Lu Yu and his teammates took the bus into the Spokane Arena in the city center.
This is the venue where the Gonzaga University Bulldogs play. Spokane Stadium paid Gonzaga $7.83 million for the naming rights and a 10-year partnership.
NCAA games are not held in school gymnasiums, but in regular competition venues. In order to allow the Bulldogs to play, the venues have to pay the Bulldogs.
I have to admit that the NCAA's ability to attract money is unparalleled.
This does not include the money shared for broadcast rights.
Take Duke University last year as an example. From peripheral product sales, broadcast rights fees, sponsorships, etc., Duke University earned approximately US$5 million. And as the broadcast rights signing fees increase year by year, the fees allocated to each university are also rising.
"Everyone is making money except the players," an ESPN commentator said.
But players also get the opportunity to showcase themselves and gain access to the NBA. To put it bluntly, this is a mutually beneficial business.
Lu Yu followed the coach and teammates from the player tunnel into the lounge.
The lounge is large and has three areas, namely the locker room, bathroom and tactical room.
"Hey, Lu, your locker is here." Captain Casey pointed to the wardrobe next to him and smiled.
The brand new wardrobe is stamped with the English letters: lu.
Opening the cabinet door, there were several white jerseys hanging neatly inside, and underneath were a few pairs of brand new basketball shoes. Judging from the size, they were just for him.
"The sneakers are provided by sponsors. We do not allow other brands of basketball shoes to be worn on the court. Please hurry up and try to see if they fit. If they don't fit, I will arrange for staff to change them for you." Mark Foyou walked up behind Lu Yu.
said.
Lu Yu tried it: "It's okay."
The sneakers are the latest model, have air cushions and are very comfortable.
He put on his jersey again. The white jersey had the English letters gonzaga printed on the chest, the letters "lu" printed on the upper part of the back, and below the letters was a large Arabic numeral 10.
After everyone put on their jerseys and shoes, Mark Foyo urged everyone to go to the court to warm up and adapt to the venue.
As night fell, many fans wearing white jerseys were already filling the stadium, and the stadium looked like a sea of white.
A middle-aged man with silver-rimmed glasses, a black suit, and a formal appearance also walked into the stadium.
His name is Su Qun, the editor of "Sports Weekly".
Originally, he was going to Seattle to do an interview about the Sonics. He was already there, but the Sonics told him that the team didn't have time. There happened to be an NCAA game in nearby Spokane, so he had nothing to do.
He came to the Spokane Coliseum.
Domestic media reporters rarely pay attention to the NCAA.
Even the popularity of the NBA has declined in the past two years. The main reason is that after Wang Zhizhi was selected by the Dallas Mavericks last year, the Bayi Team and the Basketball Association refused to release him.
The major mainstream media were silent.
No one dares to talk nonsense.
Su Qun wanted to stand up and curse a few words, but then he thought about it, who should he curse?
Scolding the Bayi team?
Or criticizing the Basketball Association?
None of them are suitable.
The only thing that can be criticized is maybe believing in gods, ghosts and Lan Cheng, but I still dare not.
Looking at the Washington Eagles players who were already on the court to warm up, and the enthusiastic fans around them, Su Qun couldn't help but sigh: "It would be great if there was such a college basketball atmosphere in China..."
suddenly,
His eyes fell on a seat in the auditorium not far away, and his expression was a bit dull. He quickly took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes before putting them on to look carefully.
Is it really him?
Su Qun hurriedly walked over, sat next to the man, and asked cautiously: "Excuse me, are you...Mr. Lu Chaoyang?"
Lu Chaoyang was stunned for a moment.
He didn't expect to meet someone who knew him in Spokane. When he saw the other person's appearance, he immediately understood: "You are Su Qun, I am Lu Chaoyang, long time no see."
Su Qun looked flattered.
He remembered that the last time he saw Lu Chaoyang was at Lu Chaoyang's retirement ceremony ten years ago. At that time, he only did a brief interview. He never expected that Lu Chaoyang would still remember his name.
"Long time no see, long time no see."
Su Qun didn't know what to say for a moment, but Lu Chaoyang started the conversation: "Are you on an interview mission when you come to Spokane?"
Su Qun quickly replied: "I don't have any interview duties. I just happened to be passing by. I heard that there was an NCAA game today, so I bought a ticket and came in to take a look. Mr. Lu, are you also here to watch the game?"
"Don't be so formal. Calling Mr. Lu is too new. If you think it's appropriate, just call me Lao Lu or Brother Lu."
After speaking, Lu Chaoyang nodded: "Yes, I came to watch the game. I haven't watched the game in many years. If it weren't for that brat in my family, I don't think I would have walked into the basketball stadium."
"Your brat?"
Su Qun's professional habits allow him to sensitively grasp key information.
Lu Chaoyang smiled, pointed at the Gonzaga players on the court who were preparing to warm up, and said: "That kid wearing the No. 10 jersey is my son Lu Yu. Today is his first official game. He insists on me coming over.
, it’s not okay if you don’t come.”
Su Qun looked in the direction of his finger and saw a yellow-skinned player.
He was completely confused.
Lu Chaoyang's son entered the NCAA, or the NCAA Division I league?
Domestic media have no news at all?
"Lu Yu has just entered his freshman year and still needs room to grow. Reporter Su must help keep it secret." Lu Chaoyang "accidentally" revealed Lu Yu's true age.
Su Qun understood: "Definitely, definitely."
In other words, Lu Yu is only eighteen or nineteen years old.
This is a big news. You must know that there are very few Chinese people who can play in the NCAA. Ma Jian is one of them. Su Qun cannot remember the others. The key problem is that Ma Jian was already 24 years old when he played in the NCAA. After playing in the NCAA,
Already 27 years old, the probability of entering the NBA and establishing a firm foothold at this age is really slim.
But everything cannot be judged solely on age. Whether you can enter the NBA in the end depends on your strength.
And maybe, Lu Yu is just an ordinary substitute at Gonzaga.
On the field, Lu Yu's eyes were searching the auditorium. Lu Chaoyang said in the morning that he might not be able to come, but Lu Yu still hoped in his heart that Lu Chaoyang could come to watch him play his first game.
"found it."
A smile appeared on Lu Yu's face: "I said in the morning that the store was busy, it was all an excuse, huh? Isn't the person next to Lao Lu... Chris Suqun?"
etc!
The girl on the other side of Lu Chaoyang seems to be Jessica.
Lu Yu was speechless, what were the three of them doing together?
Jessica was also very nervous. After she sat down, she heard the two uncles next to her pointing at Lu Yu on the field. She didn't know what their relationship was with Lu Yu, so she didn't dare to ask or speak.
Fortunately, Lu Yu cast a comforting look at him, and he immediately felt relieved.
If Lu Yu knew what she was thinking at this time, I'm afraid he would cry out that he was wronged. Sister, which of your eyes could see that my gaze was comforting? Go ahead, you're too blind.
At this time, Captain Casey threw a basketball over, signaling Lu Yu to warm up quickly. Lu Yu could only look back, then turned around and raised his hand to hit a three-pointer, easily and freely.
The basketball drew a perfect arc in the air and fell into the basket with a "swish" sound.
Su Qun in the audience was stunned.
"The position where he shot..."
Lu Yu's shooting position was nearly two meters away from the three-point line, which is further than the NBA's three-point line. However, Lu Yu's shot was effortless, as if it was a common occurrence.
This level is not something that ordinary substitutes can achieve...
