Capítulo 64: A Bold Encounter with a Fan
This is the second time since 1954 that USC has reached the National Final Four.
In 55 years, the University of Southern California has once again advanced to the national semi-finals, causing excitement among USC fans. They never expected their school's basketball team, usually overshadowed by the football team, to achieve such an impressive record. While USC football frequently reaches the NCAA quarterfinals, their basketball team's best recent performance was reaching the Sweet 16 under Nick Young and losing to North Carolina in the Elite Eight.
This year, North Carolina has also reached the NCAA Final Four as the No. 1 seed in the Southern Division.
At Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, many fans gathered near the player tunnel, waving jerseys and calling out the names of Lian Dao and DeMar, hoping for autographs.
As usual, Lian Dao and DeMar tried to meet the fans' requests. Lian Dao took markers from the fans and signed his Chinese and English names on their jerseys.
"Hey, Sickle, I like you so much, can I have your autograph?" A young blonde girl with a cute baby face but a striking figure caught Lian Dao's attention.
"Sure, where do you want me to sign?" Lian Dao asked.
"Here, on my chest!" she said, tugging on her red No. 1 jersey.
Taken aback by her boldness, Lian Dao hesitated but then agreed, trying to avoid touching her as he signed.
As he finished, the crowd pushed forward, causing the girl to lean into him, and Lian Dao felt an unexpected touch. Startled, he quickly pulled his hand back.
"Sorry!" they both apologized simultaneously.
Feeling embarrassed, Lian Dao tried to explain, "I didn't mean to, I was just surprised."
The girl, blushing a little, bent over and laughed, which only made Lian Dao more flustered. He quickly averted his gaze and rushed to the player tunnel when DeMar called him.
The girl watched him go with a smile. "Oh, he missed the letter 'e.' He'll have to fix it next time. I forgot to ask for his social account!" she mused, looking at the incomplete signature on her chest.
Meanwhile, the girl's smile left an impression on a guy holding an empty popcorn bucket, while other female fans rolled their eyes in annoyance, feeling like she had stolen their chance.
Back in the tunnel, DeMar teased Lian Dao about his encounter with the fan.
"Why don't I have such beautiful female fans?" DeMar lamented, looking up at the ceiling in mock despair.
Lian Dao patted DeMar on the shoulder, resisting the urge to say, "You're not handsome enough!" Instead, he chose not to tease his good friend further.
As soon as Lian Dao arrived in the locker room, a bucket of energy drink was dumped over his head.
"Surprise! Let me cool you down!" Gibson laughed loudly, holding the bucket in one hand and wrapping his arm around Lian Dao's shoulder.
The other players crowded around, congratulating Lian Dao for breaking the three-point record. Lian Dao joined in the fun, joking and celebrating with his teammates.
When Su Qun arrived at the locker room to interview him, Lian Dao quickly rinsed off the sticky energy drink, changed into fresh clothes, and stepped out to meet him.
Currently, "Basketball Pioneer" was the main media outlet covering NCAA news, and they always got the first scoop on Lian Dao's achievements. Lian Dao appreciated this as it allowed his fans in China to stay updated on his progress. Despite spending most of his life in the U.S., he received significant support from his home country, especially during the pandemic when he received essential supplies from China, much to the envy of many Americans.
Lian Dao believed a lot of the respect he earned abroad was due to the strength and support of his motherland. His love for his homeland and gratitude for his roots made him proud to be Chinese, and he never considered changing his nationality.
Although he knew Su Qun's active coverage was driven by profit motives, Lian Dao didn't mind. After all, every media outlet operates for profit. He was cooperative and supportive of Su Qun's efforts, given their long-standing acquaintance and good relationship.
After Su Qun's interview, Tim entered the locker room with a man in a suit. Through their conversation, Lian Dao learned that the man represented Nike and was there to sign both Lian Dao and DeMar. He offered Lian Dao a seven-year contract worth 35 million. However, Lian Dao wasn't interested. He knew his worth and felt the offer was too low, especially when compared to Durant's first sneaker contract, which was 60 million for seven years.
Lian Dao understood that Nike liked to invest in promising NCAA players early on, hoping for a high return if the players realized their potential. Yet, he had a clear plan for himself. He believed he would prove his worth during his rookie contract period and didn't want to lock himself into a long-term, undervalued deal. His family's financial stability also allowed him the luxury to wait for a better offer.
On the other hand DeMar was very interested in Nike's offer. He wore Zoom Kobe 3s, which Lian Dao had gifted him for his birthday, as he was a die-hard Kobe fan.
Lian Dao wanted to persuade DeMar to hold out for a better deal but held back. He understood that everyone's circumstances were different, and DeMar needed the money urgently. Not everyone had the financial stability to wait for a higher offer.
It seemed fitting that DeMar's first contract was with Nike, as he was part of the Nike Kobe plan. DeMar had his own path to follow, and Lian Dao trusted that he would make the right decisions for his career.
Estado de energía semanal
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