With only a week left until the Christmas Day game, the hype surrounding the Celtics - Lakers rivalry has already spread like wildfire, and the entire league's attention is focused on this clash between traditional powerhouses.
After a tiring away game, the team's chartered plane slowly landed in Boston. Before Lin Qi even stepped out of the airport terminal, his public relations manager rushed up to him, his forehead covered in a fine layer of sweat.
"Lin, something's happened."
The public relations manager quickly handed over several newspapers, still smelling of fresh ink. The top one was the day's Boston tabloid, its front page featuring a striking photograph...
Artest's tall figure blocked the personnel counter of an electronics store. He was slightly bowing his head, filling out a job application form with a serious expression. Beside him was a neatly arranged blue-covered "New Employee Handbook".
The title carries a touch of humor and satire. " Ron's Second Job: Celtics Rookie Applies for Christmas Night Shift"
The article is followed by a striking subheading. "With an annual salary exceeding one million US dollars, why would someone want to work as a shelf arranger in an electronics store?"
To Boston locals, this was mostly seen as an amusing oddity. Some thought the rookie was being excessively frugal, while others joked that he was preparing for retirement. Local sports radio even set up a call-in with a touch of mischief, letting listeners guess whether the Celtics rookie had his eye on a TV, stereo, or the latest game console.
However, the real trouble comes from the West Coast.
With the Celtics - Lakers game approaching, Los Angeles media outlets are clearly not going to miss any opportunity to fan the flames and mock their opponents. One local tabloid went so far as to change its headline to something truly offensive. "Are the Celtics so poor that they need players to take on side jobs?"
Another columnist wrote sarcastically, " Boston claims they're building an expensive championship-contending roster and spending lavishly on state-of-the-art training facilities, while they're having their first-round picks use their rest time to move TVs from warehouses. Perhaps before discussing the Christmas Day game, the Celtics should first announce whether their salaries for this month have been paid on time."
The New York media also joined in the speculation, asking whether the Celtics were experiencing serious cash flow problems. Even in the morning news programs of major sports TV stations, this photo was repeatedly played on the screen, with the hosts seriously analyzing how Artest would coordinate the intensive away games and the night shift schedule at the mall if he really joined the team.
Lin Qi sat in the last row of the airport shuttle bus and leisurely read through several newspapers one by one.
The PR manager squeezed next to him and asked urgently in a low voice, "Shouldn't we issue a statement immediately saying that this was Ron's personal behavior and that the team was unaware of it beforehand?"
"No." Lin Qi shook his head decisively.
"Then announce an internal fine as a warning to others?"
"No way." Lin Qi folded up the Los Angeles tabloid. "Admit it, the person in the photo is indeed Ron." Lin Qi pointed to the clearly visible mall logo in the photo. "Tell all the media that this is part of the Celtics' Christmas Community Week program."
The PR manager stared at him, dumbfounded. "Wait a minute, our Christmas Community Week plan this year didn't include any segment where players applied for jobs at the electronics store!"
"It wasn't there before, but it is now." Lin Qi leaned back in his chair, his tone calm and utterly unwavering.
"The period leading up to Christmas is the busiest time for the retail industry. The team's rookies will visit local stores, participate in a holiday shift, learn about the mall's operations during the Christmas season, help organize merchandise, wrap gifts, and meet with employees and customers."
"As for the team, they will collaborate with the shopping mall to purchase a batch of high-quality audio-visual equipment for the Boston community center, and Ron is in charge of selecting and transporting these supplies."
The PR manager opened her mouth, trying to refute, "But he clearly filled out a proper job application form!"
"The mall doesn't have a dedicated volunteer registration form, so the staff naturally had them register according to the temporary employee procedure." Lin Qi handed the newspaper back to him and ordered without room for argument, "Have Ron help the store staff organize a batch of equipment to be donated, take photos with the mall staff, and then personally deliver the equipment to the community center. Invite a few local media outlets to follow along, but don't make it look like a rigid press conference."
"Bring the other rookies along too. Wrap gifts, sign autographs for the kids, play a little ball with them. That way, it becomes a standard team community service event, not a one-man PR performance by Ron."
The public relations manager asked hesitantly, "Will the shopping mall cooperate with us in putting on this act?"
Lin Qi chuckled coldly and pointed to the photo in the newspaper, "Their logo is now making headlines in both Boston and Los Angeles, just like Ron's. Anyone with brains knows this is a free, top-tier national exposure delivered to their doorstep."
"Tell them that the Celtics are willing to buy the first batch of equipment at the actual purchase price, and the mall can take this opportunity to donate a portion of it. Let's work together to create a positive outcome and donate it to the community youth center."
