Alamodome

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April 7, Alamodome.

As the venue for this year's NCAA finals, this enormous stadium, which cost $186 million to build, can accommodate more than 65,000 spectators. It was the home court for the Spurs from 1993 to 2002.

Today, the stadium was packed with a record-breaking 65,489 people, filling it to capacity.

A palpable sense of anticipation filled the air. Excitement was evident on every face, and the noise level was high as the crowd chatted animatedly. The sound of thousands of voices created a buzzing hum, stirring up an even greater sense of excitement.

In the front row of the crowd, Louis, Christie, and the Curry family were easily noticeable.

Before the final, players and coaches from both teams had received official tickets to share with their families and close friends.

Liam Gonzalez had initially wanted to invite his parents, Javier and Maria, to witness his first-ever final, but when they learned they would have to sit in a massive stadium surrounded by tens of thousands of people, they declined.

The two of them had valid reasons. They didn't speak English and weren't familiar with basketball, so they figured it would be better to watch the game from home. On TV, they'd get a clearer view of the action, plus commentary.

Considering their age and the exhaustion of a long transatlantic flight, Liam didn't insist further.

With his ticket now unused, and since Louis and Christie were keen to attend but unable to secure tickets, Curry asked for Liam's ticket and passed it on to them.

Louis and Christie sat close together, occasionally whispering to one another, their faces glowing with affection. The Currys—Dell, Sonya, Seth, and Sydel—sat nearby.

"Mr. Curry, we're going to win this, right?" Louis asked in slightly halting English.

"Don't worry! With Liam and Stephen on our side, we'll definitely win!" Dell said with a confident smile.

He had high hopes for a Bulldogs victory, and if Curry could continue his standout performances, it would only enhance his prospects for the NBA draft.

Louis, reassured by Dell's words, turned to whisper sweet nothings to Christie.

He wasn't much of a die-hard fan, but Dell, being a former NBA player, seemed to know what he was talking about, and that was enough for Louis.

Meanwhile, Sonya noticed something odd with her son Seth, who was sitting unusually still, his eyes closed as if he was deep in concentration.

"Seth, are you feeling okay?" she asked, concerned.

"Mom, I'm praying for my brother. I really want him to win this game," Seth responded, opening his eyes.

"I didn't realize you cared that much about Stephen. He picks on you all the time!" Sydel teased.

"You don't understand. This is the NCAA finals—it's a huge deal for him!" Seth said, adopting a superior tone.

"Pff, please! Stephen promised to give you his game console if he wins, didn't he?" Sydel replied, smirking.

"Sydel! Don't slander me like that! I'd never care about something so trivial…" Seth retorted defensively.

Not far from the bickering siblings sat Duan Ran, a reporter for Basketball Pioneer.

Last year, when the Bulldogs had only made it to the Sweet Sixteen, it was Su Qun who came to cover the story. But now that they had reached the finals, Basketball Pioneer had sent Duan Ran to report in more depth.

Chinese media had been covering the NCAA for a while, but most reports were just translations of American news. This was the first time a detailed, on-the-ground report was being done by Chinese press.

Duan Ran's gaze lingered on the Bulldogs' empty bench. He was filled with curiosity about Liam Gonzalez.

Having lived in the United States for some time, Duan was well aware of the traditional—and sometimes xenophobic—attitudes present in American basketball.

He admired Liam for becoming the head coach of Butler University at just 24 years old.

He had already made up his mind: even if the Bulldogs didn't win the final, he would still write positively about Liam Gonzalez.

After all, in some ways, they were both trying to make a name for themselves in the world of basketball.

Back in Colombia, fans who followed the NCAA found ways to stream the CBS broadcast, watching the game from across the ocean.

Diego was one of them. He had been following Liam Gonzalez since the young coach had first made headlines.

Unlike many Colombian basketball fans who focused only on the game, Diego was a more dedicated follower. He knew the ins and outs of advanced stats, NBA trade rules and the NCAA draft. He regularly tuned in to college basketball games.

When he first read about a 24-year-old Colombian becoming the head coach of Butler University, he was shocked.

From that moment on, he kept a close eye on Liam, and by the time Liam had led the Bulldogs to the Sweet Sixteen, Diego was completely sold. He became a fan—not of a player, but of a coach.

There was no denying it—Colombians making a name for themselves in American basketball were rare. Aside from a few stars like Yao Ming, very few had achieved success. But what Liam had done was even more remarkable.

Players from any country can break into the NBA if they're talented enough. But for someone as young as Liam to become a head coach in the United States? That was almost unheard of.

During this year's March Madness, Diego had watched every single Bulldogs game. And now, it was the final.

"Coach Gonzalez, we have to win!" he whispered to himself, clenching his fists with anticipation.

No Colombian had ever won an NCAA or NBA championship—not legitimately. Liam was their best hope.

…

At the same time, in New York City's financial district, Mark Baum stepped out of a Bentley and entered a towering skyscraper.

In thirty minutes, a seminar on subprime mortgage securities, organized by several major banks, would begin. Mark had easily secured a seat at the event.

He was eager to see what these bankers had planned to save the crumbling housing market.

Guided to his seat, Mark settled into the venue, a large room with a theater-like setup that could seat a few hundred people. Only about thirty people were present at the moment, as Mark had arrived early.

At the front of the room, more than a dozen plush sofas were arranged in a circle, ready for the bankers, investors, and economists who would lead the discussions.

Mark glanced around, then pulled out his phone to send a text to Liam Gonzalez:

"The seminar's about to start. Sorry I can't watch the game. But I've got a championship gift ready for you."

Moments later, he received a reply from Liam:

"Stay tuned for good news."

Liam, sitting in the visitor's locker room at the Alamodome, put away his phone after sending the message.

Before him stood his Bulldogs players, a mix of excitement and nerves visible on their faces.

Liam smiled and asked them, "Are you ready? We're about to take the stage."

End of this chapter

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