Champions Creed

Chapter 181: When the Fire Burns Out (asking for monthly tickets!)
Roger's Larry Bird-style humble speech after the game caused tons of damage to Karl Malone and Salt Lake City fans.

Even more damage than the elbow in the regular season.

You know, in the NBA, not every team has the chance to make it to the end.

Fans in some cities may never see their beloved team win the championship in their lifetime.

Take the Jazz for example. It has been 1979 years since the team moved to this bitter cold land that believes in polygamy in 18, and this is only the first time the team has made it to the finals.

Fans invest a lot of passion and energy in supporting the team season after season. However, when faced with failure, you can only vent your anger and say "RNM, give me back" off the court, and then go home with frustration to face the complaints of your three wives.

Such moments are very common in the history of the Jazz.

In the seventh game of the 88 Western Conference semifinals, the Lakers would have scored 11 points in a fast break in the last two minutes of the game.

In the 92 Western Conference Finals, if it weren’t for Terry Porter’s three-point shooting explosion, the team would have been invincible.

In the 96 Western Conference Finals Game , if it weren't for Karl Malone's consecutive missed free throws,
They have been close to the finals countless times, but have failed again and again at the critical moment. This is a real regret.

While others were still regretting not being able to win the championship, Roger was regretting "where to win the championship".

This hurt Malone and the Salt Lake City fans.

It also deepened their hatred for Roger.

Just like there was almost no team that didn't hate Bird back then, these two ventriloquist players can always stir up everyone's hearts.

But Karl Malone would never have imagined that the Shark, who won the game, suffered greater damage than himself.

After G1 ended, many media outlets raised a point of view: the Magic might not need Shaq at all.

"I don't understand what Shaq's role was in the game. His shooting percentage was a joke. He wanted to beat DPOY like Roger did, but he was beaten by DPOY instead. It was so embarrassing. If Shaq hadn't messed up in the first half, the Magic would have played more easily."

"Does anyone remember any of Shaq's highlights in the playoffs? I only remember one, which was the Eastern Conference Finals game in which Shaq missed consecutive free throws in the final moments to help the Knicks pull back. Only a powerful Shaq could shake the foundation of the Magic dynasty."

"There's only one way the Jazz can win, and that's to let Shaquille O'Neal hold the ball more."

Among them are local media in Orlando, as well as Salt Lake City media that deliberately sow discord.

These news made the Sharks even more eager to leave Orlando.

Fortunately, Leonard Armato has already considered the future of the Sharks.

He wanted Shark to leave last season, but Shark insisted on winning three consecutive championships.

Look at it now, who cares whether you are a hero who won three consecutive championships?

In the Lakers, even though James Worthy won the Finals MVP, his presence was not even one-tenth of that of Magic Johnson. Armato would bet that 99% of the fans would only remember him being set up by a female police officer pretending to be a prostitute.

Therefore, even if the Shark won three consecutive championships in Orlando, the impact on his status and commercial value would be very limited.

Fortunately, the shark finally understands this now.

Although it has been confirmed that he will leave after this season, Leonard Armato still reminded the Sharks: "Don't do stupid things. You don't want other teams to look at you like a naive child, right?"

What he meant was to stop the one-track, inefficient and toxic singles.

No matter what, no matter what happens with Roger, you must not mess around on the basketball court!

O'Neal accepted Armato's advice but was still angry about the media coverage.

This led to a rift between him and Roger to an outrageous degree.

Yes, he blamed all of this on Roger.

Top players all have one skill, which is "imagination".

Jordan would imagine that his opponents had provoked him in order to stimulate his potential.

Feizhu would imagine himself as a very handsome three-point shooter with a sticking out butt.

Stephen often fantasizes about being Vince Carter.

Shark would make up a story about the Admiral once not having his autograph, to hate him even more.

Now he's imagining all of this is Roger's fault. It's because of him that the media is attacking me!

So now in the locker room, if you're not Roger's guy, you're Shaq's guy.

If this trainer had banded Roger, the shark wouldn't have talked to him.

If this reporter interviewed Roger, the Shark would never accept an interview from him again.

The hostility between the two men grows day by day and they now want to become each other's rival.

However, this did not affect Game 2 of the Finals, as the Magic won another crushing victory.

Karl Malone may have felt that it was too lonely for the Shark to fail alone, so he shot 20 of 6 shots today and only scored 30 points with a 20% hit rate.

