On the night of July 13, after playing 2K13 for more than two hours at home, Min Congda felt a little sleepy and lay down on the bed to sleep for a while.
The experience of the Clippers winning the championship a month ago was like a dream. I couldn't tell whether it was a nightmare or a sweet dream. In short, it haunted Min Congda again and again, making it difficult for him to calm down.
He sometimes chagrins and regrets every basketball decision he has made since 2009, which turned the Clippers into a monster.
Sometimes I am very excited. I recall the excitement when the Clippers won the victory. I recall that I commanded the Clippers to win the victory. I recalled the exciting scene of the defending championship parade two weeks ago. Min Congda would toss and turn in bed. Be happy from the bottom of your heart like a child.
Sometimes he takes out the appraisal report issued by a psychiatrist. He suspects that what the doctor said is actually correct. He is really a level two psychotic. He must be suffering from schizophrenia or delusion.
When the draft and the free market started, and other team general managers were extremely busy, Min Congda spent most of his time at home playing 2K.
Either use NBA-Batman on Twitter to fan the flames, or have a secret meeting with Stern to help kill the Bass family.
Everything was going well. Yesterday, Kobe announced that he had accepted the trade and left Los Angeles for Brooklyn. The entire Los Angeles sports circle was shocked, and a totem was shaken.
Min Congda had no worries in his heart. Logically speaking, this was an important step in the plan.
The Buss family, a poor and weak owner, has once again loosened its position in the Lakers.
When the Lakers are unable to move forward next season, the league will find a way for the Buss family to sell the team - this idea has long been produced within the Buss family, but it lacks an opportunity.
By then, the new owner with huge wealth will pay a premium of three to four times, estimated at US$4 billion, to acquire the Zijin Empire.
According to the latest team market value rankings released by Forbes, the Knicks still rank first with a market value of US$1.15 billion, while the Clippers and Lakers are neck and neck, both with a market value of US$1 billion.
Once the super-rich owners own the Lakers, the Los Angeles sports market will enter a new chapter. The Lakers will build more luxurious battleships to match their glorious history and high popularity, which will in turn drive the entire league toward the North American sports market. Aim high and move forward.
According to Min Congda's idea, by then, the Clippers will also fall.
With a high luxury tax, an aging lineup, and a huge amount of debt, the entire team will be in danger and collapse at the drop of a hat.
By then, the team's market value should be around US$1.5 billion. At the moment of their decay, Min Congda will complete the task, become a billionaire, and start a new chapter!
He has been striving for this goal for a long time and is unswervingly determined. Just like Murong Fu in the famous martial arts "Dragon and the Eight Parts", he has done anything for the illusory restoration of the country!
But on the night of July 13th, when he was lying in bed after playing the game, he felt a huge emptiness. He thought about the moment when his future plan was successful, but he was not excited at all?
He was so excited before that he was so happy when he thought about the Clippers going bankrupt. Even if he only completed a small step, even if he suffered repeated setbacks, as long as he felt that he was moving forward and getting closer to the goal, he would have boundless motivation in his heart.
But this time was different. He always felt as if something was missing. In his mind, he imagined that when everything ended and the team went bankrupt, what would happen to the team's employees? What will happen to the players? What about the fans?
In fact, it's nothing. The employees will find new jobs. Besides, if the Clippers go bankrupt and are acquired, it's not like they will continue to work.
Not to mention the players, who have received enough honors and wages from the Clippers, the team's bankruptcy has nothing to do with them.
Fans are more like mothers if they have breasts. Who cares whether the team goes bankrupt or not? If they win, they will support them, if they lose, they will support other teams.
Besides, if you go bankrupt, find a new boss, have a completely new look, and have more fans supporting you, who cares about you?
Look at the Brooklyn Nets. They changed owners, moved their home court, changed their team name, designed a new team logo, introduced super popular stars, and the number of fans has been rising.
Therefore, letting the Clippers go bankrupt is actually a good thing. If they don't break it, they will live a better life, and they will also forget themselves and General Manager Smart.
