Basketball Legend: When Pride Still Matters

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Jordan was now fallen and everyone seemed ready to push him down further. Yu Fei felt a bit of schadenfreude, but as a young man of the new era with aspirations, he also pondered why a deity that stood so high yesterday suddenly became a street rat.

This reminded Yu Fei of a piece of interesting news he came across while searching for stories about Jordan. During the 1999 lockout, Jordan had suggested Pollin sell the team (if he couldn't afford it), which really did seem like something Jordan would say, with that top-down, "I'm absolutely right," "No one can defy me" sort of arrogance.

Jordan apparently truly believed that in the realm of basketball, no matter the organization or the issue, as long as he made a judgment, others were expected to follow suit.

Why did this undeniably exceptional athlete harbor such delusions and arrogance? When Yu Fei saw the American media unleashing full firepower in their criticism of Jordan, cascading down on him, he realized the crux of the problem.

Perhaps not entirely, but the fourth estate must bear much of the responsibility. They created a cultural phenomenon unique to the United States, beginning with the Babe Ruth era, that fervently molded sports stars into heroes. Over time, subtly instilling in these athletes a sense of entitlement, until by the end of the 20th century, someone like Jordan began to believe that everything he did was in pursuit of "victory"—broadly speaking, to secure championship rings, endorsement deals, and industry privileges for himself. If he was over-the-top on the court, it was deemed a byproduct of competitive impulse stirring his desires.

As for others—teammates, bosses, other League members, shoe companies, the media—they were only a part of the Deity Group when he needed them.

Since winning had become the most important criterion in sports culture, anything Jordan did—including bullying teammates or insulting business partners, even showing contempt for his own boss—was for years considered essential to achieving this criterion.

Thus, when the power of the god started to fade, people could only diminish the recollection of Jordan during the Wizards era by remembering the glory days of his peak years. But Jordan felt he never weakened, so he acted as if he was still in his prime in everything he did.

For an arrogant deity who couldn't realistically assess his own position, the fall from the pantheon was completed in an instant.

After finishing the first radio show post-playoffs, Yu Fei's greatest concern was about the various issues surrounding Jordan.

People cared too much about Jordan.

So even if a 40-year-old Jordan was chased out of Washington like a stray dog, they would still waste a precious opportunity to ask him questions related to Jordan on the radio show.

What could Yu Fei learn from this? To never end up in such a situation?

He certainly could say so now, but Jordan at 20 and Jordan at 30 or 40 were not the same person. Could he view this issue the same way when he was 35?

A day later, Yu Fei and his teammates rode on floats for the championship celebration through downtown Milwaukee.

For the non-local players, this celebration was akin to after-the-fact enjoyment.

Because the thrill, satisfaction, and excitement of winning the championship had mostly been released on the night of the victory and the first day following it, this celebration was just about having fun with the fans.

However, some who liked a bit of mischief would still throw a couple of jokes during their speeches.

The person within the Bucks who valued this event the most was Sprewell, because he was a local from Milwaukee, so he was the most enthusiastic in his speech.

Yu Fei didn't mind. Although he received the most cheers, his speech was filled with faultless, official-like lingo.

That night, Yu Fei learned of a disturbing rumor from his agent.

"Herb Kohl seems to want to sell the Bucks."

"Who's the buyer?"

"You might use your imagination." Explore more adventures at empire

"Could it be an old acquaintance from D.C.?"

"Ha, you guess right."

"Damn it!"

Yu Fei's CPU was overheating.

He couldn't understand. The team had just won the championship; why would the owner sell the team? Why would Jordan want to buy the Bucks? This damn guy wasn't thinking of trading him again, was he?

"I don't understand," said Yu Fei, "We've won the championship..."

"There's nothing complicated," Arne Trem said, laughing on the phone, "The Bucks have been rumored to be up for sale for years, you've increased the team's market value by 60 million⑴ in just one year, and now with the championship win, the value will escalate even further. The Senator might want to cash in at a high price."

⑴ The billion mentioned earlier is internal data.

"But we're clearly not at our peak yet, the market value will be higher in the future."

"Money is one reason, but not the main one. The Bucks, as a sports asset in Wisconsin, a football region, is neither here nor there. Even though you guys won, the buzz and revenue it brings to the Senator might not compete with the Packers Team's winning streak in the regular season of the NFL."

Yu Fei asked, "Do you think he will really sell the team?"

"Maybe not, and even if he does, it's unlikely to be to MJ," Trem said, "The Senator's bottom line for selling the team is that the buyer must promise to keep the Bucks in Milwaukee, and MJ would definitely relocate the team. Just on that, he has no chance."

