Champions Creed

Chapter 114 Chapter 113: Brave Knight (ask for monthly ticket!)

The league quickly announced the punishment for the fight.

Rodman, who was beaten the worst, was also fined the heaviest. He was suspended for five games and fined $5.

How come the medical expenses were only $30,000? That $30,000 was a fine to the league! If Rodman wanted to get the medical expenses, he had to see what Reinsdorf, the Jew, was like!
His over-the-shoulder throw to Roger was extremely bad and was the beginning of the conflict, so the league made it an example and punished him severely.

Roger and McKay were suspended for two games and fined $2.

In addition, all three of them were required by the league to participate in community service.

Pippen was the most special. He was only suspended for one game, was not fined, and did not have to do community service.

How could Pippen not be special? Rod Thorn, the league's executive vice president of basketball operations who is in charge of discipline, commented on this legendary player: "If you are not good enough, don't play too much!"

The discipline director of this large NBA class was really impressed.

It’s okay for McKay, Rodman and Roger to fight.

Why are you, Scott Pippen, joining in on the fun?

Don’t you have any idea of ​​your own level?
Players who were beaten by a rookie and had no chance to fight back should stop getting involved in such matters!

Rodman at least knocked Roger down, but what about you Pippen? You just don't hit him with your punches, you just take it!
This punishment was not actually too severe, but it still made Magic coach Brian Hill very angry.

The next day, he made everyone run laps as expected, and even opened fire on the training ground:
"It's just stupid behavior. You only know how to do these boring things. I've had enough of it. Can you use your brains? That idiot shark, with his injured hand, asked for leave every day and disappeared. What about you? You gave up the victory on the court. I've had enough of you! Roger, as the leader of the team, how can you do such a stupid thing!"

Seeing the coach pointing the finger at Roger, McKay tried to help Roger out: "Brian, Roger saw me being..."

"Shut up Derek! All I know is that we lost an important game because we were too impulsive! We could have defeated the Chicago Bulls again, but now, it's all ruined!"

"Damn it, shouldn't we fight back? Why just let others bully us?" McKay was also annoyed. He didn't think he had done anything wrong.

Once again, Brian Hill was bullied by his own players.

Roger shook his head. Doesn't this idiot coach know that his control over the locker room has declined a lot?
Didn't he realize that he and his players were drifting further and further apart?
In last season's playoffs, his motivational shouts had no effect on the team at all. Didn't he see the problem?
Brian Hill really didn't see these things, because after winning the championship, people's mentality will change.

If Brian Hill was relatively low-key and cared more about the players' feelings before, then after becoming a championship coach, Brian Hill would undoubtedly feel that his words should carry more weight and he should have more authority in the locker room.

You feel that everyone should listen to you.

He will still praise the players, but he will be more merciless when scolding them.

The championship is an honor, but also a curse, which will subtly change a lot of things.

Seeing the two sides arguing, Harper quickly stepped out to act as a peacemaker: "Okay, stop talking. It's already happened, and we have no choice but to face it."

Finally, the quarrel was settled.

However, when interviewed after the training, Brian Hill was still complaining.

"We should be more mature. We are the defending champions. Everything depends on winning. They are too impulsive!"

"I hope Roger and Derek can learn a lesson from this. There is no way I can defend my title with a bunch of immature kids!"

"Don't ask me where Shaq is, go ask that idiot yourself! Let me know when you find him!"

Roger ignored his coach's complaints. On his way home from afternoon training, he was listening to the car radio attentively.

The whole country was watching yesterday's fight, but some radio stations were focusing on the game itself.

For example, the radio station Roger was listening to was analyzing the details of the game.

"I have to remind you that before the fight, the Magic hadn't found any effective solution to the Bulls' pressure defense in the third quarter. Although the sample size is small, I think the Bulls' trade was successful and they successfully built a lineup that could contain the Magic.

If the Orlando Magic can't solve this problem, the crown of the Eastern Conference champion will really change hands."

Roger did not agree with this, probably because the Magic had such a smooth start that many media forgot one thing - this was an Orlando Magic without Shaq.

