hotmtlnovel Chapter 403 Jordan vs. Wizards! A Battle of Public Opinion!
Chapter 403 Jordan vs. Wizards! A Battle of Public Opinion!
That night, the Chinese team let loose completely, making a ruckus all night long. Of course, the first thing Lin Tian did when he woke up in the morning was to have the bus and the others obediently carry his safe back to his room.
Next, most of the Chinese team will head back to China to prepare for the domestic league and receive the honor of being greeted by fans lining the streets. Only a few players who are about to start their NBA season will not be traveling with the rest of the team.
Before leaving, Lin Tian gathered the whole team together again and treated them to a good meal. The difference this time was that Lin Tian finally stopped playing tricks on them and gave each of them a gift.
Those who participated in the previous Olympic Games each received a genuine Olympic gold medal.
Those who haven't participated before will receive three fake coins each.
Pure gold is even more valuable!
"Guys, go back and give it your all! I'm still thinking about defending my Olympic title!" Lin Tian raised his glass and stood up, saying, "If anyone wants to try their luck out here and needs help or advice, or if they want to find someone to train with during the off-season, feel free to contact me anytime!"
"I'll be waiting for you!"
After seeing off the Chinese team players, Lin Tian didn't spend much time with the remaining three tall guys. Two of them had their wives with them, and the other was a drunkard. Lin Tian really couldn't get along with them.
It's better to just have some fun by yourself!
Then, just when everyone who was supposed to leave had left, and Lin Tian was finally able to catch his breath and wanted to rest for a few more days, a report, or rather countless reports, suddenly swept across the United States!
Michael Jordan announces he will not re-sign with the Wizards and will not hold any position in Washington!
Pauline said it was a heartbreaking decision; he had tried several times to persuade Jordan to stay, but unfortunately, their differing philosophies forced them to part ways.
This news was like a meteorite suddenly thrown into a calm lake, reigniting the basketball fever that had just subsided a little!
Almost everyone started talking about it, and they were all frantically discussing what had caused Jordan and the Wizards to part ways.
After all, everyone knows how much Jordan wanted to own or manage a team, and they could see how hard Jordan worked last season, and how he did everything he could to lead the Wizards into the playoffs.
They had also seen countless times Jordan and Pollin drinking together, attending events together, and promoting the team together.
Even back in April, Jordan said he wouldn't retire; he would work hard to get the team back on track before talking about retirement.
The Wizards even made a big trade in July, sending Hamilton and draft picks to the Pistons in exchange for Stackhouse, who has a stronger scoring ability, to compensate for Jordan's lack of stamina and inconsistent performance.
And then, after just one off-season, it's all over?
There are many different versions of the story behind this!
Sports journalists across America are eager to delve deeper, to find the most authentic version, and to uncover the underlying reasons!
Unfortunately, both sides have kept quiet about this matter, at least in the short term, and have not revealed any useful information other than official jargon and platitudes.
Pauline: This was an incredibly difficult decision; I did everything I could to keep Michael!
Michael is my buddy, but he does have some differences in philosophy with the team right now!
The Washington Wizards have announced they will offer refunds to fans who purchased season tickets, and will provide additional compensation to fans who wish to retain their tickets!
"New General Manager Appointed in Washington at Lightning Speed! Who exactly is Earl Grunfeld?"
Why did Glenn Grunfeld become the Wizards' general manager successor after never having worked for an NBA team and having a mediocre playing career?
Pauline stated that he will always support Jordan, who is like a brother to him, but now the team needs to move forward, and he will also give 100% support to Glenfield!
No regrets! Pauline says the past two years have been fantastic; he and Jordan mutually benefited each other!
The above news broke shortly after Jordan parted ways with the Wizards. They were mostly unremarkable and uninteresting revelations. However, in the following days, the situation suddenly changed!
Insider reveals: Some within the Wizards organization don't want Jordan to return!
An unnamed player said: Being teammates with Jordan was torture!
Much harder than imagined! One player says working with Jordan was like a nightmare!
He's argued with almost everyone on the team; nobody likes him!
A Wizards staff member claims to have witnessed Michael Jordan pinning the team's head coach against a locker and verbally abusing him.
"A sigh of relief? Sources say the Wizards threw a huge party after Jordan left!"
Gradually, the revelations and news began to lean towards the Wizards, and Jordan started to be portrayed as a crazy tyrant who couldn't get along with anyone.
Based on Jordan's previous personality and way of dealing with people, many people have begun to believe that it was Jordan's problem that led to the collapse of the Wizards, and that this was the real reason for his departure!
