NBA Backer King Chapter 123

   Chapter 123 Mammoth, Signature Sneakers

   "Hey, Larry, give me an interview."

   At this time, a big red-haired man came over with a photographer, but it was Bill Walton, the league's retired Hall of Famer.

  The red giant Wharton got rid of his stuttering problem last year, and then officially entered the commentary industry and became a commentator on ABC TV.

   "OK."

  Larry Bird nodded.

   "Old K, I saw that you had a good interaction with Larry just now. You know him very well, right? Do you want to be interviewed together?" Bill Walton asked.

   "These Americans call that interaction?" Sun Zhenping and Su Qun, who were a few steps away, were dumbfounded.

   "Yes, I have some impressions of him. His performance is good, and he can always make those actresses scream continuously, high Chaos again and again." Pharaoh nodded.

   "Pfft, haha..."

   The hilarious laughter of Magic Johnson and others came from behind.

   "Rookie, die!"

  Larry Bird was annoyed, and once again threw a pair of old fists at Pharaoh.

   "Haha, alright Larry, now I'm going to ask questions, the camera's on."

  Bill Wharton's face had turned into a chrysanthemum, and he hurriedly stepped forward and pulled Larry Bird away.

When the angry bird heard that the camera was turned on, he quickly turned to face the camera with a face change, his angry expression instantly turned into a smile, then he waved his hand and smiled kindly: "Hey, hello, I'm Laliber. De, your friend."

   "Hello everyone, I'm your friend, Old K, the restricted area sweeper." Pharaoh also beckoned from behind and began to rub against Larry Bird's camera.

   "Cough, restricted area sweeper? Old K, is this your new nickname?" Bill Walton asked curiously.

   "Yes, I just thought of it, what do you think?" Old Wang said earnestly.

   "Cool." Bill Walton nodded.

   "A nickname like shit, is it cool to have my big bird?" Larry Bird said disdainfully.

   "Of course, Big Bird is cooler, especially suitable for the profession of adult film star." Pharaoh nodded.

"Hahaha…"

   This time, everyone around was bursting with laughter, the photographer couldn't hold the camera steady, and the lens kept shaking.

   "Duel, rookie, don't die today!"

  Larry Bird stopped accepting the interview, and threw his old fists and rushed towards Pharaoh.

   "It's over, we're fighting again?" Sun Zhenping and Su Qun were dumbfounded repeatedly.

   "I didn't really fight, I was just kidding. It was the first time Tie Jun and Larry Bird met, and they seemed to get along just fine." Zhang Lili laughed.

  The two were making a fuss, and many stars came to the scene, Jordan, Da Meng, David Robinson, Barkley and Dan Marley were among them.

   "Damn rookie!"

  Jordan saw Wang Tiejun, his eyes immediately turned red, and Wuming's anger went straight to the top of his head.

   "Big Bird, you dare to bully my brother?"

As soon as    Buckley saw it, he rolled up his sleeves and ran up, followed by Dan Marley.

  The relationship between Barkley and Larry Bird is not ordinary. He is an old friend. In a game in his rookie season, he once locked his throat.

On November 10, 1984, the seventh regular season of the new season for the Philadelphia team, against the Celtics, Larry Bird and Dr. J fought, Barkley stepped forward to persuade him, and locked Larry Bird directly from behind, Moses Malone hugged Larry Bird's hands, and then let Dr. J do several punches in Big Bird's face. In the end, the Celtics went into battle together and beat Moses Malone, but the clever rookie Barkley ran away.

   "Fat pig, what do you want?" Larry Bird heard Barkley's voice, and immediately left Pharaoh and turned around quickly.

   Buckley grinned and shook a pair of big fists and said, "Exactly, I have learned Wang Baquan now, so I can test the power on you?"

   "What kings and eight punches?" Larry Bird asked curiously.

   "It's a punch designed for Wang Ba." Pharaoh explained kindly later.

   "Puchi, haha..." Buckley and Dan Marley laughed.

