Champion Rules

Chapter 393-389: The Last Time (Seeking Monthly Tickets!)
At the beginning of the season, when B/R ranked Lynch as the greatest of all time, controversy inevitably arose.

But now, as ESPN goes crazy for traffic, after Lynch's victory, they released their all-time top ten rankings and put Lynch at number one again.

The dissenting voices have diminished considerably.

Bill Simmons strongly agrees with this ranking:
"Before Lynch's meteoric rise, modern fans, including myself, not only had never experienced it—we simply couldn't imagine the existence of five consecutive championships."

We've seen three consecutive championships, more than once.

We can vaguely imagine the outline of a four-peat, because in Michael Jordan's famous "what if" scenario, he did indeed have a chance to achieve four consecutive championships.

Could they win five consecutive championships?

My God, this is beyond imagination. It's like you can't imagine Samuel L. Jackson playing Vito Corleone. You can't imagine the Godfather elegantly stroking his cat while swearing in a Black accent.

How can a team ensure its salary cap doesn't explode after winning five consecutive championships? How can role players be expected to willingly take on the dirty work year after year?
How do they preserve their strength if someone leaves or if the roster changes?

Most importantly, how do they deal with the aging of players? Five years is a significant span for a professional player.

Therefore, all of this is theoretically almost impossible, or even unimaginable.

But just last night, Lynch made something we never dared to imagine a reality.

Therefore, without a doubt, he is the supreme god of the basketball world.

For the first time, Michael Jordan, a name once revered as a basketball icon, truly felt the chill of being forgotten by the world.

Fans around the world are amazed by Lynch's incredible achievements.

In a villa in North Carolina, Michael Jordan stares wide-eyed at his treasured championship rings and various MVP trophies.

They still shine, yet seem to be covered by a layer of historical dust.

Those iconic brown eyes, once burning with an endless competitive spirit, are now only empty and lost in thought.

For a fighter like him, whose blood is steeped in competitiveness, being surpassed by newcomers fills him with rage.

But he was helpless; he could no longer respond.

Last year, the meticulously produced documentary "The Last Dance" briefly brought him back into the spotlight, allowing people to relive his past glory.

But now it seems more like a legend's futile struggle before its final curtain call.

What else could he do? He couldn't possibly make a comeback.

Michael Jordan covered his face with both hands, as if trying to crush his resentment and disappointment in his palms.

How he wished for a time warp, how he wished Lynch could return to the 90s with him. Or, how he wished his younger self could come to this smoke-filled battlefield. Then, he could have a real, real competition with Lynch.

But that was impossible; his defeat was already a reality.

Looking back now, the clashes in labor-management negotiations were already the beginning of the collapse of the entire system.

In fact, Michael Jordan simply encountered the same thing that retired legends would say, just as it's normal for all players who sprint behind their female partners to end up with illegitimate children.

The influence of a great player will always be eroded by time, and this will inevitably happen once he retires.

Larry Bird understood this principle early on. When he won his third career championship in 1986 and stood at the peak, he predicted his own fate: "People will always forget how great the great players of the past were, and this will happen to me sooner or later."

Greatness has an expiration date, and the greatest struggle a great player experiences is the struggle against time.

Michael Jordan once thought he had broken this ironclad rule. Over the years, his myth seemed to never fade, and the near-perfect idol forever stood in the public's memory.

So much so that, at a 75th anniversary celebration in another timeline, Michael Jordan could walk confidently and swagger to the very center of the room. Even though everyone present was a legendary superstar, his mere presence made everyone else seem like mere passersby.

Even the self-proclaimed GOAT had to conceal his brilliance and stand like a lackey.

But now, Michael Jordan bitterly realizes that he is no different from everyone else.

As Lynch's influence continues to spread, he will gradually begin to be forgotten.

In the future, when people mention Michael Jordan, "Executive Vice GOAT" will be his biggest label.

MJ knew that Nike's marketing department would spare no effort to re-expand his influence.

Those bastards can only look up to themselves now, hoping to maintain the brand's prestige.

Ultimately, they can only capitalize on their past glories.

It's like repainting and decorating an old house with a fixed foundation. No matter how shiny the coating is, the building's skeleton and layout can't be changed.

MJ could only pray that Nike would succeed.

As a winner, he found it hard to imagine what it would feel like to be second.

Michael Jordan was struggling in his decline, while Lynch was in the prime of his life.

Sitting in the back of his familiar Rolls-Royce Phantom, Lynch looked out at the street scene and shook his head in boredom, complaining, "All the billboards in New York look the same. Aren't the fans getting tired of them?"

From downtown to the suburbs, from Times Square screens to billboards, Lynch was everywhere.

He himself was getting a little tired of seeing it.

Misco Raznatovic, Lynch's agent who personally drove for him, let out a hearty laugh: "They'll only complain that you don't have enough posters. Haven't you seen the new nickname people have given New York lately? It's now called 'Lynch City'!"

Amidst laughter and conversation, the wheels drove toward their destination—Hudson International Golf Club, one of the top ten most expensive private golf destinations in North America.

James Dolan and Sam Presti invited Lynch to play golf together and discuss some matters related to the championship parade.

But Lin Qi knew they had other motives.

Upon arriving at the club, Lynch quickly changed his clothes and met up with James Dolan.

James Dolan warmly embraced Lynch. Just a day earlier, when ESPN released its ranking of the league's top ten players, it also included a ranking of the league's top three franchise owners.

James Dolan is ranked first.

The joy he felt from that moment's emotional value surpassed the joy he gained from the New York Knicks' entire year's revenue.

Before Lynch arrived, James Dolan was the player every New York fan most wanted to punch. Countless nights before Lynch landed in New York, Spike Lee was willing to risk jail time to rush up and beat up James Dolan.

Now, he has transformed into a winner.

“Lynch, it’s great to have you here.” James Dolan greeted Lynch with a genuine smile. “Have you heard? There’s a crazy proposal from City Hall. They want to name the subway station in front of Madison Square Garden after you. If that happens, New York will truly be ‘Lynch City’.”

James Dolan was in high spirits, but Lynch noticed that his old slave, Sam Presti, seemed somewhat worried.

They had been working together for so long that Lynch noticed every micro-expression the guy made; he was clearly preoccupied.

For a long time afterward, everyone just played golf and chatted about random things.

At noon, sitting in the golf cart, James Dolan finally posed the most crucial question of the day, his voice carrying a barely perceptible hint of urgency:

"Lin Qi, are you really planning to retire after next season?"

Last season, Lynch roughly told James Dolan about his plans.

At that time, everyone's attention was focused on continuing to win the championship.

Moreover, that was still a long way off from 2014.

Humans are like that; most of the time, they don't feel much urgency about things that are still far away.

A student might only realize 24 hours before the end of summer vacation that they haven't written a single word of their homework.

But now, in the blink of an eye, everything is within reach.

Lynch didn't mince words; his plan had never changed: "Yes, next season, if I can really do it. Then there's nothing left for me to pursue in the world of basketball."

James Dolan and Sam Presti were silent for a moment; they clearly didn't want it to end that way.

If Lynch were a 38-year-old veteran, then they would understand.

But Lynch will only be 28 next summer.

For people today, no player would consider retiring at this time.

For future generations, aside from players like Ben Simmons who developed a herniated disc from playing esports, no one will be rumored to be retiring at the age of 28.

James Dolan didn't want to lose Lynch; he wanted this dreamlike story to continue.

This isn't just about money; it's more like a breathtaking and magnificent journey that no one wants to see suddenly end.

Yes, it will cost him a lot of money to maintain the roster.

But he knew that once he lost Lynch, he could never buy the same experience, no matter how much more money he spent.

