In mid-September, the autumn winds of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado already carried a noticeable chill.
Outside the small town of Eagle County, with a permanent population of only 40,000, the once tranquil valley and meadows have long been transformed into a massive open-air news camp. Dozens of satellite broadcasting vehicles from CNN, Fox News, ESPN, and major broadcasting networks across the United States are lined up one after another, and towering microwave transmission towers stand like a forest under the gray sky.
With less than two weeks to go before the preliminary hearing in October, media outlets across the United States are gearing up for this "trial reality show" comparable to the O. J. Simpson case. Major television networks have even sold out their high-priced advertising slots during the live broadcast of the trial.
However, at 10:00 a. m. on September 18, the expected heated exchange between the prosecution and defense did not occur at the press conference stage in front of the Eagle County District Court.
The court clerk walked up the steps and, facing the densely packed cameras below, read aloud a two-page judicial procedural ruling in a flat tone.
"Given that a key witness in this case has recently experienced extreme media interference, and following an evaluation by an independent medical expert committee, has been confirmed to have severe post-traumatic stress disorder, making him unable to withstand public court proceedings and cross-examination in the short term... Upon the formal application of the plaintiff's legal counsel, and with the defendant, Mr. Kobe Brian, having signed a legally binding written document voluntarily waiving his right to expedited trial under the Sixth Amendment, this court hereby formally rules: all preliminary hearings and substantive trial proceedings in this case are indefinitely postponed, effective immediately. All case files are to be sealed at the highest level."
As soon as he finished speaking, the clerk turned and left, leaving a group of stunned reporters at the scene.
After a few seconds of deathly silence, the area below the courthouse steps erupted in chaos.
"Postponed indefinitely?! What about next month's hearing?"
Why did Kobe give up his right to a expedited trial? And the prosecution actually agreed?!
Hundreds of reporters, clutching their mobile phones, shouted in the cold wind. Producers at major news networks were in complete chaos. The plaintiff failed to appear in court, the defense lawyers went silent, and all the case files were locked in a metal cabinet. This meant that their broadcast camp, built at a cost of millions of dollars, had become a complete joke overnight.
What the public loves most is the dramatic back-and-forth and in-court confrontations. When judicial proceedings are indefinitely suspended, even the most fervent public opinion will quickly cool down because it has lost its focus.
At the same time, in Beaverton, Oregon, at Nike's global headquarters.
The atmosphere in the top-floor core conference room, named after tennis legend John McEnroe, was initially quite relaxed.
Nike founder Phil Knight sat at the head of the long table, fiddling with a pair of Suns. On either side of the table sat Lynn Merritt, Nike's director of basketball operations, and Richard, the chief legal officer who had just sent Rob Pelinka a freezing letter a few days earlier.
" The Colorado court has actually frozen the proceedings." Chief Legal Officer Richard placed a summary of a court ruling that had just been faxed over on the table, his face showing a hint of disbelief. "Our Denver -based external legal counsel was saying yesterday that the plaintiff's father, Congressman Evans, was extremely adamant, and even District Attorney Herbert had prepared the indictment for October. How come, overnight, both sides have suddenly softened their stance?"
"No matter who Rob Pelinka managed to get on his side, this is a huge benefit for us," Lynn Merritt breathed a sigh of relief. "As long as Kobe doesn't have to go to court during the season, Kobe commercial value is largely preserved."
"That's right." Richard adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, his tone quite smug. "Three days ago, we sent a letter freezing the signing, putting a lot of pressure on Rob Pelinka. The case is currently suspended, but the charges haven't been dropped; Kobe is still a player with a tainted reputation. We can take this opportunity to restart negotiations, reducing the original 5-year, $40 million offer to $25 million, plus a clause allowing for termination without compensation at any time. Given Kobe's current situation, Rob Pelinka will have no choice but to sign."
Phil Knight leaned back in his chair, just about to make a decision.
The heavy wooden door to the conference room was suddenly flung open by a senior public relations executive. The executive was pale and could barely hold the folder in his hand.
