese custom, it is the day to have New Year's Eve dinner with family members. However, Chen Yan's family did not come to the United States this year, so Chen Yan was invited by Dayao to spend the New Year's Eve dinner with his family.
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Yao's father and Yao's mother prepared a large table of Chinese food. Chen Yan was very happy to see these dishes. He could feel the taste of his hometown before they even started.
"It's so delicious. This is the best meal I've had this year." Chen Yan boasted about the cooking skills of his father and mother with a happy face.
Dayao laughed at this time and said: "This year has only passed 25 days."
Chen Yan responded quickly: "Then add last year."
"Hahahaha~" The people at the table laughed, and the scene was joyful.
"Xiao Chen, I heard that your recent single is very popular, and you also have plans to make a movie!" Ye Li asked.
Chen Yan smiled: "Sister-in-law, you are so well-informed? Singing is just for fun, and you haven't even figured out your movie horoscopes yet."
"You can win the first place on the list just by playing, but if you are serious, don't you want to break out of the universe?" Dayao started teasing Chen Yan again.
Ye Li blew a whistle: "Xiao Chen, this is called diversified development. It's not like you can only play basketball."
Now it was Chen Yan's turn to tease Dayao. He smiled and said, "He can also fight World of Warcraft."
After another burst of laughter, the topic of the two returned to basketball.
Chen Yan smiled and asked Xiang Dayao: "Brother Yao, who do you think will win among us tomorrow night?"
"Of course it's the Rockets, we are invincible." Dayao replied.
"But I heard that Tracy McGrady is injured, and the team's recent record is not very good."
After listening to Chen Yan's words, Dayao sighed: "The Rockets' recent lineup is not complete, and I am still in the transition period. Tomorrow's game will probably be difficult."
Thinking of the current situation of the Rockets, Dayao's jokes can no longer be made.
Chen Yan patted Dayao: "Keep healthy, don't rush this year, come and do one!"
Chen Yan raised his glass. What was in the glass was not wine but juice. The same was true for Dayao. Both players managed their bodies very well.
Chen Yan did not stay at Dayao's house for too long. There was a game the next day. After saying goodbye to Dayao's family, Chen Yan returned to the hotel.
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On the first day of the Lunar New Year, some people pay New Year greetings, while others watch football at home. Some people call the other party to greet the New Year by asking if they have watched football today.
Under the influence of Dayao and Chen Yan, basketball is more charming and attractive than ever.
This is the game that Chinese fans are most concerned about, and Houston officials are fully prepared.
Lion and dragon dance, waist drum and lanterns, Chinese Kung Fu, the God of Wealth giving out red envelopes...
It's hard to imagine that this is the opening show of the NBA regular season.
In addition to the opening show, the entire Toyota Center is filled with Spring Festival elements.
Chinese knots, red lanterns, Chinese billboards on the sidelines, and lame Spring Festival greetings from the players on the big screen.
This is what President David Stern means. He knows that there will be countless Chinese fans watching the game on the TV today, and he wants the fans to feel that he values and respects China.
When the players from both sides were warming up, Tracy McGrady, wearing a dark gray suit, walked to the center of the court.
Chen Yan and McGrady said hello, and with Dayao's help, the two also played games together from time to time.
Chen Yan asked about McGrady's injuries. McGrady said that his back was injured and it was nothing serious. He just couldn't fight at high intensity continuously.
In fact, before the game started, many Suns fans mocked McGrady. They believed that McGrady was completely unable to adapt to the NBA schedule. He was just a sick kid and it would be difficult for him to play 82 games. Such a player should go to the NCAA.
McGrady didn't seem to be affected by similar remarks, and his expression has been relaxed since he appeared.
Although McGrady is relaxed, it is difficult for his Rockets teammates. They have to face the league's most ferocious offensive team without the top scorer.