He and Sam Presti were somewhat disappointed because they realized: Damn, a great era was about to end!
"Nothing else worth pursuing? You could win more championships, maybe even try to surpass Razor (The Lord of the Rings)?" James Dolan joked. Lynch shrugged. "You misunderstand Bill. Simply having more championships isn't what I'm after. I respect Razor, but I have to admit, everyone agrees now that the championships he won in a less competitive era are less valuable in today's environment. I have no need, and no interest, in actually trying to 'surpass' him with 12 championships; that would be meaningless."

"You don't care about the number of championships? Then what exactly are you pursuing?" James Dolan continued to ask.

"I may sound arrogant, but I want to fight against time."

I hope I can truly break free from that curse, the curse that 'great players will eventually be forgotten'.

At least in the world of basketball, it's not impossible, because Michael Jordan almost did it.

If it weren't for me, MJ would be eternally great.

Even thirty years after his retirement, his sneakers, his autobiography, and his documentaries will still be highly sought after.

I believe I'm only one championship away from achieving this goal.

If I can win the championship next season and establish two consecutive dynasties, then the last bit of controversy between me and MJ will completely disappear, and people will no longer be able to find any solid arguments to refute my greatness.

And I am very confident that no one will be able to achieve such a feat in the future.

At that time, I will conquer time.

Even the kids who were born 10 years after I retired will grow up to understand that Lynch was the first in the sport, and they will know how crazy Madison Square Garden was for me.

Look at James, I'm not far from this goal, the finish line is right in front of me.

I will preserve that noise forever.

James Dolan and Sam Presti fell silent again; they did not refute Lynch.

Because defying time is the ultimate achievement of this sport.

As time goes by, people will indeed gradually forget the greatness of a player, unless no one else can reach a similar level.

It's like, even 50 years from now, LeBron James will still be the god of footwork. Because there will absolutely be no other player who can compare to him in this specific area.

In this niche area, LeBron James has undoubtedly triumphed over time.

James Dolan composed himself and smiled again: "My promise still stands. On the day you retire, I will give you a portion of the Knicks' equity as a gift. Now I can be more specific; it will be 5%. We can sign the contract tonight, if you're worried I'll back out."

Lynch knew, of course, that James Dolan was not doing this out of kindness.

This boss may admire himself, but a capitalist never jokes with real money.

His actions suggest he wants the Knicks to be permanently tied to him.

If Lynch succeeds in defying time, then his influence will be eternal.

The Knicks' partnership with Lynch means they can always use that attraction.

Lynch is not opposed to this. As a New York legend, what does it have to do with being associated with his own team?
Moreover, running a team is indeed one of the things Lynch is very interested in doing after retiring.

Just imagine, when he retired, when that bastard Adam Silver finally breathed a sigh of relief, he was devastated to find that Lynch had returned in a different capacity, leading the Knicks back to victory.

His expression at that moment must have been very interesting.

“There’s one more question,” Sam Presti finally spoke after a long silence. “I don’t mean to spoil the fun, but what if, what if you fail next season? What if you can’t beat time?”

Lin Qi patted the old servant on the shoulder: "There won't be any 'what ifs'. What I need to do next is to minimize the chances of an accident."

"But what if? You always need a Plan B. If you fail and retire, it will be a stain on your career. If you fail and don't retire, we'll have to rethink everything."

“Relax, Sam,” Lynch said, pressing his hands down. “There’s no Plan B. I have to succeed, you know? Like Michael Jordan and his ’98 Bulls. No matter what, I have to succeed.”

"Fine, fine, you damn megalomaniac. So, one last question: are you planning to leave suddenly, or say goodbye to this world beforehand?"

This time, it was Lynch's turn to remain silent.
-
The Knicks had to accept the fact that Lynch was about to retire, but the outside world was completely unaware of it.

On the day of the championship parade, many fans were still chanting the slogan "Let us surpass Lazio".

He's only 27 years old; he has plenty of time to create something brilliant.

Carey Irving astutely noticed that Lynch was acting strangely.

