Basketball Legend: When Pride Still Matters

Chapter 894 894 545 Those Who Scold Me Are No Longer

?Chapter 894: Chapter 545 Those Who Scold Me Are No Longer My Brothers_3 Chapter 894: Chapter 545 Those Who Scold Me Are No Longer My Brothers_3 If Barkley had stopped there, it would merely have been a critique that those around Jordan weren’t doing their job, subtly hinting that Jordan was too dominant and that his subordinates were afraid to make suggestions. But what came next was enough to completely shatter Jordan’s pride, and even end the friendship of several decades.

“I love Michael, but he did a poor job,” Barkley said. “Even though he’s one of my best friends, I can’t sit here and tell you he did well. Clearly, he did not.”

During the show, Barkley received a call from Jordan.

Jordan cursed him over and over, using all kinds of language that insulted his dignity, and then hung up the phone angrily.

That was the last time Barkley spoke with Jordan. Because of a TV show, a “truthful” opinion, Jordan pushed away Barkley, who was once like a brother to him.

Barkley didn’t know the consequences of that incident at the time, but even if he had, he wouldn’t have regretted it.

Yu Fei liked the atmosphere where everyone was eager to judge Jordan whenever they got the chance.

This was his true revenge.

Taking away Jordan’s title of GOAT was just the beginning of the revenge. For the rest of Jordan’s life, his tarnished reputation would be linked to Fei’s glorious name.

There was no more disgraceful outcome than that.

As a former GOAT, he will appear countless times in the narrative of the current GOAT legend, and moreover, as a tyrannical clown.

However, despite Fei’s deep hatred for Jordan, there was still something commendable about Jordan.

For instance, he never attempted to maneuver his younger son, Marcus Jordan, into the NBA. Although Marcus may have had more talent for winning over girls than his basketball skills, as Jordan’s most talented son, he was a scoring champion of a college team that made it to March Madness.

Although the kid’s most infamous act nowadays was posting a photo of his brother online, he indeed possessed the ability to test the waters in the NBA.

That night, Fei played for only 24 minutes, but his scoring far exceeded the time limit.

He racked up 40 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists in just 24 minutes.

Then, he didn’t play a single second of the fourth quarter.

His teammates, like vultures, feasted on the remnants of the Bobcats, each padding their stats.

Durant was gutsy in garbage time, but his shooting percentage wasn’t great that night, scoring only 30 points. Roy indulged himself for once, earning a triple-double with 24 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists.

Even with the three stars posting impressive numbers, the Supersonics had six players in double figures, exploding for 142 points in regular time and crushing their opponents by 69 points.

Jordan, with an ashen face, accepted an interview and refused to discuss anything related to Fei, Barkley, or Pippen. He only commented briefly on Durant.

“He’s already one of the best scorers in the league, it’s just, he needs to be more well-rounded,” Jordan astutely said. “Scoring is certainly the most important thing in a game, but rebounds and assists are essential to expand influence, and he’s doing too little of that.”

Durant was surprised and somewhat flattered by Jordan’s comments.

Nike’s market is languishing nowadays, and the best-selling brand is the independently operated Flying Jordan.

As the totem of the company, Durant has always held great admiration for him.

“I do have many shortcomings, Michael’s advice is very important to me,” Durant said excitedly, “This is the path and direction I am moving forward in.”

Durant’s friendly exchange with Jordan seemed out of place against the backdrop of Yu Qiao’s grudge.

Yu Fei did not let the opportunity to settle scores with Jordan slip by.

“I like speaking the truth just like Charles Barkley,” Yu Fei commented on the Bobcats’ horrific 69-point defeat. “I think a team that allows the opponent to score 142 points in 48 minutes and loses by 69 points should immediately disband. They shouldn’t continue to exist in the NBA.”

“Of course,” Yu Fei didn’t dismiss all of the Bobcats’ players in one go. “I believe Charlotte has some good players, they’re just forced to play under an incompetent owner, so it would be great if we had a policy that could force such owners out of their positions.”

The reporters felt that continuing to pester Yu Fei about his views on tonight’s game wouldn’t yield any more “explosive” responses.

So they relayed Charles Barkley’s comments about Jordan from the show to Yu Fei.

Yu Fei laughed and said, “Well, Charles is going to get the best Thanksgiving gift—he is no longer a friend of number 23 starting tonight.”

“Do you think Charles’s comments will cause Michael to cut ties with him?”

“It’s not a matter of if,” Yu Fei asserted, “it’s that this is definitely going to happen. I’ve been in D.C., and I know what kind of person he is.”

Simply put, to be a part of Jordan’s circle or to be his friend, you must submit to him and endure his boundary-less insulting jokes. Those who cling to Jordan do not possess an independent personality. Unfortunately, Barkley has a strong character and a sense of pride.

His brother could mock him over and over again for not winning a championship. When he thought that his brother’s love for riding motorcycles was too dangerous, his brother retorted by suggesting he felt that way because he had never won and didn’t want to push his limits.

Barkley wasn’t sure if that was true, but one thing was certain—he indeed had never won. So on the topic of winners, he could never win.

Now the tables had turned. As that winner also faced an indefensible loss, Barkley pointed out the problem once again. Then, he lost that brother.

Barkley didn’t understand it then and wouldn’t in the future. He only knew he wouldn’t apologize, just like his brother was too proud to accept criticism. He was proud, too—most proud that he would never apologize when angered by speaking the right words or doing the right thing.

That night, Yu Fei revisited the episode of “The Oprah Winfrey Show” featuring Jordan and Barkley from the end of 2005, with a bit of schadenfreude. Oprah asked Jordan a question during the show: “Isn’t it great to have someone tell you the truth?”

Jordan smiled and glanced at Barkley; there was a visible closeness between them. “Chuck always tells me the truth,” Jordan laughed, “and his own truth.”

Then Oprah asked, “So why do you love him?”

Jordan laughed: “Look at him. How could you not love him?” then, he reached out and affectionately rubbed Barkley’s belly which had gotten plumper, causing the whole audience to laugh.

Yu Fei happily turned off the video. What could be better than watching your lifelong rival embarrass himself?

Yu Fei thought that the biggest difference between him and Jordan was that he didn’t need his friends or team members to grovel before him; even more, within reasonable limits, he would look out for them.

He considered Brown’s well-being, reminded DeAndre Jordan to think, encouraged Roy to try a new style, and played the power forward position for Durant. When the journey was over, he could say in his Hall of Fame speech that he hadn’t wronged anyone.

But sometimes, the world is so strange; even if you consider everything, things don’t always go the way you want.

Yu Fei couldn’t see the future, but he genuinely enjoyed the drama of Barkley and Jordan’s fallout. It was a perfect reality show, an excellent Thanksgiving treat, always fresh no matter how often watched.

Besides, there was another gift…