Mountain Peak System: a Path to NBA-Chapter 543 - 180: He is the real GOAT! (10,000-word update in a single day, begging for subscriptions and monthly tickets!)_2
Moreover, the unending negative news surrounding the star players of each team, along with the Donaghy incident which triggered a trust crisis in NBA refereeing decisions...
Almost brought the NBA’s brand value to a standstill in the first decade of the twenty-first century.
However, the emergence of Qin Yue changed all of that.
On the court, his leadership of the Warriors in playing aggressive basketball not only thrilled fans but also influenced by the Warriors’ impact...
As A. Smith previously mentioned, in this era of both offense and defense, the increasingly attractive NBA has been boosting its viewership each year.
Overseas, with further development of the Chinese market, it’s true the Warriors and Supersonic took the lion’s share, but other league teams also got a piece of the pie.
Although in China, Qin Yue, who is frequently involved in scandals, is not considered a model idol in the strictest sense.
But in the United States, Qin Yue often keeps the NBA in the spotlight with his off-court activities.
The show he hosts, "Qin’s Sports Talk," garners over ten million views online for each episode.
Even Stern marveled at his revolutionary interactive approach.
The most direct impact of Qin Yue’s emergence was on the latest NBA television broadcast agreement.
This six-year contract, valued at a total of 9 billion US Dollars, far exceeded what Qin Yue remembers from the same historical period. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎
Therefore, after meeting with Robertson, Qin Yue became more convinced than anyone that this labor negotiation, which could potentially lead to a lockout, was not impossible to resolve.
The so-called losses by the capital side had long been ruthlessly exposed by Bobby Musk.
Qin Yue understood clearly that as long as the players remained united and brought the capital back to the negotiation table calmly, this labor negotiation could be entirely resolved through dialogue.
Thus, after Stern’s opening remarks, Qin Yue, speaking on behalf of the players, said, "You know, we just want to play the basketball we’ve been playing for a long, long time, and if anyone tries to threaten us by keeping us from playing, we won’t compromise at any time."
Upon hearing this, Jordan snorted coldly, "But it’s precisely because you want to play basketball that we’re suffering losses! You’re taking 57% of the basketball-related income; you’ve got most of the income and all sorts of guarantees! But you never understand the difficulties of us who provide you the stage, is that reasonable?"
In response to capitalist Jordan’s question, Qin Yue smiled and said, "Michael, do you know whose famous words I borrowed for my opening remark just now?"
Jordan frowned.
And Qin Yue said, "My opening remark just now was what Michael Jordan said to all the league owners back then."
"..."
Capitalist Jordan apparently had no idea how many boomerangs player-era Jordan left him.
Then, ignoring the already downed Jordan, Qin Yue continued, "Besides, who says we don’t understand the difficulties of the teams? I’ve already made it clear on my show that all of us players agree to reduce our share of basketball-related income to 54%."
However, Sterling, thinking the players’ union was merely haggling, said, "We can only accept 47%! You’ve earned enough!"
Seeing this, Qin Yue laughed coldly, "Then for tonight’s All-Star Weekend game, I invite Mr. Donald Sterling to take the stage and perform for the fans!"
"Don’t think you can threaten me." Sterling said firmly, "I’ve seen all sorts of storms before!"
Sterling’s attitude made this negotiation come to a standstill.
However, the firmness of the player’s attitude, led by Qin Yue, clearly exceeded Sterling’s expectations.
"If Mr. Donald Sterling can represent the position of the capital side, then this negotiation ends here." Qin Yue said as he stood up to leave.
On the side, Stern hurriedly tried to mediate, saying, "We can defer the discussion on the basketball-related income share."
Unexpectedly, Qin Yue said with unwavering resolve, "54% is our bottom line! If you’re unwilling to accept, then we, all the players, won’t participate in any NBA games from now on!"
In the conference room, looking at the bright-eyed Qin Yue, all the capital representatives gasped.
As long as they didn’t misunderstand...
Qin Yue was clearly emulating Robertson’s strike threats back then!
Does this mean, without us using a lockdown to threaten you, you’re threatening us with a strike instead?
Sterling angrily said, "You’re not here to negotiate at all, you’re here to threaten us!"
Qin Yue understood very well that if the season were played out completely, then the players’ strike threat would hardly have the same effect.
According to the NBA’s agreement with the broadcast partners...
If the NBA became a shortened season due to a lockout, the NBA would only lose the income from the locked-out portion.
Moreover, since before a lockout, league owners would be mentally prepared, even a lockout couldn’t shake these owners’ intentions of securing more benefits in this labor negotiation.
But once the NBA stalled mid-season...
Then at that time...
The losses the NBA would incur would be astronomical numbers no owner could bear.
Yet, at this moment, Jordan still did not believe the players were willing to follow Qin Yue’s lead in a strike.
Until Paul personally presented a signed document to the representatives of the capital side.
