I Really Just Want to Hit the Iron

"I'm Back!"

Su Feng, a man from the Second life, understood how earth-shattering Jordan's return would be.

Yet, knowing the plot in advance, he thought his heart wouldn't be so easily shaken.

But soon, Su Feng realized—

He was still too young.

Only by being here can one truly feel the seismic impact of that moment in March 1995, when Michael Jordan announced his return.

All TV stations across the United States—regardless of what was airing—came to a halt.

Such media interruptions were typically reserved for presidential assassinations or the Gulf War.

When Jordan appeared on screen, people were stunned at first, then overwhelmed by nostalgia, and finally swept up in unstoppable excitement.

At the Bryant household, as Su Feng watched the news with Kobe and Kobe's father, Joe, he noticed a shift in both their expressions.

Kobe's body trembled. He couldn't stop shaking.

Joe slowly set down his can of Coke, which now bore a deep dent from his grip.

At that moment, it felt like flames were bursting from Kobe's chest.

Joe, seated on the couch, began bouncing his legs nervously. His breathing grew faster and heavier.

"I'm Back!"

Him.

Michael Jordan.

Had returned.

All of North America went wild.

Jordan-related endorsements and stock valuations skyrocketed overnight.

The seven biggest bookmakers in North America immediately adjusted the Bulls' title odds from 40-to-1 to 5-to-1.

All remaining Bulls tickets—home and away—sold out instantly.

NBC urgently revised its broadcast plan for Jordan's first comeback game against the Pacers—from covering just half the country to a nationwide live broadcast.

Every front page the next morning featured Jordan's photo and his iconic message: "I'm Back!"

Major TV networks and newspapers rushed to mobilize every basketball journalist available. Their sole mission:

Fly to Chicago. Report Jordan's return first-hand.

How powerful is public opinion?

What kind of force is this?

How widespread can popularity get?

And remember—this was an era without social media.

Even by modern standards, the ripple effects of Jordan's return were monumental.

Some argue that Jordan reached godlike status after his second three-peat.

But the truth is—he was already there the moment he announced his return in March 1995.

The NBA shook.

All four major North American sports leagues trembled.

If David Stern once introduced "His Airness" to the world, now even he couldn't believe what was happening.

The league had known Jordan might return. Stern had drafted countless contingency plans. But in the presence of Jordan...

None of that mattered.

The entire nation was in a frenzy.

Suddenly, all NBA superstars felt the pressure double.

Especially the defending champions—the Houston Rockets.

As soon as the announcement broke, reporters scrambled for quotes from Hakeem Olajuwon and Coach Rudy Tomjanovich.

But Su Feng knew...

Coach Rudy was still catching his breath.

So this time, the Rockets said nothing.

Countless Jordan fans couldn't contain their joy.

No matter how exciting the season had been before...

Now, everyone wanted to witness the true endgame together.

For a nation grappling with unemployment, even the President's spokesperson jokingly said, "Jordan's comeback could create 10 million new jobs!"

Meanwhile, the mayor of Chicago wanted to give Jordan a giant hug—he knew the city's economy had just been saved.

Ahem.

In the end...

Su Feng wasn't a man of many words.

But sometimes, a few sentences can shake the world.

…

Just as Su Feng was finally settling down from the shock of Jordan's return, Bryant suddenly said:

"I've decided."

Su Feng turned his head toward Kobe, mentally sending him a question mark emoji.

Brother, decided what?

"I'm skipping college. I'm taking my talents straight to the NBA," Kobe declared, eyes serious and free of any hint of a joke.

Su Feng: "..."

Okay...

Okay.

Truth is, Su Feng wanted to say, You don't need to tell me—I already knew that.

But now, having become Kobe's friend in this life, Su Feng could finally lay to rest all those rumors about why Kobe skipped college and declared early.

In his previous life, there were all kinds of theories about that decision.

And in interviews or biographies, Kobe was often quoted saying:

"I need to face him on the court before he retires!"

Su Feng wasn't slow—he knew him meant Michael Jordan.

While skipping college was allowed by the NBA, even at that time, Su Feng—being a student of history—knew how rare it still was.

In 1974, Moses Malone skipped college because he couldn't stand seeing his mother work so hard to support the family.

In 1989, Shawn Kemp—who traded IQ for athleticism—figured it made more sense to try for the NBA than fail the college entrance exam... again.

Throw in Darryl Dawkins and Bill Willoughby, and up until 1995, high school-to-NBA players were rare gems—real pandas.

That's why players who skipped college had to be either insanely talented or driven by deeper reasons.

Su Feng clearly remembered: Garnett in '95, Kobe and Jermaine O'Neal in '96, McGrady in '97.

After that, more prospects started ditching college mid-way.

But this was the '90s. Back then, most players stayed 3–4 years in college before even dreaming of the NBA.

Even Vince Carter stayed in college for three years. And Duncan? "The Big Fundamental" finished all four before making the leap.

