In the 1998-1999 NCAA Championship, the University of New Mexico met the University of Connecticut in the round of 32.
In the end, 78:56, the University of Connecticut defeated New Mexico State University and easily entered the round of 16.
After Dave Bliss officially coached the University of New Mexico in 1988, he has not yet trained a player who has established a foothold in the NBA.
In comparison, New Mexico State University is much more successful.
Randy Brown was selected by the Kings with the fourth pick in the second round of 1991.
Before that, he had always been a marginal player in the NBA.
It was not until he joined the Bulls in 1995 and won the championship that he became famous.
This champion guard has become a famous alumnus of New Mexico State University.
Although he was only a second-round pick, this incident made the Albuquerque media complain for several years.
Lee originally wanted to study at a university near his home so that he could go home to visit.
As a result, head coach Dave Bliss did not show sincerity and did not recruit Lee.
He just watched as head coach Calhoun poached Lee, who was a little famous at the time.
This incident did not attract much attention, but as Lee became more and more famous, the sports media dug out the story behind it, and Dave Bliss got a new title:
"Blind Dave"
The final impact was that it was increasingly difficult for the University of New Mexico to attract the attention of talented players.
Even if generous conditions were offered, many talented players would not consider this place.
Due to geographical reasons, it was difficult for the University of New Mexico to attract big-name players, but after missing Lee, this situation was further exacerbated, and Dave Bliss basically became the scapegoat.
Lee just arrived in Albuquerque on July 15, and the next day, the University of New Mexico issued an invitation.
Invite Lee to share the success experience and open the training hall to meet the daily training of the MVP after returning home.
The Albuquerque Journal is the largest daily newspaper in New Mexico.
Although several New York media cannot compare, the ability to create something out of nothing is in the same vein.
In the description of this news media, it was the evil Connecticut that robbed the hometown talent!
The University of New Mexico was just unable to resist the opponent's US dollar offensive.
On Friday, July 16, Manuel Varga just closed the store and took the opportunity to celebrate Lee's return home.
He also immigrated to Albuquerque from Mexico.
As an Italian, he has completely forgotten Italian and speaks English fluently.
Most of his daily life is in Spanish.
Compared with a few years ago, Manuel Varga has not changed much. He still has curly hair.
Except for the hair on his forehead that has receded a line, his mental state is getting better and better.
At lunch, Manuel Varga went to the kitchen to cook a table of dishes.
When he returned to the dining table, he kept talking about his worries in the past few years:
"I've always been worried that Nacho would go astray. The leather shop doesn't make money, but life is like this. It's God's gift to watch you grow up in peace!"
"It's getting harder and harder for children from the bottom to make a name for themselves in the past few years. Fortunately, everything is over. God blesses us."
Lee looked at the old furnishings in the room and knew that the money he sent back had not played any role.
Nacho looked at his nagging father with some helplessness.
He had heard these words almost since he was a child.
Lee was the child of other people's families and was always compared.
Like the lower-class people in New York, in Albuquerque or New Mexico, if you want to make a name for yourself, there are only a few ways:
Study hard, join a gang and sell drugs early, sing and dance rap and go the literary or sports route.
Varga's family can be considered to have a legitimate business.
Although they earn little, they can barely support two children.
Many teenagers went to jail early, and those who hang out on the streets eventually ended up with nothing good.
Nacho, born in 1971, is six years older than Lee.
When they were young, they were too poor and did a lot of bad things.
Fortunately, they kept their bottom line and did not get involved in drugs.
"Although Clay did not become a lawyer or a doctor, everything is over, and our lives are getting better and better!"
Following his father's words, Nacho tilted his head and indicated that it was time to eat.
Manuel Varga finally smiled:
"We are all very happy to see you succeed!"
After a sumptuous lunch, Manuel Varga began to entertain the neighbors and the guys in the store, sharing the joy with everyone.
Nacho's follower came over quietly to pass on a message.
Lee saw several people frowning and knew that something was wrong.
Most of the people living in this community not far from the Albuquerque International Airport are poor.
No matter what skin color they are, they are all poor.
This community is naturally inseparable from violent incidents.
"Black eating black" was an extra income for Nacho and Lee in the past.
The leather goods store can continue to operate, in addition to conscientious service, because everyone knows that the Varga family is not easy to mess with.
In front of the old Spanish colonial-style house, Manuel Varga was happily entertaining his neighbors.
Nacho frowned and switched to English to say to Lee beside him:
"We really have to move. Now this community has come to a guy who is not easy to mess with, Tuco Salamanca, who is currently selling goods here."
Nacho was very wary of Tuco, who was one year younger than him.
In addition to the eye-catching surname, it was more because the other party was an irritable and irritable poison dog.
Lee frowned in his heart when he heard Nacho's introduction.
Thinking of the situation in Las Cruces, he immediately made up his mind to move everyone there first:
"If you can't afford to mess with them, move to another place."
