Almighty Coach

At the University of Oregon, a gray-haired old man just got out of the car when he saw a blond man approaching.

"Coach Logan, long time no see! I'm Smart, remember me?" The blond man extended his right hand to the white-haired old man while talking.

"You are that reporter, I remember you." The white-haired old man shook hands with the other party symbolically, and then asked, "Do you have anything to do with me?"

"I heard that the Athletic Association has sent you an invitation, and I hope you can serve as the head coach of this year's national track and field team. I want to know about this situation." Reporter Smart said.

The white-haired old man, Coach Logan, closed the car door and said, "Then let's talk while walking."

The two walked forward side by side, only to hear Coach Logan answering: "I have indeed received an invitation from the Athletic Association. They hope that I can succeed Sebastian as the head coach of the national team and lead the national team. Participate in this Olympic Games."

"Have you agreed?" The reporter immediately asked.

"No. I refused." Coach Logan shook his head with a smile.

"Why? Being able to become the head coach of the national team should be a very good thing, right?" The reporter continued to ask.

"Indeed, it is a great honor to be the head coach of the national team. I think many coaches are looking forward to leading the world's strongest track and field team to the Olympics, including me." Coach Logan changed his voice and continued. : "But I'm old. I'm 73 years old this year. I'm really powerless to lead the entire national team with more than 150 athletes. If I were twenty years younger, I would definitely accept this invitation of."

"I remember that more than 20 years ago, you were the head coach of the national track and field team." The reporter said with a smile.

"Yeah, so many years have passed in a flash. I have been an assistant coach of the national team for one term, an assistant head coach of the national team for two terms, and a head coach of the national team for two terms. I have served the US National Track and Field Team for 20 years Years. I have deep feelings for the national team. But time is not forgiving! Now I really can’t keep up with energy. I can still handle it as the head coach of the track and field team in college, but the national team For the team, forget it." Logan shook his head again.

...

After seeing off the reporter, Coach Logan showed a contemptuous smile on his face.

His assistant came over and asked softly, "Coach, I still don't understand why you rejected the invitation from the Athletics Association."

"What do you think?" Logan asked.

"It's definitely not because of your health. Others don't know your physical condition, but I know you are still alive and well. With your current body and energy, there is absolutely no problem in being the head coach of the national team." The assistant replied.

"Yes, in terms of physical strength and energy, I have no problem. But the current U.S. national team is a hot potato, and I don't want to cause myself such a big trouble." Coach Logan replied.

"I don't quite understand what you mean. Isn't our US track and field team always the strongest in the world?" the assistant said.

Coach Logan pointed to the chair beside him, motioned his assistant to sit down, and then continued: "There are 154 athletes in this national track and field team, and 73 of them were involved in the recent doping scandal. It's almost halfway up. But who can guarantee that the remaining half of the athletes must be innocent? And there are 73 players missing, so 73 players must be selected from the substitute players, but who Can you guarantee that the athletes who came on as substitutes are all innocent?"

"So this year's national team is destined to be short of major generals. Most of our athletes may be second-rate athletes who have just reached the Olympic A standard. If we send this kind of person to the Olympics, how can we compete with those powerful opponents? I'm afraid it will be the finals. You can’t get in! If my judgment is correct, this will be the weakest national team in the history of the United States. To lead such a national team to the Olympics, failure is doomed.”

When Coach Logan said this, he let out a long sigh: "I have been the assistant coach of the national team for one term, the deputy head coach of the national team for two terms, and the head coach of the national team for two terms. Enough honors, why should I lead a team that is doomed to failure to participate in a competition of the Olympic level, I don't want my reputation to be ruined!"

...

USA Athletic Association. Chief Operating Officer Frey stared at the form in his hand with an incomparably solemn expression.

"In recent days, we have received a total of 27 applications to withdraw from the national team. In addition to the 73 athletes who were found to have used prohibited drugs, we have lost a total of 100 people, which means that there are only 54 athletes left in our national team. Athletes." Frey's tone was very low, sounding even more desperate.

"It seems that the impact of this doping scandal has completely exceeded our expectations. The 27 people who applied for withdrawal must have withdrawn voluntarily because they were worried that they would be found out by the International Anti-Doping Organization." CEO of the Athletics Association His despair was not much less than that of Frey, and he then asked: "How about the situation of the substitute athletes?"

Frey flipped through another form, and then reported: "In the first batch, we sent a total of 73 letters to replace the 73 people who were found to have used prohibited drugs, but only 23 people promised to join the national team. , the remaining 50 people either refused or did not reply within the specified time. Counting these 23 people, we now have a total of 77 people, and we still have more than 70 gaps to fill."

"In the past, everyone rushed to enter the national team, but now the strict inspection of prohibited drugs, all of them will not come." Williams said with a sarcastic wry smile on his face, and then said, "Then according to the ranking in the original trials , continue to postpone."

Frey hesitated for a few seconds, and then said: "In some events, there are only eight people in the final of the selection competition. If it continues to be postponed, it may be selected from the semi-finalists of the selection competition."

"Only in this way, there is no way to do it." Williams replied.

Frey put down the form in his hand, and then asked: "How about the coach's question? Has Coach Logan agreed to coach?"

Williams shook his head: "No, he refused. Not only him, but the few well-known coaches we invited also rejected us. Too many powerful players have been involved in this doping scandal Among them, the strength of this year's national team is too bad, and they are definitely not willing to take over this mess."

"It's abominable. In normal times, they have all struggled to become the head coach of the national team, and now they are all hiding when they are most needed!" Frey showed a look of panic, and then he continued: "It's only two days before the next national team training camp, and I still can't find a coach. Do you want to delay the training camp for a few days?"

"I'm afraid it won't work. The notice for the training camp has been sent out very early." Williams rubbed his temples melancholy, and continued: "I plan to let Rivers take the position of head coach temporarily. He also signed up for the national team before. The selection of the head coach of the team, but not even the interview."

"Rivers? Isn't he too young? And he doesn't have enough qualifications, can he do it?" Frey is obviously not optimistic about this coach named Rivers.

Williams spread his hands helplessly: "As you said, there are only two days for the next national team training camp. In such a short time, this Rivers is our only choice."