nagpurpolice Chapter 505 505: Contempt from Peers (3714 words)
Chapter 505 505: Contempt from Peers (3714 words)
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On Thursday, February 15, 2007, there were only two games, as the NBA officially kicked off its All-Star Weekend.
Paradise, Nevada, would be lively this weekend.
It was very close to Las Vegas, and with the All-Star being held at a university venue for the first time, young people preferred this atmosphere.
The Thomas & Mack Center had previously hosted the Summer League, and this time, it was hosting the larger All-Star Game.
Mayor Oscar Goodman had met with David Stern early on.
Promotion had been continuous since the new season began, but the NBA still didn't budge.
Betting on the outcome of the games was not allowed in Nevada.
The New York Knicks had only 5 games in the first half of February and were now on vacation.
The weather in New York was as cold as ever, but fortunately, there was no blizzard this year.
To enjoy warmer weather, many players on the team chose to leave early to have some fun.
Unlike the excited Rookie, Lee, who had been in the NBA for 10 years, had long lost his excitement.
David Lee participated in the Rookie Challenge and had flown over with everyone last night.
Lee, who slept until 7 AM, had just woken up.
On Valentine's Day, he was at the old woman's place taking care of Ivanka, and they had spent the night there.
Unlike Lee's more modern villa, Ivanka's house hadn't been touched since its renovation in the early 90s.
Donald's new high-rise home had been renovated, but there were no changes here.
The six-story house also had no elevator.
Ivanka, who had spent a sweet night in the guest room on the 5th floor, was in a particularly good mood.
After waking up, she snuggled into Lee's arms, kneading him from time to time:
"I wonder if it's a boy or a girl, darling. Should we move?"
Ivanka knew that Lee and Bobby were looking at real estate news and thought they were buying another property, happily recommending Florida.
Playing with the swollen fair skin, Lee didn't deny it.
Instead, he followed the words of the silly big-breasted girl, whispering for a while, and drawing another grand blueprint:
"Later, we can live in both places, and the children also need winter. But don't tell your mother about this. I don't want to continue this retro decoration style."
This house was the same as it was when she was a child.
Although the golden bedroom gave Ivanka a sense of familiarity, she still preferred the style of the 82nd Street villa.
Burying her head in a low laugh, and whispering about her childhood anecdotes, her breathing became a little hurried from being kneaded, and the troublesome shoulder straps quickly disappeared.
Ivanka actively offered a kiss.
The two were so engrossed that they didn't react to the sound of the door opening until they heard a familiar gasp.
The blonde, big-chested woman then let go with hazy eyes.
Having put on exquisite makeup early in the morning, Ivana, who had climbed upstairs, saw the string of saliva at her daughter's mouth and covered her face, exclaiming in disbelief:
"Oh! My God! Ivanka, you're really crazy!"
Ivanka called out to her mother in shame and annoyance, then quickly pulled up her shoulder straps and covered Lee with the pajamas next to her.
"I specifically cooked breakfast for you, Lee. You can't indulge her. You two have a physical examination this morning."
"You really should move to Florida. New York is too cold!"
Pushing her mother out of the room, Ivanka turned around and went back to Lee, continuing their deep kiss until she was a little breathless before laughing softly:
"Darling, you seem to be stronger."
The [Manu Ginobili's Extraordinary Body Coordination] has been fully digested.
On the talent panel, only the recently acquired physical talent is still in effect.
His bare upper body muscles were very defined.
Years of hard training had paid off.
Lee was in a good mood, carefully pulling up Ivanka, who still wanted to move around:
"It's time to go downstairs. Don't make everyone wait too long."
Ivanka, in a great mood during breakfast, had a hearty appetite.
Ivana continued to nag occasionally, and the old woman was very satisfied with Lee's attitude.
While Lee went downstairs to prepare the car, Ivana, looking at her daughter's increasingly swollen chest, teased her:
"Now I believe what you said. Isn't Donald investing in Las Vegas? Don't just focus on having children. Prepare well!"
"I know, Mom. How much do you have now?"
