404: 159: Bloody Election (Seeking Monthly Votes!)_4 404: 159: Bloody Election (Seeking Monthly Votes!)_4 As an athlete, Roger is undoubtedly a good leader, a good athlete.”
4 to 0, O’Neal has already hung his head.
Having known O’Neal longer, Anthony Bowie, who had given up jersey number 14 for Roger, also stood up:
“When the new season training camp started, while Roger was leading us in training, you were enjoying fried shrimp, egg yolk sauce, hamburgers, and fried chicken, leading a bunch of brothers to Las Vegas, showing up at the strip club at three in the morning.
Then, you took all that for granted.
There’s a saying that what you repeatedly do shapes who you are.
Shaq, if it were you, who would you choose to follow?
5 to 0, the numbers were starting to look cruel.
What made O’Neal ashamed was that he could not refute any of the things his teammates were saying!
Then, more and more people stood up.
Their standards for “who is the leader” differed, but one thing was strikingly consistent— they all felt Roger was more like the real leader of the team.
In the end, only Dominique Wilkins was left; he had joined the team the latest, and arguably, had the worst relationship with Roger.
Wilkins’ vote was actually meaningless, because O’Neal had not received a single vote up to that point.
Even if Wilkins voted for Shaq, Shaq’s numbers would still be completely crushed by Roger.
But it seemed that he might be the only vote Shaq could get.
If Shaq didn’t get a single vote, that would be too embarrassing.
Shaq felt that Wilkins should choose him because his relationship with Wilkins was far better than that between Roger and Wilkins.
Under everyone’s watchful eye, Wilkins stood up and sighed:
“Listen, I don’t want to talk about this, I haven’t been on this team long, I don’t have as deep of an understanding as you all.
And this thing is too stupid, it must stop.
I didn’t take less money to suffer this kind of nonsense.
I came here to win championships.
I also know that to win championships you have to ensure the locker room is stable.
And Roger, even though he’s a complete asshole, has always been dedicated to ensuring locker room stability.
So, sorry Shaq, in life, I’d rather be friends with you.
But if I had to choose someone to lead me to a championship, no doubt, I would choose Roger.”
O’Neal’s mentality collapsed, the results of this vote were too real and cruel!
From the starters to the benchwarmers to the water boy, not a single person, not anyone, thought he was fit to be the leader!
This wasn’t even a vote, it was a public execution of Roger against himself!
It was a bloody election!
Every person who chose Roger was like stabbing Shaq in the chest with a knife!
Throughout NBA history, only Paul Pierce could experience such pain!
After everyone voted, the locker room was dead silent.
Roger didn’t speak, Shaq didn’t speak, no one spoke.
The usually fierce coach Brian Hill, in a moment that truly required someone to speak up, didn’t even dare to breathe loudly.
Ah, this is why he couldn’t get the real respect of the players.
Everyone had given their answer, there was nothing left for O’Neal to say.
O’Neal, after what felt like an eternity, glared at Roger, his eyes filled with resentment.
It was the resentment of jealousy.
He had thought that Roger just had more honors than him, just received more favor than him, just had better luck than him.
This bastard was also more favored in the locker room!
O’Neal now saw Roger the way one might see “the kid next door.”
Because “the kid next door” is so perfect, you end up harboring hostility towards him.
“Fine,” O’Neal finally spat out a word, “Fine, since you all…
since you all think so.
From now on, I won’t say another word.
I will focus only on basketball on the court and will no longer engage in discussions about anything else.
After getting the third championship, I’ll leave and not bother you guys anymore.”
O’Neal had initially wanted to turn around and request a trade, but he didn’t want to give up the chance for a three-peat.
He wanted to win a third championship and FMVP, to prove these assholes were all wrong!
Roger stood up, staring back at Shaq: “Sorry Shaq, even a big guy like you can’t defy the truth.
Without me, the whole ship would sink!”
At that moment, O’Neal saw an unprecedented look in Roger’s eyes.
This was a look that merged heartlessness, arrogance, majesty, sharpness, and an unquestionable emotion.
Simply put, this was the glare of a king!
Roger, was the true king of this team.
Even O’Neal, whose influence was second only to Roger’s, could not challenge his position.
The outcome was decided, Roger had already donned the one and only crown.
In the end, the teammates let Roger and Shaq give each other a perfunctory hug, and the two patted each other on the back, promising to cease fire from then on.
But from this moment on, Roger and O’Neal wouldn’t babble any longer.
Their honeymoon was completely over, their relationship utterly done for.
Roger didn’t know when things had turned out this way.
He admitted that he hadn’t taken as comprehensive care of O’Neal’s emotions this season.
Because he was always thinking about three-peats, the Dynasty, victories, those kinds of things.
Shaq was jealous of Roger, but Roger’s mind was full of thoughts of defeating everyone.
He hadn’t picked up on the anomalies in O’Neal.
One could say, the best friend he’d had since entering the NBA.
Roger wasn’t unfeeling; he felt sad, regretful.
He had worn Shaq’s jersey into battle, Shaq had carried him into the locker room.
He was saddened by Odessa’s grandmother’s passing, Shaq and Roger’s uncle were brothers in arms.
They vanquished the basketball deity, and then ascended to the altar themselves.
Roger told O’Neal one ring wasn’t enough, and O’Neal told Roger that he would never let him fight alone again…
Over two years of memories flashed before Roger’s eyes like a slideshow.
People say that it’s only when a person is about to die, that these kind of memories flash before their eyes.
Now Roger could confirm, it was true.
His relationship with Shaq was dead.
They were once as close as could be, and now they were diametrically opposed.
this is the reality of Dynasties.
The first Bulls Dynasty split Jordan and Grant, the second split Jordan and Pippen.
The 21st-century Lakers Dynasty saw O’Neal and Kobe part ways, Warriors hadn’t even gotten their three-peat before Durant had a falling out with the team, and Poole had to leave after winning another championship.
Not to mention Klay Thompson, who had dedicated his prime to the Warriors, unfollowed all his teammates as the team declined.
The reality is, every Dynasty is forged in blood.
It’s a curse, a price to pay.
Only those who overcome it all can have their wish come true.
This, is why Dynasties are glorious.
This is the creed of champions.
After the day’s practice had ended, all the Magic players accepted the interviews with reporters who were eager to find out more, and no one shied away.
I don’t want to say anything, in fact, I won’t say much anymore, just watch the performance on the court.
—— O’Neal on the current situation of the team.
We’ve reached a particularly unanimous consensus, really surprisingly unanimous.
Now, we can go all out for the third crown.
—— Derrick McKey on whether there is still a chance for the third championship.
No, we maintained restraint.
What Shaq said was not right, but it won’t happen again, there won’t be any more bullshit in our team.
—— Ron Harper on O’Neal’s interview from yesterday.
This is the best situation, we’ve been through so much hardship, but now we still stand here, undefeated.
In fact, the rest of the league hasn’t realized yet, they’ve already lost their last chance to win.
—— Roger on the possibility of a three-peat.
I told you, they were going to be finished.
But I didn’t expect that I’d be opening my treasured wine so soon.
—— George Karl on the potential disintegration of the Magic Team.
Lost the last chance to win?
That’s the funniest joke I’ve heard.
Our chances to beat them are not the last time, but time and time again.
Christmas will be the first time.
—— Michael Jordan on Roger’s comments and his view of the Christmas Day game.