  Larry Bird knew at a glance that Wang Tiejun didn't say anything good, glared at him, and cursed angrily: "Rookie, you and Barkley together are a bad breed and a bastard, and they are 100% compatible."

  Buckley and Pharaoh looked at each other and suddenly laughed.

   "Two bastards!" Larry Bird scolded helplessly.

   "Look, Mr. Sun, that's Barkley, the league's superstar. He takes good care of Tiejun in the Suns, and they have a strong relationship." Zhang Lili introduced.

   "I saw him. He was also a member of the Dream Team in the Olympic Games last year." Sun Zhenping nodded excitedly.

   "His name is Flying Pig. He is not tall enough. He plays in the sky. Do you want to interview him? Let's go there." Zhang Li said.

   "Sure!" Sun Zhenping nodded quickly.

   A few people came up and leaned aside. Zhang Lili nodded to Pharaoh, and then said to Barkley: "Charles, can you accept our interview? We are China CCTV Sports Channel."

   "Zhang, aren't you old K's personal trainer, chef, and nanny? How many jobs do you have?" Buckley said with a strange expression.

   "I came here temporarily to help today." Zhang Lili said cheerfully.

   "Okay, you can ask." Buckley laughed.

  Wang Tiejun did not participate in the CCTV interview and returned to his seat.

   Magic Johnson said at this time: "Rookie, let's talk?"

Old Wang glanced at the magician and asked curiously: "I know you, Barkley said that many girls lined up outside the locker room waiting for you to choose, and you will choose the rest for your teammates, is that so? "

   Magic Johnson embarrassedly said: "It's hard to look back on the past, your kid is really not likable, you can't even chat."

   Having said this, he suddenly turned his upper body and asked in a low voice with a curious expression: "Are you really that one with Julia Roberts?"

   Lao Wang sighed and said, "The past is unbearable. That night made my legs weak for a week. I was very tired, but if I have another chance to choose, I hope my legs will be soft for a month."

   "Damn boy, you really can't chat." Magic Johnson cursed.

   "Haha..." Old Wang laughed proudly.

   "Hey, boy, what do you think of the Lakers?" Magic Johnson said.

   "What can I say? Liar, actor, the Lakers are not an NBA team, but a Hollywood actor training class."

  Pharaoh couldn't help but be arrogant.

   Magic Johnson stayed for a while, so this is what you think of the Lakers?

   "You **** rookie, you have to respect the Lakers." Bellekin next to him said unhappily.

   "NO! Although I plan to sign a contract with CAA, I will never participate in the actor training class." Pharaoh shook his head decisively.

   The two magicians looked at each other, shook their heads helplessly, and stopped asking this question.

   They were actually entrusted by Lakers general manager Jerry West to test Wang Tiejun.

Although   Divac is very good, West thinks Wang Tiejun is better, and he is considering trading Wang Tiejun with Divac.

Earlier, he submitted a trade application to the Suns, but the chips were not Divac, but two role players, and he was immediately rejected. Later, the better and better Wang Tiejun played, the less chance he had, but he didn't give up and was still there. Wait for the opportunity.

   After 11 o'clock in the evening, Pharaoh returned to the hotel, and just after taking a shower, Jemarone appeared in front of him with a smile on his face.

   "Old K, I have good news for you, you have a sneaker sponsor." Jemarone laughed.

   "What's the matter?" Old Wang was so shocked that he almost dropped the towel around him.

Jamaloni smiled and said: "I have been talking to you about the sneaker contract during this time. As a CAlevel level signatory, you must have a signed sneaker contract. This is your status symbol. To become a real Sports stars, this is essential..."

   "It's done?"

  Pharaoh felt a surprise, is this a gift for him? Sure enough, signing CAA was the right decision.

   Then Jemaroni took out a thick contract and briefly introduced its contents.

4.5 million dollars for 3 years, 1.5 million dollars per year, this is the price that Jemarone negotiated with all his words. The Mammoth Company, which is about to go bankrupt, really can't make any more money. This is the new investment of the owner Weeks. a sum of money.

