Champion Rules

Chapter 295, Section 291: Alliance Leader (Seeking monthly votes!)

As the smoke clears, the throne of the top spot in the East ultimately belongs to the soaring New York Eagles.

The Miami Herald was dissatisfied with the result and launched a scathing attack on New York the day after the game.

They criticized the New York Knicks' overly rough defensive style.

"The New York Knicks not only have the best talent pool in the league, but also the largest arsenal!"
Ron Artest and Jermaine O'Neal's dangerous defense, which disregards the safety of their opponents, should be banned throughout the league!

Next to the article was a photo of Andre Iguodala covered in bruises after the match.

As the Miami Herald anticipated, their article should have made the Knicks feel ashamed, and the public would certainly have launched a massive attack on this "dirty victory."

On the plane back to New York, Ron Artest and Jermaine O'Neal looked at the report with proud and triumphant smiles on their faces.

I'm too cruel!
Is this an accusation? It's practically an honorary certificate awarded to them by the Miami Herald.

As two guys who pride themselves on defense, they are never ashamed of their rough defensive style.

The bruises on Andre Iguodala's body were, in their eyes, even a testament to their honor, a proof that they were ruthless.

After a fiercely contested match, you either leave something inside your opponent's body or something on their body.

If nothing is left, can it still be called a complete competitive match?

The public opinion did not criticize the Knicks, after all, the Heat themselves are known for their tough defense.

When you admire the violent aesthetics of forging totems with scars, how can you criticize your opponent for wielding the same hammer against you?
Ron Artest and Jermaine O'Neal have become a reliable defensive duo for the Knicks during their rotation time.

But they could have done better.

Philip Sanders looked at Jermaine O'Neal, who even deliberately avoided Ron Artest when flying, and shook his head helplessly.

"If they could communicate more, their defense would definitely be a step up. You know, defense sometimes requires more teamwork than offense."

Lynch put down his newspaper. "Communication? The fact that they haven't started fighting yet is already an indelible and enormous contribution to locker room peace. As far as I know, Jermaine has been trying to 'communicate' with Ron every single second he spends in the locker room."

"Didn't you ask Sean to mediate between them?"

“Please,” Lynch waved his hand, “Sean is my deputy, but not a matchmaker. He’s not responsible for pairing up everyone in this locker room. And honestly, I’m not worried about the relationship between Ron and Jermaine.”

"Yes, they've all matured."

"That's only a secondary reason. The key reason is that they all prioritize winning now."

Back in Indianapolis, they were young, and they always felt they had many more opportunities.

But now they know they have no right to waste any opportunity.

For Jermaine, the hope was to win a ring.

For Ron, he hoped to make up for the regrets with Jermaine.

They wouldn't risk this potentially last chance.

Don't worry, they know what they're supposed to do.

Lynch continued reading the newspaper, and the team's temporary consolidation of their first-place ranking in the East was a boost to their morale.

But players across the league are now experiencing a tremendous sense of crisis.

In addition to its accusations against the New York Knicks, the Miami Herald also devoted a larger section to a detailed article titled "Storm Warning: The 2011-12 Season May Be Frozen in the Dead Zone of Labor Negotiations."

With less than six months left before the old labor agreement expires, the two sides remain deadlocked at the negotiating table, unable to piece together even a single piece of consensus.

Daniel Gilbert recently joined several small team owners in writing a joint letter to David Stern.

The core message is to continue playing the victim.

And, continue to make an issue of LBJ's infamous "Decision".

"70% of free agents would choose New York or Los Angeles as their first choice, and of the remaining 30%, 29% would consider Washington."

Cleveland? Scouts jokingly call it the Siberia of basketball. One agent once complained privately that he brought a client to Cleveland for a scouting trip, and as soon as they got off the plane, the client asked when they could transfer flights.

Yes, we can hope to find our own 'one-of-a-kind gem' in the draft pool. But when even Cleveland's local superstars like LeBron James stage a 'victorious escape' after their contracts expire, what chains can small-market teams use to bind the next 'traitor' destined to leave?

After Lynch's last appearance, the team owner did indeed stop insisting on a hard salary cap and profit-sharing ratio.

But they are still looking for other ways to increase revenue.

Lynch was disappointed with the joint letter. To be honest, the Cavaliers' management is really incompetent. Their arguments are completely untenable, and they still haven't figured out LBJ's core demands.

LBJ didn't leave because of the market, because Detroit and Oklahoma City, where he went, were both small markets.

If you think about it logically, if you brought all the All-NBA First Team players to LeBron James, would he leave?
Ultimately, it all comes down to the Cavaliers' management being incompetent.

Sometimes you need to look for the reasons within yourself, instead of blaming LBJ entirely.

