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Dragon Emperor in Pokemon World.

The return of Itachi

I am Sasuke. Why should I defect from Konoha.

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***

On April 1, 2005, the New York Post broke the news that Mayor Bloomberg had won the “battle” to build the West Side Stadium.

Ever since the Jets planned to build a stadium, MSG has been opposing it.

Old Charles and his good son, James Dolan, spent over $20 million to lobby the Public Authorities Control Board.

The Dolan Family would never allow the currently highly profitable Knicks to be threatened.

The Public Authorities Control Board is a three-member body controlled by Governor Pataki, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, and Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno.

It was especially tricky to get the agency to veto the proposal, as the Governor’s influence had waned due to Spitzer.

To demonstrate his power, Governor Pataki would certainly not compromise, and Bloomberg could easily control the voting power.

The stadium is crucial for hosting the 2012 Olympics, and the Dolan Family’s determination to oppose City Hall once again sparked huge controversy.

The Jets want to be closer to New York, and if the stadium is ultimately built, the project would also accelerate development in the surrounding areas and help raise funds to pay for the extension of the No. 7 subway line.

Both sides have been clashing for half a year, and lobbying firms and law offices are overjoyed.

As long as the Dolan Family persists in appealing, they will continue to earn substantial profits.

Several Donkey Party mayoral candidates have already entered the fray, with candidate Anthony Weiner publicly shouting to the media:

“MAT’s offer will only send them to court; they will be sued!”

“The other side will only have to keep explaining in court, for months, for years, I don’t know, I only know that a lower bid will get them into trouble.”

Another mayoral candidate, City Council Speaker Gifford Miller, stated even more bluntly:

“I swear I will stop the stadium plan!”

At the public comment meeting held a few days ago, some Donkey Party members began to warn the board members that they would not let this matter rest.

Bloomberg News led the charge, and the New York Post and other media outlets eagerly consumed the gossip, using media reports to stir up public opinion, with both sides hoping to gain more public support to achieve their goals.

Jets players also rallied fans, playing the emotional card and complaining to the media:

“We just want to be closer to New York. We are all kids who want to go home!”

“The new stadium will bring a better viewing experience to Manhattan residents, and we want to do our part for our hometown.”

In a few months, the International Olympic Committee will decide the host city for the 2012 Summer Olympics.

This stadium indeed carries the hopes of some people, but for MSG, the other party would break its sports monopoly.

Because of this, Lee has been quite annoyed lately.

More and more media reporters hope to see him make a statement, which almost irritated him during this period.

On Saturday, April 9th, Lee, with Melinda and Wexler, accepted an invitation from former Mayor Giuliani to dine at an Italian restaurant on Thompson Street.

This magnificent, retro-style Italian restaurant is somewhat famous in New York and is a place frequently visited by many socialites.

Also invited were former colleagues and friends from Mayor Giuliani’s previous law firm.

The former Mayor, still active in politics, was in better physical condition than before, as money power ultimately triumphed over illness.

This Italian restaurant’s spicy macaroni and Parmesan cheese are very famous, but Lee preferred the veal here.

Everyone present was a lawyer, so there was no communication barrier when gossiping.

During dinner, Mayor Giuliani continuously communicated with everyone, and when he came to Lee, the former Mayor chuckled and joked:

“Lee, congratulations on completing the acquisition of Manchester United. If MSG hadn’t been hogging the headlines, everyone would probably be paying more attention to this news right now.”

In late March, British media first reported that Red Football Capital seemed to have reached an agreement with Manchester United’s major shareholders Manier and McManus.

The news of Manchester United changing ownership had already swept across the UK.

Bobby and the executive directors did not deny it, only Manchester United fans were still protesting.

Through borrowing, Lee, with ample funds, had always been confident about the acquisition.

Although the Glazer Family frequently made public statements, their loan from JPMorgan Chase was hindered.

There was a significant disparity in financial resources between the two sides, and with the support of the Ziff Brothers and Ken Griffin behind Clay Lee, the acquisition was only left with tedious procedural issues.

