Champions Creed

Chapter 188 Chapter 187: God will let Atlanta get everything it wants (ask for monthly tickets!)

July 7th was just an ordinary day for many Orlando fans.

They got up early in the morning and prepared to continue marching in the streets to protest the Magic's stupidity in trading Roger.

After so many days of media bombardment, the ins and outs of the Magic's trade for Roger have been analyzed clearly.

To put it bluntly, the Magic don't want to continue investing so much.

It's just that Rich DeVos doesn't want to spend so much money anymore.

There is a high probability that the upcoming luxury tax rules will be the last straw that breaks the camel's back for the Magic.

They don't want to lose Roger for nothing, so they want to exchange Roger for some high-quality assets now.

From the perspective of the capital side, the Magic does have reasons to trade Roger. Whether it is "optimizing players" or "optimizing employees", it is a compulsory course for every entrepreneur.

But for fans, this reason is unacceptable.

The fans who poured into the streets continued to express their dissatisfaction to the cameras of journalists.

"I bought season tickets for three consecutive years because of Roger. I believe the Magic's season ticket sales in these three seasons were very impressive. But the team feels that they haven't made enough money? This is too greedy. I will definitely not go to the Orlando Arena to watch the game next season, never!"

"Mr. DeVos is going against the fans of the entire Florida State. In Florida, everyone loves Roger! Look, even Pat Riley wants Roger!"

"I swear, if the Magic trade Roger, the next time we see Mr. DeVos, we will throw him into a swamp full of alligators!"

"Roger brought honor to this city, and you are thinking about saving costs? What a ridiculous behavior!"

"Not only is Shaq gone, but they're also going to let Roger go? The Magic might not even be as good as the high-end baseball team at Rucker Park!"

Most Orlando fans treated this as a normal day. They took to the streets to cause trouble, smashed public facilities, and sent normal greetings to all of Rich DeVos' immediate female relatives.

In Florida, none of this is a big deal.

Fans have been expecting their unremitting efforts to force the team to change its strategy and expect the Magic to announce that they are no longer prepared to trade Roger.

However, that afternoon, a transfer news ended this ordinary day and turned it into a disastrous day for Orlando fans.

All major sports TV stations interrupted with an urgent news: the NBA officially approved a deal - the Atlanta Hawks sent 97 No. 01 pick Tracy McGrady and the first-round picks in 03 and to the Orlando Magic in exchange for Roger.

The biggest deal of the summer has happened!

If you ask Hawks general manager Pete Babcock how he feels now, he will tell you: "Everything is an accident!"

At first, the Hawks didn't want to trade for Roger.

They picked McGrady because they really wanted to train him.

They traded for Pippen because they really wanted him to lead McGrady and improve the team's combat effectiveness.

In other words, the Eagles' previous series of operations were not special preparations to get Roger.

As a result, the Magic suddenly started to sell Roger, which made Ted Turner directly change the team's plan: "Whatever the Magic want, give it to them!"

The Hawks just had McGrady, a bargaining chip that was enough to attract the Magic, allowing the Magic and Roger's team to take the initiative to contact the Hawks.

So, the deal happened.

Roger, Pippen and Steve Smith were unexpectedly connected together.

The deal was finalized after Roger met with Hawks owner Ted Turner. When Roger learned that McGrady would be the subject of the trade, he had to sigh at the magic of fate.

He didn't expect that his action of deliberately making McGrady popular a year earlier last summer to see what impact it would have would actually affect himself.

This butterfly effect eventually affected myself.

As for Pippen and Steve Smith, haha, they must be so happy that they can't even eat.

If Pippen knew Roger was coming, he would rather sew his fingers together than play for the Hawks.

If Steve Smith knew Roger was coming, he would probably take the initiative to apply to be taken away with him when Blaylock was traded!
At the moment the deal was officially reached, one of them remembered the fear of being beaten up by Roger in the locker room, and the other remembered the fear of being scolded by Roger to the point of becoming autistic on the court.

