章節 25: Explosive Sensation
When Li Zhen was tossed in the air, all he could think about was landing quickly. He wanted to seize the fleeting sensation and savor that natural feel of the ball.
However, the jubilant Stanford players didn't give him a chance. They treated Li Zhen like a precious treasure. Even after Coach Jamie Lin 'ordered' them to put him down, they still swarmed around Li Zhen. Some were patting his head, and others were excitedly planting kisses on his forehead. This made Li Zhen swear in his heart that he would definitely take two showers later. Scott, that guy, was really unhygienic. Who knows if he kissed his 'girlfriend' before the game?
The enthusiasm and excitement from Stanford Stadium quickly spread throughout the entire campus. Before the game started, Oregon's arrogance had deeply wounded the Stanford students. Now that they had created a miracle, defeating Oregon on the spot, they naturally had to celebrate in a big way.
The creativity of these high-achieving students was boundless. They spread their joy to the University of Oregon's campus website and then to the entire internet.
They quickly edited the video of Li Zhen's game-winning shot, and after adding some effects, they madly shared it. In a short period of time, they had taken over major websites.
As this 'Jordan-like' video spread across the internet, Bruce Lee's name once again ignited the passion in the hearts of American netizens.
It's important to know that this name carries a legend.
Bruce Lee can be said to be the most well-known Chinese figure in the eyes of Americans. He brought "Kung Fu" into millions of households. And when any Asian person with yellow skin issued a 'Wata!' in front of them, they couldn't help but feel a sense of 'awe'. (T/N: Damn)
And now, another Bruce Lee emerged out of nowhere. Of course, they had to click to watch. Then... they saw the basketball god.
Underneath the video page, countless people let out uncontrollable exclamations: Isn't this like God putting on a basketball jersey again? How is it possible for someone to resemble Michael Jordan so much? Kobe doesn't even look this similar, right? Could he be Michael Jordan's son?
The astonishment of the crowd amplified the spread.
The widespread dissemination on the internet quickly caught the attention of the NBA.
In the "Top Five Plays" released in the early hours of that day, Li Zhen's buzzer-beating shot against Oregon ranked second. It's worth noting that the first-ranked shot was Kobe Bryant's buzzer-beater against the Detroit Pistons, while the third was Vince Carter's windmill dunk at Madison Square Garden.
These two men both carried the title of Jordan's successor.
However, when the clips of the three were compared side by side, almost everyone reached a consensus: this player named Bruce Li from Stanford University clearly looked more like Michael Jordan.
As a result, this prompted a large number of NBA fans to search for Li Zhen.
Some NBA clubs also began to take action. When they learned that Li Zhen not only hit the buzzer-beater against Oregon but also got a double-double with 17 points and 18 assists, they were stunned, and their curiosity became even stronger. They decided to increase their focus on this suddenly rising Chinese player.
Interestingly, the special NCAA edition of Slam Magazine was just released on the second day after the game.
When intern reporter Richmond learned about Li Zhen's buzzer-beating victory against Oregon, he was so overjoyed that he almost wanted to jump up. He realized that his stroke of luck had finally arrived. Less than 30 minutes after he received this news, the chief editor called him: "You've been promoted ahead of schedule. Next, head to Washington. You need to follow up on the coverage of him. This kid now has a significant influence on the internet. The high-achieving students at Stanford are creating a huge buzz online. If... he manages to beat Washington in the next game and enter the Tournament, our next issue's sales will definitely explode!"
The chief editor's joy was palpable.
Now, he could feel the internet exerting an incredibly powerful influence. Stanford was a well-known private university in the United States. When their students decided to sing praises to Bruce Li on the internet, the impact created would definitely surpass the operations of those professional agents.
And don't forget... Bruce was also a student at Harvard: the power of these elite university students on the internet is boundless.
The editor of Slam Magazine was already eager to turn this influence into sales.
...
After the game, Li Zhen hadn't even entered the locker room yet when Mr. Ballmer, the executive chairman of the school's athletic committee, excitedly told him, "I'm going to apply for a full scholarship subsidy for you. You will definitely become a legendary figure in the history of Stanford basketball on campus! Keep it up, kid, we're all your fans!!" (T/N: Developers, Developers, Developers, Developers, Developers.)
Um...
Li Zhen really wanted to tell him that he had been dismissed by Coach McHaney and wouldn't be able to play for Stanford next season.
But the atmosphere was so good now, and he didn't want to spoil it. He just smiled and nodded.
As soon as he stepped into the locker room, Coach McHaney's call came through.
Although he didn't return to Stanford to coach because he was worried about taking the blame, he still cared about the progress of the game. When he saw the team complete the buzzer-beater, he felt a bit disappointed. Why wasn't he the coach surrounded by flashlights?
However, he quickly took remedial measures.
He told Bruce on the phone, "I've decided to reverse my previous decision. You'll still be a player for our Cardinals team next season, and I'll tailor new tactics exclusively for you. Your fast break impressed me. When TJ Walton comes back, you two will definitely be the best backcourt duo in the Pacific Division."
Um...
Li Zhen held back for a long time, but finally said, "Thank you."
He didn't dislike Coach McHaney, even though he was a bit materialistic. But in the adult society, most people wore masks of hypocrisy and self-interest.
However, it was precisely because of this that he found coaches like Jamie Lin, who were passionate and sincere, to be the most valuable.
So, next, he wanted to have a talk with Coach McHaney. If they make it to the championships, he hoped Coach McHaney and the athletic committee would give the position of Chief Assistant Coach to Jamlin, because he deserved it.
After a brief conversation, Li Zhen went to take a shower.
Then, he returned to the stadium.
By now, most of the crowd had dispersed, and he began simulating the final buzzer-beater in the open court.
He hoped to capture that feeling of the basketball god.
So, he practiced it over and over again, hundreds and thousands of times.
Immersed in his training, Li Zhen had no idea that a gray-bearded old African American man in a hoodie was sitting in the corner of the stands, watching his practice.
He suddenly felt very moved.
Then, he typed the last line on his notebook: "What moved me the most was not that he completed the final buzzer-beater, but that after the whole arena was boiling with celebration, he, as the hero, continued to return to the stadium for repeated and meticulous training. Perhaps he still lacks some natural talent, but if he declares for the draft, the Knicks should give him a chance."
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