The Golden Age of Basketball

Chapter 600 Shadow
The toilet smelled strongly of urine.

At the gymnasium of the U.S. military base in Germany, which lacks dedicated changing rooms, makeshift toilets serve as temporary changing rooms.

Inside, there was a bench, and not far from the bench was an old-fashioned metal urinal, which was filled with urine residue left by soldiers after urinating.

The urine smell comes from these urine deposits. The ammonia smell irritates the nasal cavity, making it difficult to breathe and causing tears in the eyes if you stay there for even a short while.

But Michael Jordan sat quietly on the bench, took off his jacket to reveal metallic black muscles, and had not an ounce of fat on his body.

His hands were actually dribbling the ball, which bounced back and forth between his legs, making a thumping sound, but his upper body didn't sway at all. He used only his large hands and strong fingers to nudge the ball, making it make a regular, repetitive pendulum motion.

There was another person in the restroom, Sonny Vaccaro, Nike's head of sports marketing, who was the one who brought Jordan to this godforsaken place.

Jordan is currently preparing for an exhibition game against U.S. troops stationed in Germany, part of his European tour this summer.

Vaccaro paced back and forth in the stinking toilet, scratching his face, looking anxious and agitated, while Jordan remained calm as if he had lost his sense of smell.

Convincing Jordan to join the summer European tour was no easy task, as the shadow of war loomed over the Middle East.

In August 1988, the eight-year Iran-Iraq War ended, leaving both Iraq and Iran severely damaged and their economies devastated.

Iraq, once a partner of the United States, turned its attention to its small neighbor Kuwait after believing that the United States would not intervene, despite its dire economic situation.

In July, Iraq deployed troops to the Iraqi-Kuwaiti border and began negotiations with Kuwait, demanding that Kuwait reduce oil and gas production and stabilize international crude oil prices in order to ensure the recovery of the Iraqi economy.

On August 1, negotiations between the two sides broke down. In the early hours of August 2, the Iraqi Republican Guard crossed the Kuwaiti border and launched an attack on Kuwait. By 7 p.m., Iraqi troops had occupied the Kuwaiti capital.

On August 8, Iraqi President Saddam Hussein announced the annexation of Kuwait, making it Iraq's 19th province and an integral part of the Republic of Iraq.

However, Iraq misjudged the US reaction. President Bush abandoned his previous strategy of not imposing sanctions on Iraq, and US aircraft carriers were deployed to the Persian Gulf. Operation Desert Shield transported a large number of US troops to Saudi Arabia, and a major war was imminent.

After a vote in the UN Security Council, sanctions were imposed on Iraq. The two superpowers, the United States and the Soviet Union, reached a consensus and issued a joint statement demanding that Iraq withdraw its troops and cease arms supplies and support to Iraq.

In the 1990s, the Soviet Union was no longer militarily able to compete with the United States. Iraq, equipped with a large number of Soviet-style weapons, was unwilling to give up the prize of Kuwait and was prepared to rely on its so-called "third-largest" military to fight the Americans to the end and turn Iraq into a second Vietnam.

The war made Europe and the Middle East unstable, and it also made doing business there very risky. Jordan was initially unwilling to participate in this European trip.

He wanted to go to South America with Forrest Gump, to Argentina, Brazil, to Puerto Rico, but Vaccaro felt that he could no longer dilute his influence with Forrest Gump.

Vaccaro listed a detailed business plan, including the competitors for each stop, the event schedule, and the safety measures for the trip. Of course, in his description, he did not mention that the stadium did not even have a changing room and that people could only change clothes in the toilet.

Jordan agreed to Vaccaro's plan. He trusted Vaccaro, who had signed Michael Jordan to a $500 million contract with Nike years ago, and now Nike needed Jordan's involvement.

According to Vaccaro, Jordan also needs this trip to Europe, especially to visit the military base in Germany to comfort the soldiers who may be sent to the battlefield, as it would greatly benefit Jordan's public image.