" Phil! Press conferences have just been held simultaneously in Boston and Chicago!"
Lynn Merritt frowned. "What press conference?"
The PR executive strode to the wall, grabbed the remote, and turned on the wall-mounted TV in the conference room.
The screen was showing a live ESPN breaking news segment. The image was split in two: on the left was the launch hall of Converse's global headquarters in Boston, and on the right was the banquet hall of the Four Seasons Hotel in downtown Chicago.
Amidst a flurry of flashing lights, Converse North America Basketball Vice President Gregg Stone and Kobe's agent Rob Pelinka simultaneously presented a thick, signed contract to the camera.
Bold red news headlines scrolled across the bottom of the television screen.
[Breaking News: Converse Officially Signs Kobe Brian! A Lifetime Endorsement Contract Worth Over $100 Million Takes Effect Immediately!]
"Smack!"
Phil Knight's Suns were snapped in two, the lenses flying off onto the solid wood conference table with a sharp crack.
The entire conference room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Chief Legal Officer Richard stood there, mouth agape, his smug expression completely frozen, as if he had been slapped hard across the face in public.
"A lifetime contract... even the ethics clause in this case has been waived..." Lynn Merritt's voice trembled as she watched the contract details scroll across the television screen. " Gregg Stone was in Chicago three days ago! The very afternoon we sent Rob Pelinka the lawyer's letter!"
"How is this possible?!" Richard jumped to his feet, his face filled with astonishment. "Just three days ago, Eagle County was in a deadlock! Could it be that Lin Qi orchestrated the Colorado court's freeze order?!"
"Shut up, Richard! Don't make such ridiculous excuses for your incompetence!"
Phil Knight slammed his fist on the table, his face turning ashen as he roared, " Lin Qi is just the owner of the Boston Celtics. It's understandable that he has some influence in Massachusetts, but how could he possibly have his hands in Colorado's political and legal circles? That girl's father is a local state legislator; they're not short of money, and they don't care about owning a team! With Lin Qi's influence, how could he possibly deal with a politician's family that's determined to seek revenge?!"
In Knight's and all the executives present's understanding, the Eagle County case was complex and involved the family dignity and electoral politics of local politicians, and was by no means something that an East Coast sports businessman could manipulate in just two days.
"It must be Reinsdorf from Chicago using his old political connections in Washington, or Rob Pelinka's law firm finding a loophole in the prosecution's procedures!" Lynn Merritt grabbed his hair in frustration. " Lin Qi has absolutely no ability to handle this case. He simply took advantage of the lull in negotiations and gambled everything, only to reap this huge windfall!"
Upon hearing this analysis, Phil Knight's chest heaved violently, and his anger intensified.
If Lin Qi truly possessed extraordinary abilities and resolved the case, Nike's loss wouldn't be unjustified. However, it was Nike itself that was terrified by the situation in Colorado and proactively sent a letter to push Kobe away. As a result, the case was suddenly put on hold by a mysterious force, allowing Converse, which had been eyeing the case for a long time, to seize the opportunity and snatch Nike's long-planned top target at rock-bottom prices!
"You showed me that damn forty-page risk assessment report and said freezing Kobe was the safest strategy!" Knight's disappointed gaze swept over Richard's face. "And what happened? You bunch of cowards were scared off by the paper tiger, handing over the most commercially valuable perimeter star of the Jordan era to Lin Qi!"
Richard, sweating profusely, lowered his head and forced a defense. " Phil, even if the case is suspended, Kobe's public image has already plummeted. Housewives across America and the mainstream media are all criticizing him. Even if Converse signs him, they can't do positive publicity for him; those department stores and retail channels will never buy into it..."
"You think Lin Qi would use your outdated methods to sell shoes?!" Phil Knight grabbed the legal report from the table and slammed it to the floor. "That's Converse! Back when they were Detroit with Dennis Rodman and those thugs in Detroit, when did they ever care about housewives' opinions?!"
Phil Knight's premonition came true 24 hours later.