Champion Creed
Chapter 368 - 368 149 Is the Last Dance Really Coming

368: 149: Is the Last Dance Really Coming?

(Vote for Monthly Tickets!) 368: 149: Is the Last Dance Really Coming?

(Vote for Monthly Tickets!) This was indeed a crazy summer, and what was crazier than any of the transfers was Scottie Pippen.

He acted like a child who had just come of age and finally broke free from parental control, beginning to act on his every whim.

After Michael Jordan left, ESPN’s radio network invited Pippen to join an interview show.

In the radio show, the host Tony Bruno naturally couldn’t miss the hottest topic.

After talking for over ten minutes, he decided to get to the point:

“Scottie, what do you think about Michael Jordan leaving the Bulls?

Has it affected you at all?”

When Pippen heard the question, he revealed an uncontrollable smile, as if to say, “Jesus man, I’ve been waiting for this question for so long, and you finally damn asked it.”

“First of all, Michael certainly had the right to make such a decision.

He was a free agent, and being a free agent means, you can freely choose the team you want.

But I still can’t believe, Michael Jordan actually betrayed the Chicago Bulls.

I found out Michael Jordan decided to go to New York through the news on TV.

What I mean is, we worked together for eight seasons, earned three championships.

Moreover, I am probably the one who sacrificed the most for the team, accepting a low contract, doing the dirty and tiring work every night to make sure Michael was in the spotlight.

We were more than just teammates, our children were good playmates, my fiancée encouraged Michael’s somewhat introverted second son Marcus every day, telling him ‘Work hard, the future is yours’, making him more and more confident.

So, I feel that with our relationship, Michael could have at least told me in advance, to show some respect for me.

When you leave a friend’s party, don’t you say goodbye to the host?

But Michael just left as if he was leaving a motel he’d stayed in for a few days, not even bothering to take the room key with him.

This made me feel like all the previous friendship was an illusion, it made me feel very hypocritical of Michael, it made me feel betrayed.

The impact on me?

The impact is probably that I won’t be so foolishly sacrificial for others in the future.

Look at where I am now, I’m in the midst of a rebuilding team, but I haven’t done anything wrong, and this is the outcome of sacrificing for others.”

Tony Bruno was stunned for a second, as he had thought Pippen would respond with something like, “Man, you know, Michael is an exceptionally great player, I wish him all the best.” He thought Pippen would say some polite clichés.

Instead, Pippen went straight for Jordan, showing no respect for him at all.

He said Jordan had betrayed the Bulls, said Jordan was very hypocritical; did he realize the impact his answers would have?

Jordan really hadn’t told Pippen in advance about signing with the Knicks, because he felt that when the team wouldn’t offer him a $30 million salary, everyone already knew the outcome.

Moreover, Jordan called Pippen after he signed with the Knicks.

But in Pippen’s view, what’s the difference between a call after everything already happened and finding out on TV?

That’s hardly respect at all.

Tony Bruno continued to ask, “So does this make you hate Michael?”

“Hate?

No, it’s not that, but we’ve all seen the real Michael.

In all these years I played for the Bulls, I’ve never seen any free agent come to the Bulls saying they wanted to play with Michael.

What I’m saying is, Michael is not as perfect as people imagine; many don’t even want to play with him, and this incident further proves he is not perfect.

He was never perfect, and a lot of what’s in the book “Jordan Rules” is true.”

Alright, alright, alright, Pippen even brought up “The Jordan Rules”, this “forbidden book of the gods”.

Tony Bruno was now sure that his show today would be explosively popular!

“So Scottie, do you think Michael can achieve the same level of success in New York as he did in Chicago?”

“Whether he can or not, what’s the difference?

The success of the Bulls came from a team, not just from Michael Jordan alone.

Even if the Knicks are successful, it wouldn’t be just Michael Jordan’s credit.

So, I’m not going to comment on whether he can be successful alone, it would be disrespectful to the other players on the Knicks.

For many years, Bulls players have endured such disrespect.”

Tony Bruno realized that Pippen came today to rebel!

This was the first time he’d found out that Pippen had such huge resentments towards Jordan.

The first time he realized that Jordan and Pippen’s relationship was not at all close.

Pippen wasn’t pretending anymore; after so many years of silent anger, now that Jordan was no longer in Chicago, what was there left to fear speaking out?

Moreover, Pippen was really angry.

In his view, a $25 million per year contract wasn’t too shabby.

I’m making a damn $2.25 million this season!

That bastard is already so rich; is it necessary to discard me over a mere $5 million?

If he could win more championships, Pippen felt his next contract could definitely be even higher.

But now, what about my renewal?

That selfish bastard!

Hmm, Pippen, who complained about Jordan’s selfishness, had forced the team to give him a big contract in the summer of ’97 by deliberately getting surgery just before the season started, jeopardizing the team’s second three-peat and causing a rupture in his relationship with Jordan; they couldn’t even pretend to be brothers anymore.