aircannonsinc Chapter 13 High-Stakes Gamble
Chapter 13 High-Stakes Gamble
2008年11月15日，下午2:00。
Los Angeles, the headquarters of Bill Duffy's brokerage firm.
Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows lay the bustling cityscape of Beverly Hills, but the atmosphere inside the meeting room was tense.
"Li, this is your last chance."
Sitting across from him, Nike's Vice President of Global Basketball Marketing, George LaFlin, pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses, his tone carrying the arrogance and condescension typical of a large corporation.
He pushed a thick contract in front of Li Xiangbei.
"Five years, $20 million. That's an All-Star level offer. You know, many number one draft picks don't even get that kind of treatment." LaFlin placed his hands on the table. "And without Nike's global marketing network, you can't become a global icon like Kobe or LeBron. In this industry, talent is important, but the platform is even more important."
Li Xiangbei sat in a leather swivel chair, casually twirling a basketball with the Spalding logo in his hand. He hadn't even glanced at the contract the entire time.
"Bill," Li Xiangbei suddenly spoke, turning to his agent beside him, "What's the current exchange rate?"
Bill Duffy paused, not quite following this leap of thought: "Huh? What exchange rate?"
"The exchange rate for dignity to US dollars."
Li Xiangbei stopped the basketball he was spinning and looked up at LaFlin.
"Mr. George, you've made a mistake."
"Kobe became a superstar because he saw the sun rise at 4 a.m. in Los Angeles, because he made those two free throws after rupturing his Achilles tendon. Not because he wore those shoes with your swooshes."
"As for LeBron? He's just blessed with natural talent."
Li Xiangbei stood up, straightened his suit jacket buttons, and the imposing aura emanating from him made Lafferlin instinctively shrink back.
"2000 million over 5 years? That's not even enough to buy my current traffic, let alone my future."
"The door's over there. Don't bother seeing me out."
LaFlint was furious, his face turning ashen. He'd been in that position for ten years, and no rookie had ever dared to speak to him like that.
"You'll regret this, Lee!" LaFlin jumped to his feet, grabbing the contract. "Rejecting Nike is equivalent to rejecting mainstream media! We'll block your business resources! You'll find that apart from selling used cars, no other GG company will dare to approach you!"
"Then I'll wait," Li Xiangbei smiled. "I hope to see the day Nike goes bankrupt."
With a loud "bang," Nike was completely eliminated from the competition.
Bill Duffy wiped the cold sweat from his brow: "Lee, you've narrowed your options. Nike's influence in the industry..."
"If the road is too narrow, then tear down the wall and build your own road." Li Xiangbei glanced at his watch. "Shouldn't the next customer be here soon? The one selling bodysuits."
……
3:30 PM.
The meeting room door was pushed open again.
The man who walked in this time was a burly, bald middle-aged man. He was clutching a black briefcase tightly in his hand, and he looked somewhat nervous, with fine beads of sweat on his forehead.
Kevin Plank.
The founder of Under Armour.
At that time, UA was merely a "junior" in the American sports world, making performance compression clothing. In the basketball shoe market? Their market share was almost zero, and they didn't even have a decent basketball shoe product.
"Hello, Lee. Hello, Mr. Duffy." Plank's voice was a little tense. "I'm Kevin Plank. It's a great honor to meet you both."
After he sat down, he somewhat awkwardly opened his briefcase and took out a document.
"I know that compared to Nike and Adidas, UA is still a blank slate in the basketball arena," Planck said sincerely. "But it is precisely because it is a blank slate that we can draw the most beautiful picture. We are willing to give everything for you."
Our offer is...
"Let's not talk about money yet, Kevin."
Li Xiangbei interrupted him, leaning forward, his eyes seemingly able to see through people's hearts.
"I know you don't have much cash on hand. If it comes down to cash, you can't beat Nike."
Planck's face darkened. Indeed, the offer he brought was $3000 million over 5 years, which would almost drain the company's cash flow, but he knew it was no match for Nike's massive size.
"But," Li Xiangbei changed the subject, "I don't value the money right now."
He drew an upward curve on the whiteboard in the conference room.
"Nike sells the 'present' and the 'history,' Jordan and Kobe. What I want to sell is the 'future.'"
"Kevin, I want three things." Li Xiangbei held up three fingers.
"First, a signature shoe. I want absolute involvement in the design process. I don't want those bulky inside shoes; I want lightweight, protective guard shoes."
Planck nodded repeatedly: "Of course! You're our top performer; we can open a completely new production line for you!"
"Secondly, equity," Li Xiangbei said, surprising everyone. "I want 0.5% of Under Armour's equity."
The meeting room fell silent instantly.
0.5%? It may not sound like much, but for a listed company, it means that Li Xiangbei's fate is completely tied to the company's.
Bill Duffy was stunned. This was outrageous!
Planck hesitated for a long time. He was calculating and weighing the options. If he didn't give it to Li Xiangbei, he wouldn't be able to sign him. If he did give it to him, what if Li Xiangbei messed things up...?
"Third," Li Xiangbei said, throwing out his final bargaining chip without giving him time to think, "I need you to sign someone."
"Who?" Planck asked instinctively.
"Stephen Curry."
Li Xiangbei wrote the name on the whiteboard.
"Next year in the draft, no matter his draft position, sign him. Give him a good contract."