Ivanka saw her mother only hold up one finger and sighed regretfully.
This money was not enough.
After a brief discussion, Ivanka, gently stroking her belly, had a jumble of thoughts, but finally made up her mind:
"I still have to tell Clay this news."
Lee accompanied Ivanka for her physical examination in the morning, then took his clingy little shadow for his own check-up in the afternoon, and finally, the whole family mobilized to take care of the four little ones together.
Most of the time, there were dedicated caregivers, but weekly parent-child time was also essential.
A house full of women chattering and sharing their parenting experiences, Lee's vacation was just this boring.
On the evening of the 15th, the Cavaliers challenged the Lakers on the road, and the two teams began their second battle.
LeBron James didn't miss his shots this time, tearing apart the Lakers' defense with his excellent athleticism.
114:108, the Cavaliers easily swept the Lakers.
At the end of the game, Staples Center was filled with boos.
Tonight, they were overwhelmed by their opponents.
This was a game of athletic dominance.
In the final moments, free throws from LeBron James and Drew Gooden sealed the victory.
Lakers fans were unhappy and even booed their own players at this point.
Playing 40 minutes, shooting 10-for-16 from the field, 18-for-22 from the free-throw line, LeBron James recorded 38 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, and 3 turnovers.
He redeemed himself in this matchup.
Dwight Howard once again recorded a double-double with 15 points and 14 rebounds.
Winning made him grin.
The "Big Boy" looked at the dark-faced Kobe and turned to his teammates beside him, boasting:
"I don't know why the NBA always promotes him? The All-Star warm-up is another showdown between Kobe and Lee."
"Look at his disdainful look. I'm going to make him look bad on Sunday!"
When he first entered the NBA, Dwight Howard was also dunked on by Kobe, but Lee dunked on him more often.
Considering that the Lakers were an easy target, the "Big Boy" decided to pick on the soft one first.
The Mamba incident's popularity hadn't faded, but LeBron James no longer wanted to ride the hype.
After saying a few polite words, he quickly left the arena.
Shooting 9-for-22 from the field, 2-for-7 from beyond the arc, and 14-for-15 from the free-throw line, Kobe, who had 34 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, and 6 turnovers, was in a bad mood at this time.
When a Los Angeles reporter asked about the All-Star matchup, the dark-faced Kobe looked serious and replied as if venting his emotions:
"All-Star Weekend? I don't plan to relax. I am a competitor."
"If the opponent isn't ready, then they will face a loss. The All-Star is also a basketball war, and I will give it my all in the game!"
"..."
On Friday, February 16, the Los Angeles Times did not report on last night's loss but instead emphasized Kobe's "challenge."
"UNLV: The NBA's Strongest Scorers Battle!"
Just by looking at the title, one might think it was a college game at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, but the content was entirely about the "grudge" between Kobe and Lee.
Perhaps feeling that the two weren't angry enough, a column even brought up old news, resurrecting the incident of Lee stepping over Kobe.
Kobe, who was preparing to leave early in the morning, read the newspaper and was furious again.
Someone was still bringing up such old news, and he felt humiliated again!
Vanessa noticed that Kobe's smile had gradually disappeared after the Christmas War, and she felt a bit annoyed, but she didn't know how to comfort her husband.
At breakfast, she could only say tactfully:
"Don't read these boring newspapers anymore. Lee isn't like what the newspapers say. Every time he goes to New York, he even sends us tickets..."
"He just wants to see me make a fool of myself! When I scored 81 points, I didn't receive a text message from him. I know he's jealous of me!"
Kobe interrupted his wife's nagging, then grumbled a few more times before controlling his emotions.
The "Mamba incident" had made him lose respect, and he felt it was all Lee's fault.
Breakfast ended unpleasantly, and Vanessa showed a helpless expression.
She knew that these reporters were just exploiting her husband.
Many times, the outcome of the game no longer mattered.
As long as Kobe broke down, media reporters would have a carnival the next day.
No one could change this situation unless the Lakers won another championship.