This aligned with Yu Fei's understanding.

Although he wasn't familiar with contemporary NBA history, Jordan shouldn't have any ties with the Bucks. Shouldn't he be preparing to become the owner of the Bobcats now?

Even if someone pushed things too far and incurred divine retribution, making Jordan desperate to buy the Bucks, Herb Kohl still had his bottom lines... Hmm... to trust a politician's bottom line...

Yu Fei hung up on the agent's call and watched the boss chatting and laughing at the evening party. He felt the need to communicate with him.

He had to convey a very clear message.

If you really have to sell the team to Jordan, don't blame me for requesting a trade.

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When Yu Fei suggested a private conversation with Kohl, one look from Kohl and the people around them backed away.

Before Yu Fei could even speak, Kohl said with a smile, "You want to ask me about the ownership transfer, don't you?"

BYD is pretty on the ball, huh?

"I think I have the right to know the details," Yu Fei said.

Kohl was very clear about what Yu Fei wanted to know, so he gave him the answer he was looking for, "Michael will never become the owner of the team."

Yu Fei didn't even bother asking why.

Whether it was Jordan not accepting Kohl's bottom line or some other reason, as long as the team wasn't sold to Jordan, that was good enough.

However, the owner's tendency to sell the team would also increase instability.

This issue made Yu Fei aware of other problems.

For example, during the preseason training camp, the Bucks nearly lost Michael Redd.

Why? Because if the team matched Redd's 4-year, 12 million US Dollar contract extension, they would trigger the luxury tax.

Although this season was the inaugural year for the luxury tax, the small amount the Bucks would trigger had been recouped by this season's excellent performance.

But the team, or rather, the senator who seemed very enlightened, took a long time to decide.

What if in the future, to maintain competitiveness, the team needs him to pay a large luxury tax? Would he pay it?

"I have no further questions." Yu Fei didn't want to discuss those issues that seemed irrelevant to him, "This season's great achievements couldn't have been made without the senator and the board's strong support."

Kohl liked this young man, Yu Fei; he was tactful and polite, not at all like a high school student who hadn't received higher education.

Just like Kobe he'd met at a recent event.

Who said that these kindhearted and humble high school players would ruin the NBA? Look, if everyone was like Kobe, the NBA would be a league of gentlemen; if every Bucks player was like Yu Fei, even if he had to pay a few million US Dollars in luxury tax every year, he'd be willing to do it.

"Not at all, it's mostly thanks to you guys," Kohl returned the courtesy to Yu Fei.

Yu Fei chatted with Kohl for a little while then walked away.

Jordan's and the Wizards' collapse made Yu Fei consider the relationship between players and teams more seriously, as well as the rationality of people like Kobe, Duncan, and Nowitzki spending their entire careers with one team.

Of course, this inevitably led him to think about how James repeatedly sought various pretexts to switch teams to stay competitive.

Arguing about who is right and who is wrong seems pointless.

Yu Fei tried to imagine the aforementioned players in his situation, facing an owner like Kohl and how they would react.

Jordan would have fallen out with him, James might have used this summer's Dream Team competition as an opportunity to rally brothers whose contracts were expiring to join forces, but Duncan and Nowitzki? It's hard to say, really hard to say.

Yu Fei couldn't guarantee that Duncan would always be consistent because he indeed had intentions of leaving the Spurs in 2000.

Would Nowitzki still be one man for one city if he hadn't met Cuban?

On the way home, Yu Fei, sitting in the passenger seat, asked Assistant Clark, "Alex, have I ever publicly stated that I would retire in Milwaukee at any event?"

Clark was stunned.

Yu Fei had been in Milwaukee for a year; he had said many things, but had he ever said something like that?

Clark couldn't be sure.

"It doesn't seem like it."

Yu Fei really didn't remember ever saying anything like that either.

Even when representing the team at events, when children asked him if he would retire with the Bucks, he would just answer, "Maybe."

"Frye, why did you suddenly ask about this?"

Lawson asked curiously, as he hadn't considered that obvious possibility, because Yu Fei and the Bucks seemed like a match made in heaven.

"I just suddenly realized that Cassidy was a philosopher; he was so right," Yu Fei said, "Never say never. I once thought I would always hate MJ, but now, I don't dislike him so much."

"Is it because Senator Kohl told you he doesn't plan on selling the team to MJ, so you've come to terms with it?"

"Shut up, Tony!" Yu Fei stressed, "What I mean is that no matter how deep the emotions and beliefs are, as time and circumstances change, they're just fleeting realities. Don't say forever, never say forever."

"But you just said never again."

"Shut up, Tony!"