Two days later, the Knicks hosted their old rivals, the Detroit Pistons.

Before the game started, Carmelo Anthony crossed the half-court line and walked to the Knicks' warm-up half.

At that moment, Lin Qi's tongue was already brimming with dozens of trash talk phrases ready to retaliate against Melon at any time.

As a result, when Cameron Anthony opened his mouth, Lynch couldn't answer: "Lynch, you'll participate in the next negotiation, right?"

"negotiation?"

Melon stared at Lin Qi, scratched his head, and looked somewhat embarrassed:
“Listen, regarding our competition, I haven’t given up yet, but I must acknowledge your immense influence right now.”

This matter can only be resolved if you represent us in the negotiations.

The uncertainty surrounding next season is causing widespread anxiety. I don't really care, but guys like Chris Anderson would be in a lot of trouble if the season were to be suspended; they might have to eat their own Air Jordan insoles to stave off hunger.

Nobody wants to see a shutdown, and I don't want this kind of thing to cause panic within the team.

Only when their material needs are met and guaranteed will players think about honors.

And now, you are the only one in the entire alliance with the prestige to suppress the investors.

If you need my cooperation, I will support you; please feel free to ask.

If you want to get down to business, I'll definitely help you find a chair.

Daniel Gilbert repeatedly made fun of LeBron James, but that cowardly idiot remained silent.

I know you're not him, and we all know you can solve problems.

An old nemesis who wishes he could lose everything actually pins his hopes on him to end the chaos.

To put it bluntly, even Carmelo Anthony now has to rely on Lynch.

Lynch admitted that it satisfied his little bit of vanity.

It's as if he's now more than just the leader of the Knicks.

It's the alliance leader!

"Of course I will remain at that negotiating table, and I do need your support."

What kind of support?

I will tell you.

That same night, the New York Knicks defeated the Pistons again at home.

Deron Williams, who is known for his "eating, sleeping, cannoning, and attacking Nash" style of play, was in poor form tonight because he has recently been in anxious talks with several European powerhouses about "refugee measures" for next season.

Unlike most star players, his maximum salary contract has only been in effect for a year, but his extravagant spending on luxury cars, watches, and lavish parties has already depleted his financial reserves.

If the next season is suspended, he will face enormous financial pressure, given his relatively modest endorsement contracts.

He had to find a way out in advance.

This somewhat distracted him from the game.

If even a max-contract player like Deron Williams felt this way, you can imagine how the others must have felt. After the game, many Pistons players also expressed their expectations for Lynch.

Chris Anderson even went so far as to find the entrance to the home team's locker room.

"All the players in the league now only have one clear path: where you stand. We only believe in you now, we only support you now."

The following day, Lynch met again with members of the players' union to prepare for the next round of negotiations.

Bad news: Michael Jordan conveyed his determination to take a hard line to the media ahead of the next round of negotiations.

Good news: Dwyane Wade will not be attending the next round of negotiations!
Michael Jordan's presence on the court wasn't as important as Dwight Howard's departure!
To Lynch's surprise, David Stern also attended the players' union meeting.

To be precise, the chief designer of this large-scale NBA live-action drama did not come to participate in the union discussion, but rather approached Lynch privately.

"I've clashed with the toughest granites among the owners several times, but I don't want to see the season suspended next season because of their attitude. That would be bad for both sides and a disaster for the league. I would be very, very grateful if you could resolve this."

At this moment, from the desire of the lower-level players to the heavy entrustment of the league's leaders, Lynch felt that he was now holding the last three seconds of the final shot.

Fortunately, he was well prepared for this final attack.

Just half an hour earlier, Lynch's agent, Misco Raznatovic, whose business spans across Europe and North America and who was already hailed as the "main artery of European basketball" before Lynch became famous, had sent him a text message: "Everything is ready."

Lynch is used to keeping one trump card up his sleeve.

In the last negotiation, our trump card was well-reasoned and supported by data.

This time, the trump card is its influence in Europe.

No matter how fierce or stubborn the person sitting at the negotiating table may be.

As long as Lynch always holds the final card to turn the tide, he will always be, and always will be, the one who controls the eye of the storm.

Those without cards, no matter how tough they are, have no choice but to leave the table.

No, in fact, the European card was not Lynch's trump card, but rather his first move.

His true trump card can absolutely eliminate those damn bastards led by Michael Jordan!

In the following days, news from major sports media outlets created an atmosphere of "European influence sweeping through the NBA".

Several top European clubs have stated that they would be very willing to sign NBA players if the NBA season is suspended.

In addition to the classic package that European teams are always willing to provide, including villas, cars, and sexy maids.

This time, they were both willing to add an additional clause to the contract:
"Once the NBA resumes, players can terminate their contracts at any time and return to play in the NBA."

