Basketball Legend: When Pride Still Matters

An undeniable bastard, an irresponsible critic, a fashion-challenged fatso, a racist scumbag.

Regarding Ray Allen's sharp critique of George Karl, Yu Fei could only agree with the middle two sentences.

To say he was entirely a bastard wasn't quite right, and as for being a racist...that was a perspective unique to Black people.

It was normal, just like how Scottie Pippen thought "The Shot" being given to Toni Kukoč instead of him by the Zen Master on that 1.8-second night was because of racism, to them, if there was a problem, it all made sense if you blamed it on racism.

So why did Ray Allen think Karl was a racist? That story still had to be traced back a few years.

When George Karl was interviewed by a magazine called Entertainment Fashion, and was asked about Doc Rivers becoming the coach of the Magic Team, the question was easy to answer. Any slight display of emotional intelligence could have deferred it. But Karl said that Rivers had been "designated" because of his skin color, that he hadn't gone through the long process of being an assistant coach and had come from a TV commentator to the head coach position. He even said that there would be more "designated" Black coaches in the future.

The issue wasn't his comment, it was the double standard.

Larry Bird had become the head coach of the Pacers without serving as an assistant, had Karl ever commented on that?

"Since we have so many problems, shouldn't we be working together more?" Yu Fei enticed Ray Allen, "Otherwise, the Bucks have no future."

Allen asked back, "How do we work together?"

"You need to stand tall, like a real leader, and I'll support you."

Just like supporting Jordan.

Yu Fei didn't plan to confront Karl right away, as in his view, Karl was not "the source of all problems" as Ray Allen had put it—the Bucks clearly had many problems beyond Karl's control.

Only after solving these issues could he begin to deal with Karl.

Therefore, he needed the support of Ray Allen, even if it meant letting him be the nominal big brother.

Not many people would come to train at the St. Francis Training Center in the morning.

Generally, that was the player's private time.

From noon onwards, the chances of encountering players at the training facility would greatly increase.

This year the Bucks had only one rookie, Lonny Baxter, who joined the league through the second round of the draft. Despite being a rookie, Baxter was actually three years older than Yu Fei, and as a power forward with an exceptionally strong build, he was considered a potential replacement for Anthony Mason.

This was why Mason was very unpleasant towards the rookie.

"Rookie, you need to clean my locker."

"Rookie, I'm thirsty."

"Rookie, where are my shoes?"

Mason would toss every problem he encountered to Baxter, and he genuinely thought Baxter was obligated to deal with these issues for him.

Baxter could clean Mason's locker, could buy him water, but when Mason demanded he find a pair of shoes, the short-tempered rookie exploded, "Get fucked! I'm not your nanny!"

Mason had told Yu Fei that he wouldn't become Yu Fei's problem.

But that didn't mean he wouldn't be a problem for others.

"Enough, Anthony!" George Karl couldn't stand it anymore, "The issue with the shoes, you should talk to our equipment manager!"

But Mason cursed disdainfully, "This has nothing to do with you, you damn fat pig!"

Clearly, Mason resembled "the root of the problem" more than Karl did.
Your adventure continues at empire

Why didn't Ray Allen have an issue with Mason's behavior? On one hand, he might not dare to confront Mason, and on the other hand, Mason's humiliation of Karl provided some vindication for him to some extent.

However, even someone as lowly as Doug Collins wouldn't be insulted by Jordan like that.

If players could insult the head coach with impunity, it meant that the coaching staff had no authority to restrain the players.

How could such a team possibly have the will to fight?

Moreover, Yu Fei, who never liked the NBA tradition of bullying rookies, equally wouldn't tolerate such behavior within the team.

"George is right, the problem with the shoes, you should go to Zack (the equipment manager)." Yu Fei said, "Just like if you're complaining about not having the ball, you should find someone else, not parade in front of the media like a husband scorned by an adultery."

Mason thought the boundaries between him and Yu Fei were clear.

Since the end of that scrimmage, he had drawn the line.

He had shown goodwill towards Yu Fei, indicating he wouldn't become Yu Fei's problem. But the undertone of his words was that he hoped Yu Fei also wouldn't become his problem.

Not being able to beat Yu Fei on the court didn't mean he was really afraid of Yu Fei.

"It's my business!" Mason shouted, "I'll find whoever I want!"

Yu Fei showed no fear, walked straight up to Mason, and said coldly, "Stop yelling at me, you idiot! As long as you're wearing the Bucks jersey, as long as you're part of this team, your business isn't just your own, it's all of ours! Now, let me tell you again, go to Zack with your shoe problem, this has nothing to do with the rookie, do you understand?"

