Y13 [EN]: Chapter 166

00166 2011 Off-Season

“I have quite a bit to talk about today. That’s why I came to see you in person. Thanks to Yoon winning the Finals, I don’t have much time to spare either. Haha.”

Bill Duffy eased the tension with a lighthearted joke, and Youngjae, understanding Duffy’s intent, relaxed slightly and smiled.

“I appreciate your concern. The NBA playoffs are long, so players on contender teams have shorter off-seasons, which is a drawback. But it’s something I was prepared for when I decided to join this team.”

The NBA regular season consists of 82 games, while the playoffs can go up to 28 games (four rounds of best-of-seven series). There is virtually no other league in the world with so many playoff games compared to the regular season. Even the Dallas Mavericks, who won the championship with a great record of 16 wins and 5 losses, played 21 playoff games. That’s two months longer than teams that didn’t make the playoffs. The regular season usually ends in early to mid-April, and the Finals wrap up in mid-June.

As a result, it wasn’t easy to do anything during the off-season. With the Summer League in July and training camp in September, there were only about two and a half months to actually rest. During that time, players had to do individual training and take care of personal matters that couldn’t be done during the season.

“That’s why agents exist – to coordinate schedules and handle non-basketball matters so players can focus on basketball as much as possible. My role is to ensure they are in top condition when the season starts again. Sigh… Honestly, I have no idea what to expect this season.”

Youngjae was well aware of the sensitive issue: the lockout.

“First of all, the lockout is definitely going to happen. The previous Collective Bargaining Agreement [CBA, the agreement between the NBA and the players’ union] is in effect until June 30th, so it will start on July 1st. The question is how long it will last. In 1995, negotiations were resolved quickly, and we had a nearly normal season. But in 1998, the season didn’t start until January of the following year. I think it will be similar to 1998 or even longer. The two sides are further apart than I thought, so unless there’s a dramatic agreement, it could very well drag on into the new year.”

Youngjae nodded, recalling his memories from his past life. If a lockout was unavoidable, he needed to monitor the situation and focus on maintaining his physical condition.

“So, at the earliest, it could be the end of the year, or the entire season could be canceled. We need to be prepared. I hope the season starts on time, but…”

Youngjae remembered that the new CBA negotiations were settled in December, and the 2011-12 season was shortened. However, he couldn’t reveal that, and since the season’s start would be delayed, he needed to think about how to improve himself and maintain his game sense. That’s why he wasn’t surprised by Bill Duffy’s words and was already preparing himself mentally.

“During the lockout, players and teams are prohibited from all contact. That includes phone calls and even social media. Of course, team facilities are off-limits, and salaries are not paid. There’s a lot to prepare for. The first thing I want to talk about is hiring a personal trainer for Yoon.”

When a lockout occurs, contact between teams and players is naturally prohibited. This means blocking all means of communication, including direct meetings, messages, and phone calls. Therefore, Youngjae also needed to prepare in advance, and he thought that hiring a personal trainer would lead to more systematic training.

“I’ve narrowed down a few candidates, but frankly, it’s financially impossible to hire a famous trainer with Yoon’s salary. Famous trainers are experienced enough to be NBA team coaches. So, I looked for trainers who would meet Yoon’s preferred conditions.”

Most of them were young men in their 30s and 40s, and Duffy had narrowed it down to three candidates based on Youngjae’s criteria. Youngjae looked through the three resumes and spent a long time reading the last one with interest.

[Jonas Yim]

1980. 3. 23 (Age 31)

– 1999 ~ 2004: Region Highschool Head Coach

– 2005 ~ 2009: Maryland Coach

– 2010 ~ 2011: California Santa Margarita Coach

He didn’t have a career as a professional player, but his coaching experience was quite impressive for his age. He must have chosen the path of a coach from a young age. He had experience coaching at high schools and universities for over 10 years, and since he had worked in various places, he seemed adaptable.

“… Hmm, I’d like to choose this person. Can you set up a meeting with him?”

Youngjae handed over Jonas Yim’s resume, and Bill Duffy nodded as if he expected it.

“As expected, you have a great eye. Jonas Yim was very interested as soon as I mentioned it. Since Yim’s workplace is in California, it’s close to San Diego. He wanted to meet with Yoon, so I told him that Yoon would be going to San Diego in a few days. He wants to attend the San Diego State University event in the morning to see Yoon and have an in-depth conversation. You can attend the event together that day and have a meeting afterward. I’ll contact Yim separately. And I’ll leave his contact information here.”

Bill Duffy, his throat parched from talking so much, gulped down the drink Youngjae had offered him and naturally moved on to the next topic.

“I’ll keep you updated on the lockout and league situation from time to time. I’ll send you regular emails, so please read them and ask if you have any questions. The next thing to talk about is the Korean national team and endorsements. Considering Yoon’s past actions, I don’t think you want to be active in Korea, but…”

Youngjae was well aware of Duffy’s consideration. But if he clung to the past and ignored the present, Youngjae would surely regret it. If activity in Korea was necessary, Youngjae was ready to go and do it.

“I don’t want to abandon what I need to do because of personal feelings. I don’t think I need to stay in Korea for a long time, but there are fans there who watch and love the NBA, aren’t there? And you’ve said that the association has been requesting it for a while now, right?”

Bill Duffy shook his head with a dumbfounded expression.

“That’s right. Frankly, I never expected them to be so insistent, so it’s absurd, but they have this tone that joining the national team is a given, which we find very offensive. Unlike soccer, there’s no mandatory call-up, but most players readily accept the national team’s call-up request unless they’re injured or a free agent. For now, Yoon’s recognition in Korea is explosive. There’s media play involved, but public opinion also wants you to join. I think you’ll be treated like a hero if you join the national team.”

