Champion Creed
Chapter 44 - 44 031 The Big Truth That Emerged Thanks to the Generous Reward from Heqishengcai

44: 031: The Big Truth That Emerged (Thanks to the Generous Reward from Heqishengcai) 44: 031: The Big Truth That Emerged (Thanks to the Generous Reward from Heqishengcai) Bulls fans can cheer, as they could still see Michael Jordan, but now they had to see him on a baseball field.

At the peak of his career, Michael Jordan decided to sign with the Chicago White Sox, possibly the oddest transfer in professional sports history.

Jordan was still the center of attention, but no longer the only one.

As the new season approached, Chicagoans became increasingly curious about the Bulls’ state for the upcoming season.

In recent days, numerous journalists had requested to interview Bulls players to help fans understand this both familiar and unfamiliar team.

Today was no different when Lacy Banks, a sports columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times, got access to the Berto Center locker room, Pippen immediately greeted his old acquaintance, “You’re lucky, Lacy, I just happen to have time for your interview this afternoon.

But make it quick, I have a charity gala tonight.”

Pippen acted as if he were very busy, but Lacy Banks hadn’t intended to bother him and awkwardly chuckled, “I’m here for the truth, Scott.”

Ah?

Him again?

Pippen was flabbergasted, and this wasn’t the first time this week!

Initially, it was Chinese media interviewing Roger.

Later, the local American media also chased Roger.

Everyone seemed more interested in that high school kid, and the media literally revolved around Roger!

One moment they reported his multi-million-dollar endorsement contract with Coca-Cola.

Another moment, they reported his limited edition Mercedes performance car.

And yet another moment, they compared him with Penny Hardaway.

Pippen didn’t get it, “I’m the boss of Chicago!

The truth of this locker room lies with number 33!”

Of course, Pippen couldn’t comprehend because he didn’t know that Stern had fully hyped Roger and Hardaway’s popularity, making them the media darlings.

If you knew how terrifying Hardaway’s jersey and shoe sales were, if you realized how Grant Hill became the All-Star vote leader in his first year in the league, you would appreciate how significant the title “Jordan’s Successor” was for drawing crowds.

At that moment, Roger was in this crowd pool.

Pippen, on the other hand, could not compete with him in terms of popularity.

After the interview, Roger prepared to continue practicing his jump shot.

After gaining weight up to 198 pounds, Roger’s shooting actually felt a bit off.

He hoped to fully adapt to his 198-pound body before the start of the new season.

Just then, Cartwright called Roger over, “Hey kid, can you buy me two bottles of water?”

Cartwright was nice to Roger, often warmly showing him around the city of Chicago.

Whenever Roger, not yet familiar with the tactics, ran the wrong play in training, Cartwright was always the first to say, “No worries, rookie.”

So, Roger didn’t refuse him, and before leaving, Roger also asked if anyone else wanted water, including Pippen.

But, besides Cartwright, no one else asked Roger to bring water.

Roger quickly bought two bottles of water from the vending machine outside the locker room and handed them to Cartwright, then headed to the training gym.

But just as Roger was pushing open the locker room door, Pippen called out to him, “Rookie, go buy me a bottle of water.”

In a bad mood, he wanted to throw his weight around Roger.

He could no longer endure such circumstances and needed to assert stronger authority in the locker room.

If you truly knew Scottie Pippen, you’d understand how intense his jealousy was.

In the early ’90s, because Krause frequently praised Duke of Thunder Dan Majerle’s efficiency on both the offensive and defensive ends, Pippen grew jealous, always feeling Krause was indirectly criticizing him, and he thereafter treated Majerle like an enemy.

But what had Majerle really done to harm Pippen?

Nothing.

Later, he grew jealous of Kukoc when Pippen was about to renew his contract with the Bulls, and the owner delayed signing because, “We still haven’t settled Kukoc’s matter, we need to save some salary cap space for him.”

Krause, stingy with Pippen but negotiating personally in Europe for Kukoc and considering a huge contract.

Flipping through Chicago’s major newspapers, everyone discussed how great Kukoc was; this all made Pippen furious.

This is why Pippen so despised Kukoc.

Yet what had Kukoc really done to harm Pippen?

Again, nothing.

Ironically, Pippen’s jealousy of Kukoc continued well into the 2020s.

Everybody knows that in the 1994 Eastern Conference semifinals against the Knicks, when Pippen learned that the Zen Master had assigned the last shot to Kukoc, he parked himself on the bench, refusing to play.

Pippen brought this up again during a 2023 online conversation with Ewing, and you could still feel his intense jealousy, “Why give that rookie Toni the last shot?

This was Scottie Pippen’s team!

Why was everyone talking about that European, and I was treated like a clown?”

The fact was, the Zen Master’s strategy was sound, and Pippen knew it deep down.

But his jealousy was something he just couldn’t overcome.

To him, this was more shameful than Jordan’s son and his ex-wife’s scandalous affairs.

Now, his jealousy was directed at Roger.

“Scott, the trainers are already on the court waiting for me.

Besides, I asked you earlier if you wanted water, and you said no,” Roger said seriously, beginning to tire of this idiot who kept bothering him.

“I wasn’t thirsty then, but I am now,” Pippen retorted, his expression much fiercer than before.