“This is just my personal hobby. Compared to hosting the Summer Olympics, an acquisition naturally isn’t worth paying attention to.”

Lee said it lightly, actively poured a glass of wine for Mayor Giuliani, who sat down next to him, and then casually mentioned the difficulties encountered in the acquisition.

Melinda and Wexler returned to the dining table.

Lee had already finished his veal, and Mayor Giuliani looked up at the two who showed no change in appearance, and once again offered his blessings:

“Congratulations, Ms. Wexler, Director of the Violent Crimes Unit at the South District Federal Prosecutor’s Office. You should have received such a position a long time ago.”

Wexler was promoted and received a raise at the beginning of the year, as her prosecution of gangs and criminal organizations in Bronx had yielded results.

“Thank you for your trust back then. If it weren’t for your care, perhaps I would still be an assistant prosecutor now.”

Wexler, wearing wide trousers and a blue long shirt, smiled and thanked the former Mayor, and Mayor Giuliani chuckled as well.

This was his investment, and it would eventually pay off.

Looking at Melinda, who had grown her hair long, Mayor Giuliani also raised his glass and joked:

“Ms. Ramis, would you consider coming to my law firm? You would directly become a partner, and I think Lee would definitely agree.”

Melinda, dressed similarly, pushed Wexler next to Lee, and after sitting down, shook her head and said:

“Thank you very much for your invitation, but I need to take care of the baby in my belly. That’s the most important thing right now.”

Melinda said this while burying her head in Wexler’s arms, which made the latter’s face flush slightly.

When Mayor Giuliani realized, he chuckled again:

“This is something to be happy about, Ms. Wexler. I know a few good medical institutions, remember to take care of yourself.”

“Lee, it looks like your big house will be full soon!”

Lee was also very happy.

At the right age, increasing the population had always been his expectation:

“In the future, we plan to create a football team, the Lee Family Football Team.”

He only said half of it before Lee was stomped on by the somewhat thin-skinned Wexler.

Soon, the former Mayor began to share his parenting experiences, and the dinner proceeded pleasantly.

At 9 PM, everyone said goodbye at the restaurant entrance, and reporters immediately swarmed forward to take pictures.

Old Mike drove to pick up the group, and Lee only relaxed after getting in the car.

Wexler, sitting in the back, nestled in Lee’s arms, while Melinda in the passenger seat counted on her fingers:

“An October baby, the timing is just right. Tina Fey’s due date also seems to be in that month, maybe I should prepare in advance as well.”

Melinda said it casually, while Wexler’s face in the back grew redder.

Without taking precautions for the past six months, she had unlocked too much knowledge.

Lee lowered his head and kissed Wexler in his arms, then suddenly complained helplessly:

“You guys have to help me come up with an excuse. I really don’t want to offend Bloomberg. In the past few days, there have even been fans protesting at Madison Square Garden.”

“But I really don’t like sharing the market with the Jets. On this point, I stand with Dolan.”

Wexler, too lazy to think, simply adjusted to a more comfortable position, while Melinda rolled her eyes and suggested from a lawyer’s perspective:

“Find an excuse from the West Side environment. Surely some community residents won’t agree!”

Melinda saw Lee nod, then suddenly giggled, and then said mischievously:

“Our little darling has been craving sour things lately!”

Old Mike, who had been driving silently, suddenly turned his head and asked in a low voice:

“How old is Scarlett? If I remember correctly, she’s not old enough to drink.”

Thinking of the enthusiastic girl’s deep involvement in this matter, having long refused precautions, Lee could only give a dry laugh:

“Maybe she just ate too many sweets!”

On sunday, April 10th, the Knicks had 7 regular season games left and were firmly in first place in the league, leading by three wins.

Currently, they could relax a bit.

This year, both the Eastern Conference and Western Conference were fiercely competitive for playoff spots!

The Lakers currently had a 34-43 record, basically out of playoff contention.

The Timberwolves were still trying.

If they could suppress the Lakers, they had a very high chance of getting the last ticket.

