57: 041: This time, Roger is going to reach out to Jordan 57: 041: This time, Roger is going to reach out to Jordan “Good morning, Chicago!
You might have missed the game last night, but don’t worry, you just need to know that our team thrashed those bastards from Phoenix!
Phil Jackson’s timely rotation adjustments kept our offense flowing seamlessly through the connecting segments.
And our ‘Truth,’ in only his third career game, dropped 27 points, setting a new career high.
And let’s not forget those record-breaking two assists!
Okay, you might say Michael managed 37 points in his third game.
But how old is Roger?
He’s only 18 and he’s already scoring 27 points in the NBA.
Most importantly, he made Charles Barkley look like a complete fool.
What’s really worth celebrating, though, is that there’s no issue whatsoever between Roger and Scottie.
It turns out all the so-called conflicts between them were just baseless rumors from those unscrupulous media people.
Scottie’s tearful look last night was genuine; I believe he was the first to jump for joy when Phil suggested in the locker room that Roger should start!
Yes, we have a budding 18-year-old rookie, we still have a robust Scottie Pippen, we can still shoot for a fourth consecutive championship!
The next day, Pippen couldn’t help but laugh and cry when he heard what was playing on his car radio on the way to the Berto Center.
To hell with the so-called great reconciliation.
If that fat bastard Krause announced a trade of Roger right now, Pippen would be the first one jumping for joy.
But what can Pippen do?
Keep acting like a complaining wife in front of the media?
Pippen has tried to protest, but each time he does, Roger’s standing in the locker room rises a notch.
I, Scottie, just need to let my performance on the court do the talking, and everyone will naturally understand who the real boss is!
Today, in the locker room at the training facility, Roger and Pippen didn’t argue.
Although they didn’t speak either, that was irrelevant.
The Zen Master certainly knows Pippen couldn’t really like Roger, nor would Roger submit to Pippen so quickly.
But whether their reconciliation was grudging or not, the Bulls really did catch a winning streak.
On November 10 against the Bucks, Pippen scored a season-high 34 points along with six assists, while Roger, not shooting much today, miraculously made 8 out of 10 shots for 18 points, leading the Bulls to a big win.
After the game against the Bucks, last season’s number eight pick, Todd Day, was suspended for three games by his own team for yelling at coach Mike Dunleavy during the game, “I tried my best to defend him, but he just keeps making shots—what can I do about it?
Why don’t you try it yourself, you idiot, see if you can stop Roger!”
Against the Celtics on the 13th, Roger and Pippen each scored 22 points, and Kukoc, coming off the bench, poured fuel on the fire with an extra 16 points, 5 assists, and 3 rebounds.
Celtics coach Chris Ford commented helplessly, “The Bulls have enviable potential in addition to their experience.”
Celtics veteran center ‘Chief’ Parish had a more blunt comment: “We didn’t lose to Scottie, we lost to a hybrid of Scottie and the ‘Truth.’ Scottie always wants to stick his stick in every hole he sees.
But he can’t solve all the problems on the court, so whether he admits it or not, he really does need Roger, and he can’t do without him.”
In their sixth season game against the Lakers, the Lakers’ backcourt, both under 1.9 meters tall, let Roger set another new career record with 28 points.
While Roger’s assist record remained at two per game and didn’t improve, Steve Kerr put it well, “You can’t expect a player to break records every day, can you?
Roger’s performance is already fantastic—he’s one of the two best on the team.”
Starting with the victory over the Suns, the Bulls went on a four-game winning streak.
Pippen found that his position as the top dog was not solidified, and Roger was only getting hotter!
The whole league began to accept the fact that the Bulls were dominated by two people!
Roger continued his massacre of the league’s guards’ pride, and finally, in the seventh game of the season, Roger’s blade of slaughter swung over Penny’s head.
On November 18, the game against the Golden State Warriors was broadcast live across the United States by NBC, and the whole world was eager to see what kind of sparks would fly between Roger and Hardaway.
The final result was a complete victory for Roger with 23 points.
Penny only had 12 points and 5 assists, along with 5 turnovers.
The Bulls also secured a victory over the Warriors with an 11-point advantage, taking five wins in a row!
But after the game, Penny didn’t feel like he had lost:
“I’m not looking for excuses.
I admit that the Bulls took the win today.
But I was being guarded by Scottie the whole game; I barely faced Roger.
So, why do you keep saying he beat me?
He was just hiding under Scottie’s wings.”
Pippen loved what Penny said, finally someone had spoken up for him after so long!
Of course, Penny didn’t say this for Pippen’s sake; he just wouldn’t admit his own defeat.
He and Roger had always been hyped by the media before entering the league, always compared to each other, so this game had a lot of attention.
Penny knew the significance of this game all too well, so he would never admit defeat easily.
And after all, Penny has a good temper but not a complete lack of temper.
