Since this ti they won the championship at ho, the on-site staff prepared nurous celebration ceremonies that were absent during away gas.
For instance, before the classic scene where Roger jumps onto the technical stage.
The staff set up a tower of stemd glasses on the comntary desk.
Roger jumped onto the technical stage, cheered with his arms raised, and poured his brand’s red wine into the stemd glass tower.
Once each glass was filled, everyone picked up a glass and drank heartily with their heads tilted back.
Stemd glasses, red wine, a wealthy ambiance... this combination should be paired with elegance.
Yet the scene in present was anything but elegant, even Boris Diaw, who traditionally enjoys savoring red wine, consud his glass roughly in this adrenaline-charged mont.
The red liquid dripped from the players’ mouths and chins onto the white jerseys, forming a red mark.
This made the scene look quite terrifying.
Mike Breen bluntly remarked, "They look like they’re drinking the enemy’s blood."
But indeed, the so-called "Dynasty Feast," the most delicious dish is the enemy’s blood.
Tom Brady, a close friend of Roger, joined the drinking spree, even consuming more than so of the Warriors’ players. When Gary Payton finished a glass and went to refill it, he realized the technical stage was already empty, with Tom Brady holding onto six glasses.
To the unknowing, it might seem like the New England Patriots had won the championship.
Tom Brady’s behavior had a hint of LeBron Jas’ "celebrating his teammate’s goal like crazy in front of the cara."
His abstract behavior seed to be compensating for the disappointnt at the start of this year.
This year, the New England Patriots lost to the Indianapolis Colts in the divisional finals, marking Tom Brady’s first playoff loss in his career.
Since acquiring Tom Brady, the New England Patriots either didn’t make it to the playoffs or ended up Champions, never having stumbled midway through the playoffs.
Even more frustrating was the Patriots narrowly losing 34-38, while the Indianapolis Colts easily defeated the Chicago Bears in the Super Bowl.
This implies that if the New England Patriots had secured a bit more opportunities, if Tom Brady had managed to win that ga, he likely would have secured the Super Bowl.
But all of it turned into "what ifs."
Therefore, the blow to Tom Brady was significant.
He had a very strong chance to win the championship, now he had nothing.
At this mont, he seed eager to absorb every essence of the championship night to fill the void of 2006, pretending he had never lost the championship.
Eventually, Roger stopped him.
"Enough Tom, you’ve had too much to drink, I don’t want you throwing up on Oracle Arena’s beautiful floor."
Tom Brady’s eyes were already blurred, his balance starting to sway.
Roger bet that even if you locked him in Victoria’s Secret Show’s model changing room, the models would walk out unhard.
"Roger, congratulations, I’m happy for you. Co on, friend, where’s your glass? Raise your glass, let’s continue!" Tom Brady wobbly raised his glass.
"I’m glad you ca, Tom, and I appreciate it, but this is not the place for you to escape reality. Even if you drink yourself into oblivion, it won’t change the fact the Indianapolis Colts spanked your butt and eventually won the Super Bowl. When we fail, we don’t need comfort and anesthesia, we need to stand up!"
Tom Brady chuckled lightly, "You’re getting better at saying these grand words, Roger."
"Grand words? That’s exactly what I did, Tom. In 1994, I damn well ca closer to the championship than you. Before you learn how to win, learn how to face failure."
With that said, Roger turned towards the podium amid his teammates’ calls, while on-site staff led Tom Brady out of the journalist area below the podium.
Fifteen minutes later, the inebriated Tom Brady witnessed Roger holding up the O’Brien Trophy for the tenth ti in his career from the stands.
It was an incredibly amazing number, making Roger one of the only three players in history to secure double-figure championships in a career.
And the most significant aspect this championship brought to Roger was he unarguably ascended the throne of GOAT in the basketball world.
Bill Russell only had one more championship than Roger, considering the competition in his era, that one more championship could be ignored.
Bill Russell was on the podium, this good-hearted man, acknowledged by the NBA community, clapped in excitent like a child on Halloween.
anwhile, Roger put on his previous nine rings. Three from the Magic, four from the Hawks, two from the Warriors. No matter where they ca from, they all undeniably belonged to Roger.
Since the championship ring for this season was to be awarded at the next season’s opening ga, Roger couldn’t have every finger full.
Soon, people realized why Bill Russell was so excited.
He pulled out a championship ring from his suit pocket, which belonged to his era, and personally placed it on Roger’s finger.
There is no doubt this was sothing he and Roger had agreed upon long before.
Roger held up both of his fists adorned with championship rings.