However, to get rid of the 8th place, the Timberwolves were still some distance from the Nuggets.

If there were no surprises, Kevin Garnett would likely be eliminated in the first round after facing the San Antonio Spurs.

The Nets were in similar trouble, with their 8th place finish meaning they would face the Knicks.

Jason Kidd did not want to meet Clay Lee again.

From the end of March, he had been calling on the Nets fans to support the team, and Vince Carter also joined in to encourage them.

Both of them wanted to struggle one last time in the final stages, attempting to escape their predicament.

The Cavaliers and Chicago Bulls were also competing.

Neither team had hope of reaching the top three, but no one wanted to give up a spot in the upper half.

For a Rookie team, having an extra home game greatly increased the possibility of breaking through the first round.

In this final sprint, no one would give up such an advantage!

In the fourth matchup, Shaq led the Heat to another victory over the Knicks at home, making their regular season series 2-2.

The New York Media hyped Shaq for an award, constantly fanning the flames during this period, which led the Heat to push for a better record in the final stages.

Shaq wanted the MVP if there was even a slight possibility.

Rookie Dwyane Wade was recently being championed by his big brother.

Shaq admitted that the Heat was his team, so Dwyane Wade naturally had to sing his praises:

“Shaq is the most dominant big man in history, he’s too good!”

“In the locker room, he taught me how to play for a championship. His arrival allowed me to stand on a bigger stage, and for that, I am only grateful.”

“We won’t relax. In the last few games, everyone will still give their all. We all want to help Shaq get the MVP.”

The Heat remained firmly in second place in the Eastern Conference.

The Miami sports New York Media had long been boiling over, aggressively predicting during this period:

“The most dominant duo in NBA history!”

“The true genius of the 2003 draft — Flash!”

Shaq had recently been effusively praising his teammate Dwyane Wade, relentlessly disparaging Kobe, and even giving the Rookie a nickname:

“The Flash!”

The New York Media, of course, scoffed at this title, and the reason was simple:

“Clay Lee is the fastest player in the league!”

The two sides argued endlessly, and sports commentators also joined in the fun, ultimately concluding:

“Clay Lee was not as fast as Dwyane Wade during his Rookie season!”

As for who was faster between the two in the current season, different commentators had different opinions.

Lee’s fast breaks were like a tiger, but in half-court offense, he relied less on pure speed to beat opponents and more on rhythm to complete attacks.

Dwyane Wade’s fast break speed was also incredibly fast.

In half-court offense, his shooting had some flaws, so he relied more on drives, while also maintaining good rhythm changes.

Just looking at highlights, Dwyane Wade was indeed similar to Clay Lee.

His push-dribble change of direction and his behind-the-back dribble to squeeze through double teams after a pick-and-roll were almost identical.

However, in terms of physique, Lee was stronger.

Rookie Wade was still a bit thin.

Recalling the previous scouting reports, calling Dwyane Wade “Little Clay Lee” was indeed very apt.

That night, the Knicks lost at home to the Pacers, who were playing with all their might.

The Pacers, still fighting for a playoff spot, had just lost at home to the Knicks a few days ago and were on the verge of being caught by the Nets, so they naturally gave their all in this game.

At 108-100, after the loss, the Knicks’ record stood at 58 wins and 18 losses.

Pau Gasol, who recently returned from injury, was still finding his rhythm.

Tonight, he shot 6-for-14 from the field, 4-for-7 from the free-throw line, scoring 16 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 block, and 3 turnovers.

His field goal percentage had not exceeded 50% in several consecutive games, and he was having trouble finishing at the rim.

After the game, the New York fans in attendance did not leave but loudly cheered Pau Gasol’s name, offering encouragement.

When interviewed after the game, Pau Gasol showed no signs of dejection but proactively promised the fans:

“I will completely regain my form before the playoffs. My left foot no longer hurts, and I thank my teammates for their trust.”

The New York sports journalists were in a good mood.

The Knicks lost, and the Heat also lost at home to the Detroit Pistons.