Even though Roger was the FMVP last season, he would not ignore O'Neal's role.

In the third quarter, the Bulls only limited the Orlando Magic, whose lineup was incomplete.

Therefore, it is too early to draw conclusions on whether the Bulls have successfully contained the Magic and whether they can regain control of the Eastern Conference.

But Roger admitted that the Bulls' defense in the third quarter did put him in a passive position.

The Bulls and Magic will have to play one more game before Shark comes back, and Roger doesn't want to lose to the Bulls by then.

He can't really wait until Shaq comes back to deal with the Bulls. He wants to beat the Bulls once without Shaq.

Make that old bastard Michael Jordan shut up.

At present, the only way is to increase the attack points.

There will definitely be open spaces and opportunities when there is pressure and double-teaming. In the last game, Roger actually passed a few opportunities, but no one could seize them.

As long as someone can respond to the Bulls' crazy double-teaming, once they get through the third quarter, those old guys won't be able to play with that kind of defensive intensity anymore.

But who can give a response? We can't wait until that day to bet on Harper and his team's touch.

Now, Roger actually has someone who can do this.

It's just that person himself is caught in a vicious circle.

He decided to have a good talk with the man.

The next day, Roger only trained for one morning.

In the afternoon, he and Sarunas Marciulionis went to the Orlando Watt community, one of the poorest and most chaotic communities in the city.

Roger and Saru will go there to provide free meals to poor children and fulfill some of the children's small wishes.

This was part of community service, so Roger had to go.

Community service is an important part of the NBA's off-court work and has always been valued by the league. Every season, every NBA player must complete a certain amount of community service as part of their job.

Although even a fool knows that the league does this for publicity, you have to admit that even if it is for publicity, they have done a very good job. The NBA has always been at the forefront in terms of humanistic care.

Marciolionis had already completed his community service hours early this year, so there was no need for him to go.

However, he volunteered to go with Roger. In fact, he never missed a community service activity.

On the way there, Roger asked, "Saru, how come you have the time to do this troublesome thing with me?"

Marciulionis still had a kind expression: "Trouble? How can it be a trouble? It is a very fulfilling thing to be able to help those in need."

"Okay, I heard that during the 89 San Francisco earthquake, you rushed into the dangerous scene to save people in your training clothes. Is that true?"

"Of course it's true, Roger. No one would be so shameless as to lie about this. I had no choice at the time. I couldn't just watch the people in the ruins lose hope."

Roger couldn't help but sigh, if there really is a good person in this world, it would probably be Saru.

When he arrived at the community, Roger greeted the young fans enthusiastically. He admitted that he was not a good person like Saroo, but he was not opposed to such things.

As Thanksgiving approaches, Roger brings all kinds of gifts to the kids. Game consoles, bicycles, his jerseys, etc. Well, there are no children's semi-automatic rifles anyway.

Marciulionis enthusiastically distributed food to the local poor residents, and together with Roger, helped the elderly who were left alone at home to repaint the exterior walls of their houses.

After several hours of community service, Roger was exhausted and sweating.

Saruz still has the energy to play basketball with the kids.

When Roger and Saru were about to go back, the children were reluctant to leave. For most of them who didn't have a father, the little bit of fatherly love Roger and Saru gave them made them reluctant to leave.

Saroo patiently said goodbye to each child: "Don't worry, we will be back soon, maybe for Christmas? What gifts do you want for Christmas?"

A child grabbed Saroo's clothes and said, "What I want most for Christmas is to see Mickey Mouse, but I've never seen him. I heard that he lives in the castle in Disneyland. I once asked my mom, and she said that I would never be able to see him because we would be trapped in this place for the rest of our lives."

On the bus back home, Saroo remained silent.

After the car drove into the city center, he turned his head and looked at Roger: "Roger, can you help me?"

"You say, Saru."

"I know you have a good relationship with Disney. I don't expect you to take so many children to Disneyland, but can you let the actors who play the animated characters go to the community and interact with the children on Christmas Day? I am willing to bear all the expenses. I know you don't have to do this, but just think of it as helping me."