Mason had always been taught that might makes right from childhood. When this idea came into professional basketball, it created the perception that "stars are above all," "ball handlers are above all." This was why he aspired to be a star, why he was obsessed with ball rights. He believed it was a symbol of status.

Now, a teenager not yet 20 was warning him in a condescending tone, and yet he couldn't muster the urge to solve the problem with his fists. Because he knew his place in the team was worlds apart from Yu Fei's.

He was getting older and couldn't maintain a stable attendance record. This year was his contract year, and he hoped to sign one more contract after this year. If he fell out with Yu Fei, the Bucks would no longer have a place for him, and his reputation would plummet to the bottom.

This was a trifling matter, not worth taking such a risk.

"I'll go find Zack," Mason then glared hard at George Karl, "but I'm not the only one who likes to spout nonsense in front of the media!"

Suddenly, everyone looked toward Karl.

Karl seemed flustered.

"Alright, it's over, let's get back to practice," Yu Fei said.

People dispersed.

Only Ray Allen found it strange, if he was the leader, he should have been the one confronting Mason and soothing the atmosphere.

Why was it Yu Fei?

Maybe he should ask himself, why didn't I step up?

But Ray Allen quickly convinced himself.

Yu Fei was here to assist him, and that's precisely what an assistant should do.

If every matter required the leader to step forward, wouldn't that be too exhausting for the leader?

Looking at the chaotic team, Yu Fei felt an unexplainable weariness.

In D.C., all he needed to do was to match wits with Jordan and not worry about anything else. This was both a bad thing and a good thing. The bad side was Jordan's exceedingly high status within the team; the good side was precisely because of Jordan's unrivaled status that Yu Fei, who dared to confront him, could gain recognition and status.

In the Bucks, however, there were too many trivial annoyances.

If he wanted to achieve results with the Bucks, he must integrate the team's strength, ensuring everyone was single-minded, which was quite complicated for a young man not yet 20; he could only tackle issues one by one.

First, unite with Ray Allen, then suppress Anthony Mason.

Since Mason had bitten back at George Karl at the end, Yu Fei naturally wanted to harness this force to properly discipline the so-called "Four Pests coach" as referred to by Ray Allen.

"George, could we have a talk?" Yu Fei said, looking at Karl.

Karl replied, "Of course, what would you like to discuss?"

"It's not convenient here, let's go upstairs."

Having said that, Yu Fei and Karl proceeded to the tea room on the second floor.

Yu Fei only ordered a glass of soda water, while Karl ordered a hot milk with sugar and a pie.

"The pies here are good, the chef was carefully selected by Senator Kohl." Perhaps because Yu Fei had just extricated him from the previous situation, Karl was very friendly to Yu Fei. "You should try one."

"No thanks, I still have to train."

Yu Fei wasn't here to develop a rapport with Karl.

"George, did you tell the reporters yesterday that we lost to the Magic because the starters lacked responsibility?"

Yu Fei skipped the pleasantries, immediately setting a tense tone.

Karl explained, "I wasn't talking about you."

"Really? But I defended Tracy McGrady the most, and I truly didn't stop him," Yu Fei said.

Karl said, "Tracy McGrady indeed messed us up, but it's not your fault, you played well."

Yu Fei was satisfied with Karl's attitude, but this did not invalidate the fact that he indirectly blamed all the starters.

"No, I feel you don't understand the feeling we get when we see our coach criticizing us in the media," Yu Fei paused, "Of course, that might be your habit, and I respect your habits; however, I have my habits too."

George Karl was silent.

He knew what Yu Fei was about to say was the other man's real intention.

"When I was in D.C., I only spoke out of line to the media when things were beyond saving. For me, that's a way of laying the cards on the table. I still see it that way now. So, George, starting today, if I don't play well, I hope you'll tell me in private. If I do something to your dissatisfaction, I hope you'll tell me in private. If you have a problem with me, I hope you'll tell me privately. If one day, I see you accusing me in the media, I'll understand it this way—"

"You have no words for me, and we're done for." Yu Fei picked up the glass on the table. "If that's the case, I'll have only one thought."

Yu Fei looked at Karl, his imperious face showing dissatisfaction and anger, but this did not affect the words he was about to say.

"We should get a new coach."

"Are you threatening me?!" Karl asked angrily.

"No, this isn't a threat," Yu Fei said, "I think it's more of a 'warning'."

After speaking, Yu Fei drank his soda water and prepared to head downstairs for training.

As he walked by Karl, he added, "Please remember what I said because I always keep my word."

This was known to heaven and earth, and even Michael Jordan knew it.