On July 8, Zhou Quan came to the men's basketball training site to report and prepare to participate in this year's World Championships.

The tournament was held in Indianapolis, the city of the Pacers, at the end of August.

There are four groups in total, with China and the United States, Germany, and Algeria in Group C, also known as the Group of Death.

The Chinese national team is very much looking forward to the championship of this World Championship, because the Dream Five team is not strong, especially the center position is only Ben Wallace and O'Neal Jr., power forward Brand, small forward Marion and Paul Pierce, and the guard is Andre Miller and the Bulls' top pick this year, Jay Williams.

Zhou Quan felt that the U.S. team was joking, they had already lost the Olympic championship the year before last, and this time they actually chose such a member to play in the World Championships.

Especially in the guard line, Andre Miller is just a second-rate player, and the No. 1 position is to use a champion who hasn't played in the NBA for a day to play against him, is he trying to humiliate him?

In fact, he didn't take into account that those excellent guards in the NBA didn't want to be with him, and he had been blown up into scum in the NBA, and he didn't want to be blown up by him again on the international stage, so he refused the invitation of the national team.

He didn't train much after the report, and he didn't rest well, that is, he practiced tactics for an hour a day to get in touch with his teammates.

The three of Da Yao participated in the training, but they didn't have much time, anyway, Zhou Quan had already negotiated and would not play the warm-up game.

On August 3, he began his formal training.

On the 26th, the men's basketball team arrived in the United States.

In this World Championships, the men's basketball team finally won the championship, but the final opponent was not the United States, the United States did not enter the final, and even lost to Argentina, where Ginobili was located, and only finished fourth, and the final opponent was Yugoslavia led by Peja.

Winning two world championships in a row, the Chinese men's basketball team has become a real world powerhouse.

After playing the World Championships, he returned to Seattle and did not return to China. Mom and Dad and Zeng Tanuki mother and son are still in China and will not come over for the time being.

The Jazz listing has not yet been confirmed, it will take time to review, there should be no chance this year, it may have to wait until next year, but the Jazz's plans for Starbucks have already begun.

Accelerating the expansion of second-, third- and fourth-tier cities, forcing Starbucks to expand its investment scale by seizing the market, and carrying out price reduction promotions in the three first-tier cities to reduce Starbucks' profit margins.

Back in Seattle, he got his roster for the new season and it felt okay.

But the Lakers have strengthened the postman, a superstar who still exists, and next season's Lakers may become a fierce rival to the supersonics.

However, the Lakers also have hidden dangers, the relationship between Kobe Bryant and O'Neal, O'Neal's weight control, plus injury problems, internal problems in management, etc., will affect the strength of this team.

Kobe's strength should be further improved than last season, this young man will practice every offseason, but also because of the improvement of strength, the ambitious Kobe Bryant will further pursue his status in the Lakers, which is what he believes is the hidden danger of the relationship between Kobe and O'Neal.

The status in the team is not only the position of the leader of the locker room, the position of the boss, but also the specific position on the field, which is related to the tactical position, the ball possession, the right to shoot, etc., simply the dominance of the team.

After Kobe's strength is further improved, according to his character, he will definitely have conflicts with O'Neal and Phil Jackson because of his dominance.

But according to Kobe's character, these conflicts should not break out directly, and may continue to form a cold war within the team, until the team's record is seriously affected and the management cannot control it.

Of course, this is only his analysis based on Kobe's character, and it can't be counted.

Another threat to supersonic speeds in the West is the Spurs.

After three years of return, he has been looking forward to meeting the Spurs in the playoffs, but unfortunately it has not been possible, and he has not been able to play with Tim Duncan in the playoffs, which is really unfortunate.

Now that the young people of the Spurs are starting to grow up, such as Tony Parker, Stephen Jackson, etc., and they have got Bowen who they have always wanted, the strength of this team is also growing, and the supersonic team has undergone a major change, the strength will definitely weaken, and the Spurs' threat to the supersonic will definitely increase further.

Of course, Spurs also have hidden dangers of Spurs, such as injuries.

It was because of Duncan's injury that the Spurs were eliminated in the first round the following year after winning the championship in '99.

David Robinson is getting older, and there are fewer and fewer places where he can help Tim Duncan. Tony Parker and Stephen Jackson are youngsters, but they're far from their prime, while improving.