Putting aside the record, everyone was more interested in gossiping about topics outside of the game:

“Pau, compared to us sports New York Media, you should know Clay Lee and Dwyane Wade better.”

“From a player’s perspective, who do you think is faster?”

Pau Gasol smiled, feigned deep thought, and then answered with certainty:

“Of course, it’s Lee! In games, Lee rarely goes all out with his movements. He prefers to have complete control over his body!”

“Everyone on the Knicks knows this. Whether it’s a jump shot or a drive, Lee gives off a feeling of effortlessness.”

“Dwyane seems to lack game experience. He relies more on his explosiveness. Of course, his speed is also very fast. Every time we defend a pick-and-roll, Raja Bell secretly complains to everyone.”

The sports journalists surrounding him nodded in agreement.

Such a comment was more convincing: Clay Lee was the fastest player in the league!

On April 20th, the Knicks played their last regular season game.

These past two weeks, having endured a relatively dense schedule at the end of the season, the Knicks consistently dominated weaker teams, giving the Heat and San Antonio Spurs no further opportunities.

Because Tim Duncan missed the highly anticipated “MVP conversation” showdown last month, his reputation has plummeted recently.

The New York Media even called this selfless leader a “coward.”

The San Antonio Spurs’ last game was against the Timberwolves, and Gregg Popovich once again rotated a large portion of his roster.

McHale did the same.

With the Lakers completely out of the playoff race and the Denver Nuggets leading them by 4 games, he also pulled his starters early that night.

Ultimately, at 101-95, the San Antonio Spurs defeated their opponent, bringing their record to 60 wins and 22 losses, securing the top spot in the Western Conference.

After the game, Duncan did not accept interviews and left early through the player tunnel.

Tony Parker, who attended the press conference, did say a few good words for his boss:

“We all know the sacrifices Tim made for the team. His physical condition wasn’t good this year. He only played 66 games.”

“He’s been battling injuries, and under his leadership, we got 60 wins. Tim is my MVP!”

That night, the Knicks also rotated a large portion of their roster and lost to the Washington Wizards, who were fighting for playoff seeding.

At the end of the game, Gilbert Arenas, who was being interviewed courtside, was also asked about the MVP award.

This second-round pick, who had made a name for himself, was not modest.

Gilbert Arenas even showed a surprised expression:

“Why is that even a question? The answer is obvious!”

“35 points per game! There should also be 10 assists per game, God! If that doesn’t get you the MVP, I’d only question the award itself.”

There were many Washington Wizards fans in the arena loudly shouting Lee’s name.

Gilbert Arenas pointed to the crowd and continued:

“Look at the fans’ reaction. If Tim Duncan came here, no one would cheer for him. That’s the difference between him and Clay Lee!”

Lee hugged each teammate after the loss, feeling good.

After feeding him so many games, Pau Gasol’s form had improved, which would be a great help to the team.

After winning this game, the Washington Wizards’ record reached 43 wins, placing them 6th in the Eastern Conference.

Lee bumped fists with Antawn Jamison and immediately offered his blessings:

“Good job, Bro! I look forward to us meeting in the Eastern Conference Finals!”

Antawn Jamison, who had led his team into the playoffs, was beaming with joy at this moment.

He hugged Lee tightly:

“Thanks, Bro! Sixth place isn’t bad. Honestly, I don’t want to face Shaq in the first round.”

“The MVP is definitely yours, we all support you!”

Waving to the fans, Lee slowly walked towards the player tunnel.

With a record of 63 wins and 19 losses, the Knicks once again won the Atlantic Division championship.

Although this award was secured early, the talent panel only responded after the regular season ended.

Before entering the locker room, Lee’s mind stirred, and he quickly received information:

[Dwyane Wade’s Extraordinary Explosiveness]

A smile appeared on his face.

Thinking that his speed attribute had remained stagnant, Lee felt that this talent should change the current situation.

Hill, dressed in a suit, bumped fists with his teammates one by one at the locker room door.

Seeing Lee, he immediately greeted him with a smile:

“Facing the Nets in the first round, everyone loves this schedule!”

“…”

…..

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Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep