This is New York, the largest city in the United States, with one of the most prosperous business districts in the world.
News that Lin Yu was about to be traded to New York had already spread. At the New York Airport, Lin Yu and Amanda Gray arrived together, and immediately put on masks and hats, fully armed.
But even so, as he was about to leave the airport gate, he was spotted by three or two sharp-eyed reporters.
Facing the hungry reporters, Lin Yu was helpless: "I'm wearing such a thick mask and a hat, how can you all spot me?"
"You ignore your height, coupled with your skin color, it is too eye-catching."
One of the reporters, an Asian face wearing heavy makeup, told Lin Yu in unskilled English why they were able to discover Lin Yu.
Lin Yu gave up resistance and spread his hands: "Okay, everyone, if you want to ask anything, please hurry up. I have an appointment."
"Are you dating a member of the Knicks front office? Isiah Thomas, the Smiling Assassin?"
Hearing that Lin Yu had an appointment with someone, reporters immediately made speculations at the scene, but Lin Yu shook his head: "No, it's not him."
"Who is that?"
"Knicks owner, James Dolan."
Lin Yu was very honest and said what he said. He also wanted to understand the local media ecology in New York in this way.
Why the Knicks have always been so bad, to the point where they have become a black hole for stars since the new century, some people in the industry think it has something to do with the local media in New York.
New York is a metropolis with numerous media and high exposure. Almost all players who play for the Knicks will be made things difficult for them by the New York media.
This even reminded Lin Yu of London on the other side of the Atlantic. There are also many media and high exposure. However, because there are many teams in London, to a certain extent, these attentions are dispersed, which is actually not a good thing.
At this time, Lin Yu's honesty was like a little sheep at the mercy of others, which seemed to give these Big Apple City media reporters room to push their limits.
"Meeting with James Dolan, does this mean the Cavaliers-Knicks trade is real?"
Lin Yu nodded: "Of course, haven't you all gotten the news?"
"Has the transaction been confirmed?"
"The Cavaliers and Knicks have submitted relevant materials for the transaction to the league office."
"So, welcome to New York, the capital of the world. As another star player joining the Knicks, have you set any goals for yourself?"
"Of course, I have set a series of goals for myself, and currently I will focus on the first stage goal, which is to lead the Knicks back to the playoffs."
"Where's the championship? The Knicks didn't come to you just for the playoffs."
"The food must be eaten one bite at a time, and the road must be walked step by step. I haven't thought that far yet."
"Without the goal of competing for a championship, is it because you have lost confidence after leaving LeBron James?"
"No, I have the long-term goal of competing for the championship."
"Without LeBron, do you really think you can perform as well as you did in the first half of the season?"
"Instead of questioning me, it is better to wait patiently and see who is more dependent on whom in two or three months."
"You mean, the knight relies more on you."
"You can understand it that way, but what I have to say is that that's not what I said."
"What do you think about Isiah Thomas, who is also the general manager and head coach, and will you work well with him?"
"Won't."
"Won't?"
"..."
The questions became more and more probing and outrageous, and Lin Yu's answers became more and more perverse. In short, when he first arrived in New York, sparks sparked with the New York media reporters.
Before leaving, Lin Yu asked about the background of these reporters. The Asian woman with heavy makeup was named Linda Qiao, who was from the New York Times, and the other middle-aged white man wearing glasses was named Kevin Floyd, who was from the New York Times.
New York Post, the last young white man is named Sheldon Vasquez, from the emerging online media New York Daily News.
Three reporters, before Lin Yu officially joined the Knicks, were already facing Lin Yu, showing the torturous side of the New York media.
After leaving the airport, Lin Yu also discussed with Amanda Gray: "Those questions about LeBron made me think they were the media in Cleveland."
Amanda Gray nodded: "Indeed, when I heard those questions, my first thought was that they were die-hard fans of LeBron James, but then I discovered that they just habitually put themselves in
Your opposite."
"So the question is, why do they have to stand against the Knicks players? As local media, shouldn't what they have to do be support local teams and players?"
"Some people have analyzed that New York media reporters always have the idea that they are media in big cities and should not just focus on New York, so..."
Lin Yu nodded at Amanda Gray's analysis. He felt that the reporters might really think so.
"There is another point. The main business of the Dolan family is the media industry. James Dolan is the son of Charles Dolan, the founder of cable TV. His two brothers serve on the board of directors of cable TV, and he himself also
We manage cable TV sports, so as peers, many New York media will take the initiative to attack the Knicks, which can be regarded as another form of peer competition, but it has spread to other industries."
In fact, the Knicks are not James Dolan's private property, but a cable TV sports industry, but they are all managed by James Dolan.
In addition to the Knicks, Cable Sports also controls the New York Rangers of the Hockey League. However, like the Knicks, since James Dolan began to take charge of Cable Sports in 1999, the Knicks and Rangers have declined year by year and fallen into the abyss.
…
In 1994, the Rangers also won the Stanley Cup, the hockey league's highest honor.
But since then, the Rangers have declined sharply, failing to even make the playoffs for several consecutive years, directly setting a record for them not making the playoffs in a row.
The Knicks also declined year by year after reaching the Finals in 1999, and also failed to make the playoffs for many years.
Even without criticism from the New York media, the public opinion of James Dolan and his Knicks and Rangers in New York is quite pessimistic.
Such a team and such an owner is good news for Lin Yu, which means that James Dolan, who has only failed since taking charge of Cable Sports, is in urgent need of a success.
In order to succeed, James Dolan may be a little hungry at this moment. Perhaps only James Dolan can accept the requirements made by Lin Yu.
#
In a restaurant called i on 42nd Street in Manhattan Island, Lin Yu met James Dolan, a short, slightly obese white American with a beard.