Chapter 264: The Opportunity Came Up
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Dai Li was moved by Alan"s experience. He was even surprised after hearing that the surgery fee needed by Alan"s youngest sister was almost 1 million American dollars.
What Alan mentioned was a lot of US dollars! Dai Li knew the surgery for congenital heart disease was very expensive. In China, it would cost anywhere between 100 thousand Yuan to a few hundred thousand Yuan. By contrast, 1 million dollars was really an astronomical sum.
In the United States, a guy who could earn 50,000 to 80,000 dollars was regarded as being in the middle cla.s.s. Therefore, the middle cla.s.s in the United States still needed to save money for nearly 20 years, without eating or drinking anything beside the bare minimums, before they could finally acc.u.mulate 1 million dollars. As for the low-income group and poor people, it was impossible for them to earn 1 million dollars. Hence, the only way Alan could save his youngest sister was to play hard and become an NBA star player.
"Alan, in case you can"t find an appropriate university in the United States, have you ever considered playing in a foreign league? For example, you may go to Europe. Many NBA players used to earn money in Europe. The salary of the European leagues may be lower than that of NBA, as it is very difficult to sign a contract of 100 million American dollars with the clubs. But it is still possible for you to earn 1 million dollars in Europe," Dai Li said.
"I have considered that, but now I am on parole, so I am not allowed to leave the United States according to the parole regulation. Now, I can only stay in the United States." Alan let out a long sigh.
Dai Li nodded. Now, if Alan wanted to be a star player, the only way for him to do so was to be admitted by a University, and then to partic.i.p.ate in the draft of the NBA. However, it seemed that the only way out had been obstructed.
"Alan, just don"t give up, maybe we still have other opportunities." Dai Li continued to say, "Even if we don"t, we could still create opportunities!"
...
The Adidas Basketball Training Camp was drawing to an end. A match would be held on the last day of the training camp, which was more of a stage for the players to show their talents than a pure match.
Compared to the normal training days of the camp, which had the presence of scattered scouts or university coaches, the match held on the last day would attract more attention, with all coaches of the famous universities in California attending. Even some coaches, who were studying in the eastern United States, would fly directly to Los Angeles to take a closer look at their favorite players.
This was just like the Victoria"s Secret Fas.h.i.+on Show. A long preparation period was needed. During the preparation period, the media would release all kinds of news to evoke people"s expectations and antic.i.p.ation. On the last day, the whole fas.h.i.+on world would flock to the show, while the long-legged models showed their most beautiful sides on the catwalk.
...
David Mills, the person responsible for running the AP Training Center, was carefully checking a name list in his hands, looking for any possible missing names. The contents of the name list were the names of the coaches of famous universities, scouts of NBA teams, and famous basketball correspondents.
The AP Training Center had invited everyone listed in the name list. Mills hoped these people could come and watch the last match, and if they did, their travel costs and accommodations would be undertaken by the AP Center.
This kind of basketball training camp was essentially a stage play, which would be meaningless if they only had performers. Hence, the audience was also needed. The coaches of the famous universities and the NBA scouts were apparently the most adoring audiences. A news report from a famous basketball correspondent would enhance the level of the training camp remarkably.
Just at this moment, the secretary knocked at the door and entered.
"Mr. Mills, a Mr. Li wants to see you. He is a member of the foreign delegation," the secretary said.
"Mr. Li? OK, just let him in," Mills said.
Dozens of seconds later, Dai Li entered the office of Mills.
"I am really sorry to interrupt you, Mr. Mills. My name is Dai Li." Dai Li first introduced himself.
"h.e.l.lo, Mr. Li, what can I do for you?" Mills continued to say, "If possible, I hope you could make this short. My time is quite precious."
"OK, I was hoping you could give an opportunity to Alan Hampton." Dai Li brought out his purpose directly.
"Alan Hampton, I have heard this name somewhere." Mills was pondering with knitted brows.
"He is the high school student from Virginia," Dai Li said immediately.
"I got it, the bad boy! He missed our training camp. For that, his mother used to come to me on his behalf as well." Mills did a double take, then he said, "Mr. Li, don"t you think it is too late for you to come to me now? Our training camp is about to end. You should have come to me at least 10 days ago, if you wanted to intercede for that bad boy."
"Mr. Mills, you misunderstood me. I hope you could give Alan Hampton an opportunity to play in the match held on the last day," Dai Li said.
"Mr. Li, did I just hear that right? Alan Hampton didn"t partic.i.p.ate in our training camp, so how could he play in the match held on the last day?" Mills said, shaking his head.
"Mr. Mills, please don"t refuse me so fast. My proposal will be very beneficial to the AP Training Center," Dai Li said.
"We could benefit from your proposal? OK, I am interested now." Finally Mills sat up straight, folded his arms, and p.r.i.c.ked up his ears.
Dai Li asked, "First, I want to know, how much do you know about Alan Hampton?"
"I"ve heard about him, that he is a genius player, and a double star player of football and basketball from Virginia. It is hardly overestimating to address him as the No.1 high school player in Virginia." Mills continued to say, "But, I also heard he got into some trouble outside the basketball court. I"ve heard that he was involved in a fight and received a jail sentence."
"But he is gifted indeed. If he had a clean record, he would be the most sought after high school player this year, right?" Dai Li said.
Mills nodded. He didn"t deny that.
Dai Li continued to say, "Mr. Mills, I remember you used to say that your training camp was established for the players to show their talents, right?"
"This is what our sponsors expect to see. Of course we should meet the requirements of our customers." Mills didn"t answer the question directly, which could be viewed as his agreeing with Li.
"So, Alan Hampton"s partic.i.p.ation in the match held on the last day could be viewed as one more player showing his talent, and one more option for the scouts and coaches to choose among. However, the AP Training Center didn"t invest any training resources in him. What you need to invest is just several minutes" showtime for him. Therefore, it is almost a zero cost investment for you."
"In case Alan Hampton is selected by a coach of a famous university, or an NBA scout, or were to be written about in a well-known basketball column by a correspondent, it will undoubtedly be good publicity for the AP Training Center. To win this type of surefire lottery, with zero cost, would you like to have a try, Mr. Mills?"
Dai Li prepared this rhetoric yesterday, then modified it with translation software for several times, before keeping it memorized in his heart. Therefore, he could say it smoothly in front of Mills today.
Mills was absorbed in thought. From the perspective of a businessman, what Dai Li said was quite reasonable, especially the last sentence, "To win a lottery with zero cost", really impressed him. This was quite like taking a walk after dinner. If you could find money on the road, you are lucky, or if you didn"t find any money on the road, you have still lost nothing.
"Mr. Li, I am convinced by you," Mills finally said. "I will inform Coach Hyde to give 5 minutes to Alan Hampton. I hope he can put up a good show."
After hearing Mills" reply, Dai Li clenched his fists in triumph. He knew the opportunity for Alan had come!