However, the Spurs have a newcomer who has not yet reported, that is, the Argentine teenager Ginobili who has just defeated the United States team in the World Championships, there is something on him, and the breakthrough is very distinctive, and it is said that he will join the Spurs in the new season, and the Spurs' bench lineup will be further increased.

The Spurs definitely want to hit the championship this season, and even signed Battle with a base salary of $600,000 to deal with O'Neal.

The other superSonics threat in the West is the Kings and then the Mavericks, but these two teams are a little less of a threat than the first two teams, and the superSonics are more certain to play without the strong interior lines of O'Neal and Duncan.

Then on September 15, Zhou Quan played his first WBA title defense against Klitschko Jr., the younger brother of Dake.

Xiao Ke was not as strong as Da Ke, and he easily knocked out his opponent at the 134th second of the first round and successfully defended his title.

On October 6, Zhou Quan was lucky enough to snatch a title from Tiger Woods and win the PGA Tour in San Francisco.

Tiger Woods has now become a superstar in golf, winning dozens of championships in a few years and standing the equivalent of Jordan in American sports.

When he was playing golf in San Francisco, Kobe Bryant also went to watch the game, and through his introduction, he became friends with Tiger.

Zhou Quan made a discovery that Kobe Bryant and Woods have the same hobbies, they are young and rich, and they are looking for women outside together, and they are still calling.

He felt that these two young people with the same interests might not capsize one day, after all, there were too many such things, and there was no leaky wind in the world.

On the 7th, Zhou Quan remained in San Francisco and prepared to return to Seattle the next day.

On this day, he went to Chinatown and a few thrift markets, and spent more than $10,000 in total to buy some things that were good, and had people pack them up and send them to Seattle.

There are no real things in the antique shops in Chinatown, but sometimes you can find good things in the thrift market, and it depends on luck and eyesight.

He didn't have much eyesight before, he bought a lot of fakes, but then he had more eyesight, more experience, and read a lot of related books, and now his eyesight has come up, and he can find a few good things when luck comes.

However, when he buys these things, the price he pays is generally higher than that of ordinary people, after all, he is a superstar, and there are few people in the United States who do not know him.

In the evening, when he was about to have lunch, Bryant called and said that O'Neal was coming, making an appointment for dinner, with Woods.

"Kobe, are you still in San Francisco?"

Zhou Quan was a little surprised, he thought Kobe Bryant had returned to Los Angeles.

"I'm going to go back in two days." Bryant laughed.

"Is there anything wrong with the sharks?" He asked.

"He? Oh, he's coming over to play. ”

Kobe's voice sounded a little embarrassed, and Zhou Quan suspected that nothing good was good, because O'Neal also liked to play outside, and he had known it for a long time.

But Kobe Bryant can play with O'Neal, is the relationship between the two of them so good now?

Soon after, at an agreed high-end Western restaurant, Kobe and Woods arrived first, and O'Neal arrived a few minutes later.

When he saw O'Neal, Kobe's eyes widened, and he stood up suddenly, and said in surprise and anger: "Shaq, you, your weight?" ”

O'Neill said embarrassedly: "It's a little fat, not much, it's just a few kilograms." ”

Kobe Bryant said even more angrily: "How many kilograms? It's a few tens of kilograms, right? You're lying. ”

"Kobe, it's enough for you to mind your own business." Accused by a younger brother, O'Neill said unhappily.

"Humph!"

Kobe Bryant was so angry that his face turned white, and he sat down and turned his head to look at O'Neal again.

Tiger Woods was a little embarrassed, he and O'Neal had known each other for a long time, and it was he who asked O'Neal to come over to play, but he didn't expect Kobe and O'Neal to quarrel as soon as they met.

At this time, Zhou Quan also arrived, feeling that Kobe Bryant was not very happy, and only nodded when he saw him, without the emotion of speaking, which was a little strange.

"Shark, how much are you?"

He was startled when he saw O'Neal, he hadn't seen him for five months, O'Neal had gained a lot of weight, the big shark had become a big fat shark, no wonder Kobe was unhappy, he wouldn't be happy if he was replaced, O'Neal's weight was obviously out of control.

O'Neill said embarrassedly, "I've just gained a few kilograms." ”

Bryant said coldly: "If it's only a few kilograms, I'll swim back to Los Angeles from San Francisco." ”

This angered O'Neill, and he said unhappily: "Then you go swimming." ”

Kobe snorted coldly and stopped talking.

Zhou Quan asked curiously, "You two are in the same city, haven't you seen each other for a few months?" ”

Both snorted at the same time, but neither spoke.

