Zhou Quan and Zeng returned to Seattle.

In addition to his boxing training, he will also intensify his golf training, and in November he will compete on the PGA Tour and a number of other professional events.

But the specific situation depends on the arrangement of the boxing match, what he wants to do most is to unify the heavyweight of the four major boxing organizations, if the boxing match and the golf match meet, it must be dominated by the boxing match. If the unification battle is completed, then golf will be the main thing.

Philip stayed in New York and continued to negotiate a rematch with Donkin and Arlum.

On October 7, NBA teams began pre-selling season tickets for the new season.

The new season ticket pricing for each team is about 15% lower than last season, which is also a decision agreed between the league and the team.

Of course, 15% is not fixed, it depends on the market of each team.

The big teams dropped less, and three teams instead raised their season ticket prices, with the Lakers up 2%, the Knicks up 3%, and the Bulls up 5%.

SuperSonics has only dropped by 5%, while the other smaller teams have dropped by around 20%.

On October 11, the NBA's preseason began.

After the Great Purge, the management of NBA teams changed a lot, the league headquarters changed more people, and the proportion of blacks increased significantly.

Even under David Stern's will, the Alliance headquarters hired some Chinese staff.

After the start of the preseason, the NBA league also began to invest in publicity, hoping to wash away the negative impact of the last racial discrimination.

At the headquarters in New York, on the 14th, a meeting of presidents was held.

David Stern had a bad face because the situation in the league was not optimistic so far.

The regular season hasn't started yet, the ratings are not yet available, and it is expected to be a big drop from last season's regular season, and he just hopes that it doesn't fall too much.

However, the overseas market has been abolished, especially the overseas TV broadcast business, the copyright sales are far less than last year, the same is true for jersey sales, operating income has plummeted, and overseas promotion has also stagnated.

In addition, the season ticket sales, which have been in the start of a week, are not ideal, and on the basis of price reductions, they are also far worse than last season. Fortunately, it's only been a week, and there's still time.

"Gentlemen, there are four items on the agenda for today's meeting. First, we need to bring out a few new stars to fill the void of popularity after Tekken's retirement. Michael Jordan is also old, we have to prepare in advance, we need to build a new sign. Stern said.

"Iverson in Philadelphia is okay, his popularity is good, and his debut is at his peak."

"Grant Hill should be able to push up."

"If you are popular, you have to have a record. The Iron Fist King can come out, first of all, the record, and he has the popularity that he has before he has the record. Now whether it's Philadelphia or the Pistons, the record is not good, and the digital team can't even make the playoffs, and the record is a mess, how can you win it? ”

"What then?"

"That can also be praised, when Jordan entered the league in 84 years and won the championship in the seventh season in 91, not everyone has the luck of Iron Fist, and he won the championship in the second season."

At this time, David Stern interrupted the discussion and said: "Second, the slogan of anti-racism must be erected, and our NBA league must become the vanguard of anti-racism and strive to attract the return of the iron fist."

Now that we have gone through the Great Purge, I think Iron Fist has breathed a sigh of relief, as long as we persevere, there will be hope. ”

The crowd nodded one after another, but no one objected.

Stern added: "Third, the regular season is about to start, and I'm worried about the ratings, and it's likely that more smaller teams will lose money this season, which won't work.

I propose that the regional broadcast fees of each team be handed over to the league, which will then distribute it uniformly. ”

Hearing the final proposal, everyone looked at each other.

This proposal is aimed at big-ball city teams, only those big-ball cities have high regional broadcast income, such as Lakers, Knicks, Bulls, SuperSonics and other teams, Stern is trying to cut a knife at these big teams, but I'm afraid there will be difficulties.

Stern was actually just informing him that he had made a decision and that a meeting of the bosses would be held soon to discuss the issue.

Even if it doesn't work well this season, it has to be done next season, because next season there will be a new TV contract, the league's revenue will fall, and it will be more difficult for small teams to survive, and the big teams will have to be transfused to the team, otherwise the small teams will not be able to sustain themselves, and the big teams will not be able to do well.

At this time, he said: "Finally, the current collective bargaining agreement has expired, and we have to have new collective negotiations, and we have to be ready."

