The Nike China tour achieved an excellent response, causing a surge in the mainland sales of the Simon series Tang Dynasty. The Nike operations team was overjoyed and wanted to extend the tour to Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia to garner more fans and sales.
From a financial perspective, Nike's plan was sound. However, He Xi Meng knew that the world's money was inexhaustible, and if he followed Nike's schedule completely, he would likely die of exhaustion on a plane. He participated in this promotional event primarily to fulfill his contract obligations and complete his promotional tasks for the year. He Xi Meng needed the endorsement fee from Nike at this time.
However, Nike's endorsement fee alone wouldn't help He Xi Meng achieve financial freedom. Even if Nike were willing to pay him a bonus, He Xi Meng decisively refused the additional travel plans. He was eager to return to the United States to see Kayla.
Through an insider at Fox, He Xi Meng precisely located the filming site of the Pirates of the Caribbean. He then flew directly to Puerto Rico and took a speedboat to the set, giving Kayla a huge surprise.
Of course, to surprise her, he brought a boat full of roses and a small gift: a ten-million-dollar diamond necklace. Women, after all, liked such gestures. Although they might say they only liked you for who you are, if you didn't buy them gifts, how could you prove your affection?
If you're unwilling to spend money on her, what else are you willing to do for her?
He Xi Meng wasn't particularly experienced in romance, but he had a decent understanding of women's psychology.
The film crew warmly welcomed He Xi Meng's arrival. It wasn't because of his status as a player. Although He Xi Meng had helped the Lakers reach the finals and China win the World Championship, he was still considered a rising star in American society with limited influence.
The crew's welcome was primarily due to He Xi Meng being the co-writer of the script and a behind-the-scenes shareholder. While others might not have known, director Gore Verbinski was well aware.
So, He Xi Meng stayed with the crew for a month. He watched Kayla film during the day and slept with her at night. He also found a secluded beach where, under the gaze of the starry sky and the whisper of the waves, they experienced a profound moment of love.
After a month, He Xi Meng felt that if he stayed any longer, his body and skills would deteriorate.
Therefore, after spending Christmas with Kayla, He Xi Meng boarded a flight back to Los Angeles.
At this time, the labor-management negotiations were nearing their end.
The NBA lockout officially began on July 1, 1998, and by the end of December 1998, it had lasted for half a year.
During this period, on September 24th, the NBA canceled 24 preseason warm-up games and rookie training camps.
On October 5th, the NBA announced the cancellation of the remaining 90 preseason games.
On October 13th, the NBA announced the cancellation of the first two weeks of the regular season, the first time in its 52-season history that regular-season games were canceled. And these two weeks were just the beginning.
On October 19th, Judge Feric ruled that NBA owners did not have to pay contracted players their salaries during the lockout. Players had expected the court to protect their wages, at least guaranteeing their work during the contract period. However, this was not the case. This ruling shifted the balance of negotiations towards the owners, and the players, who were depleting their savings, began to grow restless.
On October 22nd, player leaders gathered in Las Vegas to discuss their strategy. Well, the reason for choosing Las Vegas was obvious to everyone. On the first day of the meeting, the player leaders issued a statement to the media: they would absolutely not compromise with the NBA owners!
The meeting lasted for a week, and the player leaders lost for a week.
On October 28th, these player leaders finally began to understand a truth: being unemployed was more terrifying than not getting a salary increase!
Thus, the labor side began to make concessions, and the owners happily accepted the player leaders' retreat. Both sides began to reach a preliminary framework agreement.
However, after leaving Las Vegas, the player leaders' resolve strengthened. After all, they were well-off, and the losses in Las Vegas were not enough to make them bankrupt. Thus, the labor side began to drag their feet, intending to use the All-Star Game as leverage to force the owners to offer more.
Unexpectedly, this time the owners were very firm! With a wave of their hand, they declared: the All-Star Weekend is canceled!
This completely stunned the labor side! The owners were willing to forgo the most profitable All-Star Game? These capitalists were truly heartless.
A major rift emerged within the Players Association. The upper-level star players still wanted to hold out, but the lower-level players couldn't endure it. No games meant no salary, and no salary meant no food! Even the lower-tier NBA players were accustomed to lavish spending. After months without income, their savings dwindled, and their bank accounts showed negative balances. While the superstars didn't worry about their livelihoods, the rank-and-file players were genuinely unable to cope.
The old fox, Stern, had already dispatched various individuals to gauge player sentiment and monitor their financial situations. Just before Christmas, when players typically needed large sums of money, Stern felt the time was right and delivered the final blow: January 7, 1999, was the deadline for negotiations; failing that, the entire season would be canceled.
Stern's decision was the final straw that broke the camel's back for the labor side. The Players Association was divided. Leader players, represented by Union President Ewing, still wanted to persist, but ordinary players, represented by Vice President Billy Hunter, demanded a compromise with the owners.
Finally, on January 6, 1999, the day before the deadline, Billy Hunter, representing the majority, reached an agreement with League Commissioner Stern on behalf of the Players Association.
Stern called it "a wise choice!"
On January 20th, the labor and management signed the new agreement. The new season was shortened to 50 games, with an extremely condensed schedule that completely disregarded player health. In order to earn more money, as they were paid per game, the players accepted this grueling schedule.
Ultimately, this 204-day drama concluded with the labor side compromising and the owners ceding some benefits.
Several prominent figures on the labor side, Michael Jordan announced his retirement, Ewing's illustrious reign as the "King of New York" ended after one season, leading to a nomadic career, and Mourning was diagnosed with a severe kidney condition after one season.