The live broadcast focused on Roger’s sparkling fists; at that mont, all debates regarding the basketball GOAT disappeared.
He took the top position in the basketball world with a 13-year career.
Whether it was Bird, Magic, MJ, or those ancient deities, they all paled in competition before Roger.
Initially a bit angry, Tom Brady smiled and applauded for Roger.
What else could he say?
"When we fail, we don’t need comfort and anesthesia, we need to stand up," was the advice from the GOAT of the basketball world.
Besides accepting it humbly, he had no right to say anything more.
Yes, that’s exactly what Roger did.
In 1994, with ambitious aspirations, he fell at the closest mont to the championship in the Finals.
Take a look at how the public opinion judged Roger back then.
"Just because he lost in the Finals, he’ll never surpass Michael Jordan."
"Roger, the greatest braggart in history."
"Don’t bother watching anymore, Michael can lead the Bulls to a championship, but Roger can’t. No matter what Roger achieves in the future, Michael can always hold this over him."
"True champions don’t lose in the Finals."
"What trash, a waste of my ti, I should have known better than to watch."
Most rookies facing such venomous criticism might be forever crushed, never to rise again.
But how did Roger face failure?
He established the Dawn Club.
He nearly drove himself crazy with self-discipline.
He sacrificed everything for victory.
He poured everyone’s passion into basketball.
Instead of going to a friend’s championship party to drown his sorrows.
And now, look at him.
Michael Jordan couldn’t suppress Roger one bit.
Roger not only surpassed Michael but surpassed everyone else!
Tom Brady gave himself a slap in the face; if anyone in this world has the right to preach to him, it must be the GOAT of basketball.
Looking at Roger, he muttered to himself: "Congratulations, man. Yeah, when I beco the GOAT of football, I’ll preach to you. Just wait."
After indulging in the feeling of wearing ten rings, Roger took off that Celtics ring and returned it to Russell: "Thank you, Bill. I really enjoyed the feeling of a hand full of rings, but after all, this is yours."
Bill Russell took the ring and put it in his pocket.
"Hey, I also have sothing that belongs to you."
With that, Mr. 11 Rings took out the FMVP trophy.
Roger almost forgot about it.
Only those who only think about FMVP during the Finals see this honor as important.
For true core players, they don’t need to think about FMVP all the ti. As long as they perform normally, the FMVP will naturally co to them.
Like Roger, as a defender, he’s always pursuing his target relentlessly. Those defenders who play for "limiting opponent shooting percentage" won’t chase as hard because those stats don’t account for instances where they completely stop chasing.
Roger got the FMVP trophy and wasn’t even bothered to kiss it.
There are too many of them; it’s really too much.
Looking at the newly awarded FMVP trophy, besides thinking of finding a long-term partner last year, Roger had another thought—it’s ti to plan for the end of his career.
Previously, Roger had this idea, but before getting the Warriors’ third championship, it could only remain an idea.
Now, with the third championship for the Warriors secured, Roger can formally plan a retirent ti.
If all goes well, Roger wants to win two more championships.
Firstly, he hopes to surpass Bill Russell and beco the person with the most championships in NBA history, without exception.
You know, in the future when journalists ask Roger "Do you think you are the greatest in history," Roger can avoid the false humility: "I’m not. From a championship perspective, Bill was better."
Secondly, Roger is looking forward to the most brilliant backdrop.
In the sumr of 2007, the drama with LBJ and the Cavaliers will definitely not end quietly.
With LBJ’s ambition and Nike’s ambition, they won’t waste any opportunity to step up by climbing over others.
So, in the sumr of 2007, there might erge an unimaginably strong super team.
Roger is more than willing to make this super team the brightest jewel in his crown.
anwhile, in Las Vegas, the newly selected coach of the US Basketball Association’s Dream Team is calling Kobe.
"How important is a gold dal to you?"
"Very, very important. Just a few days ago, I went to a grocery store to buy coffee and t a guy wearing Roger’s jersey. You know, I wanted to kill that guy. He saw and ca over, and I thought he was going to make so smart remark about the Western Conference Finals. If he had, I would’ve hit him right there.
But instead, he said, ’Hey Kobe, why not join the Dream Team in the next Olympics to win back our respect?’
So, a gold dal is very important to . You see, even Roger’s fans want the Dream Team to win gold.
And , I’m interested in anything that involves winning."
"Can I take that as you agreeing to join?"
"Yeah, sure. I’m sick of watching you guys lose."
Besides LeBron’s backdrop, another, even more, dazzling one is quietly forming.
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