Before Roger even arrived in Atlanta, his two new teammates already respected him!

In fact, it wasn't just Pippen and Steve Smith who stood in awe.

On the day of the transaction, CNN reported this news: Atlanta, your God is coming!
That night, the Orlando Arena was stormed by fans.

The Magic's home court was turned into a mess with beating, smashing, looting and graffiti.

Although local Orlando radio has been marketing the concept that "Tracy is the son of Orlando," fans can't hear anything now.

All they knew was that the city's greatest player had left, and might never come back.

When the news was announced, Roger was at his home in Orlando, inviting all his old teammates and coaching staff to a farewell party.

The party is all-inclusive for food and drinks. Female companions can bring their own, but they are not allowed to bring roast chicken from unknown sources.

Everyone was invited to participate, except for the sharks who had already gone to California.

Everyone had a great time, but everyone knew that Orlando tonight was already playing the elegy of the old times.

This is destined to be a night full of regret and sadness.

After eating, drinking and playing cards, everyone came to the rooftop of Roger's villa.

The summer in Orlando is extremely hot and humid. Even if there is an occasional breeze, it is a hot warm breeze.

Everyone looked up at the starry sky. There were not many clouds tonight, and the shining stars formed a beautiful picture.

Roger took a deep breath while holding the wine. "I'm moving tomorrow, leaving Orlando. It's over, guys. This dream is over."

At this moment, Roger felt like the day of his college graduation in his previous life. If you have a good enough relationship with your classmates and roommates, then the happiness of the graduation party will definitely be mixed with some reluctance.

"This is not a dream," Saroo put his head on his hands. "Ten or twenty years later, when I take out our photo, the fans won't feel sorry for me. We are already legends, Roger."

"Yes, we have written the last period of the last chapter, and we have no regrets in our careers. How many players cannot win a championship in their entire life, but we have won three. The dynasty will never be forgotten, and our legend is not over, it just lasts forever." Michael Cage lay on the railing of the rooftop, looking at his two rings.

A few months later, the team will mail the third ring to all those who have left the team.

The three rings are the witness of these turbulent years.

"It's not over yet, I'm going to continue following you. I decided to opt out of the contract and go to Atlanta with you." Derek McKay put his hand on Roger's shoulder.

"I do need you, Derek, but it will cost you millions of dollars. Don't act on impulse. You are not alone. The most important thing is to make the best decision for your family." Roger patted McKay on the back.

McKay thought for a moment, then nodded, "Thank you so much, Roger."

Wilkins smiled and said, "At least you don't have to worry about not having time to attend my jersey retirement ceremony."

"Don't worry Dom, I would still attend even if I wasn't in Atlanta. I'm not that kind of person."

"Okay guys," Roger raised his glass, "let's say goodbye here. This is professional basketball. At least, we succeeded. Cheers to our dynasty."

"To our dynasty."

The villa is surrounded by lush trees, standing quietly to witness the reluctance of this moment.

Finally, Roger stood on the rooftop and watched his teammates leave in their cars until the taillights of everyone's cars were swallowed up by darkness.

Summer, breeze, parting, and the past that can never be returned. Tears can't help but slide down, interweaving with the summer sweat, and it is hard to tell whether it is the bitterness of parting or the warmth of summer.

"Roger." Someone called from behind.

Roger wiped his eyes, turned around, and found that Spoelstra had not left yet.

"Eric."

"I wanted to tell you earlier, but I didn't want to affect your condition. I will leave Orlando this summer, and I will not go to Atlanta with you. Pat Riley assured me that there is a place for me in the coaching staff. Not only can I do video editing, I can participate in tactical decisions. You know, I can't let this opportunity go."

"Congratulations, Eric."

"I didn't expect that the team seemed to be hollowed out overnight. Looking back on the past few years, it's really unreal. Hey, if you need help in the future, I will definitely stand up. Well, if it's useful. I will never forget who brought me to the NBA, never forget it."

