535 The Luckiest Draw (1/2)
”He Saved American Track and Field!”
”Chinese Coach Becomes the Savior of the American Track and Field!”
”From Weakest to Strongest, He Made the American Track and Field Team Comeback!”
Looking at the titles of articles, James realized that he was actually a man of principles compared to these sports reporters. At least his article was not as exaggerated.
Generally speaking, it was normal for American reporters to use a flashy title to attract readers' attention. Sometimes, the content had nothing to do with the title at all.
James sighed helplessly. He was a professional sport commentator and he wanted to provide readers with a more professional analysis. Unfortunately, he had to yield to the market to survive. Therefore, he wrote the article that readers wanted to read, rather than those that he wanted to write.
When can I end this kind of life? Feeling depressed, James stood up and opened a bottle of whiskey, hoping alcohol could make him feel better.
Meanwhile, Dai Li was speaking to American journalists in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Today was the eighth day of track and field events, and only two events were scheduled for the day: the men's 5km and the women's 20km heel-and-toe walking race. These two events were not held in Maracana Stadium. The American team was not like to win the gold medal in these two events, so they didn't have their hopes up. Dai Li had no real competitions all the day, so he had time to do interviews.
The journalist this time was arranged by U.S. Track and Field Association. The company the journalist worked for got several great advertising contracts from the association, so the journalist was going to report something that benefited the association.
Because of this, the questions the journalist asked were favorable to the team. He actually tried to stay away from any unpleasant information about the American team.
”Coach Li, as of yesterday, our team has won 18 gold medals. This is the best result in the history of American track and field team at the Olympic Games. There are three days left until the end of the Olympics so, may I ask you, how many gold medals do you think your team will win by the end?” This was the journalist's last question.
”As of right now, we won't have a problem getting 20 gold medals. We are still favored in the relay race. However, I am not setting my target at 20.” Dai Li paused for a while and said, ”I want my team to win more than 25 gold medals by the end.”
”25!” The journalist was astonished. He said, ”Coach Li, you see, on the last day, the marathon is the only track and field event. Therefore, track and field events are only tonight and tomorrow. That means that your team has to win at least 7 gold medals in those two days.”
”It's a little difficult, but not impossible. I have faith,” said Dai Li confidently.
The journalist nodded. He took his recording pen and put it into his pocket. He asked, ”Coach Li, your answer to my last question may be controversial. Should I make some modification or just report it as you said?”
Dai Li immediately understood the journalist, who was afraid that Dai Li would come across too braggy.
It's normal to talk big before a game in American culture. Why doesn't it work for me? Dai Li complained in his head. Out loud, he said, ”It doesn't matter. Just report it as I said. You'll hear the good news by tomorrow night.”
...
”Interview with Dai Li, the Head Coach of Track and Field Team: His goal is 25 gold medals”
In the afternoon, this headline was all over America.
A conversation could be heard in the coach lounge of the University of Oregon.
”25 gold medals? How dare he say that!” A bearded coach said angrily, pointing to the tablet computer in his hand. ”There are only 13 track and field events that have not yet been decided. If he wants to win 25 gold medals, he has to win 7 from the remaining 13 events. It's impossible!”
”Take it easy,” Coach Logan waved his hand to motion the man to calm down. ”Young men are always arrogant after success. Even if he can't win 25 gold medals, he can surely win 20, which is still a record. Could any of you do that?”
”Dai Li is just lucky. These achievements belong to the powerful athletes!” said a coach angrily.
”Do you think that he is just lucky? Would you have let Muller on our team without tryouts? Would you have the guts?” Logan snorted and went on, ”I told you before, every successful person has quality and merit that others don't. If you were the same quality, you would as successful as him.”
”Well, I know I'm not as good as him. I just can't stand his arrogance! He's a mean guy,” the bearded coach said.
”If he were an American coach, would you think so?” Logan said indifferently. ”We American people have thought of ourselves as the best for too long, and we naively think that the other countries are inferior to us. When countries less advanced than us make progress, our first reaction is to deny it and say it's fake. In fact, sometimes our subjective judgment is totally opposed to reality. We always believe what is most appealing. Maybe we need to lose badly so we realize that we aren't as great as we think we are.”
...
After seeing the journalist off, Dai Li started to consider the competitions that night.
In that night's field, there were only two preliminary events, the men's and women's 4x400m relay races. Considering strong the American team was in 400m events, it would be fairly easy to win these two gold medals. Dai Li didn't have to worry about these two preliminary games.
Other than the relay races, the other events were finals. That night was the women's pole vault, the men's weight throw, the women's 5000m running, the men's and women's 4x100m relay race.
No American athlete qualified for the final of men's weight throw. With Kenya and Ethiopia in the competition, it was nearly impossible for other countries to win the gold medal in women's 5000m running. As for the women's pole vault, many strong European athletes were qualified in the final so it might be hard for American athletes to win the gold medal. However, it was possible for them to win one medal.