European basketball may not really need NBA players, but they need exposure, traffic, and money.

Even if these NBA players only go to Europe for a month, it will be enough to make the stagnant European basketball scene more exciting.

At that time, the benefits they will gain will be beyond imagination.

Imagine Lynch donning a Real Madrid jersey again, facing off against Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol in Barcelona jerseys.

That would be Spain's second Catalan campaign.

Therefore, at the urging of Misco Raznatovic, many top teams are willing to add this additional clause in order to attract a large number of NBA players, and even NBA stars.

And those smaller teams, wanting a piece of the pie, naturally have to follow suit.

This additional clause undoubtedly alleviated the concerns of many NBA players.

If the league is suspended, they can temporarily go to Europe to make money without worrying about being unable to leave after the NBA resumes.

The entire league knew perfectly well that only one person could accomplish this in such a short time, and only one person could get most of the major sports media outlets in the United States to report on it simultaneously.

Immediately afterwards, all players in the league received an email from the players' union.

Union president Derek Fisher rallied everyone: "We are united, we will speak with one voice, and we will never bow to the shackles of greed. We follow Lynch, and we will win the final victory!"

For the first time, the players' camp displayed a united stance that was harder than steel in the arena of labor negotiations.

The absence of worries has dispelled the fear surrounding the "suspension" in the eyes of most players.

Not being afraid of a shutdown means that the labor side can adopt a more unified and firm attitude.

The day before the negotiations began, in a suite at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Central Park, New York, Michael Jordan was gripping the newspaper so tightly that it made a groaning sound.

The words "European backup plan" in the newspaper felt like red-hot needles piercing his eyes.

He traveled to Europe many times to play exhibition games since the 80s, and the scene of him shattering the backboard in Italy is a classic in basketball history.

But he admitted that he never had the same influence and connections as Lynch in Europe.

Daniel Gilbert slammed a stack of newspapers onto the carpet and ran his hands through his thinning hair.

"Michael, that bastard Lynch is more difficult to deal with than we thought! No one in NBA history has ever been able to secure a future for all the players in the league before the lockout! What should we do in the next negotiation? Compromise?"

"Compromise?!" This word struck MJ like sulfuric acid splashed into his ear.

This is not only about the capitulation of employers to employees, but also irrefutable proof that he—Michael Jordan—as a basketball icon has been ruthlessly defeated!

No compromise!

He waved his hand forcefully:
"Never back down, Dan! Shake your heels into the floor! Not an inch! If we can't set a hard salary cap, at least we have to bring player salaries down! If we can't bring them down to 47%, at least we have to bring them down to 51%!"

They're not afraid of a shutdown? Bullshit, that's just bluffing!

If they're really not afraid, then let the shutdown happen!
"Let's see who's the first to cry and beg for mercy when the checkbook is actually locked in the freezer!"

Daniel Gilbert's Adam's apple bobbed dryly, and he opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a single syllable of agreement.

He didn't know if the player was afraid of a lockout, but he could clearly feel cold sweat trickling down his back.

Not only him, but many other owners in the league also did not want to lose hundreds of millions of dollars due to the lockout.

If the league were to shut down, players could go to Europe to temporarily supplement their income, and Michael Jordan could live comfortably off the revenue from the AJ brand alone.

What about the others? What about the other bosses?

They, like themselves, could only swallow their bitter pill of injustice.

If Michael Jordan's ultimate strategy is to "let the lockout happen," which completely disregards the interests of other teams, then does he still deserve to be a leader of the hardliners?

Daniel Gilbert stared at the tall figure from behind.

It has been eight years since MJ played his last NBA game.

But this was the first time he had sensed the signs of aging in Michael Jordan.

The conversation between the two came to an abrupt end. Daniel Gilbert silently opened the door, pulling himself out of the room shrouded in blind obstinacy.

He took out his phone and sent text messages to several representatives of the investors who would be participating in the negotiations the next day.

"In any case, the most critical bottom line now is to prevent a shutdown from happening."

The next day, in the NBA headquarters conference room.

Lin Qi only leisurely pushed open the door and entered at almost the last second before the negotiations began.

This was completely different from his previous behavior of arriving early at the conference room to wait.

He slowly and deliberately unbuttoned each button of his coat, as if peeling off an old suit of armor that had been binding him.

Derek Fisher, the president of the players' union, had already prepared a dark brown cigar from Cuba and respectfully lit it for Lynch with a "snip" of a cigar cutter.

As the tobacco began to simmer like a late autumn forest, Lin Qi finally sat down, revealing a confident, almost gentle smile:

"On the road to the championship trophy, there is no room for these stumbling pebbles, so gentlemen."

I'm going to settle this mess tonight!

(End of this chapter)