Almighty Coach

In the evening, Dai Li received a call from Nathan Hall. Just as Dai Li expected, he agreed to come to the Clippers. The next specific signing price will be negotiated by team manager Johnson.

Just after lunch time, Johnson returned to the hotel.

"It's settled so soon?" Dai Li didn't expect Johnson's efficiency to be so fast.

"It's been negotiated, and we had lunch together." Johnson sat down and continued: "Hall originally thought that we would only give him a one-year contract, so when I proposed a one-plus-one contract, He was pleasantly surprised, although the second year was a team option, he agreed without hesitation."

Dai Li nodded, and continued: "I can guarantee that Hall will have no problems in the next three years. If Hall is good enough next season, I will persuade the team not to implement his second-year contract. , and offer him a higher salary."

"Coach Li, I don't quite understand why we don't just give him a three-year contract. We can lower the price so that the team's interests will be maximized." Johnson asked.

"What we need is players to play hard. Just imagine, if you don't give him enough salary, how can he work hard for the team? You wouldn't work for a million dollars and only get a salary of 100,000 yuan, right? So In my idea, at least give him a big one-year contract. And next summer, Wood's contract of more than 30 million will expire, and we can free up a lot of salary space." Dai Li smiled. , and then comforted: "Don't worry, if Hall can really return to the state he was in the past, even if we give him a maximum salary, he can earn it back."

"Hall is done, who do we go to next?" Johnson asked.

"Go to Houston and find the most famous guy." After finishing speaking, Dai Li sighed.

"Why are you sighing?" Johnson asked a little puzzled.

"I have made an assessment before. Nathan Hall should be the easiest person to be invited by us, but next, we may hit a snag." Dai Li said.

"Are you worried that Raymond won't accept our invitation?" Johnson asked.

"Ramon is a real superstar. He has earned hundreds of millions of dollars in his career. He has won the scoring title, entered the All-Star team, and entered the best team. In the future, he will even become a member of the Hall of Fame. .So I really haven't thought about what to use to impress him. I can only take one step at a time." Dai Li said.

"Yes, two-time NBA scoring champion, seven-time All-Star, became the youngest double-double player in history in his rookie season, averaged more than 26 points per game before the age of 21, and averaged 32 points per game at his peak , 6.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists, and the 35 seconds and 13 points favored by God...Raymond's past achievements are indeed great! Perhaps only the championship can have a chance to impress him." Johnson speak up.

"You are right, maybe Raymond is only interested in the championship, but we are not a championship team. If we find him now and say 'Join us and go to the championship', maybe he They will think we are crazy." Dai Li said.

"Maybe he'll take us for liars." Johnson laughed jokingly.

...

As a former superstar, Raymond's mansion is more like a castle, and Raymond also personally went to the gate to welcome Dai Li.

"Coach Li, welcome." Raymond hugged Dai Li, and then said, "When the Clippers came to Houston last time, I went to the Toyota Center to watch the game between you and the Rockets. Very impressed with the fleet, you guys are really resilient."

Lei Meng welcomed Dai Li into the living room. After the guests and hosts were seated, Lei Meng's wife brought several glasses of fruit juice.

After the two chatted for a while, Lei Meng asked, "Coach Li, I don't know why you came to see me?"

"I want to invite you to join the Clippers." Dai Li said bluntly.

Raymond didn't look very surprised, he nodded with a smile, and then said: "Coach Li, thank you for your kindness, but I'm afraid I can't agree to you. In fact, the Rockets also sent me an invitation before, hoping that I Can enter their management, or enter the coaching staff, but I also refused, I have retired now, I just want to have a good rest, spend more time with my family, and take it to Toyota from time to time Watching a row of balls in the center. I'm very content with my life now."

"No, Mr. Raymond, you misunderstood me. I don't intend to invite you to join the Clippers' management and coaching staff. I intend to invite you to play for the Clippers." Dai Li then added: "As a player Go play."

"Playing? You want me to come back?" Raymond finally showed a surprised expression on his face.

Dai Li nodded seriously: "Yes, I want to invite you to come back."

"Coach Li, are you joking?" Raymond shook his head, "I've already retired, and I don't plan to play anymore."

"Raymond, don't rush to refuse, you can listen to our conditions first." Johnson next to him said hastily.

Raymond waved his hand: "Even if you give me a maximum salary, I will not come back. I have played for so many years and have won enough honors. I am tired and I don't want to come back again." Yes. Maybe in a few years, my name will be engraved in the NBA Hall of Fame. Now I just want to spend more time with my family.”