Since Roger had been with the Bulls for a few days, he had given Pippen plenty of respect.

But he still kept picking fights, which was outright disrespectful.

So Roger no longer intended to show him any respect: “Go buy it yourself, Scott.

If you don’t have money, I can lend you some.

No worries about paying me back later, after all, my salary is twice yours.”

“What the hell did you say!?” Pippen burst out, grabbing Roger by the collar.

That statement undoubtedly tore open Pippen’s wound.

Cartwright quickly tried to smooth things over, “Let it go, Scott, don’t be rash.”

Clutching Roger’s collar, Pippen didn’t let go; instead, he smiled at everyone, “Why are you all so nervous?

He’s just a rookie, what can he do to me?”

Pippen truly believed that Roger dared not do anything.

Back when Pippen was a rookie himself, the great, benevolent Oakley had grabbed him by the collar and slapped him.

But what could Pippen do?

He could only smile apologetically.

When Will Perdue was slapped by Michael Jordan for being constantly called for illegal screens during practice, what could he do?

He also had to hold it in.

So, Pippen didn’t think Roger could fight back this time either.

Rookies absolutely don’t dare to strike a veteran.

You might fluke your way on the court, but dare you hit me?

Rookies just need to stick their butts out and take it.

So, after responding to Cartwright, Pippen, emulating Oakley, disdainfully slapped Roger, “What can you do to me anyway?”

But what happened next was beyond Pippen’s expectations.

Roger didn’t just stand there and smile foolishly; instead, he roughly pushed Pippen away and landed a standard straight punch on Pippen’s face!

Roger swore, he practiced boxing merely as a hobby, never expecting it to come in handy here.

The intense pain made Pippen feel like the whole locker room was spinning, and he, utterly stunned, covered his nose for a moment, followed by a rain of punches.

Pippen only knew that Roger was a precise shooter, but he hadn’t expected his boxing to be just as accurate.

“Damn it!

Someone come and pull them apart!”

“Rookie, calm down!”

“Scott got knocked out, and then he woke up again!”

In the locker room, everyone rushed to separate the two.

Hearing the commotion, the Zen Master and Old Winter hurried from their offices only to see Pippen, blood splattered, and Roger being held back by a group.

At that moment, Roger looked at Pippen and shouted fearlessly, “I’m a man too, Scott, and I’ve shown you plenty of respect.

If you disrespect me for no reason again, I swear I’ll do this again!”

Pippen sat on the ground, clearly shocked.

This rookie not only dared to fight, but he was also good at it!

The Zen Master was just as stunned.

He had seen teammates fight before, but a rookie beating up a veteran and cursing at him was indeed a first!

Never fought in a match, never lost a fight.

Following the continue playing tough plan, Scottie Pippen’s tough guy plan had utterly failed, further solidifying Roger’s tough image to great success!

He didn’t understand; he had done exactly the same thing as Jordan, but why had the results been so different!

When Jordan talked on the phone with Pippen before, he said he had never seen a veteran who couldn’t handle a rookie.

Well, today everyone saw it.

In fact, Pippen had managed to squeeze Majerle and Kukoc before because Jordan was always supporting him.

It wasn’t Pippen who exploded Majerle in the finals; it was Jordan.

It was Jordan who genuinely suppressed Kukoc in the locker room, not Pippen.

Now, without Jordan there to support him, he was utterly at a loss with Roger.

Afterwards, a bloodied Pippen was sent to the medical room, while Roger was pulled into the office by the Zen Master.

The Zen Master didn’t say much, just advised Roger not to be so impulsive in the future.

After all, the Zen Master knew what Pippen had done; he knew it wasn’t all Roger’s fault.

Ten minutes later, Krause was informed of everything that happened in the locker room.

At that moment, Krause could only remember the last sentence of Roger’s scouting report: As he’s Chinese, he probably doesn’t drink alone, dislikes gambling, has no gang affiliations, and might not have a very fiery temper.

Might not have a very fiery temper…

Krause cursed under his breath, scouting reports are never one hundred percent accurate.

This Chicago, truly never lacks for drama!

The next day, Chicago’s newspapers were buzzing with activity.

Because the whole world knew now, a high school rookie who hadn’t yet played an official NBA game, had warmed up with boxing in the locker room with Pippen.

And he had won!

So, after the training, Pippen received the media attention he had always dreamed of.

Everyone thought Pippen would harshly criticize Roger, but with a black eye, he instead said laughing:

“It’s nothing.

I think the toughness he brings is exactly what we need in the post-Michael Jordan era.

I said before that if Roger couldn’t handle the NBA, he should go back to school.

But now I can say for sure, I can lead the Chicago train out of the dark tunnel with Roger.

I like the kid, I like him.

I swear, this is the absolute truth!”

Cartwright smiled and shook his head beside him.

What Pippen said, that should be the absolute truth, right?

※※※

Thanks to the generous Mr.

Hesheng for the reward, I’m grateful!

Thanks to Lang G, Mr.

Pagy’s father, and other great supporters for their rewards, thank you all for your support!

In this new book period, I shamelessly ask again for your follows, monthly tickets, and rewards.

These are very important for the results; I kneel to thank you all!