As he boarded the plane with his staff, his agent Rob Pelinka immediately noticed that Kobe's emotions were problematic:
"This isn't a successful advertisement! Kobe, I reminded you that Carter tends to leave the Nets. You two originally had a chance to team up!"
"Black Mamba? We can think of another catchy nickname. Jerry Buss just agreed to write a check, and now you've missed this opportunity."
Kobe, who was flipping through Sports Illustrated, didn't even look up when his agent spoke.
However, upon seeing that this week's magazine had a large section dedicated to Lee's income and personal brand, he frowned.
"I don't want to team up with him. I need the right to shoot. You should recruit players who are suitable for me, not someone who will go against me!"
Rob Pelinka didn't explain much further.
In fact, there were only so many star players in the NBA.
With the market sluggish, how could they sell tickets without stars?
He couldn't find any better players.
"Stephen Jackson? The Lakers had a chance to get him, but you refused again."
"I'm not interested in playing with those spineless guys! Shit! I don't want to be associated with players from New York!"
Speaking his mind directly, Kobe glared at Rob Pelinka.
He couldn't tolerate those guys freely sharing his championship experience.
That was the last thing he wanted to see.
The Pacers and the Lakers were close to reaching a trade, but Kobe ultimately firmly opposed it, which even angered Jerry Buss.
The two fell silent for a moment.
Rob Pelinka wanted to say that players from the Knicks had all performed well, but considering his big employer's mood, he ultimately whispered:
"Don't mind what outsiders think. We all know those guys just want to get famous by relying on you."
"If you need psychological counseling, I'll provide you with a psychologist. I promise no one will know about it!"
Without answering, Kobe showed his attitude with his actions, tearing the Sports Illustrated in his hand in half, and then the cabin fell silent again.
The carnival event held by the NBA at the Las Vegas Convention Center attracted a large crowd of onlookers early in the morning.
In addition to fans, celebrities participating in the celebrity game that evening also attended.
The carnival event primarily showcased the close integration of the NBA and the community, promoting the idea that everyone is family under the umbrella of basketball.
In the afternoon, California Governor Schwarzenegger and his wife also appeared at the scene.
Famous actors Jonathan Silverman and Chris Tucker immediately went up to greet them.
Renowned television personality Tony Potts also joined the gathering immediately.
Amidst a friendly atmosphere, an onlooker broke the pleasant mood.
A Black man yelling "I'm Gay, arrest me" at the Governor was quickly escorted away by security personnel.
Facing the reporters surrounding him, Schwarzenegger, in a formal suit, raised an eyebrow and smiled, simply quipping, "I don't think this gentleman poses a threat to me. Don't make things difficult for him. He has the right to protest."
Without taking any more interviews, Schwarzenegger and his wife quickly left, and the convention center then erupted.
Although Schwarzenegger won the gubernatorial election again at the end of last year, his approval rating had already begun to decline.
Two years ago, Schwarzenegger vetoed the same-sex marriage bill that had passed the state's Assembly, opposing the legalization of same-sex marriage, and the impact of this incident grew increasingly significant.
Many retired NBA players were also present.
Tim Hardaway, dressed in hip-hop attire, seemed unaware that there was anything wrong with this matter, and actively accepted an interview, brazenly stating his attitude:
"I don't like homosexuals. You know, the NBA is a man's sport. No one wants to be stared at in the locker room!"
"..."
Tugging at the gold chain around his neck, Tim Hardaway quickly found NFL Black star Reggie Bush and a few others to continue chatting, completely forgetting about the matter by evening.
At 7 PM, 17,000 people poured into the Thomas & Mack Center.
Before the game officially began, NBA Commissioner David Stern held a press conference and immediately apologized:
"We will prohibit Tim Hardaway from participating in any All-Star Weekend activities!"
"The NBA is an inclusive league, and we respect everyone's right to express their thoughts."
In just one afternoon, Tim Hardaway became infamous.
Openly opposing homosexuality was not correct, and it even led to attacks on the NBA.
The impact of this incident was that as soon as Lee arrived at the scene, before he even had a chance to greet others, he was surrounded by a large group of reporters:
"Clay, do you also oppose the legalization of same-sex marriage?"