"Raymond, after playing basketball for so many years, are you really willing to let it go?" Johnson continued to ask.

"If I want to play, I can call some friends, play on the court, or go to the Rockets' training ground to have fun. But I will not play professional games." Raymond He refused.

Johnson wanted to speak again, but was stopped by Dai Li. He said to Raymond: "I understand, since you have already made a decision, we will not force you, but I hope you will think about it again. This is my decision." Business card, if you have any intention of coming back, you may wish to call me."

Dai Li took out his business card, handed it to Lei Meng, and said, "Of course, if you want to chat with a friend, there is no problem."

"Of course, next time I go to Los Angeles, I will definitely visit you on the Clippers." Raymond took Dai Li's business card with a smile.

...

Dai Li and Johnson left Lei Meng's villa, and Lei Meng and his wife personally sent them to the door.

The two got into the car, and Johnson asked: "Li, are you going to give up just like that? We can continue to persuade him, or you can take out your brochure and tell him that you have brought many athletes back to life." Peak form, like we persuaded Hall."

"Of course we can't just give up like this, but Raymond is different from Hall. Raymond is a superstar. He has had too many honors. The ordinary conditions can't arouse his desire to play. A hundred dollars cannot buy a billionaire. So we need to find something that can impress Raymond." Dai Li paused, and said with a smile: "Now we will start the question-and-answer session. What exactly can make Raymond What about the desire to play again?"

"God knows what he will care about!" Johnson shook his head in frustration, and then asked, "Don't you know?"

"I don't know either. But I have a way to know." Dai Li replied with a smile.

"What way?" Johnson asked eagerly.

"Haven't you watched the TV quiz show? When you don't know the answer to the question, you can choose to ask the audience outside the venue for help!" Dai Li said and picked up the phone.

"For help from the audience outside the venue?" Johnson was still dazed, and then he saw Dai Li took out his mobile phone, so he asked, "Who do you want to call?"

"The audience outside the arena. In other words, people like Raymond." Dai Li dialed a number and made a "shh" gesture at the same time.

...

"Jimmy, I'm Dai Li. Yes, long time no see. How are you doing?"

"I'm in some trouble, and I need your help with something. To be precise, I need to ask you something."

"After you retired, do you have any regrets, or is there anything that will give you the urge to return to the game?"

"Oh, that's right, I see. Thank you, Jimmy."

Dai Li ended the first call.

"Who did you call? Jimmy? Which basketball star?" Johnson asked puzzled.

"It's Jimmy Irvine." Dai Li replied.

"King of the 400 meters, Jimmy Irwin!" Johnson's eyes rarely showed a trace of admiration, of course, this is the admiration for Irwin.

At this time, Dai Li dialed the second phone number.

"Hey, Li! Why did you call me? Did you come to Switzerland?" A man's voice rang from the phone.

"No, I'm still in the United States, but I want to ask you for help with something. Actually, I have a question I want to ask you." Dai Li said.

"Is it about racing?" the other party asked.

"Yeah, my car broke down on the road, so I called and asked you how to fix it?" Dai Li laughed.

The other party also knew that Dai Li was joking, so he answered, "OK, no problem, I will know everything. I am an expert in car repair, give me some accessories, and I can assemble a car by myself."

Dai Li went straight to the topic: "After you retired, do you have any regrets, or is there anything that will give you the urge to return to the game?"

"Why do you ask such a question?" The other party said a little puzzled.

"What I want is not an official answer from a reporter. I want to know your true inner thoughts." Dai Li continued.

The other party thought for a while and gave Li Dai an answer. After chatting with the other party for a few more words, Li Dai hung up the phone.

"Who is this time again?" Johnson next to him asked.

"Helheim." Dai Li replied.

"Car King? You know quite a few big-name athletes." Johnson's words were slightly sour.

Dai Li ignored Johnson, but dialed the third phone number.

...

When the car arrived at the entrance of the hotel, Dai Li had already made several phone calls, and all the people who spoke to him were retired top athletes in the world.

Johnson next to him looked at Li Dai, from envy with a little jealousy at first, to surprise with admiration, and finally helpless numbness.

Johnson never thought that Dai Li knew so many top athletes in the world. At this time, Johnson finally realized that the title of the world's top coach is not for nothing.

Johnson has also been in the NBA for many years. He knows many basketball professionals, but when it comes to other sports, Johnson can't do it.