"Curry?" Plank looked blank. "That short guy from Davidson College? I heard he's physically weak and all he can do is shoot..."
"All you can do is shoot hoops?" Li Xiangbei laughed, a laugh full of meaning.
He stood up, walked over to Planck, and patted the future billionaire on the shoulder.
"Kevin, believe me. He and I will be the duo that dominates this league for the next decade. We are the prototype of the Splash Brothers."
"If you sign him and give me that 0.5% equity, I guarantee you that within five years, UA's market value will surpass Adidas, becoming the only competitor to Nike."
That confidence, that certainty as if he knew the future, completely shattered Planck's psychological defenses.
This is a gambler's intuition when facing someone like himself.
Planck gritted his teeth, stood up abruptly, and stretched out his hand.
"Deal! Li! This was a crazy gamble!"
……
the next day.
The Wall Street Journal's headline: "Under Armour's Suicidal Gamble?"
The article sarcastically stated: "Kevin Plank is gambling the future of his company on the future of a second-round pick. This is simply a joke in business history."
ESPN commentator: "Li Xiangbei rejected Nike? And chose an underwear brand? Has he lost his mind? He'll never get a top-tier endorsement again!"
Faced with overwhelming ridicule, Li Xiangbei simply posted a photo of himself training in a UA compression suit on Twitter, with the caption:
"Underdogs often bite the hardest."
……
8:00 PM. Li Xiangbei's new mansion.
This is a penthouse duplex apartment in Tribeca, Manhattan, which Knicks owner James Dolan "rented" to Li Xiangbei at a very low price in order to keep this rising star.
Outside the huge floor-to-ceiling windows is the night view of the Hudson River.
Li Xiangbei lay on the sofa and dialed a phone number.
"Feed? Brother?"
A slightly immature and somewhat frustrated voice came from the other end of the phone. It was Stephen Curry, who was still struggling to keep Davidson College afloat.
"Hey Stephen," Li Xiangbei said casually, "I heard you've been getting double-teamed a lot lately? You only scored 15 points in the last game?"
"Don't even mention it..." Curry sighed. "These guys are insane. Two of them would double-team me, sometimes even three. I could barely see the rim anymore. And the scouts said I was too skinny and would get crushed if I went to the NBA."
Don't listen to those blind idiots' nonsense.
Li Xiangbei took a sip of soda water and looked out the window at the night view.
"They double-team because they're afraid. Stephen, work on your core strength and protect your ankles. Those are your most valuable weapons."
"And one more thing," Li Xiangbei paused, "If a bald guy named Kevin comes to you recently and says he wants to offer you a sneaker contract... don't hesitate, sign it."
"Huh?" Curry was taken aback. "Bald? You mean Under Armour, the company that makes bodysuits? Dude, didn't you make a fortune? Did you invest in them?"
"More or less," Li Xiangbei laughed. "I'm one of your bosses now. So, play well and don't embarrass me."
"Hey bro, could you lend me some money to fix my car? My used Toyota's exhaust pipe fell off..."
"Get lost," Li Xiangbei said with a laugh. "Once you get into the league and win the championship, I want you to buy me a Ferrari."
After hanging up the phone, Li Xiangbei was in a great mood.
The future "Kuritian" has already been secured. The Splash Brothers' business empire has been pieced together with its most important piece.
Just then, my phone vibrated. It was a text message.
From: Scarlett.
Content: "I heard you turned down Nike? You're crazy. But... I like crazy people. I have a movie premiere in New York tonight and need a date. Is that crazy guy free?"
Li Xiangbei looked at the text message and a smile appeared on his lips.
Is this... a date invitation?
He replied quickly, his fingers flying across the keyboard: "Sorry, I need to watch film tonight. Coach D'Antoni said we're playing the Suns tomorrow, and I need to figure out how to defend Steve Nash. But I can lend you my driver; he's a very steady driver."
Click send.
Less than a minute later, Scarlett replied with a middle finger emoji and the comment: "No wonder you're single! Basketball is your girlfriend!"
Li Xiangbei tossed his phone aside and turned on the TV.
On the screen, a video of the Phoenix Suns game is playing.
The long-haired Canadian, Steve Nash, weaved through the crowd, delivering one incredible pass after another. Meanwhile, in the paint, the former Shaquille O'Neal, though aged, remained as unshakeable as a mountain.
Next game: New York Knicks vs. Phoenix Suns.
This is also D'Antoni's chance to prove himself against his former team, the once dominant "run-and-gun" team in the league.
"Nash?"
Li Xiangbei stared at the screen, his eyes blazing with fighting spirit.
"Let's see if your passing is faster or my three-pointers are more accurate."
Phoenix.
Steve Nash is undergoing pre-game physical therapy. His back injury has been a persistent concern.
"Steve, Mike (D'Antoni) said that New York kid is the most perfect run-and-gun core he's ever seen. Even... better suited than you." O'Neal said, chewing on his hamburger while sowing discord.
Nash smiled, a refined smile that concealed a sharp edge.
"Mike always likes to exaggerate. But since it's 'perfect,' I'll have to teach him a lesson. About... the art of rhythm."
In New York, D'Antoni looked at the tactics board, his hands trembling slightly.
This is his inner demon. He wants to prove that he can still win without Nash. Through that kid named Li Xiangbei.