"No problem, it's a piece of cake. Not to mention Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck, I can bring all kinds of princesses, queens and kings."

After saying that, Roger looked at Saru. He had always wanted to talk to Saru alone outside the locker room, and now there was no better opportunity than this.

So, he continued, “But Saroo, don’t you think you have more important problems to deal with right now?”

"what is the problem?"

"I know that you almost single-handedly founded the Lithuanian national team in 1992.

At that time, Lithuania, which had just gained independence, had no energy to form a basketball team to participate in the Olympics, but you stood up, you paid out of your own pocket to gather teammates, contact coaches and venues, and organize training and competitions. In that national team, you were not only a player, but also a team leader, a manager, and an investor.

Even if you put in all the money you earn in the United States, you still won't be able to make ends meet.

It was old Nelson who helped you. He helped you contact sponsors and get the jerseys. You finally went through so many hardships and went through so many things before you finally stood on the Olympic stage.

Tell me, Saroo, why are you doing all this?"

"Roger, why are you asking all this suddenly?"

"Tell me, what are you doing this for!?" Roger stared into Saru's eyes.

Saroo turned his head to look out the window: "That's all in the past."

"Okay, I'll answer for you. You are doing this for the pride in your heart and for the honor of being a professional athlete!
You defeated the American team in Seoul in 88, and that game was the trigger for the birth of the Dream Team. In 92, the Dream Team composed of professional players was born, and you still wanted to prove that you were still capable of playing against the Dream Team.

You want the whole world to see the power of Lithuanian basketball, you want the whole world to see that you can still win medals!
You hope that more kids will see what you do, open their eyes, and show them more possibilities in the world of basketball.

And then? Against all odds, you won the bronze medal. Although you lost to the Dream Team, you had a proud competition.

Then what happened? You were injured for a year and a half, and you played like shit when you came back last season with the Sonics. But you didn't blame anyone else, you only blame yourself, because you gave up. You were timid in the game, and you complained about the unfairness of God.

If you really lost all your ability, then there is really nothing to say. But you obviously still have ability, we all know how good you are in training. It is you who are afraid, you are afraid of not making the shot, you are afraid of making mistakes, and you dare not make the moves.

Don't you realize? If you do this, all your efforts will be in vain, and you will prove that European basketball players are fucking softies in the NBA. You have seen people fail proudly, but have you ever seen people surrender proudly? Why did you become like this? "

"Enough! I don't want to discuss this! You don't understand at all!" Saru was rarely angry. He didn't know why Roger wanted to tear open his scar.

But Roger ignored him and continued to speak to himself:

"It was the injury that haunted you, it was the insults from that idiot George Karl that made you lose confidence, and you just accepted it.

But you still have a chance. Just think about what kind of sensation and impact it would cause as the first European player to win the NBA championship.

You can show all the kids in Lithuania that you can make it in the NBA, isn't that what you've been doing?!

You need to find your confidence and courage again, and only you can help you do that.

You can choose to be a good person, we all agree that you are a good person, but you are just a good person. Obviously, good person is not a word to describe a successful athlete. Or, you can choose to be a good person and a champion at the same time. "

The bus arrived at Roger's house and stopped.

The staff on the bus naturally heard the quarrel between the two, but at this time, they were all very quiet and no one interrupted.

Roger stood up and patted Marciulionis on the shoulder: "Ten years later, don't let your fans cry for you while pointing at the yellowed old photo of you winning the championship in 88. Rest early, Saru, you still have a game tomorrow."

After saying that, Roger got out of the car and waved goodbye to the staff.

Saroo was still looking out the window, his fists clenched.

What was he thinking about?
Maybe it’s the glory of the 88 Olympics.

Maybe it was a brief peak during the Warriors period.

Maybe it was the repeated insults from that scumbag George Karl.

But he didn't think about that. He remembered the bag full of apples his parents prepared for him when he went out for the national team training for the first time, and his mother's words when he left: "You can do it, brave knight."

The name Sarunas is a reference to a heroic knight in the work of the famous Lithuanian author Venkas Mickiewicz.

(End of this chapter)