516: 189: The Unique Supreme God (Vote for Monthly Ticket!)_4 516: 189: The Unique Supreme God (Vote for Monthly Ticket!)_4 “How bad is it?”
“Don’t worry, you won’t need an amputation.
But from now on, your right index finger will never bend again.”
Jordan looked at his legendary right hand, the one that had created billions, and smiled bitterly.
It was like a signal from God himself.
“Tell the Knicks that I won’t be coming back next season.
In a few days, help me organize a press conference.”
“It’s time to end this, I’m fucking tired.”
A week later, Jordan, Falk, Juanita, and David Stern attended a press conference in New York together.
It was Michael Jordan’s first public appearance since the East finals defeat.
All of America’s news networks were broadcasting the press conference live at that moment.
Jordan didn’t exchange pleasantries with the reporters; he went straight to the point.
“Giving up something you love in life is very difficult, and my love for basketball is incredibly strong.
Deciding to give it up hasn’t been easy.
But in the years to come, I want to spend more time with my family.
For many years, I have neglected them.
I want to return to my family, and now is the best time for me to leave basketball.”
“I believe, the game itself is far more important than Michael Jordan.
Without me, the NBA as a league will continue to move forward.”
“Thank you to David Stern for giving me the opportunity to play basketball, thanks to Kareem, Jerry, Dr.
J, and other superstars for their inspiration.”
“Thanks to the Chicago Bulls and the New York Knicks.”
“Thanks to everyone who supported me, I had an incredibly wonderful professional career, thank you all.”
After speaking, Jordan wiped away tears.
His tears were not from reluctance to leave.
But from frustration!
This, was actually how it ended for him!
Immediately, a reporter from below asked, “Michael, will you come back this time?”
“I’m 99.99% sure I won’t play in the NBA again, but never say never, that’s important.”
“Michael, is your retirement related to the consecutive losses to Roger?”
Jordan looked at the questioning reporter, a deep sense of defeat running through his entire body.
It was fucking Roger who directly caused this!
But what could Jordan say?
Admit that he had been driven into retirement by Roger?
His expression was complex, seemingly angry but also trying hard to keep control.
Eventually, Jordan leaned into the microphone: “This is my personal decision.”
But the reporter wasn’t going to let him off the hook.
“Then let’s change the question, do you think Roger can become the greatest player in history?”
“He is far from enough!”
Having said that, Jordan’s uninjured hand had already clenched into a fist.
Because he knew that no matter how much he denied it, it was useless.
His era had been completely ended by Roger!
Roger, the only opponent Michael Jordan had failed to defeat.
Despite Michael’s strong denials, the whole world knew that it was Roger who had totally knocked him out of the game.
To Michael and his team, losing again was a risk they couldn’t afford.
Ladies and gentlemen, this is the cruel world of professional basketball.
— “The New York Times”.
Michael Jordan, one of the greatest players of the ’90s, ended his professional career in disgrace.
Can we say that if Roger is also successful in Atlanta that he is the greatest player of this era?
Without tacking on “one of”.
— “Atlanta Journal-Constitution”.
Is Michael going back to family life?
Well, that’s just as bad an excuse as ‘I’m just going to sing,’ and I don’t think many people will actually believe that excuse.
It’s not just Michael, Nike is also visibly declining now.
Roger ended Michael’s basketball empire; he defeated the previous greatest player and is about to become the greatest right now.
— “Sports Illustrated”.
The war between Roger and Michael is over, ending with Roger’s complete victory.
He has slain a god and now stands among them on the peak of Mount Olympus.
But this is not where Roger intends to stay; he doesn’t want to sit level with other gods—he seeks to surpass them.
Believe me, he will eventually become the undisputed, highest god of the basketball world.
Great as Michael was, he’s just among the great names that were vanquished.
— From the teaser of Roger’s documentary “Conquest”.