Champions Creed

Chapter 97 096: It must be so satisfying to ruin such a perfect night! (Monthly vote requested!)

Before the fourth game of the series began, the Chicago media wrote many articles about Jordan's reversal of fate.

This is the "Lakers 5-4 comeback over the Mavericks" of this era.

It’s the “We have no rivals in the West” of this era.

It’s the “I don’t even know how to fake a fall” that belongs to this era.

It's all just self-deception.

Although they were on the verge of death, Chicago fans still couldn't believe the reality before their eyes. After all, they were used to winning. Even without Jordan last season, they watched the team enter the finals.

Now that Michael Jordan is back to lead the team, the team might get swept in the Eastern Conference Finals? It's incredible!

Even if they were not swept, it would be hard to accept that the team was eliminated in the Eastern Conference Finals.

However, judging by the Bulls' performance in the first three games, it's not certain whether the Magic can win G4 and sweep Jordan, but winning the series is a foregone conclusion.

ESPN's "Sports Center" gave the Bulls a tip:

“The Bulls only need to do three things to come back.

First, right now, let Michael's old friend, Old Oak Oakley, who is in New York, go to the NBA headquarters at the Olympic Tower at 645 Fifth Avenue to kidnap David Stern and force him to end the trading deadline immediately.

Then the second thing was that the Bulls immediately traded for the best defensive player Dikembe Mutombo, confiscated his fishing rod, and let him return to the court.

The third thing is to do everything possible, even if it means trading Jerry Krause's brain, to get Karl Malone out of Salt Lake City, and then the series might still be a suspenseful one."

The host John Anderson used humor to tell Chicago fans a cruel fact: there is no other way.

He was totally out of ideas. The only way he could think of to change the Bulls' fate was the absurd and impossible method described above.

Under normal circumstances, the Bulls would have been doomed. Even if they were not swept, they would have been eliminated.

Jordan certainly knew what it meant to be behind 0-3, but this man would never give up easily.

If he was the type to give in easily, he would have been crushed by the Pistons long ago.

Tim Grover sighed as he watched Jordan torturing himself on the training ground.

He had to acknowledge the fact that Michael Jordan's body was in perfect condition and was no longer the body covered with baseball player's rust last year.

The problem in this series wasn't Jordan's physical condition.

But with the Bulls' configuration, it is impossible for them to beat the Magic.

Even if Jordan averages 40 points per game again, he still can't win.

Grover really wanted to tell Jordan that it was useless to practice extra now, and that this was not a problem that he could solve alone.

But he didn't say it.

Nothing could stop that man except bloody victory and equally bloody defeat.

He could only pray that Jordan could win Game 4 and avoid being swept. This would at least make him look more respectable.

As one of the people closest to Jordan in his team, Tim Grover really didn't want to see the former king being beaten like an old dog without dignity.

It is not impossible for the Bulls to avoid being swept. One detail: in the first three games, the point difference between the Magic and the Bulls was in single digits.

There is indeed a gap between the two sides, but it is not to the point where the Bulls cannot win a single game.

The bull, fighting a desperate battle, might be able to unleash terrifying fighting power?

At this time, Michael Jordan on the court suddenly stopped after missing a few shots and looked at Grover: "Tim, I want to change back to No. 23 in the fourth game."

"Ah? Why? Just because that damn Roger said something that makes no sense? You are you, Michael, you haven't changed at all, don't listen to him!"

"No, I just don't feel comfortable wearing No. 45. I haven't felt comfortable for the whole season! I can't put my finger on what's wrong, but it just feels awkward!"

"It's impossible, Michael. You can't change it. We don't have a No. 23 jersey. And this is not a simple matter. Reebok, the league's jersey sponsor, has printed thousands of No. 45 jerseys. They are hanging in stores across the country, no, around the world. If you suddenly change to No. 23, what will happen to those No. 45 jerseys that haven't been sold? Moreover, the league has no precedent for taking off retired jerseys. The league will not allow it."

Jordan was annoyed: "I just want to change my jersey!"

