When pride still matters

Chapter 28 He has no game

"He's either Michael Olowokande or Magic Johnson, there's no in between."

When Sonny Vaccaro studied West's words carefully, he felt that he meant something.

He knows very well why West mentioned Olowokandi, because this is also a player who made a lot of progress every year before landing in the NBA, so much so that the 1998 Clippers believed that he could achieve success in the NBA. The same progress happened, so they desperately used the 1998 No. [-] pick to select Olowokandi, hoping that he would become the Clippers' Olajuwon.

As beautiful as the Clippers' dream is, it's as dazzling when it's shattered. It only took Olowokandi a month to raise Elgin Baylor's blood pressure.

But what about the magician?Why does he appear in West's mouth?

"Magician?" Vaccaro expressed confusion.

There was an imperceptible sneer on West's lips: "In 1979, it was no different than now. At that time, many people doubted whether a big man like Evan could play point guard in professional basketball, and I was the one who had huge doubts about him. , I prefer Sidney Moncrief SG/PG to him."

"Whenever I have doubts about this kind of player with a huge unknown, the facts always prove me wrong. Evan is like this, Kobe is like this, Frye?" West said lightly, "Who knows? .”

West is a very stubborn person, and Vaccaro doesn't know how many young people he can favor without reservation.

He doesn't believe that Magic can become a talent, and he also has doubts about Kobe Bryant, who he personally selected into the team, and the same goes for Fei.

However, if West starts to compare Yu Fei and Kobe Bryant with Magic, does it also mean that this child does have some qualities that make West optimistic?

"I know what you mean, Jerry." Vaccaro smiled. "Adidas will sign Frye."

West played a dry joke on Vaccaro: "Maybe Frye prefers Nike? He is from the 'I want to be like Mike' generation."

"Speaking of Mike. I haven't seen him in a while. Is he in DC?"

Speaking of this, West frowned seriously: "It's a mess."

※※※

Some people have a hole in their hearts that no one can see, that even love and honor cannot fill.

Michael Jordan was restless and weighed 30 pounds more than when he retired.Because he believed he would never play again, which is what most sports superstars believe when they first begin their retirement years.

For athletes who have left the game, retirement looks like a never-ending summer vacation - golf, partying, business cooperation. Jordan can show up at the casino with impunity, gamble all day and night, smoke endless cigars, and drink endlessly. of Brandy and never have to train at 7am again.No annoying teammates or grumpy coaches.No buzzing reporters.The quiet days were a balm, a little solace after 20 years of being too busy and constantly competing, and they were great for him, until one day they weren't anymore.

Sitting in his office in Washington, Jordan found it difficult to calm down, like a madman who wanted his ex-wife back.He felt the void.This was the exact moment he wanted to get back to the thing he thought he was forever free of three years ago.

This feeling began to bother Jordan at the end of last year. Today, a few months later, he began to try to get the media to reveal his thoughts on a possible comeback in the future.This news shocked the outside world, so much so that the Washington Post asked its reporter stationed outside the Wizards to apply for an exclusive interview with him.

Jordan agreed to be interviewed.

About half the time, Jordan talked about what he meant as a player and how much he missed it.

"That was an unparalleled feeling," Jordan said wistfully, suggesting that he regretted leaving the court, that he was not satisfied with the honors he had as a player.The tranquility of an executive life he once dreamed of has become a disguised form of house arrest.

At this time, Post reporter Steve Wyche asked: "Then why did you retire in the first place?"

"I don't want to retire," Jordan muttered, shrugging. "I never wanted to retire."

After saying that, Jordan looked out the window, and Wyche found himself sitting in a chair opposite the president's desk. As a minority shareholder and president of basketball operations, Jordan ruled the lowly Washington Wizards - as far as the team's status in the NBA Jordan is equivalent to the king of the dwarves.No matter which team we play, it is usually difficult to reach half the attendance at home.

Jordan casually waved his cigar and ran his hand over the top of his bald head. "I miss competing."

As he spoke, he put down his cigar and subconsciously patted his waist. He could feel a ring of fat.

From the outside, he is still the same Jordan - the one who walks with a slightly pigeon-toed gait, the one who stares at others with polite but distant brown eyes, the one who wraps himself in a small world, the one who never wants people to pry into his privacy. world famous people.The worst part for Jordan is that his legacy is rusting because the public is desperate for someone new to take his place and is trying to put some new star in that spot who hasn't even achieved 1/10 of what he did.

