107: 068: Goodbye Tony, my forever friend_2 107: 068: Goodbye Tony, my forever friend_2 The NBA chose this image for Stark’s trading card, but on the card, the background board only featured Grant, with Jordan having been Photoshopped out.
This was akin to the incident where the GOAT was posterized and the video was mysteriously never found.
His divinity, how could it possibly be shaken by a mere Starks.
And the same went for his comeback, how could someone as perfect as Jordan possibly be associated with pure profit-seeking?
So, Nike directed the media to interpret the comeback from the angle of passion and resilience, completely omitting the three demands he had forced upon management.
The sports world awaited Jordan’s statement with bated breath, curious as to how he would announce his return.
In truth, Jordan was also vexed by this matter.
Jordan, at the practice court, looked at the press release in his hand and shook his head, “There’s too much irrelevant content, I don’t want to be a nagging woman, crying at the press conference.
I’m not a crybaby like Scott.
This draft completely misses what I want to say.
I need something concise and powerful.
David, write it again.”
David Falk’s drafted press release for the comeback was rejected by Jordan again, and this was the fourth draft that Jordan had dismissed.
Falk was at a loss for words, handing the pen to Jordan, “Michael, why don’t you just write it yourself, I’m no great novelist.
If all else fails, I can try to get Toni Morrison (the 1993 Nobel Prize in Literature winner) to write a press release for you that draws from the inner world of black people and incorporates elements of magical realism?”
Falk was merely joking while venting, but to his surprise, Jordan pondered for a few seconds and then truly took the pen, “You know what, David, I actually have a pretty good idea.”
On July 10, ABC, CBS, and NBC all stopped their broadcasts urgently, as they each received a fax at the same time.
The fax wasn’t a threat to blow up the Pentagon, its header was quite ordinary: “Michael Jordan issues the following statement regarding his future career plans through his personal attorney and agent David Falk.”
And the content of the statement was just one sentence, the one that Jordan himself had written: “I’m back!”
With one simple statement, the basketball world’s earthquake began.
Of course, the release of this statement also simultaneously meant one thing: Reinsdorf had made his choice.
Roger learned from his agent, Eric Fleisher, that the Bulls had decided to trade him.
The team had not informed Roger directly, instead contacting his agent Fleisher.
At that moment, Roger felt relieved.
To hell with Scottie Pippen, to hell with Michael Jordan.
He no longer had to throw a fit because of Pippen’s thin skin.
He also didn’t have to face the paranoid egg who didn’t know how to respect others.
He wouldn’t have to just secretly defy Jordan during private training sessions anymore; he could challenge Jordan in front of the entire world’s cameras!
Had Roger done something wrong with the Bulls?
He simply didn’t want to be bullied by Pippen and Jordan, so he resisted, and just happened to lead the team to a good number of victories.
As a result, those two stubborn old men couldn’t stand it because they couldn’t accept someone who wouldn’t kowtow to them, as it would affect their status and godhood.
Roger would rather lick seafood sashimi than lick their boots.
They were all in competitive sports; why should I respect you when you don’t respect me?
Only masochists and bootlickers would enjoy playing ball with these two lunatics.
Of course, Roger was still a bit unwilling to concede, as he had essentially lost to Jordan in this competition, though it wasn’t entirely for basketball reasons.
But he would soon be leaving, and he would have plenty of opportunities to win back what he lost.
Just the thought of finally being able to play elsewhere made Roger even more motivated in his practice.
“So, where will Krause send me?” This was the question Roger cared about the most now, “Do we just have to wait passively for the trade?”
“There are many teams that have made offers to Krause at the moment.
Normally, it’s hard for us to interfere with the team’s trades, but we are not entirely passive.
If Krause really sends you to some dead-end place, like Dallas or Milwaukee, we will intervene.”
“How will we intervene?”
“Next summer we have a player option; we can opt out of the contract.
So, if he wants to trade you to those lousy places, we can publicly state that we won’t renew the contract with that team.
If they pay a hefty price only to acquire one year of your rights, they will surely back off.
Reebok, and I, will do our best to pressure Krause to send you to a competitive team.”
Reebok had long wanted Roger to leave Chicago because, when playing in Chicago, people would always only focus on AJ.
So, they would also use all their resources and leverage media power to help Roger move to a more suitable place.
Even if Reebok’s influence wasn’t as strong as Nike’s, they still had some clout.
Roger nodded, then beckoned Abunassar and the trainers to continue the practice.
All he could do now was to keep training and wait for the good news.
Meanwhile, Jerry Krause had no choice but put Roger on the trading block.
Reluctantly, but he now had to use Roger to secure the best interests for the team.
As expected, Roger was very popular on the trading market, almost coveted by the entire league.