Champion Creed
Chapter 400 - 400 158 Trigger the Bomb Requesting Monthly Pass!_3

400: 158: Trigger the Bomb (Requesting Monthly Pass!)_3 400: 158: Trigger the Bomb (Requesting Monthly Pass!)_3 Of course, the outcome proved it to be a foul move for James personally.

But it was the negative impact of “The Decision” that made James and his team realize how important it was to have control over the narrative, laying the groundwork for James to establish his own media company in the future.

So, you could say, Jim Gray always plays a pivotal role in sports history.

Many key events have been pushed forward and exposed by him.

And tonight, he wants to push another major event.

He had long sensed the potential impact this event could have.

If anyone could light the fuse on this bomb, it was him!

Makeup done, the live broadcast begins.

Jim Gray walks confidently to the stage: “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to ESPN, welcome to tonight’s special interview with Jim Gray.

Today, we have invited the two-time NBA champion, the most dominant center in the league, Shaq Daddy, the Big Aristotle, Shaquille O’Neal!

Thank you very much for joining us, Shaq.”

“It’s an honor to be here.”

“Shaq, as we all know, you’ve been in a bit of trouble lately.

Can you tell us about your relationship with Jerry West and the Lakers?” Jim Gray is good at asking pointed questions, and he does not hold back.

“Our relationship is just friends meeting up for a meal; it’s really not that serious.

To me, Jerry is like a father figure who always looks out for me and advises me.

So, I don’t understand why John had such a big reaction.

Moreover, he tarnished Mr.

Jerry West’s reputation, which is simply absurd.”

“So, a rift has formed.

How are you handling this rift, and what do you see for your future with the Magic Team?”

“The future?

No, right now I am just focused on the three-peat.

Honestly, the future is too far away, I can’t even think that far.”

“Speaking of a three-peat, how is this title-defense season different from the last one?

As we know, the team recently suffered back-to-back losses, and you have been the target of much media criticism.

Do you feel that Roger shouldn’t be held accountable for the losses?

Why is everyone pointing the finger at you?”

“That’s what I don’t understand, Jim.

Our team is too old now; we need athleticism.

Karl Malone can easily break through our defense, and I have to work hard and selflessly to cover for them.

But then after fouling out six times, everyone blames me instead.

We lost Horace, and I don’t even understand why the team let Horace go.

Because of that decision, this season’s rebounds are almost solely my responsibility.

But what about the Pacers?

There are two of them against me.

I’ve done all I can, but buddy, two hands can’t fight against four.

In the end, everyone still blames me for not getting the rebounds.

It’s tough, Jim, this season is harder than any before.”

Jim Gray asked a few less important questions, letting O’Neal relax, and then suddenly he circled back: “By the way, Shaq, you didn’t talk about Roger.

The world is criticizing you after two consecutive losses.

Shouldn’t Roger take responsibility for the defeats?

You know, he’s got two FMVPs, he should probably bear more of the burden.”

Jim Gray touched on the key point with “FMVP,” which struck a chord with O’Neal.

Jim Gray always knows how to hit the nerve.

“Roger, how should I put it…

he’s my brother, but after winning two FMVPs, I feel there’s some distance between us.

He thinks he’s the team leader now, that he controls the locker room.

He always speaks to us in the tone of a leader, always coming off as superior.

He keeps saying he’s my brother, but he just won’t back me up publicly anymore.

He knows my character, knows I wouldn’t do anything with the Lakers, but he just won’t support me publicly.

Behind closed doors he says he doesn’t want things to get worse, but aren’t things bad enough now?

He says he helped me secure a big contract, but what about before?

I helped him secure a big contract too!

He keeps ranting to me about some ‘non-interference agreement,’ but it was John who broke the agreement first, why doesn’t he speak to John about that?

He says no one should have special privileges, that everyone must train seriously.

But really, he has privileges, Coach Brian Hill always listens to him, he plays whenever he wants.

He’s forgotten, this is our team!

I don’t know, maybe I still love him, but something has definitely changed between us.”

Surprising statements.

O’Neal’s words were essentially a blast at Roger on live television!

Great, Jim Gray’s aim had been achieved.

That’s what he had wanted to push forward tonight!

He had seen O’Neal’s ambition, his jealousy.

It’s a common problem among championship teams, a player of O’Neal’s caliber couldn’t be indifferent to the increased attention, bigger contract, and two FMVPs that Roger had.

A season cannot have two champions, and a championship team cannot have two bosses unless the other boss is named David Robinson.

Thus, he skillfully led Shaq to spout all that was on his mind.

He knew Shaq had been holding it in for a long time, just looking for the chance to fire away.

And tonight, Jim Gray gave O’Neal that opportunity to vent.

It was another great night in the history of sports interviews, and Jim Gray was confident that, soon, maybe within half an hour, the whole sports news world would explode!

Half an hour later, whether the sports news world exploded, I don’t know.

But Derrick McKey’s phone was ringing off the hook.

The incessant ringing woke him from his sleep.

He answered the phone irritably, and Saru’s panicked voice was on the other end: “Derrick!”

“Damn it, Saru, you better not have called to share some lame joke you just saw—I was sleeping.”

Saru completely ignored McKey’s grumbling and continued to shout, “Big trouble!

You need to be the first one in the locker room tomorrow, Roger says he’s going to kill Shaq!”