1990 was a turning point for Jordan. They lost to the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference Finals, and then Forrest won his fourth championship—the gap between Jordan and Forrest was widening.

Besides the championship gap, Jordan also faces a significant crisis in public opinion, as his identity as a Black man is being questioned.

In the summer, Nike ran into trouble when Dillon Clyde, the executive director of an NGO called the "United Nations for Saving Humanity," launched an attack on Nike.

He accused Nike of rarely engaging with Black people, noting that although their consumer base is predominantly Black, there are no Black members on their board of directors, vice presidents, or department heads.

Clyde believed that Nike was using the guise of a Black sports brand to actually engage in cultural exploitation of the Black community by white people, and he subsequently launched a boycott of Nike among the Black community.

This war of words has now reached the courts, but regardless of the court's verdict, it will be a negative blow to Nike's image.

Jordan issued a statement during this war of words, saying, "All companies in America should provide job opportunities for Black people, but it is obviously unfair to blame Nike just because it is at the top of the industry."

Jordan's remarks were not well-chosen. Some Black rights groups said that Jordan's statement was from the perspective of big capitalists and that he did not truly consider the rights of Black people.

Another incident brought the criticism Jordan faced in this regard to a peak.

In the North Carolina state legislator election, Democratic Black candidate Harvey Gantt invited Jordan to endorse his campaign.

Gantt's rival is Republican conservative Jesse Helms, a well-known racist, and the two have been at loggerheads over their differences on race policy.

Gantt hoped that Jordan, who had a huge influence among both black and white people, would endorse him and win over centrist voters.

But Jordan responded, "I can't participate in such political endorsements because Republicans also buy shoes."

Jordan was not interested in politics; basketball and business were more important to him, and Gantt ultimately lost the election.

As a Black athlete, Jordan's response angered many people. Lacey Banks (the reporter who played ping-pong with Jordan) said that Muhammad Ali would never have said such a thing.

Former NFL star Jim Brown said, "He cares more about his shoe business and personal image than helping his fellow countrymen! He's far worse than Forrest Gump in that respect!"

The higher a person's status and the more famous they are, the more responsibility they bear, and the more easily they are scrutinized, attacked, and criticized.

Whenever people attack Jordan, they always mention Forrest Gump, but Jordan's agent has repeatedly stated: "Forrest Gump is not American. He is different from Michael. He is not American!"

Jordan is American, which is an advantage for him in terms of public opinion, but it can also easily become a disadvantage, because he will face more demands and more criticism.

Therefore, 1990 became a turning point, a watershed moment, not only because the era had entered the 90s, but also because people's views on Jordan began to diverge.

His supporters remain unchanged, while his dissatisfaction is growing, with many arguing that the difference between Jordan and Forrest Gump lies not only in championships, but also in their sense of social responsibility and the level of their standing.

Forrest Gump would stand firmly to protect the interests of his community and country, while Jordan was more concerned with personal gain, which caused some of Jordan's former fans to no longer support or respect him.

In response to this situation, Vaccaro orchestrated this special European trip, with one stop being a US military base in Germany—a place Forrest Gump would never have visited.

In the German military camp, Jordan remained an American basketball hero. The soldiers were oblivious to the public discourse unfolding in American society; their focus was on the situation in the Gulf.

Among the soldiers was Jordan's brother, Larry Jordan, who was serving at a military base.

After the press conference, Vaccaro took Jordan into the locker room—a toilet that reeked of urine.

Seeing Jordan dribbling there so casually, Vaccaro became a little impatient. He was worried that Jordan might be throwing a tantrum, as the conditions in this locker room were indeed terrible.

"Michael, let's get on the court, the game is about to start," Vaccaro urged.

"No, wait a minute, I want a minute of peace and quiet," Jordan said calmly, continuing to dribble the ball while chewing gum.

Vaccaro stared at Jordan for a while and gradually realized that Jordan wasn't angry because of the stench in the locker room; he wasn't throwing a tantrum.

