In mid-March in Boston, the ice on the Charles River had just melted, and the cold wind blowing from the Atlantic Ocean whistled along the exterior walls of the New Garden.
At 10 a. m., the president's office on the top floor of the stadium was very warm.
Sam Presti stood at his desk, sorting through a stack of newly received faxes. The front page of the Boston Globe on the corner of the desk still bore a news photo of the Spain Madrid bombings three days earlier. The sudden tightening of security in Europe had made Athens, the host city of the Olympic Games this summer, the most avoided place in North America sports circles.
"Boss, the third call-up letter from the USA Basketball selection committee arrived this morning."
Presti pulled out a sheet of paper with USA Basketball letterhead, his tone laced with sarcasm. "Stu Jackson and Larry Bird Brown specifically requested in their letter that Boston include at least two of Kevin Garnett, Chris Paul Pierce, Ben Wallace, and Rasheed Wallace in the national team training camp. They also want to include Dwyane Wade on their backcourt backup roster."
Lin Qi sat in his large leather chair, flipping through the March player fatigue monitoring report that strength and conditioning coach Mike Boyle had just sent him, without even looking up. "What about the group that went to Puerto Rico for the Copa America qualifiers last summer? I remember Stu Jackson telling the media that the squad had already split up all the tickets to Athens, didn't he?"
They all made excuses and left.
Presti laughed out loud, "With the Madrid bombing and the fact that the Olympic venues in Greece still haven't even finished building the roof for the swimming pool, last year's All-Stars who played in the qualifiers are running away faster than anyone else. As for the Spurs, Jason Kidd announced he'd have minimally invasive surgery on his left knee right after the playoffs; 40-year-old Carl Malone said he had knee strain and family matters to attend to, so he postponed it; now, of the entire FIBA Americas Championship-winning roster, only Tim Duncan and Allen Iverson are still on the list."
Presti flipped through a page of the briefing in his hand and continued reading as if reciting a collection of jokes, "The reasons for withdrawing from the games these past few days have become more and more outrageous. Vince Carter of the Toronto Raptors said he's getting married and going on his honeymoon this summer and doesn't have time to play in the Olympic Games. Ray Allen of the Seattle SuperSonics just issued a statement saying his fiancée's due date this summer is and he absolutely won't be going abroad. Jermaine O'Neal of the Orlando Magic played forty minutes and scored thirty points in the regular season yesterday, and this morning he sent a diagnosis to the Chinese Basketball Association saying he has fluid buildup in his knee and needs to rest in bed for two months. Elton Brand of the New Jersey Nets Brand Mike Bibby of the Sacramento Kings didn't even bother to make up an excuse; they simply wrote on the reply slip that they were worried about their family's safety overseas. As for Shaq of the Chicago Bulls, Chicago Bulls general manager John Paxson didn't even answer Stu Jackson's call."
Lin Qi placed the physical fitness monitoring chart on the table, picked up his teacup, and took a sip.
No matter how loudly they talk, when it comes to risking their lives in the Mediterranean Sea, these top-paid stars are more afraid of death than anyone else.
"Stu Jackson used every trick in the book to get these guys on the plane," Presti added with a laugh. "Yesterday, the United States Olympic Committee signed a contract with the United Kingdom Line to charter the Queen Mary 2, the world's largest luxury cruise ship, which was just launched and will dock directly in Piraeus, outside Athens, for several million dollars this August. The Chinese Basketball Association assured the players that they wouldn't need to stay in the Olympic Village in Greece; everyone would be staying in the presidential suites on the cruise ship, with Greece Coast Guard patrol boats and armed frogmen guarding the area underwater 24/7—not even a fly could get in. But even so, none of those top-paid guys would budge."
Just then, the internal telephone on the desk rang.
Lin Qi glanced at the caller ID, then reached out and pressed the speakerphone button. "Good morning, David."
"Lin, I guess Stu Jackson's fax has already reached your desk."
David Stern's hoarse voice came through the speakers. The league president sounded quite tired, and his usual toughness had faded considerably.
"I just saw it ten minutes ago." Lin Qi leaned back in his chair. "Stu's tone in the letter was so high-pitched, you'd think the Boston Celtics owed USA Basketball millions of dollars. What, are you here to act as Larry Bird Brown's lobbyist?"
" Larry Bird Brown stormed into my office yesterday afternoon and slammed his fist on the table for half an hour. NBC's sports president, Dick Ebersol, also came to me this morning demanding an explanation."
