When pride still matters

Chapter 124 The Smile of the Crocodile

That night, Doug Collins and Yu Fei attended the press conference together.

In addition to game-related questions, the question they were asked the most was about Jordan.

Moreover, they mainly asked Collins questions about Jordan, because Yu Fei's answer to Jordan's questions was always: "Next question."

Collins has become the focus of media criticism.

Because he gave this answer to the question about whether Jordan will return: "I'm not sure if Michael will return next season."

As soon as this answer came out, the media at the scene became excited, as if they had learned something incredible. Collins also regretted for a while. He knew that he had said the wrong thing, and quickly made up for it: "Actually, I don't know anything. I don't think Does anyone know the answer to, what did I just say? That's not true."

Yu Fei felt sorry for Collins and said it was too late now.

The media reminded Collins: "You just said that you don't know whether Michael will return next season. Does this mean that Michael has not considered returning at all?"

Collins became a little anxious and said with a trembling tone: "No, it's not up to me. Michael will make his own decision."

The reporters laughed sarcastically.

One person asked, "Has Michael talked to you?"

Terrible pressure approached Collins, and he knew that his answer was related to his future and destiny, "Guys, that's enough, this topic is over, okay? Now is not the time to talk about this matter, especially at this particular time, We shouldn't be talking about Michael's future, it's unfair to the rest of our team."

"Do you think he won't come back?"

"Damn it!" Collins almost jumped out of his chair.

The Wizards' publicist stepped in to head off a media disaster that was about to happen, "That's it for now, are there any other questions?"

The publicist's words were still hanging in the air, but Collins shook his head in self-pity and said to himself: "I shouldn't be here."

His voice was very soft, probably only Yu Fei could hear it clearly.

Whether Collins wanted it or not, his statement had an uncontrollable negative impact on the team and Jordan.

Wizards management was outraged, especially the business department, headed by Susan O'Mary.

Jordan's future is not something to be discussed lightly.

Because this name means a series of generous off-field income for the Wizards next season such as season tickets, peripheral merchandise, and jerseys.

Once Jordan confirms that he will not return, the Wizards will lose their appeal to middle-class fans who only recognize Jordan.

Jordan also faces pressure from public opinion.

If he does not come back, his comeback this season will be regarded as a show, and a failed show. Strictly speaking, he did not bring the team into the playoffs. The person who did this was Yu Fei, and he was absent. 1/3 season.

As a player, he may not be able to win a championship with the Wizards, but he still needs to prove himself here.

This is what Wizards fans have come to expect.

Two days later, Jordan appeared in Washington and held a press conference on behalf of the Wizards.

Doug Collins was also in attendance.

"I don't blame him." Jordan said with a smile. "That was a conclusion Doug came to based on observation. I should apologize to him because I really didn't tell him what I thought."

In fact, Collins is right. Jordan himself has not decided whether to continue playing next season. He has many questions.

Jordan, meanwhile, is outraged that the team continues to use his name to sell tickets.Especially the team's top management, led by Susan O'Mary, sent a false message to season ticket holders that "Jordan will continue to play for the Wizards next season." This is not true and nothing has been decided yet.If Jordan is determined not to return, how will the fans who bought season tickets because of him feel about this?

This made Jordan extremely angry. He didn't want his name to be used to make money before he made a decision.

Although Jordan's press conference helped Collins successfully rescue, it did not answer the most fundamental question, which is whether he returns.

This intensified outside speculation on the matter.

Fans were skeptical of Jordan's return, and season ticket sales for next season stalled.

This made the front office even more dissatisfied with Collins.

A day later, Wizards owner Abe Pollin publicly thanked Jordan.

why?Because Jordan allowed him to make money again with the Wizards after many years, and it was not a small amount of money.

Of course, Pauline won't let fans know the real reason why he's grateful to Jordan.

He will thank Jordan for deepening the urban ties between the Wizards and Washington. He will thank Jordan for his outstanding contribution in helping newcomers grow. He will thank Jordan for his hard work in taking charge of the Wizards in the past few years. He will thank Jordan for helping Leadership as the team returns to the playoffs, he will thank Jordan for his tenacity to play through injuries.
Pauline thanked Jordan profusely and sidestepped rumors that he and Jordan had a strained relationship.

Regarding this kind of rumor, which he calls "false", he is cautious and unwilling to touch it.

