Basketball Legend: When Pride Still Matters

That evening, Doug Collins and Yu Fei attended the press conference together.

Besides questions related to the game, the ones they were most asked were about Jordan.

Moreover, they mainly directed the Jordan questions at Collins because Yu Fei's response to questions about Jordan was always, "Next question."

But Collins had become the main target for the media's barrage.

He gave such an answer to the question of whether Jordan would return, "I'm not sure if Michael will come back next season."

As soon as this answer came out, the media present erupted, as if they had learned of an incredible scoop, and Collins immediately regretted his words, quickly adding, "Actually, I don't know anything. I don't think anyone knows the answer. What did I just say? That wasn't true."

Yu Fei felt sorry for Collins. It was too late to say this now.

The media reminded Collins, "You just said, you don't know if Michael will return next season. Does this mean that Michael has not at all considered returning?"

Collins became somewhat anxious, his voice trembling as he said, "No, it's not for me to decide. Michael will make his own decision."

The reporters laughed ironically.

Someone asked, "Has Michael talked to you about it?"

The dreadful pressure closed in on Collins, who knew his answer would affect his own future and fate. "Guys, enough, let's end this topic, okay? Now is not the time to talk about this, especially not during this particular period. We shouldn't discuss Michael's future. It's unfair to the other members of our team."

"Do you think he won't come back?"

"Damn it!" Collins almost leapt from his chair.

A Wizards team public relations officer stepped in to prevent what was almost a media disaster, "Let's end this question here, are there any other questions?"

While the words of the public relations officer still hung in the air, Collins shook his head talking to himself in regret, "I shouldn't be here."

His voice was soft, probably only Yu Fei could hear it clearly.

Whether Collins liked it or not, his remarks brought uncontrollable negative effects to the team and to Jordan.

The Wizards' management was furious, especially the business department led by Susan O'Malley.

Jordan's future was not a matter to be discussed lightly.

Because his name meant season tickets, peripheral merchandise, jerseys, and a series of substantial off-court income for the Wizards for the next season.

Once Jordan confirmed he would not return, for those middle-class fans who only recognized Jordan, the Wizards would lose their appeal.

And Jordan himself would also face media pressure.

If he didn't return, this season's comeback would be considered a show, and a failed one. Strictly speaking, he didn't take the team into the playoffs. It was Yu Fei who did so, while he was absent for a third of the season.

As a player, he might not be able to win a championship with the Wizards, but he still needed to prove himself here.

This was what the Wizards fans expected.

Two days later, Jordan appeared in Washington and held a press conference on behalf of the Wizards.

Doug Collins was also present.

"I don't blame him," Jordan said with a smile. "It was a conclusion Doug came to based on observation. I should apologize to him because I really didn't share my thoughts with him."

Actually, Collins was right. Jordan himself wasn't sure whether he wanted to continue playing next season, he had many doubts.

At the same time, Jordan was outraged that the team kept using his name to sell tickets. Especially the team's upper management, led by Susan O'Malley, they conveyed false information to season ticket holders that "Michael would continue to play for the Wizards next season." That wasn't true, nothing had been decided. What would those fans who bought season tickets because of him, think if Jordan confirmed he would not return?

This made Jordan exceptionally angry; he did not want people to make money off his name before he made a decision.

Although Jordan's press conference helped Collins out of a tough spot, it didn't answer the most fundamental question, whether he would return.

This intensified the speculation from the outside world.

Fans were doubtful about Jordan's return, and thus, sales of season tickets for the next season came to a halt.

This made the management even more dissatisfied with Collins.

A day later, Wizards' owner Abe Pollin publicly thanked Jordan.

Why? Because after many years, Jordan made him money again with the Wizards, and it was not a small amount.

Of course, Pollin wouldn't let the fans know the real reason he thanked Jordan.

He would thank Jordan for deepening the city bond between the Wizards and Washington D.C., he would thank Jordan for his outstanding contributions in helping rookies grow, he would thank Jordan for his hard work managing the Wizards over the past few years, he would thank Jordan for the leadership that helped the team return to the playoffs, he would thank Jordan for his perseverance in playing through injuries...

Pollin thanked Jordan for many things and also avoided rumors of a tense relationship between him and Jordan.