A hero’s welcome. Youngjae was embarrassed, wondering if he was a player who deserved such treatment, but the request process wasn’t pleasant. Still, he had always wanted to play for the national team. He had witnessed his senior, Choi Jin-soo, eventually giving up his American college life and returning to Korea due to frequent national team call-ups.

“I suppose so. Dirk Nowitzki, J.J. Barea, Rodrigue Beaubois, and Ian Mahinmi all said they’re going to their national teams again this year. I feel the same way. I don’t have the patriotism to sacrifice my career for my country, but it’s still my homeland, and I have pride as a national team player.”

Dallas had many European players, so they often played for their national teams every summer. After explaining the positive aspects, Bill Duffy kindly explained the negative aspects to Youngjae in order.

“The popularity of the NBA and basketball in Korea is still low, and trust in basketball is also low due to the KBL’s [Korean Basketball League] poor league management. Basketball’s popularity has increased a bit in Korea this season, but that’s entirely thanks to you. It’s not that the popularity of domestic sports has increased, but that the popularity of a star who has gone abroad has increased. Yoon, if you’re uncomfortable, why don’t you consider acquiring American citizenship now? In my personal opinion, I think you have enough potential to be selected for the American national team in the future, but…”

Youngjae had considered Duffy’s words. But he hadn’t abandoned his patriotism for Korea and his pride as a national team player. After this season, he thought he could definitely make the American national team. But if he did that, it wouldn’t feel quite right.

Youngjae asked Duffy for a moment and went outside to the SUV. He didn’t start the engine because he wanted some time to himself, so Youngjae locked the doors and quietly closed his eyes.

[- Mom isn’t home again today. Dad isn’t home today either. –

A young middle school boy wrote in English, and below it, he wrote the same meaning in Korean, scribbling something in a notebook alone in a large house.

– Even when I was in Korea, I liked Mom and Dad. They came home late, but they smiled when they saw me. But Mom and Dad have changed since a year ago when we decided to come to America. –

The boy didn’t take off his school uniform and continued to write something in his notebook, skipping lunch and dinner.

– Only the cleaning men come to clean the house twice a week. A woman brings food every evening. And that woman gives me money to use every day. It’s enough money to use. It was enough to eat, sleep, play… whatever I did. –

The boy continues to write in his notebook. Then, when the bell rings, he goes out to receive food and money. After eating, the boy unconsciously turns on the TV.

OH MY GOD!!! WONDERFUL SLAM!!!

The only joy for the boy eating rice was watching NBA games. At that time, he could forget about his mom and dad who didn’t come home. Even at school, where he was discriminated against for being Asian, he learned a lot about the NBA, talked about it, practiced basketball, and played games, so the discrimination disappeared a lot.

But when the game ended, loneliness inevitably came to the boy.

– Mom and Dad seem to be crazy about work. –

– I guess they don’t care about home. –

As he wrote down those resentful words, he eventually filled the paper with only one sentence.

– I miss you. –

As a week or two passed, the boy began to feel strange. Even though his parents looked at the boy with a disgusted expression that seemed to be burdened once a week, they hadn’t been seen for so long, so the boy became increasingly anxious.

“…”

When he came to his senses, the boy was attending a funeral. His parents were key players in growing a fairly large company into a huge company with tremendous abilities that anyone could recognize immediately. They were so attached to their brilliant lives at the company that they didn’t want to leave it.

Even with a child, the couple liked the company more than the child. They liked being important executives of the company more than being someone’s mom, dad, or spouse. Then, they died in an accident during a business trip.

Living like that, the huge house became small, and the vast amount of wealth that others could only accumulate for a lifetime was torn apart here and there. Still, because of the great contribution of the two people who raised a mid-sized company into a large corporation, the company directly prevented anyone from touching the inheritance left by the boy’s parents through legal procedures, and then gave the boy the remaining money intact.

That money was enough for the boy to live on, at least until he was in college.]

============================ Author’s Notes ============================

★Thank you to those who gave me advance reservations, recommendations, comments, and coupons!!

＠To be honest, the NBA playoffs are too long. Due to the limited capacity of the stadiums, they expanded the first round from a best-of-five series to a best-of-seven series to increase revenue. It’s strange to have a final 16 in a league of 30 teams in the first place. As far as I know, playoff revenue is almost equal to the regular season. So, there have been talks about players’ injuries being due to the tight schedule, but the players don’t want to reduce their salaries, so it ends up like this.

Major League Baseball has an final 8 including the wild card. They added a single-game wild card game last year. It’s all a trick to increase stadium revenue and broadcasting rights revenue.

Thank you, Hamtol, Ultra10, goimosp, Lapirandjint/// Yep. Parsons would be a good pick.

ㅎ0ㅎ///At least actors are a little better. They schedule everything in bulk and have long breaks. Musicians’ schedules are really erratic… At least the United States is more focused on performances, so it’s a little better. Korea is all about events;;;

Kangjail/// In terms of shooting guards, the early 80s would be in the top tier.

-DarkANGEL-, CountOfDark/, 사라질영혼, 찬란한유산, 백사킬러, 파이넨시아, 오마리온// Thank you for your comments!! Have a good day tomorrow~~

Miyalma, Bongraesan’s Knit Hime/// That’s right. It’s rare for a championship-caliber team to get a high pick and for a rookie to become a key player in the team’s championship in recent years, except for Tim Duncan. San Antonio was in the bottom tier for one season due to David Robinson’s injury, so they got the first pick and picked Duncan. Except for this rare case, most of them are lower picks, and it’s rare for those lower picks to explode in their first year.

It rains on gloomy days/// Your rhyme is good ㅎㅎ

chaikopusuki/// Thank you. I hope you have a good time reading it today