Where the noise did not reach

Chapter 111 A Closed Heart, A Closed Person

On the night the Celebrity Game concludes, there will be the All-Star Weekend's highlight: the Slam Dunk Contest.

Prior to this, All-Star Weekend had already featured a showdown between young talents – the Rising Stars Challenge. As one of the most anticipated rookies of the year, Xu Ling was naturally selected for the first-year team.

In the Rising Stars Challenge, Xu Ling played with ease and confidence. Facing loose defense, he scored 24 points with accurate jump shots and quick breakthroughs, which can be considered a warm-up for this weekend.

However, that was just an appetizer, and the media's focus was quickly drawn to the more talked-about dunk contest that followed.

Ever since a certain prodigy who claimed he could easily win the Slam Dunk Contest repeatedly turned down invitations, younger players have also started to reject the competition.

There's no way around it, you have to emulate your idol.

Because everyone is following in the footsteps of their predecessors, Kobe wanted to become Jordan, so he painstakingly honed his skills and actively signed up for the dunk contest. Others, on the other hand, wanted to be like that extraordinary man who appeared out of nowhere and be their own masters. He didn't want to be defined by dunking, and naturally, neither did the others.

With no big-name stars participating, the Slam Dunk Contest has increasingly become a showcase for players with physical talent but little fame who want to make a name for themselves on stage with a single shot.

The alliance had no choice but to let things take their course and put effort into the selection of judges.

This time, the league has gathered together a group of judges, including Jordan, Kobe, Dr. J, Dominique Wilkins, and Magic Johnson, who seems to have nothing to do with dunking.

As a result, the judges' panel of the slam dunk contest has become a more interesting sight than the contest itself.

Xu Ling arrived at the scene with Ariane Celeste, and their appearance caused quite a stir, as the aftershocks of the afternoon's Celebrity Game had not yet subsided.

However, for Xu Ling, the dunk contest was a boring competition.

Because when he started paying serious attention to basketball in his previous life, whether it was the NBA or the CBA, the dunk contest had become the main stage for those amateur dunk masters. The league invited them to the scene to show their talents, and they would show the moves they had performed many times in various dunk contests during the live broadcast. Then the judges would symbolically give them ten points, and they would win a round of applause and take home the championship.

But is this what fans want to see? If fans only want to see high-difficulty dunks, then any street dunk highlight reel on the internet would be a hundred times more exciting.

However, this trend doesn't seem to be slowing down. Players will only become more protective of their reputation, regarding dunking performances as lowbrow basketball and disdaining to participate, preferring to watch amateurs show off. However, this isn't entirely a bad thing; at least these amateurs can guarantee a certain level of sophistication.

However, it's 2008 now, so where has the Slam Dunk Contest gone?
Xu Ling was very interested in this. He wanted to know what the difference was between the NBA and the CBA, because his dislike for the dunk contest stemmed from the CBA. He would always remember a player named Wang Zilu who signed up for the dunk contest and told the host that he would do his best to show himself. Then, like a passerby who could barely dunk, he showed off two barely worthless dunks in front of everyone and quickly left.

That was the most embarrassing thing Xu Ling had ever seen on the basketball court, bar none.

Then Xu Ling encountered the NBA version of abstract art.

First up was Rudy Gay. When he came on stage, the director specifically focused on Xu Ling, who was chatting with Ariane. The two were laughing and talking, clearly indicating that the Kingslayer had not yet forgiven Gay.

Gay seemed to be holding back, failing to display any of McGrady-level athleticism in front of the five legendary players. He barely managed to complete his first dunk after several attempts, ultimately scoring 37 points. Howard then scored a perfect score with a windmill dunk after catching himself behind the backboard. Gerald Green's abstract performance then began: he first had a small box of cake with lit candles placed on the rim, then had a teammate catch it for him, and he was to blow out the candles upon completing the alley-oop.

That was an incredibly awkward idea, and he even had to try several times before he finally managed to blow out the candles on the basketball hoop. Kenny Smith yelled and screamed exaggeratedly, but the reactions on set didn't lie. The suffocating awkwardness made Xu Ling, who always fast-forwards through awkward moments, feel extremely uncomfortable.

It was boring and the creativity was awkward, until Howard put on a red Superman robe and performed a flying dunk that looked like a celestial being descending from the heavens, just like a real-life version of Taiga Kagami's meteor dunk in the fantasy basketball anime "Kuroko's Basketball".

Howard rightfully won the Slam Dunk Contest.

The next day
As required, Xu Ling arrived at the New Orleans Arena early to meet his Western All-Star teammates.

Deep within the corridors of the New Orleans Arena, far from the deafening roar of the crowd, lies a peculiar tranquility. This is a private area reserved for All-Stars, where the air is filled with the mingled scents of floor wax and cologne.

Xu Ling, dressed in a warm-up suit, was guided by staff along with the other Western All-Stars, like a group of priceless exhibits, as they did their final rehearsal before going on stage.

“Alright, gentlemen,” a stage director wearing a headset clapped his hands, his voice urgent, “listen, when your names are introduced, walk out from that entrance, step into the spotlight in the center of the venue, wave, smile, and enjoy the applause. Simple, right? Remember your positions, don’t stand in the wrong places!”

Dwight Howard had already begun his impromptu performance, mimicking his entrance moves and letting out a deep roar, which made Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony laugh out loud. LeBron James stood with Dwyane Wade, talking in hushed tones with relaxed smiles on their faces, but their eyes would occasionally glance inadvertently in the direction of the Western Conference All-Stars.