"Maybe one day, but until then, I wish you the best. Pat Riley is a jerk, but he's also a good teacher. Keep up the good work."

"I wish you all the best, too. Goodbye, Roger."

"Goodbye, Eric."

The last person left.

Roger's "palace" in Orlando became empty.

The lonely king lit a cigar by himself, enjoying the rare tranquility after the bloody storm.

After getting in the car, Spoelstra looked back at Roger who was standing alone on the rooftop smoking a cigar.

Can he still succeed in Atlanta?
Spoelstra smiled and felt that he didn't have to worry about this problem at all.

Wherever he went, Roger was a man burning like the scorching summer sun.

So he will succeed.

He will be the most successful basketball player of all time.
-
By the next afternoon, Roger had landed in his loyal Atlanta.

Georgia is adjacent to Florida, so Roger left in the morning and arrived in the afternoon.

At this time, he was looking for a new place to live in the suburbs northeast of Atlanta.

In the Atlanta metropolitan area, the rich and middle class generally live in the northeast.

If you want to go to southern Atlanta, the birthplace of the "Black Lives Matter" movement, that's fine. People there are actually more welcoming than people in the north, and they will always want to treat you to peanuts.

Although it is called finding a place to live, it is actually more like an acceptance inspection.

Because the Eagles owner Ted Turner had already prepared a house for Roger, and even asked Roger if he needed a team of maids.

Roger declined: "Ted, in the NBA, women are more dangerous than hounds. No one wants to have a bunch of hounds aiming at them every day when they open their eyes. If one of them goes off accidentally, it could easily lead to big problems."

Afterwards, Ted Turner insisted on giving Roger a team of butlers to take care of his daily life.

But Roger still refused, and refused more bluntly: "No, this is absolutely not possible!"

If there's anything more dangerous than women in Atlanta, it's men.

According to statistics from the American Public Policy Institute, 12.8% of the population in Atlanta's urban area is gay, second only to San Francisco and Seattle.

In Atlanta, you have no idea if a man smiles at you as a friendly gesture or an expression of appreciation.

In Atlanta, you have no idea what a man's intention is when he asks you to go home with him to have a good time.

In Atlanta, the public showers at a gym can be scarier than those in a black neighborhood.

Even if a woman smiles at you, don't respond easily. God knows whether she has a penis or not.

Sitting in the car on the way to the villa area, Roger expressed his concerns: "Listen, I have no ambiguity with them, but I don't want any gay masseurs to touch me, and trainers are not allowed to do so. Tell the team this!" Eric Fleisher smiled and said, "In Atlanta, they are called sexual minorities. You'd better learn the correct words for these messed up words."

"That's enough Eric, I'm not kidding you, this has to happen, it's as important as a championship!"

Do you know why Jason Collins decided to publicly admit that he was gay after playing for the Hawks for three seasons? Because being gay in Atlanta was so common that he was not considered an outlier. Therefore, the relaxed atmosphere made Jason Collins no longer want to hide it.

When they arrived, they found that the villa that Ted Turner had chosen for Roger was indeed nice.

It has everything, including a swimming pool and a huge garage, and the gym and indoor basketball court are huge.

The community is clean, quiet and safe, and is a 40-minute drive from Emory Health, the Eagles' training base.

Soon, Hawks general manager Pete Babcock also arrived at Roger's new home.

Before the trade, Roger met directly with the team owner Ted Turner. So this was Roger's first meeting with Babcock.

"Oh my God, I can't believe this is true! Roger, welcome to Atlanta!" Babcock hugged Roger generously.

Pete Babcock is a passionate man, completely different from John Gabriel who seems gloomy.

Of course, there may be another reason why he is so enthusiastic about Roger - Roger is the boss's man.

This was determined from the moment the deal was made.

In Chicago, Reinsdorf and Roger had a relatively neutral relationship.

