Chapter 436 Midsummer
The moment he received the medal, Yu Fei bent down, grabbed the medal, and stared at it. He holds the medal inches from his eyes and stares at it, mesmerized. It was the final moment of the show where he had to show the world how much he loved the gold medal.
When Team USA staff handed him a bouquet of red roses, he held them up to his nose and took two breaths, filling his nostrils and lungs with the sweet scent of victory.
Kobe used a standard set of official remarks to show that he had matured.
"Without our determination and willpower, we would not be back on top of the world, where we are now."
Carmelo Anthony wiped a tear from his right eye with his hand, and as they raised the American flag above the court and played the American national anthem, Yu Fei and Kobe stood aside, expressionless.
However, Kobe seemed to have more feelings. He put his right hand on his heart and sang along.
After the award presentation, Old K paid tribute to the Chinese fans present, while the players of the American team, led by Yu Fei, took the medals from their own necks and hung them around his neck. Then they hung the medal around the neck of USA Basketball director Jerry Colangelo, and then on three assistant coaches: Jim Boym, Mike D'Antoni and Nate McMillan . Finally, there was George Karl, the only consultant who accompanied the team.
The game is over. The emotions started to overflow and they never stopped.
Everyone came to the media interview room. There was a long table but only seven chairs, but there were 13 players present.
Kidd looked around, came to the chair on the left and said, "I'm the oldest one here, so I can sit down."
"I don't like standing." Kobe said simply.
Kwame Brown looked left and right and said suddenly: "Tonight's gold medal solidifies my status as the world's number one center. I have no reason to stand."
Then he sat down on his own.
Dwight Howard began to doubt life.
Although he was unclear about the situation in front of him, as an optimist who liked silly fun, he did not want to participate in the competition for position.
"I'll just stand."
Although Yu Fei did not stand up and say that he deserved a position, everyone wisely gave up the middle C position.
So, Yu Fei sat in the center.
There were not only Chinese media present, but also media from other countries.
The Redemption Team's victory puts American basketball back on top of the world.
Now, people are no longer talking about how they succeeded, but about establishing this team's place in history.
Moreover, they are directly compared to the Dream Team.
The reporter asked Yu Fei: "Which team do you think is the best dream team? Is it you or the 1992 team?"
"Every generation thinks that we are better than the previous generation and smarter than the next generation." Yu Fei joked narcissistically, "That's what I think. We are better than the previous generation and cannot be surpassed."
Hearing this, the players present laughed out loud.
If other people said this, they might be accused of being arrogant, but there was no sense of violation when these words came out of Yu Fei's mouth.
From the moment Yu Fei led the SuperSonics to the championship, he had his own godhead.
Helping the U.S. team win gold at the Olympics wiped away the shame of the past few years and made his myth even greater.
In terms of historical status, he has now won five championships and is the second person in history in the eyes of many people, but in the eyes of more people, he is the first person in the future.
Because he had enough time to surpass Jordan.
The words spoken by such people, even if they are arrogant and arrogant, must be respected.
Then there is the coaching staff of the US team. Old K characterized the final against Spain as the most important game in the history of US basketball.
"Considering our ups and downs in the past few years and the changes in world basketball, this game brings us back to the top." Old K said, "This may be the most important victory in the history of the US Olympic men's basketball team!"< br>
NBC commentator Doug Collins reviewed the history of the U.S. men's basketball team in the Olympics since the 1970s.
In 1972, it lost to the Soviet Union in a controversial final; in 1976, although it defeated Yugoslavia, it was not worth mentioning because the Soviet Union did not participate; in 1980, the United States boycotted the Olympics; in 1984, the Soviet Union boycotted the Olympics; in 1988, the United States College students were slaughtered by Soviet professional players; in 1992, the myth began; in 1996, the dominance continued; in 2000, the dominance began to disappear; in 2004, it began to sink.
"The Redemption Team dominated the world in a more competitive era, which is why I think they were better than that 1992 team," Collins said.
In fact, Yu Fei doesn't care who is stronger.
If we insist on analyzing it from a basketball perspective, the Dream Team's No. 1 position is very weak, and the Redemption Team's inside line is very bad. It really depends on the on-the-spot performance.
But they can never fight. This is Guan Gong fighting Qin Qiong.
The Olympic journey is coming to an end, and everyone on Team USA is beginning to savor the sweetness of victory.
Others have experienced the joy of teaming up with powerful teammates in the process.
For example, Kobe Bryant. Kidd came to the Lakers last year, which made Kobe feel how comfortable it is to work with a point guard who can feed him the ball at any time when he feels hot.
But Kidd's lack of personal offensive threat has become a noose blocking the Lakers' future.
Yu Fei made Kobe discover that an all-around organizer who can attack and feed the ball is his most ideal partner.
But the problem is that Yu Fei cannot join forces with him.
