NBA: Goat is actually me

Chapter 95 All-Star Voting Results, Battle with Madonna

With three consecutive games of 40+, Meng Jin quickly grabbed the headlines of major sports media, and his popularity even overshadowed Jordan's three consecutive triple-doubles.

Because in the eyes of the media, Jordan's three triple-doubles were explosive, but not big, because all fans knew that Jordan had the ability.

But Meng Jin is different. As a rookie, he scored 40+ in three consecutive games in his rookie season. This number is terrifying.

In the next five games, Meng Jin continued his explosive performance, scoring 3+ in three games and 40+ in two games!

After a series of outbursts, the voices about Meng Jin hitting the rookie wall disappeared, but another voice emerged.

Many fans angrily criticized Meng Jin for being a system player, a functional player, and even said that he was a role player, and some media also came out to lead the rhythm.

After seeing the discussion about himself in the newspaper, Meng Jin realized for the first time that he had become famous, because he even had black fans!
Grant couldn't help but smile bitterly when he saw these newspapers: "What role players? Protagonists?"

The two usually hang out together after practice, sometimes watching videos together, sometimes complaining about newspaper content together, and sometimes discussing how to deal with Jordan.

Meng Jin is not with women every day. Sometimes being with his brothers is much more relaxing than being with women. Meng Jin doesn't have to think about sweet words, and his body doesn't have to work hard all the time.

Grant was flipping through the newspaper when he suddenly discovered a new world and shouted out, "Oh my God, Michael actually spoke for you!"

Meng Jin took a look and saw that it was a passage from an interview Michael Jordan had given after training yesterday.

The reporter asked Jordan what he thought about the outside world saying that Meng Jin is a system player and a role player.

Jordan retorted on the spot: "Nonsense! Bullshit! These are all said by a group of people who don't understand basketball. Meng is very important to the Bulls. Those people should either shut up or find a role player who averaged 40 points per game in a single week in NBA history."

Jordan reacted strongly. He tried his best to defend Meng Jin. The Bulls are now back on track and in a very good situation. He doesn't need some bullshit from the outside world to affect the internal unity. Jordan felt that since the reporter asked this question, he had to respond positively. Everything Jordan did was for victory.

CBS commentator Heinsohn also stood up to speak for Meng Jin: "Watch the game! Please, these people, watch the game! Look at his running position, look at his finishing, look at his playing style. Meng is a role player? How did you come up with this? They are all adults, and these people should be responsible for their words!"

Jack McCloughan of Sports Illustrated expressed the same view: "The core of the Bulls is Michael Jordan, there is no doubt about that, but Meng is definitely not a role player. He has been the team's most important scorer in the past 8 games. He has shouldered the burden and done a good job. If you insist on saying that he is a role player, then the term role player should be redefined."

Some players also agreed. Moses Malone said: "You can say he is a rookie, a rookie, immature, and he still has many shortcomings to improve, but you can't say he is a system player. I think he can play to his strengths no matter what system, tactics or coach he is in."

Charles Barkley: "If there is no Meng, Michael will not play point guard at all. What's the point of him playing point guard if his teammates can't make shots? You know what I mean?"

There have been constant controversies about Meng Jin, but the effects are not entirely negative. Meng Jin's popularity has reached a new level during this period. Many viewers first knew the name Meng Jin and then went to watch his games. This period happened to be the time when Meng Jin broke out, so he gained fans very quickly.

On January 1, the NBA officially announced the results of the 29-1987 All-Star voting.

Michael Jordan retained his All-Star voting lead with 1121285 votes without any suspense. The highest vote-getter in the Western Conference was Magic Johnson, who received a total of 1022122 votes.

Meng Jin received 703597 votes and defeated Dominique Wilkins by a narrow margin thanks to a last-minute comeback.

This is also explosive news for the entire league. Not to mention Wilkins' status and the entertainment value of his playing time, there were several years when his votes were even higher than Bird's!

In addition to his fan-attracting performance in mid-to-late January, the Chinese community also made a great effort. Now Meng Jin is called the representative of Chinese power by the Chinese community. Everyone voted for him enthusiastically. In the end, Meng Jin surpassed Dominique Wilkins by less than 10,000 votes. Without the strong support of the Chinese community, Meng Jin would definitely not have made it to the All-Stars.

"Does that mean I can be a starter in the All-Star Game?"

Meng Jin learned about this news from his agent Falk. He was a little surprised because after the third round of voting, he was only ranked fourth among small forwards in the Eastern Conference.

"Of course, congratulations, Meng, for being selected as an All-Star starter in your first season!"

Falk then continued, "There's another good news. The league wants to invite you to participate in the dunk contest with Michael."

"Teammate confrontation? David Stern is really good at creating gimmicks." Meng Jin laughed.

"No, no, this is the result of fans' voting. In early January, the NBA officially launched an activity called 'Who do you want to see most in the dunk contest?' You got the most votes, even higher than Michael. You know, everyone is tired of watching his dunks in recent years, and the dunk contest needs fresh blood."

Meng Jin shrugged: "That was also the result of David Stern's guidance. Can I not go?"

Meng Jin knew that if he wanted to become a superstar, he didn't have to participate in the dunk contest. Sometimes participating in the dunk contest would have the opposite effect, and he would be labeled as the dunk champion for a long time.

"Your signature sneakers have already started mass production. This is a great opportunity to promote your sneakers. Imagine the scene where you complete a stunning slam dunk, and the camera gives you a close-up. You hang on the basket with your feet raised, revealing a pair of MJ's first generation signature sneakers. This is better than shooting any number of commercials!"

