360: 146: Wishing you all the best, Michael (asking for monthly passes!) 360: 146: Wishing you all the best, Michael (asking for monthly passes!) When John Gabriel called Shaquille O’Neal’s agent Leonard Armato, Armato was on the relaxing beaches of Atlanta dealing with a major life event—chasing girls.
That’s right, chasing girls.
How is that not a big deal in life?
So n can only woo their own hands for their entire life.
Agents aren’t all cold-blooded machines, they have their own lives too.
In 1996, beach volleyball was included as an official Olympic event for the first ti.
When Armato first learned about the sport, he beca a loyal fan—and fell in love with those who played it.
Isn’t it normal for fans to have favorite stars?
So, at that mont, he was playing and flirting with Horry McPike, a U.S.
won’s beach volleyball player who later beca his wife.
As you can imagine, Armato was furious when he received John Gabriel’s call.
First, John Gabriel had interrupted his wonderful ti.
Second, that idiot had the nerve to call again after giving that humiliating offer of 69 million?
“John, I thought I was clear enough yesterday, we would listen to offers from other teams before deciding whether to consider your second offer.”
“Calm down, Leonard.
We’re willing to go up to four years, 80 million.
No other team in the league can offer that kind of money.” John Gabriel clenched his fists; he was forced to make such an offer.
He didn’t want to admit he was forced, but that was the fact.
No other team in the league could offer Shaq such a huge contract; no team could clear up to 20 million in cap space to sign him.
The only flaw in this contract was its short duration, and that was John Gabriel’s last stand.
Roger’s contract wouldn’t expire until the new millennium.
If Shaq’s contract were too long, then the Magic Team would struggle with big contracts for many years to co.
So, he only wanted to offer a four-year deal, in fact, Gabriel had even considered signing Shaq for just one year.
Wouldn’t it be nice to let these leeches go after a three-peat?
But obviously, Armato wouldn’t accept a one-year deal,
In fact, two or even three years were impossible.
So John Gabriel raised the bid to four years—this would have Shaq’s and Roger’s contracts expire at the sa ti.
Armato was surprised; he knew Roger was advocating for Shaq, but he originally still planned to drag it out and listen to other team’s offers first.
But he didn’t expect that Roger’s words would be so effective as to make the Magic Team change their minds imdiately.
Armato didn’t agree right away, he needed to discuss it with Shaq first.
Later, Armato made a call to Shaq, who was in a very irritable mood: “Honestly, I do not want to sign with the Magic Team, they have insulted .”
“Then don’t sign.
How’s it going with Jerry West?
They can’t start you at 20 million a year since they don’t have the cap space, in fact, the starting salary might just be slightly over 10 million.
But with a longer contract, our average salary should be over 15 million.
Short-term contracts might offer a higher annual salary, but a longer contract is undoubtedly safer.”
Deep down, Armato hoped Shaq would go to a big city, either the Lakers or the Knicks would do, where the exposure was incomparable to Orlando.
Of course, there was an even more important point: Shaq was completely overshadowed by Roger in Orlando!
From a comrcial value standpoint, this was very unfavorable for Shaq.
In other cities, Shaq could be Michael Jordan.
But in Orlando, Shaq was becoming more and more like Pippen.
The difference is, he could earn ten tis the salary of Pippen.
Shaq did not answer the question, “How’s it going with Jerry West?” but muttered to himself, “But I want a three-peat.”
Armato was silent for a mont.
A three-peat is indeed a rare achievent; neither Bird nor Magic had done it.
And the Magic Team was just one step away from a three-peat.
Considering the uncertain fate of the Bulls, even unsure if they could keep Michael Jordan, the Magic Team’s chances for a three-peat were really good.
But Armato posed a new question: “Is there a possibility that even with a three-peat, it would still be Roger’s three-peat team?”
These words stabbed Shaq’s heart like a knife.
The curse of Michael Jordan also reappeared.
But this made Shaq even less willing to give in.
“No, Leonard, it’s also my team, it’s also my three-peat team!
Agree to it, accept the four years, 80 million.
Let’s settle this, I don’t want to keep getting irritated over this crap.
Four years, then four years, it’s the sa 20 million annual salary as Roger’s anyway.
Just agree, agree to it!”
Shaq was irritable, and Armato respected Shaq’s decision.
That sa night, every TV station and radio broadcast repeated one ssage: “Shaquille O’Neal has reached a verbal agreent with the Magic Team to stay, waiting for the free agency market to open to officially sign.”
So, at the championship parade the next day, the fans saw Roger and Shaq at the very top of the double-decker bus, waving at everyone with two championship trophies held high.
They both smiled brilliantly, as if all the previous events had never happened.
However, what the fans saw was often just the surface; they had no idea about the roller coaster of emotions that Shaq, Roger, and the Magic Team had gone through the day before.
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