Chapter 5: Media Coverage and Emerging Domestic Business Opportunities
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Wang Song thought the shouting was from a fan and was about to approach when Herb Sendek, with a sharp eye, stepped in front of John.
"Excuse me, sir, but barking is not allowed at the game."
Realizing how odd his shouting must have sounded, John quickly shook his head. "No, no, no! Coach Sendek, it's an honor to meet you. I'm John, a scout for the Miami Heat, and I'd like to have a word with your player. Can you help facilitate this?"
John handed over his business card as he spoke.
Being noticed by an NBA scout is a dream for many NCAA players and even coaches. John was confident that no one would pass up the opportunity to step into a higher echelon.
He imagined that once he revealed his identity, the coach's stern face would instantly turn welcoming.
"Heh!"
A cold laugh shattered John's daydream. Herb Sendek did not react as expected and didn't immediately take the card. After a brief pause, he glanced at the card and said, "Alright, John from the Heat. We understand your request. I will pass on the message. Please leave now."
"But... okay."
John was cut off before he could say more and, baffled, watched as Herb dismissed him with a forced smile. He had no choice but to leave, knowing that while offending Herb didn't matter much, offending Wang Song's head coach could be detrimental.
As he left, he waved at Wang Song from a distance, hoping to make a good first impression.
...
"Coach, was that a scout?" Wang Song asked, watching John walk away. He had a pretty good guess.
March Madness was a gathering place for scouts, with various schemes and plans unfolding after games. Besides tryouts, NCAA games were crucial for scouting.
"Yes! Do you know him?"
Herb Sendek was surprised by Wang Song's guess. Despite being a freshman struggling for playing time, he could recognize a scout right away. This made Herb even more curious about Wang Song. He handed over the business card.
Wang Song didn't take it but shook his head with a smile. "Just a guess, Coach. Don't worry. I'll perform well in the upcoming games. As for scouts, let's not concern ourselves with that right now."
This wasn't just to ease Herb's worries; Wang Song had his own considerations. A few brief moments of brilliance could only get him to the NBA's doorstep. To realize his commercial value and gain bargaining power, he needed solid achievements.
Even Yao Ming only entered the NBA draft after making a name for himself in the CBA, ultimately becoming the top pick.
Hearing this, Herb Sendek grew even more interested in Wang Song.
...
After a hard-fought victory, a lavish meal was a necessity. Fully satisfied, Wang Song returned to his dorm and opened his attribute panel. The stats hadn't changed, but he was more interested in his newly earned experience points.
[Current Available Experience Points: 898]
His performance in the evening game alone had earned him over 800 experience points, equivalent to one attribute point.
This was a quantity that days and even multiple training sessions couldn't easily achieve.
"This was just an overtime game. If I get the chance to play a full game in the future, wow!" Wang Song's eyes shone with desire in the dim light.
...
The next day, sports newspapers extensively covered the previous day's March Madness games. With the NBA regular season nearing its end and playoff spots mostly decided, there were few surprises for fans.
The single-elimination NCAA tournament became the focal point of March, with many headlines dedicated to its games.
"Syracuse's Twin Giants Easily Defeat Manhattan!"
"Buzzer Beater! Kansas Jayhawks Beat Utah at the Last Moment!"
"Wake Forest's Demon Big Man? 20+10 Dominates ETSU's Paint!"
Amidst the exciting games in various regions, editors wrote captivating news articles that quickly reached fans. The American sports community buzzed with excitement.
While the comeback in Oklahoma City wasn't the standout game, it still made it into the Oklahoma sports pages, boosting Wang Song's recognition locally.
Not just that, the buzz about North Carolina's comeback also spread well back home.
"Overseas Player Wang Song Shines in March Madness! Future Partner for Yao Ming in Chinese Basketball! With this Twin Towers, Reaching the Olympic Top Eight is Possible!"
This headline caused a surge in popularity on many sports forums, especially among fans who quietly followed Chinese basketball.
— "No way, call them the Twin Towers with Yao? Let's see if he even makes it to the NBA first!"
— "Wang Zhizhi: Who am I then? If you don't love me, please don't hurt me. I was the first in the NBA, after all. How come the Twin Towers title is being taken by someone else?"
— "Right, the only Twin Towers I recognize are Wang Zhizhi and Yao Ming. Forget Wang Song. I heard he couldn't even make it into the CBA and went abroad because his family had money. If he can return and play in the CBA, we'd be satisfied."
— "You guys haven't watched the video, have you? Stop with the blind criticism! I remember the Golden Bears' center had an NBA scouting report. Wang Song dominated him. Playing in the CBA would be a breeze for him."
— "Where can we watch his games? He seems solid. As North Carolina's coach, I'm sure he'll get more playing time in the upcoming games. This isn't just media hype; he genuinely has a chance!"
— "Yeah, is this a highlight reel or a full game recording? His shooting accuracy against those muscular opponents is impressive!"
...
The head of New Fox Sports was idly browsing sports forum news, looking for ways to improve their website.
In the early days of the internet, attracting and retaining users was a top priority for many websites.
As he browsed the user comments, he clicked on this post on a whim and read through the comments and rewatched the video multiple times.
He only stopped when he received a data usage warning.
Recalling a comment about where to watch live games, he suddenly had a lightbulb moment.
"This could be a great opportunity to attract users!"
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