The resources Dai Li has accumulated over the years are finally brought into play at this moment. He has provided physical training or rehabilitation training for many top athletes, which allowed him to contact many of the world's top athletes in the first place, and then got what he wanted. the answer you want. If it were someone else, it would definitely not be as efficient as Dai Li.

The two came to the restaurant of the hotel and ordered afternoon tea, while Johnson kept urging him to know what Dai Li had just said to those top athletes.

After the afternoon tea was served, Dai Li said: "I just asked several top athletes in the world. They have all stood at the top of the world, won many honors, and owned a lot of wealth. , their situation is very similar to that of Raymond, they become famous and then retire, it's just a different sport. When I asked if there was anything that would bring them back to the game, guess what their answer was ?”

"Is it love for a certain sport? Just like Hall, love basketball, so he agreed to come back?" Johnson guessed.

Dai Li shook his head, and Johnson continued to guess: "That is an honor, such as an honor they have never won, or a record they want to break. For this, those top athletes may return to the field let's go?"

Dai Li still shook his head.

"It's not for money, is it? Of course not. Those top athletes in the world are not short of money, and they probably won't return to the game for money." Johnson spread his hands, and then said: "I really can't think of it .”

"Actually, everyone I asked gave me different answers. Some said that when they saw other athletes standing on the podium, they would have the urge to come back; some said that when they thought of The feeling of defeating the opponent will have the urge to come back; some people say that when they recall their glorious moments, they will have the urge to come back... There are many answers, but in the final analysis, they are all just one. Dai Li deliberately slowed down his speech, and continued:

"That's victory!"

"Whether it is standing on the podium, defeating an opponent, or the most glorious moment, it is nothing more than the embodiment of victory. Therefore, what makes the world's top athletes most excited is the feeling of victory. I will linger on this feeling. I think 'victory' is the only thing that can move Raymond."

"It makes sense." Johnson nodded: "What are you going to do?"

"Let's stay in Houston for two days first. I need to arrange some people and do some things." Dai Li replied.

...

In the early morning, Raymond was wearing a hoodie and running on the road near his home.

It has become Raymond's habit to run in the morning before breakfast. Although his knees have been injured and he cannot undertake high-load exercises, he can still bear this short-term aerobic exercise.

A car was approaching from a distance, and Raymond subconsciously leaned towards the side of the road to avoid being hit by the car, but the car stopped beside him.

The person who got out of the car was Dai Li.

"Coach Li? You came to see me?" Lei Meng stopped. He knew that Dai Li came here from downtown Houston early in the morning. Raymond is even ready to say no.

However, Dai Li said, "My training center sent out a promotional video recently, and I want to show it to you."

Dai Li said, and took out the tablet.

Lei Meng didn't understand what Dai Li was going to do, so out of politeness, he still took the tablet, sat on the side of the road, and began to watch the video content on the tablet.

This video is more like a clip of a championship moment, recording the peak moments of athletes in different sports. There are sprinters who cross the finish line, high jumpers who climb a height, and weightlifters who lift a weight with difficulty. There are football players who score a touchdown, and of course there are basketball players who score a game-winner.

Every athlete will celebrate when they win. They look excited and a little crazy. With the passionate music, it makes people feel that the hormones are bursting, and they are even excited unconsciously.

At this moment, a subtitle suddenly appeared:

"This is what winning feels like!"

Dai Li's voice sounded from the side: "How do you feel?"

"Ah, yes, it looks exciting." Raymond replied subconsciously.

"This is the feeling of victory!" Dai Li repeated the words on the subtitles, and then asked, "How long has it been since you experienced the feeling of victory?"

Lei Meng was taken aback for a moment. He didn't expect Dai Li to ask this question suddenly. At the same time, he felt that it was difficult for him to answer this question. When he recalled himself on the court, he couldn't help feeling a little absent-minded.

"Actually, this is also the reason why I came to you. The reason why I want to ask you to come back is also to hope that we can forge victory together!" Dai Li stood up, patted Lei Meng on the shoulder, and said, "If you want to come back again Get a taste of this victory and call me!"

After Dai Li finished speaking, he went straight to the car.

The car started and gradually moved away, leaving only Lei Meng sitting there alone, holding the tablet computer in a daze.

...

"Are you from China Merchants Bank?" Johnson asked in the car.

"I don't know either." Dai Li shook his head, and continued, "Actually, I'm also betting on how much he wants to win!"