noveldrama
Chapter 989 989 577 The Worst Class_3
Chapter 989 989 577 The Worst Class_3
?Chapter 989: Chapter 577: The Worst Class_3 Chapter 989: Chapter 577: The Worst Class_3 “`
Why does Griffin feel this way? Obviously, he’s been influenced by the PUA tactics of the former owner, Sterling, and has begun to question everything.
Yu Fei understands this thought process but doesn’t support it.
“You’re not a monkey,” Yu Fei said, “no one is a monkey. Do you know why the audience likes you? Because you put up good numbers on a bad team? No, the world has plenty of ordinary people, they just want to see you dunk. Do you think you’re a monkey? I don’t see it that way. Because of these ‘monkey tricks’, you became one of the most influential figures in Los Angeles; because of these ‘monkey tricks’, you landed huge sponsorships off the court. Your world has changed because of ‘monkey tricks’. And now you’re telling me you don’t want to ‘play monkey’ anymore, because it makes you feel disrespected? Are you getting something wrong? If you want to enjoy the fame and fortune that ‘playing monkey’ brings, you must accept the responsibility of performing for the audience every night in the games.”
“As for what you’ve mentioned…” Yu Fei concluded casually, “the chaos of the Sterling era certainly won’t continue to this day. Mr. Ballmer won’t treat you like a monkey, and season ticket holders no longer have the right to enter the locker room.”
When Yu Fei was discussing this, some teammates began to realize that Griffin was troubled by mere trifles.
What were these compared to the fame and fortune he had gained?
“Now, your issue is resolved,” Yu Fei asked, “can you solve my problem?”
Yu Fei had not resolved the issue Trem had about Griffin not being off the market. That issue couldn’t be solved because Trem misunderstood Yu Fei’s pressure on Griffin, but in the long run, this stance might not be a bad thing.
Because if Griffin continued to be emotionally volatile and mentally unstable, then trading him might also be an option for the Clippers.
Griffin looked deeply at Yu Fei and said in a low voice, “I’ll do those damned ‘monkey tricks’.”
A conflict that was about to erupt was thus defused.
The way Yu Fei tamed Griffin was impressive.
Rivers did not expect that he wouldn’t have to step in to resolve the issue himself.
Pierce had been dissatisfied with being assigned to the bench, but now he had nothing to say.
Even though the GOAT had not played a single regular-season game for the Clippers, he already had a firm grip on the team. From management to coaching staff, and even Griffin, his theoretical adversary, everyone was firmly in his clutches.
On and off the court, Yu Fei had become the absolute dominator.
Pierce decided to step back temporarily and bide his time.
Kwame Brown had been having nightmares frequently, because Yu Fei’s actions with the Clippers constantly reminded him of Wizards Dan, who lingered in his nightmares.
Brown didn’t know what exactly he was worried about. Whether or not Yu Fei would become another “Wizards Dan”, their relationship wasn’t likely to improve. But seeing Yu Fei becoming more and more like Wizards Dan, Brown truly felt an unspeakable discomfort.
Today, that discomfort was resolved.
If it had been Wizards Dan who heard Griffin wanting to “quit”, he would have unhesitatingly told him to get lost without leaving any room for negotiation. However, Yu Fei from the beginning wanted to probe Griffin’s true feelings. His challenge had worked, and Griffin finally spoke his pretentious and nauseating grievances.
Brown truly admired Yu Fei’s restraint in not mocking Griffin after hearing his complaints.
Brown didn’t understand, did someone like Griffin not realize that his life was what countless people dreamed of?
If given the choice, Brown would rather be the beloved monkey a hundred times over than a lackey lounging in the shade of a big tree.
In the end, Yu Fei didn’t say anything unpleasant but simply asked him to continue doing those “monkey tricks”, and then promised to take care of any concerns he might have.
And with that, the matter was closed.
“`
Brown felt that this was the Yu Fei he knew well, someone who liked to put on an act but always had his teammates in his heart.
After the game, Yu Fei idly spun a basketball in his hands. An excited Brown came over and said, “Big Fei, I’ve opened a new restaurant in Los Angeles. Care to grace it with your presence?”
Yu Fei asked with a smile, “Are you treating?”
“I’ve got it all covered,” Brown answered readily.
“Then I won’t hold back,” Yu Fei replied with a laugh.
True to his word, Yu Fei was anything but reserved. He not only showed up himself but also brought along his Clippers teammates and the coaching staff for a team-building event.
Griffin was there too. Though he still seemed somewhat unfriendly, the ice had started to melt after today’s events.
Brown looked at Griffin with some displeasure. He felt that Griffin should be thankful that the current Yu Fei only seemed like Wizards Dan. Otherwise, Griffin would have truly understood what it meant to be “played like a monkey.”
He could use the first overall pick on you, then spend months hyping you up, playing the role of a benevolent elder, only to step all over you as a stepping stone in front of the whole team once the preseason training camp started, using your limelight to establish his authority.
Is that what people do?
Brown would never forgive Jordan.
Two days later, the NBA’s new season kicked off with its opening game, but it had nothing to do with the Clippers. The NBA opening games usually only feature one or two matches, generally for the teams that generate the most buzz.
Despite having the GOAT, due to last season’s poor performance, the Clippers had no business in being part of the opening game lineup. Therefore, the Clippers’ first game was scheduled for November 1st, at the Staples Center “away” against their city rivals, the Los Angeles Lakers.
This was the art of scheduling. Even though they weren’t in the opening game, the Clippers’ first game of the new season was still full of talking points.
Could the GOAT really change the Clippers’ fortunes?
If so, then let it start with the city derby.
For the Clippers’ management, nothing was more frustrating than facing the Lakers. Even though they played at Staples Center, the fans treated them as badly as they would the Celtics. To break the Lakers’ monopoly on the local basketball market had to start with the derby game.
The Clippers decided to make full use of their asset—if the GOAT wasn’t dying, they’d play him to death.
The day before the game, the Clippers announced that Yu Fei would spend an hour before the game signing autographs for Clippers fans, a giveaway for his first regular-season game as a member of the team. Of course, he would only sign for those in Clippers jerseys, and Lakers fans could forget about getting close.
That way, even if the Staples Center turned into the Clippers’ graveyard, they made sure there’d be a devoted few wailing at their grave.
This idea came from Rivers, and Yu Fei was initially opposed. For years, he had maintained the habit of randomly selecting a few lucky fans for autographs each game, so was a pre-arranged one-hour signing event really necessary?
Rivers explained the necessity of this move, saying that if Yu Fei didn’t want to face a chorus of boos at home, it would be best to sweeten the pot for the fans.
Yu Fei eventually agreed but still felt it was messed up.
D.C., Milwaukee, Seattle…
This was the worst squad he had ever led.