"I'm Milan in a couple of days." Lin Qi stood up and casually placed the newspaper he was holding on the coffee table. "There's a lot going on there; I need to keep an eye on things personally."
Upon hearing this, Beth put down her coffee cup, a hint of longing unconsciously appearing in her eyes.
She stood up and walked over to Lin Qi, naturally reaching out to wrap her arms around his waist, pressing her face against his chest, her voice a little muffled. "For the past six months, you've either been working on your training facility or flying around in the sky. We haven't even had a proper dinner together."
"Once things settle down in Milan, we'll go on a long vacation to Lake Como." Lin Qi lowered his head, gently kissed her forehead, and straightened the collar of her robe. "I promise."
Beth looked up, about to say something, when the black cell phone on the coffee table suddenly started vibrating abruptly.
Lin Qi frowned, released Beth, walked over, and picked up his phone.
A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes when he saw the caller ID on the screen. The caller was David Stern.
As the league's top leader, Stern usually handles official business through memos sent from the league office or by having Vice President Stu Jackson contact the management of each team. This was the first time he had ever called Lin Qi's cell phone directly from his personal phone.
Lin Qi mouthed the words to Beth and pressed the answer button.
Good afternoon, David.
"Listen, Lin Qi, I don't care what you're thinking right now, I need you to promise me one thing." On the other end of the phone, David Stern's voice was devoid of pleasantries, revealing a weary and stern demeanor, utterly exhausted. "You are not allowed to utter a single word about that case in Colorado in any public setting. Not a single word."
Lin Qi raised an eyebrow, somewhat puzzled. " David, the Boston management doesn't have a habit of spouting nonsense to the media."
"I know you're way smarter than that loose-tongued lunatic in Dallas. Mark Cuban's rant on TV about how 'reality shows can make money' has put the league in a very difficult position!" Stern made no attempt to hide his annoyance on the phone, but then his tone turned serious. "I'm calling you specifically because you've caused trouble before."
Lin Qi realized it instantly.
Last year, before the All-Star Game, Lin Qi made an interview in which he objectively evaluated Kobe's "individualistic" playing style from the perspective of team building. As a result, his remarks directly stirred up a hornet's nest, not only triggering criticism from some media outlets, but also Lin Qi to death threats from Kobe's extreme fans.
"The girl who was the plaintiff in that case is now suffering extreme death threats and harassment every day," Stern said in a deep voice. " Kobe's fans are like a pack of mad dogs who have lost their minds. If you, as the team owner, step in now and kick them while they're down, I can't guarantee what crazy things they might do. Boston is the face of the league, and I can't let this risk of violence spread to you."
"Thank you for reminding me, David. I assure you, I have absolutely no interest in what Chicago's star player does off the court," Lin Qi gave Stern the promise he wanted.
Hearing Lin Qi's assurance, Stern sighed deeply. Under immense pressure, this tough-minded president unusually revealed the league's internal predicament to Lin Qi.
"Executives from McDonald's's, Sprite, and Ferrari have been calling me since yesterday. They're demanding the league give a clear answer immediately, or they'll indefinitely suspend their sponsorship contracts," Stern said, his voice tinged with barely concealed anxiety. "This morning, the conservative owners on the board also pressured me to immediately invoke the 'ethics clause' and suspend Kobe indefinitely. They're afraid this scandal will damage the NBA's 'family-friendly' image, which it has painstakingly cultivated for over a decade."
Lin Qi astutely picked up on the probing in Stern's words.
"So, David, what do you think?" Lin Qi countered.
"I'm hesitant," Stern said frankly. "If we leave it completely unaddressed, sponsors and women's rights organizations will devour the league. But if we really implement an indefinite suspension... that's Kobe Brian, the absolute guarantee of the league's ratings. So I need to hear the opinions of the other owners."
"If you want my advice, David, it's absolutely not to suspend him." Lin Qi leaned back on the sofa and offered his opinion in a calm tone.
"Because of the Players Association's backlash?" Stern asked.
"It's not just the Players Association. He's still innocent until the judge strikes the gavel; a suspension is tantamount to the league pre-convicting him," Lin Qi said, making a startling statement. "Even more fatal is, David, have you considered what he would do if you imposed an internal suspension on him at this critical juncture?"
What can he do? He can only obediently go to court.
"You're seriously underestimating that fanatic's hunger for basketball. If the NBA won't let him play, he'll most likely pack his bags and fly across the Atlantic Ocean." Lin Qi pinpointed the biggest blind spot. "Go to the EBA, go to Italy, go to France. Don't forget, he lived in Italy as a child; it's practically his home turf."
Stern fell silent instantly on the other end of the phone.
" The France and Italy don't care about these United States scandals. In the eyes of these Europe, a little scandal in their private lives can even increase a star's 'charm'," Lin Qi continued. "Look at those France politicians and directors, their private lives are a mess, scandals are everywhere, yet they still reap fame and fortune. If Kobe were willing to agree, those big Europe clubs with deep pockets would definitely line up to offer him astronomical contracts."
"If he really goes to play in Europe, the NBA will not only lose one of its most commercially valuable superstars, but it will also watch helplessly as the EBA capitalizes on his popularity to rip off a huge chunk of the NBA's global market. David, this is killing the goose that lays the golden eggs."
Lin Qi's words precisely struck at Stern's deep-seated concerns about the "rise of Europe basketball."
"You're right, we can't force him to go to Europe." Stern's voice regained its firmness. "But if we don't ban the games, when the Chicago Bulls play away games next season, those protesters will surround the arena. They might even buy front-row tickets and hold up signs that say 'rapist' to him. Once those scenes are broadcast live, the sponsors will all leave."
"Faced with protesting fans, the league really can't restrict their freedom," Lin Qi chuckled. " David, we can't control what the fans say, but the league can control the cameras."
"Control the broadcast signal?" Stern immediately understood.
"Give the directors at ABC, TNT, and ESPN a firm order," Lin Qi methodically provided the public relations strategy. "During the live broadcast, absolutely no close-up shots of protesting fans on the sidelines are allowed. If a large-scale protest occurs in the stands, immediately switch the camera to a replay or go straight to commercials. Just keep the camera focused on the court, on Kobe's beautiful fadeaway jumpers."
Lin Qi paused, then gave his final summary. "In court, it's a mess for the Chicago Bulls and Kobe's personal lawyers. But on television, the league only needs to sell 'basketball.' If the cooling-off period lasts long enough, and the public gets tired of the case, it'll all be over."
There was a brief silence on the other end of the phone.
"Is everything alright, David? I still need to prepare for my trip to Europe."
" Lin Qi, I must admit, your idea... is indeed the only solution at the moment." Stern's tone clearly held more appreciation and warmth. "On behalf of the Alliance, I thank you for your suggestion. I wish you all the best in Europe."
"This is what I should do as a member of the league."