Basketball Legend: When Pride Still Matters

Michael Jordan just had to show Yu Fei his ugliest side.

Just like Rimi Yulia in 2024, anyone who saw her in her youth would lament the collapse of her once beautiful face.

But Yu Fei would never feel that way about Jordan.

If he had to say he felt anything, it was hatred.

"Just a few decades?" Yu Fei said to the caller, "I plan to live another five hundred years."

Yu Fei's fans were fanatically calling in, posing all sorts of bizarre questions.

Today, when the conversation suddenly turned to MJ, some people wanted to stir up the crowd.

"Frye, I had a dream last night that Michael Jackson jumped out of his coffin at his memorial to perform 'Thriller,' which moved me to tears. Can I get a 'Yes, this is my fan'?"

"I think you should see a psychiatrist."

However, Yu Fei agreed that if such an event happened, it would indeed make for a special program that could exceed the "Decision" by a hundredfold in heat.

The price was that Michael Jackson would bury the King of Pop's reputation and lock himself forever in the Hall of Fame monster room.

Then, a fan's question silenced Yu Fei.

"Which of the following four things have appeared in your nightmares? 1. Yuriko Yoshitaka suddenly announces she is pregnant with your child; 2. Supersonics' three-peat is interrupted by the Lakers Team; 3. You are nominated for a Golden Raspberry Award for your poor performance in 'Iron Man 2'; 4. One day in the future, you have to ask Michael Jordan to be your presenter for entering the Naismith Hall of Fame."

"Backstage, stop taking these complex calls."

This radio show lasted nearly two and a half hours, providing endless fodder for the media.

However, the Hall of Fame mentioned on the radio had become a topic in reality.

For some unknown reason, the Hall of Fame Committee invited Yu Fei, hoping he would witness the 2009 Hall of Fame event in person.

This year's Hall of Fame was hailed as the most luxurious ever, as Jordan, John Stockton, and David Robinson were inducted together.

Considering the enmity between Yu Fei and Jordan, if Yu Fei attended, Jordan was sure to have no kind words.

The general attitude in Yu Fei's camp was to refuse the invitation.

However, Yu Fei thought that since he was idle, there was no harm in going to see what nasty stuff Jordan held back in his Hall of Fame speech before the preseason training camp started.

With a mentality to watch the play unfold, Yu Fei attended the Hall of Fame ceremony on September 11 in Springfield.

Yu Fei's presence caused a sensation on site.

The Hall of Fame specially inviting Yu Fei seemed like a move designed to create controversy; it didn't matter if Yu Fei came or not, they used this way to draw external attention.

But now that Yu Fei actually came, it had a completely different meaning.

Ever since Marc Stein and Sam Smith discussed the GOAT online, the "44 VS 23" war had escalated to a new level.

Both sides of fans were too lazy to discuss who was greater anymore.

They would directly attack the character of the individuals involved, seeking to achieve victory through demeaning and insulting.

This emotive war had infiltrated every corner of life.

Wherever there were followers of 44, supporters of 23 were sure to be found.

Yu Fei not only showed up, he dressed up for the occasion, silently indicating how seriously he took this visit.

Before his entrance, a reporter outside asked, "Frye, what made you accept the Hall of Fame's invitation?"

"If marriage is the graveyard of the bachelor, then being inducted into the Hall of Fame is the funeral for a great player," Yu Fei said bluntly, "Many people have said that I held the last retirement ceremony for number 23 in D.C. Since that's the case, I think I have a reason to come here and send that person off on his last journey."

How great and joyful is it to be inducted into the Hall of Fame? But when it came out of Yu Fei's mouth, it carried an invisible stench of decay.

While Yu Fei was being interviewed, the godfather of the Miami Heat, Pat Riley, was nearby with Wade and Curry.

Wade had come voluntarily, considering Jordan his second father.

Curry himself was indifferent to Jordan.

That was also what Yu Fei liked about Curry.

Because Curry was a Jordan hater; in the 90s, when everyone supported Jordan, he stood by Karl Malone's Jazz.

He firmly believed that Jordan's shot of the century was a push-off.

But Riley still brought him along.

Riley's rationale was, "I want you to see how the greatest player in history says goodbye, and you should aim for that."

But in Curry's mind, wasn't it Frye who was the greatest?

When Riley heard Yu Fei's reason for attending the Hall of Fame, his expression turned subtle.

He had no doubt that Jordan would have some harsh words for their old foes today.

That was something Jordan would do.

After all, this was his last day as player Jordan, and at least for today, he would let the public see his true self.

Yu Fei unexpectedly accepted the invitation, but showed no respect for Jordan.

The Hall of Fame is akin to a lifetime achievement award, affirming the life of a player and forever burying the identity of the inductees today.

Usually, people emphasize the honor but overlook the other side.

But Yu Fei bluntly tore off the Hall of Fame's mask.

He's not without emotional intelligence; he just didn't want people to think he, like others, came to pay tribute to the inductees of the Hall of Fame.

He was just like the old Jordan.

Only, Riley felt that Yu Fei's hatred for his arch-enemy ran even deeper than the Jordan of old.