He is indeed a famous tough guy in the league. No matter what the opponent does, he will respond immediately. Do you think your 37.5% hit rate is tough enough? Haha, I'll show you what a real tough guy is, what an iron-clad tough guy is!
The Jazz not only showed their toughness in this game, but also their team spirit.

Seeing Karl Malone's crazy misses, Stockton didn't think twice and played with one. In this game, Stockton made 12 of 4 shots, with a hit rate of only 33%.

With this synchronization rate, if they were thrown into the world of "Pacific Rim", they could both get on the mecha directly.

It's hard for a team to win when its top two stars play like this.

2-0, the Magic flew to Salt Lake City with a lead.

It seems that the Utah Jazz will be easily smashed to pieces by the Magic just like the Rockets and SuperSonics in the previous two years.

But fortunately, in G3, the Magic players had not yet adapted to the thin air in Salt Lake City, so they did not perform very well and were defeated by the Jazz.

At this point, the finals score became 1 to 2, and the Utah Jazz only needed to win one more game at home to tie the total score.

The Jazz were in high spirits, not only because they were about to tie the score, but there were other reasons:
"Roger said his biggest regret is that he has never won the Larry O'Brien Cup at home? Very good, I will make up for his regret. This year, he will definitely attend the awards ceremony at the Orlando Arena, but it will be our awards ceremony!" Karl Malone told reporters after the end of Game 3.

It turns out that the Utah Jazz are not completely unable to win the game.

So what if we were behind 0-2 before?
The Jazz only need to win one more game to slap the arrogant Roger in the face.

However, Roger was not worried about this.

There’s no way Salt Lake City’s altitude could limit a team two games in a row.

Outside, most media still believe that the Magic still have a great chance of winning the trophy in Salt Lake City.

But no one knew that something big was about to happen that would shock the entire team.

Between Games 3 and 4, Magic general manager John Gabriel was a guest on ESPN's SportsCenter.

He and host John Anderson chatted about many topics related to labor-management negotiations and discussed many new proposals that might emerge in the next round of labor-management negotiations.

And finally, John Gabriel inevitably talked about the Orlando Magic.

"John, we just talked about the luxury tax," the host began to shift the topic to the Magic. "So, if this new clause is really passed, how will you and Mr. DeVos deal with it?"

"We have stated long ago that the Magic's first goal is to avoid the luxury tax as much as possible. This is a consensus reached by Mr. DeVos and I a long time ago."

"But Shaq and Roger's contracts have already exceeded the salary cap. Even when the 98-99 season begins and the league implements a new labor agreement, Roger's salary alone will be as high as 2662 million. This means that it is impossible for the Magic to avoid taxes."

"That's true, so we have to be prepared for everything. We believe that we can remain competitive even without triggering the luxury tax. If a player's contract is too large and affects this basic strategy, we will find a way to solve it."

This is an answer that appears calm on the surface but is actually as fierce as a nuclear bomb explosion.

John Anderson also noticed this: "You mean, if necessary, you will give up Roger?"

Gabriel immediately denied this: "No, we will never give up Roger! I mean, others may leave!"

"Mr. DeVos and I agree that we need to think long-term when it comes to running a team.

As we all know, the Celtics were once the league's most enduring green miracle. But after 1986, they have also experienced a full 11-year window.

I mean, rebuilding is something every team has to go through. Roger and we have to be patient in this matter.”

Gabriel was giving Roger a heads-up in advance. The "11-year window" hinted at the team's future plans - the team would no longer spend so much money to fight for the championship.

This season, the Magic's revenue has not increased much compared to last year.

The Orlando market is so small that it is almost saturated.

This summer, the departure of the Sharks is a foregone conclusion, and the team's roster will continue to age.

By then, it is foreseeable that the Magic will temporarily withdraw from the championship race.

If Roger can accept not paying luxury taxes in the future and can accept the model of "just getting by and occasionally competing for the championship", then both sides can still cooperate for mutual benefit.

But what if Roger really doesn't accept it? Gabriel didn't say this, but he and DeVos already have a plan: If Roger really can't accept it, the Magic may start over!
In fact, DeVos has been struggling with this issue before.

Any fool knows Roger is a cash cow, but as Ewing said, "We make a lot, but we spend a lot."

This cash cow has also spent a lot.

He is a spendthrift himself, and it would be even more expensive to decorate this cash cow with some "accessories".

If we can't squeeze more profits out of Roger, then what's the point of keeping this cash cow?
So, "letting Roger go" is no longer an option that is forbidden to discuss.

