That night, Doug Collins and Yu Fei attended a press conference together.

Aside from game-related questions, it was Jordan's questions that were asked the most.

Moreover, they mainly asked Collins questions about Jordan, because Yu Fei's answer to Jordan's questions was always: "Next question." ”

Collins, however, has become the target of media bombardment.

Because in the question about whether Jordan will return, he gave this answer: "I'm not sure if Michael will return next season. ”

As soon as this answer came out, the media at the scene boiled, as if he had learned the inside story, Collins also regretted it for a while, he knew that he had said the wrong thing, and hurriedly made up for it: "Actually, I don't know anything, I don't think anyone knows the answer, did I just say something?" That's not true. ”

Yu Fei felt sorry for Collins, and it was too late to say this now.

The media reminded Collins: "You just said that you don't know if Michael will return next season, does that mean that Michael has not thought about returning at all?" ”

Collins became a little anxious, and said in a trembling tone: "No, it's not up to me, Michael will make the decision himself." ”

The journalists laughed sarcastically.

One person asked, "Did Michael talk to you?" ”

Terrible pressure loomed on Collins, who knew that his answer was at stake for his future and fate, "Guys, that's enough, this topic is over, okay?" Now is not the time to talk about this, especially at this particular time, we shouldn't be talking about Michael's future, it's not fair to the rest of our team. ”

"Don't you think he's going to come back?"

"Damn it!" Collins almost jumped out of his chair.

The Wizards' publicists stepped in to stop a near-media catastrophe, "That's the end of this issue, are there any other problems?" ”

The publicist's words were still in the air, but Collins shook his head in self-pity and muttered, "I shouldn't be here." ”

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

Whether Collins wanted it or not, his remarks had uncontrollable negative consequences for the team and Jordan.

The Wizards' management was outraged, especially the business department headed by Susan O'Marie.

Jordan's future is not something to talk about.

Because the name means that the Wizards will have a series of lucrative off-court revenues for next season, such as season tickets, merchandise, jerseys, etc.

Once Jordan confirms that he won't return, the Wizards will lose their appeal to middle-class fans who only recognize Jordan.

And Jordan also has to face public opinion pressure.

If he doesn't come back, this season's comeback will be treated as a show, and a failed show, strictly speaking he didn't bring the team into the playoffs, and the person who did it was Yu Fei, and he missed 1/3 of the season.

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

That's what Wizards fans would expect.

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

Doug Collins was also in attendance.

"I don't blame him." Jordan smiled, "That's Doug's conclusion based on observation, and I should apologize to him because I really didn't tell him what I thought." ”

In fact, Collins is right, Jordan himself has not thought about whether to continue playing next season, he has a lot of questions.

At the same time, Jordan was outraged by the team's continued behavior of selling tickets under his name. In particular, the team's top management, led by Susan O'Marie, sent a false message to season ticket holders that "Jordan will continue to play for the Wizards next season", which is not true, and everything is still undecided. If Jordan is sure not to return, what will the fans who bought season tickets for him think about it?

This made Jordan extremely angry, and he didn't want to be made money under his name before he made a decision.

Jordan's press conference, while helping Collins clear the game, didn't answer the fundamental question of whether he would return.

This has fueled speculation on the matter.

Fans were skeptical about Jordan's return, and as a result, season ticket sales for next season came to a standstill.

This made management even more unhappy with Collins.

A day later, Wizards owner Abby Pollin publicly thanked Jordan.

Why? Because Jordan allowed him to make money with the Wizards again after a lapse of years, and it wasn't a small amount of money.

Of course, Pauline won't let fans know the real reason why he's thanking Jordan.

He will thank Jordan for deepening the Wizards' ties with Washington, D.C., for Jordan's outstanding contributions in helping newcomers grow, for Jordan's hard work in managing the Wizards over the past few years, for Jordan's leadership in helping the team return to the playoffs, and for Jordan's perseverance in keeping the game through injury.

Pauline thanked Jordan a lot and shunned rumors that he and Jordan had a strained relationship.

For this kind of rumor, which he called "nothing", he was cautious and unwilling to touch it.