If the previous leaks were all from anonymous sources, insiders, and players who did not want to reveal their names, then the next article will put Jordan in the spotlight!
He thought he was an emperor, that he could control everyone's lives! But I don't want that—Kwame Brown!
Kwame Brown, the number one draft pick handpicked by Jordan, gave an interview in which he denounced the inhumane treatment and painful experiences he had with Jordan over the past year. He said he was almost tortured to death by Jordan and had nightmares every night.
He said his dream was shattered; Jordan was not an omnipotent hero, but a monster with an incomprehensible desire for control.
Brown's interview has put Jordan in a very difficult position, and more and more people are beginning to believe that Jordan himself caused the breakup!
The debate surrounding this matter has become increasingly heated and intense both online and in real life. Jordan's fans are saying: "Softies and sissies really can't stand Jordan's style, which is why the Wizards are so terrible! The Bulls and Knicks never complained that Jordan was too strict!"
Jordan's haters, on the other hand, said: Jordan's approach is outdated. He's now a mental patient living in the past and unable to wake up! If he doesn't change his ways, he'll be sent to a mental hospital sooner or later!
As for Jordan Bendan?
"Bullshit!" Jordan angrily tore the newspaper out of his hand and threw it roughly on the floor, saying, "I wanted to help him improve! I even personally taught him how to protect the ball and elbow it, to protect his own ball!"
"Do you know who's elbowed me the most in the world? It's this damn high school kid! And now he's spouting this nonsense?"
Enraged, Jordan threw newspapers all over the floor, breathing heavily, and looked at the person in front of him, saying, "Lin, you told me to hold back, but how long do you expect me to?"
Sitting opposite Jordan, Lin Tian shrugged casually and said, "We'll hold out until they've had their fill of excitement and used every trick in the book, then we'll counterattack. I guarantee it'll be a fatal blow! We'll make sure the Wizards can't recover and completely ruin Polly's reputation!"
"Let me put it this way, if you do as I say, and if Pollin doesn't sell the team, I guarantee he won't be able to sign a single big-name free agent! Nobody will want to play in Washington anymore! Well, of course, unless he offers a really big price!"
Jordan looked at Lin Tian, took a few deep breaths to compose himself, and then said, "I'll listen to you, because you're the most shameless, the most despicable, the most insidious, and the most infuriating person I know! Even that fat bastard Klaus can't compare to you!"
"If you want to destroy someone, you definitely can! And you can definitely help me get revenge!"
Lin Tian reached up and picked at his ear, saying, "I'll take that as a compliment from you, you bastard. Alright, let's not talk about revenge for now. The new season training camp is about to start, what are you thinking?"
"What are you thinking? I want to take a nuclear bomb and flatten Washington." Jordan finished tearing up the newspaper, but he still wasn't satisfied. He grabbed another one and tore it up again. His efficiency was almost as good as a paper shredder.
"I'm not kidding you." Lin Tian ignored Jordan and continued, "What I mean is, are you planning to just vent your anger and then slink away, or are you planning to not only give them a good beating in the media and public opinion, but also get some real revenge on them?"
"Besides this, what other way can we get revenge?" Jordan immediately woke up from his drowsiness upon hearing this and looked at Lin Tian, saying, "Shall we play a business war? Squeeze out Paulin's businesses, buy high and sell low, ruin all his companies, make him lose money everywhere, halve his stock price, and make that bastard lose billions."
"When he begs us to let him go, we'll outwardly agree, but then secretly kick him while he's down. Preventing this bastard from owing his mother billions is considered merciful! Finally, we'll drive him to suicide! I'll take his mistress, and you take his daughter, how about that!"
"Do you want to hear what you're saying?" Lin Tian gave Jordan the middle finger and said, "To bring down a businessman of this caliber, it would take hundreds of billions! Putting that aside, do you fucking think I have that ability?"
"You do!" Jordan nodded solemnly. "I think this is what you should be doing."
"Damn, he's got a really good eye for people!" Lin Tian thought to himself.
You know what, if he wanted to do it, with his experience from his previous life, his pre-existing third eye, and all the money he's made now, taking down a billionaire like Bolin wouldn't be difficult at all.
But there's no need for that!
It's mentally taxing, time-consuming, and laborious, and offers absolutely no benefit.
Oh... it's not entirely without benefits; you get a piece of Jordan's friendship.
But that thing is utterly useless!
So Lin Tian didn't even think about what to do, and simply shook his head and said, "I can't do it at all, but I have another way."
