On the 18th, it was a Chinese derby, and the Warriors flew to Cleveland on the 16th, where they had a day off to prepare for the game. That saves you the hassle of flying back to Auckland and back east.

The next day, Zhou Xuan called Yao Ming and asked him to meet him at the Asian restaurant south of Super Avenue.

The two also often talk online, and Yao Ming prefers Houston to Cleveland, where he is used to living, his parents are there, and Yao's restaurant is also there. Now I have to live here with my wife.

Cleveland is the largest city in Ohio, USA, and an important location for land and water transportation. The metropolitan area includes 4 neighboring counties with a population of about 1.9 million. There are not many Chinese here, and even fewer people watch football, Yao Ming's popularity is far less than James, and he feels like he is just an ordinary player.

In addition, basketball is just a popular sport here, and there is a lot of competition. There are three of the four major professional league teams, the Indians (baseball) and the Cleveland Star City (football).

The two met at the hotel, ordered food casually, and chatted.

There are TVs in the restaurants, and many people watch the college baseball team play while eating. Throughout the street, in all the restaurants that are open, there are cheers from the fans. It was the University of Michigan team's game that was being broadcast, and it was seen from the TV screen that the scene was full, and the fans in red and white clothes were all excited and cheering, which attracted Zhou Xuan's attention.

Americans are obsessed with baseball, and even during the NBA shutdown, sports fans can find sustenance to radiate enthusiasm. And most of the Chinese have little interest in baseball, like Zhou Xuan, who doesn't even know the rules.

Yao Ming didn't buy a house in Cleveland for the time being, but just rented an apartment to live in, and met with Zhou Xuan today, in addition to talking about basketball, he also talked about his next contract.

It's no secret that Yao Ming wants to jump out of his contract at the end of this season.

The previous season, Chinese basketball expert Yang Yi said that he believed that Yao Ming had a 95% chance of jumping out of contract after the 2009-2010 season, although that did not mean that Yao Ming would definitely leave Houston, but at least gave other teams a chance to pursue it.

Whether it is from the pursuit of personal business interests of athletes or from the perspective of personal development, jumping out of the contract is a better choice for Yao Ming. If he doesn't trade, he can re-sign with the Rockets for up to six years. 300 million contracts. Now that the transaction is over, he has no scruples, and after jumping out of the contract, he can consider who provides me with a better environment and who has a better configuration, and then make a decision.

Yao Ming is not actually an ideal, traditional leader who carries the team on his shoulders, unlike the arrogant Larry? Bird, or the dominant, almost paranoid Michael? Jordan. He lacks physical strength and has suffered many injuries, and the position of the male number two suits him very well. Now that Yao Ming is almost 30 years old, he should make a change.

"I'm conflicted right now, I can't win a championship in the Cavaliers, I can't find a better team, but if you don't jump out of the contract, I don't know what will happen to the 2011 collective bargaining agreement, maybe the contract will be reduced, what will you do if it were you?" Yao Ming asked.

Zhou Xuan thought for a while and said with a smile: "Just jump out of the contract, with the contract is naturally not afraid of shutdowns and the like." You just came to the Knights, and you didn't buy a house here, so you actually tend to jump out of the contract, right? You don't have any relationship with this team. ”

"yes." Yao Ming wants to win the championship, but he also has to think about his future.

"Then jump out of the contract, get the next money first and then think about the rest, otherwise the loss will definitely be big, the championship is fateful, maybe you will get it this season."

Zhou Xuan's contract expired in 2011, and after this season, the team only needs to consider whether to renew his contract in advance, as a recognized first-line defender, there is no big surprise, he is likely to get the top salary, and he does not have Yao Ming-style troubles at all. Although the Warriors have changed owners, he doesn't think he's leaving, he's already the core of the team.

The league is not in a good position right now. The United States has not yet recovered from the economic crisis, and Stern is shouting every day that it will lose money, and the NBA will implement a new collective bargaining agreement after 2011, which is said to give players a 30% pay cut. But the league needs more and more stars, dunks, and eyeballs.

Whether the owner has money or not has nothing to do with the team's record.

Like the Pacers' investment team, which has $4 billion in total assets; Spurs' Pete? Holt has only 100 million. And the operation of the team's general manager is not only based on whether he has made a big deal or how good a record he has. Like McHale, who is seen as an undercover Timberwolves by fans, but is a real good player in the eyes of experts, Forbes hailed him as the best successor and team manager in August 2007.

The NBA is a place where if the team doesn't have a convincing star, it can only rely on execution and coaching, and the only way to success for such a team is iron and blood. Muscle collisions, lots of fouls, resolute tactical literacy, and a fearsome fighting spirit are the kind of teams that have ever had, and that is the Pistons.