Many may not believe that this always affable guy once pointed a gun at his child’s mother over child support issues, in front of their child.
See, even the most good-natured people can be driven to the edge.
Today, Hardaway was quite upset.
He hadn’t forgotten the Reebok poster that came out after Roger signed with them, the one that read, “Whether you like it or not, I’m going to easily take all the Pennies.” He harbored animosity towards Roger; he wouldn’t admit being inferior to Roger.
Yet, he lost the direct confrontation, how could he not be upset?
He had held a grudge against Penny for a long time, starting from the NBA draft when Penny ridiculed him.
He wanted to take down that seemingly affable but sly tiger himself.
Moreover, just a few days ago, many media outlets had belittled him and praised Penny, such as the Chicago Sun-Times, which had said, “If the Bulls had gotten Anfernee, the team wouldn’t have had all these troubles.” This only intensified Roger’s desire to beat Penny.
To finally have a fair and square win over Penny, and you say it doesn’t count just like that?
Your word is so powerful, why don’t you get the peace-loving United States to give up its nuclear weapons first?
Roger didn’t give him any room to wriggle out: “Although Anfernee initially said he wasn’t looking for excuses, it’s clear to everyone that he was.
He said he didn’t guard me?
You can go watch the game video, I scored at least four baskets over him.”
This showdown for views left the fans wanting more.
However, John Anderson from SportsCenter reminded everyone: “Don’t rush, the Bulls and the Warriors will meet again in 9 days.
We’ll have another chance to see who’s more deserving to be Jordan’s successor.”
Regardless, this game certainly fulfilled Stern’s intentions.
The NBA, which had been languishing since Jordan’s retirement, was ignited once again due to the matchup between Roger and Penny.
What Stern had never expected was that the man himself would show up to add fuel to the fire.
Michael Jordan, in his capacity as a baseball player, was interviewed by Sports Illustrated, during which he talked about how much he prepared for baseball, mentioned that he shelled out $330,000 to buy a luxury bus for the entire team, and incidentally infused a motivational message:
“Everything I’ve done is to tell people to believe in themselves, to dare to try.
Although I’ve paid a lot for it, I’ve never regretted my choices.
If you have the chance to try something you truly love, go for it.”
Yeah, letting go and gambling all night is indeed exhilarating.
But Sports Illustrated didn’t interview Jordan just because he is the baseball player Michael Jordan; they did it also because he is the basketball player Michael Jordan.
To be honest, Michael Jordan the baseball player wasn’t successful; he couldn’t even play in the major leagues.
People’s interest in him still comes down to basketball.
So in the end, Sports Illustrated still asked, “Michael, who do you think in today’s NBA could be your successor?
The next day, Jordan’s answer became the front-page headline of many major newspapers: “If I really had to pick a successor, I would choose Anfernee Hardaway.”
Jordan was never going to pick Roger, because Roger was Krause’s man, the one that gasbag was using to replace him, or at least that’s what Jordan believed.
And Jordan never liked the name Roger.
He didn’t like it before, and he likes it even less now.
When Jordan was defeated by baseball, he often thought, if one day I really return, if I come back to the Bulls, if it is I who lead this team, would Roger still dare to be so presumptuous?
The answer is a firm no.
The kid lacks basic respect for his elders.
So, why would I choose him?
Jordan’s answer surprised the fans; he didn’t choose Roger, who was on the same team as him and had just won the game.
Pippen, on the other hand, was overjoyed.
If Jordan had acknowledged Roger as the successor, then his own status on the team would be truly diminished.
Thankfully, Michael had his back once again.
Andrae couldn’t help but rant when he was on the phone with Roger: “I don’t understand, clearly you’re the winner, but one says he didn’t lose, and the other, even more outrageous, is saying that the loser is his successor.
Damn, did Michael get hit in the head with a baseball bat?
Never mind them, Scott didn’t give you any trouble today, did he?”
“No.” Roger, who was eating dinner, answered with the sound of chewing.
“So, it seems he really has accepted you?”
“No, Scott didn’t come looking for trouble because he didn’t come to practice this afternoon at all.
He’s got a problem with his leg and might have to sit out for a while.
Tomorrow you’ll see the news in the newspapers or in the sports news later tonight.”
wait, sit out for a while?
“That’s right, Andrae.” Roger took a sip of water, looking at the schedule on the wall: “It means, when I next meet Penny, I might not have Scott by my side.
I want to see what excuses Penny will have then.
Andrae, have you ever met Michael Jordan in person?”
“Where would I get the chance?”
“Me neither, he blocked the entire Berto Center from the team on the day he held the press conference.
But it’s okay, soon, without having met face to face, I’ll be able to slap him personally.
He’s so competitive, a slap will surely irritate him for a long time, right?
After Pippen, this time, Roger is reaching for Jordan.
The juniors’ affection for the team’s legend is just so impassioned.
Thanks to kbhero and other great supporters for their rewards, thank you all!