Then, when a reporter asked Pauline if he would return to Wizards management if Jordan didn't return, his answer was intriguing.

"It's all up to Michael."

Thomas Flynn, a team correspondent for The Washington Times, got the answer and felt it wasn't Pauline's promise.

No, Pauline didn't promise Jordan to return to Wizards management when he retires.

Instead, Pauline seems to be hinting at the uncertainty surrounding Jordan's return after retirement.

"Michael brilliantly led the Wizards management to make the right decisions in the draft last offseason, and this year, he's no longer the team's president, but does he still have an impact on the team's draft?"

For a moment, Pauline was rightful about "Michael's brilliant leadership. made the right decision" This passage shows irritation and dissatisfaction, but that emotion quickly fades away from his face.

Pauline muttered, "yes, breathtaking! Michael did his job brilliantly last year and Michael's decision was very correct as for this year as long as he wants. Well, as long as he wants, you know what I mean, as long as he wants. ”

With that, Pollin smiled, revealing uncomfortable yellow teeth.

From start to finish, Pauline has been hinting to Flynn that as long as Jordan doesn't retire and makes money for him in his jersey, he has no objection to Jordan's reign and leadership. This suggests that Pauline's connivance and "trust" in Jordan was entirely motivated by commercial considerations.

And his smile at the moment.

Flynn had a picture of a smiling crocodile in his mind.

It hides in the shallows, not without aggression, but just waiting for the moment.

A week later, Jordan was interviewed in New York.

Many of the mysteries that have plagued people for more than half a year are revealed here.

When asked about the season's ups and downs, Jordan gloomily came up with a theory of "problem origins."

At that moment, he was a whiner, forgetting that he had been in Chicago and said that he didn't blame anyone for breaking his ribs.

'Ron [Artest] was very driven, he gave it his all in training, which was what I needed, but he was a little too much at the time. "I broke my ribs, which was where it all began, and I didn't have the opportunity to complete the rehabilitation program in the first place. ”

Probably Jordan has forgotten.

His trainer, Tim Grover, had warned him a year earlier.

"Then, my knee started to swell." Jordan dodged the problem of his overtraining, and naturally, he "forgot" about his failure to listen to the advice of friends and experts, "and then, I developed tenosynovitis. Damn tenosynovitis, it haunted me until the end of the season and I didn't get rid of its effects. From the time I developed tenosynovitis and the rest of my body started to crumble and I never had a chance to come back in its entirety. I."

Jordan finally realizes that he now looks like a self-pitiac looking for an excuse to cover up his failures.

"I'm not making excuses." Jordan continued, "I also made some mistakes, I was so confident, I thought I was still young me, it was the body's punishment for me, but other problems are happening besides that. ”

The questioner knew that Jordan wanted to change the question, so he continued to ask, "What question?" ”

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

"What happened?"

"It's true that I'm old, but what really frustrates me is that it's a different time, it's not Chicago here, we don't."

He didn't go on because he found himself looking like he was calling for help.

Knowing that there would be no answer to this question, the questioner turned to the sharpest and most obvious "question": "Do you want to talk about Frye?" ”

In an instant, Jordan's longing to speak, a rare fragile expression, disappeared, replaced by a defensive coldness, "There's nothing to say." ”

"Is it true that Frye has publicly rejected you from being on the team back to the team?"

What happened that day at the Verizon Center replayed quickly in Jordan's mind.

This stung Jordan.

His brown eyes glistened with resentment.

"Of course not!" He said with anger suppressed.

The questioner added: "The Washington Times reporter revealed in the article that Frye said he had no intention of repairing relations with you and didn't think it would affect the team, you think."

"Enough! I don't want to hear that person's name again! Jordan stood up and roared at the director of the scene, "Recording paused!" ”

After saying that, Jordan came backstage angrily and yelled at his assistant: "Call David (Falck) immediately and ask him to tell that dwarf (Paulin) who keeps sucking blood on me that I have done so much for him, and now is the time for him to repay me!" ”

The assistant looked at Jordan dumbfounded, still not knowing what he wanted.

"I want that dog mongrel to get out!" Jordan said with a hateful face.

At this moment, the assistant understood Jordan's appeal.

(End of chapter)