"I'll bet thirty thousand!" Chris Paul Pierce was the first at the head table to raise his paddle and cheer, "I was here in '98, I'm paying for it!"
"Forty thousand!" Rasheed Wallace shouted, raising his hand. "If Massachusetts Institute of Technology finds out he's over forty-five, the team will be ranked by seniority based on age from now on, and Gary Payton will have to tie his shoelaces every day before practice!"
"Fifty thousand!" Garnett stood up abruptly, turning to the television executives and financial tycoons at the next table. "President Sean, doesn't your television station always boast that you know the most about Boston basketball history? Aren't you planning to keep this championship jersey in the studio tonight as a prized possession?"
Upon being publicly called out by Garnett, Sean McGreer, president of New England Sports Network, immediately reacted. He glanced at Lin Qi, who was smiling at the head table, recognizing this as a golden opportunity to curry favor. He straightened his suit, stood up, and held up his number plate high.
" New England Sports Network, offered $80,000!"
No sooner had he finished speaking than the vice president of Fox Sports' New England division, their arch-rival just two tables away, couldn't sit still any longer. The two networks had been locked in fierce competition for the Celtics' local broadcasting rights for the next five years; how could they possibly allow the other to overshadow them in this setting?
" Fox Sports, $100,000!" The Fox vice president stood up and raised his paddle.
"120,000 US dollars!" The executive director of Boston Scientific Medical Devices, diagonally across the street, also raised his sign with a smile. "We, Boston Scientific, have won this jersey; it will be hanging in our headquarters lobby. As for Massachusetts Institute of Technology, there's no need to go. Our company just developed a brand-new digital orthopedic imaging system this year, and Mr. Mutombo is always welcome to come and experience it for free!"
"$120,000! Sold!"
Gary Payton slammed his hand on the podium and whistled loudly at the audience. "Thanks to the boss of Boston Scientific! Dikembe, they not only gave you $120,000, but they also saved the two hairs on your head. Aren't you going to raise a toast?"
Gary Payton's rapid-fire banter brought the dinner to a fever pitch.
In the next few auction items, Garnett donated his signature All-Round Shoes worn in the opening game, Pierce donated the watch he wore in the NBA Finals, and Kobe had a pair of autographed black and white sneakers flown in from Los Angeles. Executives from Fidelity Investments, State Street Bank, and two sports television networks took turns bidding, and in just forty minutes, the eight items fetched a high price of $780,000.
As the auction neared its end, Gary Payton waved to the audience. " Ron, bring up our dressing room's offering!"
Artest immediately picked up the heavy five-gallon transparent plastic bucket at his feet, strode onto the stage, and, under the watchful eyes of dozens of cameras, poured the bucket over the red velvet-covered auction table.
Splash!
A huge pile of hundred-dollar bills spilled out, forming a small, green mountain on the table.
"This is the Celtics' locker room's internal fines jar for November," Gary Payton said, pointing to Rasheed Wallace in the audience, who was covering his face with his hands. "It contains a total of $34,000 in cash. A large portion of that was collected by Mr. Rasheed Wallace and Mr. Ron Artest after arguing with the referees on the field for medical causes in Congo, Kinshasa. Let's give these two great philanthropists a round of applause!"
The audience erupted in applause and whistles. Rasheed chuckled and cursed from his seat, then waved to the stage.
After the on-site donations and auction results were tallied, and the entry checks were added, a total of $1.3 million was raised tonight.
Just as Mutombo's eyes reddened and he was about to get up and go on stage to express his gratitude, Lin Qi, who had been sitting quietly at the head table, gave Sam Presti a wink.
Sam Presti took a signed memorandum of understanding and two checks from his briefcase, walked onto the stage, and handed them to Gary Payton.
Gary Payton glanced down at the contents of the memo, his playful expression vanished, and he picked up the microphone and spoke loudly.
"Finally, three donations are announced. First, the Boston Celtics and Converse Sports will match the $1.3 million raised tonight on a one-to-one basis. Second, thanks to Mr. Lin Qi's mediation, Boston Scientific and GE Healthcare have just reached an agreement for Mr. Lynch to provide Kinshasa Hospital with a complete set of MRI, CT, and sterile operating room equipment at cost price, and will be responsible for transoceanic transportation and commissioning free of charge. Third, the remaining $1 million shortfall in equipment procurement will be fully covered by Mr. Lin Qi personally!"
Including cost price adjustments and matching donations, the $4 million equipment shortfall that had plagued Mutombo for two whole years was resolved in one night.
Mutombo, standing to the side of the stage, froze in place.
This veteran, who had battled countless giants in the NBA's paint for over a decade and never yielded, stood under the dazzling spotlight, his broad chest heaving twice. He raised his right hand and wiped the corner of his eye with his thick fingers.
Mutombo strode onto the stage and took the microphone from Gary Payton. He looked down at his fourteen teammates sitting neatly in the audience, and finally his gaze settled on Lin Qi at the head table.
" Boston is the most special place for me..." Mutombo's hoarse, deep voice resonated throughout the banquet hall through the speakers. He extended his signature right index finger and gently waved it in the air. "In Boston, once you've worn that green jersey, you'll never be alone, on or off the court."
Garnett was the first to stand up and applaud loudly. Pierce, Big Ben, Wade, and all three hundred guests in the room rose to their feet, and the applause echoed throughout the banquet hall on the second floor.
At 10 p. m., the charity gala entered its final free-flowing cocktail party.
The players gathered around the food counter, enjoying their meal, while Lin Qi stood quietly by the floor-to-ceiling window, sipping a glass of soda and gazing at the night view of Boulevard Square.
Sean McGree, president of New England Sports Network, and the vice president of Fox Sports approached almost simultaneously, each holding a glass of wine.
"Mr. Lin, tonight's dinner was truly impressive," McGrell said, glancing at his competitor beside him. "Regarding the Celtics' local cable television broadcasting contract for the next five years, our board just met this afternoon and decided to raise the offer to $210 million for five years. Do you have time next week to sign the formal letter of intent?"
The vice president of Fox Sports immediately interjected, "Mr. Lin, Fox Sports is willing to offer $220 million over five years, and we can also give Coach Rick Carlisle our primetime Wednesday night column!"
Lin Qi turned around, looked at the two local media moguls in front of him who were eager to make a decision, and said calmly.
"Gentlemen, after the Boston Red Sox were defeated by the New York Yankees in Game 7 of the AFC Championship Series last month, sports fans throughout New England have been looking for an outlet for their emotions. Presti just showed me the latest Nelson ratings report tonight. Over the past three weeks, the Celtics ' average viewership share in the Boston area has exceeded 12%, a staggering 65 percent increase compared to the same period last season. We've even surpassed the Red Sox's summer viewership record."
Lin Qi paused, then placed the wine glass on the waiter's tray.
"Five years, $260 million, plus 15% of the net revenue from local broadcast advertising each year. The digital billboard rights behind the baskets and along the sidelines of the New Garden will be independently sold by the club. Next Monday at 10:00 AM, whoever brings the signed contract to the third floor of the Auerbach Center to see Sam will have the broadcasting rights for Boston for the next five years."
After speaking, Lin Qi nodded slightly to the two men, turned around and told the players who had finished eating and drinking to prepare to leave, leaving only the two TV station executives standing there, each taking out their mobile phones and hurriedly dialing the headquarters board of directors.