283: Chapter 122: The Possibility of Completely Surpassing Michael (Seeking Monthly Votes!)_3 283: Chapter 122: The Possibility of Completely Surpassing Michael (Seeking Monthly Votes!)_3 “All these frills and no use,” Roger grumbled internally.
“Fantastic,” Roger’s mouth replied.
“We’re also planning to erect a statue of you beneath the building, but we’re still unsure what pose or action you’d like the statue to capture,” Joe said.
“Can you make one where I’m leaping over Michael Jordan?” Roger asked.
“No problem, just that the legal and security departments might feel the pressure,” Todd joked in response.
Roger was starting to guy; he wasn’t one of those humorless old farts.
Wearing a hard hat and reflective vest, Roger toured the office building under construction, named after him.
When he passed a full-length mirror and saw his own get-up, Roger was taken aback.
In the past, mocking foreman Du was just for laughs, but now it’s just like looking in a mirror!
This was the first time Roger discovered he had quite the foreman vibe!
After the tour of Roger Tower, Roger and Todd headed to the conference room.
“Todd, I’m curious, why is this meeting so urgent?
The third model has just launched, right?” Roger asked.
“Because a new figure joined our basketball division recently, who might help us change the current situation.
So, we need to move up the timeline for the fourth model,” Todd replied.
Did you guys sign Michael Jordan?” Roger inquired.
“Yes and no,” he answered.
“Ha, Todd, you should be glad you don’t live in Gotham,” Roger remarked.
“Why’s that?” Todd asked.
“Because the Batman would show the Riddler the door,” Roger said.
“Then tell Bruce Wayne I said thanks for his ‘no-kill’ grace,” Todd replied.
The two entered the conference room amidst playful banter, with several Reebok executives already waiting inside.
They wouldn’t complain about waiting for Roger because everyone at Reebok knew his status was special—he was Reebok’s only weapon against Nike.
No matter how senior the executive, they had to wait for Roger, but Roger didn’t have to wait for anyone; this privilege was his alone.
Indeed, even Shaq didn’t get this kind of treatment.
Back in the summer of ’93, when Todd advocated for signing Roger with a $20 million contract, there was much opposition within Reebok.
Betting $20 million on a high school student was far too risky.
In the end, Todd padded the contract with “performance clauses” to bump it up to $20 million, which finally got the green light from the board.
But now, no one would question that signing.
Not just question it, every Reebok executive treated Roger with the utmost respect.
Roger was familiar with these executives; after all, he saw them at every meeting.
But the presence of one individual caught Roger by surprise—aha, Reebok did indeed bring over a part of Michael Jordan.
“Roger, it’s a pleasure to see you,” said the unexpected face before him—Larry Miller, who had been ousted just days before and now approached Roger to shake hands amicably.
Roger leaned back in his chair, not intending to extend his hand: “What, did this guy come all the way here to tell me how great Michael Jordan is?” he wondered.
Todd Krinsky immediately smoothed things over: “Larry’s with us now, or at least, he might be,” he said.
As the former head of a rival company, and now down on his luck, Todd had three options for dealing with Larry: entertain, behead, or take in as a dog.
He had chosen the latter.
Our people don’t slam me in the media,” Roger replied coldly to Larry Miller.
It wasn’t that he held grudges; he just wanted to flex his power here a little.
The taste of power was truly addictive.
More addictive than money.
Plus, Roger was not that perfect gentle man who would open his arms to everyone.
In the past, you criticized me in the media every two days, and now you’re suddenly ‘one of us’?
A real man can’t take back words as if they were water thrown away, like nothing ever happened.
So, who’s the one whose words are as insignificant as farts?
Larry Miller just the other day claimed Roger would never reach Michael’s heights.
Larry Miller knew what Roger meant, and with both hands pressed against his trousers, he bowed deeply to Roger: “I apologize for my previous remarks,” he said.
Good, that’s what Roger wanted.
The first commandment of working at Reebok—You must respect Roger.
Only then did Roger reach out and shake hands with Larry Miller: “Did you defect, or what?
Oh right, I caught a glimpse of the news yesterday; you got kicked out by Nike and came here begging for food,” Roger remarked.
“We call that ‘talent acquisition,’ Roger,” Todd said with a laugh.
“So it’s because you chose Penny over me, which is why you’re the guy in charge of this mess, right?” Roger continued.
“I guess so, but damn it, I never advocated for giving you a lower contract than Penny; I argued we should try to renegotiate.
But as you know, I don’t make the final call.
It was our higher-ups, they decided to pass on you, and now they have me taking the blame!” Larry Miller immediately defended himself.
“Alright Larry, I’m not interested in your blunders.
So, you came here this time hoping to prove Nike was wrong to let you go, right?” Roger asked.
I hope to expand the ‘truth’ series into a standalone brand and serve as the brand president!
Trust me, Roger, I can make your sneakers as popular as the AJs!” Larry Miller’s eyes were determined, showing he really wanted to seek revenge against Nike.