He was simply adjusting his state, bringing his body, mind, and ball control to an optimal balance. Even though it was an exhibition match against the soldiers with no suspense, he still strived for perfection and wanted to show his best self.

Vaccaro relaxed, and the toilet didn't seem so smelly anymore; Michael Jordan's mentality had affected him.

A minute passed quickly, and Jordan entered the game on time. He was wearing a blue shirt and white shorts. He played for the blue Team A for 20 minutes in the first half and for the white Team B for 20 minutes in the second half.

He is fighting with himself.

Jordan gave his all in both halves, but he played even better in the second half, helping Team B defeat Team A and win the game.

"He conquered himself," Vaccaro said. Besides Germany, Jordan also visited Paris, France, and Barcelona, ​​Spain.

During his time in Barcelona, ​​Jordan visited the organizing committee for the 1992 Olympic Games, which would be held in Barcelona.

Because the Basketball Association lifted the restrictions on NBA players participating in the Olympics, the 1992 US men's basketball team was composed of NBA superstars.

The organizing committee undoubtedly hopes Jordan can join the team, which would be a huge boost to the promotion of the Barcelona Olympics.

Jordan showed great interest in the Olympics; the 1984 Olympics and trials seemed like yesterday.

Jordan participated in a series of commercial and charitable activities, including serving as a referee for the Nike Junior Slam Dunk Contest, shoveling soil at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Olympic stadium, and playing an exhibition game with Spanish professional players.

Jordan arrived on time for every event, participated with full enthusiasm, and presented his best self both on and off the court, without the slightest slackening.

Seeing Jordan meticulously cultivating his image, Vaccaro felt gratified. He was no longer the willful, impulsive young man he once was, but a mature, patient basketball idol who used reason to think and solve problems.

From a business perspective, Jordan will no longer be a Nike athlete, but a partner on equal footing with Nike—even without a championship, his influence will remain unparalleled.

Jordan's European tour was a complete success. At this time, war clouds were gathering in the Gulf region, and the United States was constantly increasing its troops in the Saudi region. Transport planes were transporting troops to the desert area one after another.

However, Jordan didn't think it was something he should care about, as it was beyond his control. He was more concerned about returning to Washington to play golf and how Forrest Gump was doing in South America.

He managed to call Gan Guoyang, who was in Argentina, to ask when he would return to the United States. He planned to train with Gan for two weeks to further improve himself.

The overseas call rang for quite a while before it was answered.

“Sonny, this is Michael.”

"Fuck you, Michael, it's 2:30 in the morning!"

"Oh, sorry, I forgot there's a time difference between Europe and South America."

"Fuck you... Just say what you want to say, I want to sleep."

How are you doing in South America?

"What else can you do? Compete, participate in activities, take photos, be a referee, play against yourself, represent A in the first half and B in the second half, win against yourself or lose to yourself. That's the job, the job you have to do well and complete."

Gan Guoyang started working diligently even earlier than Jordan, striving to become a high-quality basketball idol.

When he was younger, Jordan was more interested in partying, dating different women, gambling, playing golf, and fooling around with friends.

Gan Guoyang, however, did not. He married young and began to restrain his words and actions from an early age, doing what he should do, saying what he should say, and going where he should go.

Now, Jordan feels he's becoming more and more like Forrest Gump.

"Anything interesting happening? How's the World Championship going?"

"Portland Trail Blazers vs. Portland Trail Blazers, both teams in the finals have our players as their core players, and the Americans have been eliminated again, haha!"

In 1990, the World Men's Basketball Championship was held in Argentina. In the semi-finals, Yugoslavia defeated the United States 99-91, bringing shame to American basketball once again.

This US team is still composed of college players, and the players are not weak. The core players include Alonzo Mourning, Kenny Anderson, Laettner, and other players who performed well in the NCAA.

However, Yugoslavia was simply too strong. They had a group of talented players such as Divac, Petrovic, and Toni Kukoc, making them the dream team of European basketball, a group of truly talented players.