The players will definitely want to raise the salary cap, but the new TV contract is only 800 million, and with the operating income plummeting, our salary cap can only go down, not go up, so this labor negotiation will be very difficult, so everyone needs to be mentally prepared. ”

"What then? It's not going to stop, is it? ”

"Chances are, those players are insatiable and will ask for a salary cap increase."

"But our operating income has plummeted, and there is so much money that there is no basis for raising the salary cap."

"The players don't care, they will only ask the league to cede some of their interests to them, and the bankruptcy of the league is not in their consideration."

"I think it's hard to lower the salary cap, the salary cap of the other three major leagues is going up every year, if we cut it, who will want to participate in our draft in the future? The best young players in the NCAA go on to join the other three major leagues. ”

"I think the current salary cap should be maintained."

"Damn Hughes Blake, he killed the Alliance with a single word."

"He's already sleeping on the street, and I've heard that Adam Shaw is also dying, and they can't find a job at all."

"Well deserved!"

Everyone was talking, and Stern was also distracted, and his mind was a little messy.

……

On the evening of the 17th, Zhang Li made a phone call from China.

"Zhou Quan, I'm going to hold a basketball youth training camp in China, what do you think?"

"Good thing, do you want to sponsor?"

Zhou Quan knew that Zhang Li didn't have much money, otherwise he wouldn't have divorced.

"Haha! Feel free to give me some and I can promise that I won't spend money on training camps. ”

"I believe it. Where are you going to do it? ”

"Originally, I was going to do it in Hainan, but now that you are sponsoring, I plan to do it in Changsha to borrow your influence."

Zhou Quan thinks it's okay, under his influence, Changsha's basketball has developed well in recent years, and he has also donated a lot of basketball equipment to those primary and secondary schools in Changsha, maybe he can dig out a few good seedlings.

……

On the 20th, Philip returned to the United States from England and returned to Seattle the next day.

"Zhou, we didn't see Herbhead and Lewis, but we had contact with Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren, and we talked twice, and they both refused to fight in the united front, and things were a bit troublesome."

Zhou Quan also asked: "If you fight with me and earn at least more than 100 million US dollars, don't they want it?" ”

Philip smiled bitterly: "You won Tyson, really, not only hit Tyson, but also Lewis and others, they are very jealous of you now." ”

Zhou Quan was speechless, do you want me to delay a few more rounds?

Philip said: "Don Kim means to launch a public opinion war and force them to fight you. ”

Zhou Quan shook his head and said: "I am a boxer, how to promote is the responsibility and work of your promoters, you don't need to tell me how to do it." ”

Philip smiled and nodded.

The next day, some American media broke the news that Lewis and Herbhead, the current heads of the IBF and WBO, had rejected the unification fight offered to them by the Iron Fist King.

"Cowardly Englishmen, they are afraid of a fight with the Iron Fist." Los Angeles Daily News.

"In order to keep his title, the famous British boxing champion Lewis hid in the castle like a coward." The Seattle Times.

"In the face of the unification war issued by the Iron Fist King, the British chose to surrender!" Detroit Daily News.

These news were immediately reprinted and reported by many British media, and countless British people also knew about it, whether it was Lewis and Herbiehead, they all felt the pressure.

"Frank, Tyson lost to the Iron Fist King, that's because his strength is no longer at its peak, and I don't necessarily lose." Lewis made a phone call to Frank Warren, an agent promoter.

"Lennox, don't get excited, you have to know that you are a year older than Tyson, 32 years old, and 7 years older than the Iron Fist King." Frank Warren immediately persuaded.

"But I'm still at the top, and Tyson is not at the top, and that's because he's been in jail for a few years." Being underestimated by his agent, Lewis said with some anger.

"You wait for me to come."

Frank Warren hung up the phone after saying a word, and an hour later, he arrived at Lewis's training gym.

"Lennox, Tekken hit Tyson four times in the first round and didn't get hit once, you tell me, what are the chances of winning if you fight him?"

