Coach: Coaching the Grizzlies at the beginning, playing the bantam

Lu Yong lived a very comfortable life after retirement.

Every day, he either meets up with old friends to reminisce about past basketball adventures, or takes his girlfriend Hannah on trips to various scenic spots, enjoying a leisurely time.

He had assumed that his life would continue peacefully and comfortably like this.

Unexpectedly, a phone call from ESPN shattered his peace.

That day, Lu Yong and Hannah were having afternoon tea in their garden. Sunlight filtered through the leaves and warmed them.

The phone suddenly rang. Lu Yong put down his teacup, picked up the phone, and saw that it was an unfamiliar number.

He frowned, but answered the call anyway.

"Hello, is this Coach Lu Yong?" A warm yet respectful voice came from the other end of the phone.

Lu Yong responded, "It's me. Who are you?"

"Coach Lu, hello! I'm Mark, the head of programming at ESPN. I'm calling you today to discuss a fantastic collaboration opportunity." Mark's voice was full of excitement.

Lu Yong raised an eyebrow and asked, "What kind of cooperation opportunity?"

Mark quickly said, "ESPN would like to invite you to work part-time as a guest commentator for our games next season. You know, your prestige in the basketball world is unmatched. If you come to commentate, the ratings will definitely skyrocket!"

Lu Yong's heart skipped a beat; he was actually quite interested in commentating on matches.

After all, he has been able to command the game with composure over the years and has his own unique insights into the game situation and the players' performance.

But he still feigned composure and asked, "Oh? How much will you pay me?"

Mark hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth and said, "Coach Lu, we're willing to offer you a staggering $50 per game, and you can even choose your own commentator. What do you think?"

Lu Yong was "surprised" for a moment; the number was indeed quite large.

$50 per game is no small sum.

However, he is not short of money; what he cares more about is whether he can find enjoyment in commentary.

He pondered for a moment and said, "The reward is quite tempting, but I need to think about it. After all, I just retired and don't want to make myself so busy again right away."

Upon hearing that there was a chance, Mark quickly said, "Coach Lu, please reconsider. Think about it, you're so impressive on the field, wouldn't it be great if you could share your experience and insights with more fans through commentary? Besides, ESPN will provide you with the best commentary environment and resources, ensuring you can commentate comfortably."

Lu Yong was somewhat tempted by Mark's words. He smiled and said, "Okay, I'll think about it and give you an answer in a few days."

After hanging up the phone, Hannah asked curiously, "Honey, who called? You looked like something good happened."

Lu Yong recounted the whole story to Hannah, whose eyes lit up. She exclaimed, "Wow, that sounds pretty good! If you were to do the commentary, you'd definitely stun the fans!"

Lu Yong chuckled and playfully pinched Hannah's nose, saying, "You're so good at sweet talk. But I really need to think about this."

For the next few days, Lu Yong kept thinking about this matter.

On the one hand, he felt that commentating on games was a very interesting thing, which allowed him to maintain a close connection with basketball; on the other hand, he was worried that he had just retired and hadn't had a chance to enjoy life before throwing himself into a new job.

Just as Lu Yong was hesitating, Mark called again.

This time, Mark brought his team directly to Lu Yong's home.

When Lu Yong opened the door and saw Mark and several staff members standing outside, he was taken aback.

Mark quickly smiled and said, "Coach Lu, I'm sorry to bother you. We really couldn't wait for your reply, so we came directly to talk to you in person."

Lu Yong invited them into the house, and as soon as Mark sat down, he began to talk at length about ESPN's commentary plans.

He presented a detailed plan, including the scheduling of commentary sessions, publicity and promotion plans, and so on.

“Coach Lu, look, we’ve arranged some high-profile games for you, like the Nets vs. the Lakers and the Warriors. We’ll also do a lot of pre-game, during-game, and post-game promotion to let more fans know you’ll be commentating. You’ll definitely become a star commentator.” Mark said, observing Lu Yong’s expression.

As Lu Yong looked at the plan, an idea gradually formed in his mind.

He felt that ESPN was really sincere this time, and the matches they arranged were all to his liking.