Most NBA players' careers are not long, and more players disappear after their rookie season.
Manuel Varga naturally knows these things, and helping Lee save money is mainly to prevent accidents.
In case of an accident, as long as there are still US dollars, combined with good knowledge, you can still get rid of the bottom life.
According to past customs, after sending a large sum of money to the underground father, Lee first went to the University of New Mexico to complete the activities.
Head coach Dave Bliss warmly entertained Lee.
It was completely different from the situation back then.
Several school leaders of the University of New Mexico even hinted that Lee could study law school here.
On the afternoon of the 18th, after revisiting the school, Lee gave a pot of poisonous chicken soup to the newbies of the Coyotes in the training hall:
"Forget about what people have said about you in the past. From now on, believe in yourself completely."
"Believe in your talent, keep your enthusiasm for training, and eventually, God will see your efforts."
"Remember, hard work will eventually pay off, basketball is round, everything is possible, and Coach Bliss will lead you to success!"
The surrounding Coyotes players immediately quacked and seemed very excited.
Playing in the NBA is everyone's dream!
The team logo of the University of New Mexico basketball team is a wolf head, which looks more imposing than the Huskies of the University of Connecticut.
Coach Dave Bliss lost his Coyotes coach's airs at this time, and completely turned into a dog.
While greeting the players, he also kept complimenting them:
"It's a great honor to play against the MVP. Cheer up and show your best!"
Some old players watched the almost bald white coach circling around Lee, and once again felt the style of a superstar.
In the world of college basketball, the head coach has the final say, but in the NBA, the superstar is the boss of the team.
Everyone was envious, and soon everyone sat around half court, ready to ask Lee for advice.
Soon the training ground became lively.
Seeing Lee easily beat everyone on the scene, coach Bliss was upset:
"Why did I miss such a talented player back then?"
At dinner time, the coaching staff invited Lee to dinner.
In an Italian restaurant on a street in the city center, the owner was introducing the homemade wine to everyone.
Coach Bliss didn't need to treat him.
After Lee agreed to take a photo, the restaurant owner happily announced that the bill was free, and the signature dishes were also served.
Lee was completely accustomed to eating by face recognition.
After a round of drinks, coach Bliss finally expressed his thoughts:
"Lee, can you talk about the treatment of assistant coaches in the league? I mean those assistant coaches in big ball cities."
"You know, NCAA head coaches often receive invitations. In the future, I may leave here and work in the league."
The other members of the coaching staff were not surprised.
People tend to move up, and as long as there is a considerable salary, working in the NBA is also a good choice.
Hearing the other party's meaningful words, Lee just chuckled, and then truthfully introduced some of thesituations he learned:
"Compared to some teams in small markets, teams in big markets do have more luxurious coaching teams."
"Each person is more specific in what he is responsible for, and has less power. Compared to coaching a college team, it is difficult for assistant coaches to have much room to play."
Dave Bliss actually knew about these situations a long time ago.
He was jealous of Jeff Van Gundy's achievements.
The success of the bald young coach made Dave Bliss feel that "I can do it too."
When he thought that the other party had achieved success at a young age, it would be a lie to say that he was not envious.
Coach Calhoun also made a huge name in the college coaching circle.
He led the University of Connecticut to win the championship twice and trained an MVP.
His future financial prospects are limitless.
Of course, basketball also requires human relationships.
Dave Bliss plans to build a good relationship with Lee first, and if there is a chance, he will go to the Knicks as an assistant coach.
A team will definitely experience peaks and troughs.
As long as you seize the opportunity, the drama of "replacing him" will also have a chance to be realized.
The two sides stopped talking about work, and the dinner went on happily.
After returning to the hotel, Lee noticed Nacho frowning and looking at the night view, and he knew that he still couldn't bear to leave this city.
"Have you considered the future? You know, it's not a wise choice to compete with the drug dogs for territory, and joining them is even more unthinkable. They don't trust outsiders."
Hearing Lee's words, Nacho suddenly relaxed again.
Just like when he was a child, he knew that his good brother had a plan:
"Are you going to leave New Mexico? To be honest, I'm a little reluctant to leave here."
Lee shrugged his shoulders, acquiescing to this point, and then said calmly:
"Try to be an agent! I need someone to help me!"
It's not a good thing to be tied to Mark Bartelstein.
Superstars don't lack big contracts, and in careers outside of sports, the two can only be said to be partners.
Business is business, and Lee still trusts his own people more.
Completely different from what he expected, Nacho pointed at himself and asked in a puzzled tone:
"I just graduated from high school, you might as well let me be a gun!"
Lee patted his good brother on the shoulder, pointed at his waist, and said jokingly:
"Believe me, you will get your bachelor's degree soon. Remember to change to an inconspicuous thing. A revolver will be enough!"
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