In Orlando, Roger and Rich DeVos had a hostile relationship.

But in Atlanta, Roger was Ted Turner's pick.

Ted Turner had admired Roger many years ago, and he had always dreamed that one day his basketball team would have such a superstar.

Previously at a charity dinner, Ted Turner had expressed his love for Roger in person.

The throne in the Philips Arena, which had not yet been built, already had Roger's name written on it.

He is the owner of this team.

Ted Turner made his offer to the Magic only after having a personal interview with Roger.

During the conversation, Ted Turner made Roger a series of promises.

Including the right to make recommendations on draft picks and roster construction.

It also includes the right to make recommendations on personnel matters.

To put it bluntly, if you don't like this head coach, I can change him for you.

Ted Turner's original words: "Although Lanny is a good coach and the first coach in NBA history to win 1,000 games, if you have a better candidate, I will choose you."

If this general manager makes you unhappy, I can also replace him for you.

If there is another falling out between teammates and Roger, it will definitely not be Roger who will be eliminated.

This is Roger's priority now. He is working directly with Ted Turner without the need for Babcock as a middleman.

This is a status that Roger never had in the first four years of his career.

Therefore, Pete Babcock had to be enthusiastic even if he didn't want to. Even if he was stupid, he knew that Roger was a "privileged player."

As a man who has read "Positions" thoroughly, Babcock knows exactly where he stands.

In this Atlanta Hawks team, besides Ted Turner, Roger's words are the most effective. Babcock? He is more like a handyman for the boss and Roger.

So he had better cooperate with Roger's work and maintain a good relationship with him. Otherwise, even the general manager might lose his job.

"Are you used to the climate here?" Babcock continued to chat.

"It's a little cooler than Florida, which is not bad. By the way, Pete, Scott and Steve, they should have known that I was coming to Atlanta to play before the media, right?"

"Yes, they were the first to know. I told them the news in person."

"What was their reaction?" Roger asked jokingly. He really wanted to know the expressions of Pippen and Steve Smith at that time.

"You wouldn't believe it, Roger, they were just jumping for joy!"

Well, Roger really didn't believe it.

"Come on, Roger, I'll take you around the city center. By the way, let's chat." Babcock waved his hand and interrupted the topic.

Getting in Babcock's car, Roger headed into the city center.

Babcock took Roger to see the CNN headquarters and the Coca-Cola headquarters, both of which are almost must-visit spots in Atlanta.

However, Roger didn't think it was anything good.

CNN is the world's largest wholesaler of "fake news".

People all over the world drink Coca-Cola.

But the headquarters of these two places are not as grand as imagined. If it weren’t for the CNN and Coca-Cola signs on the roof, you wouldn’t even take a second look at these two buildings.

They are too ordinary and too old.

And this is how Roger felt about the entire Atlanta city.

Compared to Orlando, downtown Atlanta feels a lot more run-down.

Now Roger knew why "The Walking Dead" was filmed in Atlanta. This sense of desolation at the end of the world could be created without building a special studio.

But in fact, Atlanta's economy is pretty good. It has the world's busiest airport, is the largest industrial and commercial city in the United States, and is the gatekeeper of the United States' first-tier cities.

The reason why it looks dilapidated is that the city is too old.

Orlando is a rare city in the United States that only began large-scale construction in the 1970s.

Atlanta was burned inside and out during the Civil War more than a hundred years ago.

The car passed the very impressive Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which is the home of the Atlanta Falcons. They are one of the current championship teams in the NFL, and many fans believe that they will be able to successfully participate in the Super Bowl this season.

However, the real pride of Atlanta sports lies in Turner Field, which we will pass next.

Just a year ago, this was the main stadium for the 1996 Centennial Olympics. You can think of it as Atlanta's Bird's Nest.

Not long after the Olympics ended, Ted Turner immediately bought the stadium and spent a huge amount of money to transform it into a dedicated baseball field.

