424 The Celebrated Coach (1/2)

In the boxing ring, Taylor lifted the championship belt high above his head. His face was wet. It wasn't clear whether it was sweat or tears, or a combination of both.

”Kevin is crying,” Ayres said.

”He is too excited. When he beat Hopkins, he didn't act like this,” Dai Li said, slightly absent-mindedly.

”The WBA championship belt is really meaningful for Taylor. Thirteen years ago, when he was twenty years old, the first heavyweight championship belt he won was the WBA belt. From then until he went to prison, he never lost his title as the WBA champion. During those years, the WBA championship belt represented the name Kevin Taylor.” Ayres kept looking at the championship belt, and said, ”After he got out of prison, the first championship belt Taylor won was also the WBA belt. I believe you are able to feel his determination to keep the WBA belt. To him, this WBA belt doesn't only represent his skill in boxing, but also his honor, and the memories of his youth. It is a witness to his entire career, the thing that kept him going.”

Ayres turned around to look at Dai Li. He noticed that Dai Li seemed slightly absent-minded, so Ayres asked in a slightly annoyed tone, ”Li, are you listening to me?”

”Yes. Of course, I am listening.” Dai Li laughed. The reason he was absent-minded was because he just received a notification from the system. The system had upgraded him from a famous coach to a celebrated coach.

The top boxing league, the top boxer, and the top boxing championship match. I've gained a large amount of experience. And then there's also the team pyramid that has helped me gain a lot of experience. But now that I've been upgraded, the team pyramid will also be upgraded.

Dai Li examined the team pyramid, and as expected, it was also upgraded. Before, the team pyramid could only hold two top-level coaches, four second-rate coaches, and eight third-rate coaches. Now, it could contain two famous coaches, four top-level coaches, eight second-rate coaches, and 16 third-rate coaches. The number of spaces had doubled, and there were two additional positions for famous coaches. This meant that two of the coaches working under him would enjoy the bonus effects of a famous coach.

It was only 14 people before, and now it is 30. I need to start recruiting again. But my training center can't accommodate thirty coaches. Maybe I should open another center and expand. It's better for me to leave this issue to Blake!

Dai Li did some calculations, and the amount he made from Taylor would be enough for him to purchase a larger venue. If he continued renting, opening up several branches wouldn't be a problem.

”It's better to wait and see the rewards for leveling up this time. I was upgraded from being a famous coach to a celebrated coach. The bonus shouldn't be too bad, right?” Dai Li shouted at the system to bring him his upgrade bonus.

Two upgrade awards appeared in the system. On the left was a golden, engraved stick, with a gem mounted to its top. The one on the right was a silver scale, its two trays also engraved with many patterns.

”A golden stick and a silver scale? They look quite impressive, but what are they?” Dai Li asked the system.

”That is not a stick, it is a scepter. This item is called the Scepter of Authority!” the system replied immediately.

”What is it used for?” Dai Li asked.

”Now that you are well-known, a lot of top athletes will seek you out. You will not only have to possess ability, but authority as well. Authority is absolutely necessary for a celebrated coach. This Scepter of Authority will improve your attributes in this area,” the system explained.

Dai Li nodded that he understood. In the coaching business, the higher the level of the athlete, the more authority the coach required.

If it were an ordinary athlete with average skills, then an average coach would be enough to handle it. But if it were a well-known athlete or even a world-class athlete, there was no way an average coach would be able to coach them. Even if the coach was good, and was able to set up a good training routine, the athletes might not listen to them, and the effectiveness of the training would be greatly reduced.

It would be like when Dai Li had just entered the provincial team, and the coach then was Jiang Aiguo. At that time, Dai Li was more like an assistant trainer, not a formal coach. Later, when Dai Li entered the national team to learn, the situation was similar. Even when Dai Li was right, the national team athletes would not follow Dai Li's instructions.