Chapter 071: A Chorus of Curses

The mocking fans were only a minority; most expressed themselves in a far more direct and crude manner. They simply started cursing.

“The people at the Basketball Association are a bunch of blind fools!”
“Not just blind, but heartless too! Idiots, all of them!”
“Don’t just blame the Association—there’s Head Coach Zhou Zhicheng. I heard he and Wang Chunsheng are close, like brothers, so Lin Feng wasn’t even allowed on the training roster!”
“Come on, brothers, let’s do this: the Association is blind! Head Coach Zhou Zhicheng is a fool! Keep the formation downstairs…”
“The Association is blind! Head Coach Zhou Zhicheng is a fool!”
“The Association is blind! Head Coach Zhou Zhicheng is a fool!”
“The Association is blind! Head Coach Zhou Zhicheng is a fool!”
“…”
On the Basketball Association’s official Weibo,
in the comments beneath the new men’s national team training list,
“The Association is blind! Head Coach Zhou Zhicheng is a fool!”
“The Association is blind! Head Coach Zhou Zhicheng is a fool!”
“The Association is blind! Head Coach Zhou Zhicheng is a fool!”
“…”
On Zhou Zhicheng’s Weibo,
“The Association is blind! Head Coach Zhou Zhicheng is a fool!”
“The Association is blind! Head Coach Zhou Zhicheng is a fool!”
“The Association is blind! Head Coach Zhou Zhicheng is a fool!”
“…”
The internet was awash with curses; nearly every fan was outraged that Lin Feng hadn’t made the new national team training list. In fact, when the roster was first published, people were already berating the Association and Zhou Zhicheng, demanding to know why Lin Feng was absent.

Now, after Lin Feng had thoroughly defeated Smith in the 3v3 tournament, the outrage had only grown.

…

Basketball Association office building.

“Director Zhu, there’s trouble!” Zhao Jian, a clerk from the Basketball Administration Center, rushed into Director Zhu Deli’s office.

“What’s wrong? Why are you so flustered?” Zhu Deli glared at Zhao Jian, his face stern.

“Director Zhu, the latest national team training list has caused a huge uproar in the public. Everyone is cursing us now,” Zhao Jian said.

“Cursing us? Who’s cursing us? Why?” Zhu Deli was baffled.

Zhao Jian took a breath. “It’s because of Lin Feng—not being on the list. The fans won’t stand for it and are saying we’re blind…”

“Troublemakers!” Zhu Deli slammed the table in anger.

“Director, the online abuse is growing louder. Our official Weibo comment section is flooded. In just over an hour, there are over two hundred thousand comments cursing us,” Zhao Jian added.

“That many?” Zhu Deli was shocked.

“Director, what should we do? Should we respond?” Zhao Jian asked cautiously.

“Respond? Respond to whom?!” Zhu Deli snorted. “Since when do those troublemakers get to decide who’s on the national team?”

“But if we stay silent, the backlash will only get worse,” Zhao Jian said.

“Worse backlash? What can they do?” Zhu Deli said scornfully. “A bunch of low-class troublemakers, all bark online. Do you think they’ll dare cause trouble at the Association?”

Thud, thud, thud…

Just as Zhu Deli finished speaking, hurried footsteps sounded outside. A young woman in her early twenties burst into the office. She was Zhang Xiaomei, the Association’s receptionist.

“Director Zhu, something’s wrong—fans are causing trouble at the entrance,” she said, panting.

“What?!” Zhu Deli was incredulous.

“The security guard said a dozen fans came and urinated at the entrance, then wrote something on the sign by the door…”

“What did they write?”

“They wrote… I’m not sure how to say it…” Zhang Xiaomei looked awkward.

“Speak!”

“They wrote, ‘The Association is stupid, the leadership is blind.’” Zhang Xiaomei whispered.

“Damn it! These troublemakers are getting out of hand!” Zhu Deli swore, then asked, “What about those fans? Were they caught?”

“They ran off right after writing it,” Zhang Xiaomei replied.

“Go tell the security guards to keep a close watch. If anyone causes trouble again, catch them and call the police!” Zhu Deli ordered.

“Yes, Director.” Zhang Xiaomei nodded and left.

“Director, these fans are getting more and more unruly. I think we need to respond on our official Weibo,” Zhao Jian said.

Zhu Deli nodded, “We can respond, but not at the expense of our authority. Here’s what you should say: Lin Feng has poor conduct and mediocre skills, which is why he’s not qualified for the national team.”

“Director, won’t that further inflame the situation?” Zhao Jian asked.

“Just say it! I don’t believe a handful of troublemakers can turn the world upside down. Also, make sure Lin Feng is warned—he needs to keep a low profile. He’s still suspended, what’s he showing off for?” Zhu Deli said angrily.

“Alright, I’ll take care of it immediately,” Zhao Jian nodded and left.

…

The internet was still ablaze with cursing.

At first, it was just the fans, but as more people learned about the issue, even shut-ins and keyboard warriors joined the crusade against the Association. Plenty who had never watched basketball chimed in, eager to fuel the chaos.

For a time, cursing the Association became something of a “trend”—if you hadn’t cursed the Association, you were embarrassed to greet others.

Just as the netizens were enjoying their tirade, the Association’s official Weibo updated.

The reason for Lin Feng’s exclusion from the national team training list:

First, poor conduct.
Second, mediocre skills.
In conclusion, after careful consideration, the Association and the men’s coaching staff determined that Lin Feng does not qualify for the national team.
Finally, we urge fans to remain rational and not be misled or manipulated by those with ulterior motives. Additionally, Lin Feng, please manage your fans—do not let them engage in outrageous behavior or bear the consequences yourself.

…

“Damn! Unbelievable! The Association really has the nerve to post such an announcement?”
“Poor conduct? Mediocre skills? Seriously?”
“Let’s not discuss character, but mediocre skills? The Association really is blind!”
“If Lin Feng’s skills are mediocre, I’d like to ask the Association leadership—whose skills aren’t mediocre in domestic basketball?”
“Come on, brothers, keep it going…”
“The Association is blind! The Association is stupid!”
“The Association is blind! The Association is stupid!”
“The Association is blind! The Association is stupid!”
…