Of course, there is another very important reason why DeVos is willing to consider letting Roger go - Roger is not "one of the people" of the management.

Over the past three years, DeVos and Roger's honeymoon period lasted only a very short time.

Not long after the conversation started, the two of them lit up a cigarette.

From the moment Roger publicly sided with the Sharks, they were no longer friends.

The Magic's management played almost the same role as the Bulls' management. They were despised and even insulted by their star players.

Roger is not the type of player who is loyal to management, nor is he a good partner of DeVos and John Gabriel.

If possible, DeVos would naturally prefer to have an obedient core. Again, he was unwilling to let Roger go, but if Roger insisted on leaving, he would accept it now.

He was confident in Roger's trade value, and he thought he would get a young core, and then get rid of the big contract and spend a few years to turn the Magic into a championship team without paying luxury taxes.

In fact, the Magic already have a predetermined target.

Maybe, what about Tim Duncan?
All in all, it would be better to keep Roger.

If they couldn't stay, they wouldn't hang themselves on Roger.

John Gabriel's interview caused quite a stir because he has already stated that this team is likely to undergo a reconstruction regardless of winning the championship or not. Except for Roger, everyone is likely to leave.

Don't think it's strange that a championship-contending team suddenly has to rebuild.

Jordan in the original history experienced this kind of thing.

The 2011 Mavericks also went through this.

The aging lineup, the core breakdown, and the conflicts between players and management all indicate that reconstruction is almost inevitable.

The relationship between a team and its players is complex and it's not just about winning.

Three consecutive championships is a threshold. For most teams, after three consecutive championships, the team will inevitably usher in a period of decline. How to shorten this period as much as possible and save costs during this period is the first thing the Magic needs to consider now.

The fans in Salt Lake City were excited. They felt that it was a bad idea for John Gabriel to talk about this matter at this time.

This may shake the players' determination to win the championship.

It is true that Wilkins, Michael Cage, Saru and Shark are already confirmed to leave, but there are still some other players in the team.

They're working toward a three-peat, and yet the team is talking about rebuilding?
What would Harper, Mackay, Anthony Bowie and others think?
Roger actually knew that even his own stay or departure was uncertain.

When John Gabriel stated early on that the Magic would not pay the luxury tax, Roger thought that his future might not be in Orlando.

He hasn't discussed it in detail with the team yet. He is willing to wait for the team to rebuild with the championship as the goal, but if the team just wants to make money and get by, he won't waste his time here.

Indeed, Roger reached the peak of his career in Orlando.

But after all, it is something that one person, one city, cannot be found easily.

Roger had figured this out long ago, and his emotions wouldn't be affected by it.

But Roger couldn't guarantee that everyone thought the same way he did.

After all, they have contributed a lot to this team.

So before the training started the next day, in the locker room, Roger called on the whole team:

"Before tomorrow's training, I want everyone to write a few sentences about your feelings or memories of playing for this team. It doesn't matter what form it takes, you can write a poem, you can write a letter, you can copy a few meaningful lyrics. There is no limit to the number of words, no limit to the subject matter, anything is fine, but remember to bring something with you.

Then we go to the conference room and read what you wrote in front of everyone.

Well, those who are willing to share can participate, and those who are not willing to share can forget about it.”

After Roger finished speaking, the Shark sneered at the side: "Hahaha, what's the point? You all think you are the heroes of this city, and you all think this is your team. What's the result? I said it before, you are all fodder for Roger, the vulture. Wake up, don't play those childish games, this is fucking professional sports! Whatever you say, I won't participate in your boring tricks!"

O'Neal was very happy because he was not the only one who was about to be abandoned by the Magic.

"I didn't invite you at all, you idiot who has already left the team." Roger replied coldly.

The next day, in the meeting room, only about half of the people brought anything written.

Many players don’t want to participate, but they don’t know what to write after picking up the pen.

After all, writing short essays is not the specialty of professional players, but the specialty of boxers.

Saroo was the first to step forward, holding a piece of paper. “Can we start?”

"Let's get started, brother." Roger nodded.

“I only played for the Magic for two years, but they were the most precious two years of my career.

I went from being a loser who had lost confidence to being the key to victory in the finals.

I took back my dignity from the damn George Karl with my own hands.

In Orlando, I experienced the anticipation I had when I left my hometown for the first time to report to the national team, and I experienced the incomparable sweetness after victory.

During my two years here, I felt like I was in a warm family soap opera. Although there were frictions, it was generally full of happy memories.

But this is professional basketball after all, and we cannot completely shut out the storm of money and interests.