"What method?"
"Join Indiana! Let's play together next season, and we'll face the Wizards four times here! If we don't beat them by a combined 240 or 250 points, and let them break all their shameful historical records, we'll be out of a job!"
"You mean, you want me to be your lackey, your second-in-command on the team?"
That was a quick reaction!
Lin Tian didn't feel guilty at all for being right about Jordan. Instead, he continued, "And then, I remember last season, guys like Iverson, Kobe, McGrady, and Pierce were all yelling at you and beating you like crazy, right?"
"Kobe scored 55 points, right? Iverson also had a 48-point game? If I remember correctly, McGrady and Pierce also scored over 40 points against you!"
"You really don't want revenge anymore?"
"I want to! But I don't want to be your assistant. I have a feeling that if I do, you'll laugh at me for the rest of my life!" Jordan once again demonstrated his incredible intelligence.
He knows Lin Tian all too well!
They're not falling for this?
Lin Tian scratched his head and continued, "Have you ever thought that 20 or 30 years from now, what if there's someone with better physical abilities than you, who's still in top form at 40, and is known as the longest-serving player in the NBA?"
"Then this guy, at 40, can still put up stats like 25+7+7, and then he mocks you, saying you're not as good as him, that he can still play at a top level at 40, while you can't, that he's the absolute greatest of all time!"
"You can tolerate this?"
"I can't stand it, but the person you're talking about, isn't he yourself?" Jordan looked at Lin Tian, and he felt that Lin Tian was absolutely capable of saying such a thing.
"It wasn't me." Lin Tian denied it quite quickly this time: "Because I am the highest mountain peak. Only a loser would try to steal the longest river! Stockton is long too, but look at Irwin and Gary, do they even give him a second glance!"
"I'm the highest mountain!" Jordan yelled. "You can't catch me!"
"Then give me a straight answer now: are you playing next season or not? If you are, is there a better place than Indiana? We need a starting shooting guard." Lin Tian stopped beating around the bush with Jordan and said directly, "The team is strong enough, and a point guard is your best buddy."
"The way I pass the ball to you is unmatched in the entire league. If you don't play with me, are you really planning to be 40 years old and still working yourself to the bone in the low post, yelling like a dog from exhaustion?"
"You fucking rude talker!" Jordan cursed, then fell silent, pondering what Lin Tian had said.
Jordan was definitely not willing to retire like this!
His personality would absolutely not allow him to leave the league with the reputation of a loser and someone who has been kicked out.
But to make him work as an assistant to his former underling, Lin Tian?
He felt a little awkward about it.
But Jordan also knew very well that Lin Tian was right!
If he still wants to play and seek revenge, there is no better place for him in this league than the Pacers!
This place can satisfy all his needs, even some of his irrational ones.
For example, he could thrash the Wizards by 6-70 points in a game, or he could beat up Kobe, Iverson, McGrady, and other guys who challenged him relentlessly last season.
For example, there are many benefits anyway.
Jordan lowered his head and thought for several minutes. Lin Tian wasn't in a hurry to interrupt him, but instead picked up the newspaper and started reading. Then he suddenly said, "Wow, this article is amazing!"
"Poling said that in order to keep you and make you comfortable, they tearfully let go of Hamilton, whom you didn't get along with but whom the team was developing as their future hope. They brought in Stackhouse just to make you happy!"
"Bullshit! I'm working perfectly with Richard! Yes, at the beginning of the season I looked down on this skinny guy, but in the second half of the season, I really liked his playing style, personality, and tenacity!"
"Would I kick him out?"
"Also, Stackhouse is a pure stat-padder. His height, weight, and playing style overlap with mine so much. What would I need him for? To disgust myself?"
"That's utter nonsense! They simply refused to give Richard the 5-year, $5000 million contract he wanted, so they had no choice but to release him through a 'sign first, exchange later' arrangement!"
"Stingy and full of nonsense! FUXX! Pauline, that bastard!"
"FUXX!"
Watching Jordan swearing, Lin Tian knew: That's about enough!
It's almost time to close the net!
No, given the current situation, the net shouldn't need to retract itself; Jordan will retract himself!
Sure enough, after hurling a few more curses, Jordan suddenly looked up at Lin Tian and said, "I can join Indiana! But I have to win this media war first! And the more impressive the victory, the better! I want the whole league to know just how shameless that bastard Pollin really is!"
"Easy!" Lin Tian clapped his hands, indicating that everything was settled!
Then he immediately picked up the phone and called Bird first:
"Larry, get the contract ready. Come to my house, right now!"
