The rest is just noise

Louie eloquently stopped Brett from interrupting Auerbach's speech.

He nodded to Auerbach, and the bishop adjusted his mood and continued to speak.

"Ralph, I know what you and your family are worried about." Auerbach's voice was very soft. Louis had never heard him speak to himself like this. "You are too young, and you are not prepared physically or mentally.

, and it’s not enough to cope with the adult world.”

Auerbach quoted scriptures to make his words more convincing.

"Does entering the league at a young age really affect your development? Let me introduce you to three players. Moses Malone, Daryl Dawkins, Bill Willoughby (Bill Willoughby PF/C)

, they entered the NBA without even going to college. Moses grew into an MVP-level player, Daryl is a very good inside man, and although Bill's development is not smooth, this is professional sports, and everyone's development path is different.

Even those who go to college for four years, there are a lot of people who can't adapt to the NBA."

"I give this example just to tell you that age will not affect your performance in the NBA, only the environment will affect you."

Auerbach finally gets to his point.

"What Professor Brett just said is correct." Auerbach looked at Sampson, "Ralph, if you participate in the draft this year, we will get you, and you will sit on the bench in the new season.

, because your body is not strong enough, we must be responsible for your future. But you can learn skills next to a group of experienced veterans, master the knack of rebounding and blocking shots, participate in high-intensity playoffs, and play in a great team.

Participate in your favorite fast break on the team. Looking at the lineup, I don't think there is a second team that can create a more fertile ground for your growth."

Auerbach is going to bring out his king and explode.

"You will become our core center and the backbone of the team. You will have the same team status as Larry Bird, and we will provide you with the same salary as Larry, and you will not only get

The opportunity to become a millionaire is the easiest opportunity for core players to grow in NBA history."

Louis saw a heartbeat on Sampson's face.

Sampson's mother, Sarah Sampson, even asked: "How much does Larry Bird make?"

"It's $650,000 in the first year." Auerbach doesn't believe any middle-class American family can easily refuse this income.

Old Sampson looked embarrassed, knowing that Auerbach offered an environment, salary, and future that was difficult to refuse.

He said: "Mr. Auerbach, please wait a moment, we need to discuss it."

"Of course." It was a big deal, and Auerbach could understand it.

What Auerbach couldn't understand was that that ugly guy, Jeremy Brett, actually joined their family meeting. Isn't he an outsider to the Sampson family? How could he be involved in the decision-making of this matter?

Also, Terry Holland also joined in.

"It's over," Auerbach said dejectedly.

Louis didn't know why he was frustrated, "Didn't they make a decision yet?"

"The two most knowledgeable people among those people are also the two people who least like Ralph leaving the campus. If they had the decisive right to make suggestions in this family meeting, do you think they would suggest that Ralph

Do you want to join the professional league now?"

What Auerbach is referring to is Holland and Brett.

Brett is a law professor at the University of Virginia, so he will naturally help the team persuade Sampson.

Sampson is Holland's performance guarantee in the new season, and his attitude towards this matter is also predictable.

"Maybe, but this is Ralph's own business, why should it be decided by them?" Louis asked.

Auerbach quipped: "He's obviously a good kid."

A few minutes later, the Sampson family, Holland and Brett returned to Auerbach and Louis.

"Has a decision been made?" Auerbach knew his Plan A was about to fail.

"Sorry, Mr. Auerbach." Old Sampson said, "We have decided to let Ralph continue his career. This is not an easy decision. Our whole family can see your sincerity, but Ralph

I don’t want to leave school yet.”

Auerbach was very affectionate towards Sampson. At this point, he wanted to make a comeback, "I want to know, why?"

"Because with Ralph's talent, he can thrive on any team. He doesn't need to leave school early or go to Boston to play on the bench. Don't forget how notorious your racism is. Not many

An African American is willing to go there and play ball!" Brett laughed, "Is this answer clear enough?"

The real protagonist of this meeting, Sampson, said not a word the entire time.

