NBA Archives Debunked: The Jordan Saga

Chapter 40 Sweet Dreams (4)

Laettner has another wonderful description: "The next thing I remember is, all of a sudden, all I have to do is move and catch the ball. It's like going back to my 14 years old, my old age. Dad they play with 35 year old adults. You're young and fast so you do all the cuts and run with your hands up and they're old and good and they'll always find you to pass the ball to you. You You don’t have to do any one-on-ones, you just move, put your hands up and the ball goes to you.”

On the Dream Team, the funniest thing is to find out a teammate's weakness, then hit and laugh at him to death.For example, Ewing always takes too many shots on the outside, Barkley always likes to lie back when he is stuck, Drexler has the habit of dribbling with his head buried, and he always breaks to the right. , as long as he tries to go left, he will make a mistake, and then everyone will laugh at him again.

From June to early July, Portland is literally the basketball capital of the world.The Trail Blazers made it to the NBA Finals, where Games 6, 7, and [-] were held.Portland then became the host of the Americas Championship.Before the Dream Team participates in the Olympics, they must play the Americas Championship first. The official public performance of this great team kicked off in Portland.

The Americas Championship wasn't originally called the Americas Championship, and it wasn't originally held in the United States. FIBA arranged the so-called "North and South American Regional Olympic Qualification Tournament" to be played in Brazil in March 1992, but that was the critical period for NBA teams to compete for the playoffs, and it was also catching up with the hottest competition in the NCAA. "March Madness", if someone insists on holding a promotion match at that time, then not only will Jordan, Magician, and Bird not show up, even Hill, Hurley, and Webber will not be able to play.With the mediation of USA Basketball and Mr. Stankovic, the Olympic qualifying match was moved to Portland.

The Dream Team's first official match was against Cuba.Before the start of the game, the Cubans took a camera to take a photo with the players of the Dream Team. Many people couldn’t understand it, but for the Cuban players, this was the highlight moment of their lives. They would never be able to play in the NBA or Europe , and one day in the future, they can point to the photo on the wall and say: Look, I played with Michael Jordan.

In the entrance ceremony, players appear in order of numbers from small to large.Magic had picked No. 15 early on so he would always be last on the court.However, the warmest cheers in the arena were not dedicated to Magician or Bird, nor to Jordan, but to Portland's own child, Drexler.Drexler, who had a good laugh, later walked up to Thorne and thanked him for calling him on the Dream Team.Years later, Drexler wasn't too happy about being added to the team until the end, but he didn't think so at first.

Daly could have fit in with Portland's home atmosphere and started Drexler, but he didn't.He later declared that it didn't matter who started—everyone on the Dream Team said that—as far as wins and losses were concerned, of course it was true, and when they went to Barcelona, ​​they could order five players to start and win, and then Daly did use a few different starting lineups.However, this is the first game and the first starting lineup of the Dream Team. It has a certain symbolic meaning and cannot be done arbitrarily.Bird would admit years later: "You better believe it, I really wanted to start that first game."

Bird and Magic must start because ... because they are Bird and Magic, the two guys who saved the NBA in the 80s.Jordan must also start because he is the best player in the world.Daly was more concerned about who would play the starting center. Ewing solved the problem for him with a thumb injury in practice. In the end, it was David Robinson who walked to the middle circle to jump the ball. David Robinson started. Although he respected Ewing's toughness and jump shot, he was more attracted to David Robinson's physical fitness.The last starting spot was given to Barkley. Barkley was not one of the first few people selected into the dream team, but as of that time, he was the team's best performer in training, and it turned out to be a dream team. One of the best overall performances of all the official games of the team, Daley let him start because he deserved it.

Jump ball, David Robinson gives the racket to Magic, who dribbles across the halfway line, eyes only locked in one direction. "I only look at one place," said the magician, "and that's for him."

Him, Byrd.

Magic quickly passed the ball to Bird on the right wing, something Magic could only dream of doing.And Bird will only have one choice next. "I knew I was going to take that shot," he later joked, "because I didn't know if I'd get another chance to score."

Bird dribbled the ball with his left hand, pressed a few steps in, pressed into the penalty area, and then turned around for a jumper.The whole movement was done in one go, and he looked very agile. His body was slightly leaned back, and he didn't seem to be suffering from a back injury at all.The ball was hit steadily, and the audience was boiling.

