Following the meeting with Rockets owner Alexander, Mr. Fang Zhuo, chairman of two Nasdaq-listed companies and the richest man in mainland China, wanted to acquire the team without encountering obstruction from the league's board of directors.
The league is even happy to see such a young president from China become the owner of a team. This is conducive to the development of the NBA's overseas market. The so-called team buyer qualification review is actually just a very simple criterion for the Board of Directors.
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That is, whether the new owner is conducive to the future development of the team and the league.
The Dongfang president undoubtedly meets this standard, and his net worth is also at the upper end of the spectrum among team owners.
On the other hand, for Fang Zhuo, he also has a very simple criterion, whether the team in your league can make me a sports tycoon, and whether I can sell the team after working for several years or ten years.
Replace half of the production line.
At present, there is great hope.
Fang Zhuo has followed the words of PH, a company hired by Goldman Sachs to provide procurement solutions, and replicated a donkey-butt bet.
According to this group of people, the stupid things of the rich are the easiest to spread, and media channels will also contribute to creating an image of a boss from the East as reckless, passionate, impulsive, and nosy.
When this year’s team record is finalized, Fang Zhuo’s photo of fulfilling his bet will appear on the cover of Time Magazine and will be featured in media magazines such as The New Yorker and The Economist.
Then it’s time to go through the approval process of the four major departments in the United States that Zhang Rujing, the head of SMIC, has gone through.
U.S. affairs, U.S. commerce, U.S. defense, U.S. energy.
According to Zhang Rujing’s experience, the most difficult thing to get approval from was the national defense department. He went back and forth many times to get approval from this department.
As long as the four major departments gather their signatures, the equipment procurement of ice core can be based on the commercial level like SMIC, and it also involves the approval of technology introduction.
Goldman Sachs and PH believe that Zhang Rujing can get approval based on his Taiwanese background, resume in the United States, Christian family, etc. Now with Bushi's more relaxed attitude towards the East, Mr. Fang Zhuo can also get approval based on his stupidity.
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In this regard, Fang Zhuo thinks that a man can bend and stretch.
What’s more, he really thinks he can help Dayao build a championship team.
On April 7, Fang Zhuo received a call from NBA President David Stern, and the two sides had a friendly exchange.
That night, he moved a little bit more and went to a private gym to learn how to dribble with his hips, preparing to put on a show when necessary.
On April 8, the league's Board of Governors received more specific opinions, agreeing in principle to Alexander's sale of the Houston Rockets.
In the evening, practice ball.
On April 9, Fang Zhuo handed over the work of purchasing real estate in Houston to his secretary, and went to New York to inspect Yike's work, meet with Sony's friends and solve some minor problems.
There was no ball practice that night, but I just had dinner with Yu Hong.
"How was the matter resolved a while ago?" Yu Hong asked about official business, "Why did the state legislator who said dumping make no move?"
"Well." Fang Zhuo said, "This one didn't follow the conventional route. I talked with lawyer Martin when I was in Tokyo. He gave me a lot of suggestions, including many preventive measures, but there is also an additional suggestion."
Yu Hong is all ears.
“Lawyer Martin suggested that Yike become a consulting business client of Bloomberg. I accepted the suggestion and the matter was resolved.” Fang Zhuo smiled.
Bloomberg?
Yu Hong only knew that it was a news agency. She didn’t know that it also had consulting business, nor did she know how it might be related to state legislators.
Fang Zhuo shrugged: "The current mayor of New York is Bloomberg. He is a billionaire and the founder of Bloomberg. As for why he became a client of Bloomberg, it solved the parliamentarian's question about Yi Ke. Anyway, lawyer Martin is
That’s what I suggested.”
Yu Hong: “…”
There are always people who are quietly collecting money behind the scenes of the company's progress.
Yu Hong shook her head helplessly. She knew it must be legal without asking further.
"Let's talk about something happy. If everything goes well, the acquisition process will be completed by the middle of the month." Fang Zhuo said with a smile, "You have to witness the birth of a sports tycoon."
Yu Hong knew something about the purchase of ice cores. Hearing this, she asked, "Really? Are you sure a much-ridiculed team owner isn't about to appear?"
"Creating a public image is really a science, and you can see how important media channels are." Fang Zhuo said thoughtfully, "I'm not worried about ridicule or ridicule. Anyway, it will definitely bring a new atmosphere to this team in the future.
Now I am worried about being stuck in purchasing.”
“Isn’t Goldman Sachs a shareholder? They won’t just sit back and watch this happen, right?” Yu Hong asked.