Lin Qi paused slightly, then added, "By the way, tell them that if the mall is willing to offer team members transparent and compliant partner pricing, we not only don't object, but we'd actually be happy to see it happen."
It wasn't until this moment that the PR manager truly grasped Lin Qi's thinking: the Celtics would not try to hide anything, would not deny that Artest had been to the mall, and would not demean respectable retail work as something shameful. What they were going to do was cleverly turn an out-of-control joke into a genuine and heartwarming Christmas charity event.
Fifteen minutes later, the mall's regional manager called urgently.
The other party immediately tried to distance themselves as soon as the call connected, "Mr. Lin Qi, that photo was absolutely not leaked to reporters intentionally by our management! We investigated overnight, it was probably just some temporary employee..."
"We'll have plenty of time to investigate the photos later," Lin Qi interrupted him casually. "I currently have a perfect solution that benefits both sides."
The other end of the phone fell silent instantly. Lin Qi clearly and logically explained the framework of the Christmas community event, leaving the regional manager amazed.
"So... you won't pursue legal action for leaking the photos?" the manager asked tentatively.
"As long as his home address, private phone number, or other irrelevant private information isn't leaked, the Celtics won't turn this into an endless lawsuit," Lin Qi reassured them.
"Could we hang a poster for the Celtics collaboration event at the store entrance?"
"This is only for this community event. Our public relations department will coordinate with your legal department later regarding the guidelines for using the team logo."
"What about media interviews?"
"We can cooperate, but we need to keep the same story to the outside world... Don't say that Ron is here to make extra money for us."
That afternoon, after the phone call ended, the Celtics officially released a concise statement: The Boston Celtics will partner with local retailers to conduct holiday Christmas community events, with the team's rookies participating in frontline work such as sorting holiday merchandise, wrapping gifts, and delivering donated supplies to the community. The statement also clarified that Ron Artest did indeed visit a partner store and fill out temporary staff registration forms, but all team players' salaries are being paid on time and in full as per their contracts.
By that evening, the tone of major sports programs had subtly shifted. While Boston media were still making fun of Artest's "employee discount joke," the focus of their reporting had moved to the Celtics ' joint charitable donation with the mall. Local sports radio stations even went so far as to call on listeners to collect used game discs and movie DVDs for community centers.
The Los Angeles media initially tried to press the issue, with one host sarcastically asking, "If the Celtics' finances are really fine, why is their rookie's first reaction to seek employment?"
His partner, however, laughed and retorted sarcastically, "Maybe it's because that rookie was just trying to save two hundred dollars, while we spent the whole day in the studio discussing those two hundred dollars."
Amidst the laughter in the studio, the absurd claim of "a wealthy club going bankrupt and owing wages" was disproven, and no one mentioned it again in the serious sports section.
One week later, at the Great Western Forum.
The air was thick with the screeching of sneakers rubbing against the floor, filled with the unique hustle and bustle of Southern California. As the Celtics players spread out for their pre-game warm-ups, the Los Angeles fans who had arrived early were clearly not going to miss out on this hotly debated topic.
From the stands, a shrill voice broke the silence. " Ron! When is my TV arriving? And while you're at it, wrap up a nice Christmas present for me!"
"Don't forget to give your employees a discount!" The other end immediately followed, "Have the Celtics paid out their salaries this month?"
Laughter quickly spread from the front row of the stands, mixed with whistles and boos.
Artest was dribbling the ball when he suddenly stopped. He turned his head, his eyes slightly narrowed, and the muscles in his thick arms tensed slightly as he suppressed his emotions.
Lin Qi walked past him and patted him on the back lightly.
"Ignore them."
"I'm not going to pay them any attention," Artest replied curtly, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly.
"Very good. I hope you maintain this mindset later, and don't impulsively rush into the audience and beat them up."
"Why do you think I would do that?" Artest turned his head, his Anthony Davis furrowed, his tone tinged with grievance. "Is that the kind of person you think I am, someone who's easily provoked? I'm not that stupid! Why would I go and beat up a fan?"
Lin Qi didn't answer directly, but instead raised his chin and gestured towards the other side of the court.
There, a figure in a purple and gold jersey is bathed in spotlight, meticulously repeating the baseline pull-up jump shot – Kobe Brian.
Lin Qi withdrew his gaze and glanced sideways at the rookie beside him, who was ready to erupt at any moment.
"... Never mind, it's not important. Save your energy for that; your real work today is over there."
Artest followed his gaze, and the rage in his eyes was instantly replaced by a solemn fighting spirit.