Seeing Lin Tian's shameless behavior, Jordan really wanted to jump up and punch him.
You really can't wait even a minute, huh?
Fortunately, Lin Tian's subsequent actions relieved Jordan.
Lin Tian started calling the reporters he knew, and he also called Pelinka, so they could start fighting back!
After hanging up the phone, Lin Tian looked at Jordan and said, "What are you looking at? Go get a broom and sweep the floor! Do you think this is a garbage dump? There are newspapers you threw everywhere, you bastard!"
Then, in the following days, fans suddenly discovered that Jordan's side, which had been silent and seemingly without any action, had begun to fight back!
The group of anonymous individuals made the first move!
Jordan suffered a serious ankle injury at the end of the season and told Pollin that he couldn't continue playing, but Pollin told him to hang in there!
"Perhaps he had pain-relieving injections! Jordan's poor performance at the end of April may have been due to playing with pain-relieving injections!"
Pauline promised Jordan that if he ever wanted to quit, he could take a break anytime, and the 10% stake would be immediately returned to him!
"Polling had already decided to hire Grunfeld before Jordan announced his departure; Washington simply didn't leave a place for Jordan!"
A recording allegedly featuring Pauline Pollin privately speaking to a friend has been leaked, in which Pollin reportedly berated Jordan as an ungrateful jerk!
Jordan had several detailed discussions with Pollin during the summer, but Pollin stated that he was open to retiring, but would never sell him any more shares!
Video footage from the Wizards' practice has surfaced, showing Jordan teaching Brown how to use his elbows and demonstrating it himself. Jordan was elbowed several times by Brown but didn't seem to care!
This wave of news was half true and half false, but it successfully drew everyone's attention to Jordan, and people began to feel that something was wrong!
After all, the previous reports were only from Washington's perspective; perhaps the current information is the truth?
Then, the second wave of attacks came!
This wave features a real player personally taking the field!
Hamilton: I didn't want to leave Washington, but they were only willing to offer me $30 million over five years, which is far below my market value!
Hamilton: Michael is my mentor, and there were absolutely no conflicts within the team last season!
Hamilton: Detroit is a great place. If Michael wants to come, I'm willing to give up my contract and give him my salary!
Hamilton: Michael wanted the team to add another big man and keep the duo of him and me, but the team refused and only wanted to cut costs!
Kobe: Michael only respects hard-working people. If you think he doesn't like you, you'd better first consider whether you deserve his respect!
Barkley: We all do hate Michael, but it's just guys' hate! I'd give my life for Michael if he were in danger!
Bird: I don't know why Washingtonians say that, but Michael isn't like that!
Lin Tian: Maybe Kwame is too soft. I once heard Kwame tell Michael during a game not to pass him the ball because he couldn't make the shot! I don't believe a single word that person says!
Steve Kerr: Michael does get angry in practice, but you can get angry at him, you can even punch him! I did, and then Michael passed me that game-winning shot in the Finals!
After various big-name players expressed their support for Jordan, public opinion was almost one-sided. At this moment, Lin Tian launched a third wave of attacks!
Or rather, Jordan himself stepped onto the court!
Shocking! Michael Jordan participates in a radio interview! He angrily denounces Pauline as a fraud during the program!
Pauline promised Jordan he would strengthen the team, but the only thing he did was cut costs!
The Hamilton trade led to a complete rift between the two! Jordan claims Polling is a liar!
Before the season ended, Pollin promised Jordan that he could return anytime if he didn't want to play anymore, but when Jordan didn't want to play anymore, Pollin told him to get lost!
Jordan stated that he had never been so insulted in his life. He had considered letting it go, but instead, he was met with wave after wave of humiliation from Pollin!
In addition to these reports, fans across the United States also heard from various sources a television interview with Jordan.
"I don't know how to say it. I used to think we were friends. I wanted to fight for him and lead the Wizards to the playoffs, but he just wanted to use my fame to sell tickets."
"He said he would improve the team's strength and competitiveness as soon as possible, but all he brought me was Tyronn Lue. Do you know who Tyronn Lue is? I don't know him."
"Then he said that Richard and I didn't get along, but everyone knows how much I like Richard. I learned a lot of running techniques and how to adjust my breathing while running from him to make my endurance stronger."
"I even know that Richard's dog is named Chansey, and once when the two of us and the dog were running together for training, Chansey threw up all over the floor."
"As for Kwame, perhaps I was a bit too eager for quick results, and perhaps my methods were indeed wrong, but I treated Lin the same way back then. I can only say that my expectations for him are exactly the same as my expectations for Lin!"
