On Jan. 16, Rob Riccelle, the Clippers' head of media, diverted to Los Angeles International Airport immediately after dropping off his three children to school.

Today there is an important guest who needs to be received by him.

Arriving at the airport at 10 a.m., he was joined by reporters from the Los Angeles Times, Ida, the executive director of the media department, and Jordan Peale and his documentary crew.

"Sorry sorry, I'm a little late and have to drop off my kids to school in the morning."

Richelle sweated profusely and apologized to the person who arrived first, then looked at the time, the plane had five minutes to land.

Jordan Peel pulled out a tissue and handed it to Riccelle, saying, "Rob, you're sweating a lot again, come on, give our media director a shot." ”

The videographer of the documentary crew pointed the camera at Riccelle, and Michael Kee on the side asked, "Hey, Rob, what kind of guests are we going to receive at the airport today?" ”

Riccelle wiped his sweat and said softly, "Started shooting?" Is it documentary material? ”

Michael Key: "Yes, say Rob. ”

Riccelle cleared his throat and said, "Well, we're at the airport today to welcome a special fan, he's from Cameroon, Africa. About a month ago, our staff received a letter from a fan who said he was a student at a seminary in Cameroon and that he was interested in basketball. His dream was to become a priest and one day watch an NBA game. ”

Michael Key asked, "Oh, being a priest, and watching an NBA game...... What is the relationship between the two? ”

Riccelle said, "It doesn't matter. I'm just emphasizing his thoughts! I remember to pinch this paragraph, I continued. In fact, we receive a lot of letters like this, because there are too many to reply to in time. However, at an intra-team meeting, Mr. Smart asked us to expand our fan work beyond the Los Angeles community, but to look globally and beyond! ”

Michael Key asked, "Did Mr. Smart really say that?" ”

Riccelle said: "I really said that it is better to do the fan work in Antarctica, and if I can recruit the penguins to be fans, I will be promoted to vice president." ”

"Okay, back to this fan, we have responded to this young fan's letter with the aim of spreading the spirit of basketball around the world, and then decided to invite him to the United States to watch an NBA game! That is, tonight, the Los Angeles Clippers vs. the Cleveland Cavaliers. The plane arrived at 9:50...... Oh, I'll see, the plane should have landed. ”

A large screen at the airport showed that a direct flight from Cameroon's capital, Yaoundé, to Los Angeles had landed, and passengers would then arrive in the concourse.

For the first time, 14-year-old Pascal Siakam left his native Cameroon so far away and arrived in Los Angeles in a giant Boeing plane.

America, a place that often comes to the ear, but feels out of reach.

His father, Chamo Siakam, used to tell him that if you play basketball seriously, one day you could get into the NBA and come to America.

But Siakam Jr. was very rebellious, he didn't want to listen to his father, he didn't want to play basketball in the NBA, he wanted to be a priest.

He felt that it was cool to be a priest, that he would be respected by many people, and that he could talk to God.

It's a lot cooler than running around the court with a basketball, and although his father, a professional athlete, gave him good athletic genes, he didn't plan to put it to good use.

Of course, being a priest is not necessarily a good choice, and the days of studying in a seminary are too strict and hard.

Like many children, 14-year-old Siakam has no clear idea of what he wants to become.

He opposes his father only because he doesn't want to hear his father, he wants to have his own thoughts, but what are his own thoughts?

He doesn't know, whatever.

More than a month ago, my father suddenly wrote letters to many NBA teams in his name, hoping to get a response from them.

Siakam knew what his father was trying to do, and he thought maybe some team would reply, and then he would see the reply and get interested in basketball.

Adults are really naïve sometimes, do you write a letter and the other party will reply to you?

Siakam Jr. looked at the world map in the seminary classroom, the United States and Cameroon were almost half a world apart, with the Atlantic Ocean in between.

Although there is no hope in my heart, but what if? What if any team writes back?

The moment the letter was sent, a seed of anticipation was planted in Siakam's heart.

He began to imagine that in the distant United States, that bustling, the most powerful country in the world, there was a group of people who formed a league because they loved basketball, and they were the best basketball players in the world, fighting for a championship.

Children don't understand what a business league is, and they think that basketball stars are like superheroes in movies, fighting for honor, victory, and peace.

In fact, at this point, Chamo Siakam's purpose has been achieved.

The seed has been planted, silently takes root and sprouts, and then one day it will grow into a big tree.

Many children planted seeds in their hearts as children, and when they become adults, they rely on the trees that grow from the seeds to support their lives.

But Chamer-Siakam didn't expect that an NBA team would actually reply!

He couldn't believe it when he received it, and without opening the envelope, he went straight to the seminary where his son was studying, and handed it to Siakam Jr. with his own hands.

Siakam Jr. was pleasantly surprised, and even more excited when he opened the letter and asked the priest to read it, because the letter said that Siakam Jr. would be invited to Los Angeles to watch an NBA game at the Clippers' expense.

So, on January 16, 2010, Siakam Jr. flew to Los Angeles with his father.

In the departure hall, father and son met with the Clippers staff and media who greeted them.

Riccelle immediately greeted him with someone, and the fat man's enthusiasm flattered the father and son, who felt that they were greatly respected.

Riccelle didn't do this in vain, and the reporter from the Los Angeles Times was there, and he would cover the whole fan giving event and promote the Los Angeles Clippers.

Such an event is bound to provoke an enthusiastic response, especially in an immigrant society like the United States.

An NBA team that stands tall invites fans from small African countries to watch an NBA game from thousands of miles away.

What a touching story that can bring positive publicity to the Clippers, to the NBA, and even to the entire American society!

What media and readers wouldn't love a story like this?

On the way to the Staples Center with the father and son, Ada asked Riccelle, "Director, did you tell Mr. Smart about this?" ”

Riccelle shook his head and said, "No, I want to talk to him, he doesn't give me a chance, he's always been out of the office lately." The time for them to come had just been finalized, and it was this time in the morning...... I guess Smart hasn't gotten up yet. By the way, Ada, thank you for the letter you gave me last time and gave me the opportunity to do this. Otherwise, the recent public opinion situation is really bad. ”

Siakam's letter was the last time Ida had given it to Riccelle in her office.

Riccelle gave Ida the restaurant's partner, and he took care of the letter.

Originally, he didn't take it seriously, but at the work meeting, Min Congda asked him to "open the pattern", and his pattern really opened.

All at once it opened a lot.

Ida heard that "the public opinion situation is bad" and hurriedly asked what was going on.

Riccelle let out a long sigh and said, "Recently, it has been rumored on the Internet that Mr. Smart has taken control of the Clippers and kidnapped Sterling bosses, and the struggle at the top is very fierce!" I have to refute the rumors every day and deal with these unwarranted slanderous rumors! Damn, I don't know who spread this stuff, I'm going to take him to court if I find him! ”

Ida said: "I've seen these recently, no wonder there are always rumors from fans asking if there is something wrong within the team. But Mr. Smart doesn't seem to know for the time being. ”

Riccelle said, "Can't let him know!" Or let him know later, I think when the fan event is over and the team can win some praise, I will tell him about the public opinion, and he should be a little more acceptable. ”

Ida nodded in agreement, as a staff member of the public opinion department, it is their responsibility to protect the mental safety of their general manager.

(End of chapter)