Bird's fadeaway jumper was the first goal made by the Dream Team in an official game, and in a sense, it was also the most glorious goal.Nearly 20 years later, Johnson also said: "I'll never forget the joy that flashed on his face when he made that shot. I can still see it today. I can still feel it today."

The Dream Team beat Cuba 136-57.The next day, they ushered in the Canadian team.Canada is a fierce team and they bring their elbows and knees, not the cameras.It was a rough and ugly game.In the first half, Stockton collided with Jordan's knee in a defense and then fell to the ground. It didn't look serious at first. Stockton was able to walk off the field by himself, but then the situation deteriorated. Stockton's right leg For spiral fractures, recovery takes 6 to 8 weeks.

This is the earliest example of an NBA player being injured for the Olympics.After Stockton went down, Karl Malone was a little afraid to communicate with Jazz coach Jerry Sloan. "I'm afraid he'll let me go home," Malone said.

Essentially, Stockton's injury had little effect on the Dream Team.Magic played very well, Jordan and Pippen can also switch to ball handling when necessary, and the dream team has no shortage of people.But behind closed doors, Stockton's injury did trigger a new round of discussions, and Isaiah Thomas' name was brought up again: Should Thomas be brought in to replace Stockton?
After the game against Canada, Daly went to the training room to visit Stockton. He told Stockton, "We need someone to replace you." One day to see the situation before making a decision, Daly agreed.That night, Daly went to dinner at a popular seafood restaurant in Portland with Thorne, Carlesimo and Pistons publicist Dobeck.Daly knew that Stockton didn't want to give up his position. Although Stockton was quiet and low-key, he was very proud of being on the Dream Team.

Stockton is extremely smart and knows the best time to pass the ball to his teammates so that they are in the best position to shoot the ball as soon as they catch the ball.One of the things that distracts Stockton on the court is when a teammate says to him, "Hey, I'm free, you didn't give me the ball." At that point, Stockton responds, "No, You’re not free. Just because it looks like nobody’s guarding you doesn’t mean you’re free, because even if you get the ball, you can’t do anything.” When I worked with Malone in the early days, a similar situation happened, but then As time went on, this basically disappeared between the two of them.

There's always someone making fun of Malone and Stockton, like Barkley yelling at Dream Team practice, "Hey, if Carl's on the other line, we don't have to run because John just throws the ball. Pass it to him." Stockton would shoot back: "Charles, I gave the ball to Carl because, unlike some people, he did catch it."

Stockton later recalled: "Playing with these guys on the Dream Team was like basketball heaven. Someone got to a certain point, and as soon as he got there, the ball was there. It was always mutual. It was the poetry of basketball. .Wherever you throw the ball, you can't go wrong."

Regardless, with Stockton down, Daly is still worried about the point guard position.At the seafood restaurant, Dobeck had two phone numbers ready to call, one for Isaiah Thomas and one for Joe Dumars, both of Daly's starting guards for the Pistons. .Daly was fidgeting, and Thorne looked at him, laughing.Thorne knew that Stockton didn't need to be replaced, and he also knew how difficult it was for Daly to make such a decision.Finally, Daly said, "We'll see."

Meanwhile, Stockton was sad in his room.He has a lot of self-esteem and never feels that he doesn't belong to the Dream Team. He also hopes that the voices that say "Isaiah Thomas deserves to be on the Dream Team more than Stockton" will disappear.When he was depressed, Barkley and Malone came to see him, and they said to Stockton: "Don't give up your position, we want you to stay here." Their words made Stockton feel better, but He was still uneasy.

Daly and Stockton spoke again later.Stockton said, "Don't send me home, Chuck, I'll be back for the Olympics. Come on, you can play with six if you have to." Daly thought it over and agreed: "OK, John, you stay."

If Daly had any other concerns about keeping Stockton, it was this: Thomas wasn't what he wanted to replace Stockton.Many years later, Jordan revealed: "I know the truth, what Chuck wants is Dumars. It's just that Chuck thinks that Isiah wants to enter the Dream Team so much, he can't do it. He just can't do it. .So, even with a broken leg, he let John stay." Jordan's words are very believable, because during that time, he played golf with Daly almost every day.

Stockton stayed, and Daly didn't call Dumars, otherwise it would be too cruel for Thomas.