  The specific payment method is to pay 50% on the signing date, 30% after one year, and the remaining 20% ​​when the contract ends.

  This contract looks bigger than Jordan's contract with Nike, and there are no restrictions, but it is actually far less than Jordan's contract.

Jordan's contract had three conditions that year, namely the best rookie and all-star, and averaged 20+ per game. If these three conditions were not fulfilled, Nike had the right to suspend the contract, but he completed these three conditions in only one year. , got all the money.

In 1984, the highest endorsement contract in the league was the contract between Lakers star James Worthy and New Balance, $150,000 a year, Jordan's $500,000 a year is a sky-high price, and Nike also promised Jordan to have a share of the sales of sneakers, still When I signed the contract, I was given a Lamborghini, and the treatment was far superior to that of Pharaoh.

However, for a rookie, who is a center who does not sell shoes, and is not an American, it is incredible to be able to get this contract. It is impossible to operate without CAA. You must know that there are not many stars in the league combined. The vast majority of active All-Stars do not have signed sneaker contracts.

   For example, O'Neal, when he entered the league last year, Nike and Reebok selected him at the same time, and his only requirement is to have his own signature sneakers.

   But Nike refused, unwilling to give a contract for signature sneakers, the reason is that the center does not sell shoes, the three super centers are like this, they are not optimistic about O'Neal's future.

  It's funny that they gave Mourning such a contract on the grounds that Mourning was not as tall as O'Neal and could sell more shoes.

   In the end, Reebok gave O'Neal a signed contract, and the amount was very large, 5 years and 15 million US dollars, 3 million US dollars per year.

   Therefore, it is really a credit to CAA that Wang Tiejun can get this contract, otherwise even if he becomes an All-Star, he basically won't get this signed sneaker contract.

This era is not the era of Yao Min ten years later. In that era, the domestic economy began to develop and there was a huge consumer market, but now there is not such a large consumer market in China. Wang Tiejun is not in the United States, even in China, Even if he is not a prisoner of labor reform, the commercial value is not very great.

   Even, there is not even the concept of stars in China, including entertainment stars, not even the concept of entertainment.

  I got this good news before going to bed, which made Comrade Lao Wang so excited that he didn't sleep well.

   It was already one o'clock after getting up, taking a shower, eating and drinking.

   At this time, in a certain business hall of the hotel, CAA's press conference was almost ready, and some media reporters also began to appear.

   At exactly three o'clock, Wang Tiejun and Jay Maroni, as well as Mammoth Company President Wicks appeared at the press conference.

   In front of the media, Wang Tiejun completed two consecutive contracts with CAA and Mammoth.

   The media responded very well to this, and the following discussion voices have been heard all the time.

   "Mr. Maloney, when CAA signed Old K, is he preparing to officially enter the NBA?" a reporter from the New York Times Business Edition asked.

   "We have this plan, CAA wants to open up new areas and has been trying." Jay Maroni smiled.

   "95% of the league's All-Stars do not have signed sneaker contracts, and Old K is not even an All-Star. Why did CAA choose him?" the reporter asked.

   "This is a matter of our business strategy, so it's inconvenient to share." Jemarone smiled.

   "Mr. Weeks, why did you choose Mr. K?" a reporter asked.

  Weeks said firmly: "I am optimistic about the development of old K in the NBA. He has shown great potential now, which makes me very excited. Mammoth will fully support him..."

After the press conference, Wang Tiejun received a signature fee of $1 million from CAA and a check of $2.25 million from the Mammoth Company. The account was $3.25 million, which was the most money he received. The odds on the check cost him. Eye.

   "What's the matter, close to 50% of the tax, I have to hire an accountant to help me avoid tax." This was his first thought after he regained his senses.

   "Congratulations to the host, for getting the first signed sneaker contract in his career and a reward of 1,000 points." The system said.

   "Double happiness is coming, just one word for joy!" Pharaoh said happily.

After the    press conference, it was time for dinner. We had dinner with Wicks and Jaymarone, and the three of them ate and chatted.