Louis paid attention to him, and there was nothing to analyze in the expression on his face. The most emotional part of the whole process was when Auerbach was weaving the future for him.

Auerbach described a bright future for him.

It's a pity that his ears are too soft and he has no idea about his future.

"Okay, farewell." Auerbach turned around regretfully.

Holland followed them.

When they arrived outside the Sampson home, Auerbach was furious at Holland: "I'll tell you the truth! This family will have sleepless nights over today's decision! They don't know they are

What to do! If that kid gets into a car accident, he's doomed! If he aspires to be a doctor, of course I'll let him finish college for four years, but he's not that material! He's surrounded by a group of people who only know how to flatter themselves.

The idiot has fooled you!"

Holland had his own position, and he could only smile bitterly.

Auerbach hailed a taxi and prepared to go to the airport and fly directly back to Boston.

The car drove for a while before Louis asked the driver to stop.

"What are you making a fuss about?" Auerbach was irritated.

Louis smiled and said: "I don't think this matter is over yet."

"You still want to use your smiling face to get punched by them?" Auerbach snorted, "Save it!"

"Do you really want Ralph?"

"I think about it day and night."

Louis opened the car door, "Then I will fight for you one last time."

"it's up to you!"

"By the way, this is a business matter, right?"

Auerbach's eyes twitched, "Of course."

"Since it's official business, there should be funds." Louis stretched out his hand in front of the driver, "Can you take the initiative, Reed! Don't embarrass me like this all the time..."

Awkward?

Auerbach was so angry that the corners of his mouth twitched. It had been more than a year since he learned that Louis, his grandson, would be embarrassed.

"Come back to me for reimbursement when you're done!" Auerbach brutally closed the door and ordered the driver to drive quickly.

Louis stood on the side of the road and hailed another taxi.

Since the 1980s, hitchhiking has become increasingly difficult.

The new generation of young people didn't like this, and Louis was in a hurry, so he called a taxi and "went to Jesse Quick Lunch."

Yesterday, Louie spoke to Jeff Lamp on the phone and learned that Sampson likes to eat at Jesse's Express Restaurant downtown in Harrisonburg.

He wasn't sure if Sampson would come today, he just wanted to try his luck.

Louis didn't want to persuade Sampson in front of his family, he had to create a one-on-one environment.

Because, physically speaking, he and Sampson are both young people.

Moreover, Sampson, like him, was born in 1960. He only finished his freshman year when he was almost 20 years old.

If we put it 40 years later, older students like him would choose to skip a grade in high school to enter the NCAA early. But at this time, there was no rush to enter the professional league, so age was not valued.

Louie ordered a regular hot dog roll.

I ordered a Coke by the way.

He hoped that Sampson would want to come to the restaurant he often visited to relax after seeing off the most important person in his life.

"Are you waiting for someone?"

The waiter saw that Louis didn't pay the bill immediately after finishing his food, and kept looking outside the door.

"Well, I don't know if he'll come."

"Are you a regular customer here?"

It occurred to Louis that the waiter should know when Sampson usually came for dinner.

"Probably," Louis said. "Ralph Sampson, you know?"

The waiter smiled and said, "Everyone in Harrisonburg knows about their family!"

"So...when does Ralph usually come?"

"You may have to wait a little longer. Ralph always comes near evening."

Louie loves the hot dogs here just like eating dumplings and only loves eating the dumpling fillings.

So he ordered two hot dog rolls, but each one was torn apart.

He waited for a long time, probably several hours.

When he was about to think of another way, Sampson appeared.

With a height of 2.24 meters, he stands out no matter where he is, not to mention his frighteningly thin limbs.

"Thank you, third brother!" Sampson said politely to the waiter.

"Slow down, Ralph, don't you know someone has been waiting for you here for hours?" The waiter glanced at Louis, who was at leisure.

Sampson looked over and locked eyes with Louis at a glance.

"You're...the one who came to my house today with Coach Auerbach!"