Who would this world not change without? The Lakers don't have Kobe. After 17 years, the team still has to continue to play, with a strong camp and smooth soldiers.
Min Congda has always been a person who is good at comforting himself. The deeper he understands the NBA in the past four years, the stronger his ability to comfort himself becomes.
But this time, he couldn't convince himself to feel better no matter what. The team's bankruptcy brought him not excitement but uneasiness.
He fell asleep in a daze, and was awakened by a crisp "crackling" sound. He rubbed his eyes and woke up from the bed.
It felt like the sound was coming from outside the window, so I went to the bedside and opened the curtains. I saw many people lining up in a parade on the street downstairs.
In the United States, taking a group walk on the street is a common thing, especially in a place like Los Angeles, where you can go for a walk for various things.
Occasionally, there will be a zero-dollar shopping event to provide some assistance to poor black families in Los Angeles, which is also considered a welfare of American society.
But generally such parades and activities mainly occur in South Los Angeles. The high-end apartment where Min Congda lives is in North Los Angeles. The security here is quite good because there are many rich people.
But this parade happened nearby, and it looked like someone smashed the windows of a certain house. Could it be that something big happened and the riots were about to spread to the north of Los Angeles?
Min Congda turned on his phone and looked at Twitter, only to realize that the so-called major event was that Kobe Bryant decided to leave and go to Brooklyn.
Sure enough, if you look closely, you will see that the people marching on the road are all wearing Lakers jerseys, and most of them are from Kobe's team.
Then, a ball of fire appeared on the street corner, where several Lakers fans burned Kobe's jersey.
"What do these people want to do? It's just a normal transaction. What's the point of burning Kobe's jersey?"
Although I know how crazy the fans are, generally speaking, basketball fans are milder than extreme football fans.
Football hooligan incidents occur frequently in Europe, but it is rare to hear of basketball hooligans. Some fans are even Buddhist, such as fans of the Miami Heat.
The Clippers won the championship with three consecutive away games. Heat fans had no reaction other than disappointment. You can hardly imagine what it would be like in football, if it were two feuding teams, losing consecutive away games to their opponents and giving up the championship. the result of.
As a result, Kobe announced that he was leaving the Lakers, which actually triggered a demonstration?
Perhaps out of curiosity, or to relieve his worries, Min Congda decided to join the parade.
He rummaged through the box and found a Kobe Bryant No. 24 jersey given to him by Jeanie Buss, in the away color, worn over a T-shirt.
Then he put a mask on his face and a peaked cap so that no one would recognize him.
After leaving the house excitedly, Min Congda joined the long and loose parade. He asked a fellow on the road where the parade was going.
Seeing that Min Congda was also wearing Kobe's jersey, the younger brother thought he was a Lakers fan and said: "Go to Staples Center. We will gather and protest in the square to let Kobe exercise his veto power over the trade and let the Lakers take back their decision to trade Kobe. "
Min Congda wanted to ask why, but when he thought about it, wouldn't he be exposed if he asked like this?
"That's right! Kobe should stay in Los Angeles! Stay with the Lakers! Let him stay!"
"Let him stay!"
"Let him stay!"
Min Congda roared like this, and many fans found a unanimous slogan.
Let him stay, let Kobe stay, this is the voice of many Lakers fans.
Of course, there are also many fans who are very angry. They do not expect Kobe to stay, but they just hope that Kobe and the Lakers can give an explanation.
Because the deal has been reached, it is difficult to take back the water that was thrown out. The league has approved the deal. Once Kobe passes the physical examination, the deal cannot be changed.
Min Congda followed everyone towards the familiar arena. He was very surprised in his heart. The transaction was in compliance with the regulations. Kobe himself also agreed. Why did the fans react so loudly?
It’s not like the NBA has never had such a big deal. Didn’t these superstars like Garnett, Nash, and Howard change teams?
