517: 190: The King’s Mercy (Vote for Monthly Tickets!) 517: 190: The King’s Mercy (Vote for Monthly Tickets!) During the press conference where Michael Jordan announced his retirement, Jordan’s second son, Marcus Jordan, cried his heart out.
Most media believed that Marcus, once grown up, would be the most likely to take up Jordan’s mantle.
Because the boy had such a strong sense of honor and shame at such a young age.
He must have felt indignant that his father hadn’t beaten Roger.
In his veins surely flowed the blood of a competitive warrior!
Jordan patted his son on the head, filled with satisfaction.
Adults always love to impose their will on children.
Marcus Jordan wasn’t thinking nearly that much; he was just regretting: what now?
It would be hard to see Aunt Larsa again, even the chance to see her four times a year was gone!
Jordan’s retirement was tantamount to declaring Roger’s victory.
The PR narratives from Nike and Falk, as well as their attempts to craft Jordan’s “good guy” image, had not been very effective.
Even Jordan’s “accidental” injury to his shooting finger was interpreted as “making excuses for his cowardice and weakness.”
How does a perfectly fine person cut his own finger with a cigar cutter?
Besides, according to Juanita, Jordan wasn’t even smoking a cigar at the time.
Whether or not Jordan really cut his finger by accident, whether or not Jordan really wanted to be with his family, he couldn’t change one fact: the whole world believed that Jordan was driven into retirement by Roger.
And furthermore, he no longer had the courage to face Roger.
This was a complete victory belonging to Roger!
The name Michael Jordan was truly a thing of the past.
The next day, Garnett and Kobe were both looking at the newspaper during a break in training.
Although Jordan was no longer considered the greatest player of this era, the major newspapers still devoted a lot of space to reporting the news.
This was normal; if one day in the future LeBron James retires, it won’t just be news, all basketball writers will cry, even if he isn’t the greatest player.
The special reports on Jordan’s retirement in the newspapers made Garnett feel incredulous.
When he was a child, Michael Jordan was synonymous with a god.
Nearly every black kid of their generation worshiped Jordan.
The notion that “Michael Jordan is the supreme being” was deeply rooted in the hearts of black kids.
But Roger, the guy who only entered the league in 1993, had shattered the myth of Michael Jordan, destroyed their faith.
Although Kevin Garnett was a witness to all of this, seeing the dejected sight of Michael Jordan’s retirement in the newspaper still felt unbelievable.
That was the untouchable Michael Jordan.
That was one of the two most influential MJs in the world.
Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson?
No, the other MJ was Michael Jackson!
“Roger, you’re really something!” Garnett exclaimed after reading all the news about Jordan’s retirement.
However, his companion Kobe didn’t share the sentiment, “It’s no big deal; Michael’s today is Roger’s tomorrow.”
Garnett immediately covered Kobe’s mouth, but Roger, who was drinking water on the side, had already heard it.
Truth be told, every basketball player wants to win.
Well, at least most do.
In today’s NBA, if you want to stand out, there’s one thing you need to do: beat Roger.
But, you don’t necessarily have to say it out loud!
Moreover, everyone is still training together these days!
Now Garnett understood why the Los Angeles media had such an opinion of Kobe: “He is neither humble nor silent.”
Roger continued drinking his water, “How did you manage?
With that dumb fatso?”
“You know, I can humiliate you in a 21-point 1-on-1 game right now.
So, when you’re not strong enough, just shut up.
I said I was going to crush Michael, and so he never won over me even for a year.
How about you, Kobe Bryant?
Don’t let me hear any more of your nonsense,” Roger said.
Roger had always thought he could become friends with Kobe, but to tell the truth, that guy was just too difficult to get along with.
The more you’re with him, the more you realize it’s impossible to be friends with him.
However, Roger only had to spend a small amount of time with Kobe each year, whereas some people didn’t have that luxury.
So, really, Roger sincerely hoped that Shaq could find true love in Los Angeles.
He wished him a wonderful time in Los Angeles.
At this time, it was mid-August.
The Hawks’ signings had essentially concluded, and the main nine-man rotation was already confirmed beforehand.
But for the next season to be a success, Roger had one more important thing to do.
He made a call to Pete Babcock: “Do me a favor.”
“Ten even,” Pete replied.
“Get me Scottie Pippen’s phone number.”
You don’t have it?” Pete Babcock was surprised, considering Roger and Pippen had been teammates for a year.
And they were kindred spirits.
Yet, they didn’t even have each other’s phone numbers?
Ten minutes later, Scottie Pippen received a call.
On the other end of the line, a voice that instantly made Pippen feel physically ill came through,
“Scottie, show your face!”
Wearing sunglasses and beach shorts, Scottie Pippen appeared at Roger’s mansion.
He swore it was the most luxurious mansion in the entire state of Georgia!
Pippen felt unbalanced in his heart.
Why could Roger afford such a nice house?