The reason is simple: Atlanta's baseball team deserves Turner to do this.

The Atlanta Braves are one of the most successful teams in baseball. From 1991 to the present, they have won the division championship every year, entered the World Series many times, and won the World Series championship in 1995.

The Warriors have been quite successful not just in Atlanta, but throughout the history of North American sports. They are the oldest continuously operating professional sports franchise in North America.

Warriors player Greg "Mad Dog" Maddux is Atlanta's most popular sports icon. He has won the Gold Glove Award every year from 1990 to the present and is considered one of the best pitchers in history.

This is the current state of Atlanta sports.

Football and baseball rule the roost here.

The Atlanta Braves got all the attention, while the Atlanta Hawks languished in the background.

The last time this basketball team won a championship, it was still in St. Louis. After moving to Atlanta, the Hawks have never had their own glory. Even during the film's highlight period, the team only made it to the conference semifinals once.

Mercedes-Benz Stadium and Turner Field were both brightly lit, but the Georgia Dome, home of the Eagles, looked shabby, depressed and dim.

And this is why Ted Turner needs Roger.

He loves baseball and basketball.

He desperately wants Atlanta's basketball team to be as successful as the other two.

He needs a superstar to save this team.

So he promised Roger the greatest power and expressed his determination to win the championship at all costs.

If there is a luxury tax, I will pay it.

If I need someone, I'll buy it.

He believed in Roger's ability and he believed this was the Eagle's only chance to take off.

"Everyone here loves Mad Dog." Roger couldn't help but sigh as he looked at the posters of Greg Maddux all over the city.

"You know, this is going to change. In less than a week, you're going to be on billboards all over downtown Atlanta."

"No, that's nothing. I'm going to be the most popular sports star in Atlanta, but I also want the Atlanta Hawks to be the most popular professional sports team in Georgia and the most hated professional sports team in other states."

Roger looked towards the dark Georgia Dome and saw some fans gathered in the square outside the stadium, holding signs that read: "God of Truth, save us!!!"

Babcock also saw this scene. He stared at the fans intently: "Did you see that, Roger? We need you, Atlanta needs you!"

Roger clenched his fists.

He suddenly had a sense of mission.

A general manager who is willing to cooperate with his boss and stop making trouble. There is no influential number two figure like Shaq, nor the glory created by a former superstar like Jordan.

This is the first team that belongs completely to Roger.

This broken team was like a blank sheet of paper, allowing Roger to write history.

Can he do it?
He must do it.

That’s the mission of a superstar.

"God will give Atlanta everything it wants," Roger replied.

Pete didn't know whether Roger was referring to God or himself.

Maybe like the news said, Roger is the God of Atlanta.

The magic of the wizarding world is over.

Next, it’s the miracle of an eagle soaring into the sky.
-
Michael still has not renewed his contract with the Knicks, and David Falk has not contacted any team. Is this a sign of Michael's second retirement? - The New York Times

A fire broke out outside the Orlando Arena because fans burned trash. A fan was bitten by an alligator during the parade, and then he bit the alligator three times in return. Don't worry, the alligator is fine. - Orlando Beacon News.

Don't be sad, we lost Roger, but we have Orlando's chosen one, Tracy, and our future is bright! - Orlando Sentinel.

Roger's halo may slowly fade in Atlanta, a city destined to have no basketball genes, but in any case, others have their chance. Who can seize this opportunity and leave their own name in the 90s? - Chicago Tribune

In fact, there was no complicated conversation. Roger just told us the true meaning of basketball that night. He understands the true meaning of basketball, so he can succeed anywhere. Just wait and see, Atlanta will become a great basketball city, definitely much greater than when I was there. What do you want to say most before ending your career? Victory is the only truth. Win and win everything. - Dominique Wilkins, who announced his retirement, talked about the mysterious conversation that changed the split of the Magic at the beginning of last season in the last filming of the documentary.

(End of this chapter)