"I felt exhausted this summer. My ankle injury was bothering me, and I really didn't want to play anymore. At first, Pollin's attitude was that I could return to management at any time because he thought I was just talking. But after he found out that I really wanted to leave the court, he started to sweet-talk me into playing for another year."
"Finally, when he realized I was determined to leave, he said there was no place for me in the management team and he wouldn't give me any position. He had already reached an agreement with Glenfield, and Glenfield's appointment had nothing to do with me. They signed a multi-year contract."
"In other words, no matter when I leave the team and announce my retirement, they haven't left me any place, unless he plans to fire Grunfeld after only one year, but if that's the case, why would he sign a multi-year contract?"
"It's all a lie!! My career in Washington began with lies and ended with lies. I haven't heard any truths here, haven't been treated fairly, and haven't received any respect. I've just been treated as a commodity, nothing more."
"I'm still thinking about my next steps. Maybe I'll stay in the league, maybe I'll take a break, maybe I'll find another team, but I won't fall for that again. I won't trust anyone so easily anymore!"
Jordan's radio interview undoubtedly set the tone for the whole affair.
Jordan was fooled! Pauline betrayed him and broke his promise.
He failed to keep any of his promises, and long before the two fell out, Pauline had already prepared all his escape routes!
As Jordan himself said, he only saw Jordan as a tool to help him sell season tickets!
In an instant, public opinion completely reversed, and everyone poured their emotions onto the Wizards and Pollin, angrily cursing Pollin as a shameless scoundrel and a stingy businessman who ruined Jordan's second comeback and destroyed the fans' trust and expectations!
If it were just these insults and humiliations, it wouldn't be a big deal for Bolin. Being insulted is a normal thing!
However, the Wizards' season ticket refund channel, which they had opened because of this incident, suddenly became completely full!
Originally, less than 5% of fans chose to cancel their tickets because of Jordan's departure, after all, the attitude that Pollin had expressed before was still very satisfactory to the fans.
However, after the whole thing came to light, fans demanding refunds overwhelmed the refund channels. According to preliminary estimates, at least 35%-45% of the fans wanted to get their season tickets back!
The fans are absolutely furious!
The stocks of Bolin's companies suffered a major blow, plummeting for several consecutive trading days. The company's board of directors even launched an impeachment campaign against Bolin, demanding an explanation and timely measures to cut losses.
If he can't do it, he should be removed from office!
Some extreme fans even gathered at the Pauline family's doorstep to cause trouble, and some even sent death notices to the Pauline family.
In an instant, Polin's reputation, fame, wealth, team, and life all suffered a huge blow!
For at least 3-4 years, Bolin will not be able to turn things around or make a comeback!
Many people have even stated that Pollin's best option right now is to sell the team and step down from the front line, otherwise his losses will continue!
…………
"How was it? Enjoyed it?" Lin Tian looked at Jordan, who was completely different from a few days ago, now appearing refreshed and radiant, and teased, "Is it your treat tonight?"
"Of course!" Jordan said happily, "I knew it! You're insidious, evil, utterly shameless, ruthless, and a little bit..."
"Stop it, you son of a bitch." Lin Tian really couldn't stand that Jordan always used the same few words to praise him. Couldn't he use something more sophisticated to describe him?
Jordan: No way!
Bird smiled and said, "So, about joining Indiana..."
"No problem!" Jordan laughed and waved. "The contract? A one-year minimum salary, right? No problem! Let's win another championship together! FUXX! What is this?!"
Jordan pointed to the 5-year, $600 million contract amount on the contract and said, "Do you think I'm an idiot?"
"I thought you could fool him." Bird suppressed a laugh and pulled out a real contract. "Here you go, this one's real. After we sign it, the three of us will go have some fun and let all of Indiana know that the bastard they used to hate the most is here!"
"Wait a minute!" Just as Jordan was about to sign, Lin Tian suddenly stopped Jordan's pen. Facing the strange looks from Jordan and Bird, Lin Tian said, "If I remember correctly, Vince's contract isn't completely settled yet, is it?"
"But it'll be soon." Bird, not understanding why Lin Tian asked this, nodded and said, "It's basically the Nets, but to maximize Vince's interests, I'm planning a sign-and-trade with the Nets. They'll have to give us some compensation, otherwise why should we help them?"
"Then let the Nets do us an extra favor!" Lin Tian laughed as he took the contract, tore it up, and threw it in the trash. "I have an idea!" (End of Chapter)