He stood up, paced around the room for a while, then stopped and said, "Mark, I've made up my mind. I accept your invitation, but I have a few conditions."

Upon hearing this, Mark's eyes lit up with surprise, and he quickly said, "Coach Lu, please say so. As long as it's within our power, we will definitely do it for you."

Lu Yong said, "First, the commentary time cannot be too fixed; I have to arrange it according to my own situation. Second, during the commentary process, I must have my own style and not be subject to too many restrictions. Third, I must have the right to make objective evaluations of the game and cannot say things against my conscience for any reason."

Upon hearing this, Mark quickly nodded and said, "No problem, Coach Lu, we agree to all your conditions. We at ESPN just want you to commentate on the game with the most authentic and professional attitude."

The two parties hit it off immediately and signed a guest contract on the spot. After the contract was signed, Mark excitedly said, "Coach Lu, thank you so much! We at ESPN will definitely cooperate fully with you to make your commentary journey go smoothly."

Lu Yong smiled and said, "Okay, let's look forward to the new season together."

After seeing Mark and his group off, Lu Yong felt exceptionally relieved.

He seemed to have returned to that challenging world of basketball, only this time in a completely new role—a commentator.

Before the start of the new season, Lu Yong began preparing for commentary.

He studies the rosters and tactics of various teams and keeps abreast of the latest developments of the players.

He also specifically sought out some excellent commentary videos to study and improve his commentary skills.

With the first game of the new season approaching, the Nets will face the Lakers.

Lu Yong arrived at the ESPN commentary room early, dressed in a well-fitting suit and looking very energetic.

As soon as the starting whistle blew, Lu Yong immediately got into the game.

He looked at the players on the field and began to give a long and detailed commentary.

"Look everyone, Durant is in great form today. Look at his drive, his speed and power are perfectly combined, and he easily shakes off the defender," Lu Yong said, gesturing with his hands.

The commentator next to him laughed and said, "Coach Lu, your commentary is so professional, it feels like you're still on the field directing the game."

Lu Yong laughed and said, "Haha, after all these years of experience on the field, I still have a feel for the game."

As the match progressed, the situation became increasingly intense.

Led by James, the Lakers launched a fierce counterattack, gradually narrowing the score gap.

Lu Yong's voice also became louder: "That three-pointer by the Lakers was crucial! It narrowed the gap to three points in an instant. The Nets need to be careful. James is a tough guy to deal with."

At this moment, the live stream chat started scrolling wildly.

"Coach Lu's commentary is so interesting!"

"Listening to Coach Lu's commentary is even more exciting than watching the game!"

"Coach Lu, you are my idol!"

Seeing the comments on the screen, Lu Yong became even more engrossed in his commentary, analyzing every detail of the match with great clarity.

The game entered its final stages, with the score remaining close between the two sides.

The Nets committed a turnover on offense, and the Lakers seized the opportunity to launch a fast break.

Lu Yong shouted, "Oh no! That Nets turnover was fatal! The Lakers are on a fast break, let's see if James can seal the victory!"

James charged toward the basket like a beast, and with a beautiful dunk, sent the ball into the hoop.

The crowd erupted in cheers as the Lakers took the lead.

Lu Yong said, "James' dunk was awesome! The Lakers have taken the lead. There's still one minute left in the game. Do the Nets still have a chance?"

In the next few dozen seconds, the match entered a heated phase.

The Nets fought back fiercely and ultimately hit a crucial three-pointer in the final moments to seal the victory over the Lakers.

Lu Yong shouted excitedly, "A game-winning shot! The Nets have defeated the Lakers with a buzzer-beater! That's the charm of basketball, full of unpredictability!"

The chat room exploded with comments again.

"Coach Lu, you're so excited!"

"Coach Lu, please commentate on more matches in the future!"

After the match, Lu Yong walked out of the commentary room.

He didn't expect his first commentary to receive so much recognition from fans.

At this moment, Mark walked over and said with a smile, "Coach Lu, your commentary today was fantastic! The ratings hit a new high. You should come and commentate more often in the future."

Lu Yong smiled and said, "Okay, I'll definitely come whenever I have time. Commentating on the competition is much more interesting than I imagined." (End of Chapter)