Champion, please stay!

Chapter 69, Section 67: A Precious Gift (4th Update, Seeking First Subscription)

Zhang Weiping has conducted countless post-match interviews, but none of them have been as sudden and urgent as this one. The interviewee... also made him quite worried.

Having frequently traveled to the United States for work, he knew that some of the children who stayed abroad for several years would become somewhat abnormal.

The information his assistant gathered deepened his worries. The saying "a prodigal son who returns is more precious than gold" sounds inspiring, but it also implies a bad record. For a state-run television station that prioritizes stability, this is a risk. He doesn't really care whether the station will have a live broadcast accident; the key is that this risk has fallen on his shoulders.

But the NCAA practically gave them the post-game interview broadcast of the final, and with Yishui winning the championship! They're highly likely to be the MOP again! An interview is a must…

Unexpectedly, the first impression Yi Shui gave him was completely different from the news he had gathered. The news described Yi Shui as domineering, arrogant, and rude, but in person, he was clearly a sunny and handsome young man who was also very good at handling things and spoke in a pleasant manner.

As for the answers to the two questions, they were basically nothing... but they sounded quite cultured. Zhang Weiping's interview experience was quite good. It feels like the new generation of players who have received a complete nine-year compulsory education are different.

After the interview, when Zhang Weiping summarized and analyzed the situation in front of the camera, he showered Yi Shui with praise, as if Yao Ming's jersey number had been added to Yi Shui's jersey number...

Fifteen minutes later, Yi Shui and his teammates, having changed into clean training clothes, stood in the center of the field, and the awards ceremony began.
Amid cheers from nearly 4 fans at the stadium, Calhoun received the 'National Championship' trophy from NCAA President Miles Brand.

Immediately afterward, Yi Shui received his own trophy amidst cheers—the NCAA 2007-2008 Final Four Most Outstanding Player Award.

Fans at the stadium and those watching on television were deeply impressed by the data displayed on the big screen or in the live broadcast, showing Yi Shui's performance across the three stages of the season.

赛区阶段，易水18场比赛场均22+8+4+1.5+3.6，已经非常厉害了。

到了全能锦标赛，易水13场比赛场均25.3+8+3.6+1.7+3.8。

但和疯三阶段比赛相比，前面看起来都很平庸——6场比赛，场均29.8分10板4助攻2.16抢断4.83盖帽！

With a total of 29 blocks in 6 games, he broke the all-time record of 26 blocks held by Hakeem Olajuwon since detailed statistics began in 1979!

At each stage, we can see that Yi Shui's performance has improved significantly!

Yi Shui didn't care about the fans' reactions anymore. After the awards ceremony, he shoved the MOP trophy into Calhoun's arms, grabbed the 'National Champion' trophy, and continued playing music and dancing with his teammates while holding the trophy!
...

The night of winning the championship is always so noisy. After the locker room interviews, press conference interviews, and various exclusive interviews, it is already the early hours of the next day.

The team members were still having a blast. The 21-year-olds had already gone to a nightclub with Helena, the school's female fan leader. This rich kid rushed into the locker room and yelled that she would treat them. Helena also had plans for the under-21s.

Calhoun did not stop him. If he hadn't been unable to, he would have liked to go too... cough cough. He strongly disapproved of his disciple Ollie, who was already in his thirties, going to play with the students.

However, several of the older coaches couldn't sleep tonight and gathered in Calhoun's suite to drink and celebrate.

Clark swirled his glass and said, "Six months ago, who could have imagined that we would be the ones to win? If this is a dream, I hope it never ends."

Calhoun took a sip of his drink, looking at the MOP trophy beside him, and said, "Back then, I was even worried that my coaching career would end badly, but I didn't expect to win my third championship trophy just six months later... But what did Brooke mean by handing me this trophy? I was about to give it to him when he went out just now, and he waved me off..."

Clark replied, "Perhaps it's a thank-you gift for you?"

Calhoun: "This is the MOP trophy! It might be harder for him to win the NBA MVP than to win this trophy, and you just gave it to me like that?"

Clark said sourly, "Yeah, I'm a little jealous. You can keep it for now. Maybe you just need to put it away for me."

Calhoun picked up the trophy engraved with 'Yi Shui', played with it for a moment, and said, "Brook's performance in this Madness III was outstanding. If possible, I really hope he can play for another year. With him, we have a good chance of defending our title next season. But with his draft stock so high right now, we can't hold him back."

Clark's tone was also quite regretful: "He was already 21 years old at this year's NBA draft. If he plays for another year, he will be 22. Nowadays, NBA teams don't like colleges developing players for them anymore. They want to do it themselves. But don't they think about it? In that world of fame and fortune, how many young people are still willing to train hard after making a lot of money?"

