64: 048: Michael finally learned to speak properly.
64: 048: Michael finally learned to speak properly.
Watch closely, this dumbfounded man is Jordan.
From his shocked expression, you can tell that things have gone beyond his expectations.
The staff around the court all stopped what they were doing, and Tim Grover, who came onto the court with Jordan, also had his mouth agape.
They couldn’t believe that someone in this world dared to speak to Jordan like that, that someone dared to defy him to his face.
Wait, this 18-year-old kid couldn’t possibly think that Michael is the nice guy like Magic, could he?
Jordan hadn’t expected Roger to react this way; in his fantasy, this 18-year-old boy, whose beard had yet to fully grow, would do well just to keep his body from trembling when he saw him.
In his fantasy, upon seeing him, Roger should be extremely respectful, admiring him so much he’d be prostrate on the ground, just like he bragged to Barkley.
And now, he actually dares to yell at me?
Lambs to the slaughter aren’t supposed to fight back, are they?
In Jordan’s brown irises, it was as if flames flickered: “Kid, watch your tone.
You think this is your turf now?
That you can run wild here?
Look up at your ceiling, asshole, look at those championship banners, then look outside at the statue that’s about to be completed.
Even if you played your whole life, you could never take my place at the United Center!
On my turf, no one can talk to me like that!”
“Enough already, I couldn’t care less about taking your place.
Don’t always act like you’re the center of the world.
As if everyone wants to replace you, everyone wants to be your successor.
When you were swept by Larry Bird, and roughed up by the Baby-Faced Assassin, did anyone on the Bulls mock you?
No, because nobody would do such a despicable thing.
And here I am, having lost just two games, and you specifically changed into your getup to mock me, that’s why I can’t stand you.”
Your attitude towards me will decide my attitude towards you.
If you don’t mind, Michael, I’ll get back to training now.”
With that, Roger turned his back and continued to train, not bothering to waste any more words on Jordan.
Jordan had heard plenty of things about Roger; he knew this kid had fought with Scott in the locker room, and how he had passive-aggressively taken jabs at Scott in front of the media.
He also knew that poor, useless Scott was about to lose control of the locker room.
Roger was an untamed, rebellious beast, and Jordan liked that kind of challenge.
The feisty ones are the most fun to conquer~
“Rookie, don’t make me teach you respect.”
“The same goes for you, Michael; you could also learn some respect.
Your jersey retirement ceremony is over, you’ve received everyone’s blessings, including mine, so why don’t you leave?
You don’t belong here anymore,” Roger was as “stubborn” as ever.
Michael Jordan would never allow anyone to talk to him like that, even though he had retired, he wouldn’t tolerate it.
So, his roar echoed throughout the empty United Center: “Come here, you bastard!
Come here, and let me teach you what respect is!
I’ll let you attack first, consider it my pity for you!”
Well, Jordan pulled his most common method of asserting dominance; he wanted to go one-on-one with Roger.
Tim Grover called out to Jordan: “Michael, your body isn’t fit for basketball right now.”
“Are you afraid I’ll lose!?” Jordan, clad in his jersey, glared furiously; he was already fired up.
Grover didn’t answer, but his evasive eyes told the whole story.
This only fueled Jordan’s competitive spirit further; his heart churned like molten lava.
You’ve got to be kidding me?
Do you really think I would lose to a little punk like Scott did?
Roger didn’t immediately walk over to Jordan with the ball but instead crooked his finger, “Why don’t you bring the ball over here?
As a polite person, Roger was very much about quid pro quo.
The infuriated Jordan snatched up a basketball with one hand and shoved it into Roger’s chest: “I only need ten shots to destroy you.”
“Are you sure you want me to attack first?
I don’t have the habit of bullying old men.”
“Get out beyond the three-point line to attack, rookie!”
Everyone still on the scene watched this one-on-one encounter, Roger with the ball outside the three-point line, facing a man who looked like a beast starved for three days and nights.
At the start of the one-on-one, Jordan immediately closed in, lowered his center of gravity so much that his hand could almost touch the floor, and he even placed one hand directly on Roger’s chest to prevent a sudden shot.
Jordan had watched Roger’s games, so he was clear about how high Roger’s pull-up shooting percentage was; hence he wouldn’t give Roger any chances.
Many new fans refuse to admit that the defense in the ’90s was stronger than in the ’20s, claiming it’s an instance of idolizing the past over the present.
But the reality is that Jordan’s defensive move in 2024 would be immediately called a foul, while in the ’90s, it was no issue at all.
Why weren’t there super shooters in the ’90s?
It’s true that the three-point shot wasn’t valued as much then, but look at Jordan’s defense on Roger, and you’ll understand.
Under these circumstances, it wasn’t a matter of accuracy; you wouldn’t even have the opportunity to take a shot.
Roger had to admit, Michael Jordan was truly one of the strongest perimeter defenders in history.
His one-on-one with Pippen before, Pippen wasn’t serious until it was too late.
That’s why Roger was able to embarrass him.