Looking at the draft classes, the '96 generation gets all the love—but '97 and '98 were stacked too.

So what made these future stars so eager to get into the league early?

Well, in 1995, the NBA had introduced a rookie salary scale. No more negotiating massive contracts before ever playing a game.

In his previous life, Su Feng saw how fans and pundits later tried to make sense of the decisions made in that era. Most came to a similar conclusion:

People in the '90s had a different kind of hustle.

The times shaped their values—leading to all sorts of misunderstandings.

When Jordan announced his return, young players felt supercharged, as if he'd added an invisible buff to their ambitions.

Jordan's back? Let's go, boys—chase him down!

Many of those who entered the league post-comeback shared one belief:

Jordan was the boss to beat.

And if they had any fire in their belly, they had to challenge him.

Not everyone thought this way, of course. But there was definitely a wave of young stars riding that mindset.

In Su Feng's last life, some even claimed Kobe went pro early just to humble Penny Hardaway, who once refused to take a photo with him.

But at this point, Kobe had no idea Hardaway would soon be sidelined by injury. Back then, Penny was still a rising star—and Kobe wanted to face him, not avenge him.

What really got Kobe hyped?

Facing Jordan.

Same with Allen Iverson, the #1 pick in '96.

It was like these kids had been enchanted—they needed to go toe-to-toe with MJ.

And Jordan? He never backed down.

His second comeback had turned him into more than a player—he was now a symbol.

Chicago became the new basketball Mecca. And to all the young pilgrims who came to challenge the old legend, Jordan didn't say:

"The future belongs to you."

Nope.

Jordan's favorite pastime was planting permanent shadows in the minds of rookies.

"Come, kids. Try to surpass me. Work harder. You'll never make it."

Anyone who watched '90s NBA knows how petty MJ could be.

He was the ultimate upperclassman with a wicked sense of humor—loving nothing more than humiliating a cocky rookie one-on-one.

And those rookies? They loved the chance. If they scored just as much as Jordan in a game, that was bragging rights for life.

"I tied with MJ. I dropped 30. He dropped 30. We're even."

Su Feng's most "traumatized" rookie memory?

Jerry Stackhouse.

Man, where do we even begin?

Back before Kobe's debut, Stackhouse was touted as the next big thing. But then he opened his mouth:

"I'm not afraid of Jordan. I can guard him. The Jordan of today isn't the same anymore."

Bad move.

When the Sixers played the Bulls that season, MJ dropped 48. Stackhouse? 12.

And afterward, defeated and humbled, Stackhouse could only laugh nervously:

"My brother's got a bit of a temper. Hopefully he calms down next time..."

Jordan had a whole list of rookie "victims." Gary Payton, just to name one.

But there was an exception.

He liked Kobe.

In Kobe, Jordan saw something special—an echo of himself. A mirror.

"Even if I'm not around, people will remember me through this kid."

Kobe Bryant—the one who could take on the whole league.

Cough. Got carried away again.

…

The Bryant family, hearing Kobe's classic line, watched as Su Feng reacted dramatically:

"Are you serious?"

Kobe nodded firmly.

"Of course I'm serious! I'm skipping college—I have to face Michael."

Su Feng took a deep, exaggerated gasp, then instantly gave Kobe a big thumbs-up.

Let's go!

Kobe!

Good luck to you!

Just as Su Feng was thinking about how to keep the act going, Bryant turned to him and asked:

"Oh, Su, have you thought about your own future? Are you going to college? Which university do you want to attend?"

Su Feng froze.

And then...

He...

Petrified.

"!!!"

Because the moment Kobe asked that question, something echoed in his mind:

"System: It's time to plan your NBA path!"

"Please choose one of the following two quests:"

🔹 Quest 1: [Stability is Wisdom]

You've decided to go to college before entering the NBA.

This will increase your odds of getting drafted and give you time to refine your skills.

Difficulty: ModerateRequirement: Join a university and enter the NBA after playing at least one NCAA season.Reward: A Golden Epic Gift Pack. [Click to view contents]If you've upgraded to System 7.0, it will randomly evolve into one of two special versions:[Debut at Your Peak]

Because of your college training, your skills are maxed out.

The system redistributes your potential by position. From your very first NBA game—you're a star.[Mediocre]

Because you chose to stay in college, you missed the early NBA window.

Your system limits your ceiling—you're destined to be a benchwarmer.

[Click to view other potential system paths.]

🔸 Quest 2: [Path of the Prodigy]

Geniuses forge their own way and leave no path for others to follow.

You choose to skip college and bring your talent straight to the NBA!

Difficulty: NightmareRequirement: Get drafted straight out of high school—and succeed.Reward:If your system is upgraded to 7.0, it will evolve into:

[Sky Wizard]Also grants a Golden Legendary Gift Pack. [Click to view contents]And…

Lifetime immunity to injuries and illness!

"!!!"