But Kobe knew he had other options.
Wade views the Olympics as a testing ground for his comeback.
Last season, due to injuries and an aging team, the Heat chose to mess up. Wade, who was in the spotlight a few years ago, suddenly disappeared, but his perfect performance in the Olympics proved that he has fully recovered. However, the Heat are no longer the Heat of the past few years.
Rashard Lewis has done nothing but shoot and No. 4 pick Kevin Love looks like the next Adam Morrison and is worried about his future.
But it doesn't matter. Thanks to Yu Fei's precedent of signing a second contract for a short period of time, Wade's contract with the Heat will expire next summer, and he will have more choices by then.
Bosh is the person on the star-studded Dream Team who feels the most insignificant.
Just like he did with the Raptors.
Although excellent, the upper limit is not high. The media will not care about a power forward who averages 20+10 points per game in a foreign team.
Thinking about Kwame Brown's treatment around Yu Fei, who can let go?
Bosh believes that he can do what Brown can do, and he can also do what Brown can't do.
During the national team period, Bosh showed Yu Fei his three-point shooting range, a skill that Brown had practiced hard but failed to achieve.
"Da Fei, is there still a chance for us to join forces?"
At the dinner, Bosh asked meaningfully.
To others, this is asking whether Yu Fei will play for the national team in the future.
Yu Fei smiled; "As long as you and I are still playing ball, there will always be opportunities to join forces."
At this time, Kwame Brown said: "Isn't your contract expiring next year? Then come to Seattle to serve as my substitute, and let Da Fei and I teach you how to win the championship!"
The speaker has no intention, the listener has intention.
Brown's words made the people around him look at him a few more times.
You know, the Sonics now have two maximum salaries, one is Yu Fei's super-maximum salary contract (which triggered Yu Fei's clause, which is larger than the normal maximum salary), and the other is Marion's maximum salary contract.
But Marion's contract will expire next summer, when Roy and Durant are still in the rookie bonus period.
The Sonics have a chance to sign another star.
"Come on, Kwame, if Chris really wants to come, you have to be a substitute." Yu Fei joked.
Brown rolled his eyes: "Really? You want the world's number one center to come off the bench?"
"Man!" Anthony couldn't stand it anymore, "You can only be considered the number one center in the world when you're in the nightclub."
Bosh was delighted: "Yes, Kwame is the only center who can withstand three double-teams in a nightclub!"
The new Curry was deeply impressed by this. Even though Brown’s hands are small, his BC is big, and he is a genuine BBC.
As soon as the topic changed to nightclubs, everyone no longer paid attention to Bosh's possibility of going to the SuperSonics next year.
Anthony was half drunk at the dinner, "After tonight, will our nightclub league be suspended?"
Anthony may be the only young star without a clear plan for the future.
Among the 2003 generation, he was the only one who signed a five-year contract with his parent team when renewing his contract.
"Shutdown? How is it possible?"
Kwame Brown said: "After the closing ceremony, Dafei and I are going to Hong Kong for a tour. Melo, do you want to come with us?"
"It's necessary!" Anthony said boldly, "The Night League will never stop!"
A few days later, the French triumphed in the final event of the Olympics (handball), and that night, the closing ceremony took place.
Yu Fei and Lin Kaiwen took photos everywhere with cameras.
As they were walking and filming, they happened to see Yao Huang and Lauren Jackson of the Australian women's basketball team hugging each other tightly.
Seeing Lauren's admiration for Yao Huang, Yu Fei couldn't help but laugh.
"Things are not what you think!" Yao Quan defended, "We have only met a few times!"
"Don't explain, so many reporters took pictures at the scene." Yu Fei laughed, "Go home and wait for death!"
The summer of 2008 is coming to an end. A country showed its ambition to rise to the world. This momentum cannot be underestimated. As a prominent role in this magnificent era, Yu Fei saved a city's basketball and redeemed a country's basketball reputation. And stood at the pinnacle of modern sports.
Only a few people come to this location.
Those who hated him expected him to fall from the top of the mountain, but he never wanted to end in embarrassment.
He wants to move forward, regardless of the cost, and eventually, he wants to reach a place that only he can go to. There was no room for a second person there.
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"Michael Jordan never saved a city or even a country's basketball like Frye did. This is why he should not be called the GOAT." - "Seattle Times"
"Frye Yu, Chris Bosh, Kwame Brown and Carmelo Anthony appear in Hong Kong." - The New York Times
"I will never leave Cleveland. There is no better team for me than this team. I will bring a championship to Cleveland, and I will never leave until this goal is achieved." - LeBron James told the Cleveland Beacon.
"The most beautiful woman in the women's basketball team hugged Yao Huang at the closing ceremony, and the sweet five seconds were broadcast live around the world," - "Jiulang Sports"
(End of chapter)