Just like employees changing jobs, even senior employees who have deep connections with the company must leave when it's time to leave.
The Lakers themselves traded O'Neal, so what if they sent away Kobe? There was such a big reaction.
But among this group of Kobe and Lakers fans, Min Congda could feel the real feelings.
A young football fan who came with his father was crying all the way, and Min Congda couldn't bear to watch it.
He stepped forward and picked him up, and asked, "Don't cry, kid. It's okay. Kobe just left Los Angeles. He will continue to play."
The child wiped away his tears and said, "I want to watch him play at home."
"When did you start watching Kobe play?"
"5 years old, I am 9 years old."
I have watched the Lakers for four years, exactly since the last time the Lakers won the championship in 2010.
These four years should be a period of decline for the Lakers and Kobe. Why is this little guy so devoted?
The child's father thanked Min Congda for his comfort. He said that his family has been a Lakers fan since the 1960s.
The child's great-grandfather watched West, Elgin Baylor, and Chamberlain, the child's grandfather watched Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and the child's father watched O'Neal and Kobe.
For this family, watching Lakers games is a kind of inheritance. No wonder the children are so sad because a totem has fallen.
Min Congda knew that the Lakers fan base was very deep, but he didn't expect it to be this deep.
In the past two years, the Clippers have gained momentum and have great appeal to young fans, which has greatly shaken the Lakers' position in Los Angeles.
But the foundation the Lakers have accumulated over decades cannot be shaken overnight.
Even if the Clippers win two more championships, once the team declines and the Lakers rise again, Los Angeles will once again become the world of the Purple and Gold.
Min Congda felt an unspeakable aggrievedness in his heart. In other words, when the Clippers go bankrupt and the Lakers rise again, will Los Angeles be named Lake again?
Logically speaking, he shouldn't care about this, but he felt unconvinced.
Following the march to the square of Staples Center, more and more people gathered here.
Many reporters came here after hearing the news, reporting on the scene and interviewing some Lakers fans.
Some people were wandering around holding placards, some were shouting slogans, and some naturally wanted to perform sports sacrifices such as burning jerseys.
In short, the momentum was huge, and many people chanted "Kobe, Kobe, Kobe!"
They hope that their voices can be heard by Kobe and that he can change his mind.
A fan near Min Congda was interviewed and shouted to the reporter: "We hope Kobe stays! I don't care about the Lakers' results, let him stay! Even if they are last place! Let that bastard Chris Paul leave, let him go!" He's not a real Laker, he's not!"
It can be seen that there is also a split among Lakers fans.
After all, Paul was acquired through a trade. Driving Kobe away feels like a dove occupying a magpie's nest.
How can fans who have been with the Lakers and Kobe Bryant for more than ten years endure it?
This kind of tearing is exactly what Min Congda wants, which will make fans increasingly dissatisfied with the Lakers management and owners.
But seeing Kobe's fans so protective of a declining veteran, Min Congda felt very confused.
To be honest, Min Congda didn't like Kobe very much. When he came to the NBA, he was catching up with the Lakers and Kobe at the end of their peak.
In 2010, although the Lakers won the championship, they were beaten two games in a row while leading the Clippers 3-0, which almost gave Min Congda a heart attack.
In the opening game of the new season, the Clippers were beaten to death. In other words, from the beginning, the Clippers have never been at a disadvantage against the Lakers.
By the beginning of 2011, the Clippers had completely overwhelmed the Lakers. They defeated the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals twice and reached the Finals. Kobe's "contribution" was not small.
They struck at critical moments and used various lone-wolf styles. Their character and style of play were thoroughly exposed, and their ability could not support their style of play. As a result, the Lakers basically had no chance against the Clippers.
2:4, 0:4, with Paul, both Western Conference finals were lost cleanly, giving the advantage. Min Congda had great hopes in 2012, but what was the result?
Therefore, no matter what glorious history Kobe has had in the past and won five championships, in Min Congda's view, Kobe is not valued by him.