At noon, Jordan went to Krause in person and said, "Jerry, I want to wear No. 23 again in the next game. Find me some clothes."

Klaus' tone was impatient: "Don't give me any more trouble, Michael. Can't you just play the game well?"

Jerry Krause is going crazy. He received a razor blade in the team mailbox again today.

Now, Jordan wants to change back to No. 23? Let the team and sponsors go against each other? Wonderful, David Stern will also send him razor blades soon!

"You think I'm looking for trouble?"

"Okay Michael, why don't you tell me, where can I get you a No. 23 jersey that fits you? Borrow it from a fan? Good idea, but I have to remind you that it's not your size. You don't think that the jersey that fans buy from the store is exactly the same as the one you are wearing, do you?"

"I've seen Bulls No. 14 jerseys that are exactly the same size as Roger's. How could there be no No. 23?"

"You may not know this, but Roger likes to sell the original flavor. I heard that his uncle does this."

"what?"

"Anyway, it's impossible, Michael."

"Fuck you Jerry. Fuck you. All you do is sit in your office all day and figure out how to ruin this team. You can't do anything. You can't even get a piece of clothing. Fuck you."

After saying that, Jordan slammed the door and rushed out.

Krause was so angry that he wanted to order ten pizzas and stuff himself to death. He had been blamed for Jordan for so long, but in the end he was still accused of ruining the team.

What fucking shit!
In the afternoon, the news that Jordan wanted to wear No. 23 again spread throughout the team.

But no one could do anything.

Pippen suggested using black tape to change his No. 33 jersey to No. 23.

But Steve Kerr reminded them: "There's no way the referee would let Michael play in that jersey."

Jordan was furious, his desire to win began to take over. He couldn't wear No. 23? He insisted on wearing it!

The more this happened, the more uneasy he felt wearing the No. 45 jersey!
He must get this done!
At this moment, the event of a small person changing big history happened again.

Bulls equipment manager John Rigmanowski is a warm-hearted and nice guy. When Jordan retired last year and the 93 Finals opponent, the Suns, threatened to beat the Bulls, he was the first to encourage Roger: "You can kick Charles Barkley's ass, don't be nervous."

Today, when he heard that Jordan was going to change back to No. 23, he again stood up enthusiastically. As an equipment manager, he once kept a No. 23 jersey of Jordan.

And, as if someone knew what Jordan was thinking, he has been carrying his jersey with him recently.

Just like that, the day before Game 4 started, the entire sports world focused its attention on Jordan.

Because there is news that Jordan will wear the retired No. 4 in G23!
David Stern did not send a razor blade to Krause, but he called him and scolded him: "This is going against our sponsors! What are you going to do with those No. 45 jerseys that are already on sale? Are you going to eat them? We can't let players decide what number they want to wear on the court every day! I warn you, control your players and don't violate the rules!"

After scolding Krause, the league immediately made a statement: If Jordan wears the No. 23 jersey to play, he will be fined $2.5 per game.

"I'll take care of the fines," Jordan told the Bulls.

Nike told Jordan: "We will handle the fines!"

For Nike, this is a business opportunity. Although the jersey is from Reebok, the image of No. 23 belongs to Jordan and Nike.

The league did not allow Jordan to wear red AJs, what was the result? Sometimes, fines are not a bad thing, but can have a certain publicity effect.

So at the end of the afternoon training, Jordan made a high-profile official announcement in front of reporters: "Tomorrow I will wear the No. 23 jersey!"

With the league's warnings and fines, as well as Nike's financial support, this incident caused a huge sensation.

This caused all major media outlets to scramble to report on it, and Chicagoans were immediately excited.

He's really back! - Chicago Tribune.

