Almighty Coach

The happenings of the press conference were immediately all over the news.

“‘I’m the head coach of the U.S. National Track and Field Team. So my acknowledgment is the standard and prerequisite for entering the U.S. National Track and Field Team!’ This declaration is too damn cool!”

“I think it’s just a kind of arrogance. Who does he think he is? A Chinese coach, what gives him the right to say that his acknowledgment is the standard and prerequisite for entering the U.S. national team.”

“I’m looking forward to when he fails during the Olympics. However, his failure is also the failure of the U.S. national team, so I still hope to see the U.S. team getting a few extra medals.”

“I have the opposite opinion. I hope to see this Chinese coach succeed. Our athlete selection system has a lot of flaws, it’s about time someone stood up to break tradition!”

Western countries had a culture of boasting. Take, as an example, the pre-match interviews that take place before some sporting events. Athletes from western countries say in these interviews that they are going to win the championship or that the winner would definitely be them, even if their strength or ability wasn’t enough to take them past the first round. Asian culture was humbler. Even if one had the ability to win the championship, even if the chance of winning the championship were at 80 to 90 percent, they would still say that their opponents were strong and that victory wasn’t a given.

Another example, in the NBA, before the season starts, at least half of the teams of say that their target for the year is to win the championship. However, there are only four to five teams actually strong enough to do so. Or when the season is almost finished, although it’s only theoretically possible, players would still say that their team could enter the playoffs. Even during playoffs, when a team is behind by three games, there is a 100% chance a player from the trailing team will come out and say, “We’ll make a comeback and win 4-3.” In truth, they didn’t believe in these statements.

Boasting didn’t cost anything. After boasting this time, one would continue bragging next time. Since everyone knew he was only boasting, they wouldn’t treat it seriously anyway. Since no one treated the statements seriously, even when the boasts came to nothing, there would be no shame in it. A man usually holds true to his words. Clearly, that thinking did not exist here.

…

There was a knock on the door. The team leader cum manager of the U.S. National Track and Field Team, Donny, looked at the door before saying, “Please, come in.”

Dai Li pushed the door open and walked inside. Donny saw that it was Dai Li and he immediately stood up to greet him.

“Coach Li, please, have a seat,” Donny said enthusiastically.

After Dai Li sat down, he did not waste any time with small talk and went straight to the topic at hand, “Mr. Donny, the reason I’m here today is to discuss something with you.”

“Coach Li, please elaborate.” Donny showed that he was ready to listen.

“The third training camp of the track and field team is about to end. At the moment, I’m rather satisfied with the results and effects of the training. However, I feel that the time of training is still far from enough. You should know, the situation this year is different and the strength of our athletes isn’t what it used to be. There are many young athletes on the team and they need more training to reach my expectations. Some of the older athletes also need more training to maintain their individual condition,” Dai Li said.

“Which means that you want to increase the training time of the athletes, right?” Donny thought for a moment and said, “Before the opening of the Olympic Games, we still have a fourth training camp.”

“That is right before the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games, right? I’ve seen the schedule, the fourth training camp is scheduled to be in August. After the training camp, we’ll be headed straight for Rio for the Olympics. For me, that isn’t enough time,” Dai Li answered.

“In that case, we can try to extend the time of the third training camp. Or perhaps we can make the fourth training camp earlier. I can make report to the Track and Field Association about this. How many days do you want to add?” Donny asked.

“From now until the start of the Olympics,” Dai Li replied.

“Uh… That’s…” Donny suddenly looked troubled. He had thought that Dai Li only wanted to add a few days of training. He never would have thought that Dai Li would suddenly request half a month.

“Coach Li, it’s fine if it’s only two to three days, but it is tougher if you want to add that many more days. We need to rent places. We also need to provide the athletes with lodgings and food, as well as pay the staff. All these are extra expenses and I’m afraid I can’t get that much of an increase in the budget,” Donny said awkwardly.

The U.S. national team was an impromptu team assembled right before the competition. They were like provisional performance troupes who had no customized training venues, whose every training needed a rented location. As for the lodgings and food for the athletes, they also needed to book hotels and chefs in advance. Everything was done after budgeting was done. If one wanted to suddenly add a few days of training; if it were only two to three days, a discussion was still possible. As the amount of days Dai Li wanted to add increases, however, the logistical support, as well as the budget, would become problems.

The sports stadiums were constantly being used in the U.S.. Some of the larger stadiums were not just used for competitive sports, but also for concerts and performances. For example, the NBA stadiums or the NFL stadiums were often used to organize events. Athletes would sometimes need to rent other stadiums for their training.

If it were in China, situations like these would not appear. The Chinese national team had several training bases, so they could train in various places in the country. In the worst case, they could easily just put up with the training centers of any random provincial teams.

Dai Li also knew that Donny wasn’t being superficial; he was describing things as they were. Suddenly adding days, not even taking into account the logistics of supporting of so many athletes and coaches, was not something Donny could solve.

As such, Dai Li said, “Mr. Donny, I know that adding so many days of training is indeed difficult for you, so I’ve thought of a solution. I want to change the location of the training to Los Angeles. At my training centers. I have sufficient space and equipment over there. It’s sufficient for the huge amount of people we’ll have training there at the same time.”

“It is an idea,” Donny nodded. “But can the athletes accept it?”

“We’ll let the athletes participate voluntarily then. Those who are willing to come train in Los Angeles, I’ll accept with my hands wide open. Those who aren’t willing, I won’t force them,” Dai Li said.

“Then what about expenses?” Donny asked cautiously, “Coach Li, I know that your training centers have state-of-the-art equipment and facilities. The fees should be high, right? With that many athletes training at your place, I’m afraid the Track and Field Association won’t approve this budget.”

“I’ll cover the training fees, no need to trouble the Track and Field Association,” Dai Li said directly.

“Then what about logistical support? There are over a hundred people. They will need a place to sleep, right?” Donny asked.

“There is no lack of hotels in Los Angeles. Any random hotel will be able to accommodate a hundred or so people.” Dai Li looked at Donny’s expression and said, “Don’t worry about the accommodation fees, I’ll cover that too.”

“The question of food…” Donny continued asking.

“I’ll settle that. Food expenses are on me as well,” Dai Li answered.

“Coach Li, the food and lodging of so many people, and it’s not just a day or two, this is a pretty huge expense. Have you really considered this carefully?” Donny asked.

“I’ve thought about it carefully, I can still bear this much,” Dai Li nodded.

“Alright then, since you’re willing to cover the expenses, then I have no problems anymore.” Donny let out a long sigh, while in his mind, he thought, You really can do anything when you are rich!