Stern sighed on the other end of the phone, his voice lowering slightly. "NBC spent nearly a billion dollars to buy the broadcasting rights for the Athens Olympic Games, and now the men's basketball roster has dropped ten All-Stars all at once. The Mavericks ' Cuban is constantly criticizing International Basketball Federation in the media for not providing full insurance for the players, Popovich is secretly backing out of Tim Duncan's plans. Lin, I know your Boston Celtics have made it to the NBA Finals for five years in a row. Several key players— Kevin, Chris Paul, and two Wallace —I can use the league office's name to help you get back on your side, as long as your team doctor submits a compliant medical report. I'll handle Larry Bird Brown's side."
After hearing this, Presti exchanged a glance with Lin Qi.
The current collective bargaining agreement expires next summer, and Stern is hoping that the owners will band together to pressure the Players Association on salary cap space. He certainly wouldn't dare force the Boston Celtics to risk losing four of their championship-winning core players at this time. But Stern's special call clearly wasn't a free favor.
" David, what do you want Boston to do?" Lin Qi asked bluntly.
"I need star players to keep NBC's primetime ratings going, Lin."
Stern's tone became incredibly pragmatic. "If, besides Tim Duncan and Iverson, the rest of the team going to Athens are all blue-collar players averaging just over 2.5 points per game, Dick Ebersol will make things difficult for me during the broadcast contract renewal negotiations. Nike is already pressuring Stu Jackson to include LeBron from Cleveland and Carmelo from Detroit on the roster. I need you to allow Dwyane Wade to participate, so we can have three players who performed well in this year's Rising Stars Challenge to promote the game in Athens."
Lin Qi tapped his fingers lightly twice on the mahogany table.
Last summer, Nike spent over $100 million to sign LeBron James and Anthony. This season, Wade, wearing Converse shoes, dominated the Boston Celtics, consistently holding the top spot in the league, and stole the show at the All-Star Weekend. If Wade had stayed home to rest this summer, allowing LeBron James and Anthony to enjoy the global spotlight on the Olympic stage in their national team jerseys, Nike's marketing department could have boasted about it for a whole year.
But simply sending Wade over wouldn't be enough to fully exploit the interests.
" David, I can let Dwyane go," Lin Qi said slowly. "But three rookies can't save NBC's advertising revenue. There are many stars withdrawing from the league, but the most famous and commercially successful shooting guard in the entire league is currently idle."
Stern on the other end of the phone was visibly taken aback, pausing for two seconds before tentatively asking, "You mean... Kobe?"
"Who else but him?" Lin Qi asked confidently. " The Colorado case was indefinitely suspended last fall, and he has no court appearances scheduled for this summer. Rob Pelinka was just pulling strings the other day, trying to find a way for Kobe to rebuild his public image. David, instead of watching Stu Jackson beg those spineless cowards hiding at home with their kids, why don't you just bring Kobe into the Dream Team?"
"That's too risky, Lin," Stern hesitated. "The case may be frozen, but it's not completely closed. Olympic sponsors like McDonald's's and Coca-Cola are very sensitive to ethical issues. What if women's organizations across America protest..."
" David, this is United States election year."
Lin Qi directly interrupted Stern's concerns, offering a sharp analysis. " The Madrid train just exploded, and right now, the American people hate cowards the most. A dozen All-Stars earning tens of millions a year are too afraid to go to Athens because they're afraid of dying, while Kobe Brian steps up and risks his life in the Mediterranean Sea. Do you think that in NBC's Olympic promotional video, middle-class viewers will focus on his private life from last year, or will they see him as a hero who stepped up in a time of crisis?"
Stern's heavy breathing came from the other end of the phone, Stern instantly understood the brilliance of this move.
In the special year of 2004, the Stars and Stripes was the best tool to wash away all negative off-court news. As long as Kobe wore a jersey with "USA" printed on it and stood on the Olympic court, USA Basketball and the league officials were essentially endorsing him and issuing him a kind of pass. As for NBC's advertising concerns, there were ready-made solutions.
"If you're worried about the advertisers on NBC finding fault," Lin Qi casually nudged, "As long as USA Basketball sends official invitations to Kobe and Dwyane this afternoon, Converse and Monster Energy will sign a $20 million Olympic men's basketball broadcast advertising package with NBC Sports tomorrow. With someone footing the bill and superstars playing, Dick Ebersol is more than happy."
"Kobe and Wade, plus $20 million in broadcast advertising..."
Stern muttered something under his breath on the other end of the phone, his previously tense voice suddenly relaxing. "Lin, it's always so easy talking to you. Okay! Have Presti fax the injury reports of your key players directly to Stu. The key players can all stay in Boston and rest. I'll personally oversee Stu getting the recall paperwork for Kobe and Dwyane sorted out this afternoon!"