I don't mean to bring up Michael's embarrassing story, but when he played baseball, he wore No. 45 and his batting average was only 20.2%. Now he wears No. 45 on the basketball court, and his shooting percentage is also decreasing. Maybe it's time to wear No. 23 again, that's the real Michael Jordan. - Chicago Sun-Times

This is not a simple change of jerseys, this will be the beginning of a miracle! No. 23 can always create miracles! Nothing can stop Michael, not even fines, not even Roger! - Chicago Chronicle

You can't explain what Chicago fans and the media think when they think Jordan can change the game by changing his number. All I can say is that when people are desperate, they will desperately grasp any ray of light, even if it is extremely weak.

Nike was much more rational. They did not expect Jordan to come back from 0-3. Their goal was actually achieved. Jordan, who was already on the verge of death, became the focus of the world again. In addition, Jordan also regained his confidence.

As long as Jordan, who changed back to No. 23 and regained his confidence, could win one game, even just one, the damage to his image from this series wouldn't be that great.

The popularity of Jordan changing his number even made the explosive scene of the Admiral being beaten S (M) by Olajuwon not so attractive.

Everyone is curious whether No. 23 Jordan can do something different.

The next day, Eastern Conference Finals G4.

The entire league has experienced what traffic is.

In order to see Jordan wearing No. 23 again and appearing on the court to create an impossible miracle, this game set the highest ratings record of 7.9 for NBA broadcasts this season!

We have to admit that Michael Jordan still has a strong appeal.

When interviewed before the game, Bulls players and Magic players were also talking about this.

Pippen was very excited: "We only care about winning or not, I don't care what number he wears. If he can win by wearing No. 23, then fine him, it doesn't matter."

"It's not me who pays the fine anyway," Pippen thought to himself.

O'Neal said with displeasure: "Sometimes I want to wear No. 33 again, which I wore in college, but someone always tells me not to do that. But it seems that there are some privileged players in this league."

Roger, on the other hand, didn't care at all: "It doesn't matter if Michael doesn't wear it or not, I have no problem with that."

Before tonight's game started, the Bulls deliberately organized a classic entrance ceremony.

The lights in the venue dimmed, and the classic Bulls' exclusive BGM "Sirius" sounded, which gave you a sense of oppression as soon as you heard the prelude.

The cheers of the fans were deafening, and the DJ used his voice to yell, "Now! Out comes the Chicago Bulls' starting lineup!"

"From Central Arkansas, 6'7", forward, No. 33, Scottie Pippen!"

"From New Mexico, 7'2", center, No. 13, Luke Longley!"

Every time the live DJ reads a name, the player will high-five his teammates and run into the field under the spotlight, creating a full sense of ceremony.

The atmosphere at the scene gradually heated up, and finally after two more names were called out, the scene began to get out of control.

The entire venue was shaking. No, Roger dared to guarantee that at this moment, perhaps the entire Chicago was shaking!
Everyone stood up, including the bald guy on the bench.

"From North Carolina, 6'6", guard, No. 23! Michael~~~Jordan!!!"

The lights came on, Jordan took off his training suit, and the Bulls' No. 23 stood on the court again.

He pointed to the floor beneath his feet with both hands and shouted to the sky: "This is my home court!"

Some fans excitedly reached out to Jordan, while others covered their faces and cried.

It was as if they had seen the real savior.

NBC's live broadcast gave a close-up shot of Jordan's back, making the No. 23 look extremely tall.

Magic Johnson shouted excitedly: "He's back, the real Michael Jordan is back!"

This atmosphere, this scene, this pomp.

As expected of Jordan.

Jordan must be happy with it, in fact, even Roger is happy with it.

OK, great.

Jordan changed back to No. 23, and the Bulls gave him a grand entrance ceremony. All of Chicago felt that tonight was Jordan's night.

Even the ratings of the game hit a season high. People wanted to see No. 23 Jordan change his fate and create a miracle at the United Center.

This is exactly the effect Roger wanted, he wanted the whole world to pay attention to this game.

In this situation, if Jordan is swept out, the most people will see it and it will leave the most profound impression on people!

Roger is eager to ruin such a perfect night. It must be very satisfying, right?
Such a grand stage was indeed built for Michael Jordan.

But this is not the scene where he performs.

This is the scene of his public execution.

(End of this chapter)