Chapter 858: Suspension and Public Opinion

"The other party just humiliated the other party by slapping his teammate just unintentionally. Li Ba has completely embarrassed us Chinese!"

"This is the second time I have slapped someone in the face. Such a person has no morals at all."

"Without the spirit of sportsmanship, how can such a person be worthy of being the image spokesperson of the Beijing Olympics? We strongly demand that his identity as the image spokesperson be removed."

"A savage is a savage, and he has not made any progress in a civilized society for a few years."

"The NBA should expel Li Ba from the game, he is not worthy to play in the league."

At this time, due to the time difference, most of the domestic media and well-known people started to attack Li Ba before the American media.

Most of the comments from the fans supported Li Ba, and a few thought that the reaction was too much, and that beating someone was not a slap in the face.

Naturally, Li Ba ignored these things. When he woke up, it was already daylight.

On this day, the American media started all kinds of hype.

Countless fans also express their views on various forums.

This side is different from the domestic ones. This side is more complicated. Issues such as violence and race have come out. There are also a large number of votes against Li Ba. There are also many people clamoring to expel Li Ba from the alliance, and the pressure of public opinion is great.

Jordan made a phone call to Li Ba and said to him, "Hammer, this is what I enjoyed back then, now it's your turn."

"Don't worry, Michael, I won't retire for two years like you." Li Ba laughed.

"Come on, you've already retired once. You only persisted for a few days, but I persisted for two years. I'm better than you at this point." Jordan sneered.

Li Ba was startled, it seems like this? But what's the point of persisting for two years, if you don't have to come back?

Stern thought about it all night last night, held a meeting in the morning, and consulted the reaction of public opinion. At 12:00 noon, the league officially announced the punishment for the violence on the court.

Artest was suspended for two games and fined $500,000.

Li Ba was suspended for two games and fined $500,000.

This kind of chasing punishment, if you say it is heavy, it is heavy, if you say it is heavy, it is also light, only a two-game suspension.

Stern has no choice, because every time Li Ba is banned, the league will lose a lot of money. If he dares to ban Li Ba for ten or twenty games, how much will the ratings drop?

Besides, that Arum in the boxing world is hyping up a heavyweight united battle, and he is more and more afraid to ban it.

When Jordan retired, when the league was just developing, he didn't dare to fight hard with the media, but today it is not what it used to be.

In the end, despite the tremendous power of public opinion, he each hit a big board and replaced more suspensions with fines.

"Hammer, the team is responsible for your free throws. You go back to Phoenix to rest first, and don't worry about the rest." After chasing the penalty, Colangelo found Li Ba.

This afternoon, the Lakers management met to discuss Artest's affairs.

"We used him to deal with Hammer, and now Hammer says he doesn't want to see him again, what should we do?" Phil Jackson said.

"Is the hammer really going to strike again?" asked one senior executive.

"Just like he defeated Karl Malone, what can you do? Ban him for two games at most, what can you do? We have to prepare in advance."

Jackson asked.

The man shrugged and said, "Can't we reconcile? Our relationship between the Lakers and the Hammers is actually good. The boss gave him so many playoff tickets. He and Kobe are also good. Yao and Battelle are here..."

"No, no, this time the matter is very serious. It is more serious than the last time Malone hit the hammer with an elbow. Artest killed three of them in front of the hammer on the court. The Suns are known for being the most united in the locker room. Alliance, this is a serious provocation for him. What's more, he is the number one active player and the world boxing champion. Do you think he will tolerate such a provocation?"

Jackson said.

"Phil, to trade Artest?" Kupchak asked.

Jackson spread his hands and said, "He's not very effective in defending the Hammer. If there is someone to replace him, I agree to trade him."

"What do you think of Pat Riley's approach?" Kupchak asked.

"Looking for a football player?" Jackson was stunned, and smiled: "That person has both strength and speed, flexible steps, quick turns and quick starts. Such a person has top-notch comprehensive qualities in the NFL. Where can I find him? How much did you pay him to come here and do a blue-collar job?"

Kupchak shook his head and sighed: "Then take your time, use Artest first, don't let him play when the Suns are playing, and find a way to trade before the trade deadline."

"Okay." Jackson nodded.

At this time in the afternoon, Li Ba took the girl back to Phoenix and was blocked by the media at the airport.

Li Ba glanced at the media, and after distinguishing them, he pointed to more than a dozen domestic media reporters and said, "You don't have to follow me anymore, and I won't allow you to enter my media conference."

"Why do you do this? We have the freedom of reporting, this is a democratic and free country!" Those reporters asked angrily.

"Why should I? I have the freedom to refuse your interviews. Do you understand? This is called democracy and freedom! Stay here for two days and play democracy and freedom with me? Remember, this is the world of capital, even if there is freedom and democracy , that is the freedom and democracy of capital, not yours."

Li Ba dropped a sentence, separated from the reporters who were looking at each other, and left with the girl.

His behavior angered these media even more, and then ushered in a new wave of public opinion in China.

But this has no effect on Li Ba. There was a wave of public opinion last year. Some endorsers and sponsors left because of this, and did not enjoy the bonus of the peerless five-double. Now they regret it to death, but it is too late. Li Ba has completely Blocked them, so this time there was no problem with Li Ba's endorsement and sponsors.

Gao Yuanyuan picked up the plane at the Phoenix Airport and said: "The domestic media are making noise, but it's nothing serious. I have contacted the domestic, including the Basketball Association and Xiuzong. The official will not have an attitude. If you deal with it coldly, the media speculation will pass. .You do not accept interviews during this time, and stay at home quietly for a few days."

That night, the Suns lost their two main players in a losing streak, and the new season started with a record of one win and two losses.

In this game, Li Ba, the signature star of the league, was lost, and the ratings plummeted. From the 60 million on the field, more than 70% was cut directly, leaving only more than 10 million.

For a regular season, although more than 10 million is also very high, the finals that Jordan competed for the sixth championship that year was less than 30 million, but he has already experienced the peak of hundreds of millions, who would receive more than 1000? Wan's trough?

Before the game was over, other team owners and management contacted Stern one after another.

In fact, they didn't need to call. After knowing the ratings, Stern felt cold in his heart.

On November 6, the Suns played against the Jazz at home.

Lost again to the visiting Jazz and swallowed a three-game losing streak.

On the 8th, the Sun ushered in the Clippers.