253: 113: Brave Knight (Requesting monthly tickets!)_2 253: 113: Brave Knight (Requesting monthly tickets!)_2 “Make that old bastard Michael Jordan shut his damn mouth.”
“Right now, the only way to do that is by increasing our offensive options.”
“When there’s pressure and double-teaming, there are bound to be gaps and opportunities.
In the last game, Roger actually created a few chances, but no one was able to capitalize on them.”
“As long as someone can respond to the Bulls’ crazy double-team, and we survive the third quarter, those old guys won’t be able to maintain that kind of defensive intensity.”
“But who can provide that response?
We can’t just gamble on Harper’s shooting touch on the day.”
“Actually, there’s someone right by Roger who can do just that.”
“It’s just that the guy has trapped himself in a vicious cycle.”
“He decided that it was time to have a serious talk with that man.”
The next day, Roger trained only for the morning.
In the afternoon, he and Sarunas Marciulionis went to the Orlando Watt Community—one of the city’s poorest and most troubled neighborhoods.
Roger and Saru were there to provide free meals to impoverished children and fulfill some of their small wishes.
It was part of the community service, so Roger, who was being punished, had to go.
Community service is an important activity off the NBA courts and has always been valued by the league.
Every NBA season, each player must complete a certain amount of community service as part of their job.
Though everyone knows the league does this to boost its image, you must admit that even for publicity’s sake, the NBA really does it well and has always led the way in social responsibility.
Marciulionis had already completed his community service hours for the year and didn’t actually need to go.
However, he volunteered to accompany Roger.
In fact, he never missed any community service event.
In the car on the way there, Roger asked, “Saru, why the sudden interest in joining me for this hassle?”
Marciulionis, still with a kind expression, replied, “A hassle?
How could it be a hassle?
Helping those in need is a very fulfilling thing to do.”
“Okay, I heard that during the 1989 San Francisco earthquake, you rushed into the dangerous area in your training suit to rescue people.
Is that true or just a story?”
“Of course it’s true, Roger.
Nobody would be shameless enough to lie about such things.
I had no choice; I couldn’t just watch people lose hope amidst the rubble.”
Roger couldn’t help but admire; Saru must be one of the good guys in this world.
Arriving at the community, Roger warmly greeted the young fans.
He admitted he wasn’t as good as Saru, but he wasn’t opposed to this kind of thing either.
With Thanksgiving approaching, Roger brought all sorts of gifts for the kids: game consoles, bicycles, his own jerseys, and so on.
Well, definitely no children’s semi-automatic rifles.
Marciulionis enthusiastically distributed food to the local poor residents and, with Roger, helped repaint the exterior walls of homes for the elderly who were alone and so forth.
After a few hours of community service, Roger was drenched in sweat.
Saru, still energetic, played basketball with the kids.
When Roger and Saru were about to leave, the children were reluctant to say goodbye.
For many of them without fathers, even the small amount of fatherly love provided by Roger and Saru meant a lot.
Saru patiently said goodbye to each child, “Don’t worry; we’ll be back soon.
What do you want for Christmas?”
A child tugged at Saru’s sleeve, “The thing I want most for Christmas is to see Mickey; I’ve never met him.
I heard he lives in the castle at Disney World.
I asked my mom once, and she said I would never see him because we’re going to be stuck here for our whole lives.”
On the bus back, Saru was silent the entire way.
Only when the bus entered the city center did he finally turn to Roger and say, “Roger, can you do me a favor?”
“I know you have good relations with Disney, and I’m not asking you to take all those kids to Disney World, but could you arrange for the characters to interact with the kids in the community on Christmas Day?
I’m willing to cover all the costs.
You don’t have to do this; I know, but please, do it for me.”
“No problem, it’s a piece of cake.
Not just Mickey and Donald Duck—all sorts of princesses, queens, and kings I can bring them all.”
After speaking, Roger turned to Saru.
He had been wanting to talk with Saru outside the locker room, and now was as good a time as any.
So, he continued, “But Saru, don’t you think that you have a more pressing issue to deal with right now?”
“I know that in 1992, you almost single-handedly set up the Lithuanian national team.
At that time, newly independent Lithuania didn’t have the resources to form a basketball team for the Olympics, but you stepped up.
You paid out of your own pocket to gather teammates, contact coaches and facilities, organize training and matches.
In that national team, you were a player, team leader, manager, and investor all at once.
You invested all the wages you earned in America, and it was still not enough.
Old Nelson helped you out.
He connected you with sponsors, sorted out the uniforms, and after enduring so much hardship and so many things, you finally got the chance to stand on the Olympic stage.
Tell me, Saru, what did you do all this for?”
“Roger, why are you suddenly asking these questions?”
“Tell me, why did you do it!?” Roger fixed his gaze on Saru’s eyes.