Pope of Basketball.

Summary

Yang Rui provides commentary during the 2004 All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles, where the Eastern Conference shows dominance over the Western Conference. Despite the Lakers' struggles, Kobe Bryant is named a starter, though his popularity has waned. Eric Dampier's unexpected selection as an All-Star center raises eyebrows, while Yao Ming fails to make the cut due to poor performance, leading to criticism of Knicks coach Larry Brown. Ben Wallace surprisingly becomes a starter for the Eastern All-Stars, surpassing Shaquille O'Neal in votes. Yang Rui encourages Yao Ming to assert himself and pressure the Knicks for more playing time, suggesting he threaten to return to China if not traded. Meanwhile, the All-Star game sees the Eastern team defeat the West, with Allen Iverson and others shining. Yang Rui also attends the Oscars, where "Lost in Tokyo" receives multiple nominations, and filming begins on "Female Spy," featuring a budget-conscious cast. Scarlett's parents express gratitude to Yang Rui for his support in their daughter's career.

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