Towards these rumors he called "utterly baseless," he exercised a hesitant and careful avoidance.

Then, when the reporters asked Pollin if Jordan wouldn't come back, whether he would return to the Wizards' management team, his answer was intriguing.

"It is completely up to Michael."

Thomas Flynn, the beat reporter from The Washington Post, felt that this was not a commitment from Pollin.

No, Pollin had not promised that Jordan would return to the Wizards' management after retiring.

On the contrary, Pollin seemed to imply that there were many uncertainties regarding Jordan's return after retirement.

"Last offseason, Michael excellently led the Wizards' management at the draft and made the right decisions. This year, he is no longer the team's president, but does he still have influence over the team's draft?"

For a moment, Pollin showed annoyance and dissatisfaction with the phrase "Michael's excellent leadership... the right decisions...", but that emotion quickly vanished from his face.

Muttering, Pollin said, "Yeah, it's amazing! Michael did an excellent job last year, and his decisions were very correct. As for this year, as long as he's willing... well, as long as he's willing, you know what I mean, as long as he's willing."

Having said that, Pollin smiled, revealing his unsettling yellow teeth.

From beginning to end, Pollin was hinting to Flynn that as long as Jordan didn't retire and continued to make money for him in a jersey, he had no objection to Jordan's reign and leadership in D.C. This showed that Pollin's indulgence and "trust" in Jordan were entirely for business considerations.

And his smile at that moment...

An image of a smiling crocodile surfaced in Flynn's mind.

It lurked in the shallows, not devoid of aggression, just waiting for the right moment.

A week later, Jordan gave an interview in New York.

Many of the mysteries that had perplexed people for the better part of the year were revealed.

When asked about the ups and downs of the season, Jordan gloomily proposed a "problem origin" theory.

In that moment, he was a complainer, forgetting that he had once said in Chicago that he didn't blame anyone for breaking his rib.

"Ron (Artest) is energetic, he gives his all in training, which is what I need, but he went a bit too far at that time," Jordan said, "My rib was broken, and that was the origin of everything. I never had a chance to complete my rehab program properly from the start."

Jordan may have forgotten.

A year earlier, his trainer, Tim Grover, had warned him.

"Then, my knee started to swell." Jordan dodged the issue of over-training and of course, the fact that he had not heeded the advice of friends and experts was also "forgotten," "Then, I got tendinitis. Damn tendinitis, it bothered me all the way until the end of the season, and I never shook it off. As soon as I got tendinitis, other parts of my body started breaking down, and I never got a chance to come back fully. Last season, I... I..."

Jordan finally realized he sounded like a self-pitying man making excuses for his failures.

"I'm not making excuses," Jordan continued, "I made some mistakes too, I was too confident, I thought I was still the young me, this was my body punishing me... But besides this, other issues were happening."

The questioner knew Jordan wanted to change the subject, so they continued, "What issues?"

"In the NBA, I'm an old man now."

"What happened?"

"I indeed got old, but what really frustrated me is that this is a different era, this isn't Chicago, we don't have..."

He didn't continue because he realized he seemed like he was pleading for help.

The questioner knew there wouldn't be an answer to this question, so they turned to the most pointed and obvious "issue", "Do you want to talk about Frye?"

In an instant, Jordan's rare expression of vulnerability and eagerness to talk disappeared, replaced by an icy defensiveness, "There's nothing to say."

"There are rumors that Frye has publicly refused to have you return to the team. Is this true?"

The events of that day at the Verizon Center quickly replayed in Jordan's mind.

This hurt Jordan.

His brown eyes flickered with resentment.

"Of course not!" he said, holding back his anger.

The questioner added, "A reporter from The Washington Post mentioned in an article that Frye said he has no intention of reconciling with you and doesn't believe it will affect the team. What do you think...?"

"Enough! I don't want to hear that man's name!" Jordan stood up and roared at the director on set, "Cut the recording!"

After speaking, Jordan stormed off to the backstage, shouting at his assistant, "Call David (Falk) right away and tell that blood-sucking dwarf (Pollin) I've done so much for him; now it's time for his payback!"

The assistant stared dumbfounded at Jordan, still unclear about what he wanted.

"I want that bastard out of D.C.!" Jordan said with a loathsome expression.

In that instant, the assistant understood Jordan's demand.