Then, when reporters asked Pauline whether he would return to the Wizards' front office if Jordan did not return, his answer was intriguing. "It's all up to Michael."

When "Washington Times" team reporter Thomas Flynn got this answer, he felt that this was not Paulin's promise.

No, Pauline didn't promise that Jordan would return to the Wizards' front office after he retired.

On the contrary, Pauline seemed to imply that there are many uncertainties about Jordan's return after retirement.

“Last year in the offseason, Michael did an excellent job leading the Wizards management to make the right decision in the draft. This year, he is no longer the team president, but does he still have influence on the team’s draft? "

For a moment, Pauline showed irritation and dissatisfaction at the words "Michael's great leadership and made the right decisions," but that emotion quickly disappeared from his face.

Pauline muttered, "Yeah, breathtaking! Michael did a great job last year, Michael made the right decision, and as for this year, as long as he wants to. Well, as long as he wants to, you know what I mean, as long as He is willing.”

After saying that, Pauline smiled, showing his uncomfortable yellow teeth.

From the beginning to the end, Pauline has been hinting to Flynn that as long as Jordan does not retire and makes money for him by wearing the jersey, he has no objection to Jordan's rule and leadership in DC.This shows that Pauline's connivance and "trust" in Jordan are entirely based on business considerations.

And his smile at this moment.
Flynn's mind conjured an image of a smiling alligator.

It hides in the shallows, not without aggression, but just biding its time.

A week later, Jordan was interviewed in New York.

The answers to many mysteries that have puzzled people for more than half a year are revealed here.

When asked about the ups and downs of the season, Jordan glumly offered a theory about the "origin of the problem."

In that moment, he was the complainer, forgetting that he had said in Chicago that he didn't blame anyone for breaking his ribs.

"Ron (Artest) was very aggressive and he went all out in practice, which is what I needed, but he was a little too much." Jordan said, "I broke my ribs, which That’s where it all started, I never had the chance to complete my rehabilitation program from the beginning.”

Maybe Jordan has forgotten.

His trainer Tim Grover had warned him a year earlier.

"Then, my knee started to swell." Jordan avoided the issue of overtraining. Naturally, he also "forgot" the fact that he did not listen to the advice of friends and experts. "Then, I got tenosynovitis. Damn it. Tenosynovitis, it bothered me until the end of the season, and I never got rid of its effects. From the time I got the tenosynovitis, other parts of my body started to break down, and I never had a chance to come back to the full version of me that I was last season. Me. "

Jordan finally realized that he now seemed like a self-pitying person looking for excuses to cover up his failure.

"I'm not making excuses." Jordan continued, "I also made some mistakes, I was too confident, I thought I was still the younger me, and this was punishment from my body. But besides this, other problems were happening. "

The questioner knew Jordan wanted to change the question, so he continued, "What question?"

"In the NBA, I'm already an old man."

"what happened?"

"I'm definitely older, but what really frustrates me is that this was a different era, this wasn't Chicago, we didn't."

He didn't go on because he realized he looked like he was asking for help.

The questioner knew there would be no answer to this question, so he turned to the most pointed and obvious "question", "Do you want to talk about Frye?"

In an instant, Jordan's eagerness to speak and his rare fragile expression disappeared, replaced by a defensive and stern expression, "There's nothing to say."

"There is news that Frye publicly rejected your return to the team. Is this true?"

The events of that day at the Verizon Center replayed rapidly in Jordan's mind.

This stung Jordan.

His brown eyes flashed with resentment.

"Of course not!" he said with suppressed anger.

The questioner added: "The Washington Times reporter revealed in the article that Frye said he had no intention of repairing the relationship with you and did not think it would affect the team. Do you think..."

"That's enough! I don't want to hear that person's name anymore!" Jordan stood up and roared at the director, "Pause the recording!"

After saying that, Jordan came backstage angrily and yelled at his assistant: "Call David (Falke) immediately and ask him to tell the dwarf (Paulin) who keeps sucking blood from me that I did it for him." After doing so much, now it’s time for him to repay me!”

The assistant stared at Jordan dumbfounded, still not sure what he wanted.

"I want that bastard to get out of DC!" Jordan said with a hateful face.

At this moment, the assistant understood Jordan's request.

(End of this chapter)