“Goldman Sachs is not omnipotent.” Fang Zhuo nodded, “But they are indeed very active in helping. They are more active than I thought.”
Yu Hong smiled: "I know the reason."
Fang Zhuo: “?”
Yu Hong continued: "Goldman Sachs must also believe that you can make ice cores, at least on a certain scale. I'm afraid they are not thinking about the money you invested in ice cores, but the future equity appreciation of ten times or a hundred times."
money.”
Fang Zhuo was startled. It was really possible. After all, there was Yike Zhuyu in front of him.
Yu Hong asked again: "The situation of SMIC is very bad after it is listed, but it will be even worse if it is not listed. Do you have a listing plan for Bingxin?"
Fang Zhuo pondered and said: "Bingxin is short of money, but, well, even if there is an opportunity to go public, it must be suppressed."
Yu Hong was puzzled: “Why?”
Fang Zhuo did not answer. He had a time point in his mind around 2008. By then, if ice cores can develop to a certain scale, they may attract the attention of the United States, and the financial crisis will become a good opportunity for continued development.
Before this, it is better for the ice core to develop in a low-key manner.
The dinner was very enjoyable. Fang Zhuo and Yu Hong had a lot of exchanges about company matters. Dining alone was like a small company meeting specially held by Yike. One time, the president was talking incessantly, and the other time, the director was eloquent.
Finally, Yu Hong drove Fang Zhuo back to the hotel.
Fang Zhuo remembered something: "Mr. Yu, Xiao Yu, I asked you before if you have considered transferring back to China, but you never gave me an answer."
“Are you asking from the perspective of the chairman or as a friend today?” Yu Hong said without looking back.
Fang Zhuo asked curiously: “What’s the difference?”
"For the former, I have to consider whether you want to be a cunning rabbit and a running dog, or whether you want to sideline me." Yu Hong said calmly, "For the latter, you can speak your mind."
Fang Zhuo thought for a while: "I am chatting with you from the perspective of the most solid partner who works side by side."
“That’s how you are.” Yu Hong shook her head slightly, “Forget it, I haven’t thought about it yet. It will take a while. The sales volume of the company’s products has grown very well this year. Don’t change the boss at this time.”
"Okay, okay, Yu Shuai, are you interested in watching a basketball game together tomorrow? I want to see Dayao's expression when he sees his new boss." Fang Zhuo did not continue the discussion and changed the topic to a lighter topic.
“I dare not refuse the boss’s invitation.” Yu Hong raised her eyebrows.
“Okay, let’s go to a game tomorrow night and accompany me to meet Stringer the day after tomorrow.” Fang Zhuo said with a smile, “Stringer is a good friend of our Yike, it is necessary to meet and chat again.”
Yu Hong keenly heard the cunning and cleverness mixed with his usual flavor from the boss's mouth. She slowed down the car and gave him a questioning look.
While eating, Fang Zhuo couldn't help but refrain from talking about Stringer's invitation and his thoughts on cooperation with Sony and Bertelsmann. Only now did he talk about it with a hint of pride.
Yu Hong was dumbfounded after hearing the cause and effect.
After a long time, she slowly made a comment: "Isn't Stringer inviting the wolf into the house?"
Fang Zhuo pretended to be angry: "What do you mean?"
Yu Hong said with a smile: "In Stringer's eyes, you are a super-capable CEO of a listed company, a well-known rich man in China, and someone who may also have a certain reputation in the Japanese business community and has an Eastern mindset. Maybe you are what he wants."
This kind of thinking helps.”
“But in fact, you are a character who grinds his teeth to suck blood, has a heart as hard as iron, and is ruthless in his methods, and you are trying to steal benefits for yourself without knowing it.”
Fang Zhuo pursed his lips and said, "It's too much. What you said makes me afraid of myself."
Yu Hong glanced at her with an unclear meaning: "It's okay, I like this kind of boss, we all like Mr. Fang."
She still said in a funny way: "Sony invited you over. Didn't you put a big plate of meat in front of you to choose from?"
“No, he’s just a foreign director, a non-executive director, and an independent director. It’s not that easy to eat meat. It takes some effort.” Fang Zhuo loosened his seat belt when he saw that he was about to reach his destination.
“Give you a fulcrum and you can move the earth.” Yu Hong quoted a famous saying.
Fang Zhuo felt that his capable subordinate was complaining about him, so he modified the sentence: "Give us a fulcrum, and we will move the earth together."
"Okay, you must tell me your plans for this later. Well, see you tomorrow, Mr. Fang." Yu Hong said with a smile.