The King of New York was certainly delighted, but his excitement wasn't entirely pure; he seemed to be thinking about something else. A layer of unspoken thoughts seemed to shroud the depths of his eyes, as if his heart had drifted far away.

“Boss,” Owen leaned closer, “is something on your mind?”

Lynch smiled again: "You mean, after winning my fifth consecutive championship, what could possibly bother me? Oh yeah, I do have something on my mind. I'm wondering when I can live in the hearts of fans just by being online, like Kevin Durant."

"Ha, so he's living amidst all the criticism, huh? KD has been forced to disable the comments section on his social media these past few days."

Irving shook his head, feeling like he might be overthinking things.

The parade convoy eventually returned to Madison Square Garden, where a podium had already been set up in the plaza outside the arena.

The crowd was packed with fans, and the enthusiasm had not diminished despite the fact that the championship parade had been held for five consecutive years.

Today's speeches were no different from those of the past few years, with players saying things that inspired the fans, and James Dolan promising to keep the team great.

In addition, he announced something unusual: "We will be erecting an eternal statue of Lynch, the master of New York, outside the arena! Over the next month, we will be holding a poll on social media to select the classic moment that best represents the Lynch legend!"

Instantly, a deafening roar nearly overturned the podium.

New York fans have been waiting for this day for far too long.

Before the 2006 Finals, when Lynch was just a sophomore, Stephen A. Smith suggested that a statue be erected for Lynch after winning the championship.

"From now on, tourists visiting New York will finally have something else worth seeing besides the Statue of Liberty."

Only Kyrie Irving felt something was amiss. A statue of Lynch? That's perfectly normal; you could make ten statues of him without feeling it was excessive.

But Lynch is an active player.

Why is James Dolan so eager to create a cold memorial for a king who is still at his peak and living on the court?

As long as fans step into Madison Square Garden, as long as they turn on their TVs and computers, they can see the real Lynch playing on the court, and witness his every breath, every jump, and every world-shaking performance.

Why would people need a Lynch statue?

Now it was finally Lynch's turn to speak.

He took the microphone, took a deep breath, as if he had made up his mind.

As in previous years, he thanked the fans and everyone on the team.

He shared some anecdotes from the season, reminding everyone that the championship did not come solely from him.

"If you saw Carey training with an injured hand, if you saw how hard Jimmy and Chandler worked, if you saw how serious Vince was, if you knew how much effort Mike put into that chain, you would know that victory was no accident."

And of course, don't forget my old friend Theo.

Without his defense, which was thinner than air, my block count would have been at least halved.

Thanks, old buddy, I'll share half of my DPOY with you.

Laughter erupted from the crowd, but soon the joyful laughter was replaced by shouts of "one more time!"

This is what Lynch says every year during the championship parade. It's the most exciting part of the annual championship parade.

Each time, amidst the surging cheers, Lin Qi would raise his fist and shout out the vow that would ignite the entire city.

This is a favorite phrase among fans, and it has even become a fixed closing remark for the annual championship parade.

But this year, as Lin Qi looked at the countless enthusiastic faces below the stage, the smile on his face gradually froze and faded.

This was much more difficult than he had anticipated.

But he had to make this decision.

Lynch raised the microphone to his lips again, and the arena fell silent as all the fans prepared to shout out that phrase with him.

As everyone held their breath, Lin Qi shouted:
"Next, it's the last time!"

"You bastards who want to defeat me, seize the opportunity, I'm right here."

In an instant, the noise froze.

On and off the stage, from teammates to fans, from the mayor of New York City to staff, the whole world seemed to have been put on pause.

In the dead silence, the only sound was the wind rustling the Knicks flag.

Since Lynch landed in New York in 2004, the basketball world has never experienced such a massive upheaval.

(A 10,000-word update for today. I'll be taking a day off tomorrow. Of course, I'll post a separate chapter announcing my leave tomorrow.)
(End of this chapter)