As the Americas Championship progressed, the Dream Team began to grow tired of uncompetitive rivalry. Not only did they win all 6 games, but they also outscored their opponents by 51.5 points per game.Before the game against Argentina, the always smiling Magician was also annoyed that Argentine defender Marcelo Milanesio had been pestering him for a jersey, which he didn't want to give and didn't give."I'm overwhelmed with joy," Milanesio added after the Dream Team's 41-point victory over Argentina.

There is a lack of competition on the court, and there are always endless signings waiting for the stars of the dream team outside the court.Autographed balls for sponsors, autographed balls for charity, autographed balls for auctions, autographed balls for presidents, politicians, officials of various countries, and friends, friends of friends, friends of friends friends want...

Jordan later recalled: "I remember just coming down the hallway, and all I could see were balls waiting for us to sign. Well, I take it, we had to sign. But hundreds or thousands? It's not fair. I've told Russ (Granick), Rod (Thorn) and Dave Gavitt from the beginning that everything has a business wrapped up in it and it annoys me. Of course I'm in business , but I have a long-term relationship with the company, and I have a contract. Suddenly, I was asked to do a lot of things that I didn't feel comfortable with."

Many of the demands were made by two members of the United States Olympic Committee, LeRoy Walker and Mary T. Meagher.They gave Jordan standard instructions, trying to make Jordan and his teammates understand: the dream team is nothing special, the dream team also has its own Olympic responsibilities, and the income brought by the dream team should also be used to support athletes from other sports. expenditure."They had a 'don't be an asshole' attitude to Michael, so you know how well that shit worked on Michael," Barkley said.

So one day, Jordan threw away the pen in his hand and roared: "I'm quitting!" It felt like telling everyone that he not only wanted to leave this room, but also to leave this team.

If Jordan was serious, if he got up and left, Magic would be next, followed by Barkley and Pippen, and the Dream Team would fall apart.However, Jordan didn't really want to leave. He later said: "Of course I never planned to quit. I won't lose face to the Olympic team, I won't just walk away, and I won't let myself be the only one who is not on basketball. Signing fool. But I want everyone to know that they promised one thing and did another."

The outside world has criticized the big-name style of the Dream Team, saying that they are a group of spoiled millionaires, but the players' position is: you came to us, you begged us to play, we give You guys bring in so much money, so much attention, and every time we turn around, there's always something to sign, someone to shake hands.

At that time, no one's pressure could compare with Jordan.Jordan is at the peak of his fame, he is like a human cash machine, people just press the "Jordan" button, and money will fly out of it.When Jordan joined the Dream Team, he had to balance the relationship between himself and various business partners. During the entire Dream Team period, he believed that the leverage was unbalanced. Ken let him down.

After the American Championships, the dream team left the United States and flew to Europe.They arranged the final training time before the Olympics in Monte Carlo, a casino city on the Mediterranean coast.

In the eyes of Americans, Monte Carlo in Monaco is like Las Vegas in the United States, only more luxurious and fashionable than Las Vegas.No wonder someone said: "You don't go to Monte Carlo to play basketball. You go there to gamble and hang out."

The Dream Team is in Monte Carlo, so of course they have serious business to do, but this training camp does feel like a mini-vacation.The team's daily schedule is only two hours for basketball, and the remaining 22 hours are all used for golf, gambling, sightseeing, and celestial bathing.Daly said: "I will not set a curfew, because I have to do as the Romans do. Moreover, Jimmy Z's does not open until midnight." Jimmy Z's is a famous nightclub in Monte Carlo, Jordan, Barkley, Magician, Pippen often stay there.

In fact, life in Monte Carlo is pleasant, but it is not as extravagant and luxurious as people imagine. After all, most players bring their wives, children and even nannies.

Before the Dream Team arrived in Monaco, a local security meeting was held. Hotel manager Henri Lorenzi (Henri Lorenzi) complained about the various harsh demands made by the NBA security department, thinking that they were making a fuss out of a molehill.Lorenzi told the NBA's Kim Bohuny: "Do you know who's playing money in my casino at this moment?" He named several politicians and movie stars, tennis legend Bijou Borg (Bjorn Borg) is also among them."Nobody cares that much about this team," Lorenzi said.

Bohuny replied: "Well, we'll see."

As soon as the Dream Team bus arrived, so many people rushed forward to see the basketball players for themselves that someone smashed the glass door at the hotel entrance.Lorenzi wrote now, and said to Bohuny honestly: "I understand what you mean."

(End of this chapter)