The American team, composed solely of college students, was no match for the onslaught of European basketball. The Soviet Union and Yugoslavia met in the final, where Petrovic and Divac encountered their teammate and old rival from the 1988 Olympic final, Sabonis.

The more mature Divac and Petrovic, together with Kukoc, defeated the former champion Soviet Union men's basketball team with a large margin of 92-75 to win the World Championship trophy.

The golden generation of Yugoslav basketball reached their peak.

However, what was unexpected was that this would be the last time Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union met and appeared together in an international competition.

"You know, we didn't send our best players. The 1992 Olympics will be the real test. Sonny, you'll be playing in the Olympics then, right?"

"Of course, I will definitely represent China at the Olympics."

"Wow, that's going to be a great show. I think everyone will be eager to compete against the Chinese team."

During the 1984 Olympics, the Chinese men's basketball team was inexplicably and brutally beaten by the American men's basketball team because of Gan Guoyang.

In 1992, Gan Guoyang was to personally represent the Chinese team in the competition. One can imagine how indignant and eager to fight the US men's basketball team would be at that time...

The two chatted on the phone for a while longer, making arrangements for their return to the United States. Gan Guoyang was too tired, so he hung up the phone.

After hanging up the phone, Gan Guoyang couldn't fall asleep for a while. He thought about the Men's Basketball World Championship, where the Chinese team lost all three games with a net score of -103 points, which was a complete mess.

Even if they added Forrest Gump to the team, they would still have a tough time participating in the 1992 Olympics. The United States definitely wouldn't be able to beat them. I wonder how those bastards would react then.

However, Gan Guoyang is already very satisfied to be able to represent his country; he just wants to do his best.

He was more worried about something else: the discordant scene that occurred in the final of this World Championships.

After Yugoslavia won the championship, Divac, Petrovic and others celebrated wildly. At this moment, a fan holding a Croatian flag rushed onto the field.

Upon seeing this, Divac stepped forward, snatched the Croatian flag from the fan's hand, and pushed him away. He told the fan, "The match was a victory for Yugoslavia, not just Croatia!"

This action was captured on camera and quickly caused a huge uproar in Yugoslavia.

Like the Soviet Union, Yugoslavia had many constituent republics and many ethnic groups, among which Croats and Serbs were the two largest ethnic groups, and the conflicts between the two ethnic groups were very sharp.

In 1990, with changes in the international situation, friction began to occur between Croats and Serbs in Yugoslavia. In May, during a match between Red Star Belgrade and Dinamo Zagreb, Zagreb fans clashed violently with police. In Yugoslavia, the police represented Serbia's oppression of Croatia.

Divac's act of tearing down the Croatian flag has further amplified the conflict between the Croatian and Serbian communities through a sporting event.

People have overlooked the fact that this championship was the result of the joint efforts of talented players from both ethnic groups. Instead, they have seized on the flag incident to attack each other. In Serbia, Divac is a hero who upholds national unity, while in Croatia, Divac is despised by all Croatians.

Divac's teammate and friend Petrovic is a staunch nationalist who is proud to be Croatian, and Divac's actions have put Petrovic in a dilemma.

Gan Guoyang watched the game live. After the game, when he entered the Yugoslav national team's locker room, he felt that the atmosphere was obviously wrong. Divac and Petrovic, who were usually very close, did not sit together after winning the championship, but instead ignored each other.

Petrovich, in particular, remained silent and refused to look at Divac.

Gan Guoyang, who was a teammate of both of them, was powerless to do anything at this time, as ethnic conflicts are not something that anyone can easily mediate.

In terms of talent, both are the future stars of the Portland Trail Blazers and important figures in the Blazers' path to a dynasty.

But the shadows of war and ethnic conflict loom over them, and will also loom over the Trail Blazers' locker room and their path to defending their title.

Thus began the Trail Blazers' 1990s.

(End of this chapter)