Well, Zhou Quan understands that the relationship between Kobe and O'Neal is really in trouble, otherwise they wouldn't have seen each other in one city for several months.

Perhaps, the reason for being swept again? Why haven't you been able to win the championship for so many years? He thinks these are probably the two most important reasons.

After all, poor couples are in decline, and the OK combination has been in decline for so many years, but it has never been able to rush out of the west, and it is normal to have internal contradictions.

"Okay, don't talk about it, this is a public place, be quiet, I see that the reporter will be there soon." Zhou Quan warned the two.

"Tiger, where are you going to play tonight?" Not bothering about Kobe Bryant and O'Neal, he asked casually after sitting down next to Woods.

Tiger Woods said embarrassedly: "Look at Shaq, there are a few very good nightclubs here." ”

Zhou Quan glanced at Kobe and O'Neal, who were like enemies, turned his head and asked in a low voice, "Kobe Bryant Shark came over just to play with you?" You're not going to play with three people, are you? ”

“NONONO……”

Woods said embarrassedly: "I came over with Ishak, of course, they are playing their own games." But I guess I can't play it now, I didn't expect their relationship to be so bad. ”

Zhou Quan smiled, no wonder, he thought it was Kobeyo's, but it wasn't.

"What are you muttering? Did you order a dish? O'Neill looked at Zhou Quan and Woods and said.

"Not yet. Waiter? Woods hurriedly waved his hand and shouted, and a waiter who was waiting not far away hurriedly walked over.

Zhou Quan knew that there was news in the media again, and the conflict between Kobe Bryant and O'Neal just now would definitely be exposed, and the guests and waiters around him had been paying attention to them and were all watching it.

He felt that he might also be in trouble, in case the matter of Kobe and the Tiger Female Ticket was exposed, maybe it would affect him.

He expected it to be good, halfway through dinner, some reporters had already arrived outside, obviously rushing to get the news.

"You sit down slowly, I'll go first."

After dinner, Woods was ready to order another cup of coffee and leave when it was dark, and Zhou Quan generally didn't drink coffee after dinner, and got up to leave.

"Iron Fist King, don't you play together?"

"Nope."

He shook his head and asked O'Neill, "Shark, are you all together?" ”

It's all here, you can't come in vain, you must have fun, O'Neill said embarrassedly: "I'm with the tiger." ”

Zhou Quan nodded, and when he came to the outside of the restaurant, several reporters immediately stopped him.

"Iron Fist King, I heard that Kobe Bryant and O'Neal fell out, is it true?" A reporter asked.

"Oh, I was the latest to come, did they fall out? Why did you fall out? He asked, feigned surprise.

"Iron Fist King, you have been with Tiger and Kobe Bryant these days......"

As soon as a reporter spoke, he was immediately interrupted by Zhou Quan, Zhou Quan said: "Sir, be cautious when you speak, I only met Tiger Kobe Bryant and them in the past three days, and I only had dinner with them the day before yesterday, and the media reported it, what does it mean to be together all the time?" I rested in the hotel after the race, and I spent the day shopping. ”

"I'm sorry, Iron Fist."

The reporter hurriedly changed the subject and asked, "Iron Fist King, I heard that you bought some antiques again today, do you have any good things?" ”

Zhou Quan said with a smile: "There is a set of tableware from China that is not bad, it is very well preserved, and there is no shortage of one." ”

He didn't say much, after all, these journalists didn't understand either.

That set of utensils is the Yongzheng period of the kiln color powder, but the quality is good, belongs to the kiln boutique, a set of 32 pieces of large and small, which is more rare.

Generally, it is difficult to keep this complete set of tableware, and if one of them is broken, the value of the whole set of tableware will be greatly reduced.

In the former Haokun House, as long as one of these sets of tableware was broken, the whole set could not be used, just like what was written in the Red Mansion.

"Take the Iron Fist King to attract firepower, let's go too?" In the restaurant, Tiger said very chickenly.

"Let's go."

O'Neill immediately stood up and said decisively.

Bryant didn't talk to O'Neal, but he also stood up.

The three of them had a car outside, arranged by the agent or the hotel, and they got into the car quickly after going out, and several reporters were surrounding Zhou Quan, not reacting at all, and when they noticed, the car of the three had already left.

"Damn!"

Seeing the three people who slipped away, Zhou Quan cursed secretly.

(End of chapter)