"I don't want to sound angry," Jordan muttered. "I just want to say that when Michael Jordan is not on the court -" he stopped suddenly, realizing what he was trying to say, thinking about the publicity surrounding Kobe, Carter and Tracy McGrady, " If a person - for example, Kobe Bryant scored 51 points in a game some time ago. That was big news. Then the media started comparing him to Michael Jordan. But people tend to forget that Michael Jordan once had three games in a row The game does the same thing. You know what I mean? People tend to follow the current players because they haven't seen Michael Jordan on the basketball court in two years."

Suddenly, Jordan became his biggest supporter, describing in detail the achievements of the athlete he called "Michael Jordan," and talking at length about himself.This made Wyche feel uneasy, because in Wyche's impression, Jordan was rational and serious.Those who refer to themselves in the third person are always arrogant, bombastic idiots, and that image never appeared with Michael Jordan.This seems to show that the gods of basketball also have a fragile side.

Wyche remained silent. This interview was not so much an interview as it was an outlet Jordan found for himself to vent, because Wyche was his person and this person would never write down what they talked about today into tomorrow. newspaper.

"I read something about Kobe or Vince Carter and it kind of brings out the competitive side in me, you know," Jordan said. "And I would hear things that made me uncomfortable. Someone had a great game, like Vince, Kobe, and people on TV would talk about them like they were talking about Michael Jordan. It made the competitive thing in me go away. Get excited because they don't understand that Michael Jordan did all these things and--(did them all better)"

Jordan paused, examining himself.

"I miss that crazy feeling. Crazy, wild, everything is decided in one moment. I really wanted to compete against those guys. But I-"

"Boom!"

Wizards assistant general manager Rod Higgins interrupted the Flyers' thoughts, "Michael, our scouts discovered something at the ABCD training camp."

Jordan asked: "Is it Sonny's training camp?"

"Yes."

Jordan doesn't care about this year's ABCD training camp because only D'Angelo Collins, one of the top ten 12th graders in the country, is participating.Although Collins is ranked fifth in the country, Jordan has watched his AAU games and they are not impressive. The so-called pocket version of Shark is even more nonsense. Not only has he played against sharks, he has also played against real pocket version of Shark (Barkley). ) is a buddy, he knows what a shark is like, Collins is at best a mature and ready-to-fight player whose development is far beyond that of his peers.

Once this kind of person enters professional basketball, his true colors will be revealed.

Therefore, Jordan really doesn't want to read the scouting report from the ABCD training camp.

But if the scouts found nothing, Higgins would not take the report. He knew his temper.

His time is precious, especially during DC office hours. You have to know that he doesn’t even live in DC and comes to the office less than five times a month. How can he afford to waste it?

Jordan took a look at the scouting report, which highlighted an Asian teenager named Frye Yu. The Wizards' scouts believed that he was the biggest surprise of the ABCD training camp and was expected to be ranked among the top ten in the United States after the training camp. , and he has not chosen a school yet, and there is a possibility of participating in the NBA draft in advance. As for his playing style
Jordan immediately focused on the bold template: the taller Scottie Pippen.

Even someone as strong as Jordan can't imagine how the taller Pippen plays. This scouting report looks more like a mindless tout of a sudden rising star, and the immediate effect is very obvious.

But the Wizards have confirmed that they will participate in the lottery this year. If such a person really appears, can they really be ignored?

"Is training camp over?" Jordan asked.

Higgins said: "Today is the second day of training camp, there is another day of games tomorrow, and the All-Star Game will be held the day after tomorrow."

Jordan knew that Sonny Vaccaro had fallen out with Nike. As a lifelong partner of Nike, he was not suitable to attend the ABCD training camp, but this time, the other time.

In addition to being a partner of Nike, he is also the president of the Wizards. Nike will not embarrass him on this matter. It just so happens that the DC media recently criticized him for not doing his job properly and treating the president's job as a part-time job. It's time for them to take a look. Mr. President, what does it look like to work seriously?

"Tell J.D. (Wizards scout) I'm going to New Jersey tomorrow and tell him to say hello to Sonny and get ready."

Jordan's tone was like an emperor ordering his eunuchs.

Higgins responded respectfully: "No problem."

Then, Jordan looked at Wyche: "Where did we just talk?"

Wyche looked at the time. There are still a few hours before the Wizards' game tonight. Jordan seems very busy. Maybe this interview should end.

"Am I disturbing you too much?" Wyche said, "You have a game tonight."

"No," Jordan whispered, "No."

The Wizards will host the Philadelphia 76ers and Allen Iverson in about four hours.But Jordan was right: He had no game.

(End of this chapter)