Listening to the two people's eloquent talk about developing the Asian and Chinese markets, and their incomparably beautiful imagination, Wang Tiejun felt a little unable to sit still. I am afraid that these two people are not thinking too well. If they lose money in the future, there is a high probability that they will lose money. They won't cut me to sell meat, will they?

   He doesn't know about other Asian countries, he just said that in China, who buys such expensive sneakers? Besides, who knows him in China now?

   At 7pm, the Delta Center is already full of people, and there are few places to relax in the city at night, so sports games are especially popular.

  The news of Wang Tiejun getting a signed sneaker contract has been widely circulated, and the biggest reaction is not the outside world, but the NBA league.

   Most of the All-Stars do not have this treatment. A Chinese who has only been in the league for two months, but has received such a contract, and is a big center, it is incredible for them.

   For a while, all kinds of envy, jealousy and hatred, all kinds of sourness, all ran out.

  The All-Stars will be broadcast live across the United States by ABC TV, and the narrators are Bill Walton and his partner John Hanks.

   "Bill, I bet the Mammoth Company will go bankrupt soon." John Hanks said solemnly.

   "Tell me your truth." Bill Walton laughed.

"What did they pay to sign the old K? I am sure, not for the commercial value of the old K in the United States, because there are countless NBA stars with higher commercial value than the old K in the United States." John Hanke Si said confidently.

   "Makes sense. So what are they for?"

   Bill Wharton nodded in agreement and asked a new question.

   "Obviously, for the Chinese market."

  John Hanks said in a very positive tone.

   "Oh, I think you're right, because Mr. Stern has also been working on developing the Chinese market."

   Bill Wharton suddenly realized.

"but…"

  John Hanks changed his words and shook his head sadly: "I can also say with certainty that the mammoth is digging its own grave."

   "Why?" Bill Wharton was startled.

  John Hanks had a prophetic expression and said: "Mr. Stern has been exploring the Chinese market for several years, has it been any effective?

  No, no, this time China CCTV broadcasts the All-Stars for free, and they still haven't paid to broadcast a regular season of the NBA. Could it be that Mammoth also wants to give its sneakers to the Chinese for free? "

  Bill Wharton was startled and smiled helplessly: "That's definitely impossible, but China is so big, there should be some sales, right?"

John Hanks shook his head again and said: "As far as I know, basketball has little influence in China, almost no Chinese know the NBA, and no one knows who the old K is. Therefore, some people will pay for a mammoth because of him. Are there any other Chinese reporters besides China CCTV?

   Then when the Mammoth Company, which can no longer be sustained, invests huge sums of money to develop the Chinese market, once it cannot get a return, the only result is bankruptcy. "

   "John, if you say that, it's really possible." Bill Walton laughed.

  John Hanks smugly said: "So Mammoth made a stupid decision. In fact, although the old K's performance is passable, it is not worthy of a signed sneaker contract."

   Bill Walton has no objection to this sentence, just clicked a little bit, because a lot of players who have played 20+10 data have not signed a contract for sneakers.

  John Hanks continued: "When old K is currently facing the three super centers and O'Neal, he loses more points than he scores, and he can't compare with the three super centers and O'Neal at all.

   These four centers can not only score by themselves, but also limit the opponent's score, and their offensive efficiency is as good as their defensive efficiency.

   And old K is completely impossible. His ceiling is too low. In the face of these powerful guys, he cannot provide his own contribution to the team. He has negative efficiency on the field. "

  Bill Walton thought for a while and said: "Old K's athletic ability is indeed average, which not only limits his offense, but also limits his defense, especially since he rarely participates in the team's help defense.

   But John, you can't compare him with the three super centers, Shaquille O'Neal, it's not fair, he is not a center of the same level as the four of them.

   If you want to compare, the first-class center should be the level that Old K is currently trying to catch up. His strength is still at the second-class level, and he can only compare with second-class centers, at most first-class centers. "

   "That's right." John Hanks nodded and smiled.

   (end of this chapter)

Chapter end