Moreover, those Eastern Conference stars who claim to be friends with LeBron James will occasionally turn their attention to the location of the Western Conference All-Stars' number 1 jersey.

Xu Ling simply stood quietly in his designated spot, watching it all unfold. He felt it was like an elaborately choreographed puppet show, but it was a celebrity obligation that they, as a group of people, had to fulfill.

As the staff prepared to take the group photo, the stars from the East and West were mixed together, and the staff carefully arranged their positions according to height and status. Xu Ling was placed in the second row, and to his left was Jason Kidd, who was wearing an East All-Star jacket.

Although Kidd has been traded to the Grizzlies, the votes he received while playing for the Nets were enough to earn him an Eastern Conference All-Star selection, so he will still represent the Eastern Conference All-Star team. "How does it feel, Jason?" Xu Ling joked. "From New Jersey to Memphis, and then from a Western Conference All-Star to an Eastern Conference representative, this season has been quite a rollercoaster."

Upon hearing this, Kidd's lips twitched slightly. He also looked straight ahead and replied in a voice only the two of them could hear, "That still can't compare to you, Eli. Only you can win headlines worldwide in Memphis. Enjoy this front-row seat; this will be your permanent spot from now on."

Just then, a staff member made a slight adjustment, signaling James to move a little more to the center. This adjustment placed James diagonally in front of Xu Ling, with only Carmelo Anthony between them. In an instant, the delicate balance in the air was broken.

James seemed to sense the gaze from his side and behind, his broad shoulders stiffening almost imperceptibly. He didn't turn around, nor did he attempt to make eye contact with Xu Ling; he simply raised his chin slightly, making his profile appear even more hardened. The King deliberately said something to Wade beside him, letting out a slightly exaggerated laugh, as if using this method to construct an invisible barrier, isolating someone behind him.

Xu Ling took in everything. Unlike James, he didn't try to show off; he simply tilted his head slightly and examined James's back with an almost research-like gaze, as if assessing an interesting exhibit.

Wade, sandwiched between the two, felt the invisible pressure. He shifted his feet uncomfortably, and the smile on his face became somewhat forced.

He tried to strike up a conversation with Xu Ling to ease the tension: "Hey, Eli, first All-Star game, how does it feel?"

Xu Ling then shifted his gaze from James's back and smiled at Wade: "Not bad, Dwyane. It's much more interesting than being asked how to wag your finger anywhere else."

The atmosphere of mutual dislike, where everyone had to pretend to be harmonious, was almost shattered by a single sentence from the regicide.

Then, Yao Ming, perhaps unaware of the situation, spoke up, saying, "Sigh, I must make a three-pointer tonight."

"Come on, Yao!" Garnett complained. "People are tired of watching you shoot threes. You need to find something new!"

"OK, I'll ask Eli for advice on how to make a half-court shot."

Yao Ming thus eased the tension.

Thanks to Yao Ming, the group photo was finally completed amidst a facade of harmonious smiles.

The flashes crackled, capturing this photo that will be cited repeatedly in the future.

In the photo, James smiles brightly, his gaze fixed firmly on the camera; while behind him, Xu Ling wears that classic, enigmatic smile, his gaze seemingly fixed on the camera, yet also seemingly extending beyond it to a more distant place.

After the rehearsal ended, the players dispersed to their respective warm-up areas. As they passed the mixed zone, reporters swarmed them, their microphones primarily aimed at Xu Ling and James.

"LeBron, will you have any special interactions with Eli tonight?" a reporter asked impatiently.

James immediately donned his impeccable public persona, smiling politely: "Tonight is a time to enjoy basketball and give back to the fans. Eli and I are here to deliver a fantastic performance for the fans, and that's the point."

On the other hand, when faced with the same question, Xu Ling's answer was much simpler: "Interaction? The best interaction is the interaction on the basketball court."

The two different answers to the same question perfectly illustrate their public images.

Sam Smith, who became a famous NBA reporter after writing "The Jordan Rules," completely compared the images of James and Xu Ling to the black-and-white duo: "LeBron is like Magic Johnson, all-around, selfless, and a team player; Eli is like a yellow-skinned Larry Bird, sharp, sarcastic, and direct. I believe that the rivalry between these two will be the main theme of the league for the next ten years!"

The New Orleans crowd then witnessed the opening show of the East and West All-Star teams, but without the playful Shaquille O'Neal this year, the opening show was noticeably less entertaining than in the past.

After the opening show, the East and West All-Star teams began warming up.

Major television stations are introducing the basic information about the competition.

The legends sat courtside, with the biggest name tonight undoubtedly being GOAT Michael Jordan. Moreover, people noticed that the GOAT was sitting next to a beautiful woman, Yvette Prieto, a Cuban model whom Jordan had met not long ago. It is said that the two fell in love at first sight and quickly sparked a romance, and are now in the throes of a passionate relationship.

“Michael,” Yvette’s voice was gentle with a hint of curiosity. She wasn’t just asking a simple question, but trying to start a real conversation, “Aside from Kobe, among these young players today, is there anyone whose playing style gives you something… well, something worth pondering?”

Upon hearing this, Jordan smiled and first gestured with his chin in LeBron James's direction, his tone carrying the praise of a senior: "LeBron, without a doubt, is a natural leader."

However, Yvette keenly noticed that when Jordan spoke, his sharp, hawk-like eyes only briefly swept over James before precisely focusing on number 1, who was warming up at the other end of the court, like a hunter searching for its prey.

Yvette did not press Jordan about his feelings regarding the number 1.

Because this man hasn't decided to fully open his closed heart to her yet.

(End of this chapter)