238: 109: Coach, I really want to pass the ball!
(Please give me monthly tickets!) 238: 109: Coach, I really want to pass the ball!
(Please give me monthly tickets!) After visiting Disneyland, Roger embarked on a European tour arranged by Reebok.
Due to the addition of Marciulionis, both Roger and the Magic Team’s fame in Europe had soared.
Although Europeans didn’t play much basketball, Reebok had an extensive business in tennis and women’s fitness products across Europe.
Sending Roger to Europe was undoubtedly a significant boost to the brand’s visibility and influence.
Nike had managed to leapfrog in the ’80s and ’90s, not just because of Jordan but also because they had early on paid attention to the women’s market, effectively sweeping through women’s wallets.
Reebok also had to seize this business opportunity, enhance Roger’s popularity in Europe, then hang posters of Roger in their stores—no one would believe that wouldn’t attract female consumers.
Afterward, you’d feel embarrassed going to the gym without Reebok yoga pants.
The personal trainer, Joe Abunassar, naturally accompanied Roger throughout, as Roger insisted on training even during business activities.
To become stronger, you don’t necessarily have to go bald, but you certainly need to spend time.
Roger had no time to waste.
Even though he had won the FMVP last season, Roger knew he still had much to improve.
He believed his potential could be further tapped.
Even Iceman hadn’t fully explored his potential, and Roger was not about to settle.
He wanted to continue building muscle and gaining weight.
If he could safely increase his weight to 95 kg this summer, Roger would gain better defensive and breakthrough abilities.
Roger planned to focus first on training his upper body muscles, which would also significantly improve his capability in attacking the basket during confrontations.
Abunassar arranged a meticulous training plan for Roger: three days of strength training, three days of ball training, and one day of rest per week.
If he focused only on strength training and neglected ball training, Roger would lose his touch.
In addition, Roger continued to combine video analysis provided by Spoelstra with practical drills to train his passing skills.
This new season, he hoped to become a more versatile guard.
He knew that after the Bulls acquired Rodman and Dumars, their defense would improve by more than just one level.
Following the original trajectory of history, they would use fierce oppression and quick rotations to force the opponent’s core to pass the ball, causing mistakes.
The real killers in the Bull’s later three-peat championships were not the Triangle Offense but their brutal defense!
Roger knew that to avoid being limited, he needed stronger passing skills; he had to find his teammates at the first opportunity under the pressure from Pippen and Rodman.
“Coach, I really want to pass the ball, and you’ll see that soon!”
Although the training schedule seemed full, Roger actually didn’t feel tired at all.
That’s why Roger paid so much money to Abunassar every year because a truly top trainer doesn’t exhaust the players but allows you to train effectively without getting too fatigued.
Training always came with a risk of injury, and a top trainer’s job was to minimize this risk while maximizing training results.
In the ’90s basketball scene, probably only Roger and Jordan had this advanced training concept of “spending money to train during rest periods.”
Under Abunassar’s scientifically rigorous training plan, Roger managed to attend events, train, and even had time to dine with French model Laetitia Casta.
Laetitia’s real fame skyrocketed after joining Victoria’s Secret in 1996; before that, she was exclusively a model for Galeries Lafayette.
Unlike the more slender supermodels, Laetitia was comparatively voluptuous.
Roger believed that this natural fullness was the true aesthetic models should possess.
“I’ve always despised excessive slimness; you don’t need to lose weight, Laetitia.
I believe you will shine eventually.”
No woman could resist sweet nothings, especially when they came from a handsome and wealthy man.
Of course, Roger’s dinner with her wasn’t just because of her voluptuous figure.
At least not entirely because of that.
He was more interested in learning French; no matter when, one should always have a desire to learn.
And Laetitia was undoubtedly a perfect French teacher.
That evening, they agreed to meet again in the United States after a while.
“I’d be delighted to be your personal French teacher,” Laetitia said as they parted.
After the European tour ended, Roger went to Reebok’s headquarters to participate in the development of the latest generation of the Truth series basketball shoes.
As Reebok’s flagship basketball shoe series, the entire brand took the development of Roger’s shoes very seriously.
For this, Reebok spent a high price to buy the exclusive rights to broadcast advertisements on CNN Sports Channel.
For the next two years, CNN Sports Channel could only air advertisements for Reebok’s sporting goods.
Though costly, Reebok believed that Roger would make these investments worthwhile.
After this incident, Larry Miller, the executive vice president of Nike’s basketball division who had missed out on Roger and faced internal criticism, scornfully remarked, “Their attempt to enhance brand influence with this is utterly delusional.”
Ted Turner, the founder of CNN, a media magnate, and also the owner of the Atlanta Hawks, laughed and said, “This is the first time I’ve seen a brand take such a gamble for one of their endorsers.
But honestly, I’m looking forward to Roger’s performance; I’ve been excited by his play for more than a day or two.
What if he really wins back-to-back championships?”
Ted Turner wasn’t just making polite conversation; he had been looking forward to Roger’s performance for quite some time.