Even from a basketball perspective, Kobe's style of play is too "classical" in Min Congda's opinion, does not conform to the trend, and is not the direction of future development.
But it was such a player that he didn't like very much. His departure triggered a riot among the fans, and more and more people gathered in the Staples Center Square.
Some fans are becoming more and more excited. Among them, the number of black-skinned fans is gradually increasing, and the atmosphere of zero-yuan purchases is gradually increasing.
There were more police officers, driving police and motorcycles, guarding the square to prevent some agitated crowds from escalating the situation.
When the time approached early in the morning, the fans still did not disperse, but instead, another crowd gathered.
Because the parade and gathering spread quickly on Twitter, many Lakers and Kobe fans saw it and rushed over to support it and express their inner dissatisfaction.
The Los Angeles Police Department also had a premonition that the situation might exceed expectations, so it began to dispatch riot police to the area near Staples Center. As a result, the two sides became even more tense.
Seeing that zero-yuan shopping could break out at any time, a helicopter appeared in the night sky and circled near Staples.
Some sharp-eyed guy shouted, "It's Kobe!"
Then, everyone looked up to the sky, and there was someone waving to everyone on the helicopter, it seemed to be Kobe!
Min Congda raised his head and saw it, thinking: "Damn it, a move fell from the sky? What kind of move is this? Kobe, you are so powerful."
Immediately afterwards, the helicopter landed on the tarmac of Staples Center. After a while, Kobe was escorted by several bodyguards to the square.
Kobe's sudden arrival immediately relaxed the tense atmosphere, and everyone's attention was attracted to Kobe.
The zero-yuan shopping campaign failed.
Kobe took a speaker from his assistant, stood on a high platform, and said to everyone: "I'm sorry, I'm sorry my fans, I'm late."
The fans began to shout loudly, asking Kobe to stay, asking Kobe not to leave, but Kobe just smiled, shook his head slightly, and waited for everyone to calm down.
When everyone was silent, Kobe said: "Tonight, I came here specifically to say goodbye to everyone. You know, once I make a decision, nothing can change me, but one thing will not change, which is my love for you. My love and feelings for you will never change. I will always be a Laker."
At this moment, Min Congda was standing more than two meters away from Kobe. He could see Kobe's eyes turning slightly red.
For a moment, Min Congda felt that he had done something wrong. He thought that if he hadn't facilitated the Paul deal, if he hadn't created conflicts between Kobe and Paul, if he hadn't been behind the scenes to overthrow the Buss family, Kobe would have most likely stayed with the Lakers, and Let the Lakers be a bad team for a few years and then retire and end their careers, right?
Then he felt that he was right. If you are not strong enough, who can you blame?
However, in such a weak and strong alliance, it is normal to sell veterans in exchange for assets.
Why are fans so obsessed with Kobe? If he doesn't pass the ball, then he can hit the ball?
It's the so-called "Mamba Mentality" that people have been spreading. Min Congda doesn't understand this stuff very well, and he doesn't want to understand it.
For the first time, he became curious, and became more curious about Kobe and the defeated Lakers.
He is familiar with the history of the Lakers and Kobe's experience, but he doesn't really understand Kobe as a person.
The spotlight in the square was on Kobe. He patiently explained to the fans why he was leaving, why he wanted to start a new chapter and accept new challenges.
Min Congda, wearing a mask and hat, stood in the darkness not far away, listening silently and thinking in his mind about what was worthy of his study in this man.
Kobe shed tears when he talked about the emotional part. Many fans at the scene cried, but they gradually accepted and understood Kobe's thoughts and the dilemma he faced.
Min Congda suddenly shouted and asked: "Kobe! Will you return to Los Angeles? In June next year!"
Kobe looked at Min Congda in the dark and replied: "Yes, I will be back in June next year."
At this time, Min Congda took off his hat and mask, revealed his true face, and said to Kobe: "The Los Angeles Clippers will be waiting for you in June."
(End of chapter)