“Why don’t you go up and have a drink?” Fang Zhuo said politely.
“Hypocritical.” Yu Hong glanced sideways.
Fang Zhuo, who was really not a hypocrite, got out of the car quickly.
Sometimes, he would also miss the way Xiao Yu looked astride a motorcycle. She was so heroic back then, but now, even if her sharpness is restrained, it is a bit irritating.
April 10th, half-day meeting and half-day practice.
After practicing basketball moves for several days, I finally have the ability to dribble with my hips.
That evening, Fang Zhuo and Yu Hong sat in the front row of Madison Garden in New York to watch the game between the Rockets and the Knicks.
As of today, the Rockets are ranked seventh in the Western Conference. Even if there is not much time left at the end of the regular season, they are still consolidating their spot in the playoffs.
As Yao Ming said that night, the Rockets obviously do not have the strength to win the championship. Even if Fang Zhuo's goal in front of the media is the Western Conference Finals, it will be quite difficult.
The opponents in the Western Conference playoffs are the Lakers with Kobe and O'Neal, the Spurs with Duncan, Parker, Ginobili, and the Kings with Peja, Webber and many other strong teams.
Yao Ming From the perspective of the players playing against each other, the Rockets really don’t have much hope this year.
So, when he saw Fang Zhuo for the first time after hearing the news about the team's change of ownership, he really didn't know what expression to give. Mr. Fang, what should he say to him?
“Dayao, come on.”
Fang Zhuo was sitting in the front row, enjoying the basketball game with ease and cheering for the Oriental Giants.
“The way he looked at you made me laugh so hard.” Yu Hong noticed Yao Ming’s complicated eyes and couldn’t help but laugh.
“Hey, he will understand me.” Fang Zhuo was a little embarrassed.
The game at night was very exciting.
It’s just that during the half-time break, the “Kiss Cam” session was held in the venue as usual, which made Fang Zhuo and Yu Hong who were included in the camera a little embarrassed.
Kiss Cam is an interactive game for spectators after the game. When the big screen is pointed at the fans in the auditorium, two people sitting next to each other will kiss each other.
Fang Zhuo was chatting with Yu Hong about the situation of the second half of the game when he suddenly felt that the people next to him were looking over, and he immediately saw the handsome guys and beauties on the big screen.
Oh, this...
Yu Hong quickly noticed the big screen.
The two looked at each other and then looked away awkwardly.
However, the court camera did not move away and was still stubbornly focused on the Rockets' new owner.
There were sporadic cheers from foreigners behind me.
“Kiss!”
“Kiss!!”
Fang Zhuo and Yu Hong looked at each other again, their expressions a little subtle.
How about doing as the Romans do?
Don’t kiss the lips, just kiss the cheeks.
Fang Zhuo suddenly felt a little ready to make a move.
At this time, Yao Ming came out of the tunnel and saw the two people in embarrassment.
He strode forward considerately, covering the court camera with his broad back, to save the two compatriots.
Fang Zhuo looked up at Dayao.
Dayao looked down at his boss.
The figure of the Eastern Giant is like the Great Wall, giving people a huge sense of security.
“Dayao, come on, I will go to watch every game you play next.” Fang Zhuo cheered expressionlessly.
Yao Ming nodded: "Do your best, Mr. Fang."
“When I have time... I have time to communicate and play games.” Fang Zhuo knew that Dayao liked to play games.
Yao Ming grinned, saw the target changed on the big screen, and waved his sleeves, not taking away a single cloud.
Fang Zhuo watched the giant leave and said quietly: "Xiao Yu, do you know, I will definitely trade Francis."
Yu Hong frowned: "Do you also think it is difficult for him to maintain his current strength as a Western Conference All-Star guard?"
“No, I want to take revenge on Dayao.” Fang Zhuo said calmly.
Yu Hong's heart skipped a beat, and she asked nonchalantly after two seconds: "Who can you trade him with? I really think you will be known as the stupid boss for a long time."
“If I don’t tell you, I’ll have to take another look. I’m sure I won’t make any move now that the playoffs are approaching.” Fang Zhuo saw the current head coach of the Rockets, Van Gundy, also walking over to say hello to him.
He got up and had a chat with this guy and planned to change coaches next season.
Although a considerable part of the purpose is to build a reputation, to pass approval and attract fund customers, it is also a quite good experience to plan the team according to your own ideas.
The second half of the game was still tense.
Fang Zhuo watched the game and kept thinking about a serious question. What was Xiao Yu thinking about at that moment?