Meng Jin thought about it and it seemed to be true. Falk was indeed good at marketing.

Meng Jin: "Tell them to produce a batch of pink sneakers as a special All-Star edition."

"Pink?" Falk was a little confused. He had never seen sneakers of this color on the court.

"Yes, naughty fan, I want to wear it in the dunk contest." Meng Jin just wanted to give it a try. If it becomes a hit, that would be great. If not, that's okay. It's just a special customized version for the All-Stars.

Falk nodded, then made a note of it in his little notebook. He couldn't understand the color, but he respected it. After all, it was his own shoe, so he could play with it however he wanted.

"One last thing. I'm going to New York to shoot a commercial this afternoon."

The Bulls played the Nets in their last game and the Knicks in their next one, so after the game the entire Bulls team will stay in New Jersey and wait for the next game to start before taking a bus to Madison Garden. After all, the two places are only separated by a river.

"What advertisement?" Meng Jin asked.

"Triumph, lingerie commercial," Falk replied.

"I'm going to shoot an underwear commercial?" Meng Jin pointed at himself.

“They also have men’s underwear,” Falk explained.

Meng Jin wondered why he was chosen for an underwear advertisement. Did the outside world know that he was pregnant with a dragon?
Falk patted Meng Jin on the shoulder and said, "Shoot well and perform well. Someone has asked to shoot a commercial with you this time. I heard it's a big star."

Before going to the shooting site, Meng Jin was nervous because Falk didn't say whether it was a male or female star!
You know, there are many perverts in the North American entertainment industry. Meng Jin didn't feel relieved until he entered the studio. She was a blonde beauty with a hot body.

"Madonna! Be more seductive, yes, more charming, more seductive, more seductive, okay!"

After hearing what the director said, Meng Jin looked carefully and found that it was really Madonna, just a younger version before plastic surgery. He didn't recognize her at first.

"OH! Our male protagonist is finally here, come on, take off your pants and put this on."

The director threw more than a dozen pairs of underwear to Meng Jin in one breath, probably the amount he needed to shoot today.

After changing his underwear, Meng Jin appeared in everyone's sight.

GAYGAY's photographer sighed: "Mai, you have a really good eye. You picked a top-notch one."

Only then did Meng Jin realize that he was personally chosen by Madonna.

The next second, the two looked at each other. Meng Jin felt McDonald's fiery gaze, and his mouth was dry. The two fell in love at first sight. If there hadn't been so many people and cameras around, they would probably have started fighting.

During the filming process, Meng Jin felt Madonna's restlessness. She had close contact with him intentionally or unintentionally. Madonna's teasing made Meng Jin very uncomfortable.

"Crack!"

The director yelled, "Meng! Be more restrained. We are shooting an advertisement, not a romantic action movie!"

Meng Jin looked down and realized that some things could be restrained, but some things really could not be restrained.

Everyone on the set laughed when they saw this scene. Madonna stared at Meng Jin as if he were her prey, thinking to herself, "I have a really good eye!"

After drinking some ice water and calming down for ten minutes, the two continued filming the commercial.

With Madonna's constant urging, the entire shoot was completed in about an hour.

Madonna was already impatient at this time. She said a few words to her agent, who immediately asked everyone to leave: "Madonna needs to discuss some business with MJ. Everyone please step aside. Thank you."

Meng Jin was shocked when he heard this. Would they be doing it in the studio? Would they be playing so wildly?

However, something even wilder was yet to come. Madonna directly threw Meng Jin onto the sponge mat.

During the whole process, Madonna only said one sentence: "You should wear a bigger size in your underwear, they are about to burst."

Meng Jin: "This is the largest size they have here."

Madonna: "You look a little nervous."

Meng Jin pointed around and said, "The cameras haven't been removed yet."

Meng Jin just wants to have fun, he doesn't want to be the protagonist of an action movie.

Madonna smiled and said, "They are all closed. Of course, if you want to take a movie, I can open them."

In the next two hours, Meng Jin felt Madonna's wildness and boldness.

Madonna was like a female hunter, and the fight between the two ended abruptly after her agent called because the studio was about to close.

Madonna was obviously not satisfied yet. When she and Meng Jin separated, her eyes were still mixed. But Madonna did not immediately pull Meng Jin to start the second show. This feeling of being not satisfied yet and being close yet distant is the best.

"We'll see each other again soon." Madonna said before parting.

December 1, Madison Square Garden.

This is Meng Jin's second visit to this basketball mecca.

While both sides were still warming up, the fans suddenly started screaming.

Players on both sides turned their heads and found that it was Madonna who came and sat in the first row on the sidelines.

"She's so hot." Grant's mouth was almost watering.

"He must be here to see me." Jordan said narcissistically.

"No, no, no, women like her like tough guys. She came to see me," Oakley said.

“Maybe his taste is white.”

Everyone looked back and saw that Paxson had also joined in the fun.

This was the late 80s, and Madonna's appeal to these young guys was enormous.

"Meng? Who do you think she's here to see?" Jordan asked.

At this time, Meng Jin looked calm and was practicing free throws.

Meng Jin opened his mouth slightly and said one word: "I."

Jordan looked disdainful: "Meng? Do you really think you are a popular guy? The people who like you are college students and strippers, not big stars like you."

Jordan suddenly got embarrassed in the middle of his speech because Madonna felt it was too hot and unzipped her jacket, revealing a thick black 1 printed on her bright red Bulls jersey.

(End of this chapter)