If there is a real trump card, then the team can be upgraded from a civilian team in an instant, with a core, the team can build a team around him, the star has achieved results, the team will be more determined to strengthen the players for him, the Trail Blazers are starting with Roy, the Hornets are Paul, and the Cavaliers are James.

Yao Ming is not really the one who can decide the game, his body determines that he can't play for a long time, can't be stable to be the team's key moments, the most trustworthy core in key games.

Yao Ming should now consider himself a businessman, and it will be good for him. Fans may think that he first carries the hope of the people of the motherland, but he is also an ordinary person, and the system has shaped him and imprisoned him.

Yao Ming's current income is 94 million from the NBA and 90 million from advertising, and the counting units are all US dollars. If he jumped out of his contract in 2010, how much would Yao Ming get? If calculated according to the maximum salary, he can get a contract of about 90 million for 5 years.

If he waits for the arrival of 2011, Yao Ming may only get a 4-year contract of 60 million, which is also calculated according to the maximum salary. The NBA's new collective bargaining agreement has not yet been finalized, and it is highly likely that this will happen, and the new max-paid players of each team will not get the same big contracts as before. The difference is huge and one that any player would want to avoid. The only way to do this is to get out of the contract early and seek and protect your rights and interests in the summer of 2010, when the old collective bargaining agreement is still in force.

Although Yao Ming still has a one-year contract worth 17 million, it is at least more than $20 million worse than what he will lose, and if he is injured again, it is doubtful how big the next contract will be.

"Actually, the Warriors team is very good, there are many Chinese, and the fans are enthusiastic, but the style is not suitable for me, I really envy you." Yao Ming sighed.

"Hopefully I'll be able to stay with the Warriors to the end." Zhou Xuan said with a smile. This is the most pleasant thing for him, unlike Malone and Stockton, he has a championship ring, and if he sets various stat records in the Warriors in the future, and the jersey is retired in the arena, what an honor.

Once traded, it's not so perfect, and Yao Ming thinks the same way.

After a while, they changed the subject, and Yao Ming asked, "You and Emma?" What's going on with Watson? Your sister-in-law is also concerned about this. ”

"It's a friend for the time being, she's curious about Chinese, and I think it's good to talk to her, and there's no pressure." Of course, part of it is my vanity, and I feel very embarrassed to be with her. Zhou Xuan was telling the truth.

He is a young man, young people are passionate, if he is not moved at all in the face of famous beauty stars in the world, is he still a normal person?

Yao Ming smiled: "You have to get very close to Emma, what should you do if you meet Xiao Nie in the future?" ”

Zhou Xuan sighed: "I don't even have her phone number now, let's talk about it when we meet in the future, when will she contact me." Isn't there a saying in China that we cherish the people in front of us? I don't always cling to what I can't see or touch. ”

Yao Ming smiled embarrassedly. "You kid can really afford to put it down, it is indeed Xiao Nie's loss to miss you, people like you who don't smoke or drink, can cook and make money, and are good are too rare."

"So I guess God doesn't want me to live too perfectly, give me a perfect life." Zhou Xuan decided to look forward, if Nie Yuyan was sad, he couldn't help it, because he couldn't coax people he couldn't see.

Some are passionate, some are love. After many people's passion, they lose their love. Zhou Xuan felt that he and Nie Yuyan were in love, and he wanted to be responsible, but he didn't have a chance.

Yao Ming shook his head, not knowing what to say, although he also had some opinions of his own, he didn't want to say it. He doesn't want to interfere too much in other people's love lives. It's also amazing to be able to get together with female stars. What Zhou Xuan did was the choice of a young man, could he persuade him to be single-minded, even if he was separated?

After eating, Yao Ming went home, and Zhou Xuan walked around Cleveland alone.

The Superdrive walked south, past St. John's Church, and after about ten minutes, he walked to the most central part of the city, the Memorial Park in the public square, and the main street of the city, from which most of the main streets radiated in all directions. In the center of the square is a "Civil War Soldiers and Sailors Memorial" and a statue of the city's founder, Mr. Cleveland.

To the southwest is the 52-storey Teminar Building, with an observation hall overlooking the city and Lake Erie, but such a note did not impress Zhou Xuan, who was not interested in going up to the rooftop to see the scenery.

The construction of large-scale events is being done in the public square, and the central area has been partially closed, so he can only take a detour. I inquired and said there was a celebration of the baseball team that night, if the state team won. What if it fails? Aren't these useless work? Zhou Xuan said in his heart, he would not say it and sweep away the excitement of others.

After a while, Zhou Xuan felt bored and returned to the hotel, and suddenly there was a **** who played the piano, and he found that he had more and more potential as an otaku.