Jerry Cook interjected, "There's no need to worry about Brook's age. Didn't a Chinese reporter want to interview him before the game today? I heard that China's largest sports TV station broadcast the final live, and Brook might be seen as the next Yao Ming! But I think your judgment is correct. This year is the best time for Brook to run for the draft."

Both Calhoun and Clark asked Jerry Cook to elaborate. This lead assistant coach, while lacking coaching talent and mediocre in many aspects, is exceptionally capable in handling other team matters. His influence is the highest in the team on anything unrelated to the game, and Calhoun never interferes with his arrangements.

Jerry Cook analyzed: "Brook's performance this year has been phenomenal and has had a huge impact. If he doesn't perform as well next season, it could affect his draft position, but it's almost certain that he won't be able to perform like that next season."

Now that we've won the championship, there will definitely be countless talented players waiting for us to choose from, just like in those years... Have you forgotten that Kemba (Walker) has already promised to join us? Next season, AJ, Jerome, Hasheem, Stanley... they will all become stronger, and if Jeff doesn't run for the draft this year, the percentage of shots taken by big men will also increase.

Given Brook's rate of improvement, he will undoubtedly see a significant boost next season, but we can no longer provide the conditions that allow him to reach his full potential. He can no longer freely express and showcase his talent as he has this season.

The two, who had initially felt a glimmer of hope that Yi Shui could play for another year, had that flame completely extinguished after listening to Jerry Cook's analysis.

However, there's not much to regret, since they've already won the championship together.

Jerry Cook continued, "And there's another thing to worry about."

Clark asked, "What is it?"

"The opponents in college aren't strong enough for Brook. He could even play center. What if he thinks, 'No one in the world can beat me anymore,' and goes back to the same old path as last year? Only the NBA will always have strong enough opponents to excite him!"

An anonymous elementary school student's imagination, combined with the story compiled by the Honest Man's Daily, has completely "rewritten" the history of Yishui University's second year, and even people inside the Husky team believe this claim.

Upon hearing this, Calhoun, who is already magnanimous, completely put aside his regret: "Kevin (Oly) is right, kids always grow up. If he wants to stay and play for another year, we will try our best to create the best conditions for him. If he wants to go to the NBA, we will be the first to stand up and support him!"

...

Yi Shui slept until noon this time, only to be woken up by a phone call from the chief teaching assistant.

After receiving notification that he would be interviewed by CCTV that afternoon, he sat on the bed for a while before his mind was fully clear.

Looking at the nearly identical twin female monks from St. John's University in New York on either side of her… 'When did my reputation become like this? Helena is so sure that bringing these two girls will get me to the party? She has a good eye for people!'

This time, Yi Shui discovered something: this rich second-generation didn't have much of an obsession with sleeping with him. When he asked him to go out, it wasn't necessarily because he wanted to sleep with him. What kind of guy could he not find? He just wanted to prove himself and show that he had the ability to get him to go out with him.

He thought about it carefully... it wasn't safe enough. He checked it and was very satisfied. He hadn't forgotten to take precautions for every shot last night.

Yi Shui took a shower, left the room, waved goodbye to the still-sleeping twins, and left without a trace.

Based on his previous experience, he knew that in this kind of situation, physical intimacy was sufficient. Like this time, he didn't even remember his name when he woke up.

He returned to the team's hotel, changed into formal clothes, ate something quick, and then, led by Jerry Cook, went to the hotel's conference room for an interview with CCTV.

As the unfamiliar reporter had said, after winning the championship, CCTV gave him a very grand interview, renting a hotel conference room and making some special arrangements.

But the interview wasn't as relaxed and casual as it had been before. Every part of the interview, and even the answers to most of the questions, had been prepared in advance... This caused Yi Shui's enthusiasm to dissipate before the interview even started.

Of course, this also made him more focused and prevented him from saying the wrong thing.

However, there are still questions beyond the 'correct answer' question, such as whether he will participate in this year's draft.

Yi Shui replied without hesitation, "I have no regrets about my college basketball career. It should end here. I have decided to take my talent to the NBA!"

After learning Yi Shui's answer from the translator, Jerry Cook, who was watching from the sidelines, took out his notebook and crossed out the new recruit recruitment plan that prioritized pitchers and blue-collar big men.

The coaches discussed it in the early hours of the morning. If Yi Shui stays with the team, then they will try their best to recruit players around him. The core of the championship team is still there. Sacrificing some of the future to try to defend the title is worthwhile. But Yi Shui has already made his decision, so let's turn the page and enter the post-Brook era!
(End of this chapter)