"If there's a homosexual in the Knicks locker room, what do you plan to do?"
"If your son's future sexual orientation is male, would you support him?"
"..."
Most of them were not sports reporters.
These people couldn't wait to shove microphones into Lee's mouth, and any answer to the related questions would be criticized.
"I completely respect individual wishes."
Lee smiled and gave a simple answer.
The staff on site quickly squeezed over, pulled the reporters away, and hurriedly led him to Schwarzenegger's side.
In the United States, a person's political leanings are very private.
Maria Shriver was dressed very formally tonight, wearing a sleeveless gray suit dress, and stood up to hug Lee:
"Sorry, Lee, there was a small problem this afternoon. Those reporters were after Arnold."
"This isn't a bad thing either! Perhaps I'll appear in more newspapers this weekend."
Lee blinked and joked about his recent experience.
After hugging Schwarzenegger again, the Governor seemed a bit melancholic and whispered after sitting down:
"They will only remember mistakes. No matter how many good deeds you've done before, once you make a mistake, it immediately goes to zero."
Feeling the lively atmosphere of the arena, Lee did not take up that topic.
This "mild" Republican Party member in front of him was not as miserable as he claimed.
Since Lee arrived too late, most of the star players who came to watch the game had already taken their seats early.
Sitting in the front row near the baseline, Dwyane Wade, wearing a loose gray casual suit, watched Chris Paul eagerly go to greet Lee.
While secretly pouting, he greeted his friend:
"I knew Chris would do that. That guy lacks a competitive spirit."
"Maybe he thinks Clay Lee will take care of him in the game. He really should come to the East and experience the playoffs!"
After suffering a concussion in their match last year, Dwyane Wade completely joined the "Anti-Lee Alliance."
LeBron James, next to him, wore a brown three-piece suit and was currently turning his head to glance in Lee's direction.
After taking an elbow from his friend, LeBron James finally came back to his senses.
He checked the time and saw that Carmelo Anthony hadn't arrived yet, then whispered, complaining:
"Melo is late again! Damn it, that guy forgot about us..."
Before he could finish, Dwyane Wade immediately interrupted, not giving LeBron James a chance to change the subject, and whispered with his hand over his mouth:
"You know, this year I might be chasing awards, not the Skills Challenge!"
Dwyane Wade regretted missing the AMVP opportunity last year for a long time.
LeBron James heard his friend's words, showed a troubled expression, and then whispered:
"We have to ask Lee's opinion."
"Damn it! Chris Bosh already agreed to me. You go tell Dwight Howard!"
Dwyane Wade stared and stated his plan.
The two whispered for a while, when suddenly Shawn Marion from behind poked his head out, teasing the two who seemed to be dividing the trophies:
"That's the first time I've heard that. What if you guys lose? Kobe Bryant is playing with anger this year."
The sudden voice startled the two.
However, upon hearing Kobe and losing, Dwyane Wade and LeBron James simultaneously leaned back strategically, grinning:
"Forget it, man! As long as Clay Lee wants to win, the trophy can only be between us."
LeBron James's words were still somewhat subtle, while Dwyane Wade, who was constantly influenced by Shaquille O'Neal, had long lost his respect.
He took over the conversation and teased again:
"Kobe? What are you talking about? Without Shaq, he hasn't won once!"
"LeBron and I easily defeated him this year. If it weren't for the NBA's favoritism, why would the Lakers get so many nationally televised games?"
The Heat also swept the Lakers twice this year.
With Shaquille O'Neal out, Dwyane Wade scored 40 points in one game and easily got 32 points in another.
Amare Stoudemire chuckled, grinning widely as he patted Marion next to him, and involuntarily shared his championship experience:
"We all know Kobe is just a lucky guy!"
"When I played for the Knicks, Lee never considered him an opponent. He doesn't even know how to win a championship!"
Kobe, also at the scene, was not gathered with the others.
At this moment, he couldn't help but sneeze a few times, and watching Lee, who was laughing and chatting, he secretly fumed:
"You won't have it easy this time!"
....
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