Basketball Legend: When Pride Still Matters

Do you know that compared to me, Jordan might dislike you even more?

Yu Fei said, "I wouldn't say dislike, I've just answered too many similar questions already. Since this is my exclusive interview, let's talk about something related to me."

Yu Fei's response effectively blocked Smith from probing further into Jordan's private life.

"Alright, if that's what you want, I respect your wish. From now on, no more Michael."

The interview lasted for 40 minutes, and indeed, Smith did not ask any more questions about Jordan. They talked about a lot.

Yu Fei's childhood, high school, draft secrets... Smith asked about it all.

Yu Fei didn't hold back.

At the end, Smith said, "In two days, you'll be playing against the Bulls in D.C., and I sincerely hope you have a terrible game."

"Thank you for making me regret agreeing to this interview before it's even over."

The next day, afternoon

Yu Fei and his teammates took the bus to the MCI.

Jordan was there too.

His expression was somber, and he seemed to be in a low mood.

Yu Fei sat next to Kwame Brown, initially intending to close his eyes and rest for a while.

Unexpectedly, Brown whispered, "Did you hear?"

"Hmm?"

"Michael got divorced."

"Oh, congratulate him for me."

"You're such an asshole!" Brown said with some decency, "How can you congratulate someone on that?"

Yu Fei leaned back, opened his eyes slightly, and said, "Getting rid of a wife who looks old enough to be his mother when outside could be a good thing for him."

Yu Fei delighted in Brown's reaction: "What???"

"Quiet, I'm trying to sleep."

"Explain that to me..."

When the Wizards' bus arrived at the MCI, the media had already taken over the place.

Jordan's divorce rumors, the game against his former team, whether Jordan held a grudge against Artest for breaking his ribs, and the unusual behavior of Jerry Krause coming to the away game with the team.

The moment Yu Fei stepped off the bus, a reporter's question made him chuckle, "What's your opinion on Michael's divorce?"

"Good question, my only thought on this matter is — what's it got to do with me?"

Jordan, who would normally refuse media interviews, seemed to have a strong desire to speak out, which was also rare for him.

He usually doesn't want to be interviewed right off the bus, but today... he was open to other questions, particularly about the Bulls, except for his private life.

"I really like Ron, the rib incident was an accident, and I don't blame him."

"Hiring Bill Cartwright as head coach was the best decision they made last year."

"How to turn the Bulls around? If it were me, I'd fire Jerry Krause and let John Paxson take charge."

Yu Fei caught the clue, it was Krause.

The reason Jordan seemed to have a lot to say was because of Krause.

This game appeared to be related to personal grudges, both Jordan and Krause wanted to win.

But like the other Wizards players, Yu Fei treated this game as just another one.

Then, when the game started, Yu Fei first noticed that Eddie Curry's attitude was extremely lazy, even worse than Kwame Brown's, and Tyson Chandler was nothing but a reckless youth lacking the physical strength to back up his vigor.

Chandler was quickly fouled out, and although Curry remained on the court, his defensive attitude was too passive. When Fei broke through, he didn't even bother with a float shot; he just made a layup right under Curry's nose, who only made a half-hearted defensive gesture before watching the ball sink in.

Jordan continued his hot streak from the previous two games, scoring 25 points by halftime and seemed poised to once again challenge the 50-point barrier.

For a long period, the Wizards maintained a lead of 20 points, but Jordan couldn't find his rhythm from the first half in the latter, feeling the pain in his legs again. Meanwhile, the Bulls were slowly chipping away at the Wizards' lead, until the last two minutes of the fourth quarter when the difference was just 8 points. At that point, Fei, who had already been resting, was called up by Collins from the bench to put out the fire.

Then, the Bulls made a steal.

The man who got the ball was Artest, who passed it to a player named Ron Mercer. If this counterattack succeeded, the point difference would be reduced to 6 points.

A 6-point difference with 2 minutes left didn't make a comeback impossible.

However, Jordan's pride wouldn't allow the Bulls any chance to turn the game around at that moment. He chased after them, the 38-year-old looking like a 19-year-old kid.

Jordan caught up with Mercer, then leaped, snatching the ball with both hands a foot above the opponent's head against the backboard before violently pulling it down.

"!¥!@#¥%@#%"

The incredulous fans erupted in roaring cheers, the MCI Center was filled with passionately irrational expletives and curses, as in that single moment, fans could forget Jordan's second-half slump, the ugly sight of the Wizards losing a 12-point lead, and all other displeasures.

"Sorry, I've got things to do!" Jerry Krause said, dragging his big belly out of the arena, "Sorry, I've got things to do."

Fei walked back to the bench and sat down, knowing he wouldn't be going on court again.

The Bulls' momentum was halted; they fell into the hell of the defeated.

Fei felt the intense atmosphere, trying to understand Jordan's charm.

It represented ruthlessness, intimidation, and utterly unapologetic dominance.

Fei didn't know it then, but this was the zenith of Jordan since his comeback, his popularity suddenly peaking, thrusting himself and the Wizards into discussions of All-Star lineups, MVP, and championships.

The post-game interview was abstract and amusing.

"Did you see that? Did you see that? Did you see it? That's Michael Jordan! That's the greatest player in history!" — Collins praised Jordan's performance fervently.

"When I get mad, I can still jump high." — Jordan talked about his astonishing last defensive block.

"Nothing could stop Michael from playing in this game. Do you think anything could?" — Grover said to the reporters.

"We just chose a different direction, which hasn't been detrimental; Michael is doing well in D.C., and we're doing fine in Chicago." — Cartwright discussed the Bulls' decision after Jordan's retirement and his being rejected from a front-office position.

"I... I just want some respect. I'm not the goddamn cripple you're talking about, I'm not!!!" — Artest lost his composure in the media room.

"I don't hate Michael... (mixed with shouts from the crowd saying, "Jerry, your team sucks!" and "Jerry, kiss my ass!") ...it's just one game out of 82, it's no big deal." — Krause spoke of the game and his sentiments towards Jordan.

"Frye, many say this game was as entertaining as a circus. What do you think?"

"That's very disrespectful to us who put our hearts into the game."

"Do you think Michael jumped so high at the end because of his divorce?"

"...(Are you an idiot?) Is there any normal question I can answer?"

"Ron Artest hates being called 'the bone breaker;' do you think the incident where he broke Michael's ribs affected the game?"

"If Ron wants to mitigate the impact of this incident, I have an immature suggestion. He could change his name to 'World Peace.' But I think it's unnecessary, as he just did what most people wish to do."

"Most people? Does that include you?"

"I've asked if there's any normal question a person can answer..."

— Fei's post-game interview.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━

"Due to irreconcilable differences, Juanita Jordan has today filed for divorce in a Chicago court." — Chicago Tribune

"'Irreconcilable differences,' '25,000-square-foot mansion,' 'asking for half of the marital assets,' 'net worth of 400 million US dollars'... When Michael Jordan starts hitting headlines this way, I think I fully understand Frye, someone help out, break Michael's ribs, so we don't have to see these news anymore." — The Washington Times

(1) In a press conference after winning a championship during Jordan's first threepeat, a perceptive reporter turned to his wife and asked, "Are you proud of your son's performance?" Jordan snatched the microphone and with the most terrifying look you could imagine, stared at that reporter and said, "This is my wife."