But we have to fight this. Screw John Gabriel, we are going to be part of a dynasty and nothing is going to stop us from doing that!

After that, it was Derek McKay who spent three full years with the Magic:

“When I found out John was going to tear the team apart, I was furious.

I have long considered Orlando my hometown, not because all my family is here, but because I consider this team my home and you all my family, and I never thought that all this would end one day.

However, we have become part of the legend. We only need one more championship and even God can't tear us apart.

Our names will appear in history and in everyone's praises!

Come on, brothers, no matter where we are in the future, we must win the final championship! "

More and more people participated in the conversation. Some had prepared written materials, while some who had not written anything even began to speak impromptu.

There's Michael Cage pounding his head on the table and yelling, "We are fucking eternity!"

There was Harper's tearful confession: "I love you damn bastards, never mind the future, we have to win in the end!"

There was Wilkins' heartfelt roar: "Let's fly one last time and put on that ring!"

Even Brian Hill, who was considered an outsider by the players, joined in: "Before, everyone thought we couldn't do it. Everyone thought Michael's rule was unshakable. But look at who's standing here now! It's not just the championship that belongs to us, it's the entire basketball world that belongs to us. Our legend will never die!"

O'Neal watched everything in front of him silently. He thought these people were crazy.

Finally, everyone stared at Roger.

Roger wrote something, then he stood up and began to read slowly from the manuscript:
"Transfers, struggles, a big locker room breakdown. We made a lot of mistakes and lost a lot along the way. To be honest, a lot of things in this process were self-inflicted.

But just like life, we make a lot of wrong choices and there is no way to go back.

So, we didn’t complain, we kept moving forward, and here we are!
We have Dom, 37, who fights until he can’t stand up in every game.

We have the ever-reliable Derek, the divine Saru, and the still-strong Cage.
I am so lucky to have all of you.

Although we didn't complete our career journey together, what we did is absolutely impossible to replicate. We changed history and changed the landscape of the league.

No one knows what will happen in the future, but let's try our best to leave a perfect ending.

There will always be a chapter that ends, and when it does, I hope we can look back and think about those moments that were once special.

I love you all. "

After Roger finished reading, he took out a bucket that had been prepared long ago.

He threw what he had written into the bucket, and others followed Roger's example and threw what they had written into the bucket.

Then Roger motioned to Spoelstra to turn off the lights. In the darkness, Roger lit a match and threw it into the bucket.

In the dark room, the firelight acted like a movie projector, bringing clips from past seasons to life.

The players on this Magic team will never forget this moment, nor the quiet atmosphere in the room.

The flames danced in the darkness, and everyone sat together quietly, watching the flames slowly die out. The notes in the bucket were their memories of the team, and now, they were completely burned, representing the end of everything.

However, the players could feel the strong intimacy between each other and could feel that the bond between them reached its strongest at that moment.

The team's cohesion reached its peak at that moment.

Roger wiped his eyes and asked Spoelstra to turn the light back on.

Many people had red eyes, but at this time, this group of tough guys had put away their tenderness that was difficult to show.

Roger adjusted his mood and clapped his hands:
"Okay, let's go win these last two games!"

The next day, series G4, Triangle Center.

Jazz officials created a boisterous atmosphere before the game even started.

They set off fireworks in the arena and invited the famous boxing announcer Michael BAFF to stir up the mood, asking everyone: "Are you ready to get excited!!!"

What followed was a roar that shook the earth.

In the stands, Salt Lake City fans held up quotes cursing Roger and cartoons mocking the Magic.

In one of the cartoons, Roger is holding a roaring shark with a rope, and next to it is written: You and your wild dogs can't scare us!

Roger decided that after the game he would spend money to buy this cartoon and hang it in his home.

Very well drawn.

Both teams took their positions. Karl Malone approached the center circle with a mocking smile on his face: "Your team is about to fall apart. I never thought that a megalomaniac like you would have such a day."

"Shut up, Karl. Anyway, I've left Orlando with several championships. What about the Utah Jazz? Your lone Western Conference championship banner is like raising a fucking white flag."

"So what? My fans love me. As long as I'm still on my team, we will never rebuild and we will always be competitive, even if I only win one Western Conference championship."

This time, Roger really laughed: "You made your fans and team wait for so long but got nothing. So, you are pretty great?"

Karl Malone decided not to talk anymore because it made him look like a complete fool.

He wanted to teach this annoying bastard a lesson through action.

(End of this chapter)