Lewis was silent for a moment, and said firmly: "I am 8 centimeters taller than the iron fist and weigh 12 kilograms, I have my advantage, Tyson can't beat him, it doesn't mean I can't beat him." If I don't fight this time, it will cause great damage to my reputation, have you considered it? ”

Frank Warren nodded, "Of course I have thought about it, I have considered many aspects of the gains and losses. Lennox, if you win, you'll be the best super boxing champion on the planet. However, I also have to think about the possibility of you losing the fight, because if you lose, you lose a lot.

Look at the current Tyson, his identity has plummeted, his popularity has lost a lot, and he is likely to collapse, do you want to fall into his situation? ”

Lewis hesitated, but when he thought of the news in the media, he was described as a coward, and said angrily: "Frank, I'm not afraid of failure, I've lost before, but I'm on my feet again." Even if I lose to Tekken this time, I can live with the consequences. ”

"Have you thought it through?" Frank Warren asked solemnly.

"Of course." Lewis nodded firmly.

"Okay then."

Frank Warren nodded a little helplessly, and said: "It seems that the Iron Fist King wants to complete the unification battle, and we can ask the Iron Fist side to give up some of its interests and try to fight for some benefits." It's better to whet their appetite first, we are not in a hurry. ”

……

On the other hand, Eddie Hearn is also discussing with Herbhead what to do.

"Hebbie, do you have the confidence to win?" Eddie Hearn asked.

"Well, Eddie, I need to think about it."

Herbie Head is a little stumped, the previously strong self-confidence is no longer visible on this issue, as a British Tyson, the old Tyson was knocked out in one round, which was too much of a blow to his self-confidence.

Eddie Hearn analyzed: "Win, with the influence of the Iron Fist King now, Herbie, you will win everything. Lose, Herbie, you're still old, only a year older than Tekken, and you still have a chance to get back on your feet. ”

"You want me to fight him?" Herbie Head said in surprise.

Eddie Hearn shook his head and said, "I'm just objectively analyzing, there is no undefeated boxing champion in heavyweight boxing, and you have also lost."

If you lose a fight with the Iron Fist King, I don't think it will damage your current status in the boxing world. Even, as long as you survive a round and last more time than Tyson, it's a win for you. ”

"What?"

Herbie Hyde felt humiliated and wanted to punch the agent in front of him.

He angrily asked, "Eddie, then why did you refuse the Iron Fist King's request for a united battle?" ”

Eddie Hearn smiled, "I'm just dragging them down and forcing them to back down." I think they'll definitely contact me again, and we'll get more out of it then. ”

Herbie Hyde gritted his teeth, and his heart was moved by the thought that a boxing match between the Iron Fist King and Tyson combined would earn more than $400 million.

As Hearn said, he is only 26 years old, and losing does not mean waiting for the future, once he wins, it will be a big win.

And Tyson has lost, and he has lost so badly, if he loses to the Iron Fist King, there is nothing unacceptable.

……

On the 25th, Philip suddenly ran to find Zhou Quan and excitedly took out a stack of photos.

"What?"

Zhou Quan was stunned, took it and took a look, and the first photo made his eyes widen.

"Adam Shaw?"

The first photo is of a bench with an eyed homeless man hiding on it, and although the image has changed drastically, he still recognizes it, isn't this some former special assistant to Stern?

"He didn't get a job, he didn't pay his mortgage for three months, and then the bank sued, sealed his house, and now he sleeps on bench 154 in New York's Central Park, which is his new home," Philip said. ”

"Haha......" Zhou Quan laughed.

Philip pointed to the photo in Zhou Quan's hand and said with a smile: "The information I got that the league has cleaned more than 300 people from the headquarters to the team, with 37 executives and 68 referees, but I didn't let others follow, only followed the eight executives at the headquarters, including Adam Xiaohua, four of the eight people are now bankrupt, and three are sleeping on the street, all here." ”

"Not bad."

Zhou Quan flipped through the photos, and explained with a smile: "You don't have to spend any more energy on them in the future, it's not worth it." ”

……

On the 26th, the Southeast Asian financial turmoil finally affected the U.S. stock market.

The Nasdaq index fell 6.8% on the day, triggering a circuit breaker at one point during the session.

(End of chapter)